Chapter 305 - Ivan of Kres

"Where are you headed to, my friends?"

"We just came from the event and we're on our way to the café now," the mage answered.

"Café? What is that?"

The youths giggled again. "It's where we order something to drink," they answered, and the Flame Emperor understood.

They were talking about a tavern which he was hoping to find as well. It was really great to bump into these kindred spirits. At least, he didn't feel as lost as he had been earlier when he first came. He decided that he would reward them when he reached his destination.

Ivan of Kres walked the length of a not-so-busy street with the youths in armor. As he did, he noticed that other people stopped and smiled at them, while others did what the crowd earlier did when he landed at the parking lot. They had some strange metal boxes in their hands which they pointed at them and he frowned.

"What are they doing?" he asked and the youths stopped and did some strange poses that Ivan was not sure why they did, but he followed their lead anyway.

They raised their thumbs and smiled at the people and Ivan did the same.

They placed their hand on their hips while the other did a V with their fingers, and Ivan followed.

"Er… what are we doing, exactly?"

Ivan was totally confused now. The people with the metal boxes seemed to have fun pointing at them.

"It's like an informal photoshoot. It's very common here in Ikebukuro as this is a popular place for cosplayers like us," the paladin answered with a laugh. "Oh man, I really like you. You're so hardcore. You follow your character so well."

Huh?

Ivan was not sure what character he was speaking of but remained quiet. Soon, the group started moving again. Ivan found himself entering a place where a very good smell he'd never encountered before wafted in the air, and he grunted in approval.

"Welcome Masters!"

Cat people greeted them at the entrance. Ivan had seen their kind before when he visited the Kingdom of Dhahliah, but these women who received them looked… fake. If anything, he got more confused.

Why were people here pretending to be from Cat City?  

"Let's sit there," the mage said as he pointed at the farthest part of the café where there weren't many people sitting aside from the two other girls on the next table.

All five of them sat in their respective seats with Ivan having difficulty fitting in as he was too tall for the furniture. It was a good thing that their table was at the farthest part where there was a long couch on the side, and so Ivan took over it while the others occupied the small chairs.

As soon as they were seated, they heard a loud gasp and they all turned to the two girls who were sitting next to their table and smiled. They were looking at Ivan as if they'd seen a ghost.

"It looks like you have fans," the paladin teased him, but Ivan had no idea what they were talking about. "Are you a popular cosplayer?"

"I honestly do not know," Ivan answered truthfully.

His mind, however, was no longer on the girls but with the menu. He really wanted to drink something right now. "Do they serve ale in here?" he asked, making the youths burst out laughing again.

"No. But they have good coffee," the mage answered.

"Oh well, I'm too thirsty I don't care what I drink as long as it's good," he answered in defeat.

He reached in his pocket to retrieve gold coins and dropped them on the table. "Is this enough for a glass?" he asked and the youths exchanged looks.

"Er… dude, we really love your roleplaying but it doesn't work at the café. You have to pay them yen."

"Yen?"

The youths nodded. "Money."

"Oh!" Ivan forgot about the currency, and so he was silent as he thought of something. He didn't have their money but it might be possible to pay with something else.

The youths watched as Ivan took out a dagger strapped on his leg, and used it to pry one precious stone from the hilt of the sword he had on his waist. The huge emerald popped after some time, and he placed it on the table.

"I have no currency in this world, but this is pure emerald. Will they accept this?" he asked hopefully but the others shook their heads.

The paladin then took out some paper from his pouch and showed it to him. "They only accept this…"

With a frown, Ivan took it and examined it in his hand. There was an old man and the number 10,000 written on it.

"What's this?"

"That's yen."

"Ha? This is yen?"

Ivan looked and sounded scandalized. He examined the paper once more, but couldn't come up with any reason why it's accepted.

"This is valuable?"

He was still in disbelief most especially when the youths nodded. Unlike before, they were totally looking at him strangely now.

"Well… it's ten thousand yen, so you can buy many things here with that," the paladin said.

"I can't believe it," Ivan said as he returned the money to the paladin. "You're saying that this piece of paper is more precious than gold and precious stones? Are the people here in this world daft?"

He really wondered why his ancestors bothered with this world full of idiots.

At his words, the girls from the other table gasped again. With a frown, Ivan turned to them but was shocked to realize that one of them had already stood up and was looking at him with strange, sparkling eyes.

She was a young lady who filled out her clothes nicely – something different from the sticks that identified themselves as female he'd seen so far.

"Are you Ivan of Kres?" she asked breathily.

Her voice was laced with excitement that Ivan couldn't understand. Also, he was shocked that someone from this world actually knew him.

"Yes, I am the Flame Emperor, Ivan of Kres," he answered with much dignity he could muster.

Upon his words, the girls looked more excited and he was confused.

"Who are you and why do you know me?" he demanded, but then an idea crossed his mind and his eyes widened. "Are you… Do you know Stribog and Alinea?"

"Yes!" the girl answered and Ivan stood up in delight.

"Do you know the Palace of Cedar where Stribog resides?"

"Er… Palace of Cedar?" The plump girl looked confused, but the girl with her nodded.

"Yes! It's the Cedar Palace," she said, and Ivan grinned.

It seemed his quest would be done soon.

"Can you take me there then?"