Returnee from Another World - Chapter 7: The Scent

Chapter 7: The Scent

“I’m Yasushi Sawai, honored to be nominated to lead this toast.”

“Hey, Yacchan!!”

“Shut up, Akari. We’re in the middle of something important. Be quiet for a bit.”

“Come on, it’s a celebration, isn’t it?”

“Sorry, she’s an idiot. Now, if I may be so bold, I’ll lead the toast. To the success of the business Masuda-san and Aniki Yasunaga are starting together… Cheers!!”

“Cheers!”

At the signal, glasses were raised all around.

I followed suit, lightly lifting my glass. The clink of glasses echoed, and the champagne, filled to the brim, nearly spilled.

I stared at the champagne glass with a complicated mix of feelings.

*

The deal with Yasunaga went smoothly.

Not just smoothly—it went better than I expected. I managed to get them to agree to nearly all my conditions, aside from the profit split.

The terms: I’d initiate contact.

I’d supply two or three gold ingots per month, but I’d decide the transaction dates. The handoff would take place at Yasunaga’s office, Andou Finance, a loan shark operation he runs.

If I couldn’t procure the goods after the third year, the deal would end.

Honestly, I’ve got enough stock to last thirty years.

At first glance, adding that final condition might seem pointless. But I insisted on it to keep an escape route open.

I’d deal with them, but I didn’t want to be tied down or have them hold me by the collar.

Initially, I didn’t even want to set a time limit.

The deal would end as soon as I couldn’t supply the goods—that was my stance.

But Yasunaga strongly objected.

From his perspective, it’s understandable. Investing and then hearing “I’m done” out of nowhere would be a problem. So, we settled on a compromise: a minimum of two years.

If unavoidable circumstances forced the deal to end before two years, I’d pay a 50-million-yen penalty, per a written agreement.

I felt half-pushed into it, but I have no intention of paying if it comes to that, so it doesn’t matter.

That’s beside the point.

The reason for my complicated mood was simple: the alcohol tasted awful.

Maybe this immature body hasn’t developed a taste for it yet. I’m not a lightweight, and the champagne wasn’t cheap by any means.

But compared to the alcohol in that world, the difference in brewing techniques felt like night and day.

It’d been eight years since I drank Earth’s alcohol.

I had a bad feeling from the start.

I could taste it, so I could drink it. But no matter how much I drank, the crucial buzz never came.

Yes, even after returning, my body refused to let me get drunk.

“Would you like me to get you something else? You don’t seem to enjoy that one.”

Yasunaga, noticing my glass hadn’t emptied much, spoke up considerately.

“Eh, Jay-san, you don’t like champagne? What do you want? Whiskey? Wine? Maybe brandy? You know, I actually love sake the most.”

A sweet, cloying scent tickled my nose.

A woman with large breasts, wrapping her arm around mine, purred in a sugary voice.

At some point, she’d started calling me “Jay-san” with annoying familiarity. Her name was Sayaka, a working girl.

Sake, huh.

That reminded me of a woman who loved sake. Was she a colleague?

She was a real heavyweight, downing a whole bottle without flinching. I barely remember her face, so she probably wasn’t that attractive.

In contrast, Sayaka’s face was strikingly beautiful—almost unnaturally so, making me wonder if she’d had work done.

In a dim place like this, makeup could make anyone look that way, though.

This high-end club’s supposed number-one girl, she was undeniably attractive to anyone’s eyes. Her body, clearly well-maintained, looked top-tier to me.

Sitting next to Yasunaga was Kaori, a rookie who still had a fresh, unpolished vibe.

Apparently, she’s a college student. But since she openly admitted to working here for spending money, that “fresh” impression was probably my imagination.

Next to her was Akari, a skinny, airheaded girl clinging to Yasu.

“No, no. I’m just the type to savor my drink slowly. It’s delicious.”

“If you change your mind, don’t hesitate to say so.”

I was being treated to a celebration for sealing the deal, doubling as a kickoff party.

It’d been a while, so I was looking forward to the alcohol more than the women. But since the alcohol wasn’t enjoyable, my mood sank fast.

Until that day at 25, I drank socially for work. In that world, the alcohol was overly sweet, and I couldn’t get drunk, so I eventually stopped.

Oh well.

This is just a side effect of my cheats.

My body, immune to status ailments, doesn’t get drunk. I’ve known that for ages. Thinking I’d magically revert to normal after returning was too good to be true.

Still, the thought of never getting drunk again inevitably dragged my mood down.

To shake off the gloom, I downed the rest of the champagne in one go.

Across from me, Yasu, the thug, put on a deferential expression and hesitantly spoke up.

“Um… Masuda-san.”

“Yes, Yasushi-san?”

“Just call me Yasu. I, uh, was rude when we first met. I’m really sorry.”

“Oh, that? I didn’t mind at all, so don’t worry about it, Yasu.”

“What, what? Did Yacchan screw up again? Is that why you got beat up like that?”

It was Yasunaga who did the beating.

Akari was wildly misunderstanding, but from her perspective, it might look that way. Yasu wore an awkward expression, silently staring at her.

He probably couldn’t correct her, given his position and the fact that Yasunaga was the one who hit him.

“Masuda-san, how about the girls? Any girl in this place is fair game. How about Sayaka for tonight? If she’s not your type, there’s Kaori. Oh, Akari’s Yasu’s girl, so please spare her.”

Sayaka, sitting beside me, flashed a seductive smile, leaning in to peer at my face.

As expected of a professional, her expression had enough allure to stir any man. Like a siren’s song luring prey, it hooked a man’s baser instincts.

Dozens of men must have fallen for that smile.

“Unfortunately, I’ve had some sugar issues for the past two years. Since then, I’ve been pretty much out of commission. I try, but it’s not easy.”

Truthfully, I was quite tempted.

Honestly, I’d never had a chance with a woman of this caliber before. If I’d stayed a regular salaryman, she’d be way out of my league.

But I didn’t fully trust Yasunaga yet.

He’s oddly likable. I don’t dislike him. He’s not a bad business partner, and my first impression is that we might get along. He has a certain vibe that feels similar to mine. But trust? I can’t say I do.

He’s a yakuza, after all. Someone I just met today.

The girls working here must know this is a yakuza-run club.

Getting involved with one of them would be like walking defenselessly into Yasunaga’s territory.

I don’t know the extent of Yasunaga’s relationship with Sayaka, but it’s safer to assume she’s acting with some awareness of the situation. I doubt he’d offer his own woman, so they’re probably not involved physically.

Plus, if I got intimate, the contrast between this slightly aged face and my youthful body might raise suspicions. It’s not a big deal, but I didn’t want to take risks yet.

“Oh, really? Well, I don’t mind that kind of thing. I know how to handle it.”

“Come to think of it, Sayaka likes older guys.”

“Not just anyone, though. But I think I’d be okay with Jay-san.”

“How about it? She’s saying this, so why not keep her? Her last patron bailed, so she’s free now. She’s high-maintenance, though.”

“That’s not true! I live pretty frugally, you know. Right, Akari-chan?”

“Yeah, Sayaka-san’s super stingy—in a good way. Ow! What the heck, Yacchan? You don’t have to hit me!”

My interest in Sayaka wasn’t just about her looks.

Her aura was fascinating.

The strongest color was the blue of 【Relief】【Calm】, with other colors barely present, maintaining that state consistently. Frankly, it’s a rare type.

In a good light, her mental state is always stable. In a bad light, it means she has little to no interest in me right now.

Still, the sweet scent emanating from her soft-looking body was more than enough to stir my neglected lower half.

“Brother, I’m crashing the party.”

A gruff voice snapped me back from nearly giving in.

The moment I looked in its direction, I felt like I’d been yanked from a dream back to reality.

That guy… I’ve seen him somewhere.

“Akuza, huh? We’ve got a guest. Don’t go wild like last time.”

“I got it, brother. I’m just here to drink quietly today.”

No, I shouldn’t have any yakuza acquaintances. Must be a lookalike.

Maybe someone in that world had a similar vibe.

Bald, barrel-chested, with a build twice as broad as mine. Not terribly tall, but still taller than me. Unlike Yasunaga, this guy had a dangerous aura in a different way.

“A friend of yours?”

“Well, sort of. Akuza’s my sworn brother, an old-school yakuza who only knows violence and preying on women.”

“Hmm.”

“I know it’s odd for me to say, but he’s no good. Best to steer clear.”

“That’s unusually harsh for you, Yasunaga-san.”

As Yasunaga spoke about Akuza, the black of 【Hostility】【Disgust】 intensified. He clearly doesn’t like him.

Friction exists in any organization, so it’s not surprising for members to dislike each other.

“Things got a bit sour, huh? Want to change venues? Or you can take Sayaka home if you want.”

“Tempting offer, but I’ll pass for today. Another time. I’ve got some plans afterward.”

“I see. Can’t be helped. Another time, then.”

With that, I stood up.

It was about time to leave anyway.

After a quick handshake with Yasunaga, I quietly left the dimly lit atmosphere of his club.