Chapter 70

※Today, I will update twice, at 17:00 and 21:00.

Before drinking with Cody, I ended up drying the hair of Miralca, Yuma, and Aileen, who had just finished their baths.

"Mr. Dick, you're really good at this... You could open a hair salon."

"Yeah, it's so relaxing to have you do it, and it gets so smooth. How about you, Miralca?"

Miralca's hair, which is well-maintained, usually takes about an hour to dry. Using my hot air drying technique, it only takes about 15 minutes. Exploring the labyrinth can damage hair a bit, but I use healing magic to fix it when I brush through it.

She tested the smoothness by running her fingers through it and then sat on the sofa with her legs crossed.

"Not bad at all. You can dry my hair from time to time if you want."

"Once a month or so... I think I said something similar to Aileen."

Why Miralca acts so superior is hard to explain, but it's just her. She's rarely honest, so you can't always expect it. But it's not like I need to remind myself of this now.

"I'd like you to do it two or three times a week. I was thinking about cutting it because it was getting too much to handle until you started drying it for me."

"Yuma, you've never had hair longer than your shoulders, right? Many clerics have short hair, but is that because of some rule?"

"No, there's no specific rule. My mother sometimes suggests I try growing it out..."

"That would be fresh. Long-haired Yuma... It might make you look more mature."

"...More mature... Is that really the case... Can I look more mature too?"

Yuma touched the ends of her hair, blushing. Of course, there are people like Ria who look very mature even with short hair, so it varies. I think Yuma is very feminine, but she still has a more girlish impression due to her age.

"Changing your hairstyle can change your mood. Dick, you always have the same hairstyle, but do you ever change it?"

"When I attend guild master meetings, I have to dress formally. And when I'm out, I dress slightly differently from when I'm at the bar. Even when I'm adventuring."

"In terms of being aware of the occasion, you're surprisingly considerate, which sometimes impresses me."

"Miralca, you really pay attention to Dick. I should take a bit more care of my appearance too."

"Observing... or maybe just a research subject?"

With fewer opportunities to interact with men, she might be using them as research subjects. Despite having crushed so many men's hearts, there are still those who pursue her.

"If it were known that a woman like Miralca, a high-born flower of the capital, is having a man dry her hair while she's in her pajamas, I'd probably become a target for assassination. But if there were someone who could assassinate me, they'd be quite something."

"Hmm... huh? When did I end up here... faa..."

Mizuh's fox ears twitched, and she woke up, curled up on one of the sofas. She yawned, covering her mouth, and blushed when she noticed I was watching her.

"Hey, don't just stare at me like that. Mr. Dick, you don't have any room for relaxation."

"Good morning, Mizuh. Your brother went home."

"Oh, right. My brother asked if I could manage the guild shop alone tomorrow. He said it's fine if I need help."

"I was wondering, Zekt is so skilled but doesn't seem to be picky about his jobs. It's a mystery why he was at the Blue Archer Inn. Has he always been like that?"

"My brother is very talented, but he doesn't really realize it. He wanted to see the outside world and broaden his horizons before becoming the clan leader, but he hasn't changed much from when he was in the village. He's very laid-back."

He expressed a desire to go to the front lines, but he's also concerned about leaving his sister alone. In any case, Zekt seems to accept most of the guild master's instructions.

"But I want my brother to fight. He has a commanding presence when he's quiet, so he might not be suited for customer service."

"If he knew his sister said that, he'd be shocked. I used to tell my dad not to come when I was playing with friends because his face was scary."

"My father is very sensitive about this. He's very large but very delicate, and his friends have told him he's not scary."

Grenadin dotes on Yuma, so it's understandable that he would be careful not to scare her friends.

Thinking about fathers, I wonder about Miralca's. I've never heard much about her father.

"My father is a bit eccentric, so I don't like showing him to friends. He tries to create strange magic and conduct experiments."

"Miralca's father is a professor at the Magic University, right? Oh, was it okay to say that?"

Miralca looks at me, but it doesn't seem to be a secret. However, there's a hint of hesitation in her expression when it comes to her father.

"Dick, if you encounter someone named Fenroot Eris at the Magic University, don't pay too much attention to him. My father is a bit of an oddball and might try to get you involved in strange experiments."

"Oh, Fenroot... I see."

"Strange experiments sound interesting, don't they? Dick, you seem to like that kind of thing."

"I'm interested too. But why isn't Miralca very enthusiastic about it?"

"You'll understand when you see the content. It's not as straightforward as my pursuit of the aesthetics of destruction. It's more complicated and, well, a nuisance..."

Seeing Miralca's troubled expression, I wondered if her occasional disregard for others might be influenced by her father.

◆◇◆

People coming to the capital Alvinas from outside often visit one of the 12 parallel streets that run north to south, usually the 7th or 8th street near the South Central Gate, the 1st street near the West Gate, or the 12th street near the East Gate, where we live.

Merchants visiting the capital for the first time enter through the West Gate, where the customs office is located, and stay at a high-end inn on the 1st street. There, they learn that the living standards of residents vary by street and start using more appropriately priced inns on subsequent visits. Wealthy merchants might insist on staying at the 1st street inns, but to me, the 1st street is just a brand name, and the living standards up to the 3rd street are not much different. The 11th street is generally considered the commoner's district, and the 12th street is the slum—though a slum with rules and regulations is not as uncomfortable as it looks.

When I first arrived, it was a place where men stripped to their underwear and collapsed in the alleys, making you wonder if it was really part of the capital. I also learned about the hierarchical social structure in the capital, which I had never seen in the villages—residents of the 12th street were forced to live in poor conditions to prevent other commoners from being dissatisfied with their own lives.

Changing this environment was part of my first-year activities after taking over the 12th street guild house.

"Is something on your mind, Dick? You seem to be thinking about something. If you want to talk about it, feel free to do so."

Sitting at the counter, Cody said. I was thinking about what to make and looked at the drink I had poured, realizing I needed to focus.

"Ah, no, I was just thinking about how the 12th street looks to you, Cody."

"It's full of energy, and the security has improved dramatically compared to the past. I think it's a good place."

"Is that so? Maybe the day will come when the 12th street is no longer the worst place to live."

"...Dick, you're really suited to leadership. You want to improve the lives of the people in this street because the guild is here, right?"

Cody's observation hit the mark. He must have noticed by watching me, but it felt embarrassing to admit it.

"Not exactly. I just want to change the situation where people living here are seen as having bad manners or are subject to unfair prejudices."

"By thinking about it and achieving it to some extent. You could probably do the same in any place you live. People see your modesty as a virtue, like Princess Manalina."

Mentioning Manalina made me think of her. I should thank her for encouraging the exploration team. I should try to meet her soon—though if I keep doing that, I might be seen as chasing after women.

"Well, let's leave that for now... What would you like to drink?"

"Hmm... Ideally, I should avoid alcohol since I have to think about tomorrow, but I feel like having a little."

"Got it. How about something that will get you tipsy but won't leave you with a hangover and will help you sleep well?"

"Sure, I'll take that. Dick, you really know your drinks."

"It's not just the drinks; the effects are determined by the ingredients. I've tried blending all sorts of liquids. I've had my share of bad experiences, though."

"Haha... You sound more like someone conducting strange experiments than a bar owner. Your drink-making methods could be a good topic for a thesis at the Magic University."

The Magic University is currently in a semi-closed state. The citizens of the capital have been put on alert to evacuate quickly if something happens in the underground labyrinth, but no one has attempted to evacuate yet.

This shows how long the capital has enjoyed peace and has not been threatened by external enemies. The trust cannot be betrayed, and that's why Chancellor Lowe is struggling with the weight of responsibility.

I tend to get lost in thought, so I decided to focus on blending. I mixed a liqueur infused with 'Peppermint Grass,' which has a refreshing and stimulating aroma, the juice of 'Quan Berries,' which has a tangy flavor, and brandy in a shaker, then poured it into a glass with ice.

"This... The aroma alone is calming. It's refreshing... but it seems quite strong."

"I haven't taught you much about alcohol. Ale is relatively low in alcohol, but people drink it in large quantities to feel good. This kind of drink is strong enough to get you drunk with just one glass, so if you drink elsewhere, avoid the strong stuff. Also, be careful about mixing different types of alcohol, as it can lead to a terrible hangover."

"Thank you for the detailed explanation. It feels like I'm finally being recognized as a customer by Dick."

"Well, even if you only drink ale, you can still enjoy the pleasures of alcohol. I might be overthinking it, but I believe it's best to drink what you like."

I made the same drink for myself and returned to the seat next to Cody. I don't think it looks good to clink glasses, but we both did it unconsciously and took a sip.

"Mm... Ah, it's delicious. It has a slight kick but is very refreshing."

"The kick helps prevent a hangover later."

"It's not too sweet, so it's fine to drink in this outfit. The wine I had at Beatrice's mansion was very feminine and made me feel embarrassed. It didn't suit me."

"Ah... I might have overdone it a bit with that. But I didn't want to pretend after I noticed."

"Speaking of which... Why did you notice? We've been together for five years, and you never showed any signs of it."

Cody took another sip of his drink and glanced at me sideways.

In the past, I might have thought he was a man with an unusual charm and felt a bit conflicted about it, but now...

I can't keep hiding the fact that I discovered Cody's true identity through 'Peeping.' It's a crisis for the kingdom, and I must avoid losing Cody's trust, but it's a path I can't avoid.

"...I'm not going to get angry and cut you down or anything. You know my character, right?"

"Ah, yeah... You're generally mild-tempered and rarely get angry."

"Right. I might get angry about this, but I want you to be a bit prepared when you talk about it."

It's a fair point, and it would be wrong not to answer Cody's concerns. I resigned myself to explaining how I discovered his true identity.