If the opponent really was an expert even he couldn't handle, then he would just take out the Gourmet Tablecloth and order a hundred cans of pickled scale fish!!
Both of them remained intensely vigilant when a rough male voice suddenly sounded outside the door:
"Hey! Machi, are you in there?!"
Upon hearing that voice, Machi's icy gaze immediately relaxed.
"I'm here."
She slowly lowered the thin threads.
That action showed that the person outside was someone she knew.
Still, just in case someone had disguised themselves as, or was holding hostage, someone she knew in order to deal with her, she did not lower the vigilance she ought to have.
In dangerous Meteor City, anything could happen. No amount of caution was excessive.
"If you're in there, open the door. It's really me—not being held hostage, not disguised. Proof is, there's an idiot swordsman beside me who couldn't even chop a chicken to death with a knife."
"Find me a live chicken in Meteor City first! If there is one, I'll chop it to death right in front of you!!"
"Oh, so basically, you can't even kill a chicken."
"You haven't even seen a dead chicken, you bastard! What nonsense are you spouting?!"
The rough-voiced man clearly knew how to prove whether he was safe or not.
It was just that his choice of words seemed to have angered the companion who had come with him, and the two began arguing outside.
Hearing those familiar tones and sounds of bickering, Machi finally dropped all her guard and stepped forward to open the door.
"Stop arguing, Uvogin," Machi said calmly. "You too, come in, Nobunaga."
Uvogin and Nobunaga came in while grumbling and cursing.
"There's someone else?!"
Only after entering did the two realize that, aside from Machi, there was another person in the room.
He was craning his neck, looking them over with some curiosity.
"So this is the younger Uvogin and Nobunaga?"
That incredibly conspicuous afro and ronin samurai outfit made them hard for Morin not to recognize.
When Chrollo from Hunter x Hunter recalled the Phantom Troupe's founding days, the traits of those people had been so obvious.
Uvogin had dark skin, a conspicuous black afro, a tall and sturdy build, and muscular arms and legs, though he was still far less burly than he would be in the future.
Nobunaga had a straight braid tied atop his head. His features actually looked somewhat delicate, and his skin was very fair.
Nobunaga and Uvogin were practically two extremes. He looked like a pretty-faced young man; who knew how he had turned into that haggard middle-aged uncle over a decade later.
Those were Morin's first impressions of Uvogin and Nobunaga. All he could do was marvel once again at how terrifying the butcher's knife of time was.
"Machi, who's this guy?"
Uvogin picked his nose and casually pointed at Morin as he asked.
He did not seem particularly hostile or wary toward Morin.
The fact that Morin could stand unharmed in Machi's room, and that Machi could open the door for them as safely and casually as usual, was enough to explain everything. Uvogin did not trust Morin; he trusted Machi's sense of caution regarding her own safety.
Since Machi thought it was fine for Morin to stay in her house, Uvogin thought it was fine too.
Though he looked rough, he was actually quite thoughtful beneath that exterior.
As for Nobunaga, he looked Morin up and down, rubbing his chin as he thought somewhat unhappily:
"He's actually more handsome than I was back then."
"His name is Morin. He's staying with me for the time being."
As Machi spoke, she looked at Morin and pointed at Uvogin and Nobunaga.
"Uvogin. Nobunaga."
Though the introductions were brief, the fact that Machi had introduced them to each other showed that neither side was a problem.
"What did you two come to my house for?"
Machi asked.
She was still somewhat displeased that Uvogin and Nobunaga had interrupted her study of Nen ability knowledge.
"You're the one talking."
Uvogin, who had been observing Morin, immediately became unhappy upon hearing that.
"Didn't we agree two days ago to go look for things at the landfill in the garbage dump today?"
Uvogin said indignantly, "You were late, Machi!"
Machi: "...I think that did happen."
She patted her forehead.
Two days ago, she really had arranged to act together with Uvogin and Nobunaga today.
But Morin's series of actions had left her so stunned that she had forgotten all about it.
As a result, she had failed to arrive on time as promised.
And Uvogin was the most punctual person, so he especially hated lateness and broken promises.
"We were worried something had happened to you, Machi."
Nobunaga smoothed things over from the side. "After all, you've never been late or gone back on an agreement before, so we came specifically to check on you."
Machi shook her head. "This was indeed my fault."
Nobunaga waved his hand as well and smiled. "It's fine. We were just worried about you."
Uvogin beside him also raised his head.
"Thank you."
Machi's heart warmed slightly.
"Alright, as long as you're fine, let's go."
The impatient Uvogin spoke as he headed toward the door.
"If we're any later, the good stuff might all get picked over. Today's the day the garbage trucks come, so plenty of people will be going. Hurry up." He did not forget to turn and look at Morin. "Hey, what was your name? Morin, right? I happen to have an extra protective suit. We can talk about the size after we get back; just wear it for now."
Uvogin was quite familiar with people once Machi's introduction had made it clear they were alright, and he immediately started noisily chatting away.
"Um?"
Morin, whose name had been called, asked Uvogin:
"What are we going to the landfill to look for?"
"Supplies for daily life, of course!"
Uvogin looked at Morin as if he were an idiot, while also signaling to Machi with his eyes.
The little brother you picked up seems like his brain isn't working too well.
Machi merely pursed her lips and crossed her arms, watching with interest.
"Huh?"
At that moment, Nobunaga beside them noticed something.
"Looks like you've had quite a good haul these past two days, Machi."
Nobunaga stepped forward, walked to the table, picked up the bowl Morin and Machi had used for their meal earlier, and examined it carefully.
"This is the first time I've seen such a good bowl. The ones in my house are all battered and broken."
He clicked his tongue in amazement as he inspected it.
This was one of the bowls provided along with the food created by the Gourmet Tablecloth.
"A bowl like this could be traded for quite a bit of black rice."
The speaker had not meant anything by it, but the listener took it to heart.
Machi's eyes suddenly lit up at those words.
That's right, I can't take the food out because it would get torn to pieces.
But if I'm careful, there shouldn't be a problem with these leftover bowls and plates, right?
It's not like anyone would eat bowls and plates too, would they?
Machi immediately began silently calculating how much she could sell them for.
"Stop talking about pointless things."
Uvogin was getting impatient. "Let's go already."
"A bowl like this can be traded for quite a bit of black rice?"
Morin stepped forward and smiled.
"Yeah."
Nobunaga nodded. "Only those elders can use things this good. As long as we can trade for some black rice to fill our stomachs, that's enough."
Perhaps because he saw in Morin the dashing and handsome image of himself from a few years ago, Nobunaga was quite willing to chat with him.
"Does black rice taste good? Doesn't it smell kind of strange?"
"Of course it doesn't taste good, but it's cheap to exchange for, and even a small amount can fill your stomach."
"It's pretty cost-effective."
Uvogin:
So I have so little presence that you two can just keep ignoring me?
He was starting to lose his mind. "Hey, you two..."
"I'll treat you to a meal."
Morin interrupted him once again.
"Consider it a treat for our first meeting."
"You're treating us to a meal?"
This time, Uvogin did not get angry. Instead, he seized on the important point.
"You're treating? Then let me make this clear first—I won't hold back."
"That's exactly what I want."
Morin smiled. "Eat as much as you want. Eat however much you can. If you don't get full, I'll be the one getting upset."
"Is that so?"
Uvogin immediately stopped being angry. Morin's attitude was exactly to his taste.
He grinned. "Then bring out the black rice. I'll definitely clean it all up for you."
"Black rice?"
Morin smiled and shook his head. "If I'm treating, I can't possibly serve black rice."
"Oh?"
Uvogin and Nobunaga raised their brows.
Machi, who had been watching the show, also chimed in, "He has something better than black rice."
Before you continue