Chapter 157: End of the world scenario

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Translator: Soafp

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The suited staff members (three in total) lined up cups in front of me.

Five in total.

Each one filled with a clear, transparent liquid.

Without hesitation, I took them all in one by one.

By the way, this was the fifth.

“…..”

“””………….”””

There wasn’t even time to wonder what kind of bizarre situation this was.

The soft texture as it went down my throat.

A slightly distinctive aroma.

But the most notable feature was its natural sweetness.

“…..’Marubatsu Mountain Mineral Water’.”

“””!!!”””

“So, how did I do? (voice trembling)”

“…You…you actually guessed it right…”

“Haha, well, they all had some unique traits (acting all confident now).”

Looking back, these past two months, I had lived with water (naturally). Humanity doesn't seem to care much about the water they consume every day.

In Japan, the tap water is clean enough, so it’s usually more than sufficient.

But as I gradually sampled more varieties of water—pure, natural waters—it started to grow on me without me realizing it.

I lived a life where coffee and natural water were always by my side.

Hearing that, I sound like someone with an incredibly high level of awareness.

Congrats on getting every single water right in this tasting challenge.

Drinking the same familiar taste from the VIP seat.

That plain, unsurprising texture was proof of success (copypasta level).

“So you really haven't been slacking off★.”

“Eh?”

“Nothing at all~”

“Uh… okay…”

“Well then, I guess I’ll give you a little reward for getting them all right—bring it out.”

With another snap of her fingers, a staff member brought something from the back.

“!! N-no way… this can’t be real…!”

The moment I saw it, my skin tingled with goosebumps.

A pink bottle, sparkling like a jewel, filled with a mesmerizing liquid inside.

It was as if the liquid was absorbing all the light from the club, glowing beautifully—this “water.”

“W-where did you even get this…?!”

“Fufufu, you really do know your stuff, huh? You’re the real deal—pour it for him★.”

I’d only ever seen it in pictures.

“…’Furico Jewelry Water: Frost Princess’… (full incantation mode).”

I watched as the legendary liquid was poured into a new wine glass, and I muttered its name.

“I-is this really such a big deal, boss?”

“It’s just water★.”

“…(tears welling up).”

“You’re crying.”

In the world of natural water enthusiasts (a community I just made up), this was nearly a legend.

It originally sold for around 50,000 yen, but production had stopped long ago.

It's something you can’t even get your hands on if you tried.

More valuable than a black diamond (in my personal opinion).

Am I really allowed to drink something like this…?

“Go ahead★.”

“! Th-thank you.”

At this point, I didn't even care that she could read my thoughts.

I took a sip of the liquid that was poured for me.

A drop of pure gem flowed down my throat—

“…”

Without leaving even a single drop, I turned the cup upside down and finished it all.

Savoring every bit of it—I clenched my fist.

…Ah.

This woman… she really knows what she’s doing.

“Haori-san.”

“…What is it?”

“Where did you put the ‘contents’ of this?”

“!”

“—This is a fake, isn't it?”

I declared firmly.

Both the staff members and Haori-san turned their eyes toward me.

“You'd actually say something like that.”

She stood up.

Suddenly, a dark, ominous aura began to envelop her.

“You’ve never actually drunk it, right★?”

“……”

“Come on.”

The “Empress” closed in on me. Even if it were a fake, her presence alone was enough to make it feel like the real thing.

I was being swallowed by the darkness. And yet—

“—’Frost Princess’ is a *medium-hard* water.”

“It’s water that sits between the hard water commonly found in Europe and the soft water typical of Japan. But what I just drank was hard water. It seems you’ve swapped it for something easier to drink.”

“Despite what the name might suggest, it’s actually water from Japan. A rare type of medium-hard water… but not hard water.”

I pressed forward, relying on my tongue that had been honed over these past two months.

“—Isn't that right, Haori-san?”

The tension in the air grew palpable.

“””………..”””

The eyes around me stared intently. It was hard to believe this was the same noisy club as always.

“…..Kukuku… Faahahahaha!!!”

And then, she laughed.

“Ah, that was a good laugh.”

After calming down, she turned to face me.

“Absolutely correct!!”

My vision went completely dark.

…Did I finally die for real this time?

Mom, save me (she won’t come).

---

“Kyu★”

“Glrgh…gk…”

My vision was still dark.

I thought I had died.

And now, I was currently dying all over again (dying).

“You’re seriously so cool! You’re just the best★.”

“Grblgrgh…”

“B-boss, he’s seriously going to die at this rate.”

“(In my next life, I want to be a neutron. You know why? Because apparently androgynous faces are popular. It seems faces that are more feminine than masculine are more attractive, which makes me keenly aware of the complexity of human attraction).”

“Ah, sorry about that.”

“!!!”

Ah, the air tastes so sweet.

Oh no, I think I might be getting drunk.

Well, this is a club after all (realization hits).

“…Haa…haa… So, what about the contents of that ‘Jerico’…?”

“That was a gift★. Sorry, but I drank it all a long time ago. I just kept the bottle ’cause it’s cute.”

“(Despair).”

“And. Right now, you’re going through a tough time, aren’t you?”

“Oh, uh… yeah, I guess… How do you know that?”

“That’s a secret★.”

“…And how do you know about the water, too…?”

“That’s a secret★.”

“”

This woman is seriously watching me from somewhere, isn’t she (confused)?

That’s the only explanation… but right now, I’m grateful.

“My family, my parents and sister, are coming home. I'll be seeing them again on Sunday, but I'm not sure how to face them.”

“Why don't you just face them as you are?”

“Eh… but, well, this hair color gives a bad impression…”

“Then just change it back.”

“Huh?”

“Go back to black and meet them with the ‘face’ they’re used to seeing.”

“…Ah, yeah. I guess you’re right.”

She laughed, with eyes that seemed to see right through me.

“Come here.”

Haori-san opened her arms, as if to welcome me.

The usual aura of authority was gone, and she now exuded a soft, gentle presence.

“Uh, no, that’s a bit—”

“You should rely on others more. You’ve been working so hard, never asking your parents for help.”

“!”

“You guys clear out★.”

“””Usu.”””

As she said that, the surrounding staff disappeared. She was probably clearing the area of customers, too.

“Come here, come closer.”

I was alone with Haori-san.

Her face was gentle.

It felt like I could entrust everything to her, without hesitation.

So, I leaned into her arms, enveloped by the soft, pleasant scent of her perfume.

“Ah…”

“There, there~”

“…Why are you doing so much for me?”

To my question, she answered by hugging me tighter.

“I told you, didn't I? I'm your biggest fan.”

“You're amazing, always giving your all in everything you do. It makes me want to cheer you on.”

“And that's why… I can't just leave you alone, you know?”

I listened to her words as I surrendered to her embrace.

“Even if you go back to how you were before, it's fine as long as it's for your parents. Isn't that right?”

“Because deep down, you want to reassure them… isn't that it?”

“When you started living on your own, it was because you didn't want them worrying about you, right?”

How does she know?

How can this person see through everything?

“I know. There's no way parents would leave someone like you alone.”

“Ah…”

“Haha, it's obvious.”

Everything about me was laid bare.

I couldn't say a word.

“There's no perfect answer, you know. School, your parents, even your friends won't be able to tell you what's right.”

“Both choices are right. Whether you choose ‘black’ or ‘rainbow,’ whatever you decide after thinking it through will be the right one.”

“But before making that decision, you should lean on those around you as much as you can. That way, you can make a choice without regrets—or rather, so your regrets are minimized.”

I couldn't even remember the last time I'd been held by someone.

I had forgotten how warm it was to be embraced by another person.

“Because in the end… you'll choose ‘black.'”

But her final words, whispered so softly, were lost to me.

“…Are we done?”

“…Yes. Thank you so much, I'll be on my way now—”

“Nope★.”

“Grgh!”

“Just a little more, let me enjoy this.”

“gasp (gibberish sounds of suffocation)”

Not again—

“—Ah, wait! Rio-chan! Not right now—”

A voice came from afar.

My vision went dark again as I heard it.

“…Eeh? O-onee-chan…?”

“Ah.”

“Tou… machi…?”

“cough (Good evening. Fancy meeting you here. Would you mind giving me a little help?)”

The Empress and the Dark Lord were both here… (The world is doomed).