"What did the Cursed Spirit and the Curse User look like? What abilities did they use?"
Naoya Zenin paused for a moment.
"The Cursed Spirit was a red, one-eyed volcano head. It used magma, explosions, and sound attacks.
The Curse User stayed inside a cloak. Probably a woman. She didn't make a move, so I don't know her technique.
I'll record the detailed information and send it over."
"OK…
How's your condition right now?"
"I'm fine."
"Good! I've got another mission for you in a bit!"
"…About that."
"Beep… beep… beep…"
Naoya Zenin stared at the receiver in his hand, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. The other side had clearly hung up.
"I don't even have a cellphone right now…
And there's no one around. Looks like I'll have to stay in this phone booth…"
…
Putting aside that slacker Kenjaku lurking nearby, the fact that Naoya Zenin managed to survive against Jogo already proved he wasn't weak. He must have stumbled onto some kind of turning point. Next time they meet, it might be worth taking a closer look.
[Does this mean I won't have to handle every single mission myself anymore?! Ha! Hahaha!!]
"Akira, you actually smiled. Did something funny happen just now that I missed?
The one who almost died was that Naoya from the Zenin family, right?"
Satoru Gojo leaned back carelessly in his chair, sipping his melon soda as if he were tasting fine wine.
"Ahem, nothing. I just feel like there's finally someone to carry things on.
Isn't it a good thing that another strong sorcerer has appeared on our side?"
Satoru Gojo straightened up and gave Akira Zenin a surprised look, then shrugged and leaned back again.
"Yeah. Sure."
Suguru Geto had already set his empty soba bowl aside. He chewed on a skewer of yakitori glazed with sweet sauce, seemingly lost in thought.
Shoko downed the last of her drink in one go. Shockingly, despite all those cups of liquor, she showed no sign of being drunk.
"Don't overthink it. Since it's a gathering, just relax. You can think about it slowly after we head back."
Shoko unfolded an old paper menu, so worn it had small holes in it.
"We've finished everything on the table. Let's order more. Let me see…
Braised abalone, tuna sashimi, beef offal…
Oh right, Ijichi, what do you want?"
"Huh?"
Ijichi, who had been shrinking into his seat and sipping his whiskey in small mouthfuls, jolted upright when his name was called. He accidentally let out a small hiccup.
"Um… I'll have potato salad."
"Potato salad? Big chunks or more mashed?"
"Mashed… more mashed, please."
"Akira, what about you?"
"Fried shrimp."
Satoru Gojo immediately cut in.
"You mean tempura!"
"Couldn't you just say one less word?"
"…"
"When you're replying to this guy, who knows how many extra words you use."
Shoko teased lightly, then efficiently finished placing the order.
"Hey, Ijichi, did you know the first person to fry tempura in Japan was a Portuguese guy named Zamoto?"
"I-Is that so?"
No matter what he was doing, the moment Satoru Gojo spoke, Ijichi would sit up straight, start thinking seriously, and respond.
Suguru Geto nodded along.
"I think I've heard that before. It might actually be true."
Akira Zenin finished the last sip of his coffee and gave a small shake of his head.
As an assistant supervisor, Ijichi had studied bits of this kind of historical trivia. But if it came out of Satoru Gojo's mouth, there was a high chance it wasn't true.
That was just how Satoru Gojo was. Even when he told a real historical fact, it sounded completely made up.
Before long, the dishes Shoko ordered were brought to the table.
Three golden pieces of tempura were placed in front of Akira Zenin. In the next second, Satoru Gojo opened his mouth and used [Blue] to pull two shrimp straight into it. He puffed out his cheeks and chewed quickly before swallowing.
Akira Zenin stared at him.
"You've really mastered that move."
"Of course! Hic…"
Suguru Geto pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed.
"Gojo, be careful. The staff just left. Don't let them see that."
"It's fine. If they see it, I'll just say it's an acrobatic trick called 'Dragon Sucking Water.' Cough, cough…"
Mid-sentence, Satoru Gojo suddenly grabbed his throat and started coughing violently.
"Why… why is there cheese in this?!"
The others tensed up at once, thinking someone had poisoned the food. Satoru Gojo's technique wasn't exactly resistant to toxins.
But when they heard what he actually said, Akira Zenin relaxed and rolled his eyes.
"What's wrong with cheese?"
Satoru Gojo hurriedly dumped some strawberry ice cream into his melon soda and took a resentful gulp.
"This is a serious issue! Cheese is the princess of the Dessert Kingdom! How could she abandon her fiancé, the pancake, and run off to live with these shrimp?!"
"…Heh."
…
In stark contrast to the warmth and laughter inside the izakaya, Naoya Zenin was crouched beside a public phone booth along a mountain road, quietly roasting a rabbit. Thin strands of smoke drifted slowly into the night sky.
"So… when are they going to finish talking?"