As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth’s Payback Lifestyle~

Chapter 161 – Totoki’s Repayment

“Wouldn’t it be easier to live in the camp? There are a lot of people over there, and it’s safer.” (Bouchi)
“Yeah, but Mahina wants to stay in this house.
Besides… I’m a little scared of places where there are a lot of people gathered.” (Koine)
Come to think of it, she and Mahina had once lived in a community center which was serving as a shelter at that time.
After Ohsaka had invaded the community center and it had been turned into a dungeon, the fear that resulted might have left her with a bit of trauma.

I thought that the survival rate would still be higher if there were more people around, but I didn’t speak further on the matter since Totoki’s older sister also seemed to acknowledge this decision.

“S-Say, Bouchi-kun.” (Koine)
“Hm?” (Bouchi)
“Err…” (Koine)
Totoki began to fidget awkwardly, making for an atmosphere that only made it more difficult to speak.

“…If you need to go to the toilet, then just go.” (Bouchi)
“T-That’s not it!” (Koine)
Ah, okay.
I thought she might be feeling a call of nature there.

“Ah, erm… Bouchi-kun.” (Koine)
“So, what is it?” (Bouchi)

“…I-Is there any way I can help you with your work?” (Koine)
“Hah?” (Bouchi)
What is she saying all of a sudden?

“My job… fighting monsters, you mean?” (Bouchi)
“No, the other one…” (Koine)
“The business one?” (Bouchi)
Totoki nodded her head repeatedly.

“But just now, you said you wouldn’t be able to do something like that by yourself, right?” (Bouchi)
“M-Mmhmm.
But I don’t want to do my own business.
I want to help you with your business, Bouchi-kun.” (Koine)
“Help?” (Bouchi)
“I can’t…? I’m good at calculating money, and I can keep the accounting books and stuff.
Umm… at school, I was in the student council and did administrative work, so I can also organize documents.” (Koine)
“You were in the student council?” (Bouchi)
“Yeah, since freshman year.” (Koine)

She went on to explain that at the beginning, she had started with general affairs before going on to experience different roles, such as secretary, treasurer, and so on.

Well, in a normal business, sales, product management, and so on needed to be organized as data, but there was clearly no need for such a thing in the business I was doing.

I didn’t have to pay taxes, I could keep track of my merchandise in the , and I could easily procure what I wanted with my skill.
I didn’t need to do bookkeeping or paperwork at all.

“Sorry, I don’t need help.” (Bouchi)
“…I see…” (Koine)
Totoki’s shoulders visibly fell in disappointment.

“Why did you suddenly offer? Are you dissatisfied with your current job or life?” (Bouchi)
“No, that’s not it… I was just hoping I could help you, Bouchi-kun.” (Koine)
It’s that again…?

“Ah, it’s not because of guilt or anything like that!” (Koine)
“Huh?” (Bouchi)
“I just want to repay you somehow.” (Koine)
“Repay me?” (Bouchi)

“Yes.
You’ve helped me a lot, Bouchi-kun.” (Koine)
“That… was all just a coincidence.” (Bouchi)
“It doesn’t matter if it was by coincidence.
In the end, we received a lot of help from you.
Besides… just from me watching you from behind, you’ve taught me a lot.” (Koine)
“I don’t recall my back ever saying anything to you though?” (Bouchi)
“No, I really did learn so much from you.
I want to live my life in a way that I can agree with! I don’t want to give in to anything that doesn’t sit right with me!”
…My father… He said the same thing once…!

“I want to repay the debt I owe to you for teaching me that.
And… I want to get closer to you, Bouchi-kun.” (Koine)
“You… why are you going so far…?” (Bouchi)
She seemed to change a little every time we met.
When we were still in school, she was just a weak person who always got swept along by her surroundings, the kind of person who could be found anywhere.

Now, she’d grown into a person with a strong character, with a proper backbone.

“I want to be someone who refuses to give in to my weaknesses.
I thought that the best way to achieve this would be by staying at your side, Bouchi-kun.
I know that I’m being selfish.
You’ve been betrayed before, and I know you can’t trust others.
But… But still, I want you to give me another chance… Another chance so I can make you trust me!” (Koine)
Before I knew it, everyone in the room had gone silent.
Everyone’s attention was directed at us.

Totoki’s eyes were locked with mine, not wavering in the slightest.
There’s no deceit in those eyes… I think.
But…

“…I don’t trust people or expect anything from them.
That’s… something I can’t do anymore.” (Bouchi)
“…!” (Koine)
“So no matter how much you speak on this matter, there’s no way I can just say ‘okay, yeah, sure.” (Bouchi)
“That’s… true.” (Koine)
Then, Mahina ran up to me and wrapped herself around my legs.

“Onii-chan! You see, you see! Onee-chan is always trying her best!” (Mahina)
“…Ma-chan.” (Bouchi)
“She was always, always saying…! That she wanted to be useful to you, onii-chan! That’s why she always tried her best!” (Mahina)
Mahina began to plead for her sister through tears.

Please, stop… You’re making it look like I’m the one who made you cry.

“So…! So please… f-forgive… onee-chan…!” (Mahina)
This child was too smart for her age.
She might have guessed from my attitude that I didn’t feel that good towards Totoki.
Or perhaps Totoki herself had told her that she had done something bad to me in the past…

Either way, I could tell how much Mahina cared for and cherished her older sister.
As I gazed down at Mahina, I let out a sigh and gently stroked her head.

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