*

　The next day, Mako woke up to a sound echoing from downstairs.
　Naturally, Shelly was not next door.
　He felt an unearned sense of guilt as he remembered what happened last night.
　I treated her pretty roughly, although I said I would treat her well.
　This couldn't have been possible in the original world.



　Makoto raises himself up and strokes his right arm.
　There is what looks like a tribal-type tattoo floating there.
　It's probably not unrelated to being able to handle the Seven Evil Spirits, but he doesn't know what it is.
　Maybe I could ask Laura to find out.

'Did I wake up a little too early?'

　I looked at the window and saw a white light shining through the curtains.
　He seemed to wake up much earlier than usual.

''Let's get up...''

　Mako got off the bed and, after some hesitation, put on the underwear that had fallen off.
　Well, sort of.
　He headed downstairs, biting down on the lack of stretching.

'Good morning, sir.'
Good morning.

　We were halfway down the stairs when Shelly looked up at us and said, "I'm sorry.
　There must not have been much blood splattered, but she's cleaning up with a mop in hand.
　Maybe she's changing her mood by acting the same way she normally does.

'Did I wake you up?'
Not if you hear it rattling downstairs.
'Please get dressed and then come down. What if there are other guests here?
I'm the only one who can help you now.

　Makoto scratched his head boringly.

'You don't know what other guests might come in.
He's not coming.

　It's early in the morning and the door is closed.
　No normal person comes in.

f*ck you, sir.

　Shelley's lips quirk up adorably.
　Mako sits in her seat - on the edge of the counter seat - and watches Shelly as she sweeps the floor.
　Her movements are awkward, perhaps because of last night.

'.........Shelly.
What is it?
Does it hurt?
Don't ask me that question.

　Sherry took a break from cleaning and said, a little miffed.

'So, does it hurt?'
Will you help me if I tell you it hurts?
No, I'm just curious.

　In case you're paying for it, you're supposed to be the customer.
　Already!　And Shelly resumes her cleaning.
　Mako was relieved to see Shelly scrubbing the floor with a mop.
　The relationship that had been sullied by Alan's case had been repaired, and last night's incident didn't seem to have tailed off.
　It was back to normal.
　After all that happened, it's kind of weird that they just got back together.

''........It hurts.
What?

　Shelly mumbled and Mako couldn't help but ask back.
　He continues to clean up, but he's embarrassed and even his ears are red.

'So, it hurts. I feel like I still have my husband's in there...'
'I meant to say something about the breasts?
It hurts, too.

　But, she continues.

'I feel like I'm finally getting my footing after my husband held me.
You think so?
That's about it.

　Shelly smiled weakly.
　'Speaking of which,' said Mako, standing up and walking over to Shelly.

'Are you going to help me?'
No.

　Mako hugged Shelly from behind.
　The mop slipped off, making a dry sound.

'Da, mister?'
Speaking of which, there's something I forgot to ask you.
What, sir?
Shelly, you can be mine.

　I whispered in her ear and Shelly jerked back.

'Please stop. Your husband isn't the kind of person you should get involved with a woman like me.
I'll carry you upstairs.
It's called greed, sir.

　'Ha,' laughed Makoto.

'What's your answer?'
Ouch, you're hurting me, sir!

　Shelley let out a screeching sound as she gathered her strength.

'It's your fault, isn't it?'
What's wrong with me--
He asked me out.
That was ... a one-time thing.
'I told you I'd do terrible things. I can't stand the way he reacts to every single one of them because they're so s*xy.

　If you don't like it, I'd tell you to hate it more.
　Even now she is in pain, and yet she is upturning her cheeks.
　She's, you know, trying to get me to join her.
　Yes, she did.
　She's a sinful woman, Cheryl.

Hey, Shelly?
You'll have to be patient this early in the morning, sir.
Sherry, what do you think?
Not here.
All right. Let's get in there.

　Sherry exhaled in relief.
　Mako went behind the counter and stopped there.

'Stick your hand against the wall.'
There's a bed in the back.

　God!　Sherry said and poked her hand against the wall.

'You're awfully straightforward,'
Being held once or twice is the same as being held once.

　The tone of voice that asked me to get it over with quickly - perhaps Shelley wasn't aware of that - clicked.

'What was the answer to your earlier question?'
''I don't want to pull your husband down,''
Okay.
"Mister?
I'll just ask my body.
Or just bear with me, sir.
"Listen to your body.

　Makoto smiled thinly.

*

　Noon - Makoto, Yuka, Fene, Liv and Laura were sitting around a table at the 'Golden Sheep' pavilion.
　By the way, Sherry is working behind the counter.

"See, I told you to give me 100A.
The bet wasn't made.

　Tsk, Yuka clicked her tongue.
　I'm the one who wants to click my tongue.
　I didn't tell Yuka about having an affair with Shelly.
　Nevertheless, the fact that you know -'

'Liv, what explanation did you give her?
Mako and Sherry...

　Pow!　I heard a noise from behind the counter.
　Shelly must have dropped something.
　Still, I have a good ear.

'Hey!　Blur it out more!
No, it's true, isn't it?
No, no, no, you blur it out because it's true!
It's a cultural difference, isn't it?
'The culture!　What would you do if you were in my position!
I'm gonna kill you!
That's my line!

　Liv turned red and shouted, and Mako shouted back.

'Fene, while you're with me... what's going on?
My tail is tickling.

　Fane replies, scratching his bushy tail.

'Isn't there fleas or lice in the air?'
Geez!

　Liv said with a grin, and Yuka backed away from her with a bang.

'Shh, excuse me!　I put soap on it every day and wash it!
Don't give me that shit!
I mean, he's gone!　Brother, you're not here!
Hold on, let me check.

　Fane pokes his tail out, and Makoto ruffles his fur to check it out.
　'I've only seen lice in the movies, but they don't seem to be a problem.

'I don't have any bugs, and I don't have a skin disease. You should go to the hospital, just in case.
Hospital?
Just in case.
Okay.

　Fene nodded with a sense of reluctance and returned to her seat.
　All the while, she was scratching her tail.

'By the way, is Laura okay?'
What's that?

　Laura asked back to Yuka.

'Of course it's about Mako,'
''I was surprised at first, but I'm not going to be blindsided by having a mistress around.

　'Mako,' said Yuka, giving him a look.

'What?'
She thinks she's your wife, you know?
Don't bother saying it.

　Can't you deal with Yuka's style of trying to beat a stranger into a minefield when she could have gone through with it if she had just kept quiet?

''Hmm?''

　I suddenly felt a look and turned around to see Shelly looking at me from behind the door.
　It seems it was a construction that said I shouldn't get involved with a woman like me.

'Wait, Laura is a knight, or rather a nobleman, right?　Isn't that not balanced with Mako?
Please don't say anything.
'House Cerberus is not a nobleman of high rank, and Master Makoto is already a knight.
'Speaking of which, you were made an honorary knight.
'Isn't that something that has no substance?'
Chris has given me his armband.

　Laura ignored Mako and took the armband from the pouch.
　It was embroidered on black fabric.
　The design is based on the motif of flames and basket hands.

''Don't you have one for us?''
This is a symbol of Lord Makoto.

　Please," said Laura, holding out the armband.
　I have no choice but to accept it since I promised to become an honorary knight.
　When Makoto received the armband, he said.

The Rogers Trading Company!

　A commanding shout echoed through the store.
　When I looked at the entrance, a man with a furoshiki on his back was standing there.

''Where's Team Black Flame's Makoto-sama?''
It's me.

　The man approached us as Makoto raised his hand.

'I brought you the coat and cape I promised you earlier.
They've added members since then?
Yes, sir.

　The man said with a sales smile on his face.

''Well how?''
A merchant is a man of information.
Is that how it works?
That's just the way it is.

　The man nodded widely.
　Makoto was an inside salesman, but if you ask me, a decent salesman was actively gathering information and attending seminars to expand his network.

'May I place a package on the table?'
Come in.
So.....

　The man placed the furoshiki on the table and untied the knot.
　At the top was a coat with flames embroidered on the back.
　Rogers Trading Company is embroidered in the corner.
　It seems that they intend to use Makoto and the others as a billboard.

'This one is for Makoto-sama.
I already got mine, okay?
It wasn't embroidered.
Why don't you keep it?
You could say that.

　Makoto said back to Yuka.
　When you receive things for free, it's harder to refuse their demands.
　As I recall, I called it the principle of reciprocity.

''See, you have Rogers Trading Company embroidered here?　We're going to be in charge of advertising for the Rogers Chamber of Commerce, so don't be shy. Isn't that right?

　The corners of the man's eyes twitched for a moment as Yuka gave him a look.
　He may simply be brazen, but he's a high school girl who's surprisingly reliable in limited situations.

''That's right, sir.''

　The man put his coat on Mako, Fene, Liv and Laura with a sales smile on his face, and his cape in front of Yuka.

'Well, I'll take it...'
'Here's the thing, if it's torn, they're going to fix it for free, right?　After all, we're in charge of publicity for Rogers and Company.
Of course, sir.

　The man nodded in response to Yuka's question and walked out of the "Golden Sheep" pavilion.
　Makoto cleared his throat and straightened his residence.

''Can we continue exploring the Legion dungeon and leveling up Laura tomorrow?''
Okay.
No problem.
That's good.
''I'll try my best to raise the bar tomorrow.

　I guess I'll ask for it when I get up to level 30, Makoto thought vaguely.