"I like it! I like it!"
The two nodded repeatedly.
A single slap that could knock Dio flat on the ground— the person before them must be incredibly powerful!
Seeing that she had successfully fooled them, Ijichi Seika breathed a sigh of relief and welcomed the two inside. "Haha, as long as you like it. Come on in, we can chat more..."
Of course, the welcome did not extend to Diego, who was lying on the ground playing dead. He only received a glare from the manager.
Seeing the three abandon him, Diego patted the dust off his clothes and quietly followed them inside with a guilty conscience.
...
——Inside STARRY Performance Hall——
Mabel and Frieren curiously looked around. This was their first time seeing metal-style interior decor.
The two leaned close together and conversed in low voices.
"It feels really gloomy..."
"Oh! Frieren, quick, look—is that red bar-shaped object a steel pipe?"
"Such excellent craftsmanship. To think they could use heavy metal in such large quantities just for decoration..."
"So many instruments. That one I recognize—it's a drum set! Hmm... the black boxes must be the magic tools that make sound really loud. I think they're called speakers..."
"I really want to study the internal structure. How exactly did they cleverly integrate magic formulas inside a box so that ordinary people can use it? Even Master couldn't do something like that..."
"And there's actually..."
Mabel found a chair and sat down. Her gaze wandered everywhere until she suddenly spotted Ijichi Nijika, who had come out to check on the situation.
"A floating ahoge——!!!"
Mabel immediately spoke up. Her attention was instantly captured by Nijika's hairstyle. She quickly grabbed Frieren's hand and motioned for her to look.
"How could an ahoge possibly float? Don't make such a fuss, Mabel——"
Frieren turned her head dismissively. When her eyes met Nijika's, her mouth slowly opened wide enough to fit an egg.
There really is a floating ahoge...
Nijika raised her hand in greeting, her tone hesitant. "Um... hello?"
The two before her looked very familiar to Nijika, but for a moment she couldn't recall who they were.
STARRY Performance Hall operated under a food and beverage license. Occasionally, hungry customers would come in to buy drinks or order food.
She simply assumed they were ordinary patrons and stepped forward to serve them.
"Are you hungry?"
Nijika jogged over from the counter, brought a menu, and placed it on the table in front of Frieren.
Frieren nodded and expressed her thanks plainly. "Thank you."
Then the two began examining the so-called otherworldly cuisine with great interest.
Frieren pointed at a picture of milk tea and asked, "Is this QQ boba milk tea really that delicious?"
"It's actually pearl milk tea."
Nijika glanced down and answered quickly.
How strange... Are there actually people nowadays who don't know what milk tea is?
Mabel asked with great interest, "It looks really good. How do you make it? What are the ingredients?"
"Uh, you just mix milk and tea together." Nijika made a gesture of pouring one cup into another, then added, "And then you add some pearls."
"...I see."
The two immediately moved on to discussing other food items.
Seeing that Frieren and Mabel had quickly lost interest, Nijika couldn't help but wonder if she had said something wrong.
"!"
A moment later, the sharp-eyed Frieren suddenly noticed a line of small text at the bottom of the menu. It stated that people over sixty years old received a discount.
Frieren raised her hand. "Excuse me, how much is the discount with this offer?"
"Generally speaking, the first drink gets a quarter off the price." Nijika patiently explained, then asked with a smile, "Do you have elderly family members who like to listen to band performances?"
"No. Can't we use it ourselves?"
Seeing the two of them with completely serious expressions, the smile on Nijika's face froze. Her pupils dilated as she tried to find any proof of old age on their faces.
There was none at all!
Their skin even looked smoother than hers!
Were these two here to mess with her?
"This..." Although it seemed ridiculous, Nijika still held back her temper and asked, "Alright, which one of you is over sixty years old?"
"We both are."
Frieren and Mabel answered in unison.
They were definitely here to mess with her!
"Hahaha..." Nijika's brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and her voice carried a hint of anger. "You two are really funny. How old are you exactly?"
Before they could answer, Nijika added more weight to her tone and emphasized again.
"Please think carefully before you answer!"
"Wait, I can vouch for them!"
Diego suddenly popped out from behind Nijika at that moment.
"Waaah————!" Nijika jumped in fright. After squinting and recognizing the person, she pointed at Diego and shouted loudly, "It's the runaway idiot manager————!!"
"Why 'runaway'..."
Diego half-opened his eyes and complained.
"And about what happened before..." Diego wanted to apologize.
"It's fine, it's fine. I didn't take it to heart at all."
Nijika, who had cried in her sister's arms for fifteen minutes back then, waved her hand. Then she realized something and muttered, "I think I understand. These two, could it be..."
"That's right. This is the last pride of the Ice Clan, Mabel, the guardian of the Freeze God Sword!" Diego placed his hand on Mabel's shoulder and introduced her solemnly.
"Hello, Nijika-san. Dio told me about you before he came." Mabel narrowed her eyes, then boasted without any modesty, "I should add one thing Dio didn't mention—I am also a member of the hero party that defeated the Demon King, a being greatly respected by the people. Please keep that in mind and take good care of me."
"P-Please take care of me as well..."
For some reason, she didn't feel like the Mabel-san from her impression at all...
Diego leaned close to Nijika's ear and whispered, "Currently unemployed. A several-hundred-year-old NEET."
"Dio, what are you saying?" Mabel asked curiously.
"Nothing—— I didn't say anything!" Immediately after, Diego began introducing Frieren. "This is the mage recorded in human history as having killed the most demons, disciple of the Great Mage Flamme, known as Frieren the Slayer."
"Please take care of me."
In comparison, Frieren was much more normal. She simply leaned her body forward slightly to show respect while extending her hand.
Nijika took Frieren's hand and shook it up and down. "Very pleased to meet you, Frieren-san!"
"A thousand-plus-year-old idiot... elf." Diego added in a low voice again. "So these two really can use the senior discount."
As for why Diego didn't dare call them old ladies.
Because triggering it three times would get him erased (confirmed)!
Diego had no way to deal with Frieren, who could cry for three days and three nights.
Frieren glanced at Diego and said dissatisfiedly, "The 'thousand-plus years old' part is unnecessary!"
!!
She noticed! And she didn't even cry!
As if she had seen through what Diego was thinking, Frieren proudly raised her head. "Well~ After all, I'm a mature big sister now! I won't cry over little things like this anymore!"
"As expected of Frieren!" Diego naturally wouldn't pour cold water on her and gave a thumbs-up.
"Hmm hmm~"
The three quickly finished ordering their food.
While waiting, Diego played with Mabel's chin and asked Nijika, "Is Ryo coming over this afternoon to practice the new song?"
"She is." Nijika nodded.
Diego instantly switched to his battle face. "Please help me collect the debt, all-powerful Nijika!"
"Uh, even if you say that, I still haven't been able to get Bocchi-chan's money back for her." Nijika looked troubled.
From what she knew of Yamada Ryo, that girl was probably grazing on grass at this very moment, living off Nijika's support.
"Actually, I have a plan, but I need your cooperation." Diego lowered his voice and began secretly plotting. "First..."
"Oh! This really is a great plan that kills two birds with one stone!"
Nijika showed an expression of sudden realization.
Heh heh heh. This time, I'm definitely going to make that kid Ryo pay back everything, principal and interest included!