A squad’s worth of stern, sunglass-wearing men in black stood around an ice-cream shop, the liveliness of their faces rivalling that of a stone as they blocked the only entrance inside. Meanwhile, professional waiters and waitresses wearing suits and coattails were standing at one side, their mask of indifferent welcome as impeccable as ever.
“Can’t seem to ditch them no matter where I go,” Kolya muttered darkly.
“It’s a rule set by the Brilliant Pinnacle. Deal with it, dear,” Galina said dismissively.
“Whatever you say, darling.” The Pinnacle picked up the menu in front of him and looked at it. “I’m not good with sweets. Pick some out for me, will you?”
“Sure.” The Oracle yawned.
“Anyway, it’s good that I caught you here, Xanadu.”
Everyone with Gaius, including Gaius himself, turned to look at Kolya, startled.
“You trying to hit on Xanadu now? Did you ask our permission?” Gaius asked. “Do you want to enter the newspapers as a victim of assault?”
“You already have Galina,” Isabelle added. “Aren’t you afraid that she’ll beat you up at home?”
Nakama nodded. “It’s bad to be flirting with others when you have someone already!”
La-Ti bobbed his head furiously.
Speechless. Kolya turned to Galina, who was laughing away merrily.
“Serves you right for being such a flirt!” The Oracle tossed the menu onto the table and clutched her sides. “First impressions really do matter! I told you so!”
Kolya sighed. “Can it, Sofia. I mean serious business.”
“I know you do, but no one else does!” Sofia chuckled for a few more seconds, and then calmed down. “Put down your pitchforks, ladies and gentlemen. Kolya definitely isn’t trying to flirt with Xanadu — he won’t do that with me around.”
“True.”
“Sorry, I forgot about that.”
“Yeah, he’s a henpecked husband,” Gaius concluded.
“Really?” Kolya asked, gesturing wildly. “Is that what you really think of me as?!”
For some reason, that sounds familiar, Gaius thought. I wonder why?
“Are you saying that they’re wrong?” Galina asked. “Hmm?”
“Ahem. Of course not, darling.”
“That’s better.”
Gaius rapped the table. “So why are you jumping down our throats for, Pinnacle Kolya? We’re just stating the truth. It’s not a bad one either, so I see no cause for offence.”
“You guys…”
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It felt good to not be the butt of jokes for once, but watching Kolya besieged from all sides had stirred up some pity within Gaius, so he deigned to lend the Pinnacle a hand.
Gaius cleared his throat. “So, what do you need Xanadu for?”
“Remember that promise I made with you?” Kolya asked. “Turns out that people don’t really look at the packaging when there’s a new toy waiting for them. That’s why it wasn’t all that effective.”
“Packaging?” Xanadu asked.
“Don’t think about it too hard,” Gaius said, before returning to Kolya. “Sorry. Please, go on.”
“But we’ve received feedback from our first release,” said the Pinnacle. “Display C1 was hard to use, since a lot of people couldn’t get used to a GUI — which stands for Graphical User Interface, by the way. Therefore, the designers wanted to go with a more…conventional route.”
“Which is?” Gaius asked.
“Adding the function of an artificial intelligence to help with operating the Display C2. In line with my promise, I hope to have Xanadu’s cooperation; we intend to use her image, voice and mannerisms as our AI,” said Kolya. “Which will definitely create a lasting impression of her on our users. And with that, her current state’s definitely going to improve.”
“Can…can that really be done?” Xanadu asked. “A-are you…”
“Yes.” Pinnacle Kolya smiled. “I can definitely do that. Even the Human God will not hinder us. I…no, the Five Lands owes you a great deal. Your existence, and that of your companions, was for our sake and our sake alone. This is the least we can do.”
“Believe him,” said Gaius. “Pinnacle Kolya may be a pervert at heart, but his promises are good.”
“I—”
“Don’t be so grateful to me yet,” Kolya said. “I’m doing all this, because Gaius says that this is the only way to help you recover. Whether it actually works or not we still have no concrete proof whatsoever; we’re basing it off your current condition. And besides, if the general populace's inability to remember you is linked to a certain person…that person might just intervene.”
Kolya rubbed his nose. “You might end up wasting your time, in other words.”
“I’ll still be remembered,” Xanadu said, a small smile on her face. “Which is an infinitely better fate than that of my companions.”
“They will not be forgotten. This I promise.”
“Thank you.”
“Alright, enough with this depressing atmosphere,” Galina said. “We’re here to gather and to eat happily. Come, make your orders! Kolya’s going to treat everyone!”
Gaius really didn’t mind the fact that someone just offered to treat the gluttons of his family, and after cheering with the others, he flipped through the menu. He hadn’t had the chance to try the Giant Exquisite Chocolate Palace, which was a hundred and twenty gold.
As to why it was half the price of a gemstone from Heritage, Gaius really, really couldn’t be bothered to think too hard about it. After all, it was the Pinnacle’s money, and against self-proclaimed chivalrous perverts like him, it was Gaius’ duty to wring as much gold as he could.
Huh? Petty? Pshaww… Gaius ignored the sudden adjective that had popped up in his mind as he raised his hand gleefully.
“What’s your order, sir?” a waiter asked.
“The Giant Exquisite Chocolate Palace, please.”
The waiter paused for a moment. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, coming right up.” Sauntering away, Gaius winked at Isabelle and Nakama, who immediately began to flip through the menu to look for his order. The two froze up a moment later, and the Abyss Sovereign grinned.
There were a myriad of ways he could live up to his new occupational title, and this was one of them. Having cottoned on to his words, the others began to order too, getting desserts that all ended with the word ‘Palace’.
“What’s with that shit-eating grin on your face, Gaius?” Kolya asked. “You’re definitely up to something shady.”
“You’re treating us, right? Why would I do something shady to a nice guy like you?” Gaius asked.
“Nice guy…yeah, I’m not buying that from you.” Kolya narrowed his eyes. “Let me see what kind of order you placed.”
“Feel free,” Gaius replied.
“Giant Exquisite Chocolate Palace…Gaius, screw you! And the rest of you too!”
“It’s just a hundred-plus gold!” Catching the knife that Kolya had thrown back at him, Gaius dodged a few paper balls headed his way. “Surely you ain’t that poor, right? And don’t even think of screwing anyone while I’m around!”
“That’s beside the point!”
Exchanging more banter, the Abyss Sovereign and the Pinnacle exchanged fire in the form of small balls, only stopping when everyone’s orders were brought over.