Chapter 90
Chapter 90
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Sophomore Jinx (10)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"So, what exactly is going on here?"
"Well, doing it twice after once isn't that hard, is it?"
"That's true, but..."
While I cleared out some of my personal space to make it easier for everyone to wash up and change, Big Sis Reimi took the lead and set up futons in one corner of the cafe.
It wasn't like sleeping like this would cause any major issues or make things too uncomfortable, but I was a bit concerned about Ermina being part of it.
I wanted to sort out my relationship with Ermina properly, but she didn't seem all that interested in doing so.
Providing opportunities to get closer like this felt a little iffy, to say the least.
Still, I couldn't exactly voice those inner thoughts out loud, and with the three women in high spirits, it felt wrong to complain, so I just decided to go along with it.
"Big Sis. While you're at it, could you take a look at the bracelet on Karin's wrist?"
"Huh? Sure. Shouldn't be too difficult."
"Karin. Put your arm on the table where it's easy to see."
"Yep."
She'd just been in a staring contest with Ermina moments ago, and despite planning to squeeze in and sleep next to me with her tonight as usual, Big Sis Reimi's skills were the real deal.
If anyone in Astraea could figure something out from that item, it'd be Big Sis Reimi.
Anyway, she pushed aside the futon she'd been laying out, pulled a portable analysis tool from her bag, and lightly tapped the bracelet a few times while letting out some groans.
"Not much I can say for certain. For starters, it's not powered by standard mana circuits. I've rarely seen anything like it in my life, but it looks like something close to the divine artifacts handled by the Theocracy."
"Was it made in the Theocracy?"
"Nah. The fine details are different, so I'd say they share a common ancestor rather than being direct descendants."
"A technological ancestor, huh. Then it could date back before the Theocracy was founded."
"Not necessarily, but it's possible. Same roots, different branches—could even be something made surprisingly recently."
Forces plotting the revival of the Demon God don't pop up often. Same goes for groups messing with anything Demon God-related.
This damn jagged rock that sticks out gets smashed if it acts up without sufficient power backing it up, so they can't exist without that.
Even if two or three people banded together to plot a Demon God revival, they'd get crushed before they could fight back.
So, it only becomes feasible once they've gathered a bunch of sufficiently strong demons.
Which means...
"The last time those Demon God revival plotters showed up and got wiped out was 420 years ago, right?"
"...You remember that? Sounds about right, roughly speaking."
"Might be worth investigating around that timeframe."
Big Sis Reimi crossed her arms and nodded at my words, while Karin fiddled with the area near her wrist.
While we were talking, Ermina finished spreading out the futons and came trotting over.
"I know some people in the Theocracy. Should I ask for a little help?"
"...I'd rather hold off for now. If I had to ask one favor, it'd be to borrow some books from around that era or about it."
"Got it. I'll check."
I'd been feeling stuck on how to investigate—wondering if I should ask His Majesty the Emperor or the Magic Tower—but if Ermina was offering help, there was no reason to refuse.
Of course, I'd still check with His Majesty.
"The cafe manager's extra lively today—bordering on proactive."
"Even I have days like this."
"Hmm."
She probably said that because she knew I usually took a passive approach, but this situation was different.
There was a reason this damn status window kept showing progress updates.
If you don't advance the story properly, something big goes wrong.
Not always a bad end or world destruction, but some kind of fallout hits.
If you're asking why I ignored Ermina's storyline, before leaving the academy, I figured with two capture targets still left, it'd work itself out somehow. And once I started running the cafe, no news of a major crisis popped up, so I let it slide.
But Karin's issue is clearly tied to the labyrinth, and if something blows up there, Astraea's done for.
At the very least, I'd put in the effort up until I mentally checked out of the academy with a 'fuck it,' so now I had to hustle.
"Let's wrap this incident up neatly."
"I'll help however I can. Though with this being outside my wheelhouse, probably not much."
"Reimi sis."
"Yeah?"
She'd become 'sis' before I knew it.
It wasn't surprising since Ermina was the capybara type—friendly to everyone—but oddly, it felt like Big Sis Reimi was being dragged along.
Anyway, watching the two chat by the futons from afar, I turned to Karin.
"Just one request. Everything else is fine, but don't act alone on anything bracelet-related. Stick close to Ermina if possible, or better yet, contact me first."
"...Anytime?"
"Yeah. Just think of yourself as someone who needs protection right now. What can you handle solo when it involves the Demon God or Goddess?"
"Nothing."
"Good. I've been in warzones and politics, y'know? The best ones are those who know when they're about to bite it."
Those who excel at killing others are one thing, but ones who survive by going all-out solo are better—and stronger.
She nodded in understanding without rebuttal, so I nodded back.
"You must be tired. What do you want to eat?"
"Something sweet."
"You'll gain weight."
I didn't enjoy sexual innuendos, but Karin seemed the type where any fat went straight to her chest and hips.
Ignoring her strong protests from the chair, I made something like a smoothie—blending tropical fruits that were insanely sweet by my past life's standards, loaded with sugar and ice.
The deep blue from the pulp and rind looked delicious. It reminded me of the blue syrup in blue lemonade from my past life, stimulating my salivary glands.
"Here. As always, a menu I haven't tried myself."
"How does it always turn out perfect?"
"There are a few things you just don't do with food. Avoid those, and it usually comes out edible."
And knowing the raw ingredients' flavors lets you predict the result roughly.
Karin slurped it up with a thick straw, winced from brain freeze as ice hit suddenly, but kept drinking anyway.
She grumbled about the headache for a bit but wouldn't let go of the refreshing smoothie. Watching her, I smiled—then Big Sis Reimi and Ermina finished talking and approached.
"Oh. You crushed ice."
"Nothing beats this on a hot summer day."
"Cheap blenders get dull too fast. Can't use something like mithril in one either."
"This blade's mithril."
Big Sis Reimi's face turned to classic 'rich bastards' mode.
Ermina and Karin looked equally dumbfounded.
But it works great in practice. Grinds finely, doesn't dull, no rust.
Ignoring the glares from behind, I prepped drinks by swapping fruits one by one.
Meant for them to share by rotating, and sure enough, the trio took one each and divvied them up nicely.
"It's all nonsense that craftsmen don't care about tools. You can do basics with junk, but good tools make better results."
"Ow. Fine. You didn't use it elsewhere too, did you?"
"I did. Anything prone to impact damage or rust is mithril or a mithril alloy."
"...The cafe manager's first flaw as a partner is his spending habits."
"Hey. Buying quality stuff that's expensive but lasts is cheaper than cheap crap you keep replacing."
"True, but you pick only the best even for regular items."
That was fair.
My begrudging, speechless face must've been funny, because Big Sis Reimi giggled.
"Well, I like that about the cafe manager too. People can use nice things."
"...I always think Julius is cool."
"Is this where I chime in with praise? The manager makes it taste amazing proportional to the cost, so I don't mind."
"Honestly, I'd use good stuff regardless of reviews, but since it's praise, I'll take it gratefully."
To make sharing easy, I'd prepped straws in different colors and stuck three per smoothie. Then I freshly brewed coffee for myself.
My body's detox ability breaks down even toxic caffeine levels automatically, so I could drink as much as I wanted—a nice upgrade from my past life.
Coffee for me. Smoothies for the ladies.
And in the cafe with blasting AC, we watched people roasting outside in the sun.
It vaguely reminded me of my past life.