One month after meeting Carmen.]
[Alexander]: Leader, are you really going to accept that mission?
[Eridius]: I already told you. We need this job.
[Alexander]: I understand that the client is important, but is it really worth leaving the café unattended?
[Eridius]: The person we're protecting is a VIP with enough influence to help us establish a foothold in H Nest. That alone makes this mission worth considering. Besides, he's a fan of our pastries and Sun Cakes. I would hate to disappoint a paying customer.
[Alexander]: You're making this sound like a business trip rather than a protection mission.
[Eridius]: Why can't it be both?
[Alexander]: ...Because the client is a young master who wants to take a sightseeing tour of the Backstreets.
[Eridius]: Exactly. A young master with money, influence, and apparently very little understanding of how the Backstreets work. If we're lucky, he'll listen to our advice. If we're unlucky, we'll spend the entire trip preventing him from getting himself killed.
[Alexander]: And you volunteered to accompany him?
[Eridius]: I accepted a job. There's a difference.
[Alexander]: A very convenient difference.
[Eridius]: Regardless, I'm taking Kuro and two soldiers with me. You'll remain here.
[Alexander]: Leader—
[Eridius]: Alexander, our business has grown considerably over the past few months. We've attracted customers, made money, and built a reputation. Unfortunately, that reputation has also attracted the attention of people who would rather see us fail.
[Alexander]: The groups who've been watching us?
[Eridius]: The very same. They've been waiting for an opportunity to make their move. Once word gets out that I've left the café with most of the fighters, some of them will undoubtedly decide it's their chance.
[Alexander]: So you want me here to keep them from doing anything stupid.
[Eridius]: No. I want you here to stop them from doing anything to us.
[Alexander]: ...That somehow sounds worse.
[Eridius]: It should. If anyone tries to cause trouble, deal with them. Keep the staff safe, protect the business, and don't let anyone touch the basement.
[Alexander]: What happens if they do?
[Eridius]: Then I suggest you make sure none of them leave alive.
[Alexander]: That's a little extreme, isn't it?
[Eridius]: Alexander, if even one of them survives long enough to tell the wrong person what happened down there, we might have to abandon the City entirely.
[Alexander]: ...The entire City?
[Eridius]: Yes. Because sooner or later, some Wing will hear about a small Backstreets café possessing a Singularity capable of producing an absurd amount of food.
[Eridius]: And then they'll get greedy.
[Alexander]: You think a Wing would really go that far over a café?
[Eridius]: It's not the café they'll want. It'll be the Singularity. The café is just the convenient little building they can confiscate before dissecting everything underneath it.
[Alexander]: ...
[Eridius]: So, please, keep our business running, protect our people, and avoid giving the Wings any reason to become interested in us.
[Alexander]: And if someone discovers the basement?
[Eridius]: Pray they're stupid enough to keep their mouths shut.
[Alexander]: That's your plan?
[Eridius]: No. That's my preferred outcome. My actual plan involves selling my soul to the Tea Demon to keep us alive.
[Alexander]: You mean accepting Lady—
Eridius immediately clamped a hand over Alexander's mouth.
[Eridius]: Alex. We don't say certain names around here.
Alexander blinked, then slowly nodded.
Eridius finally released him.
[Eridius]: Good. I'd rather not have another unexpected family member.
With that, Eridius gathered Kuro and the two soldiers before setting off toward H Nest.
On foot.
Why hadn't he taken the incredibly fast train, you ask?
Well, the number of people who know the answer is rather small.
And those who do know better than to ask.
[Five hours later]
Eridius stood before the entrance to H Nest, with Kuro beside him and the two soldiers following close behind.
They had, naturally, taken a bus for part of the journey.
Eridius had paid the full fare for everyone.
He stared at the enormous Nest entrance, then glanced back at the bus as it drove away.
[Eridius]: ...Five hours. I could have been here sooner.
[Kuro]: Would the train have been faster?
[Eridius]: Kuro, there are some questions that are best left unanswered.
Eridius had no intention of finding out whether his System could preserve his memories after a train journey.
Nor did he want to discover whether surviving that particular hell hole counted as physical training and rewarded him with a level-up.
Some mysteries were better left unsolved.
[Eridius]: Anyway, where is he? He should have been here by now...
He checked the time.
[Eridius]: ...No, wait. It looks like we're a day early.
[Kuro]: What?
[Eridius]: Nothing. I was just surprised.
He glanced around at the surrounding area, taking in the bus station and the vehicles passing along the road.
[Eridius]: Who knew the City had bus stations and even cars outside the Nests?
[Kuro]: ...You've lived here for months.
[Eridius]: And yet, every day, this City finds a new way to disappoint me.
Silence followed.
[Eridius]: Anyway, let's take a look around. I've heard that this Backstreet is famous for its surgeons, doctors, and other alchemical professionals. Perhaps we can find someone worthwhile who could help us.
[Kuro]: But it's 2:50 AM. The Sweepers will be coming soon.
[Eridius]: ...
[Kuro]: Shouldn't we find somewhere safe first?
[Eridius]: You know, sometimes I wonder if I'm the only person in this group with a sense of adventure.
[Kuro]: Is that what you call it?
[Eridius]: No. That's what I call poor time management.
[Chapter end]