(A/N: I'm back... not really. I still have smth in school to do, so may as well drop a chapter or two in a while.)
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"If this currency is not accepted in this world, then perhaps I may offer my services instead?"
The clerk squinted. "Your… services?"
Veilhem nodded, completely serious. "Yes. I shall work to pay for my meal."
The clerk opened his mouth, closed it, and then slowly turned to glance at the empty convenience store. There was no rush, no customers, no sign that this place desperately needed additional manpower.
He turned back to Veilhem, who still looked at him with sheer conviction.
"…You want to work here. Just to pay for what, a rice ball and a drink?"
Veilhem nodded once again. "A fair exchange in my opinion."
The clerk sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Dude, do you even know how to use a register?"
Veilhem glanced at the machine on the counter, scanning its buttons and screen with mild fascination.
"...I can learn."
The clerk stared at him for a long moment, then sighed again.
"…Fine. Whatever. Just don't break anything."
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Five minutes later, the scene inside the convenience store had taken a decidedly odd turn.
Behind the counter stood Veilhem, still clad in the dark and imposing armor, the kind that might belong to a knight straight out of a medieval battle. Though there was a cheerful apron that hung awkwardly over the armored chestplate.
The stark contrast only made this even more ridiculous.
A faint clinking sound echoed every time he moved while the apron fluttered with his every shift.
He looked… out of place, to say the least.
The clerk, who had decided to roll with the situation, was now leaning lazily against a shelf, his expression one of mild amusement as Veilhem carefully wiped down the counter, still trying to get the hang of basic store operations.
Veilhem gave a small nod of approval to his work, satisfied with the precision of his movements. Though the clerk wasn't sure anyone would notice the effort put into shining the counter.
A customer strolled in, glancing at Veilhem with a raised eyebrow, but said nothing as they approached the register.
Veilhem's gaze locked onto the person. With an almost ceremonious flourish, he reached out to take the items with the same gravitas one might expect from a knight accepting a sacred relic.
"Your total is 120 yen." Veilhem declared, his voice deep and authoritative, causing the customer to blink in confusion.
The clerk, watching from the sidelines, just shook his head and muttered under his breath. "This could be a problem but fuck it because it's funny."
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As the customer left, Veilhem adjusted his apron, which clearly didn't suit him and glanced over the clerk, who was lounging behind the counter.
He still hadn't quite gotten the hang of this "working" thing, but there was something strangely fun about it—like he was partaking in some kind of adventure.
"So, what's the deal with all these weird snacks?" Veilhem asked, lifting a bag of chips with an exaggerated, questioning look. "Spicy flavour, special edition?"
The clerk looked over, raised an eyebrow, and leaned back. "You've never had spicy chips? They're a thing, man. People love them for some reason. It's like a rite of courage around here, basically."
Veilhem chuckled. "A test of courage for people who want to ruin their taste buds, I assume?"
The clerk snorted. "Yeah, pretty much. But hey, people keep buying them. You wanna try? See if you can handle the heat? It's on me."
Veilhem's face lit up with curiosity. "Sure, I'm in." He said, grabbing a bag.
He didn't seem overly confident, but there was something about the challenge that piqued his interest. He tore the bag open, tossing a chip into his mouth like it was a casual snack.
For a second, there was only silence. The clerk watched intently, expecting him to cough and frantically reach for water. But Veilhem? He simply chewed, his expression blank.
"…Are you okay?" the clerk asked, squinting at him.
Veilhem nodded, looking around as if contemplating the meaning of life. "It's… definitely spicy."
He swallowed, his face betraying nothing more than a slight twitch of discomfort. "Not bad, honestly."
The clerk stared at him. "Wait, really? You're not… freaking out?"
Veilhem shrugged, still calm. "I mean, it's definitely hot. But I'm not dying or anything."
The clerk blinked, thinking he was just joking while seemingly unaware that Veilhem really meant it. "I've seen people run out of here to find milk after one bite of that stuff. You're the first guy to just act like it's nothing."
Veilhem shrugged again. "What can I say? I'm built different."
He threw another chip into his mouth, a little more relaxed this time. "Doesn't seem so bad when you've been through worse."
The clerk, still trying to process this, leaned against the counter, laughing. "Man, I thought you were just some weirdo in armor, but you're actually kinda cool."
Veilhem gave a crooked grin, his expression more laid-back than it had been earlier. "Yeah, well, sometimes a guy just wants a snack, y'know?"
He took another bite, looking thoughtful. "Besides, who can turn down this little challenge?"
The clerk smirked. "Fair point. So, what's your story? You just roll up here in full armor, no questions asked?"
Veilhem paused, looking around the store with a slightly amused expression. "Not much of a story really. Got a little lost. Needed something to eat. Figured why not work here for a bit instead of just begging for money, right?"
They soon engaged in some small talk like they were friends already, even though neither of them knew each other's name. It continued until the clerk raised an eyebrow, eyeing Veilhem with a smirk. "Right, so you want to stick around and keep working here, huh?"
Veilhem tilted his head, intrigued by the idea. "I mean, I could stay longer. It's a decent place to hang out…"
He glanced down at his armor, then back at the clerk. "Maybe I'll keep working here."
The clerk raised an eyebrow. "I take that you're serious about this?"
Veilhem nodded. "Why not? I've got the time. And it's a good opportunity to learn something new other than fighting all the time."
The clerk paused, looking at Veilhem with a mix of disbelief, and brushed it off. "You talk like there's a need to fight in that old-fashioned armor in these modern days. Oh, or are you a stuntman? Whatever, are you sure about working here?"
Veilhem nodded once more, as if he'd been giving it deep thought. "Why not? Could be fun."
For a moment, the clerk stared at him, then grinned. "Alright, yeah, why not. I could use someone to help out. You're strong, and you clearly know how to handle spicy chips."
He chuckled. "We could use the muscles around here."
Veilhem raised an eyebrow. "Muscle?"
The clerk chuckled again, shaking his head. "Yeah, muscle. It's not a glamorous gig, but if you're serious about it, you're welcome to stay."
Veilhem looked around, nodding thoughtfully. "I'm up for it. What's the worst that could happen?"
The clerk grinned, then suddenly stopped, glancing at Veilhem's imposing form. "But you're... going to work here in that armor?" He gestured to the heavy, clunky gear.
Veilhem shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? I find it comfortable."
The clerk paused for a second, then sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, okay, fine. But the whole armor thing might freak out the customers. Maybe you should change to casual clothes before you really scare people off."
Veilhem blinked, clearly surprised by the sudden shift. "You're asking me to change out of my armor? Not gonna happen, buddy. I don't want to get ganged up when I'm walking around."
The clerk rolled his eyes like he had had enough of Veilhem's bullshitnary. "Yeah, alright. Whatever. Welcome to the most boring job you'll ever have, knight."
But as Veilhem stood behind the counter, slightly awkward in his armor and apron, he realized that maybe, just maybe, this weird little convenience store might be the most entertaining place he'd stumbled upon in a long time.
That was until he heard the bell chime softly as Makima stepped into the convenience store. Her eyes scanned the surroundings with her usual detached expression.
Veilhem, who had been halfway through wiping down the counter with a towel, looked up. His eyes widened just slightly when he saw her.
But he quickly masked his surprise, maintaining the same casual demeanor to appear professional even though he just got the job like 15 minutes ago.
Makima's gaze landed on him, lingering for a moment longer than usual. She took in the sight of him standing behind the counter in his oversized apron, the heavy armor still on, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
She then took out her brand new phone and took a picture of him, thinking she could use this to blackmail him later on.
The clerk, who had been watching their interaction with mild amusement, gave a quiet laugh under his breath. Veilhem, for all his calmness, seemed slightly out of place.
Makima didn't acknowledge the clerk, instead reaching for a small package of something near the counter. She turned it over in her hands as if inspecting it for a second, her fingers trailing across the packaging absentmindedly. Her gaze then shifted back to Veilhem.
"So, I see you've found a new job." She said with a calm, even tone, her voice cutting through the silence.
Veilhem's eyes momentarily narrowed before a quiet chuckle escaped his mouth. "Well, it's... something to pass the time."
Makima watched him for a moment, then placed a snack on the counter, turning to face him fully. She studied him with an amused glint in her eyes, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Well, it seems like you've settled in quite well." She mused, her teasing tone suggesting that she wasn't convinced by his reason.
"It's an unexpected fit. But I can manage." Veilhem straightened slightly, picking up the scanner.
It made a beep sound as he swiped the barcode. "That'll cost you 1300 yen. Credit or cash?"
Makima rested her elbow on the counter, tilting her head slightly. "Is there a discount for acquaintances?"
Veilhem glanced at the actual store clerk beside him, who barely spared him a glance before shaking his head.
"Sorry Ma'am, our store does not have that kind of policy."
"Stingy~" Makima teased, her gaze flicking briefly to the clerk before settling back on Veilhem.
Then, finally, her voice cut through the silence, laced with an edge of curiosity. "If I may ask… how exactly did you end up in a convenience store?"
Veilhem shrugged and pointed his thumb back to the clerk. "I got lost and wanted to buy something, but realized I'm broke. So, may as well try something new while paying for the food."
"Not the weirdest story I've been told, but certainly entertaining enough." She accepted his obnoxious story more easily than he thought.
He smirked faintly. "Would you prefer if I say it was fate?"
Makima chuckled, shaking her head. "That would be even harder to believe."
It was hard to suppress his laughter, seeing both of them making obnoxious conversation without changing their deadpan tone. The clerk finally gave in.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he muttered something about checking inventory and quietly slipped away into the backroom.
Makima didn't acknowledge him. Instead, she picked up her snack after paying him, her expression settling back into something unreadable.
"Until you finish your work, I'll be waiting outside." She said, her tone neutral but with a certain finality to it.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and strolled toward the exit, leaving Veilhem standing behind the counter, watching her go.
"Well, guess I'm done here for now." He muttered to himself as the clerk reappeared from the back room, still shaking his head with an amused grin.
"Man, that woman's something else."
Veilhem chuckled, though there was a knowing edge to it. "Trust me, you're better off not knowing what she's capable of. Might just save you a lot of trouble."
He stepped outside, the door closing softly behind him. He blinked at the bright afternoon sunlight, briefly squinting as his eyes adjusted.
The street was quieter now, with only a few passersby going about their business. His gaze swept across the scene, eventually landing on Makima, who was still leaning casually against the lamppost.
She looked almost surreal in the warm glow of the sun. Her cigarette, now little more than a smoldering stub, hung loosely from her fingers as she exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching it dissolve into the air.
Veilhem cleared his throat and started walking toward her. As he drew closer, Makima turned her head, her gaze flicking up to meet his with a glint of amusement in her eyes.
Without warning, she straightened up, casting her cigarette to the side and extinguishing it under her boot. A strange, playful smile spread across her lips as she suddenly widened her arms and said in a demanding tone.
"Hug me."
Veilhem blinked, not sure if he had heard her right. "Wait, what?"
"Hug me, Veilhem. I demand your hug." Makima's smile only deepened. She repeated herself, this time with a little more insistence in her voice.
The request was so unexpected that for a moment, he just stared at her, wondering what she was trying to play. But he forced himself not to overthink it and shook his head in resignation, a rare grin starting to creep onto his face beneath the helmet.
"You're serious?" He raised an eyebrow.
Makima didn't say anything, just kept her arms open wide, waiting. The smugness on her face was something else. She seemed completely unfazed by his hesitation.
"Alright, alright. I can't win against you, you know that?" With an exaggerated sigh, he closed the distance and leaned in to give her a half-hearted hug.
As he did, he felt her arms close around him firmly. There was no hesitation in the way she held onto him, like she was confirming something.
"Yeah... that does feel different." Makima didn't know what she was feeling right now, but at least, she didn't hate it like when the servant did it. They stayed like that for a couple of minutes before she loosened her hold, stepping back as if nothing had happened.
"Alright, what feels different now?" He asked, tilting his head.
Makima smiled, turning away with an air of playful indifference. She clasped her hands behind her back, casting a quick, knowing wink over her shoulder.
"No idea." She replied lightly, though the glint in her eyes suggested otherwise.
"The fuck is that… You can't leave me curious like this." He muttered under his breath, trying to protest, but she ignored him completely.
"Come on, let's get moving." She didn't wait for him as if she had all the time in the world, yet none to waste.
Veilhem quickly followed, still grinning to himself as he shook his head in disbelief. Whatever just happened, he knew that she wouldn't tell him even if he demanded an explanation.
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(A/N: You know the drill, hand over that STONES of yours or there will be a consequence where I... personally touch you.)