Chapter 19: A High-Class Restaurant with My Childhood Friend
“Yo, Ko-chan.”
When I opened the front door, Otama-chan was there, having already changed her clothes.
Under her coat, she was wearing an elegant gray one-piece dress.
“You’re looking stylish.”
“Ehehe, I heard you were taking me to a nice place, so I had to put in some effort.”
“You’re not wearing a swimsuit underneath, are you?”
“It’s fine, I’m wearing some very special underwear that I put a lot of effort into… Hey! Y-You idiot! What are you making me say!”
“Haha… You play along well.”
“Ugh…”
Otama-chan’s face turned a little red, and she looked down.
――After we had our fill of fun in the Private Dungeon, we each went back to our homes to get ready.
It was now 5:30 in the evening, and the sky was a gradient of orange and navy blue.
Otama-chan’s red compact car was parked in my yard.
“Sorry to make you go out of your way, bringing your car.”
“No, no, it’s me who should be grateful. You’re treating me, after all. Come on, get in.”
When I got into the passenger seat, there was a faint scent of mint.
The engine started, and a song that was popular a while back began to play from the speakers.
“I haven’t put in the navigation, is that okay?”
“Yeah. For now, just head towards Eeyon.”
“Roger that.”
In the end, I made a reservation at the French restaurant “Etoile Bleue,” which Yamada-san from the Explorer Association had recommended.
I chose the course meal, which was 6,600 yen per person.
“That’s pretty expensive, isn’t it? Are you sure about this?”
“You helped me get those magic stones, Otama-chan. This is cheap in comparison.”
“I was just playing around with my 【Water User】 skill, though… But I’m happy. Having dinner with you, Ko-chan.”
The car descended the mountain road and entered the prefectural highway.
“Maybe I should buy my own car too.”
“If you’re going to be an Explorer in the countryside, a car is essential. It’s hard to transport monster materials and stuff by train, you know.”
“That’s true…”
I thought about buying an SUV or something once the 5 million yen from the Explorer Association came in, watching the city lights stream by behind us.
By the time we entered the city center, it was completely dark.
☆★☆
“Well then, to our reunion, cheers!”
“Cheers.”
They both lightly raised their glasses before bringing them to their lips.
Since I’d be driving on the way back, Otama-chan had red wine, and I had ginger ale.
“Haaah, I think this is delicious!”
“It is delicious, isn’t it?”
Even the ginger ale tasted different from the kind sold in vending machines.
After a short while, a long, rectangular plate was brought over.
“Here we have the appetizers: two kinds of asparagus, today’s quiche, and pâté de campagne.”
Otama-chan said, “Itadakimasu,” then picked up her knife and fork.
“What’s this? I don’t really get it, but it’s delicious!”
Otama-chan, smiling brightly, brought the food to her mouth.
“That’s good.”
When she eats it looking like she’s enjoying it, it makes treating her worthwhile.
I’m not knowledgeable about food either, so just like Otama-chan, all I could say was that I didn’t really get it, but it was tasty.
“So,”
Otama-chan said, her cheeks slightly flushed, perhaps from the alcohol.
“Once you get your general license, Ko-chan, what are you going to do first? Is there anything you want to do?”
“Let’s see…”
I said after thinking for a bit.
“To be honest, I haven’t really decided much. In the sense of restarting my life, becoming an Explorer was my immediate goal. So, I was thinking of maybe trying to dive into Ota Dungeon for a bit.”
“I see, that’s good…”
“Hm?”
Otama-chan looked a little relieved.
“Then, why don’t you form a party with me? I’m sure it’ll be fun, you know?”
“Eh…? What about your work with the Explorer Association?”
“I’ll keep doing that, but I was wondering if we could explore together on my days off or something…”
“I thought you were in a party with Yamada-san from the Association, Otama-chan.”
“No. It’s less of a party and more like a tag-team for Association work… We’ve never explored together on a day off, and even when I asked, she wouldn’t take me.”
“I see. By the way, where did you want to go?”
“――Shinjuku Dungeon. I want to try going to the 20th floor, commonly known as Dungeon Hote.”
“That’s where Danpen is, right?”
I’ve heard that the 20th floor of Shinjuku Dungeon is structured like a discount store, and you can shop there after defeating the boss.
“Shinjuku is pretty high-difficulty, but I really want to go at least once. You know how Explorers are considered top-tier if they can shop at DanHo, right?”
“First time I’m hearing that…”
“That’s how it is online! I really want to try it someday too. The appropriate level is apparently 30, so it’s quite difficult, though.”
“I see, so you have a dream too, Otama-chan…”
A top-tier Explorer acknowledged by everyone, huh.
That’s certainly something I’m aiming for as well.
“Alright. If I pass the exam safely, let’s form an Explorer party. Eventually, we’ll aim for the 20th floor of Shinjuku Dungeon.”
“Really? A ‘You’ve Been Pranked!’ sign isn’t going to pop out?”
“Like I’d have something like that prepared… I’m serious.”
“Yesssss!! I’m so happy!!”
Clatter!!
“H-Hey…”
When Otama-chan shouted loudly, everyone in the restaurant turned to look at us.
“Ah… Sorry, so sorry.”
Otama-chan bowed her head apologetically to everyone around.
“This is embarrassing…”
“B-But… Ugh…”
Otama-chan downed her wine in one gulp.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“How can I not drink when I’m this happy! Alright, another one, please!”
“…Well, whatever.”
I ordered drinks for both of us.
After a while, the main meat dish, roasted duck, was served.
“What’s this? I don’t really get it, but the meat flavor is so strong!! It’s delicious!!”
“…I can only offer the same impression.”
If I could get accustomed to Tokyo culture like Yamada-san from the Association, I wonder if I’d be able to say something more sophisticated.
Still, Tokyo, huh…
“I wonder what the other Secret Base Members are doing now?”
“…I don’t really know either. I haven’t been in touch with Shi-chan since she moved to Tokyo, and I wonder what Manamin is up to these days…”
“…Yeah.”
Just like I was able to meet Otama-chan again, I wonder if a day will come when I can meet everyone else too.
Maybe they’re surprisingly all in the Explorer community, and we’ll run into them eventually.
As I was thinking about such things.
“Ko-chan…”
Otama-chan had finished her second glass of wine and was looking at me with glazed eyes.
“I’m here, you know…? Am I not good enough…?”
“Ah, no…”
“Even I, have always, Ko-chan…”
“…Hm?”
“Bein’ in a parthy meansh, we’re practhically married, y’know?”
“…You’re pretty drunk.”
She can’t hold her liquor very well, huh.
“I’m not dwunk~”
Just then, the final dessert plate was brought over.
“Wook at thith~ It wooks dewicious~ Strawbewwies~”
“Those are raspberries…”
“Oh weally, they’re sour~”
“You’re just saying whatever now…”
――After that, I safely escorted Otama-chan back to her home.
On the way, she was saying incomprehensible things like, “I put in a wot of effowt, sho I’m sthill okay today~” but she clearly wasn’t okay.
I parked the car at Otama-chan’s house and walked back to my own.
“An Explorer party with the two of us, huh…”
I felt excited about this new future.
――The stars in the sky looked beautiful tonight.