Chapter 21 - Talk (3)

He could breathe a sigh of relief after a not long but very enjoyable time until closing time. James could barely wipe the sweat from his forehead as he closed the restaurant.

"Huh, looks like that's it for today."

After turning the restaurant's sign to closed, James sat down in one of the chairs. Even if it was popular, there weren't normally this many customers, but Siren and Gray's arrival had somehow spread before the day was over.

It was sometimes frustratingly inconvenient, but James was actually kind of happy. He could take his mind off his troubles. He was able to relieve his anxiety and tension. In short, it was quite useful for him.

Still, he wasn't really tired. Or rather… he was actually was, but he still had the desire to do something.

Lucy, on the contrary, had slumped down exhaustedly at one of the tables. Her tangled hair was quickly disheveled after she put her head down like that.

James laughed.

"Boss, it's been quite a day, huh?"

Lucy didn't even look up. She said in a complaining tone:

"Yeah… And thanks to the presence of someone, I'm so exhausted now ."

James stood up, knowing that she was just complaining. He asked in a playful tone:

"Then would you like me to fix us a make-up dinner?"

But contrary to his expectation, Lucy immediately straightened up and looked at him. It was as if her earlier fatigue had vanished without a trace. With a serious expression and eyes shining with excitement, she asked:

"Really?"

Just as James was about to say something, he unexpectedly heard a voice in his mind:

[Can you make me one?]

Although Fox's words surprised him inwardly, James, before him, kept his smile on his face and answered Lucy quickly.

"Sure. I still feel like doing something anyway."

This time it was Lucy who was surprised. Hadn't he felt any fatigue after all the hours they had been working so hard? What kind of energy did James have?

Well, James just shrugged his shoulders in spite of Lucy, who was dancing with question marks in her head.

"Well, I'm off to the kitchen. You get some rest, boss."

With that, Lucy was off to the kitchen before she could even reply. It wasn't long before she was grumbling.

"He still calls me boss. We closed the restaurant and he still calls me boss."

Although she was used to boss as a title, she didn't like it. Still, no matter how many times he said it, James continued to do his own thing about it. There was nothing left for him but to complain.

Meanwhile, James was heating up the remaining food. After they had all been consumed several times, there was little left of the last of what they had made. It was then that he realized something he had almost forgotten.

Manti was one of the most popular dishes these last few days. That's why the dumplings he had opened were quickly sold out. He could barely make it until tomorrow. Opening manti was undoubtedly the most tedious of them all. He could be really fast, but that was not the case with work that required finesse and attention. He had his limits.

That's why he had to stay up all night to replenish the stock.

He stopped thinking about it and asked as he heated up the leftovers:

"How am I going to feed you?"

Fox explained:

[Now, normally there is no such function in the main functions of the system, but there are some hidden functions to make it possible for different systems to connect with each other. You have to accept the message that's about to come].

James, meanwhile, was putting the remaining food on plates. He put dolma on one plate, ravioli on the second and macaroni on the last.

James spoke at this point:

"Okay, but I need the plate after you finished. Okay?"

Fox was heard to chuckle.

[It's okay, I'll just take the food.]

Just then, a gold-framed system window appeared in front of James.

<The Angel of Humility, Fox, has sent you an access request. Shall access be granted?

<Y/N>

James raised one eyebrow.

"Access?"

Fox quickly explained:

[It's a little complicated to explain. Basically, we can't just take things on a whim, so we have to request access to your territory through the system. Otherwise the structure of the universe could be disrupted. The existence of a superior ascended being like us threatens the structure of the universe and Heaven-].

James interrupted him as she continued to explain.

"Okay, okay. You don't need to explain."

James did not want to deal with unnecessary details. That's why he just nodded without further thought, and with his nod, everything on the bowl with the manti, including the manti, disappeared in front of his eyes, creating a little smoke. The only thing left was a clean bowl.

"At least I don't have to wash it."

After touching it with his hand and confirming that it was clean, he put it back. After putting the bowls, forks and spoons on the tray, he left the kitchen with the tray.

But he didn't see Lucy around. He put it down on a nearby table as he looked around in confusion. In the meantime, he muttered.

"She's probably gone to change."

Unlike James, Lucy usually went to change out of her pajamas before going to bed. Lucy had told him earlier that wearing comfortable clothes was the secret to a good night's sleep. James didn't have any pajamas, though. So he slept with most of his clothes off. Still, he didn't see or feel much difference.

He pulled out one of the chairs at the table and sat down. Just then he saw Lucy walking towards him.

She was in her pajamas. Her hair was down. She looked just like she did when he first met her.

James couldn't help thinking with a sense of déjà vu.

'Clothes really do change you!'

Meanwhile, Lucy sat down with an appetite. As she cut into the stuffing, steam came out as if it had just been cooked. She spoke as she sliced:

"Thank you."

James looked at Lucy's hungry expression and replied with a smile:

"Enjoy your meal."

With that, they began to eat. Slowly, they chatted as they ate. Their conversation began quite casually, but eventually James found himself talking about what had happened today.

"And then here I am, accepting it."

With that, Lucy put down her fork. She had a very serious expression as she smoothed her hair back from her face.

"It's... It's weird. Although, come to think of it... I guess it's to be expected from him, but you should be careful."

James looked at him with a curious expression.

"Do you know him?"

He had so many questions. His sudden appearance and behavior was very strange. He was indifferent even to her deliberate insulting behavior. Apart from all that, he didn't think his request alone was acceptable to an ordinary restaurateur.

After all, some things were unattainable no matter how famous you were.

Nor did he think he trusted Gray too much. But he couldn't find a way out.

Lucy had a troubled expression. She debated for a moment whether to tell him or not, but she couldn't see a problem. There was no need to hide anything from someone who had made this place great with her. That was the decision she had made after a few days of deliberation.

Someone he could trust, even if he thought James was acting suspiciously.

"Yes, I know him, he's my..."