Chapter 91
2107-03-30
T07: 17:57
A 24-hour chain restaurant, Tommy John's.
As I stood in front of the entrance, the transparent automatic doors opened with a squeak.
[Welcome~ to Tommy John's!]
The Guide Robot at the entrance recited a comical Catchphrase and welcomed me with its arms spread wide.
That ridiculous Movement snapped me out of my thoughts.
I stopped worrying about Militia's confidential research data that had been continuously tormenting me since yesterday.
Let's stop clinging to a problem with no Answer and focus on the matter right in front of me.
For instance, there is the impending event right around the corner, like the upcoming Dinner with my work colleagues.
Today was the day I agreed to gather and talk with the Dragon President and the Bartenders.
And this was the meeting place.
The appointment time was six in the evening, so I arrived right on time.
I was glancing inside the restaurant, trying to gauge the situation, when something struck my ears like rapid Fire from the side.
[Tommy John's is the first unmanned multi-food restaurant established in 2024. Through the innovation of placing a skillful AI Chef at each Branch, we provide dishes of the same taste and style to all customers!
Meet Tom and John, the chefs who will be responsible for your meals. Tom is in Charge of western cuisine, and John is in Charge of eastern cuisine. Together, they can effortlessly handle over five thousand manual recipes. This follows the ideology of our Founder, Papa Wells...]
When I stood blankly at the entrance of the restaurant without going inside, the Guide Robot stared at me and rattled off the Franchise Promotional Slogan, as if urging me not to block the way.
What is that? It's scary.
I wondered if it was pre-programmed to do that, or if it was just a Tin Can Robot on the Outside but actually an Intelligent Raver.
Either way, overwhelmed by its machine-gun-like momentum, I stepped through the open doors.
The interior was neat.
It meant it was clean, but at the same time, it also meant there were no people.
A checkered floor with black and white tiles, sleekly connected.
Vanilla Lighting illuminated the Teal Wall beneath the Display Panel where virtual Chef characters were popping up.
While the ceiling fan typical of an American diner spun quietly, plastic tables stretched out in a row, so desolate that flies could be flying around.
And beyond that, there was a Group that stood out prominently even from a distance.
On this particular day, there were no other people in the restaurant, and the Group was occupying the largest table right in the center, which really drew Attention.
The sound of their loud, boisterous chattering.
"No, how is a sword a better weapon than a gun. It's already been several centuries since the Age of Cold Weapons ended. In recent cinema films or anime, it's a cliché for samurai and Kung Fu Masters who act up, trusting their swords or fists to get riddled with bullets and die helplessly. Are you too old-fashioned to know that."
[Exactly. That's actually a Stereotype, I'm telling you! The forced framing by the gun-wielders has solidified people's thoughts over the past few hundred years. They instilled the proposition that swords are weapons of the past, and no matter how much you run wild, everyone is equal before a bullet.]
"But that's the truth. In front of a bullet, everyone goes down in one shot."
[Isn't that the same for a katana? Whether you get shot by a gun or sliced by a sword, the result is the same.]
I thought that maybe there were no other people in the restaurant because of those guys.
"How is that the same? The range is different and the Travel Time is different."
[Oresama (My Great Self) can swing a sword and cut as fast as a bullet, though?]
"Oh, really? And what about the range? As far as I know, the current official Longest Range Shooting Record is 10,117 meters or something. Can you cut ten kilometers with a sword? Are you going to shoot aura out of your sword?"
[Ku, kuso (damn it)...]
"You can't even argue back, as expected of a Sword-wielder, right? Isn't a sword just a water rocket in the weapon World that gets wiped out by a spear, let Alone a gun? How dare you challenge it when you disappeared into the back alleys of history as soon as Gunpowder Weapons appeared?"
I don't know those two who are spouting as they chatter away like massive nerds. I want to say I don't know them.
However, that red Mecha Dragon Helmet that was practically a Trademark, and Tony's disheveled hair and sluggish eyes with thick Dark Circles were an undeniable reality.
They truly are Dragon's Lair's comedy duo, an embarrassment no matter where you put them.
As usual, the two of them are arguing over a trivial topic.
Today's debate topic seems to be Sword VS Gun.
Isn't it similar to the dagger vs. bat debate in my Previous World? VS games and debates always make people overly immersed.
However, it's surprising that the topic is sword vs. gun.
If it were the 21st century, it would be an overwhelming victory for guns without even the need for a debate.
Is it because things considered impossible in the past, like “Reacting to and dodging bullets” or “cutting bullets with a sword”, are no longer in the Realm of Unreality due to various Body Modifications such as Reflex Enhancement cyberware?
Or is it because Dusk City's gun control is quite strict, and, in combination with Orientalism, the katana has become a popular weapon among Ronin.
In the 22nd century Dusk City, it seemed that the sword had surprisingly become a weapon on a level that could compete with a gun.
“It does seem like Tony, who supports guns, is holding the upper hand so far, though.”
So when on earth is that argument going to end?
I was hesitating and couldn't easily Step forward, feeling like I would be forcibly dragged into that debate if I pretended to know them now, but fortunately, someone stopped that never-ending VS debate on my behalf.
Her name is Sey. She is the only normal person among the existing employees of Dragon's Lair, excluding me.
Sitting next to the passionately speaking Dragon President, she seemed to have known from the moment I entered. As I hesitantly approached, she poked the side of the Dragon President's armor suit with a fork, as if to announce my presence and tell him to stop it already.
At that, Sasha Dragon burst into laughter.
I really don't know why laughter came out instead of a scream when she was jabbing him as if she were stabbing with a knife.
[Ahahaha, that tickles. What is it? Is there something behind... Ah, Nakamura-kun is here? You're right on time.]
Only after being poked by the fork several times did he turn around and wave brightly in this direction.
Even though there was an unpleasant incident at the bar, everyone is truly consistent in many ways.
I approached with a sigh and opened my mouth.
"Yes. It's been a while, President."
[Yeah, Hisashiburi (Long time no see).]
It felt like only about three days had passed since we last met, but because so many things had happened in the meantime, it felt like a long time.
I sat on the opposite side, next to Tony, enduring the Dragon President's unwelcome touch as he patted my shoulder and back.
The red Vinyl Sofa sank deeply, making a rubbing noise.
I returned the Awkward, smiling greeting of Tony, who had been sitting in a Position facing the entrance but hadn't even noticed I came in because he was arguing, and looked at the food spread out on the table.
Tommy John's Special Square Hawaiian Pizza, Soy Protein Tandoori Chicken and Large Meatball Spaghetti, John's Chlorella Sushi Set, Seaweed Tempura, Krill Volcano Roll, Fried Cricket Ramen...
Why is there so much?
"You must have ordered the food in advance."
[Yeah. We ordered first. If there's anything you want to eat, order something new.]
"No. It's not about ordering something new... Can we even eat all of this by ourselves?"
There was so much food that the four-person table was full to the point of overflowing. It seemed like I would get full quickly just by taking a few bites of each dish.
Besides, Tommy John's food is cheap and offers a lot of variety, but the taste is just at the level of a Mid-to-Low Grade Meal Pack, so it's a bit much to eat until my stomach bursts.
[Huh? Ah, come to think of it, this is Nakamura-kun's first company Dinner. Don't worry. If anything, the food might be lacking, but there won't be any leftovers. Oresama (My Great Self) is buying, so don't worry about money, and order as much as you want if you're hungry.]
At his words, spoken while thumping his chest, I didn't decline and picked up a slice of the square pizza.
I had only eaten one meal all day and was hungry, so it worked out well.
As I was carefully bringing the Suspicious food made of Unknown Ingredients to my mouth and eating it, a heavy sound was heard from somewhere.
Thud—.
"...?"
The massive 5000cc Beer Mug that the Dragon President had ordered in the meantime came up onto the table.
It was on my side. The way he handed it over, anyone could see he was giving it to me to drink.
And the size of the glass... It was about the same height as an average child.
As my face turned pale at the bright yellow alcoholic beverage sloshing at the brim of the heavy container even when it was gripped with both hands, Tony came up beside me, putting his arm around my shoulder.
"Come to think of it, we never had a welcoming party while working together the past few days. As expected, there's nothing quite like drinking to death for an initiation."
"...You want me to drink all of this by myself? Are you really planning to kill someone?"
Then, this time, the Dragon President smiled wickedly and forcefully shoved his red metal snout toward me.
[Haha, don't worry. We already know that you are weak to alcohol.]
"Haha, that's a relief. Then I don't need to drink it all..."
[That's why if you can't drink it all and pass out, we'll feed it to you instead. It's Fine if you black out. We can just let you sleep at my house! Or Tony's place is Fine too.]
"Let's just tell Sey to take me. I heard Sey dragged me all the way home on Sunday too."
[Oh, honto (really)?]
When the Dragon President looked at Sey with his bright yellow LED eyes, Sey Calmly nodded her head.
I was actually surprised by that sight. Wasn't Sunday the day I fought Ned Ludd and Lost Consciousness because of the Explosion?
When I woke up the next day, I was perfectly Fine lying in my bed in my room, which made me wonder: Was Sey the one who brought me home?
"Wait a minute. This is the first time I've heard—"
However, there was no time to be puzzled.
In the Blink of an eye, the large beer mug was shoved towards my mouth, and I couldn't continue speaking because alcohol poured down my throat like a waterfall.
Gurgle, keheuk.
This wasn't why I asked to meet and talk...!