Chapter 245: Lady Tohru is Working With Me!
As the golden cake reached her lips, an inviting, lightly toasted aroma, along with the rich scent of baked butter and cheese, wafted over her.
"..." Tohru bit down. The outer cheesecake layer was dense yet incredibly soft, melting in her mouth.
The blueberry bits and cream from the inside gushed out from the opening.
The cool, silky cream instantly soaked her taste buds. It was so light it felt like it would melt in her breath, yet it left a full-bodied, milky aroma lingering in her mouth.
The blueberries burst between her teeth, their sweet-tart juice "popping" out like little bombs. The vivid fruit acidity instantly lit up her palate, interweaving with the soft cream in a bright duet.
Then, a trace of warm vanilla sweetness and fresh lemon zest emerged from the cheesecake, perfectly neutralizing the richness.
"...So delicious!"
Tohru's magnificent orange eyes lit up, and her expression softened. She raised her delicate white chin and let out a sigh of satisfaction.
She stuffed the rest of the blueberry cream lava cake into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed in enjoyment. The flavor traveled through her nerves to every corner of her body...
...
Her consciousness blurred for a moment!
When she came to, her body was 'sunk' into a towering mountain of cheesecake. The golden mountain was stacked from pure cheesecake, the air thick with the aroma of butter and cheese. Every breath was like inhaling a cloud of melted cheese!
And Tohru, in her human form, was floating in the volcano's crater. Surrounding her wasn't hot magma, but perfectly whipped cream. The silky-smooth cream rippled gently, dotted with plump blue-purple fruits that appeared and disappeared.
"This is...?"
The dragon maid, now out of her uniform, blinked her beady eyes, not quite understanding the situation. But she didn't overthink it. She just relaxed.
The cool cream flowed over her delicate shoulder line, gathering in the hollows of her collarbones to form two pearl-like lakes. Like a mermaid, Tohru lazily backstroked to the crater wall.
She sat on the crater's steps, raising one long, beautiful leg, her toes drawing a graceful arc in the air. The cream flowed down the line of her calf. A few drops hung from her rounded heel, like morning dew on a flower petal...
...
"Sometimes I really envy Lucoa, getting to eat all kinds of delicious food so often."
After finishing the lava cake, Tohru picked up a bottle of milk, twisted the cap, took a sip, and looked at Lucoa.
"...Don't just be envious. The smart ones are already working here."
Lucoa was busy with a blueberry milk pudding. She looked up, pointedly glancing at Kanna, who was holding half a lemon tart, cupping her face, and cooing, "Incredible."
"Emmm..."
Tohru looked at Kanna, straightened her back, and placed a hand on her chest. "I have a job, too. I'm Kobayashi's exclusive maid and housewife. I also occasionally act as transportation. I hold many roles."
"It does sound like a lot of duties." Lucoa's eyes crinkled. "But taking another part-time job isn't a big deal, right?"
"Anyway, Kobayashi works during the day, and your housework doesn't take that much time."
"Being idle at home is just being idle."
"...That's true." Tohru looked thoughtful, 'Mmm'ed, and seemed tempted.
Seeing his chance, Ryohei Tanaka held up one finger and struck while the iron was hot. "I'll give you... I'll give you all a special privilege!"
When they looked over, Ryohei smiled. "I'll allow you to take desserts home at half price."
"If Tohru-san uses the money she earned herself to treat Kobayashi to the shop's desserts, I think Kobayashi would be very happy."
"Alright, I'll do it!"
As soon as she heard Kobayashi would be happy, Tohru decided to stay and work. Besides, she was just idle at home anyway.
When she was eating the lava cake, she was already thinking of asking Ryohei to sell her some to take back. Now she didn't even have to ask, and she got a half-price discount. Tohru felt that working here was actually a pretty good deal.
"Welcome aboard!"
Ryohei Tanaka clapped lightly, smiling like a fox that had stolen a chicken, pointedly ignoring the meaningful look Lucoa was giving him.
At the same time, Kanna raised her chubby hand. "Yay! Lady Tohru is working with me!"
She had already fully adopted the identity of a worker.
...
And so, on this day, Ryohei Tanaka gained two new employees. Congratulations!
...
After dessert, Ryohei arranged for Tohru and Kanna to start their shifts.
Tohru went to the second floor with Jiang Jiang and Lan Lan to greet customers and restock. Kanna joined Binchotan, both on small stools, at the register to handle payment and bagging.
With everyone squeezed into one shop, the staff was abundant, perhaps even a bit wasteful.
Therefore, Ryohei planned to have Yurine create a rotating schedule—one shift for the dessert shop, one for the restaurant—to avoid wasting resources.
On a side note, Ryohei also planned to close the dessert shop on weekends. As for the farm's output during that time, he had already spoken to Lucoa. She would collect and preserve it, which for her was a simple task.
~~~
Get early access to 20+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter