Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: A Very Painful Outing (3)
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(Omitted)
(Omitted)
I wanna get strangled by those legs just once...
Anyone who guessed the comments would go apeshit just from the title? Upvote lol
The Sparo Rapido Family.
A famous mafia organization in Area 49.
When he received the invitation, the man hadn't slept properly for days.
'...An invitation from the Family.'
They were the real deal mafia.
Not some half-assed gang of thugs, but authentic mafia with history deeper than the city itself.
With so much expectation...
His disappointment was all the greater in turn.
'What kind of organization meeting is this.'
It was just a bunch of local punks gathered in one place.
Even thinking they were somehow different from the rest.
The man downed a shot of high-proof grappa in one go.
'I really came here for nothing.'
With the booze fueling it, his irritation boiled up like a geyser.
On top of waiting for hours already.
What happened next was the man eavesdropping on the people around him.
"The meeting's prestige has really fallen. That rootless outfit. Looks like a first-time organization this time."
"...Doesn't a weird smell linger around that area? Kills my appetite."
The man followed their conversation.
And looked toward one particular 'lunatic.'
Black suit coat, yellow shirt inside, dark blue pants—an shocking color combo.
The clothes were covered in pilling.
Not torn, but you could tell at a glance they were extremely worn.
'What, is he homeless or something.'
A sneer escaped him naturally.
His judgment impaired by the high alcohol content, his patience at its limit from the long wait—it made his actions even more reckless.
The woman next to him looked pretty damn hot, too.
That was the reason.
"Hah, that guy's not even worth his size. Look at the clown clinging to his girl's hand."
The man picked a fight with the dimwit.
Bluntly, right in his face.
No cybernetic implants detected on the guy, so zero chance of losing, he figured.
"Hah, I was pissed anyway. Perfect timing. As long as no weapons—."
And.
The man's memory ended there.
The air froze solid, the surroundings plunged into silence.
All eyes turned this way,
followed by people's panicked breaths.
"......"
"......"
It was like a clown performing a magic show accidentally dropping a pistol on the floor.
In one word.
Awkward as hell.
Even a bit embarrassing.
I shrugged my previously shrugged shoulders back down.
'Was the ta-da a bit much.'
Thinking about it, in the movies I'd seen, it was more 'Ta-da!' than 'Voilà!' anyway.
But the water was spilled, the graffiti permanent, the accident irreversible.
If I'd gently patted the fallen thug's shoulder here,
- You okay?
- Suit guy over there, call 911! You next to him, get the defibrillator!
- Chest compressions, 30 times.
...and started doing first aid from my reserves training, that would've been weird too.
I'd look even crazier.
'Eh, nothing to be done.'
I turned to Liberra quite naturally.
"So, what do you wanna eat?"
"Uh, well..."
Liberra stared blankly at the fallen man, a bit flustered,
then quietly nodded and pointed to a table with a whole roasted pig.
"......That."
"Great choice."
Can't resist a well-roasted pig.
No chefs or servants in sight at the party.
I personally sliced into the pig's skin with a knife and plated it.
Serrk... serrk...
Amid the sound of cutting meat echoing,
Suddenly, I fell into thought alone.
'...Definitely.'
My personality had changed a bit.
I first noticed it after taking down three punks on the way back home (the grocery store).
I kept saying the outside was scary,
but if I was really that scared, I never would've stepped out of the grocery store.
And that's true.
Dropped into the game world overnight, nearly dying to thugs right from the start,
yet I recovered to normal way too fast.
Physically, and mentally too.
Looking back, it was weird facing the Bogers Gang members too.
Charging barehanded at guys with guns—what a perfect way to die, stupid move.
And then hijacking a truck to raid their hideout after.
'...Just now too.'
I knocked the guy down completely naturally.
My hand just moved on instinct first.
Even if it was to protect Liberra, pulling off the disappearing teeth magic myself?
If sudden anger management issues popped up out of nowhere, it'd feel like this, right?
Not a full personality change, but my temperament had gotten bolder.
I need to ask Christine properly...
"Uh, you can stop piling it up now."
"Oh."
A mountain of pork had piled up before I knew it.
Spaced out and cut too much.
Ignoring the stares from around me, I tried handing the plate to Liberra,
then belatedly realized the stack was taller than her head.
Can't do that.
Kid might drop it.
I cut the pork into small pieces and speared one on a fork for Liberra.
Liberra's yellow eyes went wide.
"I-I can feed myself...!"
"Hey now, kiddo. Gotta eat well to grow big."
"...I'm fully grown already."
Feeling my resolve, maybe.
Liberra flailed a bit, then carefully lifted her mask and chomped the fork I held out.
Felt like feeding sunflower seeds to a hamster.
"...Kid? Looks more like a short adult."
"What're you on about? Crazies do crazy shit. But a guy in that bad a state... been a while."
Focused on Liberra, the surrounding chatter went in one ear and out the other.
Oomph oomph, eats well.
And then—.
Thud... thud...
Heavy footsteps filled the party hall.
Men in crisp suits entered one by one.
They didn't join the party, quietly taking positions along the walls.
What the.
Bzzz—. A humming sound, then a woman's voice from the speakers.
[Everyone having a nice chat?]
For a split second, I thought it was that Random Encounter crap ringing in my head.
But the voice was different.
Game system voice is super upbeat, but this woman sounded extremely annoyed as she continued.
Made her voice feel sticky.
[First off, a little thanks to the organizations attending today's Family meeting...]
Drawling tail end.
The mood got pretty heavy.
[Originally... what was it. Oh right. Was gonna warn about those 'garbage bastard kidnappings' popping up in the old town streets lately, and discuss it.]
Her slow drawl sped up only for the curse.
[But some bullshit schedule popped up outta nowhere, so not much time left, sadly. Figure you all know what I'm getting at anyway.]
At those words, some people's movements stiffened scarily.
My sharp senses picked it up.
Reactions like they had something to hide.
[As always: warning first, then handling. So behave yourselves.]
Seemed that was all the woman wanted to say.
Soon after, the voice ended—.
[Oh, and one more thing...]
The mafia members waiting in the party hall turned their gazes to me.
[The Hotdog Man who went to war with the Bogers Gang recently and blew up a building all by himself... Hotdog Man?]
My shoulders shook.
Didn't expect to hear that nickname here.
[Yeah? Huh, weird nickname. Anyway, got some questions and stuff to discuss with him and his group. If possible, don't refuse and follow our guys.]
The woman's voice cut off there.
[That's it.]
Murmurs around us grew louder.
Most bursting with curiosity about the suddenly named 'Hotdog Man.'
"Hotdog Man? What kinda nickname is that."
"First I've heard that name. No way..."
The quick ones eyed the first-timers at the party—mostly me.
And.
"Will you accept the Boss's invitation?"
"......"
I swallowed hard.
Really didn't wanna go.