Chapter 961: NO.84: Continued Stall?

NO. 84: Continued Stall?

Friends who have party experience know that KTV is indeed a good place to kill time.

Moreover, its ability to kill time is usually proportional to the number of people at the party.

Because that place has the magic of atmosphere, even if one joins reluctantly, after hearing a favorite song and sharing the microphone, one may unconsciously sing along to several songs.

What is meant here is not the 'air' said to exist on the land of Japan/Jidong, but a more practical atmosphere that can directly guide a crowd.

Under such an atmosphere, everyone will have several, or even a dozen, songs they want to sing; naturally, the more people sitting in the private room, the more time is consumed.

Even if one initially only intended it as one part of a break, by the time one comes to, it's already the time when minors must go home.

Of course, when going home, most people also return together.

Besides Yuta and Utsumi needing to go home separately, the Rikka household can get quite lively.

However, this also comes with a problem.

"Akane, you... also want to come to my house?"

At the fork where they needed to split, Rikka belatedly realized that the other person originally lived next door.

But now the house next door is already occupied by another set of neighbors, so Akane Shinjo ought to have nowhere to go.

"If it's an invitation, that's fine, but wouldn't it be too much of a strain?"

Although Rikka's mom had boasted about wanting to open a guesthouse, the reality is that the upstairs space of the shop is already cramped, with a bunch of people sleeping together on the floor.

Among them, Mr. Mazhong Peng suffers even more from the surrounding snoring, at one point waking up later than everyone else.

Only after Aomo helped install a fixed-position daily mana-charging silent zone did the days become bearable.

"It's indeed a strain… but if it's inconvenient, we can still squeeze in…" Although said hesitantly, the pressure on female lodging is indeed considerably less than that on the male side.

After all, the male-to-female ratio is already heavily skewed.

"Then shall we go to my place?"

At this moment, the princess suddenly raised her hand and made a suggestion.

These words instantly drew everyone's gaze, but she, who had once been a princess, was obviously immune to such attention.

"Actually, I've been in this world for a while and have been doing quite well." Her lively demeanor often causes Pengyali and others to glance toward Shima, feeling that she and the dignified aura Shima occasionally mentions are mismatched.

Leaving aside whether this is an attempt to beautify a love interest or hide something, at least right now the princess truly displays a 'noble aura' that everyone finds hard to match.

"I also have my own house, with a yard and such—would you like to come see it?"

"Can I?" The badger, who feels neither reverence nor rejection toward their former boss, has the courage that only an amnesiac could possess.

And her current boss also spoke: "To be precise, is it convenient?"

This overrode her rash, excited words, and also left room for the princess.

To be honest, Aomo didn't have high expectations for the princess's mansion, after all, objects from another time and space mixing into the current city for just a few days—having a house at all in that span is already unbelievable, let alone with a yard……

But the other party confidently clapped their hands and issued an invitation to everyone present.

"Of course, if you're interested, you can all stay over!"

——

When the crescent moon hung high, the startled deer let out a crisp sound.

Standing in the outer courtyard, Aomo involuntarily pressed his palms together, thanking the host.

Because it's rare to see such a completely new possibility.

Stranded locally, he rescued a wealthy merchant, received support, joined the industry, handled promotion, and was granted temporary management of a bestowed manor.

That's why she appears at the Hokkaido Products Exhibition and has her own stall.

Thus she can energetically invite everyone to visit; if it weren't for Rikka, Yuta, and Utsumi still needing to go home to check in, she would probably extend the gathering into the night.

The existence of this princess made Aomo feel that he, too, had finally witnessed some kind of chosen one.

Perhaps it's compensation for her past circumstances; her bizarre yet smooth ordeal can be called great fortune, and even if placed in Chaldea's domain, it would deserve a specific label.

Although I've heard much about it, this is the first time I've truly encountered it.

And Aomo is precisely the sort who would feel pleased by such a simple 'witness'.

Then, at that moment, noticing the princess walking by with a tray of cups and plates, she called out from afar: "Hey! Aomo, if you have time, would you like a drink?"

"Do you have black coffee? Princess."

"Black coffee? I do have coffee beans; I can try brewing a cup later."

The girl was eager to try, but then waved her hand and said:

"What's with 'Princess'? Just call me Princess casually; I didn't say… cough cough, as a child of man, what do you seek? — something like that, right?"

Striking a classical aloof pose, it looked the part, but as soon as she spoke, the whole thing collapsed, causing Aomo to chuckle as well.

"Is that so? Coming to this world has made things much easier?"

"Exactly, exactly. Listening to Shima say that your world is also like this city, with many people from other worlds, Aomo, have you seen other princesses?"

"I've never had an impression of princesses from other worlds, but if we're talking about princesses in creation, or peoples once called princesses, I do have some knowledge."

"What do you mean by 'princess in creation'?"

"Video games—do you have a concept of princess?" Aomo countered.

"In our world, games that humans create for entertainment can be displayed quite realistically, and the stories they tell can also be experienced firsthand."

"The princess in creation is the princess from the creator's pen, structured by a modeler, then given a complete form through sound-source mixing."

"In other words, the princess everyone imagines?"

"Exactly as the princess said."

"They are restored to their former likeness, somewhat similar to today's idols, or, in a more antiquated phrasing, they are performers made to look of noble lineage; a single page suffices to write of their elegant and beautiful yet impoverished lives that must be constantly exaggerated to the point of falseness."

"If my attendants were still here, Aomo, you'd surely be attacked~"

"Thank you for the princess's magnanimity."

Hmph, what you said isn't wrong either. The title princess is merely a cover for emptiness, often a rich accompaniment in others' life feasts, but even so, people still expect the princess to act like a princess.

But the princess isn't special, is she?

Oh? What have you heard? The princess walked a few steps to the eaves, narrowed her eyes at Aomo in the courtyard, and said, "Is it what Shijia said, or what Xiaohe said?"

No, it's actually Gui She," Aomo said. "He cares far more than he appears on the surface, but he also despises troublesome matters. However, his personality isn't the focus right now; the focus is that you were once honored as 'the person from the unreachable world.'"

I imagine, compared to a fragile, paper‑person‑like beauty, you are closer to a Dragon Envoy like Shima—esteemed in status and nobody dares to offend.

This doesn't conflict with me not being very relaxed, right?

Indeed, no conflict. I'm glad you can relax here," he nodded, returning from the courtyard to the corridor, that is, the one near the princess, glanced at her tray, and said, "There are minors inside, the drink is a bit over the limit."

You even took them to KTV but don't let them drink?

A hangover won't be a good experience," Aomo said. "We should limit the drinks for Chen, Apeng, and Qian.

Oh come on, don't be so rigid, Aomo— they don't have to go to school, right?

In the princess's astonished gaze, a light screen suddenly appeared on Aomo's left, occupied by a pitch‑black metal face bearing a blood‑red visor; at the same time as the frivolous words were spoken, blue LED lights synced with the speech, forming a tooth‑like outline.