The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 48

About 10 days had passed since the stampede.

During that time, I hadn’t done much work, either lounging around in my room or strolling through town with Natalia and Alice.

The reason being, while the town itself had regained its composure, access to the western forest and the surrounding woods and plains outside the main roads had been restricted, leaving us adventurers with little to do.

There were some odd jobs available in town, but they didn’t pay much, and they were mostly menial tasks, so I lacked motivation to do them.

With nothing particular to do, I found myself lounging around in my room again today.

Then, in the evening, there was a knock on the door.

“Who is it?”

Natalia, perhaps?

Or Alice?

“Oh, it’s me.”

The voice belonged to Pamela.

“Hold on a sec.”

I got up and headed towards the door.

Upon opening it, I found Pamela, not in her usual guild uniform, smiling, and at her feet was Koma-chan wagging his tail and looking up.

“Hey, Pamela. What’s up with Koma-chan?”

“Oh, he brought me here.”

Pamela already knows where my room is, but I’ll keep that to myself.

“Good boy. Well, come on in.”

As I invited Pamela in, Koma-chan ran off somewhere, probably back to his usual spot on the sofa.

“Excuse me for disturbing.”

Pamela greeted as she took off her shoes.

“Are you off today?”

“Yeah. It’s been a while since I had a day off. So, I wanted to talk to you… Huh? Where’s AI-chan?”

There’s only me in this room.

“AI-chan is probably upstairs. I think she’s hanging out on the third floor with the girls since she’s free.”

“I see. Still bored, huh?”

“Yeah. It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve had so little to do.”

Actually, my memory is a bit fuzzy, but I don’t recall ever having this much time off.

“Sorry about that. I’ve been a bit busy and had some decisions to make.”

“Yeah, I get it. Is today about that?”

“Yeah. Can I have some time?”

It might take a while…

“Alright, how about we grab some food? As promised, I’ll treat you.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve got the money. I’ll treat you, so just take me to a good place. I’ve been getting Natalia and Alice to show me around town lately, but I don’t know any good restaurants.”

We have food back home anyway.

And Clive’s cooking is delicious.

“Alright, I’ll show you to a delicious place.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

With that, Pamela put on her shoes.

((“I’m going out for dinner with Pamela for a bit, AI-chan.”))

I conveyed through telepathy.

Telepathy can be used even when we’re apart.

((“Understood. Will you be back tonight? Or should I lock the room? I’ll stay in Natalia-san’s room.”))

((“No need to worry. I’ll come back normally and just have a little chat.”))

((“Got it!”))

I cut off the telepathy with AI-chan, who said something silly.

“What’s up?”

Pamela, now with her shoes on, tilted her head.

“It’s nothing.”

I put on my shoes and left the room with Pamela.

As we left the building, Koma-chan, who was sleeping on the sofa, saw us off. Pamela led the way, and we headed to the restaurant.

The restaurant was near the guild, fairly spacious, with tables and a counter.

We were guided by a young waitress to the counter, where we ordered some drinks and food.

Soon, our drinks and meals arrived, so we toasted and started eating.

“It really feels like a different world.”

Everything about this restaurant, from the decor to the service, the food, and the drinks, is different.

I’ve learned a lot recently, but I still feel like I’ve entered a different world in a sudden moment.

“I’m curious about Yuuma-san’s previous world. They use terrifying spells, and the culture seems completely different.”

“Well, for one, there are no monsters there. Though there are yokai.”

“Yokai, like that big spider-chan?”

Pamela asks as she sips her drink.

“Well, creatures that big are rare, but yeah, something like that. By the way, AI-chan is also a fox yokai. Should I show you her ears and tail next time?”

“That kid is a fox…”

“Yeah. She’s a shikigami modeled after my mother. An avatar or something… that part’s a bit annoying though.”

“Huh… huh?”

Pamela puts down her drink and looks at me.

“What is it?”

“Is Yuuma-san’s mother really a fox yokai?”

“Yeah, she is. You saw her use foxfire, right? Only foxes can use that.”

“Huh… So Yuuma-san isn’t really human?”

“Do I not look like a human? No ears or tail. And Im not immortal, I’ll die eventually.”

Living to 99 is pretty long, though.

But occasionally, there are humans who live that long.

“Speaking of which, you died, right? Hey, hey, what does dying feel like?”

“Oh, I fell asleep thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to die.” Before I knew it, I was in the forest.”

It’s old age, so it’s just how it is.

Just sleeping without any pain.

“Oh…”

“Pamela, have you been at the guild reception for long?”

“Since I was 16, so about four years?”

Quite a while.

“Do you know any other reincarnates?”

“Ah… I know a few, and I’ve talked to them. Even Layla-san is one, actually.”

Huh?

Wait?

“You know Layla’s reincarnated?”

“She seems to be keeping it hidden, so I haven’t pressed her on it, but yeah, I know. Reincarnates are pretty easy to spot, you know. They’ve lived two lives, so they’re knowledgeable for their age and composed. Plus, their underlying common sense is a bit off, so if you’ve been at the reception for years, you’d notice.”

Well, Layla is a genuine noble who lived for 50 years.

“What about the others? What are they like? I want to use their lives as reference for mine.”

“Are you troubled about how to live?”

“Well, something like that. Since I was a child, I’ve been striving to become the head, and even after becoming one, I’ve worked hard for the country and the family. Now, I’ve come to this world with no purpose. These past ten days have been really boring.”

All I do is read books.

“I see… Nobles can’t live freely, but even when they’re finally free, they don’t know what to do, right?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Well, generally, isn’t it about working, getting married, and raising children? I mean, that’s the same everywhere, isn’t it?”

Of course.

Otherwise, the species would die out.

“That’s natural, right? Nobles or commoners, it’s all the same.”

“I don’t think you need to think too deeply about it. I doubt other reincarnates do either. If anything, they seem pretty carefree. What’s common among them is that they try not to repeat the same mistakes from their past lives. Like, ‘I don’t want debt,’ or ‘I absolutely want to get married.’ Well, there are exceptions, of course.”

Layla’s like that too.

“No regrets, huh…”

“Then, just live normally, I think. Work and save money. Money is important no matter what you do.”

Yeah, maybe that’s the way to go.

“Until you find something to do, just work casually.”

“Yeah, that sounds good. So, let’s talk about work.”

Pamela puts down the drink she was enjoying and switches to work mode, in high spirits.