Chapter 12: The summoning
(Ryoto's pov)
I was alone in my room and at the moment was using a summoning scroll. A magic circle appeared on the floor, and four small figures started forming inside. They were really short, at an average of 55 cm.
__________
*PING*
*TITLE ACQUIRED*
Title: "Summoner Beginner"
__________
???: "Kowalski, analysis!"
Kowalski: "We appear to be in some kind of room, sir."
Skipper: "I can see that. Tell me why we're here."
Ryoto: "I think I can answer that question."
With my words, I brought their attention to me. They looked at me with shock and started behaving like normal penguins.
Ryoto: "You know it's too late for it now."
Skipper: "Plan B it is, Rico!"
Ryoto: "Wait! Don't you want to know why you are here?"
Skipper: "Rico, wait."
Rico stopped halfway through his puke, gulped down whatever he wanted to throw up, and looked disappointed.
Rico: "Kaboom?"
Skipper: "Not yet Rico, let's hear what our giant friend has to say."
Ryoto: "Quite trusting for someone with paranoia."
Skipper: "Who said I'm trusting you. I'm just listening to your explanation and then deciding my course of action."
Ryoto: "And who said that I will tell you the truth?"
Skipper: "And AND who said that I'll believe everything you said?"
Ryoto: "And and and who said that it wasn't my plan from the beginning-. It's starting to get annoying. In short, you are in a different universe from your own, and there is no way home for you."
I said with a lovely smile on my face... I must look crazy to them.
Skipper covered half of his beak and whispered.
Skipper: "Boys, I think he is completely bonkers."
'Karen, is there any item in the shop that would help me explain their situation?
Karen: "There is one that will allow them to understand the situation instantly without the need to explain anything."
'How much will it cost?'
Karen: "Everything."
'...'
Karen: "I mean, it will literally cost all of your points that are 600 SP."
'Why is it so cheap in comparison to everything else in the shop?'
Karen: "One-use items are cheaper in general, but this is a special case. You get a discount on this item as it's connected to the item you received. You can buy summoning scroll and clarification mist as a bundle, which would greatly reduce the price, but you got a discount as you do not have this option."
'At least there is something positive. Buy the item and use it immediately, Karen.'
Karen: "On it!"
As soon as she said it, a mysterious must appeared out of nowhere and surrounded all five of us. It quickly disappeared as if it never appeared in the first place.
I looked at the penguins.
Ryoto: "Do you get it now?"
Skipper: "So are we just summoned creatures that need to obey your every command?"
Ryoto: "Of course not. One of the things I hate the most is forcing someone to do something they don't want you, so I would like to have more casual relationships with you all. I can even let you roam around without you returning to the scroll if you want. I'll even buy you fresh fish."
Skipper: "The offer is tempting..."
He started rubbing his wing under his beak.
Skipper: "Kowalski, what do you think about it?"
Kowalski: "Staying here would be the most logical choice. As we are now, we don't have any shelter or food, and he could provide both."
Skipper: "True..."
After a lengthy discussion, we finally came to an agreement. I would provide food and a place to sleep for them, and they would work for me as my private commando squad. It was a good deal for both sides, so I don't have any complaints.
Later that day, I introduced the penguins to my family. Lala instantly hugged the private while Skipper said, 'some things never change'.
---
The next day our dad called Rito and me to help him with his work. He always asks us when he is in a pinch, and if we say no, he won't give us a monthly allowance. Maybe I should try earning my own money.
The most I can do with drawing a manga is coloring, so becoming a mangaka is not an option. The only other choice is to become a light novel writer. Okay, it's not the only one, but it's the easiest. Anyone in my shoes would at least try to do that.
Lala: "Where are you going?"
Rito: "We're going to help our dad with work."
Ryoto: "He always asks us, but he mainly wants Rito's help. I don't have a talent for drawing."
I scratched my cheek because of embarrassment.
Lala: "I see. What does Ryoto's papa do?"
Ryoto & Rito: "He is a mangaka."
Lala, of course, wanted to tag along, and I didn't have any problems with it, but before we left, I turned towards Skipper and said.
Ryoto: "I leave the house to you."
I hope nothing goes wrong while we are out.
---
We were before dad's studio, and we rang the bell.
*Ding* *Dong*
The door opened immediately.
Saibai: "Hey! Welcome, Rito, Ryoto! We don't have time! C'mon in!! !?"
He noticed Lala, who wore a big smile.
Lala: "Nice to meet you, Ryoto's papa!!"
Lala then started to observe dad from every possible angle.
Lala: "Hrmm, this is Ryoto's papa, huh? You don't look like Ryoto or Rito that much..."
Saibai: "Ryoto, Rito, what's going on?"
Ryoto: "This is Lala. She wanted to see your workplace and-
Saibai: "Idiot!! If you're gonna bring a girl, you should've said so first!! Nice to meet you. I'm Rito's and Ryoto's papa~~~."
He said that with the biggest possible smile. He even enlarged it even further with the help of his finger.
Inside, dad quickly accepted the fact that Lala was an alien. He even heard about her from Mikan. She even said to him that we slept together in one bed.
At first, he joked a little about being a youth, but he became serious and talked about responsibility right after. What is it with his mood swings?
Lala wanted to help, but her drawing skills were even lower than mine, so Rito proposed that she go to the room full of manga.
I, Rito, dad, and dad's assistants were working our ass off, but we wouldn't be able to finish on time no matter how hard we were working.
Lala saw this built machine that would help us finalize the manuscript, but after we completed it, we were all drained out of our energy.
We could finally go home but when we returned we saw...
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END
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