Outlaw Hospitality

"Sorry about all that."

"No, seriously, yo. What'd you do to our Merchant-kun, yo?"

Inside the "Odd Jobs" office on the second floor of a certain building in Suriad, Mahariku-san was seated in a chair, apologizing to Alto.

See, a little incident had occurred while Mahariku-san was raking in money through "Odd Jobs."

Long story short, the Peddler-kun who'd traveled here with us was now out of commission.

"He tried to haggle on my wares, so I just…"

"Negotiating is part of being a merchant, yo!? You can't use violence to shut down haggling, yo!"

"I'm in Outlaw Mode right now, so that falls under my playstyle, you know?"

Well, what's done is done when an NPC dies, so let's just make sure nothing like this happens going forward… Oh, he's not dead? Half a year to recover? She only shot him in the leg? What a gentle outlaw.

Erm. I'd like to request some moderation going forward.

"I felt bad about it, so I sent him a potion as a gift, but he sent it right back."

"If someone who nearly killed you sends you medicine, you'd normally assume it's poison or something, yo?"

"True, I should have gone through you lot. Honestly, so willful for a mere NPC."

"That's what makes this game great, yo!"

"The NPCs all have advanced AI loaded in, making them just like real people."

"Right, yo!"

"Don't you think it's a fun game?"

"Absolutely, yo!"

Huh? When did this turn into casual game chat?

Well, whatever. Games are fun. Complete agreement.

"Here's your tea～"

"Oh, thanks. Ichi-chan."

Meanwhile, I (Miitei-chan) and Penpen (Gin-chan) were lounging on the sofa.

Hmm, this tea… smelled like wrung-out rag water.

"Hey, Mahariku-san, want some tea? Ichi-chan brewed it."

"Oh my. I think I will."

"Kyaaaa, my hand slippeeeed!!!"

Crash, bang, smash. Ichi-chan went tumbling down spectacularly, taking the tea I'd offered along with her. The cup shattered, tea went everywhere, and Ichi-chan ended up wearing most of it.

Well, well. Reap what you sow.

Now, now, Ichi-chan. I know it might look like we came to file a complaint, but Mahariku-san and us are just friends. The proof? Her name's right there on our friend list.

"… Ichi. I will not tolerate rudeness toward our guests. Know your place."

"Y-yes ma'am! I'm so sorry!"

Mahariku-san said that with a stern look, while Ichi-chan seemed… somehow pleased?

I see. Her affection must have gone up.

"Oh, Penpen, don't drink that either. Smells like there's wrung-out rag water in it."

"Huh? You can tell from the smell?"

"I didn't lick up all that dust in the lab for nothing. I'm a bit of a pro at this, you know."

"What a gross kind of pro. Well, I could tell it had germs from Appraisal anyway."

She did eat the cleaning rags too, after all. Miitei-chan.

Then Mahariku-san turned a sharp gaze toward Ichi-chan.

"Ichi?"

"I-it's not what you think, President! It wasn't rag water! It was wrung-out sock juice! In certain regions, this is considered the highest form of hospitality!"

That defense is way too flimsy!

Besides, the fact that she tried to stop it when Mahariku-san was about to drink it already says everything.

"Then are you saying you could drink my wrung-out sock juice?"

"Huh, you'd let me!? Thank you so much!!! Then allow me to borrow your lovely feet…"

"… N-no, I was just checking. I didn't tell you to drink it. Well, anyway, by our standards, that qualifies as harassment. Apologize properly."

"Y-yes, President. I sincerely apologize, everyone."

"Could've handled it if it were my little sister's sock juice, though."

"Apology accepted."

Were you planning to make Mahariku-san's subordinates your little sisters too, Miitei-chan? I mean, she is cute and has that little-sister energy.

Ichi-chan bowed her head over and over. Afterward, she headed out to brew fresh tea as a palate cleanser.

"I thought I'd picked wrong for the first time, but it still raised her affection. Who knew."

"That was a dialogue choice, yo? … Maybe you hit a fever state where everything raises it, yo?"

"Could be. She hasn't hit the cap yet, so that helps. Maxing out her affection might even be the unlock condition for a second character."

As for what the other options had been:

1. Silently shoot Ichi's hands and feet.

2. "How about I treat you to some bullets instead of tea?"

3. "Then are you saying you could drink my wrung-out sock juice?"

… apparently.

Well yeah, 3 was the obvious pick. She wouldn't want to shoot her cute subordinate or her guests. And 2 sounded like it'd send her down a hostile route with us.

"Option 3 was always the joke pick, making it a two-way choice in practice, but this time it saved me."

"I'd have been picking nothing but 3, personally, yo."

"You do love that kind of thing, Alto. … Want some wrung-out sock juice?"

"If it's yours, Mahariku-san, that's a straight-up reward, yo."

"… On second thought, forget I asked. Honestly, way to ruin a perfectly good beauty, as always."

Good grief, Mahariku-san shrugged.

Afterward, we had Mahariku-san cover the cost, then properly delivered Penpen's potions to Peddler-kun.

I'd recommend he steer clear of Mahariku-san's business dealings for the time being.

Here's hoping Mahariku-san's "second character" unlocks soon and peace returns to the town of Suriad.