498 - - 496 times. - No, no.

The three-day course for the spiritist was successfully completed, although I had to repeatedly show my prank chants and actions during the graduation exercises. I was very proud to see that the graduates had acquired a level of competence that would make them valuable magic workers, and that they were in high demand among adventurers.

The training for the spiritualists ended successfully. I thanked Belle and the others for their help with many treats and desserts, and thanked Sylphy and the other great spirits by releasing a lot of alcohol in addition to them.

Belle and her friends were delighted with the feast, and Sylphy and her friends seemed to enjoy the new challenge of educating spiritists and spirits, enjoying the drinks in a good mood and all was well.

The rest of the party was supposed to end ...... with a big feast of Toruku's cooking as a reward for Betty's hard work in agriculture, but we caused a stir by our own fault.

"Mr. Yuta, thank you for inviting me today.

Yes, by my careless word, I even invited the talented secretary to Betty's rewarding dinner party.

"No, no, I hope you enjoy yourself today.

Moreover, this competent secretary looks like a competent secretary in her ...... Adventurers' Guild uniform, but somehow she gives off a female teacher vibe in her casual clothes.

Are secretaries and female teachers similar in terms of their attributes?

I won't say what, but I'm very nervous because it's a royal genre.　

"Yuta-san, I think I may have reached my limit. I'm starving. I haven't eaten breakfast and lunch.

While I was thrilled by the competent secretary, Betty spoke to me in a distracted voice.

I wondered why.　Betty should be in the category of beautiful women, but when I saw her, I felt very relaxed.

...... I see, her aggressiveness in skipping breakfast and lunch for this evening's feast must be releasing the tension inside me.

I understood in an instant as I looked at Betty, who was looking impatient with her stomach grumbling shamelessly.

"Well, it's still early, but I'm going to ask Mr. Torque for you. Please sit down and wait."

He shows them to their seats, exits the private room, and heads for the kitchen. I know that Mr. Toruku's arrangement will be a little bit messed up, but I trust that he will be able to handle it.

Or rather, if he does not, Betty's stomach will not be able to stop growling until it is time to eat.

But, Betty aside, you're having dinner with the talented secretary. It was a careless thing to ask her out in a moment of impulsiveness.

I should be happy to have dinner with a beautiful woman, but I feel a little nervous.

With some regret, I recall the situation when I asked her out.

I couldn't stand the overflowing smell of men in the hall of the Adventurer's Guild, so I just said a quick hello to Betty and the competent secretary I saw, and called out to them to leave.

"Thank you both for everything you've done for me.

No, I didn't do anything serious, and Yuta-sama is an important person for the Adventurers' Guild. If there is anything you need, please feel free to contact me.

The reply from the competent secretary, who seemed to treat me like an important person to the extreme, made me a bit uncomfortable.

"Yuta-san, I did my best. I'm looking forward to your reward. Tomorrow, tomorrow, right?

"I know. I have already asked Mr. Toruku to cook for you, so please come to the inn tomorrow evening. Oh, would you like to join us, secretary?　I would feel much better if you could come, as a thank you for all the help you have given me."

I pushed away Betty, who was clinging to me like a puppy demanding to be fed, and made the mistake of casually inviting her to join me, thinking that, come to think of it, I was also indebted to her capable secretary.

"Well, I am honored to be invited by Mr. Yuta. Please let me join you."　

It was an easy and successful invitation, even if the reason was simply to thank her for her kindness.

For a moment, I thought that I was in the midst of a period of my popularity, but it was an invitation from the president of a business partner, which is usually considered to be very important.

Moreover, if my personal safety was assured by Betty's presence, I wouldn't refuse it if I was capable. If I may say so myself, I'm a money-growing tree.

"Mmm, my share of the cooking will decrease..."

This makes me worry about the sanity of the receptionist at the commercial guild who worries that the increase in the number of people will reduce her share of the cooking. It's easy for her, which is fine with me, but I wonder if the stomach of Ms. Betty's boss, Mr. Franco, is okay?

I am also worried that Betty, who complains about the food, is easily put in a good mood when I assure her that I will prepare more food than she can eat.

"Yuta, the kitchen is just up ahead. What can I do for you?"

While my thoughts were shifting from anxiety about the competent secretary to worry about Betty, I seemed to have come close to the kitchen. Just in time, I asked Ms. Martha to take a message for me.

"Martha. Betty can't wait to eat, so I'm going to ask Mr. Toruku if we can move up the time a little bit."

"Ha-ha-ha, she can't help it. Okay, I'll tell my husband.

Thank you very much.

I like you, Martha, because you talk so fast.

Well, I'd better go back to my private room and deal with the talented secretary and Betty. I am nervous to deal with the capable secretary, let alone Betty.

At least if Gina, who is in the dungeon, is back: .......

****

After making our request, we returned to the private room, where a large amount of food was immediately brought to us. The dishes were mainly salads and stews, so they must have served the dishes that had already been prepared quickly. That's what Mr. Toruku is all about.

Betty is glued to the food, so let's have a quick toast.

"Thank you both very much for your cooperation. Mr. Torque has prepared a special menu for us, and we hope you enjoy it. Cheers!"

"First of all, here it is!　...... delicious!"

Betty, taking a sip of ale just to keep us company, immediately puts down her glass and takes a heaping pile of curry in front of her on her plate.

That was Dark Dragon Curry, wasn't it?

While waiting, Betty-san said, <>As he had declared, he was going to attack mainly with dragon meat.

He is only concentrating on eating.

Well, then of course I have to entertain the talented secretary. What shall we talk about?

I glance at Sylphy, but she seems to be observing Betty in an amused manner and is not interested in us at all. I guess I'll have to make it on my own.

"Oh, it's a little late for that, but my name is Yuta. May I ask your name?"

No, no, no. Self-introductions are the basis for smooth relationships. It's rude not to know your name even though you've been a great help to us.

"Oh?　I didn't tell you my name?　I beg your pardon. My name is Richelie Leroy and I am the receptionist for the Adventurers' Guild. Please call me Richelie.

You weren't a secretary. Well, the job description sounds like a secretary, so let's call her a secretary in my opinion. Both a secretary and a female teacher are romantic just by the sound of it.

"Mr. Richey, it's nice to meet you. Well, let's eat for now.

"Yes. I'll have some too.

After a little hesitation, Richey reached for the dark dragon curry that Betty was eating.

Taking a bite of the curry, Ms. Richey was surprised at the elegance of the dish, putting her hand over her mouth and saying, <>.

Compared to Betty who was eating a big mouthful of curry next to her, I feel the difference in elegance between the two of them.

...... is not good. For some reason, Betty's roughness is very noticeable today, but this is a dinner party to thank both of them. We should be thankful to both of them and treat them with sincerity.

It would be better to pretend that you did not notice the difference in girl power.

"How do you like it?"

"I've eaten dragon meat before, assault dragons, but it's so different with dragons with different attributes. The curry that is popular these days is also delicious, but I think it has a much deeper flavor than the orc meat curry.

That's the competent secretary, Richey. She has experienced curries that are still rarely served at restaurants, even though they are becoming more popular, and her comments are very elegant.

Anyway, I'll have some curry too.

I'll have some curry too.

Oh, no. Oh no. Oh, no. Oh, shit.

Richey, you're too good a secretary.

I'm in such a bad way that the word "bad" is almost pouring out of my head.

I was so wrong about my hospitality.

There was so much to talk about that I didn't even have time to pay attention. Moreover, he did not just talk about what he wanted to talk about, but he could tell from the expression on my face exactly what I was interested in.

I had a similar experience at Beryl's Jewel, but that was to entertain me, the customer.

No, I am sure that the conversation with Ms. Richey is also a topic to entertain me. In fact, I never felt a millimeter of discomfort.

It was a wonderful dinner party where we had a good time laughing and eating. I was not offended at all. >>That's what it was supposed to be until he stopped me.

What have you told him so far?　I'm okay about the dead lands and the spirits. I'm confident that I can keep my mouth shut about this and Sylphy will stop me at once.

But I think I told him about the places I've visited, the information inside the labyrinth, and the deal I made with ...... Marie without much ado. This is unexpectedly important information, isn't it?

I don't think I would have been aware that I had leaked any personal information at all if Sylphy hadn't stopped me.

"Is something wrong?"

Yes. I've been attacked. I have a shiver down my spine.

Is that why you've been talking so much? To gather information?　I've been in business for three years, and I've never had anyone divulge information so easily. I want to ask him intensely if he did it on purpose. But I'm afraid to ask.

I guess I'm just a novice as a member of society after all.

I can't even tell if what we've talked about so far is just small talk or information gathering.

"I've got the main thing!"

As I was shaking, Mr. Toruku came in after knocking. It's the main course, and the chef himself has come to visit me. I thought a savior had appeared.

"I've been waiting for you!　

Betty cheers in response to Maine's words.

...... Oh, I love you, Betty.

Even if there is no conversation at all during this dinner party, it is no problem at all.

It's just fine with me that I'm out of the loop, playing with Betty who is out of the loop and Marie who has a lot of gaps in her life. I realized that clearly today: .......

Knowing your size is very important.