Chapter 61
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
On the surface, I have joined “Hooters.” After signing the contract, I was made to wait for a little while.
Ms. Wendy, who stamped the contract with some kind of seal, took it and left me alone in the room, but she returned before long.
”Thank you for waiting. Here you go.”
She placed a wooden tag on the table, which also had the name “Mose” written on it and some kind of seal stamped on it.
”What is this?”
”This is a temporary membership card. If you show it when you make a purchase at our store, you might get a small discount.”
It’s like an employee discount.
It’s not an employee ID because it’s a merchant guild.
”A temporary one, so there’s a formal one too?”
”Yes. It will be made of metal and created when you are officially hired.”
”Oh… so there might be people who want to get hired just for the discount.”
”Yes, that’s right. It’s not just a job that involves being in the spotlight, so there are many applicants of both genders. Only those with high ability or those who don’t mind using their looks in public are hired.”
”I see… then, shouldn’t I keep this hidden from others?”
When I asked that, Ms. Wendy smiled and replied.
”That’s right. If someone wants to get closer to others, they might show it off, but there’s a chance of problems arising, so members generally try not to show it. In your case, it would be better not to show it carelessly, especially with Ms. Iris and Ms. Frederica around.”
Hmm, I don’t want to be thought of as being in a romantic relationship with those 2.
Both of them only have a physical relationship as a form of help, and I don’t want anything more than that.
”Well, it’s not like we have that kind of relationship…”
”Oh, is that so? Then, are there others who have that kind of relationship beside them?”
”No, not a single one.”
She smiles again at that answer.
”Oh my… is that really the case? Should I have welcomed you in a staff uniform like last time?~♪.”
Saying that, she leans forward in her seat, emphasizing her cleavage.
Is she trying to draw me in?
Even though I’ve shown some strength, I still don’t have any official results from it…
Since I’m technically her employer, I should politely decline as gently as possible.
”No, it’s just that, for various reasons, I’m not looking to have that kind of partner right now. So, it’s not that you’re not attractive…”
”Oh, but you do have that ‘kind of relationship’ with Ms. Frederica, right?”
”No, it just happened that way…”
As I answered, Ms. Wendy’s smile deepened.
”Oh, really?~♪.”
”? …Ah.”
Darn it!
I messed up denying my relationship with Frederica in the flow of the conversation.
Wait, she only said “that kind of relationship” and didn’t specify a physical one.
So, I could say it’s more like a cooperative relationship.
But just as I thought that, Ms. Wendy struck first.
”Oh, you don’t really think you can escape by saying it doesn’t mean a physical relationship, do you?”
”Ugh.”
If she brings up attraction and says “that kind of relationship,” it generally means a romantic or physical relationship.
As a premise, I had said that I wasn’t planning to make a partner… in other words, a girlfriend, so that leaves just a physical relationship.
This is bad; I’ve suddenly been found out by an outsider.
If Frederica hears about this, it could get messy.
What should I do…? As I fall silent and think, Ms. Wendy straightens up.
”Don’t worry, I have no intention of telling anyone. Besides, we just made a convenient contract, so I won’t do anything to ‘disturb’ that.”
”Uh, then why did you bring it up?”
”Isn’t it natural to care about the relationships of close friends?”
”Well, I guess…”
The relationships of friends can definitely affect me in some way.
So, it becomes important to know what they think about it.
”So, um…”
As I hesitate on how to ask, she smiles again and replies.
”I won’t do anything… as long as she isn’t made sad.”
Ms. Wendy’s eyes, while smiling, seemed to show no real happiness.
…
……
………
After finishing my errands, I leave “Hooters” and decide to head to “Horned Ox Inn.”
I had reserved a room just in case they were worried about me changing places, but since I plan to spend the night in my own room, I thought I should let them know.
If Ms. Monoka, who is supposed to come to my room, cancels… she might head to the inn.
I’ve been teased quite a bit today…
I sneaked back as “Koji” and arrived at the “Horned Ox Inn.” As soon as I entered, I called out to Ms. Tirica, who was wiping a table.
”Ms. Tirica.”
”Oh, Koji. Welcome back~♪.”
”I’m back… but actually, I’m going out again.”
”Huh? Are you going to eat at another place?”
”Well, it’s not exactly a restaurant, and I can’t say it too loudly…”
There were quite a few customers in the inn.
So, while saying that, I gestured for her to come closer, and I explained the situation to her as she leaned in.
”So?”
”I’ve caught the attention of an important person. I need to meet someone related to them.”
It’s not a complete lie; it’s actually the truth.
I’m meeting Ms. Monoka, who is connected to Frederica.
I might have said it in a way that could cause some misunderstanding, but this way, she probably wouldn’t ask for too many details.
Ms. Tirica seemed to take it as I expected, and she gasped a little louder than usual.
”Eh!?”
”Wait, wait.”
”Oh, sorry, sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t ask for details…”
At my warning, she looked around and lowered her voice. She wanted to know more but decided it was better not to pry into something involving powerful people.
”So, does that mean you’re staying out tonight?”
Huh? Now that I think about it, is Ms. Monoka planning to stay over?
Considering the orphanage, she might intend to go back after it’s over, but she did say she would come at night, which means she would have to walk home in the dark.
If that happens, of course, I plan to walk her back, but would she be making plans assuming I would be the one to take her home?
This situation seems sudden, and since they decided without asking me, it feels like they don’t intend to let me refuse.
So… Ms. Monoka might be planning to stay in my room.
If that’s the case…
”It seems like they have that intention. You know, when it comes to negotiations, there are various things…”
When I subtly hinted at a s*xual arrangement, Ms. Tirica pressed her large chest against her arms, looking convinced.
”I see… Seriously, what did you do to get their attention? Negotiation isn’t a bad thing, but if they ask for something unreasonable, you have to refuse, okay?”
”I understand. I have no intention of pushing myself.”
”And yet, to be noticed by someone important… what on earth did you do…”
”Hahaha…”
As she pulled away, still suspicious, I left the “Horned Ox Inn” with a wry smile.
…
……
………
Since I was already in the form of “Koji,” I returned to my apartment, did a light cleaning, and took a bath.
I wondered if I should prepare dinner, so I made some preserved food that exists in this world and filled a water bottle, knowing I would use it for various things.
After that, I decided to use my free time to try making something.
That something is… a voice changer.
It’s really inconvenient not being able to talk when I’m “Mose,” and using written communication assumes the other person can read.
For now, I don’t plan to increase my acquaintances too much, so it’s been fine since I’ve mostly interacted with people who can read. However, it’s becoming a hassle when I move alone as “Mose.”
I can explain that I can now talk because my sore throat has healed.
I’ve only been in the city for a few days, so people probably won’t think I had a serious illness or curse.
Since I was normally earning money in the dungeon, it wouldn’t be too strange if I could move around like this.
So, I think I’ll take this opportunity to create a tool that can change my voice.
This kind of thing existed in my previous life, so I can make it, but after today’s incident, I’ve changed my plan.
That incident was when I encountered “Silver Orchid” and created a 30-minute countdown timer.
That wasn’t something I knew from my previous life; I specified the design and made it myself.
It looked a lot like a kitchen timer you’d find at a 100 yen shop.
In other words, as long as I can specify the design and meet the magical power or some conditions, I should be able to create a voice changer that didn’t exist in my previous life and is easy to use.
The function would allow me to change my voice to whatever I imagine in real-time, and I’ll design it to be in the shape of a headset so I can wear it.
The left ear part will have the battery and the device for voice transformation built in, with a microphone extending from it.
The microphone near my mouth will be a round disk, and the outside will be a speaker, making the range for picking up my real voice very narrow.
So, it won’t create a phenomenon called “howling,” where the sound from the speaker loops back and gets picked up again.
Since “Mose” wears a helmet and has a muffled voice, I think if I speak softly, people won’t notice my real voice.
Power is probably needed, so I tried to create it to operate with magic that doesn’t run out easily, but… I couldn’t make it.
Why?
Hmm… that timer had a removable cover on the back, and it was something that worked with a regular button battery.
I specified it that way because I planned to stop using it soon.
So, does that mean I can’t create something that uses magic as power?
Is that why I couldn’t make a magic item for dispelling curses?
I was able to create a red stone that seems to be a magic catalyst, but… that’s just a regular material, and it only reacts to magic and has an effect because of that?
But then, what about potions?
They work quickly and have a strong effect.
Heh.
I tried to make the same thing again, but I could still create it normally.
The magic consumption is pretty high for this.
Thanks to my experience fighting monsters, my abilities have grown enough that it’s not a problem.
If my guess is right, this means it’s not a magic item, but… I’m not really sure.
For now, I’ll return the potion to magic and go back to making the voice changer.
This time, I’ll change it to work with a regular battery, specify its size, and increase the capacity as much as possible.
So, I tried to create it, but…
”!?”
I was surprised.
The creation itself was successful, but it consumed a lot of magic.
Hmm… maybe about half of what I had saved in the forest?
Well, there’s a dungeon now, so I won’t be in trouble, but… was it really that difficult to create?
Maybe the feature that makes it sound like my voice in real-time was too high-performance.
”‘Ah, ah… sorry to keep you waiting.’.”
When I tried using it, it turned out to be the deep voice I imagined.
The functions seem to be working fine.
The battery consumption… even after trying it out, it was still at 99%, so I don’t have to worry too much about how long it lasts.
I can return it to magic when I don’t need it.
This voice changer makes it more likely that I can’t create magic items, but with that stuff about the potions, it’s still unclear.
Well, for now, I can just leave it be.
The next thing is… what to do about people who know “Koji’s” voice as “Mose.”
Iris, Frederica, Ms. Monoka, and Seria… maybe Ms. Wendy too?
If it was someone I only communicated with in writing, I could just say my throat got better, but I can’t use that excuse with them since they know my voice.
It would be weird for my voice to change, and if I say I got a tool that can change my voice, that would cause trouble.
First, Ms. Wendy hasn’t seen my face, so I could say the changed voice is my real voice.
That would mean I can’t show my true self, but it can’t be helped.
As for the other people involved… since this is about when I’m wearing armor made of magic thread, I could just say that my ability has grown and I can change my voice through the armor now.
Since it’s a type of magic curse that can turn limbs to stone, it wouldn’t be impossible for something like this to happen.
I guess this is about all I can think of for now?
But I feel like I might be overlooking something…
…
……
………
While I was thinking, the sunlight coming through the closed window faded, and I decided to light the lamp.
*Knock, knock*
Soon after, there was a knock on the door, and when I opened it, there was Ms. Monoka, just as I expected.
”Um, good evening. Well, um, thank you for tonight!”
Her face turned bright red as she said that, and she quickly bowed her head, causing her chest to jiggle at the same time.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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