The statue commonly referred to as the "Statue of Liberty" is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, United States.
Its official name seems to be "Liberty Enlightening the World." It is said to be modeled after the Roman mythological goddess of liberty, Libertas.
It is a symbol of freedom and democracy, presented by France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
I believe there's also a Statue of Liberty in France. Though it is said to be much smaller than this one.
I had always imagined it to be white, but in reality, it's green. Well, I heard that the copper has oxidized, which is why it turned that color. So, originally, it must have been the color of copper.
It seems that the crown part serves as an observation deck, but since reservations are required, we are only able to look at it from the outside. But even so, just seeing it gives me the feeling that I’ve come to New York.
Well, the first Statue of Liberty I saw in my life was in a movie my grandfather showed me, a movie featuring a planet ruled by monkeys.
"Father, isn't that statue moving?"
"It doesn't move."
"That's boring."
Steph seems to have lost interest in the Statue of Liberty. Well, perhaps this is normal for a child.
...I wonder, if I were to place a Frame Gear on a large pedestal and have it strike a pose, would it become a tourist attraction...?
"Father, Father! Since we've come all the way to New York, let's eat a real hot dog!"
Asia eagerly tugs at my arm. No interest here either, huh? Even though we're at the very feet of the Statue of Liberty, it's a bit too free-spirited...
Well, I didn't have breakfast because we came straight here, so I'm hungry. I guess I’ll grab a light meal.
Being pulled by Arcia, we left Liberty Island.
◇ ◇ ◇
"It's delicious!"
Linne happily bites into a hot dog.
I also took a bite from the authentic hot dog I bought earlier from a food truck… or is it a food cart here?
When I bit through the sausage, hot meat juice spilled out, and it mixed with the ketchup and mustard, making it even tastier.
It's a simple hot dog with just sausage and chopped onions, but it's so delicious...
I had imagined something bigger, given the image of America, but this is surprisingly small, an easy-to-eat hot dog.
Maybe the busy New Yorkers prefer a more convenient size. Well, it could just be at this particular shop.
"But this is a big city."
"I thought Tokyo was impressive, but this is even more so."
While eating their hot dogs, Yaé and Hilda are chatting about that.
Well, Manhattan is considered the heart of New York, after all.
There’s the famous Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Wall Street, and many towering skyscrapers, including the Empire State Building. The name "skyscraper" isn't just for show.
"I wonder if the cities from the Ancient Magic Era, which existed in our world, were like this."
Leen murmurs while gazing up at the row of buildings.
"The Ancient Magic Era, that's the one, right? The one where it was destroyed by the Phrase… the time when Doctor Babylon was alive. Didn't the 'Library' have any materials on it?"
"There were some, but no images were preserved. Back then, everything was recorded on terminals like what we now call tablets, and it was quite rare to store things in the form of paper books."
Ah... our doctor was quite the eccentric one.
If you don't print things externally, and something happens to the data, it's all gone. It's a scary thought.
Of course, data backups are necessary.
With the massive invasion of the Phrase, the magical elements in the world thinned out. To repel them, powerful magic was used endlessly, causing a worldwide shortage of magic, which probably made magical tools and artifacts unusable.
Once technology takes a break, it becomes very difficult to revive it. It's called "lost technology."
Wasn't Damascus steel one of those? I think the Stradivarius violin, made by Antonio Stradivari, is considered impossible to replicate because he didn't leave behind any blueprints or instructions on how to make it.
I also hear that the traditional crafts of Japan are gradually disappearing because there’s no one left to pass them down. It's important to pass down such skills to future generations...
"So, where are we going next?"
After all, today is a whirlwind tour. We need to keep the pace if we're to make it in time for dinner with Mom and the others. Well, since we're using transfer magic, it's not like we can't make it, though.
By the way, we had to skip the mouse-themed dream world this time. It’s too much to cover in a single day... I'll leave taking them there to my future self.
"Next is Machu Picchu, as requested by Leen."
"A time slip from a modern city to an ancient city."
The next destination, Machu Picchu, which Linze told me about, is located at an altitude of 2,400 meters in the Andes Mountains in South America.
The altitude suddenly jumps, but well, with this group, we shouldn’t have to worry about altitude sickness. If my parents or Fuyuka were here, I’d have to consider some countermeasures, though.
Now, shall we move from North America to South America?
"[Gate]"
I opened the path to the ancient Inca Empire.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Wow, it's really impressive when you see it in person..."
Before us lies the ancient Inca city, the aerial city of Machu Picchu, which is often seen in photos.
This ancient city of the Incas was discovered by American historian Hiram Bingham III, who was searching for the legendary city of Vilcabamba, where a vast treasure was said to have been brought when the Inca Empire was invaded by Spain.
Bingham believed this place to be Vilcabamba, but that theory has now been debunked.
Originally, Machu Picchu means "Old Peak," and when Bingham asked the locals, they mistakenly gave the name of the mountain as "Old Peak," which then became the name of the site.
Machu Picchu was apparently a vacation spot for Incan royalty and nobility. Maybe it was the Inca version of Karuizawa?
In fact, there were palaces, temples, and residences for the nobility, but it is estimated that not many people lived here.
The Andean civilization didn’t have a written language, so there are no records from that time, and the true nature of the place remains uncertain.
"Let’s go closer."
Prompted by Leen, we used [Teleport] to move into the ruins.
We seamlessly blended in with the tourists, but in reality, there seem to be entrance restrictions and reservations required. Since we’ve cast a recognition-blocking spell, I don’t think anyone will notice us unless they approach us, but let's at least try not to inconvenience the other tourists.
"The 'Temple of the Sun,' the 'Temple of the Condor,' and the Intihuatana sundial are apparently off-limits due to erosion damage, so we should avoid those," Lynn says, possibly checking her smartphone for the information.
Erosion damage, huh? Unlike the other world, there's no preservation magic here, so there's probably nothing we can do about it.
For now, we step into what’s called the "city area," where a maze-like network of streets spreads out.
"Everything is made of stone, huh."
"The Inca civilization was known for its superior stonework technology, and every structure was built with stone. The technique used to perfectly fit stones weighing tens of tons together without gaps is truly astonishing."
Leen touches the stone wall stacked in front of her and speaks with admiration. Meanwhile, her daughter, Quun, tilts her head as if not understanding.
"Is that so? I thought we had similar stonework in the Kingdom of Mismede or the Regulus Empire..."
"Quun, there’s no magic in this world, you know?"
"Ah... wait, then how did they stack these stones?"
Quun suddenly stares at the stone wall in front of her, as if realizing something.
These stone structures are built with almost no use of mortar. The stones, precisely cut as if calculated, are stacked without gaps, and they’re said to be able to withstand earthquakes.
"The Inca civilization didn’t have iron tools either. Without magic or iron tools, it’s a mystery how they carved these stones... It seems no one knows how they did it now."
"Wow..."
Quun watches the stone walls with admiration.
No iron tools... No wonder they couldn’t win.
Francisco Pizarro saw the Inca's gold and silver treasures and began his invasion, thinking this was the golden city, El Dorado...
With such impressive building techniques, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had one or two golden cities.
For a moment, I considered using [Search] to investigate the area, but I decided against it. It felt like it would spoil the romance of it all... It’s better to keep the mystery of El Dorado intact.
We then used [Teleport] to move to the terraced fields in Machu Picchu.
These terraced fields, called "Andenes," were used to grow mainly potatoes and corn. It’s also said that they made a type of alcohol called "Chicha" from corn.
"Such a steep slope..."
"It's buried in the jungle, but it seems to stretch down quite a bit. The altitude difference is said to be 400 meters."
Yumina and Leen discuss as they look down at the steep terraced fields.
Indeed, this is a steep drop... It must have taken a great deal of effort to obtain food in such a mountainous region...
The terraced fields face east, and during the day, the stones are warmed by the sun, creating a greenhouse effect at night, which helps the crops.
Ah, that idea is amazing.
"This terraced field also acts as a filter for rainwater, with layers of earth, sand, and small stones allowing water to gradually seep into the ground. The stones serve as a filter to prevent rainwater from overflowing, which could otherwise lead to mudslides."
"They really thought of everything..."
I’m truly in awe of human wisdom and action. Without magic, heavy machinery, or iron tools, how is it possible for people to accomplish something like this? It feels like I’ve been taught the saying, "Where there's a will, there's a way."
After exploring Machu Picchu for a while, I noticed a wall with three window-like holes carved into the stone terraces.
"That’s the 'Temple of the Three Windows.' It’s said to indicate the position of the sunrise on the summer solstice."
Leen gives an explanation. The carving is beautifully done... No, it wasn’t carved, was it? The stones are cut in such a way that they fit perfectly into that shape. How did they manage to cut the stones so straight...?
As I admire the Inca's craftsmanship, I continue exploring Machu Picchu.
We’re fine, but some of the kids seem to be getting bored.
Well, touring ruins isn’t exactly something for kids. I guess this can’t be helped. Or maybe it's just that Yaé is yawning... Did she get sleepy after eating the hot dog?
For some reason, the kids are playing with the llamas around here. Why are there so many llamas, I wonder...
I thought llamas were related to donkeys or horses, but they’re actually related to camels. They're also known as "American camels."
In the Inca Empire, llamas were sometimes offered as sacrifices during important ceremonies. White and black llamas were especially valued for sacrificial purposes. I’ll keep that to myself though...
The Inca and Aztec civilizations had a culture of sacrifice... Most of it was for the gods, I’ve heard... But now that we’ve become gods, it feels a bit strange. A simple offering like a bun would suffice for the gods...
Having seen what there is to see, Lynn seems satisfied. It's about time to leave Machu Picchu.
"Uh, so what’s next?"
"Waikiki Beach... maybe?"
"Waikiki... Huh? Why?"
At Yumina’s words, I paused for a moment. Why Waikiki? The Waikiki in Hawaii?
"The kids want to swim in the sea here. Your father said that if that’s the case, Waikiki Beach in Hawaii would be the best..."
Dad... he just said "Waikiki" without thinking, huh...
Yesterday, I had left the choice of the destination to the wives, so I didn’t know this was what had happened. Well, it’s fine, but still.
And it’s not like we haven’t been to Hawaii before, to see that interesting tree... Are we really going again? I mean, back then, Linze, Lu, and Arcia weren’t with us though...
"But, do we even have swimsuits?"
"They’re packed in our luggage, which we left with Touya. Of course, there’s also one for Touya."
Wait, you brought them with you? Are we really that well-prepared...?
"Just in case we want to have fun anywhere! No oversights!"
Elze proudly declares that, though I don’t think it’s anything to boast about...
When I glance over at the kids, they’re already shouting "The sea!" and running around. I guess Machu Picchu was pretty boring for them.
Seeing how excited the kids are, there’s no choice but to go.
From the 2,400-meter altitude of the Andes Mountains, we’re off to the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Ah, Hawaii is also part of America, huh. Today’s been all about America.
◇ ◇ ◇
"The sea!"
"Ah, wait...!"
A few of the kids teleported and immediately rushed into the sea at Waikiki. I’ve seen this before...
They’ve swum in the sea of the Igret Kingdom, and also at the water park we built in Brunhild.
Does it feel different just because the location changed?
It seems there’s no changing room at Waikiki (everyone’s apparently going directly in swimsuits from the hotel), so I returned home for a quick change into my swimsuit.
"Japan’s beaches are definitely different from here."
There are no beach houses, no private showers... The beach here feels more like a park, I guess.
There are fewer Japanese people than I expected. I thought there’d be more, based on stories my grandfather told me. There are probably reasons like high prices or the yen's weakness, but still...
But there’s a lot of energy, and plenty of people visiting. The lively beachside is getting me excited too.
Well, I should at least do some warm-up stretches first.
As I move around lightly, I notice two foreign women in swimsuits passing by, looking at me and giggling. Was I doing something weird? Don’t people in other countries do warm-ups?
And... wow, those ladies had incredible figures... Their swimsuits were pretty revealing too...
I absentmindedly watch them as they walk away.
"What are you looking at, Touya...?"
"Huh!?"
When I turn around, I meet Linze’s gaze, her eyes sharp with black aura around her.
Behind her, her twin sister is glaring at me as well.
"Have you gotten used to our swimsuits already?"
"Not at all! They’re very cute and beautiful, and they look great on you. I’m absolutely nervous!"
I’m nervous in every way! But those were sincere words, okay!?
"Well, whatever. We’re about to have fun, so I won’t complain."
"Thank you very much."
Phew. I’ve been forgiven... I can’t even let my gaze wander for a second. Let me focus on the kids...
"Kuon, hurry up!"
"The sea’s not going anywhere."
Alice, looking impatient, pulls Kuon’s arm and runs toward the water. She’s full of energy...
I spread out a leisure sheet at a random spot on the sand and set up a few beach chairs.
Next, I twist the pole of a big beach umbrella into the sand and use earth magic to secure it so it won’t move. There, done.
Leen, Linze, and Lu said they’d stay here and relax, not swimming. I’ll make sure to pass around some sunscreen so no one gets burned.
Now, I guess I’ll head into the sea.
Splashing water on myself at the shore, it’s not cold at all.
Oh... The feeling of sand being washed away by the waves on the soles of my feet is the same here as it was in Waikiki...
The blue sky and emerald-green sea are beautiful. That distant peak over there... could it be the famous Diamond Head? ...Why is it called Diamond, I wonder?
While I swim, thinking about that, it’s a little tough with the body of a child... My legs don’t kick fast enough... I’m barely moving.
"Father, could you bring out the float?"
As I struggle with swimming, Koon comes over and asks for a float.
A float, huh... I do have one in [Storage], but if I bring it out here, it’ll attract attention... Maybe I can use [Mirage] to deal with it.
I take the float out of [Storage] right under Quun’s feet and float her up with it.
I grab a few more floats and place them on the float, which is big enough—about two tatami mats. This is no problem.
I take one of the floats, sink my waist into it, and lazily drift with the waves. It’s not bad.
I glance around and see that Elze is swimming towards me, followed by Yaé and Hilda. What’s going on?
"Give us surfboards too!"
"...Sure."
The three of them grab the surfboards I’ve placed in the water and start swimming out to the sea. Are they more excited than the kids?
Seeing the three of them start surfing, it looks like Linne, Alice, Frei, and the others are getting inspired and asking for surfboards too. Well, I do have kid-sized ones, but still...
As I hand surfboards to the kids, I notice some guys hitting on Yumina and Sakura, who were playing by the shore.
Naturally, I use [Slip] to knock them over into the sea, making them get hit with the waves. Don’t lay a finger on my wives.
The men, looking foolish, scramble to run away. Hmph.
Yumina and the others glance over and chuckle, but I just pretend not to notice. Ah, the sun’s so bright...
The day after finishing the whirlwind American tour, I decided to make it another leisurely day off to relax. Continuous days of such intense tours would be too much...
That said, it’s not a day to just laze around at home. It’s a loose holiday to do things around the area that we want to do.
Yaé, Yakumo, Hilda, Frei, Lu, and Arcia are all heading to a restaurant nearby that’s gotten a bit of a reputation.
Everyone has gotten quite used to Earth by now, so I don’t think there will be any weird troubles, but I remind them to always contact either me or my parents if anything happens.
Elze and Elna, Linze and Linne, Sakura and Yoshino, and Sue and Steph are heading to a movie theater near the station. They’re apparently going to see an American animated movie. I’m guessing it’s one of those films from the company with the mouse mascot?
The remaining six of us—Yumina, Kuon, Leen, Quun, Alice, and I—are, for once, at a nearby hobby shop, at Kuon’s request.
This store is famous even around here for its huge selection of things like model trains, plastic models, miniature cars, RC toys, figurines, and military goods. Apparently, there’s also an all-weather RC track next door. Pretty impressive.
As soon as we arrived, the kids were immediately drawn to the capsule toys lined up outside the store. Come on, aren’t they going inside?
"Leen, this cat doll is cute!"
"Oh, it really is. Shall we buy one for everyone as souvenirs?"
Oh, the wives have fallen for it too. The power of Japanese capsule toys is terrifying.
Well, it’s not like I have that many 100-yen coins on me... How about we wait until we leave and try them then?
When I said that, everyone reluctantly, but with some resistance, headed into the store.
"Wow, there are so many different things!"
Alice exclaimed as she entered the store, but I quickly grabbed her before she could run off. No running inside the store!
Indeed, the store was large, and various hobbies were lined up everywhere.
To the right were RC-related items, and further in, military-related items. In front of the counter were rows of plastic model kits, and beyond that were figurines and model trains.
This definitely appeals to the inner man in me. I’m about to revert to my childhood. Well, physically, I am a child now.
Quun’s eyes sparkled as she headed straight for the section with mini 4WD models and RC-related items.
She’s been fond of them since we used to run them in the yard... As for her mother, Leen, she was reading through a military-related magazine in the corner. The title is "The Complete Guide to World Secret Weapons." Quite a menacing title...
Kuon walked straight toward the plastic models section. Of course, Alice followed right behind him.
The rest of us—Yumina and I—decided to follow them.
About half of the plastic model shelf is dedicated to robot-related kits. The rest is filled with tanks, airplanes, warships, castles, cars, bikes, and various scale models, as well as kits for beautiful girl characters and animal characters.
I don’t quite get this instant noodle plastic model... And this one is a game console model...? Wait, it can’t actually be used as a game console, right? This is a deep world...
Kuon, as expected, skipped over the robot section and started comparing boxes of diorama kits, like castles or "Mountain Teahouse" kits.
"That’s my child, alright... so refined."
"Well, that’s Kuon for you..."
Since Kuon hadn’t moved from that spot, I decided to browse the store myself.
The robot models I used to build before going to the other world are already gone, replaced by a new series. Since I haven’t had time to watch anime recently, I have no idea what these works are.
This is probably the main character’s robot... Wait, the main character is a girl in a robot anime? Is this what the times are like now?
I’m thinking of picking up a few for the researchers as souvenirs. Maybe they’ll serve as inspiration for the new Frame Gears.
Now that the apostles of the evil gods have been eliminated, I thought the Frame Gears might become obsolete, but that’s not the case.
With the fusion of two worlds, we’ve seen more giant beasts appearing, and they could also be used for rescue operations in natural disasters.
Since there’s the Golem, it’s likely that similar machines to the Frame Gear will be developed in other countries, and eventually, they’ll be used in the military as well.
So, the researchers are considering renting out the key components of the Frame Gear as a "black box," where we keep the crucial parts and let them freely build the exterior. They’ll only get the key parts from us, and without our cooperation, they won’t be able to operate them.
This isn’t a perfect solution, but so far, no one has been able to recreate the ancient machines like the Golem, nor has anyone been able to create the same frame.
It’s extremely difficult to create the G-Cube and Q-Crystals from scratch. Similarly, for the Frame Gear, we’ll create the key parts here and rent them out in a certain quantity.
Of course, to prevent them from analyzing it, they’ll be equipped with a self-destruct mechanism... though not one that makes the Frame Gear explode. The black box will self-destruct if anyone tries to disassemble it.
If that happens, we won’t lend them any more. If things go well, in a few years, we might see distinct Frame Gears from various countries. For example, an arctic version from the Elfrau Kingdom, or a jungle camouflage version from the Mismede Kingdom.
Maybe every few years, we could hold a tournament where the representative Frame Gears from each country compete. The winning country could become the representative of the world federation.
Speaking of which, I can’t be the chairman of the world federation forever... I should find someone else to take over soon...
It would also be interesting to have a school dedicated to learning about Frame Gears. While I was thinking about these pointless things, I continued browsing the models.
This one transforms and changes its shape... That’s interesting. I think the researchers would like this.
"Hey, hey, Your Majesty. Could you make something like this?"
"Hm?"
Alice called out to me while I was browsing the models. She was holding a plastic model of a beautiful girl character, a girl in idol-like clothes with mechanical gear on the box cover.
"Can you make something like this?" she asked, holding up the kit.
"Well, I think I could, but... I probably couldn’t make it look exactly like the box art. I think Kuon would do a better job than me..."
"No, not that. I want you to make a model of me, like this!"
"Hm? A model of you... Wait, do you want me to make a kit of you, Alice?"
"Yes, and then I want Kuon to make it for me. I want him to become obsessed with me!"
Now that’s a... unique request...
It seems Alice is a bit upset because Kuon has been completely absorbed in the models. She’s been left alone for a while now...
The light has gone out of Alice’s eyes. This is bad...
That said, I can’t really make a model of myself for her...
Using [Modeling], I could probably create a base figure and then divide it into parts to make a kit, like how I did with the Frame Gear models.
"I can do it, but..."
"Yay! I’ll send you lots of photos of me in different outfits!"
Wait! Not just one? Are you seriously thinking of making that many for Kuon!?
Alice happily starts fiddling with her smartphone, and soon, a flood of photos arrives in my email. So many!
There are even photos of her in a swimsuit... If her father, Ende, finds out, there might be a bloodbath...
If I have to make that many, I might as well create a base figure and just swap out the clothes... but that would turn it into a dress-up doll... No, wait, making a figure of Alice in her underwear and dressing her up would definitely get me killed by Ende.
What if Kuon’s preferences get twisted by this? Well, I’d probably get scolded by Yumina for that...
As I watched Alice happily leave, I decided to put this whole thing on the shelf for now and discuss it with Ende when we get back... with Mel and the others present, of course. If Ende goes crazy, I’ll have them stop him.
Even if I can’t make the figure, I could always say that my parents didn’t give permission, and they wouldn’t complain...
"Oh, this bike looks cool."
I shifted my gaze from the robot model shelf to the scale model shelf, picking up a box of a bike I liked and examining the description and photos written on the side.
Then, I saw Quun walking toward me, holding a huge box.
"Hey..."
"Father! This is definitely a must-buy!"
Quun dropped the large box in front of me with a thud. This... this is a circuit course for driving mini 4WD electric cars. They’re selling this at the store...
Wow, this is pretty pricey...
"One piece won’t be enough to make a full circuit, so let’s buy five or six of them!"
"No, no, no!"
I understand what she’s saying. With just one, it’s only a simple loop. I get wanting to buy more to create a more complex track, but...
"You don’t need to buy it. You could make it yourself with [Modeling], Koon..."
When I was a kid, I used to make and race tracks, but my grandpa made the tracks by hand. Even so, my friends and I had a blast racing.
"You don’t get it, Father! This is REAL! It’s not some knockoff! It’s an official track approved by the manufacturer! Why wouldn’t you buy it!?"
She scolded me so fiercely. No kidding.
Then Quun launched into a relentless sales pitch, and in the end, I gave in and agreed to buy it. Yeah, six of them...
Well, if I couldn’t get it in the other world, I’d understand, but since I can get it now, it would be silly not to buy it.
It’ll also support the manufacturer who’s making it... though, with Quun, it feels like a bit much...
Fortunately, the store offers a delivery service, so I’ll have it sent to my house. It should arrive by tomorrow, so I’ll ask my mom to receive it.
Quun, now in a good mood, went off to shop for the main 4WD machine. I’m guessing it’s not just one or two, right...
Sighing, I wandered around the store. Since it’s a weekday, there aren’t many kids around. There are a few older gentlemen scattered about. I wonder if they’re working...
As I was thinking these unnecessary things, I ran into Kuon, who was looking at a product and reading the description on the side.
I thought it was a model kit, but it seemed different. It looked like some kind of engine... What’s that?
"What’s that?"
"It’s an airbrush compressor. I had something similar made by the future doctor, but this one seems to have finer adjustments..."
Ah, an airbrush compressor... I see. Wait, I don’t really understand.
An airbrush is the thing you use to spray paint, right? And the compressor is what supplies the air for it, right?
"Okay, if you’re interested, let’s buy it."
"Eh, but..."
"If you don’t buy it here, you might not be able to get it later."
"U... Please."
There’s a saying when shopping: "If the reason you’re hesitant is the price, then buy it. If the reason to buy is the price, then don’t." In this case, I don’t need to worry about the price. So it’s better to buy it. Well, I’m not sure if buying several like Koon did is the best, but... well, I guess there’s a reason for it...
"Is this the one you want?"
"Yes. This one seems to have the best performance."
The price... wow... This is pretty expensive too... Hobbies really do cost a lot, huh...
"Wait? Is this just the compressor? This is the thing that sends the air, right? It’s missing the spray gun part at the end, so doesn’t that make it useless?"
"Uh, yes..."
Oh, come on. Don’t hold back, Quun. Let’s just buy everything needed for the painting setup. This paint booth looks pretty convenient too. With this, you can use the airbrush indoors. Might as well get the larger one. Let’s do it.
"Ugh, but, I’m not sure about spending so much..."
"Oh, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. We still have plenty of funds, and if it comes to it, I can ask my parents..."
"No, it’s not that. I just think my sisters might make a fuss when they find out how much I’ve been bought..."
Ah... that’s what I forgot. They’ll definitely say, "What about us!"... Wait, no...
"Kuon, you didn’t buy plush toys or anything until now, right? This is just making up for that, so it’s fine."
...I’ll push through with this explanation. Now, what about Quun’s stuff? Well, that’s for everyone! So, that’s fine... I think.
To smooth things over, I decided to pick up some animal figurines that the kids would like.
Oh, and I’ll get something for Fuyuka too. I’ll ask Yumina to help me pick something cute.
Now, Kuon seems to be interested in the model-making tools. Alice is searching for a figurine or model that looks like her.
Lynn is trying to stop Koon from buying everything. Good, I was worried she was going to make us buy all the mini 4WDs...
Even so, with the amount we bought, the store clerk seemed a little taken aback.
Since everyone other than me looked like foreigners, the clerk must have thought we were buying souvenirs for when we returned to our country, so they didn’t ask too many questions. Well, they weren’t wrong in that assumption.
We decided to have the majority of the items shipped home. We’ll pick them up tomorrow.
When we were leaving the store, I almost walked out and forgot, but Kuon pointed to the capsule toys in front of the store and asked, "Aren’t we getting these?" Everyone exclaimed, "Ah!"
I handed Yumina and the others all the 100-yen coins I had in my wallet, and they went off to try the capsules within that budget.
Capsule toys are really expensive nowadays... I feel like they were cheaper when I was a kid.
Grandpa used to say, "Back in the day, you could buy them for 10 or 20 yen," but I wonder if that’s true. Well, the contents must have been different, and there’s the rise in prices...
But what’s with the lineup of capsule toys here...?
Figurines of Buddhist altar items? Is there really a demand for that...? And this one’s some kind of stone... A figurine of a stone? What’s that? And this one says "foundation stone"... I don’t even know what that means. I don’t get it, but it’s clear this is a very deep world.
While placing the capsule toys I bought into [Storage], I walked down the street. I was about to call Lou to ask if we needed anything for dinner, when I spotted Asia waving to me from across the crosswalk.
"They were probably heading back too."
The signal turned green, and Arcia, Lou, Yaé, Yakumo, Hilda, and Frei crossed over to our side.
"How was the restaurant?"
"It was quite delicious. The seasoning was a little too strong though."
"It ruined the flavor of the ingredients. If they reduced the salt, it would be just right."
Seems like the restaurant that Lou and Asia went to didn’t fare too well with them. Restaurants have to quickly prepare a variety of dishes, so it might be hard to make everything perfect.
"I didn’t quite like it either. I do like noodles, though."
"I thought it was a bit too heavy, like the sauce was too much..."
"Really? I thought it was plenty good."
"I liked it too! But I think I could’ve eaten more..."
Yaé and Hilda didn’t care for it much, while Yakumo and Frei seemed satisfied. Taste preferences really do vary with age.
"Ah, it’s Linze and the others!"
Suddenly, Alice sprinted ahead. When I looked, I saw Linze and the others walking along. What a coincidence, everyone ended up together.
"How was the movie?"
"It was great! You know, the girl... Wait..."
"No spoilers, Linne."
Just as Linne started talking about the movie’s plot, Linze covered her mouth from behind. Sounds like it was good. To avoid spoilers, we’ll follow Linze’s lead and not spoil anything.
We then decided to stop by a nearby supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner.
Apparently, the restaurant Lou and the others went to is famous for its pasta, so today, they’re in the mood to make pasta. ...It’s strange to say you’re in the mood to "make" pasta, but okay. Is it okay for Yaé and the others to have pasta again after lunch?
"If it’s something different, I think it’s fine."
"Right, maybe something lighter this time."
Looks like there’s no issue. Light options could be a tuna and grated radish pasta, or a clam and mushroom soup pasta. Now I’m just thinking about clams... Wait, I shouldn’t get distracted.
Anyway, it seems they’ll make multiple types. When they asked me what I wanted, I figured a simple peperoncino would be nice. Something spicy.
Of course, with over twenty people, the amount of pasta required is no joke. Though I’ll store it in [Storage] after we leave, it still ends up being a lot.
Besides that, we’ll need eggs for the carbonara, minced meat for the Bolognese, and bacon for the Neapolitan. There’s a lot to buy.
Before I knew it, Elze’s cart was already full. Big families are definitely a lot of work...
That night, it was a pasta feast. Rather than one plate per person, everyone took small portions from a variety of pasta dishes, like a buffet.
We had everything from peperoncino, Neapolitan, Bolognese, Vongole Bianco, Arrabbiata, Pescatore, Genovese, to meat sauce, along with a few original ones.
Surprisingly, the curry-flavored pasta was really good. No, actually, everything was delicious.
Tomorrow is another whirlwind tour, and the final day will be a relaxed one at home.
This trip is almost over. When we return to the other world, I’ll have to say goodbye to the kids.
I can’t imagine living without them... I wonder if we’ll be able to let them go...
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