2 Chapter 2 - Settling in
Finding the old man wasn't hard at all, Nephrite went up to him and asked.
"Hey old man do you know any 'safer' hotel around here?" The old man looked at him briefly before answering.
"Hmm there was one 3 blocks away. Though I haven't heard much about it for a while and I don't leave this place often so I don't really know." The old man looked at Nephrite and shrugged.
'At least I have a possible location.' Noted Nephrite as he nodded and settled a few more things with the old man before leaving him with Neo.
'I hope this won't be a mistake...' Said Nephrite to himself as he was leaving the clinic.
Without wasting any more time he jogged to the place. After 10 or so minutes he arrived and was slightly surprised.
The building before him had a light neon sign and looked quite tidy from the outside. A stark contrast compared to the other run down and grey buildings.
It stood out but not in a way where it would attract negative attention all the time. This got Nephrite's hopes up as he found an alley and after confirming that no one was around, he transformed into his 'older' self.
Walking into the building the Nephrite quickly noted a few good things about the place. Notably the cleanliness and carpets in the lounge area.
Carpets at least according to Nephrite's old memories were only found in middle to high income areas. Places where people thrived and lived happily. Certainly a rarity in these parts.
After few more seconds of scanning he approached the lady that sat at the reception desk. She wasn't beautiful per say but she was certainly pretty and someone that could afford skincare products and such. She had long hazelnut hair and eyes, like a professional she smiled at Nephrite before saying.
"Welcome to the Nestling Inn would you like to settle in?" 'older' Nephrite simply nodded at this and said.
"Do you have a two person room for 2 nights?" The woman nodded and gave him few options.
"Certainly, we have a standard room for 100 lien a day, all amenities and services that are included here. We also have a 'spicy' room for all couples." She winked before she handed Nephrite a catalogue.
Nephrite smiled with a slight blush and started reading the catalogue. Skimping through it fairly quickly Nephrite quickly found few notable things such as a private underground pool and sauna.
"I'll take the standard room for 2 days." He said as he handed her 200 lien and his ID card so it could be registered to his name.
'A whole day should be long enough to find a proper place for me and Neo." He thought.
"Nephrite Antaeus." The woman quietly muttered as she typed away on her keyboard.
After a few moments she successfully registered everything and handed him the keys.
Nephrite thanked her and left the hotel, returning to the clinic to see Neo. Along the way he quickly transformed back into his younger self.
This time Neo wasn't asleep and she was drowsily awake as if she had just awoken.
"Neo! How are you feeling?" Nephrite startled her for a second before she smiled at him and she tried to respond.
"Ah Nep-" Neo tried to say something but she strained her not yet healed vocal chords a bit too much and started coughing.
Nephrite mentally slapped himself for forgetting about this and quickly rushed next to her.
Waiting for a bit before she stopped coughing Nephrite said.
"Are you okay Neo? Don't talk just nod your head." To which she nodded. After a moment she pointed at him and then at the room.
"Don't worry Neo we found the treasure and I managed to sell it for 100 thousand lien!" Lied Nephrite as naturally as he breathed.
Neo squinted her eyes at him for a bit before flicking his forehead. Clearly not believing him.
After waking up she realized that they had been duped and the map was clearly fake.
"Just trust me okay? I have everything under control." She stared at him for a bit before looking away with a pout.
She was certain that he must have sacrificed something in order to get that huge amount of money.
Trying to break the awkwardness he patted her head before saying. "I have booked a room at a hotel and I have a surprise to show!"
She nodded and quickly held his hand refusing to let go. She could already walk safely without the injury aggravating itself. 'Aura is really magical...' Thought Nephrite and marvelled at her speed of recovery.
They bid the old man a farewell and Nephrite guided her to the hotel. Though he had a surprise to show first.
After they found a suitable spot asked her to turn around.
"You can turn around now!" Grinned Nephrite as he saw Neo with her shocked face. 'Shocked chibi Neo was simply to die for'. Grinned Nephrite as he looked at her with a smug grin.
Neo didn't change her expression of shock and just approached him and pinched his cheeks.
Nephrite stopped laughing and patted her head. "Don't worry it's still me! I somehow gained this ability when we encountered the Beowolf. With this I can find a job and we'll never have to worry about food and shelter!"
Neo knew that something must have happened but chose to trust the only person she could trust in this world...
And so she simply nodded and left but not before flicking his forehead again.
"At least she doesn't hate me." Muttered Nephrite to himself as he caught up to Neo and guided her to the inn.
Thankfully the lady at the reception did not ask about the little Neo next to him. She just politely greeted him and continued with her work.
As Nephrite and Neo walked hand in hand together Neo was quite amazed at the level of luxury they were in.
The walls had black and white colours that intertwined together to create unique shapes and patterns. The walls also had couple of pictures.
As they continued they arrived in a lounge area for the guests. It had a simple but comfy couch with lounge two chairs beside them. It also had a glass table that had a flower on it.
It brought an unprecedented feeling of safety to Neo she never experienced.
The duo continued on and after a bit they found their room. It was at the end of the corridor and was quite spacious.
It had a double bed in a corner. On the right of the bed was a pretty large closet and next to it was a small wooden table with two chairs and a small TV.
It was quite comparable to a standard 3* hotel in Nephrite's old life. Though he still didn't know the buying power of 100 lien he hoped he just did not spend 100 dollars a night for this...
'At least it should be safe.' Consoled Nephrite his bleeding heart. After all, he knew his bitter days of college and the pain of eating instant ramen for a year straight before he turned the situation around.
Checking the clock on the TV he noted that it wasn't 8 PM yet. He noted that winter should be coming soon as the sun had already long settled down.
After fumbling through the TV for few minutes he found some friendly channel that could distract Neo for a while.
After which he told her to be obedient and just watch the sitcom he found. 'Children should like sitcoms right?' Thought Nephrite for a bit as he knew Neo wouldn't enjoy cartoons considering her life.
And even if she did he wouldn't want her yelling power of friendship.
After he told her to not yet touch the bed he went to the reception. Seeing that the lady still had not left he approached her and asked.
"Ah excuse me. Do you know of any clothing store that is still open at this hour?" Nephrite asked hoping to get at least some new clothes.
The lady quickly pointed him in a direction of a pretty cheap store that was one kilometre away. It was trusted around these parts.
Apparently even some covert Huntsmen had bought some clothes. It seemed that the presence of Aura strengthened his body though he noted that he wasn't much better than a healthy kid it was still better than nothing considering his malnourished state.
Although the aging spell did not grant him a physical prowess of a 17 year old it did lengthen his legs which helped him a lot.
Quickly jogging to the store he was greeted with a simple light and a sign.
'Hendrick's clothing store.'
*clink
A bell chime sounded as he opened the door and he heard a voice from behind the walls.
"Be right there!" A male sounding voice yelled and after some shuffling sounds a person emerged.
He had a stature of a strongman, his broad shoulders and beard could pass him off as a lumberjack any day.
"Welcome to Hendrick's clothing store. Place where you can find clothes for all sizes and genders!"
Nephrite nodded and responded with a simple hello before he started to explore the store.
The man presumably Hendrick was watching Nephrite as his clothes did not exclude the most trustworthy air.
Nephrite knew but he did not bother, after all he had seen what clothes could do. He still remembered the social experiment where a young girl was seen walking through the streets before either man in a tuxedo picked her up or a man with rugged clothes.
Guess what? When people saw the man with rugged clothes they threatened to call the police right way but when the man in tuxedo did it no one battled an eye! Ridiculous!
Anyways... The store was pretty close to a local clothing shop that wasn't owned by a single brand.
He quickly found everything he needed and just to be sure he had picked oversized clothes and pyjamas for Neo. He also bought some necessities, thankfully he found some towels and even a suitcase.
Handy for when they move it and future travelling.
The cost was surprisingly pretty cheap and cost just around 150 lien. He even found a drug store where he bought some brushes, toothpaste and shampoo.
After getting everything he needed for now he headed back into the hotel. Even though he was quite dirty he changed into the new clothes at Hendrick's so he isn't swatted by some wannabe justice man.
After arriving he saw Neo asleep with her head on the table. It seemed that she took his words seriously.
He helplessly smiled and was quite relieved that she didn't hurt her neck. The old man said that she can move it just fine but he wasn't so sure.
"Neooooo wake up silly." Muttered Nephrite into Neo's ears as he poked her head a few times.
Neo grudgingly woke up and was still a bit dizzy. After he put all the clothes except some underwear and pyjamas into the closet he closed it and got Neo ready for a bath.
Coupled with a body that did not have raging hormones, the fact that she was a child and the body's instinct that considered her as his sister he didn't feel ashamed at all when he was cleaning Neo.
Though he did avoid the 'sensitive' areas and told her that she would be cleaning herself and that this was only to show her how to clean herself properly.
Neo pouted at this as she didn't know the things she will learn when she is older but accepted it in the end. Not before flicking his forehead twice though.
'Not a pedo.' Chanted a Nephrite a few times in his head after Neo finished and changed into his pyjamas.
Now it was his turn to clean himself. As he was showering he pondered about the things in the future.
After all he had read numerous novels where MC's justify their likes for 'only' older women before screwing some younger heroines anyways.
For example the simple excuse of 'mental' age which was quite a retarded method. After all if one counted the exact years they were alive on Earth it was quite stupid wasn't it?
The first few years no one can barely remember and he felt those years should not be counted. Anyways he lived his life and if he had to go by the rule of 'mental' age he would have to gun for the nearest grandma.
He'll simply accept the ways of this world and gun for girls when they are legal. After all he was now in a body of a child as well.
Limiting oneself just because they are mentally 'older' is dumb. Simple conviction that isn't even powered by the MC's true will doesn't sound convincing at all.
Not to mention that no man can escape the wonders of puberty. Mentally 'older' or not they cannot win against basic bodily functions,,,
Finishing his shower Nephrite brushed his teeth which really needed some brushing and headed to bed.
Neo was already asleep and Nephrite quickly joined her. After all it was quite an action packed day...
And with this his first day in Remnant had concluded....
(A/N: Every time Nephrite is out of house or hotel room where only he and Neo is he will always assume his 'older' appearance. Only when he is alone with will he revert back.)
