kscans

Chapter 312 - Popular Guy

Hayato and the others left the Tamer Guild. As they walked, Hayato let out a sigh. He had been recruited by the guild, but he simply didn't have the time for such a thing, so he had firmly refused.

What Hayato wanted to do in this game was create production items and sell them in his shop. And maybe participate in a few events to earn some real-world prize money. He no longer had the same fervor to win prize money at all costs as he did during the Clan War. Now, his feeling was that as long as he could relax and have fun with everyone, that was enough.

That was Hayato's way of thinking, but Maris looked disappointed.

"I think the pets would be happy if you joined, Hayato-san."

"…You’re not planning on making me cook Nekomanma endlessly, are you?"

"Of course not! We’ll have you make other things too!"

"That’s even worse."

Maris said, "I’m kidding," but Hayato didn’t miss the serious look in her eyes.

"By the way, Hayato-san, do you still have some time?"

Surya spoke to Hayato.

"Huh? Why?"

"I wanted to thank you, Hayato-san. It’s a bit early for lunch, but I’ll treat you to a meal. This won’t be nearly enough, though."

"…I have a little time. In that case, I’ll let you treat me."

After some consideration, he decided to accept her offer. Hayato could make any dish, so he didn't need to go out to eat. It would be cheaper to just buy the ingredients. But recently, Hayato had been learning about the female heart and gentlemanly conduct from Ren, along with Ash. One of her teachings was not to refuse a woman’s invitation. "That’s an act that brings shame upon a woman!" Ren had said. Yet, she had also taught that "being kind to everyone is out," so honestly, he wasn’t sure what to do.

He hadn't done anything major, so there was no need for her to treat him, but with Ren’s teachings in mind, and thinking that eating out once in a while would be nice, he decided to take Surya up on her offer. Maris said she knew a good diner, so they headed there. Given it was Maris, he thought it might be a pet-related restaurant, but it seemed to be a normal place. However, it was so unassuming that he wondered if it was really a diner at all. There was no sign, and if you didn't know it was there, you would walk right past it. It was located in a somewhat complicated alley with little foot traffic. Only people who were specifically looking for this place would come here.

Not long ago, the Royal Capital had the Thieves' Guild and the Assassin Guild, so security must have been worse than it was now. It was a game, so there was no need to think about it in realistic terms, but Hayato wondered if it could survive as a business. Surya looked at the shop with a slightly exasperated expression.

"Why don’t we eat at a place that’s a little easier for women to enter?"

"The salt-grilled saury set here is delicious, I’m telling you."

"I’m actually looking forward to that."

In the real world, high-end fish dishes were expensive, but in the game, they weren't that pricey. He would feel bad if she treated him to something too expensive, so Hayato was relieved that this was a reasonable choice. He was also grateful. If she had taken him to a popular spot for women, he would have felt uncomfortable just being there. Maris didn't seem to be the type to be considerate in that way, but he would welcome any place where a man could be without feeling out of place.

When they entered the shop, he was surprised to see that, despite his rude first impression, there were quite a few customers. It must be a shop that survived on regulars, Hayato thought. They took a table and ordered three of Maris's recommended dishes. They didn't order anything for Sieg, but the gruff-looking male owner in his forties glanced at Sieg from behind the counter and asked, "The usual?" to which Maris replied, "Yes, please."

"The owner is a cool guy. He seems to have his own way of doing things. I like him."

The man looked every bit the silent craftsman, and despite having just met him, Hayato’s impression of the owner was high.

"Actually, Sieg was the one who found this place! Since then, I’ve pretty much always eaten here!"

"Sieg is a smart one."

When Hayato said that, Sieg, still sitting on the table, closed his eyes and tilted his head up. Hayato interpreted it as a smug face.

Soon, three salt-grilled saury sets were brought to their table. The person who brought them was a woman in her thirties. She was probably the owner's wife, Hayato guessed.

(A husband and wife running a diner together…)

A vague image floated into Hayato’s mind, but he shook it away before it could take a clear shape. Maris, Surya, and Sieg looked at Hayato with puzzled expressions, but Hayato just smiled and said, "It’s nothing," before picking up his chopsticks and starting on the salt-grilled saury set. Surya nodded in satisfaction. "It really is delicious." The diner apparently served five-star fish dishes, and Hayato was impressed that such a place existed.

Sieg was served a regular Nekomanma, not the deluxe version. This was also five-star quality, and Sieg was gobbling it up. This might be the reason Maris frequented the place, Hayato thought as he resumed his meal. After they finished eating, they started talking about their future plans, mainly about the Eastern Country. Maris and Surya were making various plans, talking about what kind of yokai there might be, or trying to tame Suzaku.

"This is a huge help, though."

Surya smiled at Hayato, a smile so wide it was visible even with half her face covered by her clown mask.

"Um, what is?"

"Having connections in the Eastern Country. Like I said at the guild, there’s no Tamer Guild in the Eastern Country, so I was worried about what to do with Garland. I don’t mind camping out, though."

"Benny-san and Simon-san took a liking to Hayato-san, so I think they’ll let us use their base this time too!"

Maris said proudly. Hayato nodded. Whether they liked him or not was debatable, but he had secured a promise that they could use it.

"I contacted them from the floating island, and they said we could use it as much as we wanted. It seems Benny-chan and Simon are looking forward to our visit."

"I heard it before, but it’s amazing that you’re liked by both the princess of the Eastern Country and one of the Ten Holy Demonic Swords."

"Hayato-san is popular in the Eastern Country."

"Popular… well, I guess they’re grateful to me."

He had been caught up in various incidents in the Eastern Country, but the problems had been resolved in a good way. His contributions were high, what with the technique to destroy cursed blades, the battle with the Ten Holy Demonic Swords, and the creation of the famous sword Yatagarasu. After he returned, he started receiving regular messages from Simon. The Eastern Country itself hadn't changed much, but things were heading in a good direction with Benitsuru at the center, along with her new retainers. And every time he got a message, he was invited to set up a base in the Eastern Country.

"So, I don’t think you need to worry about a base or your pets in the Eastern Country."

"Treating you to a hundred salt-grilled saury sets wouldn’t have been enough to repay you. I’ll treat you in the Imperial Capital next time."

"Ah, um, before that, I’ll treat you two to something next time."

Hayato said, but Maris and Surya just tilted their heads. There was a reason for this. It was from Ren’s Girls’ Heart Study Group. No matter the reason, if a woman treated you, it was proper to treat her back the next time. That way, you could secure a promise to eat together again, or so the teaching went. Ren had drilled this into Ash more than Hayato.

He had tried to put it into practice, but it didn't seem to have much effect on Maris or Surya. In the first place, Hayato thought this was a technique for getting along with women and had nothing to do with the female heart.

"This is my thanks, so there’s no need for you to treat me, Hayato-san."

"Ah, um, well, Maris and Surya-san have helped me a lot too, so please think of it as my thanks for that."

"In that case, I’d like some Nekomanma Deluxe! Five-star!"

"If that’s what you want, I’d like some too."

"…If that’s what you want, then fine."

He thought Ren’s Girls’ Heart Study Group might not be very effective, but then he started to think that the two of them were a bit of a special case, so it couldn't be helped. They continued to chat for a while, but since it was getting close to his logout time, Hayato opened his mouth to suggest they leave.

"We should get going soon—huh?"

A man and a woman dressed as a butler and a maid entered the shop. They looked around and then approached the table where Hayato and the others were sitting. The two of them bowed before Hayato.

"You are Hayato-sama, I presume?"

Hayato was surprised. He thought it was a male butler, but the voice was female. Looking closely, he could see that she was indeed a woman. Her silver hair had been hiding her eyes, so he hadn't noticed, but up close, she was unmistakably female.

"A pleasure to meet you. My name is Ronios, and I am a butler for the clan ‘Shooting Star.’ I apologize for the impertinence, but might we have a moment of your time? My master insists on speaking with you, Hayato-sama."

Hayato’s mind immediately started racing. The butler and maid in front of him were players, not NPCs. The name they gave appeared on his simple profile display, and the text was blue. That was the mark of a player. And the clan "Shooting Star." It was a clan he had never heard of, and at the very least, it wasn't one that had been around during the Clan War. It was possible he had overlooked it, but at least it wasn't a top-10 clan, in Hayato’s opinion. According to what Jolt had told him, Hayato was famous among the top clans, and many people wanted to form an alliance. He didn't know if "Shooting Star" was a top clan, but he started to think that might be it.

"I am indeed Hayato, but is this perhaps about forming an alliance?"

"This will be quick, then. That is precisely it. My master would very much like to form an alliance with you."

"I’m afraid I’ve been refusing such offers."

"Please, could you reconsider? If you have any conditions, please present them, and we will do our best to meet them."

"No, it’s more a matter of my playstyle."

From behind her bangs, the butler glanced for a moment at Maris and Surya.

"You mean your playstyle of enjoying the game with NPCs?"

Don't say things like ‘NPC’ in front of them, Hayato thought, but then he remembered that the AI protection feature would probably prevent them from hearing it anyway. Still, if he had a conversation that Maris and the others couldn't understand at all, explaining it later would be a pain. He decided to end the conversation quickly.

"That’s right. Now, if you’ll excuse me, we’re leaving."

Ronios supported her right elbow with her left hand and put her right hand to her chin in a thoughtful pose. Then she lowered her hands and bowed her head.

"Understood."

"I’m sorry to have to refuse your kind invitation."

"No, we apologize as well."

Just as he was relieved that she understood, Hayato saw Ronios and the maid flash a smile.

"My master has ordered me to bring you, even if I have to use somewhat forceful means, so I apologize in advance."

As she spoke, Ronios and the maid each drew their weapons. In a corner of his mind, Hayato thought self-deprecatingly, it’s tough being popular.