The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 128

While talking with Pamela, it became evening and everyone gathered to eat dinner.

With seven people and one pet, it was quite a crowd, but thanks to Lily, we had a spacious kotatsu table, so we could sit without any problem.

After finishing dinner, we relaxed while drinking tea.

“The meals at the high-class inn in the royal capital were good, but it was nice to have Clive’s cooking again after a long time!”

Lily happily ate the food Clive had brought back. Since Lily had just missed Clive, it must have really been a long time for her.

“Lily, how’s your money situation?”

“Uh, yeah… I have a little over 40 gold coins.”

Hmm, I’m not sure if that’s good.

“Natalia, what do you think?”

I checked with Natalia because I didn’t know how long winter would last and how much money we’d need.

“Well… if we exercise some restraint, we should be fine.”

Considering that this elf isn’t likely to be very restrained…

“Lily, I’ll keep you company, so let’s work a bit more.”

“Uh, okay… Yuuma, you’re so kind.”

Lily’s eyes welled up with tears.

“I’ll pass. It’s cold.”

“… I’m cold too. Let’s wait a little longer until we get used to the cold.”

The two heartless girls peeked out from the kotatsu, refusing to join.

“I’m not expecting anything from you.”

It was clear they had no intention of going outside.

“Yuuma, even if you go to work, make sure to leave the room unlocked.”

“… We’ll keep watch. We can’t let anyone steal the sword.”

Alice said this while glancing at the sword displayed on the wall. It was, of course, the commemorative sword given by the king.

“That’s fine, but you both have enough money, right?”

“Of course. We have enough money to last for a few years without working.”

Wow.

Being an apothecary must be lucrative.

“… I also have savings. I just don’t have any use for it.”

I certainly can’t imagine Alice being reckless with money.

She’s always just fishing anyway.

“Well, that’s fine. Natalia, will you join me?”

“Yeah, sure.”

The kind Natalia nodded readily.

“… Natalia, my childhood friend, and I are two halves of a whole. If Natalia is working, it means I’m working too.”

What are you saying, just poking your head out like that?

“What are you talking about? Hey, whose feet are these?”

Annie, sharing my thoughts, started rubbing my feet with her own.

“Have you turned into an actual pervert?”

“Is it you…? Just move over a bit. I want to stretch my legs.”

Since she said that, I moved my feet and sat cross-legged.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks. Ah, it’s warm. The heating equipment in your world is amazing. I never would have thought of a heating system for living on the floor.”

Annie grinned with satisfaction.

“… I will become a spoiled child here.”

Alice also looked sleepy but content. In fact, she seemed ready to fall asleep right there.

“You’ll catch a cold if you stay in too long… Pamela, so tomorrow, the three of us will work together.”

“Got it. I’ll find some requests for you.”

“Thanks. By the way, is the mayor around? Since I’m back, I thought I’d go say hello.”

“He’s probably just at home, right? I think any time would be fine.”

She really is so formal with others.

Well, I guess that’s how girls can be.

“Then I’ll try to stop by after work.”

“Understood. I’ll give him a heads-up.”

“Okay.”

After we decided on tomorrow’s plans, everyone went off to do their own thing. Pamela returned to her dorm, and Natalia and Lily went back to their rooms.

As AI-chan went to take a bath, I poked my head over the kotatsu to see the two who showed no signs of moving.

“How long are you two going to stay like that?”

“We’ll head back before we sleep.”

“… Zzz.”

Alice is already asleep…

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

The next day, after everyone had breakfast together, we decided to head out for a bit to prepare.

However, Annie and Alice were lying in exactly the same position as yesterday, staring up at the ceiling.

The only difference was that there was a pillow under their heads and a bunch of unfamiliar devices, herbs, and books lined up next to the pillow.

Of course, I had sent them back to their room last night when it was time for bed.

They had just come to this room for breakfast and immediately resumed their position after finishing.

“Are you two planning to stay like that forever?”

“We’re a team, right?”

“… Exactly.”

What happened to our teammate, Lily?

“Don’t you want to help Lily?”

“Lily can handle hunting or whatever; she’ll manage just fine.”

“… Yeah. Worst case, Yuuma can go out.”

“Right. Since you’ll be getting something anyway, you might as well help her out a bit.”

Just say you don’t want to go out!

“Well, do as you like, but I’m taking Koma-chan with me.”

I need to keep an eye on Natalia and Lily.

“Dogs and cats are great. They’re so fluffy.”

“… Annie is being kind of weird, though.”

That’s true.

If you’re cold, put on some clothes!

“Okay, I’m off then.”

“Take care. Be careful.”

“… Good luck.”

The two of them waved their hands out from under the kotatsu.

“It feels like their your wives.”

“What lazy wives.”

After leaving the room, AI-chan and I made our way to the common area.

When we arrived, Natalia and Lily were already there, playing with Koma-chan.

“Sorry for being late.”

I went over to the two of them and apologized.

“It’s fine. What about those two?”

“They have no intention of going out.”

“Well, the kotatsu was warm, after all. Shall we go?”

We decided to head to the guild and left the dorm.

As soon as we stepped outside, a wave of cold hit us.

“Cold!”

I knew it was still morning and that the temperature would be low, but this was too cold.

I hadn’t felt this chilly when I was in the royal capital…

“It’s winter, huh?”

“I wonder if it will snow this year?”

Natalia and Lily seemed perfectly fine. In fact, Lily even looked excited.

“Are you two okay?”

The two of them weren’t dressed as lightly as Annie, but they were wearing their usual outfits.

In fact, Lily’s outfit exposed her legs, which made me feel cold just looking at her.

“I’m fine, though. The cold doesn’t bother me.”

“Me too! I don’t mind the heat or the cold!”

Lucky them.

“Don’t you have a warming spell or something?”

When it was hot, Alice cast a cooling spell for me.

“Those kinds of spells are something Alice and Annie can do. I don’t have any.”

“Me neither! I never needed it!”

Well, that’s true.

The two who struggle with the cold can use those spells.

Still, they should come along…

“Brr, it’s cold…”

“Isn’t it just?”

AI-chan seemed to be feeling cold too.

“But you’re a fox, right?”

Foxes seem tough against the cold.

My mother would lounge around the engawa¹ even in winter.

“It doesn’t matter. Cold is cold.”

As AI-chan said this, she cuddled up to me.

It was a bit warm.

“I’ll lend you my scarf.”

As Natalia said this, she pulled out long pieces of fabric from her space magic and wrapped one around AI-chan’s neck.

Once she finished wrapping one around AI-chan, she began to wrap one around me as well.

“Oh! It’s warm, and it smells nice, Natalia!”

“It’s true. It makes a big difference when you warm your neck.”

It really was warm.

“Uh, yeah… so, shall we go?”

Natalia urged us on, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“What’s up?”

“Yuuma, did it smell nice?”

Lily asked, tilting her head.

“Not that. It did smell nice, but what I agreed with was about the warmth.”

“Oh, I see. But it’s definitely true that it smelled nice.”

That’s right.

“Come on, let’s just go already…”

Since Natalia urged us again, we decided to head to the guild.