kscans

Chapter 56 - The Correct Way to Use Money Is to Spoil Someone!

"Senpai, look, look! Nine hundred million yen!"

Kaede-chan beamed, showing me her phone screen. But I was watching too.

"Kaede-chan, do you like diamonds?"

"I love them! Eternal sparkle!"

Making a mental note.

"But still, I have no idea how to spend this money."

"A man about to earn a billion yen is drinking canned beer and eating supermarket side dishes."

In a shabby apartment, no less. Not much has changed from my low-paying salaryman days.

"But I have the expensive Cabaret Girl, Kaede-chan, here."

"Sir, may I get you a bottle of Dom Pérignon?"

"Bring as many as you like."

"Yay!"

Kaede-chan put down her empty can, stood up, and went to the refrigerator. She returned with a beer and a bottle of Cassis that cost about 150 yen.

"Here you go, Senpai."

Kaede-chan handed me my beer.

"Thanks. Man, what do people even spend money on? I've already eaten crab."

Having been a commoner my whole life, I had no clue.

"What about sushi in Ginza? You said you'd treat me."

"Oh! Right, there was that. Let's go sometime."

"Yay!"

But really, it's all just food.

"I wonder what people in the world spend their money on."

"Clothes? Accessories? Cars?"

"I bought clothes. This shirt cost fifty thousand yen!"

"Hmm, I think it suits you, but I don't get a sense of extravagance. Maybe add another digit?"

Spend over a hundred thousand on clothes? Wouldn't it be better to just buy armor?

"Well, it's not like I'm that interested in fashion. I'd rather look at your cute clothes, Kaede-chan."

That knit sweater today was perfect! Kaede-chan has such a beautiful figure!

"Please don't say that while staring at my chest... This guy seems normal, but he's pretty drunk."

I'm drunk, I'm drunk. We're on our second set of digits, you know?

"Just kidding."

"No, I know you glance at them normally too. A girl can tell!"

Come to think of it, Saegusa-san noticed too! Maybe I should wear sunglasses.

"I'll be careful."

"Well, it's not a big deal. I wore this thinking you'd like it, Senpai."

Kaede-chan said that and chugged her Cassis. She was also about to hit double digits on her drink count.

"Kaede-chan, are you going to buy clothes or anything with the money from this auction?"

"I think I'll buy some, but probably nothing that expensive."

"What about bags?"

"I already have a fifty million yen bag."

Oh, right.

"Hmm, accessories, huh..."

"How about buying a watch? You don't wear one, do you, Senpai?"

"I don't like wearing unnecessary things on my wrist. It dulls my senses when I swing my sword."

"You sound like a master swordsman. Even though you've been drinking since daytime."

You shouldn't say that.

"It's just a feeling. In reality, wearing a watch wouldn't have any effect."

I was just trying to sound cool.

"Then what about a car... you have a license, right?"

"I'm just a paper driver."

I wonder if there's a place I can practice.

"Even when you get a lot of money and are told to spend it, ideas don't come to you so suddenly. For a man, how about spending it on a woman? Like at a cabaret club."

Hmm, a cabaret club...

"A senior from my company took me once when I just started working. It was a pretty high-class place."

"How was it? Was everyone beautiful?"

It's not jealousy. Just simple curiosity.

"They were beautiful, and it was glamorous. But I didn't know what to talk about."

"Ah... you're not exactly shy, Senpai, but you don't talk much, do you?"

"I can talk with you, though, Kaede-chan."

"No, you didn't talk at all at first. I thought you were a silent person."

Well, she's not wrong. I don't talk unless spoken to. I almost never start a conversation with someone I've just met.

"So even if someone like me went to a cabaret club... That's a place for people who want to talk."

As for women, there's also the sex industry... hmm, let's not go there.

"I see... That direction doesn't seem promising."

"Besides, I have you, Kaede-chan. Talking with you is more calming, and it soothes my soul."

"I'm so loved! How is your heart? Has the sickness healed?"

"I think it has. I don't wake up in the middle of the night anymore, and I can eat normally."

There used to be times when I wouldn't eat a single meal on my days off.

"...Senpai, you worked so hard. God gave you Alchemy because of that."

Kaede-chan said gently, her smile full of affection.

Ah, crap, I think I'm going to cry.

"Kaede-chan, you're starting to look like an angel. I want to hug you."

When I said that, Kaede-chan chugged her Cassis and put the can on the floor. Then, she spread her arms just like I had done before.

"Free hugs, for a limited time!"

I put my beer on the floor and silently hugged Kaede-chan.

"Hmm, the silence is kind of scary."

"Sorry, sorry."

To be honest, I want to push her down right now. Kaede-chan probably wouldn't refuse, but this apartment...

"Senpai, you have money, but let's not force ourselves to spend it. Isn't it fine to just use it when you feel like it?"

Kaede-chan rubbed my back.

"You're right. Let's go for sushi."

"Let's do that. Sushi or yakiniku is fine. Eat what you like, and live as you please."

That sounds nice.

"You should do that too, Kaede-chan."

"I will. I won't pay a single yen."

"I have plenty of money."

Nine hundred million! Eighteen hundred million for two!

"Right... well, can you let go of me now?"

"Just a little longer."

"Free hug time is over."

"I'll give you 1.8 billion yen."

"No, I really need to go to the bathroom, so seriously..."

Actually, I need to go too. I've been drinking too much, so I have to pee.

I immediately let go of Kaede-chan. She moved away from me and went to the bathroom.

After Kaede-chan came back from the bathroom and I went and returned, we started making a fuss while watching the auction again.