Pela's Very Round Face!

"Come with me!"

"Huh? Wait!"

Lin Nai had only just reacted when this enthusiastic big sister grabbed him and pulled him into the workshop.

Chapter 42: Pela's Very Round Face!

Not long after.

Lin Nai sat obediently in a chair, holding a cup of hot cocoa.

This feeling of being abducted was way too strange.

Feeling guilty, Lin Nai stayed very quiet. He had no way to explain that he had merely been curious enough to take a look, then had stood there blankly without moving.

And so, the scene became...

Lin Nai, completely motionless.

"What's your name?"

"Lin Nai."

"Oh~ Hello, I'm Serval... Well, I guess I don't really need to introduce myself."

Serval said with a smile.

It was not that she was bragging, but she was somewhat well-known around Belobog's Administrative District.

Leaving aside her identity as a mechanic.

She often held open-air performances in front of her workshop as well, so she had gained a bit of a reputation.

"So, why were you outside alone?" Serval sat in another chair and asked.

Because of work, she had been putting in overtime today.

Every household in the Administrative District had heaters, and whenever they broke, they were all sent to her for repairs.

Not to mention counters, experimental instruments, recorders, and the like. Sometimes, being too busy to handle everything was perfectly normal.

She had finally finished working late at night and planned to take a short break to do her "main job."

While playing, she had unexpectedly noticed this listener, who looked so innocent.

How should she describe him...

He was the sort who would obediently follow you as long as you gave him a toy.

Lin Nai: Who would be that easy to fool?

Haha... who knew?

When she touched Lin Nai's hand.

Serval found that it was incredibly cold.

It was like the pickaxe Lynx brought back from the snowfields; touching it even once made you shiver.

So she did not hesitate. Her first thought was to bring this unexpected listener indoors and give him a warm drink.

In response to Serval's question, Lin Nai told the truth.

"I woke up, so I came out for a walk."

"..." Serval opened her mouth. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

"Ah... all right."

Serval did not ask further. Did people really wander the streets of Belobog in the middle of the night?

You were not a peacock or a wolf or something.

Given Belobog's situation, not many people dared to wander around at night.

She did not ask for specifics. He was already grown up, so there probably was not any problem.

"Hmm, are you interested in rock music?" Remembering what had just happened, Serval could not help asking.

Lin Nai had simply stood by the window, quietly watching her perform.

"Rock music..." Lin Nai hesitated.

Serval picked up an electric guitar and continued, "Want to give it a try?"

After hesitating for a few seconds, Lin Nai accepted the electric guitar.

"Can you play?"

"A little."

Thanks to Asta.

At the Space Station, Lin Nai had learned quite a few other things.

For example, musical instruments, painting, photography, and so on.

Thank you, Asta!

He had not expected them to come in handy one day...

But what should he play?

Ah! He had it!

He would play "Hero" from Nexus.

The bond of light.

He had liked listening to it before.

After having the system pull up the score, Lin Nai tried playing with the electric guitar in his hands.

Then...

The performance began.

After the song ended.

Serval excitedly grabbed Lin Nai's hand.

"That was so good! It was simply..."

"You really don't need to say the rest!"

Lin Nai shuddered, nearly crying out, "Hello, little steamed bun, goodbye."

"Haha... Sorry, I got a little excited."

Serval smiled awkwardly, looking at Lin Nai in surprise. "But I never would have guessed you were this good~"

Lin Nai smiled without saying anything.

"What's this song called?"

"'Hero.' It's a song I heard a long time ago," Lin Nai said wistfully.

It really had been a long time.

He did not even know how many years it had been.

"It really is a wonderful piece..."

Serval looked at Lin Nai before her with great interest.

This kid...

Perhaps he would make a pretty good guitarist?

Besides, Lin Nai was very much to her liking.

Late at night, Lin Nai had stopped in front of her shop, and she had happened to notice him.

Was this not a kind of fate?

Serval felt that it was fate!

An incredibly marvelous fate!

So she decided...

"Lin Nai!"

"Hmm?"

"Are you interested in joining your big sister's band?" Serval asked with a smile.

Lin Nai blinked. "A... a band?"

"That's right!" Serval hooked an arm around Lin Nai's neck. "What do you think? It'll be fun!"

"Your big sister here can even teach you how to clim... teach you lots of things~"

Like a bad old man luring away a little girl, Serval tempted Lin Nai by whispering in his ear.

"Lots of things?"

"That's right~"

"Ahem, Serval, abducting... uh, abducting adults is against the law too."

Hearing the voice.

Serval looked over.

She found a blue-haired girl in a Silvermane Guard uniform, with a very round face, staring at her while rubbing her forehead helplessly.

"Ah! Pela! When did you get here?"

"I arrived while this gentleman was playing the piece called 'Hero.'"

"Oh, I get it. You were eavesdropping at the door!"

"...What are you saying? What are you saying?! How can an intelligence officer's work be called eavesdropping?!"

Pela's little face instantly turned rosy, like... a peach-shaped bun?

Mainly because...

Her face really was so round...

"Are you thinking something bad?" Pela stared sharply at Serval.

Serval's face was full of question marks as she pointed at herself.

She sensed malicious slander.

But the target was wrong.

"Haha, so, Pela, why did you come?" Serval poured a cup of black tea and set it on the table.

Pela sat down as well and explained why she had come.

She had originally been on her way home when she happened to notice that her friend's workshop was still lit up.

So she had deliberately bought some late-night snacks to bring over for Serval.

But when she reached the door.

She heard some passionate music.

Opening the door would have been too loud and might have interrupted it, so Pela had quietly stayed outside to listen.

"I see." Serval nodded in realization. "Then where's the food?"

"Is food all you care about?!"