Chapter 513 - Mix Them and You Get Peace
"Ahhh, I get it. I totally get why you're always doing those unnecessarily acrobatic moves. It's a light warrior thing…—Oh, I'll go soak this in water."
"Yeah, thanks—though, no one is quite like you, you know? I have no idea how you don't get dizzy spinning around vertically and horizontally like that."
"Well, actually, my useless spinning isn't totally useless. It's a necessary move for situational awareness…—Can I put all of these in the fridge?"
"Ah, could you? Thanks. So you're actually looking around while pulling off those insane maneuvers. I can't believe you do that without thought acceleration."
"I actually got a thought acceleration skill recently."
"You what? No way. Wait, how many months has it been since you started?"
"Uh, let's see… A little over three months—wait, it's only been three months? Seriously?"
"I should be the one who's surprised. Could you stop acquiring end-game skills that are supposed to take years in some ridiculously short amount of time?"
"Don't ask me… Oh, sorry. I put the empty bowl away already."
"Oh, thanks for that. It's fine—Right. I wanted to ask this too, but is it true you can wall-run without any wall-running skills?"
"Wall-running-skills?"
"Okay, let's just stop. The fact that you're doing that with just your AGI stat is genuinely baffling. It's an absolute mystery how you don't slip and fall."
"No, wait a minute. I think I have a skill that assists with jumping on unstable footing. That counts as a wall-running assistance skill, right?"
"Every light warrior has that. I'm talking about gravity-manipulation skills, like the ones derived from Sticking Walk."
"Sticking-Walk?"
"…………Ah, right, right, Acrobat. Yep, Haru, you're not a light warrior, you're an Acrobat. I've never felt the system's naming was more on point than right now."
"Th-That doesn't feel like a compliment… So what, how do you even get that Sticking-whatsit skill anyway—Ah, plates."
"In the cabinet under that one, there should be some large round plates—Well, maybe it's just not spawning for you because you don't need it? It's called talent, I suppose. I'm so jealous."
"You can never have too many utility skills, though…"
"And that's a sentiment that only works if you have the talent to manage a ton of skills at once—Oh, that one is… Ah, right, right. Nice, if you think you can handle it, go ahead and plate it."
"I mean, in terms of total skills, I'm sure I'm nowhere near you veterans—Okay, you got it. I'll use every ounce of my nonexistent sense for this, so please be gentle with your judgment."
"Oh? Hmm, haha."
"What's with that laugh? It's creeping me out. Be nice to your junior—"
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It was still too early for dinner. The three ladies, who had been spending their time as they pleased, were drawn to the unusually lively kitchen. There, they found two young men in high spirits, engaged in an endless rally of conversation.
They chattered away nonstop, occasionally exchanging glances or confirming instructions as they moved around the kitchen in perfect sync. It was a clear display of perfect chemistry.
Haru was acting as Uni's cooking assistant, and their timing was so impeccable it was stunning. One would never guess that they had just met for the first time in real life today, but—
'…I guess this is what happens when you pit two similar types of social butterflies against each other.'
"Ah, haha… In the blink of an eye."
"They're getting along very well."
It seemed the irregularity of two people who could instantly befriend anyone clashing was not to be.
Instead, the two young men had come to a swift and predictable understanding. As the three girls sent gazes filled with admiration and other emotions their way, their host, Iris, stepped forward.
"—Uni, Haru."
"Whoops. When did the three of you get here?"
As they turned at the sound of their names, Uni fluidly passed a large platter with some kind of dish on it to Haru, who took it and glanced at Iris as he carried it away.
They looked like a chef and his assistant who had been working together for years.
"I just got a message. The three of them will be here soon, all together."
"Oh, really? In that case, I should probably get started on the grilled dishes—oh, we're going to start right away, right? It's about the right time for it."
"Yes, I think that's fine. …Should I help?"
Truth be told, when it came to cooking, Alicia White's abilities were average at best. She could do most things if she tried, but she wasn't particularly skilled or efficient.
Thus, it was rare for her to offer to 'help' with such a lack of confidence. It was simply because she'd never had many opportunities to cook herself, but… the Southern Faction's second-in-command, who was already aware of this, just smiled and shook his head.
It wasn't because Iris lacked the skill, but because…
"That 'assistant' over there is proving to be way too competent, so we're good. Could you all get the table and chairs ready?"
…they already had enough hands as it was. She knew Haru was a good cook, but it seemed he was also equipped with the know-how to support others.
For now, she was relieved that he seemed to have met Uni's standards as a fellow cooking enthusiast.
"…Mm, alright."
"Hey, what's with that look—and I heard, Iris, that was mean of you. What's this about my 'territory'? I'm not some psycho who gets mad that easily, you know. When Haru first came over, all timid and cautious, asking, 'Can I… help?', I had no idea what was going on."
Having read the relief born from her minor concern, Uni began to complain with a dissatisfied look on his face about the unflattering introduction he'd received. However, from her perspective, based on her memory of the past, she didn't think she'd said anything incorrect, and could only tilt her head in confusion.
"But, two years ago—"
"Yep, I knew it. I knew you wouldn't say something like that without a reason, so I was trying to figure out what it was, and I figured it had to be that incident."
"…Goldow was curled up on the floor, devastated."
"I did get mad, but it was justified anger! If some old guy who suddenly discovered his passion for cooking clings to you for three straight days, you'd tell him to give you a break too, wouldn't you!"
He insisted that he'd put up with it for three whole days and that it hadn't escalated into a fight. As he explained his side of the story and the facts, trying to clear up the misunderstanding with his leader…
Iris, upon hearing his explanation and thinking back… did recall that while Goldow had been sulking, he had cheerfully gone off to fish just a few minutes later.
I see. It seemed it was just a simple misunderstanding.
"I'm… sorry… ?"
"Nah, it's fine as long as we've cleared it up. You know, it takes a lot to make me angry. It really does—which just goes to show how much of a handful the General Commander is."
As he said this, the expression on his face was a mix of exasperation and admiration. In short, while the fact that he'd scolded him was true, it wasn't as if they were on bad terms.
She'd known that, but it was still a relief. Just then, the smartphone in Iris's pocket vibrated.
She pulled it out and looked at the screen—
"Have they arrived?"
"Mm, I'll go meet them."
Displayed on the notification was a supremely energetic message, one that looked like it could have been written by a young boy: "WE'RE HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE!!!!!!!!!!"
Next time, the boisterous old guys attack.