Chapter 15

Genji had been "resting" in his room for around three hours, but his mind was far from finding peace. Thoughts swirled in his head, replaying the events that had unfolded since his arrival in this unfamiliar world. He pondered the significance of his mission to take down Copperhand, the reasons behind his own determination, and the consequences it would have for both himself and the city.

Why did he want to bring down Copperhand? It was a question that remained unanswered, buried deep within his thoughts. Genji contemplated the possibilities. Was it a thirst for justice, a desire to make a difference in a world plagued by crime and suffering? Or was it driven by a personal vendetta, a need for revenge for the pain he had endured? Perhaps it was a combination of both, tangled together in a web of emotions he had yet to fully untangle.

As Genji lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of his thoughts pressed upon him. The room remained silent, save for the distant sounds emanating from the bar below, serving as a constant reminder of the world outside.

Then there was a knock on his door, and Genji's wariness prompted him to ask, "Who is it?" A familiar voice responded from behind the door, "It's me, mate." Hearing Ripper's voice, Genji's apprehension subsided, and he opened the door. "What is it?" Genji asked, curious about the reason for the interruption. Ripper grinned and said, "It's lunchtime, mate. Let's head downstairs and grab something to eat."

Genji looked beyond Ripper and noticed people gathered below the railings on the second floor, engrossed in their meals and drinks. The scene was reminiscent of before, but with different individuals occupying the space. With a hint of curiosity, Genji stepped out of the room and replied, "Sure, I haven't had the chance to try the food here yet." He couldn't help but wonder how different the cuisine of this world would be compared to his own.

Ripper raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Genji's comment. "What do you mean by that, mate? How long have you been in Ironhelm?" Genji quickly realized his slip-up and hastily corrected himself, trying to cover his tracks. "Oh, no, I meant the food in the rougher parts of Ironhelm, you know?" Genji hoped that his explanation would suffice and that Ripper wouldn't probe further. Ripper simply shrugged and replied, "Alright then, if you say so."

Genji breathed a sigh of relief as Ripper seemed satisfied with his explanation. They began making their way downstairs, but as they descended, Ripper's face suddenly lit up with realization. He rummaged through his jacket, searching for something. Genji watched him curiously, unsure of what he was up to.

Finally, Ripper looked at Genji, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "You wouldn't happen to have some coin on you, would you, mate?" he asked. Genji, still confused by Ripper's actions, reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "I don't think my currency works here," he replied, handing the wallet to Ripper.

Ripper grabbed Genji's wallet and began inspecting its contents. As he examined the notes, a look of confusion crossed his face. "The hell are these?" he muttered, returning the notes back into the wallet. However, his confusion quickly turned to satisfaction as he discovered a collection of coins. "This will do, thanks mate," Ripper said, handing back the wallet to Genji, keeping the coins for himself. Genji shrugged, glad that he could be of help, and pocketed his wallet once again.

As they descended to the main floor of the bar, Genji pointed towards the yen Ripper had taken and asked, "Do they use that here?" Ripper looked at the currency and replied, "Shiro? Nah, mate, they don't accept those here. But there is this one guy who's obsessed with culture from Aeruna. He's a regular at the bar, and I reckon I can trade him these for some crowns."

*There's that name again,* Genji thought to himself. He had been hearing the name Aeruna for a while now, and it sparked his curiosity. He wondered how similar Aeruna was to Japan, considering the similarity in currency. It made him reflect on the assumptions people had made, mistaking him for someone from Aeruna. The thought of exploring a different world intrigued him, but he also couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for his own homeland, despite how bad his life was there.

Ripper pointed towards a vacant table and instructed Genji to wait there while he went to exchange the coins. Genji nodded in understanding and took a seat, his gaze wandering around the bar. He noticed that some people still glanced in his direction, which made him feel a bit uneasy. However, his worries dissipated when Gin joined him at the same table.

Gin smiled mischievously and said, "So you're finally out of your room, huh, princess?" Genji felt a sense of unease at being called that and questioned, "Why did you call me that?" Gin maintained her smile and replied, "Well, I couldn't think of a better title for someone like you." Although her words were accompanied by a smile, Genji couldn't shake the feeling that she was subtly mocking him. Trying to shift the conversation, Genji asked, "So, how do I order food here?" Gin was about to say something, but shut her mouth once she saw Ripper coming back.

Ripper counted the coins in his hand and settled himself at the table. He turned to Gin and asked, "Gin, you wanna join us for a meal?" Gin shook her head, declining the offer. "No, I just wanted to talk to Genji. You two can go ahead and eat," she replied before getting up and leaving.

Ripper scratched his head in confusion and turned his attention to Genji. "So, mate, what do ya want to eat?" Genji looked around, perplexed on how to place an order. Sensing his confusion, Ripper let out a sigh. "Looks like they forgot to leave a menu here. Hold on a sec, I'll be right back," he said as he got up and made his way toward the counter.

As Genji sat there anxiously, his eyes widened as he noticed a group of seven people approaching him. He quickly glanced at Ripper, who was still engrossed in conversation with the man behind the counter. One of the individuals from the group, a man, stepped forward and addressed Genji directly. "So you're the guy we're supposed to help in killing Copperhand."