NOVEL NEXT Book 3: Chapter 79
Chapter 79. - Steak
"Whew, that was delicious. Can't I take this home?"
"Chigo, are you going to eat steak at night too? It's too greasy."
At Chigo's greedy remark, Fuyuki, whose stomach was growling from the oil and meat, chuckled.
Beside him was a young man staring intently at the menu.
It was Tenji, of course.
"Oh, yes, you can. There is no raw meat, but you can take some grilled one's home. Like this T-bone steak."
"Let's take it home then!... Excuse me, Waiter!~"
Chigo and Tenji showed no hesitation in calling the waiter as if they had not eaten enough...
Fuyuki just chuckled, not knowing how to react correctly.
[Hey, these people's stomachs are weird. Weird, right? Am I weird?] Fuyuki thought.
However, he was beginning to suspect that he was a bit odd.
It was okay. Fuyuki had a normal appetite. Only Chigo and Tenji seem to have overly hungry stomachs.
After ordering three T-bone steaks to-go, Chigo was ready for her after-dinner dessert. It was a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on a large plate.
Incidentally, one T-bone steak was for Fuyuki, but Fuyuki is still unaware of this unwanted extravagance.
"This is delicious."
"I'll make them at home, too. I'm sure we could make something similar with good vanilla cream and honey, and then we could buy some Oreos or something. Then there's something like... berries. I'm sure I can get some of that at the market in the morning."
"Tenji! Make ittt!"
"Then maybe I'll get up early tomorrow and make it."
In Chigo and Tenji's home, Tenji is solely responsible for all household chores.
It is a natural job since Chigo pays all living expenses. Still, Tenji is a little worried about Chigo's future because of her slack lifestyle, which is too much like being a NEET.
[Chigo, you're going bankrupt if you don't get a boyfriend who likes housework. Well, Kaido-san will be watching over her, so I don't need to worry.]
Chigo has already left the guild [Busy Man].
However, this is only temporary, and she plans to rejoin Leon's guild when she returns to Japan. Tenji has recently learned that there are many kinds of people.
The three finish their special after-dinner ice cream, lean back in their chairs with their stomachs growling, and puff out a satisfied sigh.
Then Tenji suddenly asks Fuyuki a question.
"What are you doing after this, Fuyuki? Do you want to go to the dungeon with me?"
"Me? I'm... Oh, I have to go to Dr. Kujira. Sorry, you'll have to go without me today."
"Dr. Kujira?"
"I don't remember if I've met him yet. What about Chigo?"
"Kujira - chan? Of course, I know him ~."
"Then the only one who doesn't know is Tenji-Kun. Dr. Kujira is a former Japanese researcher who is now a Mallorcan citizen and a hybrid researcher of magic formation and modern science. I heard he sold some original magic circles to Japanese guilds and companies."
[Spanish guy selling original magic circles? I don't know. That sounds awfully familiar.]
"Oh! Could that be the guy who made the stamped magic circle I stamped on the back of my hand at Chariot's entrance exam?"
[TLN: Magic Circles "魔法陣" - A magic circle is a totem extended based on a circle, usually drawn on the ground to practice magic or witchcraft.]
"Stamp magic circle? What kind of effect?"
"... To be sure."
Tenji was about to say that much when Chigo interrupted the conversation.
"I'm sure it was Kujira who created that original magic circle. Tenji-Kun, you knew it well."
"Yes, Mr. Fukuyama told me secretly during the exam."
"Mr. Fukuyama? Ah, that flirtatious guy."
"Yes, he is a very flirtatious person... But I really respect him because he is a very kind person at heart. Oh, and what will you do with Dr. Kujira, Fuyuki?"
"I had Dr. Kujira do some analysis of phantoms for me. That man is not only good at making original magic circles but also at analyzing and researching unknown callings. Would you like to meet him sometime, Tenji? Maybe he will agree to it with two words."
Dr. Kujira can analyze a lot of things. He used to be a researcher for the association and has more know-how than most researchers. He used to be an expert on calling quests.
"Oh, um... I've never even heard of that person's name... is there a reason for that? I've never heard of him in my textbooks..."
Seeing Tenji's apologetic face, they smiled.
"'That's what Kujira is"
"That's it."
"Huh?"
"The Superweird Mad Scientist."
"I should get going," Fuyuki said as he left the restaurant.
Unfortunately, Tenji could not learn anything about the researcher, Kujira, and the meeting ended.
"Then let's get going. Tenji-Kun."
"Yes."
They held three T-bone steaks and called for the nearest waiter.
"By check, please."
Chigo called the waiter over, putting on a strangely cool vibe.
Then, when he presents the payment terminal, the waiter politely answers using a friendly sales smile.
"Your bill has already been paid."
"Huh?"
Chigo unintentionally makes a bare voice.
Tenji, however, soon figured it out.
[Oh, it's Fuyuki, isn't it? He's still as plainly kind as ever.]
He realizes Fuyuki, who left the restaurant before them, paid the bill on his way out. He thinks Chigo is funny for going out of her way to say "by check" in such a cool manner.
Chigo finally noticed, too, and her cheeks turned a slight shade of vermilion.
"Okay, well, let's go."
"Yeah, Chigo-chan! Phew...hehehe!"
"Aah! You laughed! You just laughed!"
"I laugh at that. Normally people would say, 'Give us a bill,' but because it's a slightly more prestigious restaurant, people say, 'With the check, please' or 'by check, please.'"
"Boo!"
Chigo booed and left the restaurant, carefully holding the T-bone steak in her arms.
Following such a pretty back, Tenji also left the steak restaurant.
Chigo was waiting outside with puffed-out cheeks, and when she saw Tenji's face, she turned away with a pout.
[Oh, I'm sulking again. She's supposed to be four years older than me, but sometimes she acts like a child. That's kind of cute.]
"I can't go to the dungeon with three steaks."
"...No choice."
Tenji and Chigo thus returned home at once.
After putting the steaks in the kitchen refrigerator, they again reached the front of the fountain plaza.
Chigo takes Tenji's hand without any pretense of hesitation and murmurs the level.
"-- to the 21st level."