CHAPTER 8 - PART 5 & 6

Part 5

"Kazuma you are back! Here's something you should be happy about, tonight's dinner is going to be splendid! It's crab! Darkness' folks sent someone over, saying that if Darkness is going to stay here from now on, they should sent a gift, and that's the super extravagant snow crimson crab! And a magnificent top class wine too! They want to thank us for taking care of their daughter!"

Back at the mansion, Aqua welcomed me with a big smile.

Crab seemed to be a high class item in this world too.

I didn't have a proper meal of crab back in Japan, I never imagined I could eat it here…

"Wahhh… In an impoverished career as adventurers, I never thought there would be a day I would see a snow crimson crab…! I am glad I joined this party…"

"Is the crab that great in quality?"

Seeing Megumin putting her palms together and praying to the snow crimson crab, I asked curiously.

And so, Megumin thought I was being an idiot, raised her fist in an exaggerated move and made her speech.

"Of course! I will give you a simple example, if someone told me 'If you want to eat this crab, then you are prohibited from using explosion', I will endure it, and wait until I eat my fill before using explosion. That's how valuable it is!"

"Oh, that's impressive… Hmmm? What was that last part again?"

As I was chatting about idle things with Megumin, Darkness presented the cooked crabs onto the dining table.

Aqua cheerfully brought four wine glass over.

After everyone was seated, we took the snow crimson crab…

Snapped the crab legs, took out the meat with white and pink stripes, dip a bit of vinegar and put it into our mouths.

"!"

— I was surprised by that unusually wonderful taste.

It was slightly sweet, and the strong taste of crab meat spread in my mouth.

I looked at the others, and the three of them were eating crab without making a sound.

No way, I can't stop eating this!

I peeled off the shell and was about to eat the crab paste off it…

"Kazuma Kazuma, use 'tinder' here. I will show you the most delicious way of drinking this top class wine."

Aqua who had eaten the crab paste clean put charcoal in a small pot, and placed wire mesh on top of it.

Simply said, she made a roasting pot.

I followed what she said and lit the charcoal on fire. Aqua placed the shell that still had a bit of paste onto the wire mesh.

She then poured the clear wine that looked like Japanese sake into the shell.

Aqua happily roast the shell, picking it up when it was slightly charred and sipped the warm wine…

"Fuu…"

She sighed as though it was really delicious.

Her series of action was like a middle aged man. But everyone gulped as they watched her, and emulated her actions. At this moment, I noticed.

— It's a trap!

The crab was so good that I almost forgot the succubus onee-san would be coming tonight.

Didn't that onee-san say I couldn't dream if I get dead drunk?

Calm down, I am a man with great endurance.

I have iron like will and could withstand the temptation.

"This is great, splendid!"

Don't be tempted!

Darkness' voice of satisfaction won't bewitch me!

That's right, I probably couldn't stop after drinking that wine.

I would probably just keep going and drink on, thinking nothing else mattered.

With how delicious the crab was, this wine must be the same.

"Darkness, I want some too! It's fine, just for today! I want to drink some wine!"

"No, they say those who start to drink when young would grow up and become useless adults."

When Darkness said that, Megumin looked at Aqua who was drinking happily. Darkness also looked silently at Aqua.

"…? Why are you looking at me?"

I ignored their interaction and endured silently. Darkness looked at me and asked:

"… Are you okay, Kazuma? You have never drank before? Or… Does my crab not suit your taste?"

Her expression became uneasy as she spoke.

No, that's not it, the crab was great.

"No, the crab was delicious, there's no problem there. It's just that I had a round with Keith and the guys in the day. And I can't tell the deliciousness of the wine yet, so I will pass today… Tomorrow then! I will drink tomorrow!"

Hearing me push the issue aside, Darkness said 'okay', and sighed in relief with a brilliant smile.

Don't do that, don't smile so purely at me. You were always saying useless things that turned me off, why did you pick today to be so…!

Well then…!

"Oh–? You think there will still be wine left tomorrow? I will drink it all! How could I leave any behind! That's great, I will drink Kazuma's share too!"

Damn it, that idiot who refused to change was so infuriating!

Darkness smiled at me again.

"… Hmm, alright. Have more crab then, thank you for taking care of me all this while."

I felt I have done something terrible to her when she said that and my chest stung.

Right, drink with everyone and forget about that thing.

The succubus onee-san would have to make an empty trip, but I will just apologize tomorrow.

I will drink with the three of them tonight, and work hard tomorrow onwards.

That's right, it's just the thing I wrote on the survey form turning into a realistic dream, that's all.

And I would not forget about that dream in the morning. That's all.

I looked at Darkness' and everyone's faces.

And weighed which side was more important to me.

And I thought about what I wrote on the survey form!

... That's right, it wasn't a contest from the very beginning.

After eating my fill of the crabs, I stood up.

"Alright, it might be early, but I am retiring to bed. Darkness, thank you for your treat. Good night everyone!"

I returned to my room early without hesitation.

Part 6

After going back to my room, I locked the door and unlatched the window.

They didn't ask me to leave the windows unlocked, but I decided to play it safe.

They had to make a trip down, it would be embarrassing to give them more trouble.

There were no clocks here, so I didn't know the correct time. But the timing I specified should be coming.

I had to go to sleep before that, but the excitement and tension kept me awake.

Oh no, my heart was beating faster.

Ahhh, what should I do. I'm nervous from anticipation, too excited to sleep!

I don't know how long I will be like this.

I got out of bed, going to the courtyard to exercise and cool my head.

If I moved my body for a bit, maybe I could sleep easier.

As I was thinking about that, I walked out of the mansion in my pajamas and came to the courtyard.

While everyone was sleeping, I used the moonlight and my farsight ability to exercise in the courtyard.

Standing in the courtyard that was white from snow, I noticed the tombstone of an unknown person being covered by snow in the corner of the yard and felt troubled by it.

I walked towards the tomb and swept away the snow, revealing the name 'Anna' engraved on it.

I was satisfied, but was concerned with how sweaty I was.

The succubus would only make me dream, so I need not be so concerned, but…

I still need to follow the correct etiquette.

At this time when everyone should be sleeping, I headed towards the shower room of the mansion.

It was the villa of nobles, so the showers were equipped with special magic items.

In simple terms, it was a water heater powered by mana.

The magic item does not require a lot of mana, so normal people could use it too.

Perhaps it was due to the mana that would be used, it made one feel a bit tired after usage. But such a trade off couldn't be helped.

I used 'tinder' to light the lantern in the bathing room, and hung the 'in use' sign outside the dressing section.

I put my clothes in the laundry basket, letting the others know there was someone in the bath.

That's right, in order to avoid the scene common in mangas, I was very careful.

Such wonderful development just needed to happen in the dream I asked the shop to give me.

Since we were living under one roof, I want to avoid my relationship with anyone turning awkward.

In such a situation, even if the girl was the one who stumbled in accidentally, the guy would still be treated as the one at fault.

If I am really caught in such a situation, I would resist to the end.

I would scream before the girl does, and accuse her of being a perverted woman.

"But such scenarios only happens in mangas."

I used mana to create hot water in the bathtub, and soaked my entire body into the water, up to the shoulders.

Under the dim light of the lantern in the dressing room, I straightened my limbs in the water and relaxed.

I sighed deeply, felt a bit sleepy and closed my eyes.