Chapter 142

Chapter Thirty-Six Invitation

“Excuse me.”

Makoto, who greeted politely, couldn’t find the place to change her shoes after entering. In contrast, Ash walked directly into the house without taking off his shoes.

“Wait, you’re not going to change your shoes?”

“It’s troublesome, just wait.”

Ash’s voice came from the other end of the entrance. After shuffling noises, a pair of slippers with big helmet beetles appeared in front of Makoto.

“Thank you.”

Before coming, Makoto had been curious about what kind of place Ash would live in. Was it supposed to be like a palace where an evil queen resides, a dangerous laboratory filled with experiments, or a secret hideout under the fridge? Now was the time to see for herself.

Finally seeing it with her own eyes, she realized it was a major disappointment. If not a loss then at least a huge mess.

Ash’s living space could be described with one word—disorderly! While there were traces of cleaning on the floor and walls, it was cluttered everywhere with toys, books, and miscellaneous items heaped on sofas and dressers. It was clear that a messy owner lived here.

As a girl, Makoto valued cleanliness, always maintaining order in her home and workplace. Now looking at Ash’s place, she felt physically uncomfortable.

“This is too chaotic. And why do you still have garbage in the bin?”

Ash didn’t turn around as he prepared to clear out the sofa area: “It’s fine since it’s not summer, it won’t smell… Hmm?”

When he turned back, Makoto was already gone and the bin was empty; he understood something happened.

“The whole place is… Ah!”

When he returned, he sensed less hostility from the girl but more disdain towards him.

“Did you leave your transformation device, I mean, your partner, behind?”

Ash noticed Makoto’s waist bag was empty—she had no means to transform, becoming just an ordinary girl.

“I convinced Dabi, so she won’t follow me,” Makoto stared Ash straight in the eyes. “Otherwise, you would have tried to force me to fight with you!”

“Correct answer, a reward.” He snapped his fingers crisply, casually tossing his jacket towards Makoto, treating her like a servant.

“Wait, you—”

Makoto grabbed off the thrown coat, ready to explode with frustration. A small disc slid into her hand from a pocket. The tickling sensation reminded her there was a new object.

“What’s this?”

Looking at the red and white watch-like disk decorated with mechanical parts, Makoto hesitated about Ash’s intentions.

“I told you, a reward.”

“You wouldn’t attack someone untransformed, right?”

Balancing the heavy jacket awkwardly high, Makoto nervously asked her primary concern.

If Ash casually attacked ordinary people, Makoto wouldn’t believe anything he said.

“If you’re some ruthless person, I wouldn’t care if you were transformed or not since there’s little difference.”

Amidst Makoto’s nervousness, Ash resumed speaking.

“But you’re no different from an ordinary girl when untransformed. Bullying a weak opponent isn’t my style.”

“For today, forget the battle. As a host, I will treat you.”

With Ash’s response, Makoto’s worries subsided—not only for her safety but also the certainty that he wouldn’t harm others while untransformed.

“Do you prefer Mars or Earth?”

“Huh? Mars, I guess.”

Not noticing Ash stirring a handle in the kitchen, Makoto simply answered without much thought. She soon regretted her choice.

Even though she expected being ignored initially, Makoto was surprised by Ash’s hospitality.

Soon, Ash brought coffee and cups on a tray to the living room where Makoto sat.

“But you’re quite a risk,” Ash poured himself hot, aromatic coffee. “Entering your enemy’s lair unarmed—you know, the saying…”

“Like a sheep entering a tiger’s mouth.”

“I’m aware!” She watched Ash pouring coffee into another cup, determination in her eyes.

“But being aware doesn’t mean you’re prepared. Personal awareness is one thing, but others’ reactions are another.”

“You might end up thinking it’s a noble cause when it’s just reckless.”

Having discussed this, they decided not to overthink Ash’s nonsense. True to their agreement, Makoto focused on the coffee aroma.

The well-balanced fragrance, with a touch of bitter and sweet flavors, soothed her nerves.

It smelled amazing!

Inhaling deeply again, Makoto felt intrigued despite not being a coffee lover.

She wondered how skilled Ash was in brewing coffee without any malintent.

“No, what am I thinking? This is the enemy Ash giving me coffee, what if he put something in it…”

Seeing Ash down the whole cup without hesitation, Makoto carefully lifted her cup, taking in the hot steam with mixed emotions.

It tasted incredible!

Her taste buds’ first reaction brought a joyful surprise, but slowly the coffee’s complex flavors changed.

Sliding down her throat with a soothing movement, the coffee revealed its true taste — sweet, bitter, sour, and indescribable. It felt like flavor bombs exploding against her tongue.

Her face mirrored the dramatic taste changes, turning from rosy to blueish purple, finally settling with a dark color like ink.

Now she got it—the Mars and Earth relationship.

“Cough—Cough!”

Unable to stand it, fresh coffee spewed forth from Makoto’s mouth towards Ash, splashing half of it on the plate he raised and then dripping to the ground.

“How embarrassing.”

“Cou… cough!”

Severe coughing interrupted, her confused shouts echoing.

“Why is it so hard to swallow!?”

Despite its appealing scent, the flavor was utterly confusing.

That’s understandable—anything can become unbearable when taken to extremities, similar to how excess sugar can ruin sweetness.

Makoto believed this was unintentional.

“There’s nothing wrong with it, you just can’t accept it.”

Ash drank the remaining half cup.

He learned this “Mars Coffee” recipe specifically and added his own twist. Even the snake-scaled creature he learned from admitted it was an unusual beverage for a human.

“Now I understand… Wait!”

Realizing Ash used the cup from before, Makoto’s face heated up.

“That was mine! How can you—”

“Don’t mind it. What are you bothered by?”

Ash’s nonchalant response shifted her mood.

Flushed but not from embarrassment but anger, Makoto’s teeth ground audibly.

“What do you want?”

Finally, Makoto slammed the table, breaking the silence.

“It should be you asking… you’re the one who came to me.”

Putting away the playful banter, Ash steeled himself.

“If you came just for the coffee, you’ve had enough. You can leave now, the door’s open.”

“If you’re here for something else, speak up or I can’t guess. After all, I don’t read minds.”

Crossing his arms under his chin, Ash observed the conflicted expressions on Makoto’s face.

“Princess…”

At last, she voiced her purpose.

“You said you knew where Princess An was! Please tell me.”

“Alright.”

Raising his finger, Ash tapped gently on the glass table, each tap resonating in Makoto’s heart.

“Why should I?”

He enunciated with emphasis.

“We agreed, you win, I tell you. But you didn’t give me a chance—because you lost.”

Makoto lowered her head, humiliated.

“You’ve lost, why ask me? This makes it tough on me.”

Summoning her courage, she addressed him firmly.

“I will do it!”

“What does ‘will do it’ mean?”

Hearing this, Ash became intrigued.

“Tell me where Princess An is, and how to rescue her!” Taking a deep breath, Makoto declared it confidently.

She knew Ash had no obligation to tell her even if he knew the location, let alone as an enemy.

But for the hope of Poker Kingdom, to repay Princess’s kindness, to protect her dearest friend, she wouldn’t back down!

“As a trade, I’ll do anything…”