145 - - Episode 143 Gina

After receiving my home and furniture, I had some time left before my afternoon appointment with the Adventurers' Guild, so I decided to go to the liquor store.

"Well, that's everything, isn't it? Please give me the bill.

"No, I'm glad you're buying in bulk, but this is too much. If you want to use it for your business, show your commercial guild card and we can give you a little discount, okay?"

The liquor store owner was surprised and revealed that he could offer a discount himself. Is this a good thing for a businessman?

I certainly bought a lot, so it's understandable that I was surprised. Fifteen barrels each of ale and white wine for distillation, and five barrels each of red and rosé wine. Forty barrels in total, that's definitely too much!

I'm not a merchant and I don't plan to use them for business.

If so, what are you going to do with all this stuff? What if I told him that I would distill most of it and the rest would be drunk by spirits?　They're just worried about everything.

"Really?　...... got it. Well, I'll give you a little discount since you bought a lot. Six hundred and thirty thousand."

How much did they discount?　I'm a little curious, but I was originally going to buy it outright. I'll just remember what I got.

"Thank you very much."

You thank him, pay him, and leave the store, storing the barrels of sake, much to the admiration of the liquor store owner.

"Woohoo, I can drink a lot after buying all this!

Deane says, spinning around buoyantly.

（Deene, you bought a lot, but most of it will be distilled, so you won't be able to drink it.)

"Don't worry - I'll help you with the distillation. You'll let me drink the distilled liquor, won't you?

Come to think of it, Dineh likes freshly distilled liquor a lot, too. You're going to drink it for a reward? It's hard to say no when you're helping me. Maybe it's just the alcohol thing, but Deene is surprisingly shrewd. Let's leave the flirtatious Deanne alone for now.

"Well, Sara and the others want something to eat for lunch?

Sara is about to express her opinion in an unusually reserved manner. Is there something awkward going on?

"Um, Master. The sister from the cafeteria where we used to work said she'd like to meet you.

Come to think of it, you said something like that before. When he said bring me, he meant he wanted to see if I was okay with it, and I can understand why Sara would have a hard time saying that.

Well, he's been sharing his food with Sara and the others, and I'm sure he's important to ...... Sara and the others. I should say hi to her too. Otherwise, it will be hard for Sara and the kids to go visit her when she's on vacation.

"Okay. Okay, let's go to the restaurant. Can you show me around?"

"Yes!　Oh, but it's near a slum, so it looks old. Are you okay with that?"

You smile and reply, then remember that the place is rundown. Cleaner is better, sure, but shabby is fine as long as it's not filthy. Besides, you are just saying hello, so you just have to bear it this one time even if it is filthy. Well, I haven't seen many filthy places in this world because of the magic of cleaning.

"Master!　Gina's restaurant is delicious, so don't worry!"

"I'm fine!"

Followed by Marco and Kikka. You love that restaurant and your sister Gina.

"Don't worry. Please show me the way."

Sarah and the others nodded happily and led us to the dining room. Well, I guess I'll be judged, but am I dressed right?　In full adventurer's style ...... I feel like I should have dressed a little more decently as a guardian. ...... Well, let's just agree that this is the formal attire for an adventurer.

After a short walk down a narrow street off the main road, we came upon a stone-built diner that looked strangely old with chipped stones in some places. Sarah and the others are heading straight for it, so I guess that's where we're headed.

"Master!　Here!　Here!""" Here!

Marco and Kikka are surprisingly excited. They've been quite excited in the land of the dead and in the lake, but I've never seen them this excited in the labyrinth city. Sara, Marco, and Kikka are all smiling, they must really like it here. Marco and Kikka waved at me, and I waved back.

"Hey, Sara, Marco, Kikka. You're here again. I'm glad to see you're doing well.

Gina sister, it's been a long time. This time, the master is with us.

Sarah and her friends are happily exchanging words. That's Gina, isn't it? She's younger than I expected.　Her lightly wavy blonde hair is tied back in a sloppy bun, and what's most impressive is that you can see her fullness even through her apron.

I feel Sylphy is staring at me, so I do my best to avert my gaze. I can't just stand here, so I say hello to her.

"Hello, you must be Gina-san. My name is Yuta and I am the teacher of Sara and her friends. Thank you very much for the help you and Sara have given me.

I'll keep my head down. If I get in trouble with someone who loves Sara and her friends, Sara and her friends will be in trouble. I didn't have a beef with Eunice before Mel became my apprentice, so that doesn't count.

But you know what? Up close, this Gina girl is interesting. I don't know if she doesn't care about her appearance or if she can't afford clothes, but I think she's beautiful without any makeup.

If such a girl were to dress up, she would actually have a before and after like ...... when she takes off her glasses.

"Oh, I'm sorry you had to come all the way here. I was worried about these girls. They're so fat in their nice clothes, I was afraid they'd get sold somewhere."

Gina says, patting Sarah and the others on the head. ...... No, it's okay to be concerned, but why are you using that language?　That's almost a man's tone. It's absolutely wrong, an innocent bokkko can have a man's tone. But how about a blonde-haired, blue-eyed dynamite body speaking in a man's language?　Am I just being narrow-minded?

"Yuta, that girl has the gift of a genie."

Seriously?　No, so what do I do?　I'm getting a little confused with all the information that's being thrown at me. Let's finish one thing at a time. I look at Sylphy and tell her I understand, then turn to Gina.

"No, no, it's all right, you have a good reason to be worried. I wanted to say hello to you too. I'm not going to sell the kids, but I hope a simple hello will put your mind at ease.

Oh no, I blew the honorific. Calm down.

"Actually, I was relieved before I met you. But now that I've met you, I feel even safer. Thank you.

"I felt safe before I even met you?　Why?"

"Honorifics are fine. I should be the one to use honorifics, but I can't seem to learn them. No offense, but I'd appreciate it if you'd give me a break.

Gina-san bows her head with a bow. I really wish this beauty would learn how to use elegant language, but for now, let's continue our conversation.

"All right. Okay, I'll take it easy on you, too. So, why did you feel safe?"

"Yeah, the house serves booze at night, so all kinds of rumors gather. I heard a rumor that some kid from the slums had become a dragon slayer's apprentice, so I asked him about it and he told me about Sara and the others. You don't think a dragon slayer would sell kids for easy money? The only problem is if you're a pervert... but these kids are so bright and friendly... I'm not worried anymore."

Oh, I thought you said the Adventurers' Guild had issued a proclamation. They made such a big deal out of it, word must get around.

"I see. Well, I'm glad you're relieved. Sara and the others seem to like this store, so take care of them.

"Ha-ha-ha, I just fed him some extra food, but he's a valued customer now. I'm the one who has to take care of you.

Gina says with a giggle. Well, she seems like a nice person, so I don't see the problem. The problem is that ...... he's also a gifted necromancer.

How can you recommend a disreputable necromancer to someone who has a good job?　But she's nice and pretty, so I'll try to scout her out. You have to treasure encounters. If she joins our group, we can get rid of the suspicion that she's a loli shorty with a boyish sense of humor.

"So, Gina-san. Can I talk to you for a minute?

"Ha-ha-ha, you don't have to call me 'sir'. I'm not used to being called that, so it's a little embarrassing. I'll be busy in a little while, but until then I'll be fine.

"Okay, Gina. It's hard to talk here, so come over here for a minute."

Move from the front of the store to an empty space.

"You're overreacting. Is it important?

"It's not so much that it's important as it is that it might be bad for Gina's reputation, so I just wanted to be sure."

"Outward appearance?　That's kind of scary."

Gina looks a little uncomfortable. It may be scary, but I'm pretty sad too that I have to say that it's bad for my reputation to talk about my profession.

"Well, there's nothing to be afraid of. "Well, there's nothing to be afraid of, just in case she's hiding something. I'm just saying, Gina, you do know that spirits exist, don't you?"

"Can you be a genie magician, too, sister Gina?"

Marco, who was listening to the conversation on the side, took a bite. Sara and Kikka also looked surprised. I guess they didn't tell anyone. By the way, Bell and the others are probably bored with the discussion and are flitting around the area playing guard to see if anyone suspicious is around.

"Oh, I see. You know what I mean. You're the Dragon Slayer."

It's Sylphy who gets it, though. And please stop saying "dragon slayer" because it tickles my kitchen fancy.

Please don't say "haha, don't say "dragonslayer". So, I thought if you're hiding it, it's a long shot, but I thought I'd give you a scouting chance. Why don't you try to become a proper spiritist instead of the kind of spiritist that people hate?　It's pretty awesome."

Gina pondered my words. Does she have a pulse if she's worried about it?