Recap
" Five years is enough fun for this world. Let's go back."
" Understood."
[ Extraction of system 200 and host 20780 commencing in ...3, 2, 1.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Host and I get teleported to the inner entrance of my house.
I'm back in my body. Good, this is what feels most comfortable. I never liked taking the shell of another. My own is the best.
Ah host, host is... I turn to find my host. Host was standing in front of the mirror hung near the door.
" Being blonde was nice, but I missed my Asian looks."
" It suits you." You look even more adorable. " Anyway, host, I have some work to do. Your room is the third one down the hall, you can relax there. I'll be back in an hour."
" I want to go out."
" Ah, could you wait for me to come back? You need someone with you the first time you enter the city. Afterwards, you can go out on your own."
" Okay." He nods as he walks to his room.
I head out after closing the door behind me. I turn into a ball of light for the first time in a long time.
I float quickly to the HQ. Usually systems have the option of manually completing our reports or doing it through the interface. I developed a habit of going to the receptionist and then getting the report done through my interface. This way I don't get lazy and leave the work until last minute. But it seems I'll have to change this habit.
Ignoring the small talk, I speed through the process of getting my paperwork. And I complete it as I fly home.
{ Completed one trial mission world with host 20780, mission completed. Grade 8.5 out of 10. Reasoning and evidence within monitoring videos and photos. Requesting rest period for host.}
Alright, sent. And I'm done.
[Report received and analyzed. Grade approved. 14 days of resting granted. Next trial mission pending...] One of the managerial systems promptly responds back, but I ignore it.
I need to rush back before host decides to run off again.
I slam open my front door after taking less than a second to transform into a human again.
" I'm back!"
" Hm? Welcome home." Host pops out from the kitchen. " That was quick."
" Yeah." Ehem, I clear my throat. " Anyway, you wanted to check the city out, right? Get ready."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we strolled around the streets, something in Old Bai's stall caught Alex's eye.
" That's pretty." He walks up to a blue pair of earrings.
" Of course! Everything here is of high quality, from their looks to their enchantments!" The old man proudly spreads his hands to point at all his jewelry.
' Enchantments?' Host glances at me before putting his attention on the jewelry.
' Magic engraved in the jewelry that allows some stats to increase. For example the red bracelet over there increases the hosts strength by 10% for ten minutes.'
' What about these blue earrings?'
' It increases your vitality and agility by 10 points each for an hour. Three uses in total. Do you want it?'
' I do, but I'm broke. And what's the currency here?' Host pouts slightly, feeling poor.
Ahaha how cute. And here I though he's grown up in those five years.
I turn to the old man. " Old Bai, I'll take the blue earrings please."
" Sure, sure." He places the earrings in a nice white box with a bow tie. " That'll be 20 credits."
" Here." 10 silver coins materialize in my hands before I hand them to him.
" Thank you for the purchase, young man. Have a nice day gentlemen."
Host and I take a few steps away from the stall before I hand host the box.
The corner of his lips tilt down but he accepts the gift. " How do I pay you back?"
" You don't have to."
His frown deepened. " Then I can't accept this." He pushes the box to my hands.
Sigh. " I didn't use my money, it's yours." I wrap his hands and the small box in my hands as I push it back to him.
" Huh?"
" After you complete a mission you get credits as a reward. Check your interface, the money should've been deposited a while ago." I say as I start walking down the street again.
" Oh, I'm not dirt poor anymore." He says checking out what I told him as he walks by my side.
" You were never dirt poor." I raise an eyebrow. I made sure he had everything he needed when he lived with me. Even after he left I sent money disguised as donations to his gallery. And the place he rented was under my name, so I lowered his rent by more than half the original price.
" In my home world, I was."
" Really?"
" I thought you knew."
" No, your past is protected by privacy rights." I shake my head.
" I see." He mumbles looking dazed, thinking about his past.
He looks so adorable, I want to pat his head. My hand subconsciously rises to his head.
" What are you...?" He blanks out as I pet his hair.
" Oh! Sorry." I fling my hand off his soft hair.
" It's fine." He grumbles as he walks ahead of me.
" It is?" I question catching up to him.
" A mentor can pet their students head." He doesn't even spare me a glance before entering a café.
So I can touch his hair when I want now? Sweet!
Grinning, I enter after him.