Chapter 3: What Goes Around Comes Around
Chapter 3:
What Goes Around Comes Around
DINNER WITH THE STARDIAS was never boring. Father often got drunk, cheering and dancing, mother and I had intense conversations, and Alice was always glued to my side. Lately, we’d added Tigerson to the mix, and he always praised my mother’s food with enthusiasm.
After eating his fill, Tigerson gave me a meek look. <It occurs to me that I consume rather a lot.>
“Of course, someone your size needs a lot of food.”
<I just feel that the amount of my consumption is disproportionate to my contribution to the family…>
“If we’re playing that game,” said my father. “The amount I work is definitely disproportionate to how much I earn—yeaaaah!”
He stripped off his top as he spoke, but the icy glares he got from Alice and my mother convinced him to put it back on.
“But seriously,” he said. “My salary is pitifully low…”
“Father, I’m not sure how many times I have to say this, but we are all very much aware of that.”
“Could you not smile when you say such cruel things? You wound me.”
He looked deflated and started muttering about finding a new job. Apparently, there was no future at his company, and he’d probably get a pay cut next year. It had nothing to do with his performance, either—his boss really was a cheapskate.
“If you wanna quit that bad,” I said. “What about starting our own business? I can supply monster parts and things like that. Honestly, I have a ton of them that I haven’t been able to move.”
I was pretty sure the monsters in the hidden dungeon were unique. At the very least, they weren’t local. Presently, the best I could do was sell to the guild, but they never paid very much. It felt like a waste. How much better off would we be if we could set up shop together? I was sure that golden slime jelly alone would fetch a pretty penny.
“That might not be a terrible idea.”
“I’ll help out, too, dear,” said my mother.
“I found several empty plots while I was walking through town,” I told them. “I’ve got enough money to buy one of them. Could you put in the application, father?”
“Just leave it to me. What kind of shop will it be?”
“Rare items and materials. As for the name…why don’t we all make suggestions?”
Getting the name right was critical. Even the tastiest restaurant couldn’t survive if it was called “Uncle Hairy-Pits’ Fuzzy Wuzzy Cuisine”. We all came up with suggestions, then voted for our favorites. The results were:
Father Knows Best Sundries - Father’s suggestion - 1 vote
My Love to Yours - Mother’s suggestion - 0 votes
Noir and Alice’s Secret Nook - Alice’s suggestion - 1 vote
Stardian Rarities - Tigerson’s suggestion - 3 votes
Hidden Curiosities - Noir’s suggestion - 0 votes
In a shocking turn of events, Tigerson was the winner. He, father, and Alice all voted for their own choice, while my mother and I were both charmed by Stardian Rarities.
“I just like the idea of using our family name,” said mother. “You have excellent taste, Tigey.”
<It would be a shame not to mention your family name somehow.>
“It’s a little depressing that Tigerson is the only one with a good head for names,” I said.
But Alice and my father weren’t having any of it.
“If we have to use a name,” Alice said. “I think it should just be Noir and Alice’s—”
“Hold on now. I think ‘secret nook’ has some unsavory implications,” said my father. “You’re worrying me!”
“Oh, Father dearest, considering your age, your lack of linguistic prowess is embarrassing.”
“Urgh! A man’s gotta maintain his youthful charm somehow!”
“Youthful charm is only good enough to get you through your twenties!” Alice protested. “You’re old, now. People want substance! O-or at least that’s what the old lady next door always says.”
“Suuuure she does! I’m sure that’s definitely not something you said, Alice!”
The atmosphere was getting heated. Father, unable to bear this slight, even started swinging a sword around to prove his manliness.
“I bet I’m stronger than all the other ‘old men’ around he—owww, h-help…”
He fell down and begged for someone to help him up—he must’ve thrown his back. I offered him a shoulder.
“I’m begging you,” I said. “Please don’t injure yourself. You’re not as young as you used to be.”
“Aaah, now even my son is insulting me! I hate this. I used to be strong, I’m telling you!”
“Lately,” I told him. “I’ve realized that strength isn’t just physical. I think strength of heart is more important in the long run.”
That was pretty rich coming from a total coward like me, but my words seemed to resonate with everyone.
“You always did have a way with words, brother dearest.”
“Honey, I think you ought to hone your mental fortitude from now on.”
<How wonderful, even you have room to grow.>
“Why are you all buying into this slander? I’m not immature!”
Father seemed upset, so I spared him from any further lectures.
***
The next morning, I walked Alice to school. After all, I couldn’t get lazy just because I was on vacation. We were walking along the usual route when Alice’s expression suddenly clouded over.
“Again…?”
“Huh? Did I do something?” I asked.
I was a little taken aback at the frustration in her voice.
“Not you, brother. Them.”
A group of boys in school uniforms were just ahead of us. I assumed they were her classmates. There were four of them, but only one was carrying anything—a lot of things. Actually, he seemed to be the pack mule for the other three.
“I’m guessing that isn’t some sort of new game,” I said.
“It’s not. The short kid is an exchange student. They always treat him like this.”
The kid had blond hair and a handsome face, but he seemed rather timid. His shoulders slumped and he laughed meekly with the others. Alice approached them, so I followed. As soon as she got near, the three bullies all got suddenly polite.
“O-oh, morning, Alice.”
It was obvious they had a crush on her. Alice waited a beat, not even looking them in the eye.
“Good morning, Nell,” she said. “Those bags look very heavy.”
“Oh, um, n-no, it’s fine.”
“Let me help.”
The second Alice reached for one of the bags, the other three boys all jumped to retrieve their belongings.
“Actually, those are ours. Nell begged us to let him carry them.”
“That’s not how it looks to me.”
“R-really? Wait, Alice, don’t tell me this guy with you is your…boyfriend?”
They all stared at me, dripping with hostility. I shook my head—absolutely not—but Alice just nodded confidently.
“I can neither confirm nor deny.”
You can’t deny it?! We’re siblings, Alice!
The bullies glared at me, disgusted. Oddly, one of them held out his hand. “So, you’re the boyfriend. Name’s Geth. Nice to meet you.”
They were all smirking. I had a bad feeling, so I used my Discerning Eye on him.
Name: Geth Overtoria
Age: 15
Species: Human
Level: 6
Occupation: Student
Skills: Stone Bullet; Left Hand of Misfortune
Left Hand of Excuse Me, What? I hadn’t heard of that one. I used my Editor skill to look into it.
Left Hand of Misfortune: User may voluntarily apply the skill Misfortune to anything they touch with their left hand.
The word “voluntarily” suggested that the effect didn’t happen unconsciously. This Geth kid definitely knew what he was doing.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t shake hands with people who bring misfortune to others.”
“Wha—?!” Geth stammered.
“Wha?” I echoed. “Oh, do you need to sit down? You look a little pale.”
“N-no! I don’t even know what you’re…”
“I think you know exactly what I mean. Lemme guess, next you’ll try to fire off one of your signature Stone Bullets, right? Be my guest!”
Now that he’d been found out, Geth laughed. He was trying to throw me off!
“Eat this, then!” he shouted.
Pew! Fwack! Guh!
I fired off my own Stone Bullet in kind, knocking his out of the air and hitting him square in the stomach. Geth groaned. Normally, a Stone Bullet was no larger than eight inches, but I’d edited my version of the skill and so I could change its size at will. Mine was roughly twice the size of his. Sure, it used more magical power, but not that much overall.
“Are you okay, Geth?”
Neither of the other boys moved. They must have been afraid of what I would do. While they were all distracted, I took the opportunity to break Geth’s skill—removing the word “Misfortune” from the description. It was pretty expensive, but it was too dangerous to leave such a malicious skill in the hands of an ethically challenged jerk like Geth. I thought about removing Stone Bullet as well, but I took pity on him.
“Gah, ugh, I’ll never use it again. Forgive me…”
I just laughed at his attitudinal one-eighty. Like all bullies, Geth was a coward.
“All right, I’ll let you off. But only because I know that you can’t use it again, even if you want to. Also, if you ever do anything to Alice, you’ll be the one who ends up with Misfortune, got it?”
“Pl-please, anything but that!”
Alice and I watched as the boys bolted at full speed. She didn’t lift a finger to stop them.
“Am I really that scary?” I asked.
“You look more like an angel to me…or a god. I’m going to start calling you God from now on, brother!”
Alice, don’t embarrass me like that. Nell is standing like right there!