Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Pretty Girls Sandwich

Translator: “Kell” Editor: ”Weasalopes”

We devoted a week of our time to remodelling . Me, my father who quit his job, and Toramaru worked every day while my mother and Alice helped when they had the time . Even Emma, Luna-san, and Laura-san, lent a hand . With everyone’s help, what was once an old store ravaged by time has now been transformed completely . The walls, painted white, gave off a sense of immaculateness, and the things inside of the store have been arranged so people can get around more easily . We built a fine counter table, careful to keep everything level in the room . We even had racks to display goods .

「You can barely recognize the place, huh? I’m looking forward to the opening!」

Laura-san was in high spirits, putting her head on my shoulder .

「Yes . The place looks pristine yet moderately stylish . Hopefully it’ll be popular with the girls . 」

Luna-san spoke in admiration while pulling Laura-san off me . Then Emma who was walking around, tilted her head, and raised a question .

「Hey, Noir . What are you gonna sell in this Rare Shop?」

「Hmm… Materials from monsters and the likes, and some rare stuff . Like the golden slime jelly . 」

「The one you get from the dungeon? Those are delicious!」

「Yeah, there are a lot of monsters in that dungeon that can’t be found around here . For example…」

I took out a fang of a Silver Wolf, some mane, and stingers and golden wings of a Golden Bee . They were all materials I got from the vicious monsters I fought on the 7th floor . I had them stored, but I didn’t know what to do with them so I might as well just sell them .

「I see… I haven’t seen these before…」

Laura-san was familiar with anything related to monsters since she was also engaged in material purchasing in the guild . But she didn’t know anything about these monsters . It just goes to show how rare the monsters in the hidden dungeon were .

「What about you, Luna-san?」

「I haven’t seen them either . I’m friends with a doctor and a materials appraiser, though . You want me to ask them?」

「Yes, please . It’ll be much easier to sell these if we knew their uses . Plus maybe we could set the prices high .

「Just leave it to me . 」

It would be better to take some time before opening up . I could gather materials from the dungeon . I’m sure I can sell the stuff I get from the golden slimes for a high price . Collect lots of rare articles, earn money, and make the Stalgia family rich . If I had extra money, I could convert them to LP as well . Let’s do this!

My father would handle all the necessary requirements to open up a shop which was a relief . He said he was going to some trade association .

「Ah, it’s past noon already! Noir, let’s go to the school quick . 」

「What? We’re exempted from classes, right?」

「Yes, but there’s the training camp discussion today . We don’t have to be there, but we have the time anyway . Let’s at least listen, okay?」

「I suppose . Let’s go . 」

It will be the first time in a while I’ve seen my classmates and Elna-sensei . We hurried to the Hero School and entered the classroom . Apparently they were in the middle of the training camp discussion . They were all seated, listening to Elna-sensei .

「Noir, Emma . I’m glad you could make it . Are you two interested in the hot springs training camp as well?」

「Yes! I love hot springs!」

Haha . Emma loved baths since she was a kid and we used to get in together when we were little . It would be outrageous if we did that now . Yes, something will definitely be raging, all right .

「Ahem . Since we’re all here now, let’s go over it again . The hot springs we’re going to is famous for making one’s skin beautiful . 」

The girls’ eyes were sparkling .

「Now, a hot spring camping trip might sound good, but relatively strong monsters show up there . The most notable one is the Pixie which is a cunning creature . If you’re not confident enough then you don’t have to force yourself . You may stay behind . 」

So it’s not compulsory . I… well seeing Emma hyped means we’re going then .

「Raise your hand if you want to go . 」

Everybody swiftly raised their hands . What the? The girls I can understand since they’re drawn by the effects of the hot springs, but what about the boys? I listened carefully to a group of boys talking near me .

「Hehehe… it’s an open air bath!」

「Guhihihi… gotta peep at ‘em!」

What an indecent laughter . I was awe-stricken by their minds that were rife with lust .

「So everyone wants to go . We leave in a week . Make sure you’re prepared . 」

I was about to head over to Emma after the discussion when I felt some malicious stares . They were not targeted at me, though, but at Emma . From all directions… the boys were staring at Emma and the pretty girls with eyes full of lust .

「Fuhehe… Emma-san’s jugs…」

「Huge melons, huge melons… Mufufufu…」

I-It would probably be better to not go after all . I have to at least save Emma . I dragged her out of the classroom and convinced her to change her mind .

「Forget about the hot springs . How about we go somewhere else?」

「What?! I… no . 」

「Saw that coming . 」

「I really want to get in a hot spring . You know I love hot springs, don’t you?」

「But this time, it’s dangerous . There will be horny guys around . They’re gonna watch and wait carefully for a time when you and the girls let your guard down . 」

「They’re gonna peep on us? I don’t like that of course . But I still want to go the hot springs…」

She still wouldn’t change her mind . She really wanted to go even with the risks involved . Even I can’t stop her now .

「I guess I don’t mind if they do peep on me… Ehehe…」

「I do!」

「I-I was just kidding . I know you’re going to stop them . 」

「I want to stop them of course, but…」

「I’m countin’ on ya, brah!」

She gave me a thumbs up in a boyish manner . Man, she sure lacks any sense of danger . I have to make up for her optimism by being extra cautious, then . I could also talk to Elna-sensei when we get there .

「All right, let’s go home . 」

「Ah, sorry, but I’m in a hurry . I’m going to a trip in a few days with my parents . 」

「Where to?」

「It’s hot recently so we’re going to the beach . Wanna come?」

「Nah, I have the shop to take care of . Have fun . 」

「Okay~! Don’t cheat on me, got it?」

She gave me a farewell hug and a kiss on the cheeks before running off . Well there go my plans . I was actually going to ask her help in replenishing my LP . I got some from the hug and kiss just now so I guess that’ll do . I walked back to the shop alone to find Laura-san and Luna-san arguing about the picture to be hung on the wall . Right now, there’s a self-portrait of Laura-san . She must’ve commissioned an artist for it .

「This one’s the best! I’m sure Noir-san would agree . 」

「No way . I’m sure Noir-dono wouldn’t like the idea of you watching him all day long . 」

「How dare you! Noir-san and I have been destined to be together since our previous lives!」

「And what makes you say that?」

「I felt a spark when I first saw him . 」

「Lies . I heard you treated him with scorn at first . 」

「That’s… uhh…」

「Excuse me~」

When I called out to them, they came at me vehemently, asking me about what I thought of the picture . They seemed to be misunderstanding something .

「Hmm, actually I won’t be in the shop a lot . My father will be in charge here for the most part . So your portrait will be watching…」

「I’m taking it back~」

She removed the portrait with incredible speed and handed it to me .

「Please hang it in your room, Noir-san . 」

「Th-Thank you . 」

「Oh, and would you like to go shopping together? Just the two of us . 」

「I’m coming with . 」

Laura-san pouted in displeasure at Luna-san who cut in immediately . I suppose they can only argue like this because they were old acquaintances .

「Shopping sounds good, but I actually have a favor to ask . After fighting Phantom, I felt I needed to get stronger . No, I want to . And one shortcut to getting stronger is getting more LP, so…」

It involved kissing and cuddling and stuff so I found it hard to say “Please help me” . Fortunately, they were quick on the uptake .

「Just leave it to me . If it’s for you, I’ll give you a hand— no, I’ll give you my everything!」

「That means something totally different…」

「Me too . I want to help you . If it’s something I can do, then I’ll gladly lend a hand . 」

「Thank you very much . So now then, what do we do?」

I was the one who asked but I didn’t really think about what we were going to do . We were the only ones in the shop . We could probably do something a bit on the raunchy side .

「Then how about a “grown-up kiss” with me, Noir-san?」

「No . 」

「I wasn’t asking you, Luna!」

「Yeah, but the answer is still no . I could hold hands with Noir-dono, hug him, and… *mumble*」

「Yeah, no . That’s just what you want!」

「It’s not! It’s for Noir-dono…」

Things were heating up between them again so I had to think of something . It’s kinda hard to come up with something on the spot . Then I caught sight of a sandwich on a table . Must be leftover from lunch . An idea sprung up within me as soon as I saw the sandwich’s filling .

「A pretty girls… sandwich . 」

「Did you say something?」

「Can we do a pretty girls sandwich?」

「…Uh, do you know what that is, Luna?」

「I think I… haven’t heard about it before . 」

Well of course they wouldn’t know about it . It was something I came up with just now . Explaining it to them was embarrassing, but this was a test for me to become strong . I had to suck it up .

「Basically, a human sandwich . I’ll be the filling, and you two will be the bread . 」

「Me and Luna will sandwich you?」

「Something like a hug from both sides?」

「Yeah, something like that . I haven’t done this before so I don’t know much either…」

I tried to tell them that they don’t have to do it if they can’t, but Laura-san cut in before I could .

「Let’s do it! I’ll take the front!」

「Ah, no fair! Ugh, fine . I’ll do it from behind . 」

My heart suddenly started beating faster . They closed in on me one step at a time— Laura-san from the front and Luna-san from behind . I think my chest might just burst open .

「「Ey~!」」

They both sandwiched me almost at the same time . Enveloped in the soft embrace of two pretty ladies, I was struck by an indescribable feeling .

A・new・sensation!

I’ve never felt something like this before… Thank you, lord!

I got 3,000 LP from it . Maybe my idea wasn’t bad after all .