After a good night's sleep, I counted the money in the hotel room. It was a large sum, extorted from some (half) of the commission Toji earned.
"This should be enough. What about the hotel owner?"
Dark Konyanskaya, the Foreigner, replied.
Light Konyanskaya was the Assassin. They had agreed to call Dark Konyanskaya the Foreigner.
Other nicknames felt ambiguous and less distinct. It was more definite to differentiate them by their classes, even if it was dry.
The owner of this hotel had been suffering from Cursed Spirits, which we resolved. In return, we were staying for free.
Moreover, we even cleaned out the Cursed Spirits inside the hotel. It earned its keep for the accommodation.
"Master~. I've changed clothes and come back, how do I look? Do you like it?"
Thud. Just then, the Assassin, who had gone to the restroom, returned.
A top revealing her cleavage. Bottoms that fully exposed her thighs.
In the form of the Chinese dress she wore when she was with the enemy team, serving the Foreign God.
"No, that's...?"
I was surprised to see Konyanskaya. Her clothes were provocative, openly revealing even her armpits.
"These are the clothes I wore in the Chinese Lostbelt, remember? It might be a bit uncomfortable, but I remembered the look in Master's eyes."
"You just changed clothes, right? You didn't suddenly turn into a beast, did you?"
"Of course not."
While I was flustered, the Assassin clung to my side, pressing my arm into her cleavage and seducing me.
The Foreigner's attire was also unconventional, but at its core, it was a suit, commonly seen.
However, a bodysuit or a Chinese dress is different. They are far from everyday wear.
I liked it, but... was it really okay with that?
'If it looks good, that's all that matters.'
Fortunately, the Foreigner said nothing. Naturally, I also approved.
In a world where many people openly wore kimonos anyway, wouldn't traditional attire be within acceptable limits?
"Hmm... So that's how you're going to play it? Then I too."
Dark Konyanskaya, the Foreigner, acted just like the Assassin. With breasts pressing hard from both sides, my body felt crushed.
'Even better.'
It was a bit suffocating, but I accepted this too as a good thing. Such happiness should be enjoyed when it can be.
"Master, are you uncomfortable?"
"If you need anything, tell me anytime, anything. Even if it's me..."
The two foxes put their lips to my ear and whispered. It was very stimulating, and desirable.
Ring-ring. Thanks to them, I was enjoying myself just standing there, when the phone rang.
"Ah. I'll get it."
The Assassin, who had provoked me first, stood up and answered the phone. Like a perfect secretary, she clearly separated business from pleasure.
"Who is this?"
"—This is the front desk. Mr. Toji Zenin has requested to be connected, would that be alright?"
"Zenin... Ah. I see. Please connect him."
The Assassin nodded immediately. Since it was on speaker mode, the conversation was clearly audible.
"Hello? Am I connected?"
Soon, Toji's voice was heard. He sounded sluggish today too.
"Yes, Mr. Toji. Are you alright?"
I approached the phone and spoke, because speaking from afar would require raising my voice uncomfortably.
"Thanks to you, I'm living a very diligent life. Just acting as a guide is like a sweet deal."
"That's good news."
"Hmm. I've lined up some good jobs, but I'd like to hear your opinion. Would you mind meeting in the hotel lobby?"
"I'd love to. Around when?"
I asked, rolling my eyes, and the speaker replied.
"Now."
"Oh? You were downstairs?"
"Since we were going to talk anyway, it's better to sort it out nearby, isn't it? I'll be waiting in the lobby."
"Yes, I'll be right down."
As soon as I finished talking, the call disconnected. It was nice that he only spoke what needed to be said.
"Let's go down."
"Yes, Master."
I went downstairs, flanked by the two foxes.
It was amazing. And enviable.
The gazes I met were varied, and so were the people. Being a hotel, it wouldn't discriminate by age or gender, I supposed.
"Oh, you're here? Having beauties on both sides, I'm truly envious."
As I went down to the lobby, Toji waved and smiled. It was a circular seating area, so there seemed to be plenty of places to sit.
"You're not envious at all."
I also smiled and sat next to Toji. The two Konyanskayas sat next to Toji and me, holding their spots.
Toji, whose wife had died, was promiscuous, but with his wife alive, he was pure love. He wasn't the type to flirt with other women.
"Do you read my mind or something? How did you know that?"
"Just a feeling. Anyway, you said you brought some job offers, right?"
"Yeah. Since you said you wanted to catch your breath, I chose mainly money-making ones."
Toji leaned back and talked about the job details.
At least several hundred thousand yen... more than several million Korean won. Amounts in the tens of millions were not uncommon.
Thanks to this, Toji's wallet was full, and so was mine. It was mutual aid.
If Toji had hunted Cursed Spirits alone, it would have been exploitation... but since Konyanskaya was catching the Cursed Spirits.
"Anything you like?"
After finishing his explanation, Toji asked. Everything looked good.
"They all look good. That's why I'm conflicted."
"They're all similar, so it's hard to choose?"
"Yes."
"Then just pick them in order and proceed. If they're all the same anyway, it doesn't matter what you choose, right?"
That made sense. It was better than wasting time on indecision.
"I'll do that. Mr. Toji, please draw up a plan."
"Alright. And from now on, don't add 'Mr.' Just call me by my name, since I'm the boss."
"Is that really alright?"
"Of course it is. Originally, it would be natural for you to use informal speech. There are hardly any masters who speak formally to their slaves."
Toji twisted his lips and smiled. Even as he referred to himself as a slave, he looked thoroughly amused.
"You know your place well."
"Indeed. It seems he's worth what Master gained. He's quite unique too."
"Ah, certainly."
The two Konyanskayas spoke, with us between them. It was strangely embarrassing.
Light Konyanskaya enjoyed the rollercoaster of humans rising and falling. Dark Konyanskaya liked raising humans.
But now, every word was overflowing with affection. It was both heartwarming and burdensome.
"Got it. I'll draw up the schedule and contact you again."
Toji, caught between them, sighed. He looked thoroughly awkward and frustrated.
"You've worked hard. Since you're here anyway, please stay for lunch. My treat."
"Oh, really? I never turn down a free meal."
At the mention of a free meal, Toji's eyes sparkled. In this respect, he was just like in the original work.
"Chinese food, though. I'm craving sweet and sour pork today."
"I don't pick and choose when I'm being treated. I'll eat whatever you give me."
"Shall we go then?"
When I stood up first, the others quickly rose from their seats as well. Looking at it this way, I really was the one in charge.
After the meal, Toji rubbed his belly contentedly.
"Being a hotel restaurant, even the ordinary dishes are all delicious. It's worth the price."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. There are many hotel restaurants that aren't worth the price, aren't there?"
"Oh, I know. When you get a bad one, it makes you sigh."
Toji sighed and drank his tea. Perhaps because it was a hotel restaurant, the tea was also high-quality and had a clean taste.
Like barley tea, to compare? It had a strong impression of being made from grains rather than tea leaves.
"Oh. I have one request."
"A request? Please tell me."
What could it be? As I opened my ears to listen, Toji set down his teacup.
"Sae... my wife said she really wants to meet you and say hello. So she's hoping we could arrange a meeting."
"Your wife?"
"Yeah. She seemed very grateful. Of course, I told her you were busy, so feel free to decline. It's your decision."
I could do as I pleased. Or so he said, but the answer was already decided in this situation.
'It's hard to refuse in a situation like this.'
Given who it was, and my own curiosity. After all, she was a character who only said one line and exited.
Moreover, there was the baby, the diaper-wearing... no, Megumi. So seeing them would be fine.
"Alright."
"Really? Thanks. My wife will be happy."
"Oh, it's nothing. But since we're meeting anyway, how about we make it a bit more special?"
"Special? How?"
Toji cocked his head. His eyes seemed to urge me to speak quickly.
Ahem. I cleared my throat for a moment, mulling over the information I had heard earlier.
"The Inunaki Tunnel we went to last time was in Kyushu, right?"
"Hmm? It was."
"And among the places you told me about this time, the spiritual spot in Fukuoka is also in the Kyushu region, isn't it?"
"That's right. But you want to go there?"
I nodded, looking at Toji. He understood well without me even saying it.
"We can exorcise there and also sightsee. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
"Sightseeing and exorcism... An exorcism trip?"
"What we've been doing is indeed an exorcism trip, isn't it? Eating, tearing apart. When I say it out loud, it really sounds like we're beasts."
"It does."
I laughed, and Toji chuckled too. I don't know why such a trivial comment was so funny.
"Anyway, since we're going sightseeing in Fukuoka, let's have your wife come along too. It might feel like we're intruding on a family trip, but it's not bad, right?"
"If the boss orders it, I have to do it. Since it was the plan from the start, it's not inconvenient either."
"Alright."
The destination was set, and the appointment was made. Two birds with one stone.
"So, when should we depart?"
"Whenever you're ready, Mr. Toji. Oh, by the way, your wife will be alright, won't she? With work or..."
"She hasn't been out of bed for long. It's too early for her to work. Besides, there's Megumi."
"Then you'll need to earn more as a family head. If there are any Cursed User-related requests, please bundle them together."
Apparently, hunting Cursed Users brings in more money than hunting Cursed Spirits, because bounties are placed on them.
Toji, knowing this, immediately nodded.
"These days, Cursed Users are a bit quiet... but they're not non-existent. You can catch as many as you want."
"Are they quiet these days too?"
"Yeah. Because of Satoru Gojo."
Ah.
Come to think of it, I've seen that sentence before.
Satoru Gojo's appearance drastically changed the situation in the Jujutsu world. It was said that not only Cursed Users but even Cursed Spirits were lying low.
Especially Cursed Users, being human and not Cursed Spirits, were said to be even more so, because if they ran wild and were noticed, they would die.
Instead, if they remained unnoticed, their chances of survival were high, because Jujutsu Sorcerers were extremely busy with Cursed Spirit extermination.
"It's ambiguous whether that's good or bad. Contact me when you're ready."
"Got it. Thanks for the meal."
Toji got up and left without lingering. It was so refreshing it felt almost empty.
'Cursed Users, huh.'
So far, I had caught three Cursed Users in total. Excluding the one caught at the hospital, there were only two.
Those two were also scum, and beyond redemption, to the extent that letting them live would be harmful.
Would there really be Cursed Users in Hokkaido, or not? If there were, what kind of scum would they be?
"Let's get up too."
I sighed and rose from my seat. Honestly, the bill for the food I had to pay right now was more frightening than Cursed Users.