kscans

Chapter 248 - An Outing with Arc

The day after my outing with Lydia-chan, I came to a certain ramen shop with Arc. We sat at a table, facing each other, and looked at the ramen we had ordered.

"Isn't this a lot?"

Arc seemed taken aback by the ramen piled high with bean sprouts that was placed in front of him. Meanwhile, I was taken aback by the photo of Harry displayed in the shop.

"I told you so. Eat it, even if you have to throw it up."

"I, I'll eat it, but..."

We started eating our ramen. The visual impact was intense, but as expected, it was delicious.

"Yeah, this is good."

"It is... By the way, can I ask you something?"

Arc, who had already started drinking water early on, asked me a question.

"What is it?"

"Last night, you guys were looking at your phone with Lydia and making a fuss. What was that about?"

While we were looking for an apartment, he was playing an RPG by himself.

"I'm thinking of moving. To a bigger apartment than the one I have now."

"Oh, finally. That place is small."

It's not small. This is why underground dwellers are like this.

"Well, that's why we were looking at apartments. Oh, and by the way, when we move, could you help out with your teleportation?"

"That's no problem at all. I'll be coming over to hang out anyway."

To hang out, he says.

"Thanks. Want my boiled egg?"

"I don't... Want some bean sprouts? I can't even see the noodles..."

"I don't."

There's so much.

"I know you and Kaede are moving, but why was Lydia making such a fuss with you?"

"Lydia-chan says she can't go back to her life in Frontier. She says she needs air conditioning, she wants to sleep in a fluffy bed, and on top of that, she hates living underground."

"I see... You bribed Lydia because you wanted Mia."

He's a sharp kid. How did he figure that all out?

"You don't like it?"

"Lydia living with you, I mean."

"I wouldn't mind if you lived with Kaede-chan."

I wouldn't mind anymore.

"I'm a girl, though."

"I'm a girl too."

""...Let's drop this conversation."

It's pointless.

"You prefer air conditioning too, right? And we want to eat Mia's cooking, and we don't want to do the cleaning or laundry."

"Well, yeah, but... You guys are always complaining about being bored, so why don't you just do it?"

"Listen, I'm bored, but that's not the kind of thing I want to do."

That should be obvious.

"You're so selfish."

"I've been through a lot. I don't want to struggle anymore."

"You worked at a black company, right?"

"That's right. That's why I don't want to work anymore. But it was a waste to quit being an adventurer. I wanna cut something."

Moving my body was fun, and I enjoyed showing off my swordsmanship to Nanapon.

"That's scary... If you want to cut something that badly, shall I give you an area somewhere?"

"You'll give me one?"

"I'll give you some worthless place."

He gives it away so easily. Then again, he did trade the Emeraldus Mountains for just water and flour.

"Hmm, I'll think about it. There's the matter of my level, after all."

"True. If you ever become able to create a Philosopher's Stone, we'll really have to think things through."

About killing me, probably.

"I don't need something like that. Besides, the ingredients sound like they'd be insane."

"We don't have any information on that. Master, I'll give you half."

Arc finally moved the bean sprouts into my bowl.

"You definitely would have preferred the parfait, wouldn't you?"

"I should have gone for yakiniku."

This guy is enjoying himself way too much.

"This is a lot... I haven't eaten this many bean sprouts since I was a student. What happened with the party?"

"It looks like it'll be next week."

Next week, huh? Well, I'm free. I'm always free.

"Which one should I go as?"

"Whichever you like. Oh, but Eleanor would probably be fine, don't you think?"

Eleanor-san, huh.

"You really like me, don't you?"

"That's creepy, so stop saying it in Hajime's form."

Yeah, I find it creepy too.

"If someone attacks you, Lydia-chan, or the King, can I cut them down?"

"Cut them down. I'd really prefer if you kept them alive, but cut them down."

"I'm good at that."

"I know. It's scary when you're just staring at your sword sometimes."

That one's blade is dull, so it's fine.

"There won't be any problems if I or Yoshino-san cut someone down, right?"

"That part is fine."

"What about our attire? Should we go with the agent style?"

The all-black suit and sunglasses that Nanapon sometimes wears.

"Normal is fine. You're bodyguards, so there's no etiquette like that."

Then the black-robed witch style it is.

"I'll tell Nanapon and Yoshino-san. Let me know when you have the exact date and time."

"Got it... Master, here."

Arc finally placed his bowl in front of me.

"See, just like I said."

"My stomach hurts... I don't need dinner."

"You... can I eat all this?"

"Do your best. I'd like to see Hajime's cool side for a change."

For a change? Also, is eating ramen really cool?

Left with no choice, I shifted into a higher gear and finished my own ramen, then started on Arc's portion. To be honest, I was full, but it would have been a waste to leave it, so I did my best to eat it all. After I finished, I left the shop, suffering from a heavy stomach.

"Hey, can I ask you one thing?"

"What is it? Did I get fat?"

If you did, it's your fault.

"Are you a girl right now?"

"Can't you tell just by looking? I'm a girl."

With you, I really can't tell.

"And when you come over with Lydia-chan?"

"A man. Dandy, right?"

I really have no idea.