Chapter 177

Level 1 Guy: Chapter 177 – Regular Business

Proofread: Shiro

I decided to retreat early after eating and drinking because we were drawing attention from others .

Thus, I hurriedly paid at the register counter . As I was about to leave, the waitress who I helped earlier saw me leaving and chased after me .

[Uh, uhm excuse me!]

[Yeah?] (Ryouta)

[Thank you so much for earlier! To help a stranger like me… . . Is there anything I could do to repay my debt?]

[Don’t mind it, it was by chance that I was there too . ] (Ryouta)

[By chance?]

[Yes it is . Since I coincidentally dropped by your bar, by chance you needed help so I did . ](Ryouta)

Yes, everything was unexpected . It’s not like I purposely went around looking for trouble to occur .

[B . . But… . . ]

[Ah, I remember someone I know mentioned something along the lines which says [If there’s someone in trouble, then there will be someone with the power to help . ] . I just followed what he said . ] (Ryouta)

[Still…… . Thank you so much!]

The waitress bowed her head .

[I will definitely return this favour of yours . ]

[As I’ve already… . . ] (Ryouta)

[DEFINITELY!]

The waitress stared at me with dead serious eyes .

This wasn’t some half-ass resolution, but eyes which says she’ll do whatever it takes to return the favour .

[……I…I see . Well, my name’s Satou Ryouta . Normally I would be at Shikuro, so you can find me there . ] (Ryouta)

[Eh?]

[I won’t try to stop you from returning the favour, but don’t force yourself from doing something impossible . I won’t try to run or hide, so you can just find me anytime . ] (Ryouta)

[Y, yes… . . ]

[If you feel troubled by not being able to repay me, someday I’ll have the chance to help you again like what I did just now . ] (Ryouta)

I winked at her, and said what I thought .

The waitress suddenly gasped, before she bowed deeply again .

[Yes! Thank you so much again!] is what she said .

After waving her goodbye she walked back into the bar, and I started walking .

Shuffle, Shuffle, Shuffle—–

I could hear the overlapping footsteps of two people .

Seems like someone was following me from behind .

When I stopped, the person behind stopped as well .

The person who was following me… . . I don’t even have to see as I knew it must be Nicholas .

[Sigh……why the heck are you following me?] (Ryouta)

[You’re so cool just now, the way you talked to that girl . ] (Nicholas)

[No no no, that’s not true . ] (Ryouta)

[That girl must’ve fallen in love with ya . If you try to chase after her, I’m sure she’ll be yours . ] (Nicholas)

[It’s not like I wanted her to be—–] (Ryouta)

[I too have once again fallen in love, I’m wet!] (Nicholas)

[I don’t do it for that either!!!] (Ryouta)

My back was shivering with fear .

[Hey, hey . Do ya wanna drink with me after this . I won’t say we won’t quarrel, but we can still drink together . ] (Nicholas)

[My body is sending me danger alerts from every corner, so I politely refuse . ] (Ryouta)

[It’s alright once in a while . Don’t worry, I won’t just suddenly start a fight with you . I don’t feel good when the person is not prepared to fight with me . ] (Nicholas)

[Don’t you even appeal to me! I don’t even want to know what the hell you’re thinking!] (Ryouta)

[Then let’s go have another drink!] (Nicholas)

Nicholas rudely put his arms around my shoulders .

It’s surprisingly normal, like a brother to brother kind of skinship .

No, I was pulled by Nicholas .

I have to be 100% on alert as he’s a pervert . However, he doesn’t beat around the bushes, so it’s not like I hate him or anything .

As he pulled me along, we arrived at an old district block .

We were just at a bustling street with newly furnished buildings, but the moment we got here, the scenery shifted as all I could see are old and broken buildings .

[Must we pass by this place to get to where you’re saying?] (Ryouta)

[No, this is where I live . ] (Nicholas)

[Eh? Here?] (Ryouta)

[Well, while we’re talking about it, here is where I live . ] (Nicholas)

Nicholas dragged me to an old looking building .

It seems to be properly maintained, but with just one glance I could see that it has been many years since this building was constructed .

Probably around 50—–No, 100 years since this building was constructed .

[You live here?] (Ryouta)

[Yeah . ] (Nicholas)

[… . . But why? Instead of living in this old place, I’m sure you could live in a mansion of sorts right?] (Ryouta)

A 7☆ man, with many subordinates (probably), I’m sure he’s the head of the family .

When we first met, I didn’t really ask much, but he gave off a mafia like feeling where he’s the boss running the family, so I thought he would be living in a well-off place .

But to think that… . . he would live inside such a 100 year old looking house, it was a huge surprise for me .

[I’m sure, for outsiders they won’t understand . But this home, is the oldest building in Samechiren, you know?] (Nicholas)

[The oldest?] (Ryouta)

[Yep . This was the first house ever built when this city appeared . Well, it doesn’t look like how it was, but this is the oldest building . ] (Nicholas)

[The oldest… . . That’s right, previously you did order the <Oldest Sake> . ] (Ryouta)

[Yep . You……do you know what is the number one luxury in this world? It’s time . ] (Nicholas)

[Time… . ] (Ryouta)

With a flat pronunciation, I repeated his words .

[You can make as many good things as you want . And we want the best things in life . So humans can just keep on making new things time after time, right?] (Nicholas)

[I see . But something that is old is impossible . ] (Ryouta)

[Yeah . Old things have a time limit in them . And human strength can’t do anything to stop it . Hence why it’s the number one most extravagant thing . ] (Nicholas)

[I see . ] (Ryouta)

Old sake, and the old house .

I was wondering why he was so fixated on these, but when he told me the reason, I soon understood as well .

[So you must need plenty of money for it . ] (Ryouta)

[If it’s money, I already have plenty . I already own many buildings in this city, which is what makes me money . ] (Nicholas)

[Oh, so you’re not an adventurer?] (Ryouta)

I knew it when he placed his arms on my shoulders .

Nicholas—–Is strong .

With everyone I know so far, he can be considered one of the strongest . His level might be no less inferior than that of Neptune .

[Well, I’m a Final F . ] (Nicholas)

[Is that so . ] (Ryouta)

That was unexpected .

It has nothing to do with your strength, but the second page of your status .

Your drop status, it’s what people call when all your Drop Ranks are F .

Basically, even if you go inside the dungeon and fight monsters, you won’t get any drop whatsoever . In a sense, it’s a derogatory name to be placed onto someone .

[I see why now . ] (Ryouta)

[Anyways, let’s leave that and come in and have a drink . ] (Nicholas)

[B, Boss… . . ]

[Huh?] (Nicholas)

Nicholas, who tried to bring me inside the house, stopped as someone called him from behind, which left him in a bad mood .

While only looking at him with one eye, his mouth was distorted in one corner .

From the shadows, there came a guy .

It was someone I do not know, but from the looks of it I could kinda understand .

It was the same feeling as I got from those subordinates— it must be one of Nicholas’s subordinates .

That person then slowly went in front of Nicholas .

[What is it . ] (Nicholas)

[Actually… . . ]

After looking at me for a brief moment, he went close to Nicholas’s ear and whispered .

At first, Nicholas had an expression as if saying why the heck did you bother me, but soon after his face changed slowly to a surprise, and he suddenly had a smile on his face .

[——-is what is going on . ]

[I got it . Go and accept it . ] (Nicholas)

[Is that alright Boss, about the compensation?]

[Huuuh!?] (Nicholas)

[I’m sorry I understand I’ll immediately convey it now!]

The man immediately straighten his back and saluted before running away from the place .

What the? What the heck just happen .

[——!]

Suddenly my upper body reacted . It was something sharp, and it was freezing as it scraped my nose .

I kicked the ground and jumped away, and after I landed on the ground, I tried to grasp the situation .

Nicholas suddenly had a short sword, as he swung it down .

The blade of that short sword was emitting a purplish-red aura, and wherever I look at it, it seems to be a dangerous weapon .

And that was the thing that grazed my nose .

[What the hell!] (Ryouta)

[I’m currently doing my job right now . ] (Nicholas)

[Your job?] (Ryouta)

[Yeah, it’s a job from my loyal customer, and the request was for me to make a certain guy disappear . ] (Nicholas)

That guy… . . without asking it must’ve meant me .

[I’ve killed plenty in this job, well it’s just a regular business after all . ] (Nicholas)

[I don’t think that’s qualified as a regular business!] (Ryouta)

I retorted, but Nicholas licked the blade of the short sword with his tongue, and he had an ecstatic expression .

He had an extremely dangerous eyes looking at me .

[I can finally fight with you……well it’s as usual, my usual job that is!] (Nicholas)

[Damn!] (Ryouta)

I saw Nicholas’s figure shake—–and as I was thinking he was suddenly in front of me .

It was an incredible leap, I’m sure his speed is at A .

With one swing, he slashed at me with a vertical swing that I immediately dodged .

Rumble rumble… . . Boom!

I could hear roars from behind me, how ironic, the oldest building in this town was cut in half, and the cut made the building shift .

His power is also high, or is it the weapon’s strength?

Whatever it is—-He’s a strong opponent .

[Aah… . . This is good, this is super duper good! I knew I would get a good fight out of you!] (Nicholas)

While looking at me, he rushed over to me again .

With calm eyes, I avoided his slash and got near his belly before releasing a counter punch .

The punch went right deep into his stomach, and he flew backwards .

That attack was something like a super ball . A similar kind of shot .

Nicholas flew towards a rural old building and crashed there .

With one full punch connected .

With this I don’t think he can stand——

[Ouch, that hurts man . Hehe . ] (Nicholas)

Nicholas stood up, but with suffering agony he stood up, and his lips was smiling all the time .

Nicholas continued to rush towards me .

With incredible speed . The short sword that he was holding looked bent, and when he slashed, it felt dangerous in a physical damage standpoint, but I calmly coped with the situation and adjusted before counter attacking .

5 consecutive punches, and five times he flew backwards from the impact .

[I, I’m sure after this he can’t—–] (Ryouta)

[Awwwww yeah!] (Nicholas)

[Are you kidding me?] (Ryouta)

After knocking him back, Nicholas jumped out of the building he crashed into .

He shouted joyfully as if he has won .

I put on a stance, this time with my best attack .

But, he did not come .

Nicholas who jumped out did not move from where he stood .

[……]

I cautiously looked at my surroundings .

However, Nicholas suddenly fell down to the debris with his body flat like a [大] character .

His clean clothes were filled with his own blood, and of course after taking my counter blow, his clothes were tattered as well .

He should’ve been knocked out and unconscious from the damage exceeding his limit—–but he didn’t .

Even his face had a satisfied look .

[Phew… . . this should be alright . But… . ] I looked around .

Perhaps because Nicholas has bought over it, but there were no one around us at all .

However, the buildings were all destroyed by his slashes rather than my attacks, and it was all in ruins .

[I mean I’ve won, but to not win with one hit… . . ]

With that thought in mind, I was frustrated .