Chapter 99

When I returned to the hotel, I went up to the third floor and entered my room, number 304.

Then, as Helen started rolling around on the bed, I sat at the table and began reading.

After a while, I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in."

In response, the door opened slightly, and Erica peeked in.

"Good work today."

"Yeah... Are you alone? Where are Leonora and Adelheid?"

"We were studying together, but they said they wanted to finish at a good stopping point. They should be here soon."

"I see... Well, come in."

With that, Erica entered the room.

She then sat on the bed at the back and started petting Helen, who was sprawled out.

"How was your first day back at headquarters?"

Erica asked with a smile.

"I was reminded again how important greetings are."

"Of course they are."

Erica chuckled, and then there was another knock on the door.

"It's open."

In response, Leonora and Adelheid entered the room.

"---Yahoo!"

"Good work today."

Leonora seemed to be in high spirits.

"You seem energetic. What's up?"

"I finally finished studying. What were you talking about?"

Leonora asked as she sat down next to me. Meanwhile, Adelheid sat across from us, and Erica was playing with Helen on the bed.

"We were talking about how important greetings are."

"Very important, indeed."

"Absolutely."

Poke.

"How's the studying going? Are you ready for the exam?"

"I've done all I can. Now it's just a matter of submitting it tomorrow."

"Right. At this point, it's best to get some rest early and prepare for tomorrow."

"I'll do my best."

You seem pretty confident.

"Well, even if you don't pass, it's not a big deal. Just take it easy."

After a while, the hotel staff brought us our meal, and we all started eating.

"The food is top-notch here..."

Erica, representing the common folk, seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"It's delicious, but the food you make is even better, right?"

Huh?

"Yeah. But let's enjoy this meal for now. We don't get the chance to eat here often, and this pan-fried pork is really good."

"That's duck, actually."

Oh, right...

"Is Sieg going to work on the magic sword tomorrow?"

Erica asked.

"Yeah. We have a week, so you can enjoy yourself until then."

"I want to go shopping."

What's that supposed to mean...

"Erica, I'll take you to show my gratitude for guiding Rito."

"Yay! Thank you!"

Yeah, let the girls go together.

I don't know many places other than the alchemy shops, supermarkets, and bakeries.

"Sieg, what kind of magic sword are you making? Is it going to be good?"

This time, Leonora asked.

"I'm making a lightning magic sword."

"Sounds cool."

"Actually, I think it will look cool, but its practicality is questionable."

Well, elementary school kids prefer lightning over fire, right?

"It's a show-off magic sword, after all. I'm supposed to help, but will I really?"

Nope.

"I'm using Chris's workshop, so when you have free time, could you keep Dorothee company? Chris hasn't returned yet, and she's getting gloomy."

"She hasn't come back... Poor Dorothee."

"She likes your hair, so I'm counting on you. Today, she kept playing word chain games while working."

And I won every time.

Does she think she can beat me?

"Word chain games..."

"She really likes them."

She kept asking for rematches.

"Hmm... Oh, what about the reward?"

"Right. They're giving us an extraction machine, a disassembly machine, and a lot of magic herbs. You can take as many as you want."

The generous headquarters leader.

If I said that out loud, I might get hit.

"Wow! That's great! Now I won't have to hurt my back!"

"That's good for me too. I'm scared of going outside."

"Sieg, it also looks bad if you just seem to do nothing."

True, true.

Erica, the saint, is considerate as always.

"Now I have a plan for when I get back. You can play freely after the exam."

"Sieg, let's go on a date!"

Leonora really likes dates.

"Where to?"

"Let's go sightseeing together."

Is that a date?

No, I've learned.

The atmosphere is important.

If the person says it's a date, then it is.

"Sure, but are there any places to sightsee in the capital?"

I asked Adelheid, who had lived in the capital for a long time.

"There's the castle, the central fountain, and the cathedral."

Castle, fountain, cathedral...

"Will that be fun?"

I'm not really drawn to it...

"Please accompany Erica, who is visiting the capital for the first time."

"Sieg, it's not about where you go, but who you go with."

Right...

"Well, we have a week. Let's invite Dorothee and take her mind off things."

"That's a good idea. Birds are meant to be outside, after all."

Going out...

Now that I think about it, I'm from the capital, but I've hardly been to any tourist spots. Maybe it will be fun to go.

"Sieg, is there anything else at headquarters?"

This time, it was Adelheid, with a slightly worried expression.

"Not really... Oh, thanks for the information about my colleagues. It helped a lot."

"Did you meet them?"

"I ran into Marta at the magic stone production team's shared workshop when I went to get materials for the magic sword. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have recognized her at all."

Phew, phew.

"That's good. Marta has been talking about you quite a bit."

"Average 50 points?"

"Exactly."

Now, with a 35-point boost in humanity, I have 67.5 points.

"That was close. Well, that's about right. The only other thing was Therese's dead eyes."

"That's... But Marta did say she was extremely busy on the phone."

It did sound tough.

"Sieg, there's also the matter with August."

Helen, who had been curled up and eating, raised her head.

"Oh, right..."

I had forgotten.

"August? Did you meet him?"

"We passed in the hallway. I didn't recognize him because he had cut his hair."

"Oh, right. I remember he cut it right after you transferred."

That sounds unpleasant...

"At first, I didn't recognize him, but he came up to me."

"You really don't get along, huh..."

No, rather...

I'm not sure if I should say it, so I glance at Helen.

"I think it's fine to say. It's better for Adelheid to know, just in case."

"Well, we might be mutual admirers."

"I don't think so, but if that's the case, I'll be Cupid. It's fine, right?"

I see...

"You don't have to say it. I understand everything."

Adelheid looked displeased.

"Do you dislike him?"

"Of course..."

So that's how it is...

I don't know the details of their relationship, so I can't really tell.

"Sieg, it's hard to like someone who badmouths your friend and mentor. I haven't even met or seen the person, but I dislike them. The only good thing I can say is that they indirectly brought you to Rito."

Leonora explained.

"I see..."

Family enemies are enemies... Chris said that too.

We continued talking while finishing our dinner and then disbanded early to prepare for the next day.

This is a special update to celebrate the release of a book, even though it's not the regular posting day. (Promotion)

While not related to this work, another novel, "35-Year-Old Single Yamada Wants to Build an Ideal Second Home in an Otherworldly Village," has its first volume released today by Kadokawa BOOKS. Please check it out if you're interested. (Link available below)

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