Chapter 98: Seriously, What Is It?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: Seriously, What Is It?
“No, I mean... I didn’t do that on purpose...”
“Ugh, eek.”
“Iris...?”
“Ah, huff, hughhh.”
What the hell.
“I mean, stop it already, you crazy woman!!”
* * *
“Iris, have you reflected on what you did?”
“I did.”
“Keep your hands straight up.”
—Chrrrring
“And don’t use magic.”
“But then my arms hurt.”
“I told you, you’re supposed to repent for your sins while dwelling on the pain in your aching arms.”
“That makes sense.”
What part of that makes sense? Does this world not have the ‘hands-up’ punishment? To my shock, that initial ‘Ah’ hadn’t been a gasp of surprise or embarrassment; she had simply been continuing exactly what she was doing. I was utterly speechless.
Right now, she was kneeling on the desk with her hands in the air. Every time I looked away, she tried to cheat by using that black chain magic from before to hold her arms up or by casting strength-reinforcement magic.
“Seriously, shouldn't you... stop masturbating when people walk in?”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, ‘why’? Do you keep going even when other people come in, Iris?”
“No. The mood dies when I see the others. I stop naturally.”
“Then why when I walked in... No, never mind. Mood or not, you have to stop when someone else is watching. Actually, who the hell masturbates at work in the first place?”
Iris, whose raised arms were trembling, scanned her surroundings and tilted her head as if she truly didn't understand.
“This is my space.”
“But it’s open to the public.”
“The door was closed.”
“It’s a door anyone can open. It’s no different from an open space.”
Iris averted her gaze, seemingly having run out of excuses.
“Sigh. Just put your arms down and sit properly for now.”
“Okay.”
Her face didn't show it at all, but her arms must have been quite sore, as they shook violently when she braced them against the desk while sitting down. What exactly is wrong with her face? She looks perfectly normal, yet she doesn't crack a single expression.
I can't leave her like this; who knows what might happen.
“Alright, from now on, masturbating in the magic item shop is forbidden.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, ‘why’? Did you even listen to a word I said?”
“Then where should I do it?”
“Why are you asking me that...? Do it at home.”
“This is my home.”
“Ah.”
Is this person the same type as Ravi? At least the Sateria Appraisal Office had something resembling a bed, but this place didn't even seem to have a spot to lie down. Though, I did hear her mention a bed once before. Given how high the roof was compared to the ceiling height, there must be an attic or something.
“Then, uh... lock the door properly and put a latch on it so no one can open it before you do your business.”
“Got it.”
“Do you really get it?”
“Yes.”
“Tsk...”
Since nothing showed on her face, I couldn't tell if she actually understood. Still, she didn't seem stupid, and she did say she understood.
“Let’s make sure this doesn't happen again.”
“What doesn't happen?”
“Me seeing you... masturbating.”
“Do you hate it?”
“It’s not that I hate it, exactly... but don't you hate it?”
“No.”
“Well, you should...”
* * *
“My head is spinning.”
I left the magic item shop after a conversation that consisted of 90% nagging and 10% information regarding the Evil Eye’s vision. It was getting late, probably around 4:00 PM, and I had something specific in mind to do.
“It’s a long walk.”
It was about a two-hour walk from the nearby Northeast to the West. As I entered the Northwest, I was greeted by that characteristic atmosphere of a wealthy neighborhood. The people walking the streets were practically dripping with money, and high-grade explorers were loitering here and there.
Whether high-quality or low, carriages were significantly more common here than in the Southwest, and there were no merchants boisterously hawking their wares on the streets. Instead, the shouts of kids selling newspapers filled the air, though I didn't see many people actually buying them.
“Where was it again?”
The restaurant I had visited with Theodora was still vivid in my memory. I liked that the food was delicious, but I also appreciated the wide, clean glass windows that offered a brilliant view of the city at night.
Since I was the one who invited Sera to dinner, it was only right that I look into this. After wandering around for a bit, the restaurant building I remembered caught my eye. Unlike the other buildings, it was tall—a stark white structure nearly seven stories high.
—Tinkle
As I stepped inside the restaurant to the sound of a clear bell, I felt a bit intimidated without Theodora by my side. She was born rich, so she could walk into expensive places like this without a second thought.
“Do you have a reservation?”
“No, I’m here to make one.”
“Sir, our ‘Oro’ operates on a VIP system. We only accept reservations from distinguished guests.”
“Hmm.”
“Do you happen to have a plate or a business card to prove your identity?”
Well, this is a problem. It was obviously high-end, and it looked like a Gold-grade Explorer’s Plate wouldn't be enough. Theodora probably made her reservation easily because of the Lymain name. But I couldn't exactly go to her now and ask her to book it for me.
Besides, as far as I knew, Theodora wasn't even in Calax right now. I rummaged through my pockets, but as expected, I didn't find anything useful.
“Hm? What’s this?”
There was a piece of paper in the small watch pocket inside my trousers. I pulled it out and held it up...
“That is...”
“Ah. I got this from Ms. Ariel.”
It was the business card I had received from Ms. Ariel, the owner of the clothing store called Blanc Noir, when I went there with Theodora.
“Sir...? May I check that for a moment?”
“This? Oh, this isn't my card. I just got it when I visited a clothing store.”
Still, since he asked to see it, I showed the card Ms. Ariel had given me to the staff member at the desk. He pulled over a stand with a magnifying glass, peered at it, and then suddenly hurried off somewhere.
“What the? Where’d he go?”
I didn't have much use for it, but it felt wrong to let someone just walk off with a card I’d been given. Before long, a man who looked like a manager returned with the staff member.
“Greetings. I am Robert, the operations manager of Ristorante Oro. I heard you presented this business card.”
“Yes. That’s right, but it’s not my card.”
“Ahaha, I am aware. This is the business card of Ms. Ariel Noir, the general manager of ‘Blanc Noir.’”
“Noir... Ah, right.”
I only just learned her last name was Noir.
“It is no ordinary business card. May I ask how you are acquainted with Ms. Noir...?”
“Huh? Well, just... I went there with a girl I know.”
“A lady you know...?”
“Theodora. We came here once before, about two weeks ago. You probably don't remember the name, though.”
As the manager stroked his chin in thought, the female receptionist at the desk, who had been listening in, urgently tapped the manager’s arm and whispered to him.
‘Manager...! He’s the gentleman who came here alone with Lady Theodora Lymain...!’
Of course, a whisper is supposed to be a secret between the speaker and the listener. I just pretended I hadn't heard, and the manager handed Ariel’s card back to me.
“I will escort you to the fifth floor.”
“Ah, okay.”
And so, I took the elevator to the fifth floor with the manager. There weren't many people dining, and I reserved a seat while looking at a floor plan.
‘This looks like the same spot where I ate with Theodora.’
“For which date and time would you like the reservation?”
“Tomorrow evening. Is there a vacancy here by the window?”
“Ah, tomorrow evening... Yes, we have availability. All tables are currently open, so we can seat you anywhere you like.”
What, I guess they don't have as many customers as I thought. Then again, if they only serve ‘distinguished guests,’ it’s not like the place would be packed 24/7. I made the reservation for the spot that looked the best and paid for everything in advance.
Sera might be thin, but she eats well, so I chose a high-quality, multi-course meal with plenty of food.
“That will be 12 gold coins.”
“Right.”
‘Gah!! My money!!’
I expected it to be expensive, but this far exceeded my predictions. Twelve gold coins for a single meal? A set meal at the Mounted Goat Inn, which is delicious, nutritious, and filling, costs 50 copper coins. What kind of logic-defying price is this, dammit!!
Fortunately, the fact that the bounty on that Human Hunter guy was 30 gold coins offered some comfort. I don't remember much since I was unconscious, but he must have killed quite a few people given his combat prowess.
Considering he pushed me to the point where Tenebrax’s heart manifested, he was definitely strong. The claim that he could kill even a Cobalt-grade explorer was likely no lie.
“Phew, that cuts to the bone.”
Stepping outside, I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky; the sun was already beginning to set. Still, I felt relieved having finished most of the tasks I had planned. All that was left was visiting the workshop according to Theodora’s schedule.
And I needed to go to the Mayerbridge Union to coordinate the training schedule with Delbaheim. Oh, and I also had to discuss whether or not to bring Rubica into the party. I figured I could talk that over with Theodora when I went to the workshop.
* * *
“Yoo Eon? Where have you been?”
“Ah, Sera.”
“You said you were just dropping off Ms. Sateria. What took you so long?”
That’s what Yoo Eon had said when he left the inn around noon. He had ended up handling various scheduled tasks, and quite a bit of time had passed. It was now 7:00 PM, and the sun had already completely vanished.
“I had a few things to take care of, so it took longer than expected. Nothing happened at the inn, right?”
“Well... nothing special happened at the inn, but...”
“Hmm?”
Sera turned her head away. In a rare display, she pouted and sat back down at the desk.
“What is it, Sera? Tell me.”
“Hmph. Did you forget we were supposed to have dinner tomorrow?”
“No. Of course I remember.”
Naturally, since the task Yoo Eon had just finished was reserving the place for that very dinner, there was no way he had forgotten.
“I wanted to talk about where to go, but it’s late now and the dinner rush will be starting soon.”
“Ah... Was that something we were supposed to discuss together...?”
Sera let out a long sigh at Yoo Eon’s words. Leaning her chin on her hand against the desk, she thought to herself.
‘How can men who hold swords be so thoughtless?’
She recalled her mother’s words to her when she was a little girl, on a day her father was being soundly scolded with a ladle.
‘Never bring a man who holds a sword into this house.’
A perfect example of this was her father, Roland Otmarie. Though it wasn't obvious from his appearance, he was the biggest layabout in Calax, always drinking and passing out on the street.
He was an explorer who had reached a high grade and earned well by working with like-minded comrades for a long time and luckily obtaining a good skill...
But he always took the money he earned and went straight to the gambling dens.
“Phew.”
Seeing Yoo Eon ask if the dinner they were supposed to have together was ‘something they should have discussed together,’ a troubled Sera let out sharp huffs of breath, pretending she wasn't bothered.
She felt a little resentful toward Yoo Eon, who sat before her scratching his head with an awkward expression.
“Um... I’m sorry, Sera. For deciding on my own.”
“Huh? Deciding what?”
“The place for dinner. I already made a reservation...”
“Ah... what...?”
While the true meaning of Yoo Eon’s words was ‘I already made a reservation,’ what Sera understood was ‘You decide on your own.’
“Now that I think about it, you’re right. You probably had something specific you wanted to eat, Sera.”
“W-Wait a minute, Yoo Eon! You already made a reservation...? Where...?”
However, seeing the small smile playing at the corners of Sera’s mouth, Yoo Eon finally realized he hadn't messed up.
“Ah... ahem. That will have to be a secret until tomorrow evening.”
“W-What is with you, really...!”
Watching Yoo Eon’s back as he hurried up to the second floor,
“Seriously, what is it with him...”
Sera could only stand there, repeatedly stroking her reddened cheeks.