Chapter 56

After the unveiling ceremony for the holy maiden, it's just a festival from here on out. I just need to aim for trying all the dishes leisurely. I’ll chat with the new friends I’ve made and stuff my cheeks with cream puffs. Of course, they’re all individual servings. The chef, seeing our situation, laughs and gives us individual servings from the start, so we can all eat a lot.

I should have brought a 'Fullness Digestion Potion' to make us hungry. In the game, eating food gives a status buff for six hours, but after eating one type, it says you’re full and you can’t eat anymore. So, when I wanted to switch buffs by eating other dishes, I used a 'Fullness Digestion Potion.'

Since these are high-class dishes, it would be a waste to do that. After eating, I’ll do some exercise to get hungry. I’ll practice somersaults.

"Is everyone's dad a baron?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

"Our dad became a baron the year before last."

"My dad is the president."

Huh, I look at the new friend. Indeed, I thought their clothes were a bit mixed. There are girls in fancy, fluttery dresses, girls in kimonos, boys in formal wear or suits, and girls in cute dresses like Miharu, as well as kids in ordinary clothes.

The prices are all over the place. It seems to be a gathering of influential merchants and barons.

"You can't go over there."

"Um, it's where the important people are."

One of the girls points to a group near the balcony. There, a group of people in lavish clothing gathers. Both adults and children are dressed in expensive-looking clothes. The women, in particular, are adorned with expensive-looking jewelry.

"That's a gathering of viscounts. Further back, there are gatherings of dukes and marquises. You can't go there, okay?"

"Okay! I'll enjoy the food with my friends! Will you go there, Tamamo?"

"I'll play with En! Peck."

As my father pats my head and tells me, I nod obediently. Mii-chan is a good girl. I won’t charge in like a heroine from a dating sim who doesn’t read the room.

Stay low and quiet. That’s the way of life for a mob character like me, Takano Miharu.

Tamamo clings to me and plays, and I laugh, thinking that the night might not return. It seems like the greetings are quite a hassle.

Besides, it’s fun to play with everyone. There’s a child whose dress looks a bit old, so I ask for their name and check. I was told to be mindful of this by Frigg. I need to remember the names of struggling nobles to see if they can be employed.

I enjoyed chatting with my new friends and savoring the dishes, but it didn’t end on a peaceful note.

With a rustle of wings, a crow landed on the table. It’s Munnin.

He turns his intelligent red eyes toward me. No one else notices. Munnin, with his ability to gather information from the world, can remain unseen by anyone except Odin and our party if he doesn’t want to be seen.

"The dungeon wasn't found, caw."

His weakness is that he can only gather general information. He can’t investigate plots or find hidden things. Even in mythology, Munnin was tricked by Frigg and tortured, and Odin didn’t notice Loki’s schemes. This proves the limits of Munnin’s abilities. Even in the game, Munnin, when brought to reality, still has limitations in information gathering.

But I thought the dungeon I asked him to find would be found. Is it hidden... or is it just my mistake? Hmm, I’m not sure.

He preens himself and then starts eating the individual servings of food. Even though I know no one can see him, it’s a bit scary, so I keep my distance. Thanks, Munnin.

Casually, I pat Munnin’s head, and he caws once before flying away.

"Let me know if anything happens."

"Caw."

He nods and flies off. As I look up at the sky, relieved that it might end peacefully, a rough voice calls out.

"Hey! You’re living a good life, huh? Eh?"

What? Did a thug sneak in? I turn to the direction of the voice, and a thug in a fancy suit is approaching. Next to him is a child with a fat, pig-like body.

I tilt my head in confusion, and my mother squeezes my hand. I look at her face, and she looks stern.

"This is Mr. Arashi. Hello."

My father, with a similar stern expression, answers the approaching thug in a harsh voice. Hmm, who are these guys?

"You’re cold, aren’t you, little brother? Ah, should I say the little brother who didn’t awaken to ‘Mana’?"

The thug, of medium build and slightly thin, glares at us. I remember his dull green hair. He’s my father’s older brother. I’ve only seen him once before.

"Is this really my father’s brother?"

The fat child looks down at my father with disdain and laughs mockingly. No, he’s not just pretending. He’s genuinely mocking him. What a twisted personality.

"Ah, as you can see, he’s just a piece of trash. But that girl there, she apparently awakened to ‘Mana’ by a miracle, and thanks to that, she’s living quite a good life, isn’t she?"

Arashi, mocking me, is quite a piece of work. Seriously, he’s from a viscount family? This kind of over-the-top thug only exists in novels. This is a fantasy world, after all. I don’t recommend suicide.

"Is that suit custom-made? How much... No, those accessories with the unusually large gems... How much is the brat’s dress?"

Trying to pick a fight, the thug looks at my father, then my mother, and finally at me. My father’s suit isn’t custom-made, and my mother’s accessories don’t have large gems.

"We bought it at Kamina Department Store! It’s 50,000 yen including tax! Isn’t it the best dress?"

I puff out my chest and tell him. It was quite expensive. Isn’t it cute? A bit pricey, so I’m proud of it.

Miharu twirls around, showing off, and for some reason, the thug hesitates. What’s up? Did Miharu’s cuteness get to him?

"T-That cute hair accessory... H-How much is it?"

"It’s 1,500 yen! I bought it for today! Do you think it suits me?"

The leaf hair accessory on her gray hair. To comment on its cuteness, Arashi must have a good eye for beauty. I can compliment him on that.

While I’m pleased, Arashi’s face twists in frustration. Why is he frustrated?

"Hey, Haretsu, why are you living so modestly? You should have more money than you can count!"

"I don’t think we’re living modestly. I believe we’re living within our means."

Arashi, pointing at my father with a trembling finger and a disbelieving look, is met with a serious and calm response from my father. Hearing this, Arashi’s face contorts even more in disbelief.

We have a wealthy household. My mother is a housewife, and we have homemade meals and cakes! We might be one of the wealthiest families in the world.

I puff out my cheeks and glare at the thug. I understand what he’s getting at. It’s all about money, right? I get it. He’s probably thinking about my earnings, but family love is the greatest value. This life is the best.

"If you’re talking about Miharu, you’re mistaken. We’re saving for her."

"N-No, I can’t believe it... It’s like picking up money off the ground..."

Facing my cool and composed father, Arashi steps back as if seeing a monster. Even without magic, my father’s character is intimidating. Haha, it seems the thug finally understands how great my father is. Miharu smiles happily.

But there’s a child who doesn’t read the room.

"Ha! 50,000 yen? Cheap! It’s like the cost of my handkerchief. Ha ha ha."

The thug’s sidekick makes a snorting sound.

"My name is Takano Miharu. I’ll be in the fourth grade the day after tomorrow! What’s your name?"

"My name is Zenya. I’m the eldest son of a viscount family! I’m important!"

Saying 'I' as 'I' is quite a pig. This is a novel world, after all. These over-the-top characters exist. Unlike me, a regular mob character.

"Hey, poor people! This is a Hydlock Cashmere fur coat! It’s a magical coat that cost ten million yen! What do you think?"

"Wow. Tamamo, that’s amazing. Arashi is dressing his pet pig in some expensive clothes."

"Really? It’s making a happy sound, Buh-buh!"

The pig, with a lecherous grin, looks down on us and boasts. As expected of a pig. It doesn’t seem to read the room. Tamamo and I praise Arashi for being overprotective of his pet pig.

But for some reason, the pig’s face turns red, and it starts to snort. Despite the cold looks from the people around us, the thug recovers and points at us.

"Don’t mock me! A half-baked mage who can only heal minor scratches!"

Green particles gather in the pig’s chubby arm, and the wind starts to swirl. Seriously, he’s going to use magic. His resistance to provocation is way too low.

The grass ripples in the wind, and the wind blows through our hair. Our clothes flap in the wind, and the pig’s mouth twists.

"Dangerous, Miharu!"

My mother, with a determined look, covers me, and my father stands between the pig and me, ready to shield me.

This is bad. My non-mage parents might get seriously injured from that!

Tamamo and the others, not expecting the sudden use of magic, are shocked and frozen. The thug, not even trying to stop the pig, grins maliciously. He seems to be up to something.

"Fly away with my magic!"

"Wind Ha"

"Throwing II"

"Oof!"

I raise my hand and flick it toward a slightly open line of sight. In the blink of an eye, a gentle breeze blows, and something hits the pig’s face, causing it to fall back.

"Ow, Dad, something hit me, it hurts!"

The pig, holding its nose and rolling on the ground, is bleeding, but it’s not serious. The moment the pig tensed up, the 'Fight' command was already selected.

"Did you enjoy the chocolate mousse?"

I smile and share a snack with the pig. I threw a chocolate mousse, divided into individual servings, using the Thief II skill 'Throwing II.' I aimed for the mouth, but missed. Sorry.

Well, thanks to the game mechanics, I can’t control the force, so it’s lucky it was just a chocolate mousse. Consider yourself fortunate.

"Are you okay, Miharu?"

"Yep! The magic seemed to disappear halfway, so I’m fine!"

My mother, looking worried, asks, and I smile and reassure her. I just gave the pig a snack.

"Brother! Why didn’t you stop the child! It was dangerous!"

My father, with a changed expression, approaches Arashi angrily, but instead of apologizing, Arashi kicks him. He kicks my father in the stomach, sending him flying, and grins.

"Just a little play between kids. You wouldn’t understand, not being a mage. This is a daily occurrence."

"Ugh. This isn’t a daily occurrence!"

My father, holding his stomach and unable to stand, glares at Arashi and protests, but Arashi laughs it off.

He’s a thug, this guy.

'Minor Healing III'

I use a healing spell on my fallen father, grateful for his attempt to help. A soft light envelops him, fully healing his body. Even without being a mage, this spell can fully heal him. Seeing my father stand up, pain-free, I feel relieved.

Breaking free from my mother’s embrace, I speak to Arashi.

"Uncle Arashi. If you’re used to daily play, can I play with you too?"

"What, you want to fight back? You brat! Sure, come at me!"

"Then I won’t hold back!"

I’m looking forward to this. I’ll give it my all.

After all, the battle is still ongoing.