kscans

Chapter 122 - Living Together

A week had passed since Ash, Ren, and Esha began living at the base.

During that time, Stampedes had occurred twice, destroying several facilities. While the Imperial Capital and the demon capital were not places where pieces of the treasure could be stolen, they couldn't be left in ruins, so Hayato was creating restoration items for them.

Today, too, Hayato logged in early in the morning and began making restoration items and equipment for future battles. He wasn't working in his room, but in the dining hall.

If he holed up in his room making items, Ash and Ren would hesitate to come to his room. Although it was only in the mornings and evenings, since they were living together, Hayato had started making items in the dining hall. Here, Ash and Ren would talk to him.

Just then, Ash arrived. He sat down across the table from Hayato.

"Morning. You're up early as usual."

"Morning. Is the usual bread and salad for breakfast okay?"

"Yeah, thanks. Ren should be here soon, so please wait a little longer."

"Got it... By the way, did you tell Ren-chan not to come in her pajamas when she's half-asleep?"

"...I'm sorry about yesterday. Ren's not a morning person. She seems to regret it herself, so I think it'll be fine now. This place is probably so comfortable that she let her guard down."

As Hayato and Ash were having this conversation, Ren came down the stairs.

She was in her regular clothes, or rather, fully equipped. She was even wearing her usual cat-ear hooded robe.

"G-good morning..."

Her voice was very quiet. She was also hiding her face a little with her hood, looking embarrassed. She hadn't been like this yesterday, but she must have remembered what happened yesterday morning.

It was a difficult situation. Should he ignore it and move on, or should he make a joke of it and end the conversation? Ren was at a sensitive age. The wrong choice could traumatize her. Hayato was at a loss as to how to greet her.

But Ash had a reputation for being indelicate.

"Ren. There's another man here besides me, so be careful. Hayato is a good guy, but he's still a man. Besides, don't you think those Bloody Cat kigurumi pajamas are a little old for you?"

"Brother! In times like these, you're supposed to act like nothing happened! Why are you bringing it up!? I'll curse you!?"

"R-right. I'm sorry about that..."

(So those pajamas with the blood pattern were Bloody Cat. Wouldn't regular cat pajamas be fine? And wait, I think Ash just said something like 'he's a man too'...)

Setting that aside, Hayato looked at Ren to greet her.

"Um, good morning. I thought it suited you. That Bloody Cat kigurumi."

"...Hayato-san, and you too, Brother. Please learn a thing or two about a woman's heart."

"But Ren, I'm a man. No matter how much I learn, I don't think I'll ever understand a woman's heart. Besides, I can't trust a man who says he understands a woman's heart. He's a swindler, that one."

"Don't make excuses!"

"...Yes, ma'am."

Ren sighed a little, then looked at Hayato.

"It's true that what happened yesterday was my carelessness, but if you're like that, Hayato-san, Esha-san will run away from you. No matter how strong she is, Esha-san is still a maiden."

"I think there's a misunderstanding. In fact, in that kind of situation, I'd be the one who wants to run away."

"You mean you'd go to Diite-san's place?"

"Could you not pile one misunderstanding on top of another?"

Just as Hayato said that, he saw Esha watching them from the stairs. Her gaze was indescribable, but it was a look that said she would never let him escape. However, the atmosphere was completely different from what Ren was implying.

"Good morning, everyone. I'll declare this first. I won't let you escape, Master. You will support me to the end. By the way, for breakfast, I'll have a large bowl of beef bowl. With extra scallions and red pickled ginger."

(When she says 'support me,' she doesn't mean in the real world, right...)

Ignoring Ren, whose eyes were sparkling at Esha's words, Hayato prepared breakfast for everyone, feeling a little anxious.

After breakfast, Hayato and Ash were drinking coffee, Esha was drinking melon juice, and Ren was drinking orange juice.

"Hayato, what's your schedule for today?"

"Um, I'm planning to make some restoration items for the demon capital. Mostly furniture. That should take about an hour, and then I'll go shopping in the Royal Capital. We also need some restoration items for the Imperial Capital, but we're out of materials. I've asked Relic-san to do some other shopping, so I'm planning to go myself for this."

"I see, then Ren and I will go with you for the shopping. It's just in the morning, as usual, right?"

"That's the plan. I'll be staying in my room in the afternoon."

"Got it. In the afternoon, I'll be going dragon hunting with my men. I'm leaving the afternoon guard duty to you, Esha."

"Understood. I have a report to make at the Maid Guild in the morning, so I will head there first."

After confirming the situation, they each began their activities.

Had started making items in the dining hall. Esha headed to the Maid Guild, and Ash and Ren each went about their own business in the dining hall. Although they were Hayato's bodyguards, it was no use being on edge all the time, so they were enjoying their respective hobbies.

Ash began to wipe his Dragon Eater and armor with a towel, and Ren placed her cursed items on the dining hall table and began to examine them.

After some time had passed, Ren, sipping her orange juice, looked at Hayato, who was producing many items.

"I always think this, Hayato-san, but you look like you're having so much fun when you're making items."

"Huh? Do you think so?"

Had replied to Ren's words while making items.

He had repeated the process of producing items hundreds of thousands of times. For Hayato, it was something he could do unconsciously, on the same level as moving his fingers. He could even have a conversation while making items.

"I do. Whether it's furniture, medicine, or food, you look happy when you're making something, Hayato-san."

"I see. I've always been cooped up in my room making items, so this is the first time anyone has pointed that out to me. I think I might have smiled when I made an item with a super rare performance."

"I want to see that smile! You've seen me in my pajamas, so let's share our embarrassing moments!"

"Is my smile embarrassing? But I'm making furniture right now, so I might not make that kind of smile."

Even if furniture reached a quality of five stars, it didn't get any special performance. He was happy that it was five stars, but he didn't think he would smile that much.

"Oh, right, speaking of furniture, do you two need any furniture for your rooms? I asked before, but since you're living here and guarding me, I want you to tell me without hesitation."

"I don't need anything in particular. I've put a lot of cursed equipment in my room, so there's no space to put any other furniture."

"I don't think I will, but please don't invite me into that room."

"I don't need any either. I like simple rooms, so I'm the type who doesn't want to put any unnecessary things in them."

"Got it. If you ever want anything, just let me know."

Had's impression was that even siblings were quite different, but to Hayato, who had no blood relatives, such things seemed fresh.

"Come to think of it, Dad was the type who didn't want to put anything in his room, just like you, Brother."

When Ren said that, a wrinkle appeared between Ash's eyebrows. But it didn't seem to be that unpleasant a topic, and he sighed before opening his mouth.

"That's true. I remember being surprised that there was nothing in his big room. But at that time—"

Ash stopped there and said no more.

"Brother? What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, no. What was it? The room was empty, but I had an image of Dad and many other people there, but I couldn't remember what memory it was."

"Hmm? You're still young, Brother."

"Even if you're not old, you can still forget things, right? Hayato, what's wrong?"

"Oh, no, I just finished making the restoration items. Well then, let's go shopping now. If you two have any shops you want to go to, we can stop by them on the way."

Had hurriedly covered it up. Ash's words had caught his attention.

(Could that memory be from the real world? It's probably better not to provoke it unnecessarily.)

Had thought this, then put the furniture he had made into storage once.

And so, the three of them set out to go shopping in the Royal Capital.