The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 26

“Master, master, wake up, please!”

Someone is shaking my sleeping body from behind.

Well, they’re calling me “master,” so it must be the AI-chan.

“What…?”

I’m so sleepy…

“No, face this way, please. You definitely haven’t opened your eyes. It’s morning, you know?”

Morning?

“Don’t lie. I’m super sleepy.”

“Grandpa used to wake up early.”

Sometimes I’d even wake up before dawn.

“So this is what youth feels like…”

“Yes, that’s right. Please wake up. There’s something I want you to see.”

“Hmm?”

I open my eyes, turn over, and face the direction of the voice.

AI-chan has her arm on the bed, looking at me.

“How is it?”

As she speaks, AI-chan’s animal ears twitch on top of her head.

“Half-demon transformation? You’ve mastered it?”

“Yes. I’ve been working hard.”

Hmm, her spiritual power has definitely increased.

“That’s good. How about the tail?”

“Like this.”

AI-chan said that and turned around, and indeed, there was a shining golden tail.

“You’ve gotten closer to my mother. I’m not happy about it, but congratulations.”

“Do you really dislike your mother that much?”

“I don’t hate her, but I don’t think any man would be happy to see his mother as a little girl…Good night.”

Zzzz…

“Please don’t fall asleep. You’re going to work, right?”

“That’s right… haa… I’m sleepy.”

Come to think of it, I used to get this sleepy when I was young…

“Wash your face, please. I’ll bring breakfast.”

“And put away those ears and tail.”

“I know.”

AI-chan retracted her tail and animal ears and left the room.

“Are you awake?”

I got out of bed, went to the bathroom, washed my face, changed from my pajamas into clothes, and AI-chan returned with breakfast.

For some reason, Natalia and Alice were with her today.

“Don’t you two eat in your own rooms?”

“Why? It’s more enjoyable to eat together, isn’t it?”

“…Normally, you eat with parties or companions.”

Is that their culture?

Back at home, I usually ate with my family.

“Well… considering coordination and all, would it be better to increase intimacy?”

“Y-yeah, I guess so.”

“….Intimacy.”

These guys are so cautious…

“Master, breakfast is ready. Let’s eat.”

“Yeah.”

AI-chan had prepared my portion, so I sat down and started eating.

“Pamela-san will arrange a request for us again today, won’t she?”

Natalia asked while eating vegetables.

“That’s the plan. What about you guys?”

“We’ll help too. There’s hardly anything left to do around here.”

“….We’ve given up. No matter how hard we try, we can’t compete. Harrison used to handle this kind of thing before.”

With Natalia seeming timid and little Alice, it would be impossible.

“Shall I do it?”

I’m a guy, after all. Other male adventurers may be taller and broader than me, but it shouldn’t be a problem.

“I’m scared, so no.”

“….It seems like someone might die.”

That won’t happen.

“Either way, Master probably doesn’t know which request is best. It’s still better to ask Pamela-san for advice.”

“That’s true. Should we leave it to Pamela…? Should we slip her a little something?”

“Isn’t that okay? Sometimes a little bribe works wonders.”

Maybe I should do that…

“What’s ‘slip her a little something‘?”

“….A bribe?”

Natalia and Alice inquire.

“A bribe is a bribe. A tip is a tip.”

“Oh, I see…”

“….Aren’t they the same thing?”

The two of them stare at me.

“It’s important, you know? We should get those kinds of things under control quickly.”

“You were trying to invite us to dinner yesterday, so that’s what it was about, huh?”

“….The term ‘under control’ is scary. Sounds like something a noble would say.”

It’s important to make a good impression on business partners. In fact, I’ve received gifts before, and I never forgot to give presents to the generals and the king. Also, I made donations to the temple.

“You guys should show gratitude to those who have helped you. It’s the same thing. That’s why I’m giving you my vegetables.”

I place the vegetables from the plate in front of them.

“At least eat the salad. Being picky isn’t good, you know?”

“….I won’t get any bigger, ok?”

“Then you must be very picky.”

Shorty.

“….He called me short.”

I didn’t say it.

I didn’t…

“Master, it tastes delicious with dressing. And this salad isn’t bitter.”

“Hmm… Alright, I’ll try it.”

Following AI-chan’s suggestion, I poured the mysterious sauce over the salad, and it was surprisingly tasty.

We continued chatting over our meal, and after finishing eating, we decided to head to the guild.

When we arrived at the guild, as Natalia had mentioned, it was a bit late, so there were fewer adventurers than yesterday.

“This time might be fine… Waking up is tough.”

Plus, I don’t like crowds.

“Or maybe you should just go to bed earlier? It’s admirable that you study and train in Onmyojutsu until late, but please take care of your health.”

“I don’t have any alcohol.”

Drinking before bed was part of my routine.

“We do have alcohol.”

“…We don’t drink much, but if you want, you can ask the kitchen staff.”

Kitchen staff?

“Do we have that?”

“Not exactly staff, but there’s someone who enjoys cooking. We have a kitchen in our dormitory that anyone can use, but if you pay, they’ll cook for you. Of course, it’s only when they’re not busy with work.”

“…They’re saving money as adventurers and want to open their own shop in the future.”

I see.

So there are people who become adventurers for that kind of motivation.

Adventuring must be lucrative, and it probably brings dreams much closer than regular work.

“Maybe I’ll check it out tonight.”

I haven’t paid any money.

Probably Natalia is covering it for me…

“Natalia is like a machine for making money, huh?”

Cut it out.