Chapter 122: 122

On the 19th day of the Water month, I was walking with Kuro on a path I was recently familiar with .

[I’m sorry, Kuro . Things ended up being so hectic that I didn’t get to hear about Alice’s plans . ]

[No . It’s alright…… Even if today’s no good too, we can still go back another day . I’ll be going to Lilia-chan’s place tomorrow after all…… After that, I should be quite free in my schedule . ]

[Thank you . ]

Yes, currently, Kuro and I were walking to Alice’s miscellaneous goods store .

I had mentioned before that I was going to Alice and help her sell magic tools in the form of futons, but I forgot to ask about her plans because of that ruckus with Megiddo-san .

When I told Kuro about it last night when she came to my room as usual, she offered to make time today to go with me .

I’m really grateful for that but…… Honestly, even though Alice made lots of money last time, she already had previous offenses before, so I can’t trust that she won’t gamble all the money she has .

I need to create a stable source of income quickly for her, and then, keep reminding her to calculate her expenses and income……

As I was walking alongside Kuro on the street, I suddenly remembered something, so I decided to ask her about it .

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[Ah, that’s right . There’s something I want to ask you, Kuro . ]

[……Eh? You want to ask something? Fufufu, I see, since you saw my magical beast mode, you’ve become curious about my identity, right!? Alright, if you ask now, I’ll give you a hint as a little service……]

[What’s your favorite food, Kuro, besides baby castellas?]

[You’re asking that!? No, no, Kaito-kun, that’s not what you should be asking now, right!? This is the time where you use the line “Who are you?” . ]

[……No, I don’t really think I’ll be using that for a while . ]

[Eeehhhhhh!?]

How should I say this…… I’m not really sure if Kuro, in the end, wants me to ask about who she really is or she doesn’t want me to ask about her identity .

However, what I can be sure of is that just because I asked it, it doesn’t mean that she’s going to honestly tell all about it .

[You need to be more interested in me, Kaito-kun! I’m becoming sad here, you know!?]

[No, I’m interested in you, isn’t that why I’m asking you what your favorite is?]

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[Ugghhh…… M-muuuuu……]

Kuro’s cheeks puffed out like a hamster in response to my words, as if she couldn’t think of a counter-argument . How should I say this, she’s as cute as always and not scary at all .

However, I used to be swept along in the past, but lately, I’m starting to feel that I have the luxury of being able to get the upper hand in my conversations with Kuro .

[So, in the end, what’s your favorite food?]

[… . . Muuuuu~~ Other than baby castellas, maybe pudding?]

[Errr, what was it called again? That Special Deluxe Pudding à la mode?]

[Ahh~ That’s the one Ein made for me before . That was quite delicious~~…… To be honest, I was only half-joking when I told her about it, but for her to really make it, Ein’s really amazing . ]

She just said she’s half-joking…… Ahh, I see, Kuro thought it was an absurd request to ask, but Ein-san completed it like it’s obvious…… She’s a cheat, just as usual .

[However, Kaito-kun . Why are you suddenly asking me what I like?]

[Ahh~~ Well, errr…… You see, when we went out together last time—— [ On a date! ] —— Ahh, unnn . When we went on a date, didn’t I say that I would be the one asking you next time?]

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[Unnn, you did say that . ]

[So…… I thought it would be great if we could go eat something Kuro likes, and that’s why I’m asking you . ]

[……Kaito-kun . ]

Hearing my words I said while feeling somewhat embarrassed, Kuro is silent for a bit, before she smiled like a blooming flower .

[Unnn! I’ll look forward to that…… Now, let’s go!]

[Eh? Wait, Kuro!? Your hand!?]

[We’ve held hands before already, so don’t mind, don’t mind~~]

Looking at Kuro who’s happily laughing as she pulled my hand along, I followed, aware that a natural smile appeared on my mouth .

Walking into Alice’s miscellaneous goods store, which I was getting used to seeing by now, there was the usual stuffed cat costume .

[Ayaa? Kaito-san? Welcome! I still have some “last minute” money left this time!]

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[……I’ll make sure we’ll carefully talk about that later . ]

[……Eh?]

What the heck do you mean “last minute”? You made that much money last time, and you’ve already spent that much!?

Seriously, if I take my eyes off her for a while…… No, wait, wait, calm down . Preaching is for later…… Let’s go have her talk with Kuro first……

[You must be Alice-chan, right? Kaito-kun told me all about you . ]

[……Ehh? Huh? ……Ummm, errr…… Underworld King-sama?]

[Unnn, nice to meet you . ]

[……One moment please……]

Alice, who was in her usual good mood, after she became aware of Kuro’s presence when she spoke to her, I could clearly see that she’s trembling even when she’s wearing that stuffed costume .

Then, after telling Kuro to wait a minute, she moved behind the counter, took off her costume, and came back…… kneeling down on both of her knees in front of Kuro, bowing her head .

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[……Ummm, please accept my apologies . It’s just my usual habit so…… errr…… if you could spare my life……]

[I’m not here to kill you though!?]

As expected, even if it’s Alice, she doesn’t seem to joke around like she usually does when dealing with Kuro, the Underworld King, and apologizes with a nervous look on her face .

Still, she only wore her opera mask but……

[……Errr, can we just get on with it and see the magic tool?]

[Y- Yes! T- T- This way . ]

[……Oi, we’re not talking about your stuffed costumes, bring us to where the futons you made are……]

[Ahh, y- y- you’re right . ]

Unusually, Alice seems like she would blow up, as when she led us to her stuffed costumes doesn’t seem to be her usual boke, but just a plain mistake .

Alice hurriedly brought the futons she made this time .

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I don’t know if I should have expected it since she has a good sense of style, but even the design of the futon she made looked elegant that it wouldn’t be strange even if seen in a noble’s house .

Kuro takes the futon and looks at it from various angles, then looks at Alice with a slightly surprised expression on her face .

[……What an incredibly beautiful technique you used here huh . It’s sophisticated and lean…… You have quite an amazing magical craftsmanship huh . ]

[I- I- I’m not that extravagant . ]

[Unnn! With this kind of work, we could sell it right away…… Would you mind making this for my company?]

[Yes, it’s a pleasure . ]

It seems that Kuro has a high evaluation of the magic tool, as she told her that she would procure it from her .

[Can this be mass-produced?]

[Y- Yes! Give me a few days, and I could prepare a whole bunch of them……]

[Unnn…… . I’d say the cost of materials is about 3000R…… Then, how about we stock up on them at about 10000R a piece?]

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[Pfft!? 1- 10000R!?]

To my surprise, Kuro seems to purchase the futon at more than three times the material cost . I wonder if she’d make a profit if she bought it for that cost?

Then, as if sensing my doubts, Kuro slightly smiled .

[There aren’t many magicians that are able to set up a technique like this, even within the Demon Realm . If I consider that, this much is appropriate…… I guess these would mainly be sold to the nobles? I’d also like you to make a low-cost sleeping bag for the adventurers and the general public, but can you make those?]

[Y- Yes . Of course . ]

[Unnn, then, as for that sleeping bag, I’ll pay you 50% of the net profit for being the inventor…… I’ll have a representative from my company come by some other time to formalize the contract . ]

[F- Fifty percent!?]

I don’t if I should say it’s to be expected from her or anything like that… but Kuro promptly advanced the conversation, and quickly put together a business meeting .

[U- Umm…… Underworld King-sama?]

[Unnn?]

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[I- It’s just that I feel like those conditions were too advantageous for me……]

[You were specially referred to by Kaito-kun after all . Consider it as a service . ]

[T- Thank you very much . ]

[Unnn . Then…… in about four days, I’ll have them come back with the contract, are you alright with that?]

[Yes . ]

It seems that Kuro is willing to sign a contract that’s favorable to Alice, considering that I introduced her .

I’m really grateful for that…… I guess I’ll have to thank Kuro again .

Dear Mom, Dad——- I visited Alice with Kuro . I don’t know if I should say that it’s expected of Kuro, but their conversation advanced without a hitch—– and the deal seems to have been settled .

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It somehow feels like it’s been a long time since he went out with Kuro .