“Miss, here’s your order~”
A lively girl with delicate, cute makeup approaches with a tray.
“I’m Tangke, the server. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Also~”
“Our shop is holding a Bright Era celebration event~”
“You can choose any staff member to spar with on stage, and if you last three minutes without losing, you get a 60-70% discount~”
“But if you pick me, little Tangke, just stay standing for three minutes, and you’ll get your entire order free—what a huge deal!”
The girl named Tangke tilts her head and flashes Eleanor a sweet smile.
Just as Eleanor is about to ask for details, a sharp, scolding voice rings out from the other end of the counter.
“Tangke—!!!”
“Don’t you dare bully the little sister!”
“I’m not! Stupid big sister, don’t slander me!”
The girl named Tangke puffs out her cheeks, slightly annoyed.
That darn manager, acting like she’s some reckless bully.
She’s Tangke, the famously cheerful girl!
How could she possibly go all out against such an adorable little sister?
At most, she’d control her strength to leave her opponent slightly out of breath and sweaty—discount assured for the cute sister.
And~~
—She’s been sparring all day! Not a single cute girl in sight!!!
Just flashy, overconfident guys or muscle-packed, tough women, all winking and posing, none of them within her aesthetic range.
Now, finally, two adorable girls walk into the shop, and no matter what, she’s determined to invite them to spar on stage to lift her mood.
“So, what do you say? Wanna go for Tangke’s full-free discount~?” With a sweet smile, Tangke’s eyes gleam with excitement.
Glancing at Yvette, who seems a bit overwhelmed by the enthusiastic server, Eleanor calmly sips her citrus honey tea.
Hmm… tastes good, with a peculiar fragrance.
The citrus and honey blend well, though it’s a tad hot.
It should be just right after the spar.
Might as well give it a try—free discount on a silver platter, no reason to pass it up.
Eleanor stands, pats Yvette’s shoulder, and says, “Little Yvi, stay here. I’m going up to win us a couple of free-order vouchers.”
“Thank you for your trust!!”
Tangke’s eyes sparkle.
Ignoring the increasingly sour-faced “stupid big sister,”
Tangke finally gets her chance to spar with a cute girl.
She doesn’t even pick her trusty longsword “Sugarheart” from her back, opting instead for a random wooden sword from the rack by the counter as she steps onto the stage.
“If you forgot to bring a sword, you can pick one you like from the counter~”
“All these longswords are made by our Sweet Syrup Weapon Shop, quality guaranteed~”
“Alright~ Thanks… Sister… Tangke…”
(gag •᷄ࡇ•᷅)
—Eleanor retching internally—
Okay, fine. The truth is, this old soul isn’t great at cutesy voices, unlike natural sweethearts like Tangke.
For an old-timer like her, forcing that high-energy sweetness is tough.
Physical discomfort is one thing, but the mental awkwardness is the real struggle.
Squeezing out a “~” or two to Yvette when she’s in a good mood is her absolute limit.
Push it any further, and she can barely hold it together.
Especially after deducing she’s at least 1,000 years old, the shame of acting young feels even more intense.
Thankfully, Eleanor holds it together at the last second, thumping her chest to suppress the discomfort.
“Heart Still as Water”—she casts a calming support spell, adjusts her attire slightly,
and reverts to her usual elegant ragdoll cat demeanor.
Eleanor draws a wooden sword from the rack, twirls it with two graceful backhand flourishes, and, after getting a feel for its weight, looks at her opponent.
—She narrows her eyes, expression serious.
“Three minutes, huh? Hold on tight, Miss Tangke~”
(Failed at acting sweet, now fuming.)
…
The atmosphere in the shop seems to heat up.
A spar between two beautiful girls already draws the attention of random male swordsmen stopping to watch, and Eleanor’s slightly chuunibyou-esque confident remark pushes the excitement to its peak.
Even passersby outside the shop pause, drawn by the lively vibe inside.
“Isn’t that Tangke? Another poor soul challenging her.”
“But this time, it’s a cute girl sparring!”
“She looks like she’s not even an adult yet, so tiny!”
“No way, Sister Tang! Bullying us is one thing, but don’t pick on cute girls!”
The chatter rises and falls, with the crowd growing larger, gathering outside the Sweet Syrup Shop, peering through the glass to catch a glimpse inside.
They start cursing the shop for not having a bigger storefront.
And…
Can those people who finished eating just leave already?
Hogging spots makes it impossible for latecomers to get in and watch the cute girls’ duel!
Among them,
Miss Nico, just off work and craving some sweet syrup to soothe her weary soul, pokes her head in.
(๑╹∀╹๑) Huh~?
What’s going on, what’s going on!!!
Why’s everyone crowded in a circle, not moving?
Is some wild swordmaster up there dueling?
Darn it! Her scout instincts are tingling! She wants to see! Wants to see!
Urgent urgent urgent urgent urgent!!!
No way!
She can’t keep standing here uselessly panicking.
She’s gotta charge!
Charge straight into the Sweet Syrup Shop!
Charge!
Eleanor has no idea how much of a stir her appearance has caused at the Sweet Syrup Weapon Shop.
Right now, she’s focused on sparring with the girl across from her.
As the shop’s poster girl and strongest fighter, Tangke’s swordsmanship is surprisingly impressive.
Eleanor’s casual string of simple combos is deftly countered one by one.
Looking at Tangke, panting and staring at her in disbelief from across the stage, Eleanor tilts her head, puzzled.
Is she that desperate to avoid giving a discount?
Such a dedicated poster girl.
If that’s the case,
Heh heh heh—
Guess it’s time to…
Crank up the intensity just a bit.
…
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