Ch.1010. Preparation

Time was steadily flowing, with only a few minutes left until the Labyrinth closed.

Shiro and Reneva were still misunderstanding what I had said.

‘How could they interpret it that way?’

I felt wronged.

Honestly, it wasn’t entirely not my fault, but confessing like that would make me a complete jerk, wouldn’t it?

‘I need to clear up this misunderstanding, but something doesn’t feel right.’

So it was really awkward to bring it up.

Shiro was treating me exactly the same as usual.

“Shiro.”

“Yes?”

“It’s… nothing.”

“…?”

I really couldn’t figure it out.

I told her it wasn’t a confession, but if I had actually misunderstood the situation, we’d both end up embarrassed.

So there I was, sitting alone with Shiro at the base camp, passing time.

Reneva had already left. She said she had someone to meet.

‘What did she mean by “see you again soon”?’

It was a puzzling statement, but probably nothing special.

Time passed, and the awkward atmosphere between Shiro and me persisted.

Though it seemed like I was the only one feeling it, anyway.

I tried to think of a way to confirm whether there was a misunderstanding without causing mental damage or making things awkward between us.

‘I’ve got it.’

I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of this until now.

Is my intelligence decreasing because I’m half-Barbarian?

“Shiro. Just to be clear, please think positively about partying together.”

“…Okay.”

Shiro nodded as usual.

‘So it was just my imagination after all.’

She had never misunderstood in the first place.

If Reneva hadn’t reacted so strangely, I would have been fine!

Anyway, it doesn’t seem to be my fault, it was all because of her.

[14 days have passed.]

[Theme: ‘Spring’ 2nd cycle has ended.]

And so I was released from the Labyrinth with a relieved mind.

…

When I opened my eyes, I was in the plaza.

Once again, there were many people around—some laughing, others becoming protagonists of NTR tragedies.

But since I wasn’t one of those protagonists, I casually ignored them and approached Shiro who was beside me.

“I’m heading straight to the Association. What are you planning to do, Shiro?”

I thought she would go home as usual, but—

“I’ll go too.”

An unexpected answer.

“Oh, really? Then let’s go together and settle our accounts first.”

“Okay.”

We headed to the Association together.

Her expression seemed different today.

It was still the same expressionless face, but somehow it looked like a more cheerful expressionlessness, if that makes sense.

‘…What am I even saying?’

Anyway.

“That’s a total of 1.1 million Ars. How would you like to split it?”

“Between two people.”

“Understood.”

Today Sherry wasn’t there, so someone else handled our exchange, and we split the money in half.

My share was 550,000 Ars.

Reneva had insisted from the beginning that she didn’t need her share, so we had no choice but to split the money between just us.

She even refused payment for the Source, which meant Shiro could essentially absorb Sources for free.

As expected of a noble’s child—exceptional character from the start.

‘So, combined with what I had left before, that’s about 2 million Ars.’

I started calculating my finances.

Considering that Orichalcum equipment costs roughly 400,000-500,000 Ars, it would be a bit difficult to repair all my damaged equipment.

Even if I repaired my left arm guard, which was less damaged, the rest would be a problem.

I felt the need for a right arm guard during the Shade Predator hunt, but I didn’t have enough money to buy that and other equipment.

‘I might have to postpone the Hidden Dungeon.’

There was a specific Source I needed to collect for my growth plan, but to safely clear that Hidden Dungeon, I needed anti-magic equipment.

A full set made of Moonstone and Orichalcum alloy would be sufficient, but I was far short on funds.

‘If I don’t go in this time, I’ll have to wait for three more Labyrinth openings.’

The Labyrinth moves to the next season after three regenerations.

But the Hidden Dungeon I’m aiming for only appears during the third cycle of each season.

The next Labyrinth would be Spring’s 3rd cycle.

If I couldn’t clear it now, I’d have to wait a full three months until Summer’s 3rd cycle.

‘Maybe I should collect other Sources from the 3rd floor first.’

While I was lost in these thoughts, standing there absentmindedly—

“Adel.”

Shiro called my name from beside me.

I thought she had already left after receiving her money, but had she been watching me the whole time?

“Yes, Shiro?”

“Are you busy tonight?”

“…What?”

My brain momentarily froze at this completely unexpected question.

Asking if I was busy tonight—what could she possibly mean by that?

If anyone else had asked the same question, I would have brushed it off with a convenient lie, but Shiro was someone I trusted.

After all, she was my benefactor who had saved my life twice now, counting this recent incident.

“No, I have plenty of time today.”

“Then, what’s your favorite food?”

“Um… I like everything except fish.”

“…Fish? What’s that?”

Ah.

I made a slip of the tongue, feeling pressured by the sharp-featured beauty continuously questioning me.

“I misspoke. I meant synthetic food. You know, not meat from cows, pigs, or chickens, but the kind that’s modified and artificially created.”

I quickly corrected my statement.

Because of the Magi outside, people in the Labyrinth City live in self-isolation and don’t even know the concept of the sea.

Resources are scarce, so they barely manage with manufacturing magic.

‘But why is she asking this?’

I had never experienced this kind of conversation flow in my life.

It’s truly bewildering when you have no learning data for a situation.

“Would you like to have dinner together? I know a good restaurant.”

“Oh, sure. Where should we go?”

I answered as calmly as I could, but my heart was pounding.

Not from excitement, but from fear of the unknown.

If someone else had said this, I would have thought it was a date invitation. But the person who brought it up was her, of all people.

‘There must be some reason behind this.’

Her expression remained perfectly calm.

I suppose I’ll find out the reason when we get to the restaurant.

“Okay. Then at 8 o’clock in front of Plaza 2…”

After roughly making plans, I parted ways with Shiro.

***

The streets are always crowded on days when the Labyrinth closes.

After eating tasteless preserved rations for two weeks in a gloomy place, even those who dislike alcohol find themselves instinctively drawn to it.

With pockets full of money, the instinct to indulge in drinks and companionship becomes almost inevitable.

Especially if there were life-threatening battles or if all party members were men, that instinct grows even stronger.

That’s why many explorers immediately approach any woman they see.

‘I wonder if that’s how Sherry met him.’

I once casually drove away a few lower-floor explorers who were hitting on her.

The trust I built then allowed me to borrow money from her—I used her quite efficiently.

Hehe.

‘Maybe that makes me a bit of a jerk.’

Of course, I think Sherry is a very kind person. I still have many debts of gratitude to repay her.

It was thanks to her vouching for me that I was able to work as a porter.

“I wonder when she’ll arrive.”

I’d been sitting at the fountain in Plaza 2 for exactly 10 minutes, waiting for Shiro.

It was my fault for arriving 10 minutes early, but sitting alone made me feel somewhat lonely.

“Ah, Shiro.”

After waiting about 5 minutes more, Shiro arrived right on time.

Perhaps because winter’s chill hadn’t fully subsided this year, she was wearing a white dress with long sleeves that came down to her ankles.

She approached with her unchanging expressionless face through the noisy crowd.

“You’re here.”

As I greeted her with a welcoming expression, she took out a watch from her pocket and muttered:

“…The time is different.”

The clock at the top of the fountain showed 8:05. Her watch pointed to exactly 8:00.

I wonder if she didn’t realize her watch was broken.

“It’s nothing to brag about, but I also arrived just after 8. So you actually came at the perfect time.”

“I see.”

I headed to the restaurant with her.

However, we had to walk through the bar district for quite a while, and as we walked together:

“Whoa, dude. Look at that elf over there.”

“She’s gorgeous. But isn’t that her boyfriend next to her?”

“That’s a Barbarian. Probably just a party member.”

I could feel people stirring around us.

Usually, when a woman passes through such an area, someone approaches her, but we were able to reach the restaurant without any interference.

That’s because Shiro was such an overwhelmingly beautiful woman with such a sharp impression that no one dared approach.

“He has black hair and muscles like a Barbarian, but his face doesn’t look like one at all. There’s something elfish about him too.”

I heard someone with keen observation skills comment, but I ignored it and kept moving.

And so, the restaurant we arrived at was…

‘Not your typical bar atmosphere.’

It had a moderately upscale feel.

The kind of place that mid-level explorers who are starting to have some financial leeway might visit.

That was all the observation I did before entering the restaurant. If I kept looking from outside, it would be obvious I was a first-timer.

Pride is a serious matter.

When an employee asked if we had a reservation, Shiro gave her name, and we were guided to a rather secluded spot.

It was a cozy space enclosed by walls on all sides except one, with a single table where two people could sit facing each other.

A private feeling. Very nice.

Since this was my first time at such an upscale restaurant, I was worried about the prices…

‘I guess I can splurge for one day.’

For the past three years, I’d been eating nothing but 500 Ars bread and soup provided by the inn.

Besides, there were still 4 months until I needed to go to the Hidden Dungeon, so I could afford to spend a bit today.

Shiro and I began looking at the menus brought by the staff.

“When you’re ready to order, please press this bell to call a waiter.”

Just before leaving, the employee pointed with both hands to a flat magical device attached to the side of the table.

“…Yes. Thank you.”

For some reason, it reminded me of my distant homeland, but I pushed the thought aside and looked at the menu.

I only had vague thoughts about whether I could return if I reached the 12th floor. Nothing was certain yet.

‘But I can’t drink alcohol now?’

This was a bit of a serious issue.

Looking at the first page of the menu, it seemed wine was only served before 7 PM.

Setting aside my disappointment, I was about to search for something edible when:

“…Hmm. I think this looks good, what about you, Adel?”

Shiro must have frequented places like this, as she quickly found what she wanted to eat and showed it to me.

[Bistecca alla Fiorentina – 3.5]

…What kind of menu name is that?

“Oh, um. Is that steak?”

“…Yes.”

I was momentarily confused, but I at least knew what the menu item was.

When I was on Earth, I learned how to read Italian food names as part of my general education.

‘But, this is strange.’

If you translate that menu name, it’s “Florentine Steak.”

Basically, it’s a steak from an Italian region.

There shouldn’t be an Italy in this world. Why is it written in that language?

Could it be that the owner of this restaurant is like me—

“So, Adel. What are you going to eat?”

Shiro’s question interrupted my train of thought.

‘Maybe it’s not important.’

What I should be focusing on is the present—the person right in front of me, Shiro.

There’s no need to worry about whether other Earth people have come to this world. After all, it’s a world where everyone has to survive on their own.

Besides, if they were Italian, we wouldn’t even have conversation topics, so meeting them would be meaningless.

“Ah, I’m thinking of getting this. It’s a type of pasta…”

I roughly explained the menu item I was planning to order to Shiro.

When I mentioned that her choice was steak, I noticed a momentary confusion in her expression.

“…That looks good too. I’ll have the same.”

“Oh, really? Let’s do that then.”

I’d been pretending not to know, but I actually knew why she had come to this restaurant.

Shiro had asked Reneva about good restaurants, and she recommended this place.

‘It’s so obvious you’re pretending to be familiar with this place.’

I tried my best to hide my rising smile as I finished ordering.

I had no idea why she brought me to a restaurant and pretended to be experienced, but she must have some purpose.

“…Adel.”

Shiro opened her mouth as if feeling somewhat awkward.

Her face seemed redder than usual, and I could sense she was about to say something.

‘Alright.’

I calmly waited for Shiro’s words.

What could she possibly want to say that required this much preparation?