Chapter 49

“I—” “Hold it.” Emi stretched out her hand to stop Veltol. “I’m a detective. Allow me to uncover your identity.” “Interesting. Go on.” “Although unfortunately, Bunny Bones already told me the streamer Veltol would be coming.” Bunny Bones was the handle Veltol’s friend and aether hacker, Takahashi, used online. “I explicitly asked her not to send me a picture, though. I enjoy the eureka moment of a first impression. I’m afraid I haven’t seen your streams, but your tall figure, good looks and voice, and long black hair match those of the historical Demon Lord.” Emi softly pointed at Veltol. “But that is only natural, for you are the same Demon Lord Veltol who tried to conquer Alnaeth five hundred years ago.” The Demon Lord breathed a sigh, impressed. “Precisely. I am Veltol Velvet Velsvalt, the Immortal King. This is the first time since I’ve arrived in this era that a stranger has been able to uncover my identity.” “Oh, I didn’t think you’d acknowledge it that easily.” “I am not hiding it to begin with. Moreover, my gut tells me it is meaningless to pull a shallow trick on you. For reference, why did you think I was the real Demon Lord?” “I’m friends with Bunny Bones. It’s the natural conclusion if you pay attention to her activity.” Emi cleared her throat. “IHMI’s CEO, Marcus, had been suspected of being an immortal for a long time. Granted, it was only fishy conspiracies on the aethernet. Right after you got a name for yourself on the net, you hacked the holodisplays all over Shinjuku. Clearly Bunny Bones’s work. Around the same time, the IHMI CEO resigned out of the blue. Then Bunny Bones transferred to a school in Akihabara, and people on the aethernet reported sightings of someone matching your description over there.” Emi took a breath. “Then came the collapse of Yokohama. Bunny Bones went to Goar, which is on the opposite coast. She brought me a souvenir. Then she introduced me to you, and that’s how I deduced that you two are directly connected—that you were involved with the resignation of IHMI’s CEO. You speak in an old elvish dialect, you don’t have a Familia, and then there’s your looks and the way you carry yourself… With all this in mind, I concluded that you are not someone using the Demon Lord’s name, but the man himself.” “Now I see why Takahashi got me in touch with you.” Veltol was genuinely surprised by Emi’s sharp insight, being able to deduce all that from so few hints. “That said,” she added, “I thought the Hero Gram had eliminated you.” “He did. But I have conquered even annihilation. After five hundred years, I was resurrected in this era—I am invincible.” “Mm-hmm. Invincible, eh…? Anyway, Bunny Bones didn’t give me the lowdown. What brings you to the Chabatake Detective Agency? I take on everything, from looking for a lost cat to solving closed-circle murders… But I have a few cases on my plate. I can’t accept any new jobs until they’ve been solved.” “So you’re busy at the moment.” Veltol rubbed his chin in thought for a moment before raising his head. “Are there any other detectives in this agency?” “No, I run it by myself.” “No helpers?” “None at all.” “Heh-heh.” “Hmm?” “Hwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Then it is quite simple! I am so smart! Sharp as a tack, just like a detective!” “Wh-what’s this about…?” Emi wondered why Veltol was so excited all of a sudden. “Ah! You mean…!” “It seems you’ve noticed, Great Detective!” Veltol brushed his hair back. “Rejoice! Demon Lord Veltol Velvet Velsvalt shall lead your cases to resolution!” He then reached his hand out and loudly declared: “With an immortal body and an invincible soul—Demon Lord Detective Veltol is on the scene!” Month of the Gryphon, Day 2, 2099 FE, 15:00 Matoi was at the elevated loop line near Outer Shinjuku. She was hungry. Magiroids normally had no concept of hunger, yet Matoi had special functions that allowed her to run her mana efficiently by ingesting nutrients—in other words, eating. After the ingested food was broken down, her mana efficiency greatly dropped, which affected her idea circuit’s processing. A sensor installed in her midsection shrank after digestion, alerting her of “hunger.” Basically, she was weak when hungry and energetic after eating. Even though she was a machine. She hadn’t replenished her reserves enough before the time travel, and after some walking around, she needed food. Can’t fight on an empty stomach. Mishaps could occur if I enter combat like this. As her idea circuit produced such thoughts, the odd stench of Shinjuku she had perceived since her arrival mixed with what would be considered a statistically pleasant smell. Her odor sensor was sensitive from the hunger, and her lowered processing power allowed her subconscious to lead her to the source of the smell. The smell of food took over the hungry girl’s mind. She reached what appeared to be a restaurant and opened the old wooden door, making the entrance bell ring. The place was small; there were two tables for two, four seats at the counter, and stairs at the back. Music played in the background. Matoi did not indulge in audio, but the song entering her sensors was pleasant. The restaurant was almost full; there was only one counter seat open. The two canine therians wearing flat caps on the seats by the entrance glanced at Matoi before looking away immediately. Behind the counter, a middle-aged ogre stirred a frying pan. The place was quiet, but the clientele was objectively not welcoming. Neither the therians nor the ogre cook looked like decent people. Everyone here is crass…statistically speaking. After a few hours of investigation, Matoi had learned there was a difference in public safety between the inside and outside of the loop line. Neither was safe at all, but there was a sort of order to the lack of safety on the inside; the outside, meanwhile, was unruly. Matoi theorized it had something to do with the population density. This restaurant seemed to be preferred by crooks, as it was near the outside of the loop line. Nonetheless, Matoi sat down at the open seat by the counter. Then… “Hey, li’l lady.” …the orc next to her called her attention. He had a big scar on his face and an intimidating air. “This is no place for gals like you.” “Huh?” Matoi knew what was going to happen. She had witnessed the following scene in a film in the White House’s recreation room. The weak-looking new face—in other words, Matoi herself—arrived at a bar full of ruffians, and they picked a fight. Matoi began anticipating how she would counter the first attack when the orc spoke again. “They opened a new spot on the second floor just recently. You can see the chef’s huge, and it’s cramped down here. Bet you’ll find it more comfortable upstairs.” He pointed at the staircase with his thumb. “Thank you…” Matoi was slightly disappointed by the orc’s unexpected response. Dumbfounded, she bowed her head and got out of her seat. She headed upstairs to where the orc had indicated. As she climbed the narrow staircase, a thought occurred to her. It was entirely possible that the upstairs was an even more dreadful cesspool of crime. Maybe he sent her there as a trap. Yes, that had to be it. Her idea circuit was running at full speed. Matoi was ready to fight. Alert for any surprise attack. She made it to the second floor. It was quite spacious compared to the first floor. There were a few tables populated with men who looked just as rough as the ones downstairs. “Heh-heh-heh…” “Hyee-hyee-hyee…” They snickered while looking at Matoi from afar. She was clearly out of place in this spot crawling with thugs. “Welcome home, master— No, no, that’s not the kind of place this is. It’s a regular diner. Force of habit… Come on in! Sit wherever you’d like!” Matoi was shown in by a half-elf waitress who had long blond pigtails and heterochromic scarlet and golden eyes. The girl wore a nameplate on her chest reading YAMADA and a short maid dress. Impressively cute breastplate area. Should someone like her be working in a place like this without any armor? Wait—have I seen her somewhere before…? Matoi cross-referenced the girl’s physical characteristics with her own memory storage, but then there was a momentary crackle of static. It was the same static she’d felt in the Bunker’s hallway in 2149 FE, but she couldn’t remember anything about it. No results came back. Matoi didn’t know anyone in this time period, and she deduced that the déjà vu she’d recently experienced must have been a side effect of time travel. Matoi sat at the table by the window. That way, she could flee at any time. It was also a risky spot due to potential snipers, but she could take care of that. Her priority was ease of escape. The restaurant clientele’s voices reached her audio receivers. “Did you hear? Something happened again at the Roost.” “Things happen in this city all the time. And what’s this Roost?” “You don’t know?! The underground city!” “Had no idea. So what happened down there?” “A streamer exploring the ruins disappeared.” Matoi looked down at her table. The menu was there, and as she stared at it, the waitress came to take her order. “What would you like?” “Hot milk and fries, please.” Matoi pointed at the items on the menu. She used to have both frequently in Washington. “Got it! Your food will be here soon.” The waitress smiled and went downstairs. Once she was gone, the dwarf and ogre at the nearby table grinned. “Heh-heh-heh… Didja hear that?” “Hyee-hyee-hyee… How could I not?” “Heh-heh-heh… Milk.” “Hyee-hyee-hyee… Milk…” Matoi knew what was going to happen. She had witnessed the following scene in a film in the White House’s recreation room. The two men would say something like “Gah-ha-ha-ha! She wants milk!” and “Why don’tcha go home and suck on mommy’s tits?” and after some quarreling, they would end up fighting. Matoi began anticipating how she would counter the first attack when the dwarf and the ogre spoke again. “Heh-heh-heh… You know the good stuff, girly. They serve organic milk here.” “Hyee-hyee-hyee… Not only is milk tasty, but it’s nutritious, too. Excellent choice…” “Heh-heh-heh… Never see a girl this cute comin’ all the way out to a joint in the boonies. Can’t help but talk to ya.” “Hyee-hyee-hyee… Lotsa shady characters around here near Outer Shinjuku. Gets real dangerous. Better take care of yourself, li’l lady…” Looks like they might not be bad people… Matoi felt ashamed for judging these complete strangers. The waitress returned and furrowed her brow. “Could you please not bother the other customers?” she said to the two men. “Heh-heh-heh… Hizuki’s mad.” “Hyee-hyee-hyee… Sorry, sorry. Can we bother you instead, then?” “I will punch you, you know.” Hizuki wore an angry smile, but her voice remained adorable. “Sorry about our regulars…,” she said as she placed the tray with Matoi’s order on the table. “No, it’s fine.” Matoi took a sip of her hot milk. Unlike the powdered milk from Washington, this had a rich smell that stimulated her odor sensors. “…” Hizuki stared at the back of Matoi’s head. “Is there something amiss about me? I apologize if my cuteness enraptured you,” Matoi said, flashing her pioneering cutesy pose. Hizuki tilted her head in confusion. “What’s that gesture?” “The newest in cute poses fifty years in the future.” “Okay… Ummm, by the way, I see you don’t have a Familia. Will you be able to pay for your meal?” “…? Question. What do you mean?” Hizuki reacted with embarrassment. “…Oh! Never mind! I’m sorry! That was rude of me! Of course there are other payment methods! Forgive me. It’s just, I know this one dragon who dines and dashes, and I just assumed…” Matoi ran some calculations while gazing at the top of Hizuki’s bowed head. Matoi was not wearing a Familia. This implantable magic assistance device existed in the year 2149, but it wasn’t like its multifunctional, computer-adjacent counterpart of this era. The Familias of the future were specialized for combat and had all unnecessary features removed. Familias in 2149 were retrograded to the original prototype. In Matoi’s case, she had an idea circuit for combat assistance instead of a Familia. Matoi went through all the data of this age regarding the economy, payment systems, Familias, restaurants, and money until she reached one conclusion. “Ah.” An unprecedented chill ran down her spine. Matoi realized something: Shinjuku’s economy relied on digital currency. Washington, having few resources, used a ticket system, which Matoi, as a member of the Hero Corps, did not need. Sh-shoot! My idea circuit wasn’t processing properly from the hunger, and I forgot to include the current era’s economic system in my calculations! “Umm… Do you not have cash on you…?” Hizuki asked. “Affirmative… I’m sorry. I don’t have any money…” She glanced at the window. Running away would be easy, but a Hero should not dine and dash. But she couldn’t get arrested, either. She spurred her idea circuit to find a peaceful solution harder than when she’d fought the Duchess of Weal and Woe. In this comic I once read in the recreation room, they washed dishes when they were short on money. But I don’t have time to waste on that, not to mention I have no dishwashing functions, although I’m sure I could manage, but I don’t have the experience, and what in the world am I thinking? The high-level processor of the future led the latest model of artificial spirit—the OrAcle—to one solution. “Umm… Could you please let me off the hook if I do this…?” Matoi asked. “Uh, do what?” Matoi raised two fingers, turned them to the side, held them up to her face, and opened them while sliding them in front of her eyes, all while keeping a straight face. “…What do you say…?” “About what?” “Aren’t I…cute?” “Huh? Well, yeah, sure…” “So…we’re even…?” “I will punch you!” “Of course!” Matoi’s payment in cuteness was clearly rejected. Did she have no choice but to wash dishes? Hizuki slumped down into the chair opposite her. “Don’t worry; I’ll cover you this time.” “Huh?!” “I’ll pay for your milk and fries.” “Why…?” “Because…you’re funny?” “Thank you. I can’t believe you really spared me because I’m so cute…” “Hey, you…! Ahh, whatever. You’re off the hook for being cute. The fries are nice and salty today.” Hizuki grabbed a fry and threw it into her mouth. “Howdy-do!” A new customer came upstairs and waved at Hizuki. She wore a dwarven jacket, a qipao, and round sunglasses on top of her black hair, which had a tuft of red. A striking appearance, but not one Matoi remembered. “Takahashi… I told you not to come to my workplace…” “But I’m a regular here! Hey, that your friend?” “Nope. She’s just a broke customer who tried to pay for her meal with a cutesy pose.” “Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! That’s so funny. You okay, girl? Want me to pay for you?” “Do not worry,” said Matoi. “She’s already paying for me. I appreciate your kindness.” “Huh. Hey, I’m blondie here’s friend. The name’s Takahashi. Howdy-do!” “Howdy…do…?” Takahashi sat down nearby. “Wait. Bunny…?” The word came out of Matoi’s mouth unconsciously. She had no idea why. Takahashi raised an eyebrow. “Hm? Whazzat?” “No, nothing…” “’Kay. Hizuki, gimme some Neapolitan pasta and a melon soda. And make it quick. I’m starving.” “Huh? Go get it yourself.” “But I’m a customer!” “I’ll go later.” “But I’m hungry!” “Actually, Takahashi, how about you finally clean up your room instead?” “Why don’t you clean it?!” “Why would I have to clean your room? Do it yourself…” “’Cause I’m letting you crash at my place?” “You should at least pick up all the underwear scattered across your room…” “Hey, you leave your bras all over the place, too, sometimes! And they’re huge! And sexy!” “Waaah! No, you—! Idiot! Keep your voice down!” “Not like you’ve got anyone to show your sexy lingerie anyway! Lemme fondle those titties instead!” “I’m never cooking for you again…” “Ahh! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I was just kidding!” “Sheesh… Oh, by the way, we’re running out of soy sauce, so grab some on the way home.”