Published: September 9, 2025
Satou here. I wonder when it became customary to bring a gift when visiting a friend’s house?
When I was a kid, it was normal to show up empty-handed, but once friends started having families, it became standard to bring something as a courtesy to ease the awkwardness of visiting a newlywed household.
â—‡
Last night was exhausting.
After returning to the Labyrinth City, I stopped by a drinking party hosted by the guild master, and it turned out to be quite the sabbat.
Because I had been busy power leveling after a date, I completely forgot to prepare any snacks, but luckily Lulu took the initiative and made various dishes, saving me from trouble.
The guild master’s pride in his sake was well-founded—it was quite delicious. Dry and sharp at first sip with a clean aftertaste, it made you want to keep drinking.
I wasn’t the only one who thought so; before the guild master could pour a second cup, the glass was empty in an instant.
Expecting this, I had arranged to bring a sake barrel I’d purchased along with some cheap wine as a souvenir for True Ancestor Van, and had it carried into the banquet hall.
Perhaps because I had obtained the Mithril Badge, I feel like more female staff and female explorers have been approaching me than when I only had the Iron Badge.
In a way, the only ones whose attitudes didn’t change were the women at the entertainment establishments.
Both groups are after money and fame, after all.
Fending off the young staff was easy, but resisting the allure of the mature, seductive women was tough.
At times like this, it’s easier to fight the Demon King repeatedly.
â—‡
“Ahhh, I’m so happy it’s scary,”
“Full, full~?”
“It’s bliss.”
At sunrise, I treated Pochi and the others to a full course of promised meat dishes.
All three of them were lying around the living room with round bellies, like something out of a manga, all relaxed and cuddled in cushions.
Their faces were happily loose.
Mia and I had bowed out after the first round, but the beast girls fought on against the meat dishes until the very end.
“That was tasty, but not really something to eat all at once, huh?”
“Mm.”
Alisa said it like it was someone else’s problem, but she had joined in until the third round—and just a little while ago, before taking some stomach medicine, she was groaning about “eating myself to death.”
Elina and the other two, who had joined the third round with Alisa, took some stomach medicine and returned to bed.
Lulu, who had been cooking with me, was also utterly exhausted and had become a resident of her bed.
So, Ms. Mitelna took charge of dressing Miss Karina for today’s tea party.
â—‡
I had the tense Miss Karina sit on a sofa recommended by the marchioness. I sat beside her to offer support.
“Oh my, what a wonderful outfit.”
“Is it the Royal Capital’s latest fashion?”
“This fabric must be Kingfisher Silk from Duke Ouyugok’s territory, isn’t it?”
Not only the marchioness but the ladies around her spoke to us in a friendly manner, but they only praised Karina’s clothes and accessories, not her appearance.
Is there an unspoken rule not to mention appearances at times like this?
Miss Karina’s natural shyness showed as she gave short “yes” or “no” answers to the ladies’ topics, making it hard to keep the conversation flowing.
I tried to keep the dialogue going as best I could, but every time, she tried to talk only to me, which was frustrating.
Looks like I have no choice but to start by helping her make female friends her own age.
“Miss Karina, are you going to marry Sir Satou?”
Lady Baroness Ralpott, who loves gossip about affairs and messy romances, gave a lewd smile and tossed in that topic.
Karina was troubled, unable to deny or confirm, so I deflected with, “Someone more noble than I would be suitable for Miss Karina.”
The baroness recommended her fifth son, who’s under 30, but before Karina could say anything wrong, I hinted at a rumor about that son dating a certain noble’s daughter and changed the subject.