From RE0, Sato Kazuma decided to cheat on food and drink

"Is this good?"

Mei looked at the wine glass in front of her with a curious expression.

In less than half a second, Kazuma Sato snatched the wine glass from her:

"Children shouldn't drink this stuff—and Grandpa Rom! Felt wants to sneak a sip too, stop her!"

"You little brat, you actually snitched on me, huh!"

Beatrice was also staring intently at the wine glass; she had never drunk alcohol before.

Just as she was wondering about the taste, Sato Kazuma, who had just been next to Merry, instantly teleported to Beatrice's side:

"I told you, children shouldn't drink alcohol!"

"You idiot, Betty isn't a little kid!"

"She's clearly a young girl!"

"Betty is at least four hundred years old!"

"So, are you an old woman?"

"Betty isn't an old woman!"

"Then you're a little girl! But I know, little girls would never admit they're little girls! Boss, triple juice, please!"

"Idiot and real idiot and real idiot and real!"

. . . . . .

A few hours later, the once bustling restaurant was filled with the sound of snoring; almost all the guests had been drunk to the point of unconsciousness by Aqua.

"Um, sir... how will the fees be settled later?"

The shop owner cautiously approached Aqua and Kazuma Sato and asked them in a low voice.

"Useless goddess, the money's with you, right? Give it to me... *hiccup*..."

Kazuma Sato was already quite drunk, and while hiccuping, he spoke to Aqua.

"give it to me!"

Aqua, still tipsy, reached into her pocket—

But the place was empty.

? !

Aqua, who was originally drunk, suddenly sobered up and discovered that her carefully prepared wallet had disappeared!

Wait, wait, wait...

Aqua's mind raced as she tried to recall what had happened.

I did put my wallet in my pocket earlier...

Then, thinking that he would continue to develop the sect after arriving in the capital, he also put the application form he had written in advance into his pocket.

However, Aqua felt her pockets were a bit too small, so she took out her wallet first.

I have no recollection of putting the wallet back afterward.

She didn't bring the money!

"that......"

Aqua shakily moved her head close to Kazuma Sato's ear, who was still in a dazed, drunken state.

"Kazuma, I don't think I brought any money."

"Um?!"

These words were like a sudden burst of magic in a stinking ditch, instantly making Kazuma Sato feel relieved. His bloodshot eyes stared straight at Aqua, and his expression seemed to become distorted.

You! Didn't! Bring! Money?

Then what was the point of our previous campaign against the monsters?!

%……＆%￥

Even though Kazuma Sato didn't say a word, the silence here spoke volumes.

At that moment, he felt like strangling Aqua.

No, there is still hope!

Kazuma Sato turned his head and smiled at Beatrice:

"Betty, is your teleportation magic still working? Just teleport us back to the manor; we have some things we forgot to take."

"Even if Betty wanted to, she couldn't do it. That magic has a range limit, and Betty hasn't been able to store enough mana from that idiot and you yet. If she uses it continuously..."

"Okay, I get it."

Kazuma Sato's expression darkened, and he braced his hands on the table.

In that instant, Kazuma Sato's mind raced.

Skipping out on the bill?

Washing dishes?

No, no, no, Aqua is now one of the candidates for king. Even if she wanted to freeload, the boss definitely wouldn't dare say anything—

Damn it, just because I'm a candidate, I shouldn't do these things!

The so-called Royal Selection Conference is being held tomorrow, and both he and Aqua are required to attend. If they don't, it would be tantamount to disrespecting the dragon and the kingdom, which is a serious crime!

If others find out that Aqua, as a candidate, had actually taken advantage of others, it could very well expose their true identities!

It seems suspicious to think that a candidate would eat for free on the eve of the conference.

A bold idea began to form in Kazuma Sato's mind.

It's time to get back to my old ways.

"Wait a moment, I have something to do."

Kazuma Sato gave Aqua a resolute look, and she understood and nodded vigorously.

Kazuma Sato then walked out of the restaurant, his eyes searching the streets.

They were searching for targets to steal from.

Since things have come to this, in order to leave safely, the only option left is to find a rich person and steal a large sum of money.

However, this location is rather ordinary, and it seems that no nobles would frequent this place.

Even though Kazuma Sato is penniless right now, he can't bring himself to harm ordinary people.

Is this where everything is going to end?

Just as Sato Kazuma was in a state of extreme anxiety, he happened to see several elegantly dressed people approaching.

Leading the way was an elderly man dressed in fine clothes, his beard and hair already white. The people behind him were also dressed in fine clothes, but judging from their words and actions, they were of slightly lower status than the old man.

"Looks like my luck has finally paid off! I'm so sorry, although this money is nothing to you as a nobleman, it's an incredibly important lifeline for us!"

A smile appeared on Sato Kazuma's face, and he immediately used his stealing ability on the old man.

The next instant, a delicate wallet appeared in his hand.

Just by touching the material, Kazuma Sato could tell that the wallet was quite valuable. It seemed that the old man was no ordinary person, and he could tell from just a quick shake that there were definitely a lot of gold coins inside!

Why would such nobles come to this area?

Although the restaurant wasn't in the slums, it was in the surrounding area, though not exactly bustling. Sato Kazuma rarely saw any nobles there.

It didn't matter. Kazuma Sato had stolen his wallet silently, and the other party certainly wouldn't have noticed. His coming here had nothing to do with him.

The most urgent task now is to go back and save Aqua and the others, so Kazuma Sato didn't think much of it, shrugged his shoulders, and then quickly headed towards the location of the hotel.

Behind him, the nobles were also walking along the same route as Kazuma Sato.

"Lord McCrotov, is this intelligence really reliable? It's as if it has brought you to a place like this! And even if it is true, you'll get what you want at tomorrow's meeting, right?"

A short, middle-aged man with a somewhat fierce face asked the old man beside him with utmost respect,

"This place is too close to the slums; it's full of filthy people!"

His words were full of disdain for ordinary people.

“Lord Rikert, this is a very important matter for me. I heard from the guards that Lady Aqua has returned to the capital today, and I also received intelligence not long ago that Lady Aqua seems to have appeared here, and many people are calling out her name.”

A hint of awe flashed in McCrotoff's deep eyes, and his tone became very serious.

"I want to see the person who created the miracle with my own eyes before the conference begins tomorrow. The miracle she caused is exactly the same as the one recorded in history when the dragon appeared."

"She is definitely not an ordinary candidate. No candidate has ever elicited such a strong reaction from the badge. Perhaps she is favored by the dragon, or even... an incarnation of the dragon. I am certain that she and the dragon have an inseparable relationship!"

"That's why I must go and see with my own eyes the person who caused the miracle—Lady Aqua."

As McCrotoff spoke, his aged body, aided by a cane, involuntarily quickened its pace.

Chapter 62: The Day Myrotov Was Persecuted

"I am back!"

Inside the restaurant, Kazuma Sato, with a joyful smile on his face, spoke to Aqua while proudly taking out the wallet he had just stolen and waving it around in his hand a few times.

The sound of gold coins rubbing together was incredibly pleasant.

"Eh!"

Aqua's eyes also shone, then she turned to look at the restaurant owner.

"Boss, we're not in a hurry to pay, let's have another dozen bottles of beer!"

"Good Le!"

Soon, several more drinks were served, and Aqua was already eager to launch her second offensive.

"Brother Kazuma, where did you get this money? I didn't see you carrying a wallet before."

A hint of surprise crossed Meili's face.

Meanwhile, Felt was also watching Sato Kazuma intently.

She could tell at a glance that Kazuma Sato had stolen it.

However, Felt was still curious about how Kazuma Sato had managed to do it.

During the battle with the Bowel Hunter, Kazuma Sato was able to steal Elsa's weapons from a great distance.

They even stole his... without him noticing...

In Felt's eyes, Kazuma Sato was practically a master thief.

I really want to learn!

But Ferut could never overcome that hurdle in her heart—

She simply couldn't bring herself to ask a stupid, perverted person for advice on such matters.

"I was lucky today. Even though you, Goddess of Uselessness, didn't bring any money, you still managed to resolve the trouble in the end!"

Just as Kazuma Sato was about to start drinking heavily with Aqua, the hotel door was suddenly pushed open.

Kazuma Sato turned his head to look and was instantly horrified.

The newcomer was none other than the old man whose abilities he had just stolen!

Mycroft!

Etc., etc.

How did this guy end up here?

Could it be that my theft has been discovered?

No, absolutely impossible!

I activated my thieving skill from a great distance, there's absolutely no way this guy could have noticed!

It must be just a coincidence; maybe they just wanted to come over for a meal!