Chapter 21

We went out to the front of the station.

I made the decision thinking that if we change the place, we might change the mood as well.Or rather, please change the mood already. I’m begging you.I had already lowered my head but all that did is reduce the number of words Angelica spoke.

Keisuke: “I’m sorry. I don’t really understand, but you’re mad, aren’t you? Please cheer up and get noisy again.”Angelica: “But I’m not mad though.”Keisuke: “Then what gives?”Angelica: “Blockhead!”

You’re the rumored blockhead, aren’t you! Angelica said, raising her voice.

Angelica: “You’re the type of genius who’s humble to a fault, aren’t you dad?”Keisuke: “If I don’t, I won’t be fit for being a hero.”Angelica: “I’ve decided. No matter what you say or no matter how much you dislike it, I’m staying together with you. I’m going to look after you even in your old age. I won’t be married into any families, okay?”

But why? I was perplexed while I kept moving.We continued walking for maybe about an hour and a half.As we loitered around the station with Perception active, before we know it, we got to the street lined with business hotels.During those times, Angelica was mostly silent. She was just puffing her cheeks with a humph.

Keisuke: “The stores are opening, shall we go shopping?”Angelica: “…”Keisuke: “Do you have anything you want to buy?”Angelica: “…nothing really—”

Your face and your voice shows that you’re mad, but your arm are squeezing me tightly though.She’s pushing her breasts on my upper arm. You’re getting closer than you were before, you know?

A woman’s heart is a huge mystery.I wish the system message could also show me favorability points or the mental state of someone though.It doesn’t say anything when it’s needed the most.It doesn’t have a personality in the first place, so it just doesn’t care.

Keisuke: “Hey, then let’s talk about something serious. Have you found the apparition, ghost or spectre yet?”Angelica: “…There’s none at all though.”Keisuke: “Is that so. Where could it be hiding?”

As I put my hand to my chin and thought about it, Angelica “Ah,” let out a voice.

Keisuke: “What is it?”Angelica: “That’s so cute. I want to go in there!”

Did she find a sweets shop or something?As I thought of those idyllic picture, I turned my face toward where Angelica is pointing.Beyond her thin index finger was an artificial scenery.A group of grey buildings, a disheartening parking lot, and a pink castle.Between all of these, the thing that could possibly be called cute by a girl would be…

That, isn’t it?

The fancy building with pink roof sticks out in between the grey townscape.The modern architecture looked like a mess compared to the medieval castle.No matter how I look at it, Angelica’s finger is definitely locked on to that building.

Angelica: “That roof is so cute! I want to try going in there. Ahaha, I’m not angry anymore, dad. I was pouting partly because using Perception while walking was tiring me out.”

I glanced to the sign next to the castle.

Fashion Hotel Amaryllis.Service hours: Weekdays, 3560 Yen for 6 hours from 6 A.M~9 P.M. For two people.

Angelica: “Is this a place for you to rest? It’s just the right time, can we rest for a bit? Hey, hey, let’s rest and reconcile……w-why are you making a face like you’re suffering from a great crime?”

Listen here, Ange.You probably didn’t know so you can smile innocently like that.

This is what we call a Love Hotel.

A girl in her teenage years shouldn’t point her fingers at such places in broad daylightNot to mention while hugging the arm of a middle-aged man like me on top of that.Especially in this situation where you look like a hostess bringing a customer to work!

Angelica: “Daddy, let’s play over there!”Keisuke: “I’ll bring you to any other places, I’ll even bring you to the amusement park, so please give up on that!”Angelica: “Why is thaat? That’s fine, isn’t it? Hey, papaa~”Keisuke: “Stop calling me that in front of the hotel! It’s not funny! Why are you suddenly calling me papa anyways!?”Angelica: “Eh? I thought that you would pester me more if I call you that. Do you hate being called papa?”

With mad rush, I pulled Angelica’s hand and rushed away from that place.As I checked my smartphone, the time was around 10 o’clock, a perfect time for the majority of stores to be open.

Keisuke: “Let’s go to the bookstore. There are some chairs there too, so we can rest.”

Angelica, whose mood completely recovered, called out.

Angelica: “Books? Is that okay? Isn’t that a high-class product?”Keisuke: “In this world, paper isn’t that much of a valuable goods.”

The moment I came back to Japan, the first thing I thought of doing is to gather information.What happened between year 2000 and 2017? How has common sense changed? I remembered that I really needed that information.I thought Angelica too would feel that way.

Keisuke: “You’re interested in a lot of things about this world, right? Let’s buy you some books you can use as a reference.”Angelica: “As expected of an experienced inter-world traveler. You really understand.

There are various books in my room as well, but I don’t know if it could answer the needs of a teenager like Angelica.For me, compiling information in between those seventeen years was enough, but for Angelica who had an information gap for several hundred years, she would need several different books.

I also thought of letting her learn through the internet, but that might give her a bad influence.Judging by her personality, she’s bound to look up some weird videos online.I also don’t want her to see my personal image folder.That’s why I chose books.

Angelica: “A place where books are cheap, what a strange world. Does paper fall from the sky like snow?”Keisuke: “I don’t have enough knowledge to talk about the development of printing technology. For now, let’s go there. You might be able to look it up when we get there.”

Along with the drooping Angelica, we proceed down the road.We crossed the road intersection, exited the larger roads into a smaller one.

Angelica: “Don’t you think there are gradually less people?”Keisuke: “It’s because the place we’re going to is a good place but it’s not well known.”

The place I’m going to is not that big of a store.

It’s a rather unusual, old, privately managed bookstore under the name of Ootsuki Bookstore.There’s a lot of bargains and the price is affordable so I quite like it.The interior is also of good taste, so I thought Angelica too would like it.

As I was looking forward to the things I thought of, I felt a sensation of water flowing.Angelica suddenly stopped walking and strongly pulled my sleeve.

Angelica: “Looks like something’s here.”

What is? I asked

Angelica: “This is…an unbelievably evil presence.”Keisuke: “We got a catch, huh?”

Angelica’s usual brightness were replaced by cold sweat.

Angelica: “This feeling…it’s really sickening. What could it be? Even if it’s a demon, it shouldn’t be this bad.”Keisuke: “Where is it?”

There, Angelica pointed at the store with her trembling fingers.

Where she pointed was the place I was headed.Yes, the Ootsuki Bookstore.

Keisuke: “No way…”

The secret place I found. My hiding place. My place of comfort.That is the place where the Perception skill is telling us that evil is lurking.

Keisuke: “Are you sure?”

Yes, Angelica nodded.

Angelica: “It’s a slightly different presence than a spiritual body…but no matter what it is, it shouldn’t be able to emit this amount of malice…!”Keisuke: “But even assuming that it isn’t a ghost, it’s probably the culprit.”Angelica: “It gives off the impression of controlling a dead spirit through suspicious arts.”

I didn’t want to think about it.That bookstore had been good to me.I’m that bizarre customer that somehow has been wanting to know a lot about the Heisei era.

Keisuke: “…So it’s really there.”

What part of all this is “harmless”?