Visiting Plumbum had become a part of my daily routine. While we chatted casually about trivial things, she suddenly asked me a question.
“Is it okay for you to stay so long today?”
She was worried about me staying longer than usual.
“It’s fine. I’m taking today off work.”
“Off…work?”
“Yeah.”
As I’d declared, I was in total R&R mode. Before I came to this world, I’d worked at a place that 100% of people would recognize as a corrupt company. I’d collapsed from exhaustion more than once.
And that hadn’t done me a lick of good. As such, in this world, I rested whenever I felt like it.
“So I’m going to stay here a little longer for today.”
“Oh… Well, I do appreciate that.” Plumbum wasn’t shy. She said what she wanted to, when she wanted to. Honest to a fault.
“So, I hear you met Phosphorus recently.”
“I did. Though he was in an odd form.”
“Do you want to meet other spirits?”
“No, I’m fine,” she refused and gazed directly at me. “As long as you come, I’m happy.”
“Really? Okay, what about coming to our house? Phosphorus and Aurum are there.”
“No.” Once again, she’d refused my offer immediately. “I want you to come to see me.”
“Got it.”
If that was what she wanted, then that was that. I’d thought meeting Phosphorus might make her rethink her stance on not leaving the dungeon, but it had not.
When I came to see her, she smiled with such genuine joy.
Fine by me.
I’d already decided to visit every day, so I relaxed down to my core and spent a peaceful day off with her.
☆
“…Huh?”
Before I knew it, I was asleep. My mind was fuzzy. When I vacantly looked up, I saw a featureless white ceiling.
“Are you awake?”
“Plumbum… Huh?!”
She looked down from above. I felt a very soft sensation on the back of my head.
My hazy mind cleared up all at once, and I jumped up. Then, I got away as fast as I could.
Looking down at me. Softness on the back of my head. Her sitting seiza-style. The words lap pillow popped into my mind.
“Was I…asleep?”
“Yes. You looked as peaceful as a baby.”
“Urgh. Well, that’s embarrassing.”
“I enjoyed it, personally.” Plumbum’s smile showed heartfelt joy. She looked gentle and affectionate, like a loving mother. Again, she wasn’t shy about it; she was happy. “Rest a little longer, why don’t you?”
“Uh… No, I’m fine.” It’d be even more embarrassing to do it on purpose. Realizing how vulnerable I’d been made me so ashamed that I couldn’t bear to say yes to that.
Just then, I yawned. The surprise had awoken me, but sleepiness came back in no time. I felt like I was in the warm, clear air of spring.
I rolled over and lay there.
“Mind if I stay here a while longer?” I asked her.
“You could be in my lap.”
“What if we lie down together instead?”
“Together?”
“Yeah.”
“…Okay. With you, I suppose I could,” Plumbum replied, scooted over to my side, and lay down likewise.
“It feels kinda like we’re in a field.”
“Does it?”
“…No, I guess it just feels like how I imagine it. I’ve never done anything like that myself.”
Life in my old world was just work, work, and work. Picnics? Never heard of those.
But this felt good. It was like those sunbathing naps I’d only ever heard of.
Before long, I’d begun to fall asleep again.
☆
At night, I left Plumbum’s chamber and went back to the mansion. The sun had already set.
I’d done nothing productive today. Not only had I not worked, but I’d also neglected to do anything related to work like picking up my acceleration round.
It was truly a day of rest.
“Oh, welcome back, Yoda,” Emily greeted me.
“Thanks, Emily.”
“Erza was looking for you.”
“She was?”
“Yes. She said she wanted to do today’s tabulation.”
“Tabulation? But I didn’t work.”
With a wry grin, I went with Emily to see Erza. She was waiting in her little branch office.
“I’m home, Erza,” I greeted her.
“Welcome back.”
“I’m told we’re doing tabulation?”
“Yes. I’d like to report on your revenue for today.”
“Mmm…” I shrugged nonchalantly. I’d done no work. I got usage fees from Prince Ryo, but that was about it.
“Let’s see… Your total revenue was 1,210,000 piros.”
“…Huh?”
Over a million?
“What the heck? Why that much? I just lazed around all day.”
“Umm…” She looked down at her notes and replied, “Taxes from Aurum, your cut from Arsenic, contributions from the Ryota village, usage fees from the portrait… All of that adds up to 1,210,000.”
“That much…?”
“That’s incredible, Yoda,” Emily said. I had to agree; it was wild.
To be fair, these were all things I’d earned, yes.
But earning over a million passively in one day? That was wild.