kscans

Chapter 236 - The Greeting

Having sold off an area of the Frontier and obtained not just a large sum of money, but an absurd amount of gold, I also obtained my true gold, Kaede-chan. It might sound like I'm talking about her as an object, but compared to Kaede-chan, gold is nothing but trash. In any case, Kaede-chan signed the marriage registration, which was basically my proposal, so I couldn't be happier. And now, in order to become a true winner, I had arrived in front of a certain house.

"Senpai, are you okay?"

I was leaning against the wall of the house, my head bowed. Kaede-chan was rubbing my back.

"I'm fine, I'm fine..."

"No, your face is completely pale. Should we do this another time? Or rather, you don't have to greet them at all, you know? I don't really care about my parents."

Kaede-chan said something incredibly unconventional and cold-hearted.

"No, I'm really fine. I just remembered some unpleasant things because I'm wearing a suit for the first time in a while."

That damn old boss of mine. I'll cut him down.

"Oh, it's that... So it wasn't because you didn't want to greet my parents?"

"That's not it. I'm a fine young man."

No problem at all.

"Senpai, do you have guts or not? Which is it?"

"I do. I just killed my damn former boss in my head."

"That's scary... Senpai, Senpai. Calm down. There, there."

Kaede-chan hugged me. She smells so good and is so soft. The grim reaper inside my heart is being purified.

"Kaede-chan, I love you. I'll give you all my gold."

"Yes, yes..."

As Kaede-chan and I were hugging in front of her family home, I sensed someone's presence behind us.

"Who is it?"

When I looked behind me, a middle-aged man and woman holding shopping bags were looking at us with exasperated expressions.

"Excuse me, what are you two doing in front of someone's house?"

"We were wondering if we should say something."

Hmm?

"Do you know them, Kaede-chan?"

"They're my parents."

Huh...

"Hello."

First, I must greet them. First impressions are very important.

"Hello..."

"Seriously, what are you doing?" my mother-in-law asked.

"I came to ask for your permission to marry Kaede-san."

"Oh..."

"Kaede, don't tell me this guy is an idiot."

What a rude Father-in-law.

"He is."

Hey!

"I'm not an idiot."

"Yes, you are."

What...

"Ahem. Anyway, please come inside. The neighbors are watching."

My Father-in-law said, so we went inside and were shown to the living room. Kaede-chan and I sat side-by-side at the table, and my mother-in-law started preparing tea.

"You lived in a pretty nice house, Kaede-chan."

I said, looking around the living room.

"You think so?"

"It's a standalone house in Tokyo, right? That's amazing."

"Is it? By the way, how was your family's house, Senpai?"

Eh?

"Well, it was decent? It's gone now, though."

"Was it bigger than this house?"

"I can't say with your father right in front of me. That would be rude."

"Well, I guess so?"

It definitely would be.

"Kaede, this man is something else..."

Eh? Am I?

"Isn't he? Well, you can basically ignore anything he says."

"I see..."

Kaede-chan speaking so casually is fresh and cute.

"Here you go."

My mother-in-law placed the tea in front of us.

"Thank you."

I said my thanks and drank the tea. Mm, delicious.

"Mom, Dad. I called yesterday, but this is Okita Hajime-san, my senior from university."

Kaede-chan introduced me.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Okita Hajime, and I'm dating Kaede-san."

I said, bowing my head.

"Hm? Were we dating?"

Eh?

"We are, aren't we?"

We're living together.

"Since when?"

When? When was it? In my mind, we've been dating since around the time we went to Hokkaido...

"............With Kaede-san... huh? What am I?"

"Don't ask me..."

Umm...

"My name is Okita Hajime, and I have a good relationship with Kaede-san."

That should work.

"I see... I am Kaede's father, and this is her mother."

Her parents have very troubled expressions.

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law. Thank you for your time today. I actually have something very important to discuss."

"I imagine so..."

My Father-in-law nodded, his expression still troubled.

"Kaede-san and I have decided to get married. I came today to ask for your blessing."

"Is that so... Well, I've heard from Kaede, and she's an adult now, so if this is what you both want, then you should do as you please. Though I am extremely worried..."

Worried? Even though I'm such a fine young man?

"Umm, what exactly are you worried about?"

"I have my thoughts about your character, but that's for Kaede to judge, and it's not our place to say anything."

Aren't you? Aren't you saying a lot?

"I see..."

"Hajime-kun, was it? What is your occupation?"

Occupation?

"What am I again? An adventurer?"

"You retired, didn't you? You're a NEET."

NEET... Jobless?

"............Are you worried?"

"Try thinking about it from the opposite perspective. How would you feel if you heard your precious daughter was marrying a man with no job?"

Let's say Kaede-chan and I have a daughter in the future. She goes to school, graduates from university, and gets a pretty good job. Then, she brings a man home to get married. That man is a jobless bum.

"I'd probably kill him..."

He's a freeloader.

"I wouldn't go that far, but you can understand why I'm worried, right?"

"I do. I would absolutely be against it."

I won't allow it. I'll offer up Nanapon instead.

"Senpai, you're on this side of the table."

Kaede-chan pulled me back to reality.

"Ah, right. Father-in-law, I have money."

I have more money than I could ever spend. What am I really going to do with it... I guess I have no choice but to leave it to my kids...

"Is that so. I think that's a good thing. I'm not opposed to the marriage. But I am curious about what you plan to do now that you've retired from being an adventurer. Life is long, you know?"

That's true... I would never go back to a grueling office job, but having nothing to do might be a problem too.

"You have a point."

"Well, I've heard a lot from Kaede, and you've probably been through a lot. I'm not saying you have to do it right away, but you should think about that. You're still young, after all."

It seems he isn't really against it.

"I'll think about it."

"Good. Honey, should we order some sushi?"

"Let's do that."

After that, they really did order sushi for us and celebrated with us. My Father-in-law offered me a beer, and I drank it, but I was careful not to drink too much. I am capable of that much discretion.

Though, I did wake up sleeping on their sofa. I have no memory of it...