Chapter 99
"Truth, or dare?"
My mind was a mess.
If I called out a dare without much thought, I would Feel at Ease. I wouldn't need to worry and could just do whatever I was told.
But... there would be no progress that way.
I had forgotten for a moment due to the atrocities committed by the First Batter, Hentai Dragon, but the purpose of this game lay in truth rather than dare.
At least it did for me. Didn't I participate in the game to find out the secrets hidden by the Bartenders and the Employer, and their Incomprehensible aspects?
And to find out what others are hiding, I have to reveal mine first. Only when I reveal myself first can others reveal themselves too.
"Truth."
As I spat it out after making my decision, Sey nodded.
She touched her mouth for a moment, pondering.
With her arms crossed over her turtleneck knit, she lightly tapped her transparent fingers.
About thirty seconds passed in that state.
As time passed, I somehow became anxious.
I swallowed hard.
Somehow the tie felt like it was strangling me, so even knowing the suit adjusted perfectly to my body, I ended up fiddling around my neck.
What was that Mysterious Head Bartender going to ask me?
"You."
She asked, leaning her head toward me, spitting out.
"When is your birthday?"
"Yes?"
"I asked when you were born."
The tension completely dissipated. I answered in a daze.
"January 17th."
"The year?"
"Two thousand—"
Flinch.
I almost recited my birth year exactly as it came to mind without realizing it.
I have to be careful. If I said it as is, I'd be treated like a Crazy person.
Going by my birth year, I'm a super grandpa over a hundred years old here.
Even if it's a Truth Game, that doesn't mean I can tell only the absolute truth. I have to hide what needs hiding.
"...No. I'm twenty-two."
"Then you were born in “85, so your birthday is January 17, 2085?"
"Well, yes."
"Hmm."
Goodness, to think a person”s birth year could be 2085 and not 1985.
And to think that's my birth year, the one others know. It really isn't easy to get used to.
"My birthday is in September. The year is 2082."
Sey tilted her head for a moment, then stared at me piercingly and spoke in a Meaningful voice.
Then, as if she were done talking, she leaned against the red sofa and crossed her legs.
Is this it? It was a much blander conclusion than I thought.
I nodded without much thought, then paused at a sudden realization.
...Didn't she just skip the date?
Thinking back on what I heard, I was certain.
It was September of “82. She only mentioned the birth year and month, but didn”t let the day out of her mouth.
What is this? Did she forget?
No, who forgets to mention the most important date when talking about their birthday?
Is it a highly calculated Trick to make me curious? Maybe.
If she had just stated her birthdate normally, it wouldn't have bothered me this much at all, but deliberately leaving out only the date and saying the rest made me feel incredibly unsettled.
I had a feeling that my mind would only be at ease if I somehow heard everything that was up to date.
Frowning, I looked toward Sey, and she was Calmly fiddling with the beer glass that was her One's Share as if she knew nothing about it.
She definitely must know I'm staring, but seeing how she isn't reacting at all, she must be doing it on purpose.
It's hard to express, but... I felt somewhat provoked.
It was a feeling like I was the only one who took a loss, like something was given and then snatched away.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to say something to Sey, who had averted her gaze, someone from the side interrupted.
[What are you doing, Nakamura-kun? Now it's My Turn! Spin it quickly. Here's the chopstick!]
It was the Dragon President.
As if he couldn't tolerate the Truth Game stopping even for a moment, he shoved the chopstick into my hand and made a spinning motion in the air.
Left with no choice, I placed it on the table and spun it with a flick.
Spin—
Whether it lacked power or Technique, the chopstick didn't spin in place and flew off to one side.
Its end bumped right into Dragon President's Powered Armor and fell.
The target this time was Dragon President.
But isn't this a foul? I feel like it should be invalidated.
With that thought, I opened my mouth.
"Uh, shouldn't I spin this again..."
[Yatta (Yes), it's My Turn!]
However, the party involved cut me off and swiftly grabbed the chopstick.
Usually, isn't it normal to dislike being caught as the target in a Truth Game?
Yet Dragon President, with his massive brute of a body, was jumping up and down in joy like a child.
Well, if he's happy, it's Fine.
Since the party involved liked it, it would be weird to spin it again, so I just proceeded as is.
"Uh, Truth or Dare?"
[Truth!]
Hmm... what should I ask the Dragon President?
The brightly shining LED Eyeball, as if expecting me to ask a fun question, was incredibly burdensome.
[To Oresama (My Great Self), you don't have to ask boring questions about birthdays; you can ask more provocative and secret questions! Ask me anything!]
Hmm, is that so.
I racked my brain for a moment, but no particularly provocative question came to mind.
He always wore the Red Titanium Suit and Dragon Helmet, so I couldn't see his true appearance inside, and since I knew nothing about his Personal Information, it was hard to ask.
Also, we weren't close enough for me to easily spit out such a question just because he told me to.
I had gotten quite used to the existence of that Otaku Dragon in a short time, but in reality, it had only been about ten days since we met.
On top of that, he wasn't just a Workplace peer or senior/junior, but my Superior, my Employer.
No matter how exceptionally friendly a person was, there were Social Boundaries that had to be kept within social relationships.
I was not inherently a bold enough person to Recklessly cross those boundaries.
So I just asked what I had usually been curious about.
"About that Exoskeleton Suit and helmet."
[Yeah. Nande (Why)?]
"I don't think I've Ever seen you take them off even once, but you don't happen to wear them 24 hours a day, do you? Not taking them off at home? Not taking them off when you sleep?"
Imagining it felt a bit terrible.
If he kept wearing the Powered Armor without taking it off for even a moment, there was no way the condition of the person inside the suit would be Fine.
Since he would be living only inside there without washing properly, all sorts of dirt and waste would pile up, and the smell would be severe.
Come to think of it, how does he handle his excretions? I didn't think I had Ever seen Dragon President go to the restroom.
Don't Tell me he handles his excretions inside the suit too...
Ugh.
Toward my face that had instantly turned pale, Dragon President shouted vigorously.
[Of course I don't take it off! Where have you Ever seen a dragon take off its scales? The suit and I are one body! 24 hours a day, when I sleep, when I shower, even when I take a SHIT, we are together!]
Oh my god.
My eyes looking at Sasha Dragon were tinged with astonishment.
Even though he occasionally showed an Unruly side, I thought he was fundamentally cheerful and treated the employees well, making him a respectable President.
To think that in reality, he was a hopelessly dirty derelict and a fetishist patient who took shits while wearing his suit!
Just as my feelings of surprise were turning into contempt, disgust, and repulsion, Dragon President laughed and spread both his hands wide.
[What's with that expression? Of course it's a joke.]
"..."
[Jodandayo, jodan (It's a joke, a joke). No matter how much I like this armor, why would I wear it 24 hours a day? It's not to that extent. It would be too stuffy to even do that.]
"..."
[I'm telling you it's real! Why is it that only today, whenever I make a joke, I get this reaction? It's not a lie! I only wear the suit when I go out! I take it off at home: when I shower, when I sleep, and when I go to the restroom.]
I asked with a Suspicious gaze.
"...Really?"
[Mochiron (Of course)! The suit is like clothes. You're wearing clothes right now too. It's similar.]
"I don't keep wearing the exact same clothes every day, though."
[But if you had a Full-body Suit that was this cool, sturdy, and Powerful, and on top of that had an Auto-Cleaning Function so you didn't need to wash it by hand, you'd end up wearing the same clothes every day too!]
I was somewhat convinced by his words as he boasted about the Exoskeleton Armor in which gold and red harmonized.
True, Ever since I received the high-end suit set with a Semi-automatic Cleaning Function as a gift, I hadn't gone Outside wearing any other clothes either.
Just as I was about to nod, Tony pointed his finger from the side and interjected.
"But boss, even when I went over to your house last time, you were still wearing the armor..."
[And! You can wear clothes at home too. Isn't it actually weirder to be naked just because you're at home? It's normal to only take them off when sleeping or showering. Actually, there are times when I forget and just sleep in it... Anyway. I'm not weird. I'm perfectly normal. I just really like this suit.]
"...Hmm."
[You still don't believe me? What do I have to do for you to believe me! Should I just rip the suit off right here? I can take it off whenever I want if I try?]
Oh.
Was I going to see the unarmored true appearance of the Mysticism-shrouded Dragon President this time?
It was exactly what I hoped for. I nodded vigorously, afraid he might change his words.
It wasn't just me.
The Bartenders didn't seem to have seen the inside of the suit either. Everyone looked full of curiosity.
Tony chimed in and muttered, “Then it might definitely be believable...”, and Sey was poking her head out from Dragon President's side, her dark gray eyes sparkling while pretending not to care.
[Hah, Fine. If Minna (Everyone) wants it that much, it can't be helped. You should have just said you wanted to see it earlier.]
At the enthusiastic response, Dragon President stretched both hands high with an energetic shout.
The gazes of all the employees focused on the Employer, who brought his hands to the back of his head as if he would take off the helmet and reveal his face at any moment.
Just what did Sasha Dragon look like...!
Click.
A trembling moment.
With a sound like something opening, Dragon President lowered his raised hands again.
Seeing the result, everyone's expressions stiffened.
"...!"