kscans

Chapter 102 - It's Nothing But Weirdos ★

I got dressed, returned to the living room, and took out my smartphone. Then, I called Claire. The ringing stopped after just a few rings.

"Hello? Eleanor?"

It was Claire's voice.

"Good morning, is that right?"

If Claire was in America, there would be a time difference. It might be nighttime over there.

"Good morning is correct. I'm in Japan right now."

"You're back? You could have at least let me know."

"Sorry, sorry. Things have been hectic. So, is this call about the contract for the Healing Potions and Item Bag?"

I was also supposed to sell Claire a 1000-kilogram Item Bag along with the Healing Potion Lv2.

"That's the one. I want to move forward with my next contract."

"Next one?"

"I want to sell Healing Potion Lv2 to the Guild HQ. But I promised you I wouldn't sell to anyone else, right? I want to hammer out the details of our contract as soon as possible."

They're rushing me, and I have no intention of making an enemy of the Guild either.

"Ah... sorry. It's fine if you sell them. What I was concerned about was if you started distributing thousands of them, which would be a problem. You're not planning to sell that many, are you?"

"I plan on selling about a hundred?"

"Then do as you please. I'll be selling them in America, so our markets are different. Besides, I'll be selling mine faster. I've actually already reached out to several companies and wealthy individuals."

Claire works fast.

"I see... then I'll proceed with my contract on my end. What about you? When do you think it will be?"

"I can work around your schedule... In that case, are you free tomorrow?"

My plans for tomorrow... I was thinking of going adventuring with Nanapon, but we hadn't made any definite plans.

"Well, I'm available."

"Then let's finalize the contract tomorrow. I have a few things I want to ask you, too."

Things she wants to ask...

"Hmm, fine by me. Tomorrow it is."

"Where should we make the exchange? I'd prefer a taxi, personally."

Not that taxi again.

"Then could you pick me up behind the Ikebukuro Guild? I'll be waiting at noon."

"Got it."

With that, Claire hung up.

"Maybe I'll handle the contract tomorrow and go adventuring the day after..."

As I pondered what to do, I stood up to change back into Okita-kun. Just then, the living room door flew open with force. Of course, it was a fully dressed Kaede-chan who came in.

"Senpai! It's amazing! My hair and skin are amazing!"

Kaede-chan, having lost her vocabulary, rushed over to me with a two-hundred-percent smile.

"So it really worked, huh."

"Touch it! Touch it!"

Kaede-chan really knows how to play with people's hearts.

Thinking that, I touched and combed through Kaede-chan's hair.

"That tickles."

Kaede-chan tilted her head as if tickled and looked up at me.

"Wow. It's so silky."

It was lustrous and silky. The kind of hair you could touch forever.

"Right? This too, this too!"

Full of excitement, Kaede-chan rolled up her sleeves, revealing her slender white arms. I took her hand and stroked her arm.

"Whoa! Amazing! It's easier to tell than when I touched my own arm."

"It's incredible, isn't it? Don't you think Healing Potions could be used for other things too?"

It's possible... Maybe I should try mixing one into hair growth tonic? I'm not going bald, but it might sell.

"Time for some experiments."

"Hooray! The modern alchemist!"

She was just calling me an elementary schooler a moment ago. What a fickle girl.

After that, Kaede-chan and I went to a drugstore and carefully considered what items would be good to mix. This became my second date with Kaede-chan. A twenty-six-year-old and a twenty-four-year-old on a drugstore date, of all things.

◆◇◆

I was at a family restaurant near the Ikebukuro Guild, meeting with a certain person.

"Hey, sorry about that, Nanapon. I got you mixed up in something pointless."

The woman sitting across from me bowed her head. She was Saegusa Yoshino-san, the cousin of the Ikebukuro Guild's Guild Master and an A-rank adventurer. On a side note, she also calls me Nanapon. My opinion of Okita-san dropped.

"No... it's not a big deal, so it's fine."

This kind of thing is bound to happen when you're with Eleanor-san. Because Okita-san is, well, a little bit like that.

"I shouldn't have involved a minor like you..."

"No, you don't have to worry about that. I was the one who chose to be with her. By the way, were you investigating me as well?"

"No, not you. I draw the line at minors..."

That was a relief. I don't think I'd be found out, but I don't want even the slightest suspicion. It would be terrifying if Eleanor-san saw me as an enemy. Because that person is a bit of a psycho.

"Well then, it's fine..."

"Well, let's get along from now on. Oh, you can order whatever you want!"

This is a family restaurant, though... Just as Eleanor-san said, this person is really cheap.

"Thank you..."

Looking at Saegusa-san's beaming smile, I felt an indescribable emotion and decided to order some food. After ordering, our meals arrived a short while later, and we began to eat.

"By the way, Nanapon, how far can your Clairvoyance see?"

Yoshino-san asked while eating her doria.

"Did you hear that from Okita-san?"

"I did... or rather, he just let it slip."

My opinion of Okita-san dropped even further.

"I see... well, yes."

"Can you see what's inside my wallet?"

"Well, I can see that much."

"That's amazing. Then what about inside this?"

Saegusa-san put down her spoon and held up the bag she had placed on her seat. I stared at the bag, but it was hazy and I couldn't see through it.

This is an Item Bag...

"No, I can't see inside an Item Bag."

"Is that so... But there really are all sorts of unique skills, aren't there?"

I heard from Eleanor-san that this person has Perfect Memory. For me, who can cheat, it's a skill I don't really need.

"I wonder how many people have unique skills?"

"I don't know the exact number. Or rather, it's impossible to know. Like me, and like you, everyone hides them. At the Shinjuku Guild where I'm registered, I'm the only one."

That's surprising. I thought there would be more in Shinjuku.

"Are there a lot in Shibuya, then?"

"Probably. You can assume that almost all A-ranks have one. You should be careful when you meet A-ranks too. I'm worried that Okita-kun, despite being aggressive, tends to let his guard down."

Well, that's him. He's confident in his sword skills and has a strong desire for self-display. He'll try to show off and assert dominance whenever he gets the chance.

"I think he'll be fine."

"Well, I guess he'll be fine with you around..."

Where does that confidence come from?

"By the way, what do you think of Okita-san?"

"Hmm, I think he's a good kid, but... he wouldn't make me his mistress."

I've just heard something terrible.

"H, his mistress?"

How adult. As expected of someone so well-endowed.

"See, Okita-kun is incredibly attached to Kaede, and Kaede doesn't seem to mind either, so marriage is probably out of the question, right? That's why I'd be his mistress. I want money."

This person is a good person, but her obsession with money has caused a few screws to come loose. That's why she'd try to become the mistress of a man like that.

"Okita-san refused?"

That's surprising. He doesn't seem like such a serious person.

"It might be because he was in his Eleanor form. Judging by Okita-kun's usual gaze, it seems like I have a chance."

That person was calling Saegusa-san 'boobs.' He's the worst. My opinion of Okita-san plummeted.

"G, good luck."

I shouldn't get involved in the relationship of three adults. It seems like I'd get caught in the crossfire.

"I will. By the way, Nanapon, would you like to go adventuring with Okita-kun and me? I invited you today partly for that reason."

"Ah, I'm fine with just going with Eleanor-san."

"I heard from Okita-kun that you dislike him that much. Is that true?"

That person really runs his mouth...

"I don't dislike him, but he scares me. When he fights monsters, he has the eyes of a killer."

Sometimes he even smiles. Well, so does Eleanor-san, but...

"The eyes of a killer... what does that even mean? Well, whatever. So you prefer Eleanor? Personally, I find Eleanor scarier... she's creepy."

Eleanor-san is creepy?

"You think so? Eleanor-san is kind and cool, isn't she?"

"Is she?"

It's no use. I can't see eye to eye with this person. Okita-san is probably nice to Saegusa-san. Is this the power of the chest... Men are really...

My opinion of Okita-san dropped astronomically.

"She is."

"Is that so..."

We continued talking, and after we finished our meals, we headed to the register.

"Nanapon, I'll get this."

Saegusa-san took out her wallet with a smug look on her face.

Amazing... She can make that face over a few hundred yen...

"Thank you for the meal. I'm meeting a friend this afternoon, so I'll be leaving here."

"I see. Should I give you a ride?"

"No, it's close by, so I'll be fine. Thank you again for everything."

"Right. Feel free to call on me anytime."

"Thank you."

I bowed to Saegusa-san, left the family restaurant, and started walking toward the station. A black car pulled up to the side of the road, so I got into the back seat.

"Boss, how did it go?"

The subordinate sitting in the back seat asked.

"An A-rank is scary, as expected. Though she seemed a bit ditzy."

She seemed loose in other ways too. Not that I'd know.

"Saegusa Yoshino is one of Japan's top-class adventurers. Please be careful."

"It'll be fine. In fact, I'm glad to have made a connection in a good way."

I'm weak, after all. I'm glad she's an easy-to-handle A-rank.

"I see... However, that woman is also famous for being competent. We will provide protection, but please be truly careful."

"It's fine. In the worst-case scenario, the Golden Witch will protect me."

Eleanor-san wouldn't abandon me. ...Probably.

"You became her disciple, didn't you?"

"I did. Thanks to that, people on the internet are calling me a weirdly dressed kid."

I know the suit and sunglasses don't suit me, but I didn't have anything else. I want to avoid my face being recognized for various reasons. But I absolutely refuse to become a man with a gender reassignment potion. I have no idea how that person can make that choice.

"I think it looks good on you."

This guy has no sense. No, is it because he's dressed the same way...

"Well, whatever. More importantly, how are things on your end?"

"Everything is going smoothly. The invisibility potions you gave us are amazing. We should be able to crush the opposing forces with those."

I had received various potions from Eleanor-san, so I passed them on to these guys.

"I'm counting on you. What about around the Guild?"

"The Guild and the Japanese government have finally started to make their move, so things have quieted down. Those two from America are here as well, so we don't expect any movement for the time being."

That said, I don't know what will happen with the Healing Potion Lv3...

"Understood. Continue as you are. I'll handle things on my end."

"Yes, ma'am. Are you heading home? We can give you a ride."

"I don't need one. I'm going to do some shopping before I go home. See you."

I got out of the car, headed to the station, and took the train to Nerima. When I arrived at Nerima station, I got off the train, left the station, and went to the apartment building where Okita-san and Asakura-san live.

I looked up at their apartment and used my Clairvoyance.

Hmm, for once, Okita-san is in his Eleanor-san form. That's lucky for me, but what are those two doing?

They're sitting close together on the sofa, touching each other's hands and arms...

Huh? Could it be, it's starting?! Ah... Hmm? No, Okita-san is Eleanor-san, though...?

What's going on? Could it be that Asakura-san has snapped too?

...I don't really get it, but for now, I'll just keep watching.