Chapter 262: I'll Fight You; The Woman Made of Wine
Tony Stark leaned forward, his eyes fixated on the violet, crystalline ore resting on the counter. "Buddy," he began, his voice laced with a scientist's curiosity, "this 'Magic Ore' thing... mind if I take a look?"
"Of course, no problem at all," Rimuru replied instantly, without a hint of hesitation. "There are tons of those ores back in the labyrinth!"
Taking the crystal into his hand, Tony's expression shifted to one of genuine surprise. "Unbelievable," he murmured, turning it over in his palm. "This thing is even lighter than I imagined. And the texture..." He looked up at Pepper, a familiar glint in his eye. "Pepper, I think we should head back now."
Pepper Potts knew that look all too well. It was the look he got right before a multi-day inventing binge, fueled by coffee and sheer obsession. He didn't just want to go back; he needed to get this specimen into his lab immediately.
She offered a polite nod and turned to Ren. "Mr. Ren, how much is the total for our meal?"
Ren glanced at their table. "That will be three thousand, six hundred yen, please."
Tony nearly dropped the ore. "Hey! That's way too cheap! This... this isn't even fifty bucks!"
Ren waved a hand dismissively. "And you two don't have to pay for your meals, anyway."
"Eh?! Why not?" Tony asked, confused.
A faint smile touched Ren's lips. "Because the watch you gave me last time, Mr. Stark, can cover your meal expenses here for a very, very long time. So, basically, you don't have to spend a thing whenever you come to dine."
Tony was stunned for a moment, then a broad grin spread across his face. "Well, that's news that makes it hard not to be happy. Thank you." He paused, his curiosity piqued again. "Out of curiosity, though, if we're going by your menu prices, how long would it take for me to burn through the credit from that watch?"
"If you happen to order a dish made with ingredients from another world," Ren said with a knowing look, "it might be gone in two meals."
The suggestion was incredibly tempting. Even the ordinary ingredients here were sublime; if they were sourced from another world, he might even gain some kind of superpower. The price, however, sounded astronomical. And while Tony Stark certainly wasn't short on money, even he couldn't justify that kind of expense for every meal.
He mulled it over for a moment before deciding to let it go for now. Clasping the Magic Ore securely, he offered his thanks to Rimuru and turned to leave.
As they headed for the door, Pepper paused, said her goodbyes, and discreetly placed a crisp banknote on the table.
Watching them go, Lucifer commented with a soft smile, "That pair seems quite nice."
Ren smiled and nodded in agreement, his gaze falling on the payment they had left behind. It wasn't a huge amount, just a single hundred-dollar bill, but they had left it even after knowing their meal was complimentary. Ren wasn't the type to be overly sentimental and refuse it, nor was he the kind to be dissatisfied with the gesture.
He had offered them free meals, fulfilling his end of the friendly exchange. In turn, Tony and Pepper had chosen to leave payment anyway. Ren was certain that if Pepper had only had ten dollars on her, Tony would have insisted she leave that.
True friendship, he mused, wasn't about taking generosity for granted. He could have charged them normally, but he chose to extend a long-term courtesy. Tony, in turn, chose to pay normally. Both sides did what felt right. A bond like that was never maintained by profit, not even by a single dollar. Even if Tony had only left one dollar today, it would have been a sign of his character.
Leaving the table uncleared for a moment, Ren turned to Rimuru. "It seems your world has some rare ingredients. Next time, if you'd like, you can use those as payment for your meal."
"Ingredients?" Rimuru tilted its slime form. "What kind of ingredients are considered rare?"
"As long as they don't exist in this world and possess a unique, delicious flavor, they are considered rare ingredients here."
Rimuru bobbed in understanding. Thinking about it that way, there were probably a lot of options. But if he was going to bring something to the restaurant, he should probably find something truly valuable.
"Mhm! I get it! Well then, Boss, I'll head back for now!"
Watching the cheerful slime bounce away, Ren smiled to himself. "I have to say, the closer the restaurant gets to an upgrade, the stranger the guests become. I wonder if we'll eventually get something like a skeleton, who can't even eat."
Kasugano Sora, who was quietly helping nearby, flinched. "No way... that would be too scary!"
Ren chuckled. "Just a guess. No one can say for sure. But Sora, aren't you tired yet?"
Kasugano Sora shook her head, her movements surprisingly energetic. "Not tired at all. I feel really good, and I don't know why, but I feel like I have endless strength."
Lucifer waved a hand nonchalantly from her seat. "You've just suddenly recovered your health, and you're in much better shape than you were before. That's why you feel this way."
Sora nodded slowly, then asked with a hint of confusion, "So, does that mean I should be resting now?"
Ren glanced at the time on his computer. "You should probably lie down for a bit and take a shower. Because tomorrow... uh... I mean, later today, you have to report in."
"Alright," she agreed. "But the one who's coming to pick me up... named Akemi... what time is she coming?"
"According to Shion's schedule, Akemi should arrive around six o'clock. It's already two in the morning now."
"Ah? That early? Then I'll go rest first..."
Watching Kasugano Sora head upstairs, Ren let out a long stretch. "That really solved a troublesome matter. So, Lucifer, where are you off to today?"
"Eh? I don't know," she mused. "I'll see what Courage wants to do. She seems like someone who's good at going out and having fun. Following her should be more promising than following Cerberus."
Ren chuckled. "Aren't you afraid Sister Cerberus will hear you say that? She's still very innocent, you know."
Lucifer sighed dramatically. "Sigh... I know. But I'm traumatized from going out alone with Cerberus. Speaking of which, I really did discover a great way to relax yesterday."
"Hmm? Yoga? It is quite relaxing," Ren noted. "And you've actually been practicing diligently."
Lucifer sniffed, a proud smirk on her face. "Of course! And it seems to be good for my figure."
"Eh? It's really good for one's figure? I always thought it was just for relaxation."
"Of course it is! Look, look!" Lucifer declared, standing up and placing her hands on her hips, striking a pose as she looked at Ren with a proud, expectant expression.
Ren paused, studying her for a moment with a perfectly straight face. "So... has anything changed?"
"Hmph! Of course it has!" she insisted, a little flustered. "I just feel like..."
"Hmm. That's a truly outrageous feeling."
"If you don't believe me, try it yourself!" she challenged.
"Eh? Alright." Ren's expression shifted to a playful smirk as he took a step closer, his eyes slowly tracing her silhouette as if conducting a serious inspection.
Lucifer's confidence wavered as he closed the distance, a blush creeping up her neck. "Wait... I told you to do yoga! Not... Ugh, it's all my fault... I'll fight you!"
At that very moment, in another place entirely, Soryuin Akemi stared at the time on her phone and sighed. "Ah, my head really aches... Why can't I sleep!"
A calm, measured voice spoke from the darkness. "Akemi seems to hold a lot of resentment towards you."
"There's no such thing," another voice, belonging to Shion, replied smoothly. "That child holds no resentment in any aspect."
"Are you sure it's because she doesn't," the first voice purred, "or because she doesn't dare to?"
"Kirukiru," Shion said, her tone shifting to one of dry amusement. "They say women are made of water. You, I think, are made of wine. Even if you're not drunk, you should be full by now."
"Impossible," Amou Kirukiru's voice replied, utterly unfazed. "You're still a long way from affecting me, Shion."
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