Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Outing (4)
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Michiko had slapped me with a forced sex ban, so I wandered around farming items for my original goal.
Of course, in a shitty mood the whole time.
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The item farming method started near Souta, where I remembered the most from the game, and gradually expanded the search radius from there.
By the way, items weren't just in boxes—they were scattered everywhere: cracks in walls, under big rocks, even under some middle-aged guy's wig.
How long had I been at it farming items?
Right around when my stomach started growling. I sat on a bench in the new park nearby and checked out the items I'd gathered.
⚔ INVENTORY ⚔
[Aphrodisiac]
[Virility Booster]
[Reverse Bunny Girl]
[Stamina Recovery Potion]
"Heh heh. Not a bad haul."
The moment I checked my items, a pleased smile replaced the shitty mood from earlier.
It was a solid amount for one day, and I'd even picked up some straight cash during farming, so my wallet was feeling pretty good too.
Nah, actually, the real kicker was something unexpected I scored while farming items this time.
Namely...
[Mini Camera & Mini Recorder]
An item that's gonna be crucial for tackling Miyuki.
I'd planned to slowly chip away at her defenses like in the game, but with this? No need.
'Might as well fuck her quick since I'm doing it anyway.'
I carefully pocketed the mini camera and recorder with that thought.
This was prime conquest treasure. Gotta store it safely.
"Phew. Alright, time to grab some food."
We do all this just to eat and survive, after all.
I stood up from the bench.
My target was the convenience store Takuya remembered opening a few days ago.
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I rummaged through Takuya's memories and easily found the convenience store.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
"Thank you. Come again."
I microwaved a bento there and stepped outside.
The second the door closed, I stared at the convenience store bento in my hand and cursed.
"What the fuck? They won't even let you eat inside?"
Seriously? Even in cash-strapped Korea, they let you eat in.
I grumbled about the store for a bit.
"Haa... Fine. This is my fate."
I let out a deep sigh and accepted reality.
Whining wouldn't change shit anyway.
Next time, I'll go dark mode and force-eat my bento inside while the part-timer glares at me.
With that resolve, I scanned for a decent spot to eat.
First off, in front of the convenience store was a no-go.
With the ground glaring up at me like that, if I sat there, the bento might spoil before I finished—or melt first?
So, convenience store front: out. Nearby park...
Clang!
First one: under construction.
"Don't let go of my hand!"
Second: some drama shoot.
"Haah♥ Do it rougher!"
"You got it, babe!"
'Fuck.'
Third: Where you should've heard a woman and man moaning, it was dudes moaning instead.
If it'd been a girl's moans, it'd be like 19+ ASMR, but guys? Nah...
Parks were out too, for those reasons.
Problem was, no parks meant no good spots left...
'Anywhere quiet? Few people, cool place to eat.'
I sweated bullets pondering this for a bit.
'Oh yeah, isn't there a shrine nearby?'
Takuya's memory jogged: a decent-sized shrine popped up.
No live-in caretaker, from what I recalled. Should be fine to eat there.
Next destination: the nearby shrine.
Luckily, it wasn't far.
Situated on a slight hill in the flatlands, about a five-minute walk.
Path was a bit winding, but prime spot otherwise.
Tons of trees too—perfect shade.
I sat on the shrine veranda and popped open the bento lid.
Smell first: ...Passable.
Nice rice and meat aromas wafting up.
Plum on the rice was salty, but Japan. Whatever.
Alright, how's the taste?
I rubbed chopsticks in my palms, hyped for the bento.
Truth be told, expecting much from a 2009 Japanese bento was a stretch.
Almost 20 years behind what I knew.
Still bought it on vague hype from anime and YouTube raves. "It's gotta be good!" That vibe.
If it sucks, I'm boycotting for a decade.
With that, I snapped wooden chopsticks and shoveled in a big bite of rice.
Wait.
-Ziiing.
I tried to.
I felt a sudden intense stare from the side—I dropped the rice? Nah, instead I shoved it in with egg roll and plum for good measure.
Not the type to let a glare ruin my meal.
Chewed thoroughly, swallowed, then glanced over.
What I saw:
"What? Little brat got business with me?"
A long-haired, black-haired, black-eyed girl straight out of an anime flashback—cute as hell.
Just cute, though. No loli-con urges bubbling up.
More like "gonna get all the Chuseok cuteness" vibes.
Anyway, I asked the girl eyeing me—no, my bento.
She snapped out of it at my question, met my eyes, and said:
"I'm not a little kid!"
Saying that proved she was, but I didn't correct her.
"Whatever, kid."
Didn't hold back on "kid," though.
She bristled.
"I'm all grown up!"
"Looks like a kid to me."
"Height's everything?!"
"Yup."
Hmm. Sharp question for a kid. But.
"True. I'm short too. But other stuff's big."
"Liar! Prove it!"
"Nope."
I was a bold salaryman who could brazenly lie from facts (past tense).
She stomped in frustration, glaring, but I kept teasing "kid" coolly.
Maybe overdid it?
"Ugh, you're so annoying..."
Her cute brow furrowed, like I'd hit a forbidden button.
She muttered unintelligible words, and shockingly, her eyes changed color.
From black to pure white—opposite.
As I freaked at the eerie sight,
"[He's bullying me. Punish him!]"
The girl seemed to speak to someone in an unknown voice.
Couldn't see whatever it was, but I felt it.
The kid had summoned something here.
I pondered how to handle it, but
"[No way? What do you mean? You've been good to me so far!]"
Panic bloomed on her face.
More than that—
"[What? Look at him closely? What the... ]"
Terror toward me started showing.
"Hic, hic!"
Ah. Even crying now.
I couldn't make sense of the kid suddenly terrified of me, sobbing.
Annoyed at my face, then scared, now bawling—what the hell was I supposed to do?
Today's bullshit had me pissed enough already.
'Haa... She's just a kid. Maybe console her.'
I thought to soothe the girl—er, kid—but
"Waaah! Sorry! Don't kill me!"
Got close, and she wailed even louder than before.
Heaven help me.
After that, I spent ages calming the mystery girl.
So unfair.
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Finally, after tons of coaxing, she got that I was safe and not out to harm her. Then the tears stopped.
"Sniff..."
Bonus: She introduced herself—not a kid, but Misaki.
Explained why she cried. Kinda awkward.
"So you're a psychic, and you saw some creepy ghost behind me?"
"Yeah... sniff."
She'd seen a ghost.
I asked Misaki—er, kid—in disbelief.
"Like from legends or ghost stories?"
"Sniff. Yeah..."
What, you a shaman now?
"Haa... Sure..."
"You believe me?!"
"Dunno, dude."
Guess I attracted a weirdo.
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Farming items may yield objects necessary for episode progression.]
