NOVEL NEXT Chapter 45
Chapter 45 – Rina’s Shop 4
Meanwhile, I…
Was continuing a really laid-back lifestyle.
During the first two weeks after quitting, there were many days where I just slept. After the feeling of liberation wore off, exhaustion hit me hard, and I didn’t feel like doing anything.
But at some point…
Energy began to well up from deep within my body. It was almost as if my body was telling me to get up and go.
Lately, my current hobby has been taking slow walks. By doing so, I notice things I would have otherwise missed, like flowers blooming in an alley or a forgotten park on top of a hill. I was overjoyed when I stumbled upon a gathering place for sleeping cats.
Well, even if I were to tell others, I doubt they would understand.
As for Luca, she grumpily said:
“Hey, why don’t you make something with me?”
“That’s right, partner! Let’s do a joint project.”
Lina suggested:
“Let’s play house, Aix nii-san!”
Nitra’s friend, Lai-nee, who seemed to have developed a taste for treasure-hunting, always approached me with a sparkling face, saying,
“Goshujin-sama, let’s search for treasures together.”
Every time we meet, she invites me, and Nitra looks bored on the side, which is funny.
Although I’ve tried playing these games a few times, none of them clicked with me. They were amusing, but not that interesting.
As for Nitra’s tag game, it was impossible. With no athletic ability whatsoever, I couldn’t even catch one little girl. It never ended until I set up a kebab trap, so it became like a kebab game.
While immersing myself in these recollections on the streets, I was greeted by a man wearing an apron stained with blood. Was he a craftsman or something?
“Hey, defective mage, you’re just the person I’ve been looking for! I’ve been in trouble. Can you sharpen my knives? Only about ten of them.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not taking any requests anymore.”
I declined, and he looked surprised.
Well, previously, my acceptance rate was 100%.
“Huh? It won’t take you that long. Just do it for me!”
“I refuse.”
Oh, he’s getting angry.
“Tch, acting all high and mighty! Fine then, I’ll just take it to a sharpening shop. It so expensive, damnit!”
I’m used to it now.
As Luca said, it seems the world keeps going even without me.
Since that day, I’ve been turning down requests. Requests like the water jug, bath, everlasting ice, increased sharpness of a kitchen knife, and so on.
Everyone looks surprised and asks, “Why?”
But the truth is, I just don’t want to work. Sorry for such a shallow reason.
There are various reactions, like people who easily give up or those who worry, throw insults, get angry, or threaten me.
I stretch and let out a sigh.
It feels liberating.
The vivid blue sky with fluffy clouds makes me feel good.
“Oh!”
I suddenly remember aunty telling me to come and have some cloud candy, so I stop by Rina’s shop.
Cloud candy revenge.
This time, even if I failed to catch it up, I’ll have them make it again. Victory is guaranteed. Teehee.
“World tree seeds?”
Today’s daily special item is exceptionally dubious. This is a general store, right?
“Aix nii-san! You came to see Rina?”
“Y-yes.”
The voice that called out from behind was Rina’s. Written on her smiling face was “You came to see me, right!?” I was forced to agree with her because of her infectious smile.
No, I can’t very well say that I came here to eat cloud sweets.
“No, I can’t say that I came to eat cloud sweets.”
“Hehe, oh! Fluffy, want to eat?”
“Yeah!”
As expected of Rina.
She rushed back into the store.
“Aix-nii is here. Bring out the cloud powder quickly.”
“Okay okay. The cloud powders are here.”
Passing the time while waiting.
Haha. I wonder who would buy such suspicious seeds that may or may not be real.
“Welcome, Aix-kun!”
“Just came to hang out.”
As the aunty placed the cloud powders into a machine, it began to make loud noises as Rina worked hard to create the candies.
“By the way, Aix-kun. There was this woman who looked like a junkie wandering around. Did you do something?”
“Huh? I have no idea.”
The receptionist?
It’s not her. Oh! It might be Luca.
“Was that girl talking to a stuffed toy?”
“No, I don’t think she had one. Plus, she’s an adult.”
Hmm.
I feel a little relieved, yet I don’t want to know.
Rina is angry, with her finished cloud sweets in hand.
“Did you cheat?”
“N-No, it’s not like that.”
Rina is just a child, isn’t she? She’s too young to understand about cheating or anything like that, right?
It seems that I gave the correct answer, as Rina happily gave me the prize of the cloud sweets.
“Thank you.”
“Hehe.”
Oh, it’s delicious.
It is a nostalgic taste, and it seems to disappear with a fizzy feeling in my mouth, but I like it.
When I was able to use advanced magic, I flew into the sky to eat real clouds, but it became cold and I returned halfway, so I still don’t know what clouds taste like.
“Thanks for the meal.”
“See you later.”
As I parted ways with Rina and walked a little further, I met the junkie that had been rumored about.
The flag was recovered too quickly.
Her eyes are dangerous.
The woman with dangerous eyes and dark circles noticed me and ran towards me with a happy expression.