5:00 AM.
The moment the cool air slipping through the gap in the window brushed against my cheek, my eyes snapped open.
"Ugh..."
My mind screamed for more sleep, but my body already felt completely refreshed.
'Damn it...'
The cause, naturally, was the 'Adaptability' skill given to me by the Administrator.
Because of this skill, it had been a long time since my body reached a state where all fatigue vanished after only the absolute minimum amount of sleep required for survival. The moment the fatigue was gone, my body forced me awake regardless of my will.
"Whew..."
Getting out of bed with that lingering, restless feeling, a sight that still felt somewhat unfamiliar met my eyes.
Instead of the cramped room where I barely had a place to step due to the clutter of blueprints and synthesis formulas, it was a new room—so spacious it felt almost empty, and perfectly organized.
"It certainly is... nice having more space."
It had only been a few days since I moved in, so it was still awkward, but the disappearance of that suffocating, cramped feeling was definitely a welcome change.
'I should use "Cognitive Shaping" later to build a steel workbench and some bookshelves over there. It's a waste to fill this huge space with nothing but blueprints.'
Imagining how I'd decorate the expanded room, I gave my body a light stretch before stepping down from the bed.
"Ugh... my stomach..."
As soon as I stood up, a heavy sensation of fullness combined with a slight twinge of heartburn surged from deep within my gut.
"Did I eat too much yesterday...?"
The cause... well, it was obviously the wild party at the 'Hostess of Fertility' last night to celebrate the successful contract with Hephaestus.
'Haha, eat as much as you want! Today's the day we order without even looking at the prices on the menu!'
Who could have predicted that those grand words of mine would become my downfall?
.
.
.
Last night, at the Hostess of Fertility.
"From here to here, give us everything."
"...Meow?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said I want every menu item on this page."
Naza, who usually agonized for ten minutes over the menu just to find something even one valis cheaper, was acting like Orario's wealthiest tycoon last night.
"Oh, and for the alcohol, give us a bottle of the most expensive fruit liquor in the house... no, make it two!!"
"N-Naza? Can you really finish all that...?"
"Don't worry. We can pack up the leftovers! You said you were paying today, right? No take-backs!"
Reason had already flown out of her eyes, replaced only by a glint of pure greed—and even Lord Miach, far from stopping her, was nodding along with a pleased smile.
"Haha, it's thanks to Kai that I get to enjoy such luxury. In that case, I'll try that dish I've always been curious about..."
"Even you, Lord Miach?!"
As the order finished, accompanied by Mama Mia's hearty laughter, an incredible variety of dishes poured onto the table—enough to make the wood creak. The atmosphere in the tavern heated up instantly.
"Ooh-hoo~! Is the black-haired guy treating? Then let me have a bite too, meow!"
"Chloe, do not touch the customers' food."
"Chee... Runoar is such a killjoy, meow."
"My, it looks like something good happened. To order such a feast."
Syru had approached and poked my side as she asked. I replied while tilting my glass, having already half-given up on my wallet.
"Well... I landed a contract that pretty much determined the fate of the Familia."
"Ho? A contract for the Familia's fate... anyway, congratulations. I'll throw in some extra fruit on the house."
"...I'd appreciate that. I did say I'd pay for everything, but I didn't think it would go this far."
The celebration continued late into the night. Naza and the God seemed determined to be compensated for all their past hardships, eating and drinking until they were about to burst.
Of course, the fact that my hand trembled slightly when I received the bill at the end... let's keep that a secret.
'The taste of success is sweet... but it leaves a bitter taste in the wallet...'
.
.
.
"Whew... well, as long as everyone's happy, I guess it's fine."
Recalling the events of the previous night with a wry smile, I finished washing my face. Feeling bloated, I figured it was better to move around than to just roll about idly.
"Time for some exercise."
I stepped outside dressed lightly for once, wearing only thin weighted bands under my shirt.
The reason I switched to thinner weighted bands was because of what I saw when Lübearia caught me last time—the ground had been dug up quite deeply.
'Besides, it's annoying to deal with more misunderstandings.'
Dressed much lighter than usual, I left the home and started running toward the northwest city wall. The early morning in Orario was tranquil, quite unlike its usual bustling self.
While I occasionally crossed paths with diligent adventurers heading for the Dungeon, most were still lost in their dreams.
'Thump, thump, thump.'
With my steady footsteps, cold air cycled in and out of my lungs. By the time I was starting to lose my breath, the familiar silhouette of the wall came into view.
"Made it."
The clearing was directly below the section of the wall where Bell and Ais usually trained.
With few people passing by and the ground being reasonably solid, it was the perfect spot to practice martial arts alone.
"I'll just do... a quick thirty minutes today."
Taking my place in the center of the clearing, I began some light stretching.
"Phew..."
After loosening up, I turned my head and glanced up at the top of the wall.
'Not here today?'
Usually, I would have heard shouts of exertion or the sound of weapons clashing, but today it was exceptionally quiet. Was it a day off from training? Or had they already finished and left?
"...Well, doesn't matter."
I brushed the thoughts aside and took my stance.
Today, I didn't draw my push daggers. Instead, I moved through the forms of 'Defensive Martial Arts' with my bare hands, slicing through the air.
'Swish! Swish!'
Straight punches, elbow strikes, and spinning kicks.
Feeling the previous night's alcohol being expelled along with my sweat, I focused entirely on the movements of my body.
Some time passed.
"...Huh?"
In the middle of my focused, sweat-drenched training, I sensed a presence near the entrance of the clearing.
'Who would be here at this hour... Lübearia?'
Thinking that elf had come back to pick a fight, I turned my head, only to see someone completely unexpected standing there.
"...Bell?"
"...Mr. Kai?"
A wide-eyed rabbit... no, Bell Cranel, was looking at me alongside a small Pallum girl who was keeping her head down low.
"...Morning."
I wiped away my sweat and offered an awkward greeting, but my gaze shifted past Bell to the small girl huddling beside him.
'Liliruca Arde.'
The Pallum who had betrayed Bell and had everything stolen from her by Kanou's gang. She looked bedraggled and terrified, and most of all... she was empty-handed.
"Um, Mr. Kai... were you working out here?"
"Yeah, well... this was the only decent spot for a workout near the new house."
Giving a rough excuse, I approached Bell. As I did, Lili ducked behind Bell's back, shooting me a wary look.
'...Did I do something wrong?'
Wondering why she was acting like that, I suddenly remembered the last time we met—when I had aimed a gun at her head with killing intent.
"...More importantly, Bell, who's the kid? Looking at her outfit, she seems to be the Supporter you hired last time."
Of course, I already knew, but it was only polite to pretend I didn't.
"Oh! Let me introduce her. This is Lili, my Supporter! We've decided to officially form a party."
"...H-hello. I am Liliruca Arde."
Lili greeted me in a tiny, fading voice. Bell was grinning from ear to ear, but Lili looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.
'Well, having lost her bag with all her life savings, she probably wants to crawl into a hole and die.'
I offered Bell my congratulations with a silent, bitter smile.
"Really? You've got a good companion. Congratulations."
"Hehe, thank you."
"Oh, right. Now that I think about it, I found something recently that looked like it belonged to Lili."
"What? You found something?"
"Yeah. It was near the 10th floor of the Dungeon... I saw some nasty-looking guys rummaging through a large bag, bragging about how they 'handled' or 'killed' someone. They didn't look like they were doing it for the first time, so I just took care of them on the spot and 'found' the bag. I have it stored at our Familia home; do you want to come check it?"
In that instant, Lili's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out, and she rushed toward me.
"W-Where did you say my bag is right now?!"
"Better to see the real thing than have me explain it. Both of you, follow me."
I led Lili and Bell to the Miach Familia's newly moved shop, the 'Blue Pharmacy'.
"We started business again yesterday, so as promised, stop by and buy some potions before you head to the Dungeon."
Leaving the two of them in front of the counter, I went upstairs, grabbed Lili's bag which I had carelessly tossed in the corner of my room, and returned.
*Clank!*
As I set the bag down on the counter floor, the heavy sound of the miscellaneous items inside clashing echoed through the room.
"I only saw it once in the Dungeon, but you're an acquaintance, right? So I picked it up... but I didn't have much use for it. Go ahead and take it."
"Th-this is..."
Lili gripped the bag with trembling hands. As she opened it to check the contents as if she couldn't believe it, her shoulders began to shake violently.
"..."
"...I didn't check the contents. Well, if anything's missing, those guys probably used it."
This was obviously a lie. I had checked everything, and I'd already set aside anything that was clearly stolen goods.
"Sob... hic..."
Clinging to the bag, a sob finally escaped Lili's mouth.
"Lili?!"
Bell was flustered and didn't know what to do, but I just gave a casual shrug.
"Well... whatever your past might be, you've still got to eat to survive."
The sound of the Pallum girl's sobbing echoing through the shop sounded exceptionally sorrowful today.
"...Did you make her cry?"
"Hmm... maybe our Kai has suddenly turned into a delinquent."
"Hey, hold on a second?!"