The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 175

After returning to my room, I spent the day relaxing.

The next day, I stayed in my room again, waiting for Leanne to arrive.

“I’m back!”

Natalia, who had gone shopping, returned as I was sitting under the kotatsu in the room.

“How were things outside?”

I asked Natalia, who had also settled into the kotatsu, about the state of the town.

“It was a commotion. While I was shopping, the store clerks kept asking me all sorts of things.”

The announcement had come yesterday evening: the demon race had launched an invasion, and the northern town of Tretta had fallen.

At the same time, an emergency request had apparently been issued.

“Is it causing anything like riots?”

“Not that bad. It’s far away, so people think it’ll work itself out somehow. But there’s worry about prices going up.”

If it’s just that much, it’s not a big problem.

“That’s inevitable. Let’s wrap this up quickly.”

“Yeah, exactly. Oh, by the way, Clive’s group has decided to take the emergency request and head to the royal capital. Clive told us to handle our own meals while he’s gone.”

Layla said we should act independently, but it looks like the other clan members are accepting the request.

It’s a shame we won’t be able to eat Clive’s cooking, but it can’t be helped.

“Now that I think about it, you guys are from the royal capital, right? Is it okay for you not to go?”

Natalia and Alice are from the royal capital, and they might feel the same kind of attachment as Annie does about wanting to protect it.

“The royal capital will be fine.”

“……Yeah. It’s heavily guarded, and there are plenty of skilled A-rank adventurers there.”

“Exactly. We’re going to help Yuuma instead.”

“……Yeah. I’ll stay with you.”

Good people.

Still, I wish Alice would just get up already…

“Alright, then no problem. Should we make our own food?”

“Oh, Yuuma, you can just stay seated.”

“……We’ll cook.”

Natalia and Alice hurriedly stopped me. Alice even got up.

“Fine, I’ll leave it to you. I wonder if Leanne and Pamela will come?”

“Oh, Master, it seems Pamela will come. Earlier, I saw her declining a dinner invitation from her colleagues,” AI-chan explained.

“Still as transparent as ever…”
“…Because Tama-chan is here.”

The two of them whispered to each other in hushed voices.

“Leanne is a mystery.”

I couldn’t get in touch with her.
In her case, she might’ve gone to the royal capital via teleportation, and unless she comes back, I have no idea what she’s up to.
If she disappears for ten days like last time, I can’t help but worry.

“Shall we make a shikigami for her?”
“What does she like?”
“Who knows? But she seemed to adore Koma-chan and Tama-chan, so I think a cute animal would be good. Definitely avoid reptiles or insects.”

Yeah, she seemed to dislike those…

“What about a mouse?”

An old mouse.

“Not a good impression. Something cuter, please.”

Well, mice are pests that ruin food, after all.

As AI-chan and I were talking, Leanne appeared by the door.

“I’m back.”

She said this while taking off her shoes and heading toward us.
Sitting in her usual spot next to me, she slid into the kotatsu.

“Leanne, what kind of animals do you like?”
“Animals? None particularly… Why do you ask?”
“It’s hard to reach you when you go to the royal capital. You were gone for about ten days last time, too.”
“Ah… so that’s why. I’m fine, though. I’ve delegated work to Kenneth, and I won’t be staying in the royal capital for long, aside from reporting to my uncle occasionally. Most of the time, I’ll just be staying at the guild dormitory. From now on, I’ll be by your side, Yuuma-sama.”

Saying this, she shifted slightly closer, lowering herself so that she was sitting just close enough to touch.

“A man who wants to control and a woman who wants to be controlled…”

Annie muttered under her breath.

“Shut up, you lazy woman. You’re just clinging to Yuuma-sama yourself.”
“Yeah, it’s so easy.”

Annie doesn’t even remotely resemble the deputy leader of the clan anymore.

“Leanne, it’s fine if we go to the dragon after dinner, right?”
“Yes, it should be sufficiently dark by then. Let’s do that.”

Leanne nodded with a smile.

“Leanne-sama, will you have dinner with us? I’ll make enough for everyone.”

Natalia asked Leanne.

“Sorry, I can’t cook… No, maybe I should learn. Alright, I’ll help.”
“Oh, no need. You kind of give off the same vibe as Yuuma.”

Natalia immediately declined.

“Oh, really? Well, I guess I can’t help it.”

Leanne grinned.

((“She’s definitely smitten… She’s reacting to just the ‘same vibe’ part.”))

Ignore it.

After that, Natalia, Lily, and, unusually, Alice, went to prepare dinner. While I waited, Pamela showed up.
As soon as Pamela arrived, the three brought out dinner, and we all ate together.

After dinner, we began getting ready to leave.

“The dragon says it’ll take us there quickly, so just hold tight for a bit.”

Saying this, I wrapped the scarf Natalia had given me around my neck.
Then Lily, now dressed in warm clothing, came back.

“Sorry for the wait! Let’s go, let’s go!”

Lily seemed eager to ride the dragon and was rushing us.

“Yuuma, is it okay if I take a dip in the hot spring while we wait?”

Natalia asked.

“Go ahead. Last time was rushed, so take your time and relax.”

As I said that, not just Natalia but also the two disembodied heads got up and left the room.
Lily was gone too, for that matter.

“How cold-hearted of them, leaving us here to suffer in the cold.”

Leanne looked up at me.

“Come on now. It’s all the same since we’re staying cozy under the kotatsu anyway.”

AI-chan tried to soothe Leanne, but at the same time, she was rummaging through the dresser, pulling out towels, spare underwear, and clothes.

“Little fox… don’t you have the spirit to share in your master’s struggles?”

Leanne asked, exasperated, looking at AI-chan.

“I live to give Master the best views! To share the experience through our link!”

Yeah, no, I’m not seeing anything.

“Leanne, you can just take a bath when we get back.”
“That’s true. Then, shall we bathe together when we—Eep! I can’t say that!”

Leanne covered her face with both hands in embarrassment.

((“Master, did you know this flustered little girl is actually 85 years old?”))

Don’t bring up her age.

“W-w-what do I do?! Huh?”

While Leanne was panicking, Pamela tugged at her clothes.

“Leanne-sama.”
“What is it?”

When Leanne turned to Pamela, Pamela pointed to her own face.

“Me too.”

“…Well, that’s right. I should go back and grab mine too. Yuuma-sama, excuse me, but I’ll return to the dormitory for a moment.”

The two of them, apparently going back to get a change of clothes, vanished via teleportation.