kscans

Chapter 109 - It's My Fault for Being a Good Person

After Yoshino-san left, having finished the contract, Kaede-chan and I spent a relaxing evening drinking and gazing at our 1.4 billion yen.

The next day, I woke up just before noon, got ready, and headed to the Guild in Ikebukuro. Since I was going to Frontier with Nanapon today, I was, of course, dressed as Eleanor-san in her black robe.

I took a taxi to the back of the Guild, greeted the security guard, and went inside. I passed through the corridor and emerged behind the reception counter. Then, as usual, I walked out into the lobby from behind the counter and went to find Kaede-chan. As usual, there were only a few other people in the lobby.

"Good afternoon."

I said as I approached Kaede-chan's station.

"Yes, good afternoon."

Her smile was, as expected, at fifty percent. It was hard to believe this was the same person who was fanning herself with a stack of ten-thousand-yen bills last night, beer can in hand and a huge smile on her face.

"Has Agent Seven arrived yet?"

"Not yet… Are you really going with that name?"

"Who knows? Either way, she's not a girl who will be in the public eye, so I think anything is fine."

Rumors will probably spread, but I have no intention of letting Nanapon appear on TV, and I can't imagine the shy Nanapon would want to.

"Well, I guess it's fine… She's a bit of a strange girl in her own way."

In her own way? Is she implying I'm strange, too? Ah… it’s because I change my gender…

"In any case, I told her to come after me, so I think she'll be here eventually."

"Right. Are you going to Mireille Road again today?"

"That's the plan."

"Understood. Here you go, then."

Kaede-chan said, handing me my weapon. I put it in my bag and, in its place, took out a single notebook.

"Could you give this to Satsuki-san for me?"

I placed the notebook on the counter and made my request to Kaede-chan.

"A notebook? What is it?"

Kaede-chan picked up the notebook and flipped through its pages. It was unused, so nothing was written inside.

"I forgot to explain, but this is that Auto-Map. If you write the scale in the top right corner, it will automatically create a map for you. I'm giving it to Satsuki-san, so could you tell her to try it out?"

Satsuki-san had asked to see it, so I figured I'd let her test it out. I still don't fully grasp how convenient the Auto-Map is, nor do I understand the situation with commissioning a surveying company. So, for now, just handing it over should be fine.

"Understood. I'll give it to the Guild Master."

"Thanks. Well, I'm heading out."

"Have a safe trip."

With Kaede-chan seeing me off, I headed towards the Gate. I pictured Mireille Road in my mind and stepped through.

The place I emerged into was the same sunny, nature-rich road as always, but today, I couldn't see any other adventurers. Thinking this would make things easier, I decided to wait for Nanapon in a suitable spot.

As I waited, thinking how peaceful it was, someone came out of the Gate. It wasn't Nanapon, however. The people who emerged were a party of four, and what's more, they were all middle-aged men.

After coming out of the Gate, the men began to talk amongst themselves, but they soon seemed to notice me, and all of them turned to look in my direction. Then, one of the four men started walking towards me.

Seeing this, I considered drawing my sword, but the man wasn't carrying a weapon and didn't seem hostile, so I decided to wait.

"Excuse me, you got a minute?"

The man called out to me.

"What is it?"

"You're Eleanor Ocean, right?"

"That's right."

"Didn't you happen to save some high school students in the Kunaar Ruins a while back?"

High school students? Could it be those brats who called me a hyena? …Ah, this old guy is that piece of crap from back then!

"Something like that may have happened."

"I knew it was you! I've been wanting to meet you!"

Creepy…

"Do you need something?"

"No, first, I want to apologize. It was something that happened while I was in the bathroom. I'm sorry for getting you involved in such a trivial matter. As their supervisor, it was my responsibility. And thank you for saving those kids."

The man bowed his head.

"Alright, alright. Apology and thanks accepted."

It was so long ago I'd forgotten about it. I don't really care now.

"So, about that, you used a Healing Potion on the girl who injured her leg, didn't you?"

"I did. She looked like she was in a lot of pain, so I used one."

Her leg was bent at a weird angle.

"Regarding that matter, the girl's parents would like to apologize for the trouble caused and thank you for saving their daughter."

What a pain…

"Please tell them it's not necessary. Adventurers are responsible for themselves, aren't they?"

"That's true, but it's not so simple when minors are involved… First of all, the parents won't accept that."

Parents would be like that, I suppose…

"This apology and thanks of theirs is a nuisance."

"I understand that, but being an adult means you have to do these things anyway. Both the one giving and the one receiving."

It almost makes me think I shouldn't have saved them, but even if I could go back in time, I don't like seeing kids die, so I'd probably end up helping them anyway.

"…The apology is one thing, but the thanks is what's troublesome. Don't tell me it's money?"

"I think it will be. At the very least, they've said they'll pay for the Healing Potion."

"Sigh… I don't know their financial situation, but it can't be cheap…"

"But it would be bad if they didn't offer, right?"

Well, yeah. Any decent person would do the same. I'd do the same if someone saved my child.

"They won't complain later, will they? To be honest, it would have been cheaper for them to get treatment at a hospital than to use a 500,000 yen potion."

I'm worried they'll come back later with complaints, like questioning if she was really injured. This is just too much of a hassle.

"That won't happen. I met the parents when I apologized to them, and they seemed like normal people. Besides, in cases like this, the Guild gets involved. They can't complain after they've already apologized and thanked you."

So they have a proper system for that… Well, it probably has to be handled delicately since it involves a minor. The Guild's principle of self-responsibility doesn't apply to minors.

"I understand. I'll accept their apology. But I don't need their thanks."

"I'll tell them that, but they'll probably insist."

"I'm sure they will."

It's going to be one of those annoying exchanges of 'Please, it's not necessary!' and 'No, no, we couldn't possibly!'.

"It would have been better if you had just held it in."

"I tried to hold it in… but it's a physiological phenomenon."

"You should have at least done it where you could see the kids."

"You want me to take a dump in front of high school girls? I'd rather die."

Well, I get that. Taking a dump in front of high school girls would be rough. I'd absolutely hate it, too.

"Sigh… I don't know how you can stand looking after children."

"You might think that, but that's how I became an adventurer myself. I have kids of my own, so I try to accept those kinds of jobs whenever possible."

That's very admirable of you.

"What happened to those kids? Did their parents make them quit?"

"Ah, one of them had his license revoked. The boy who was rude to you."

That little brat got his license revoked? Poor thing… Serves him right!

"Was it that serious?"

"From what I heard, it's a gray area, but in that situation, his actions endangered not only himself but his companions as well. If you had lost your temper, they all could have died."

No, I wouldn't have gone that far.

"What a terrible accusation."

"No, I'm not saying you would. It's just that these kinds of troubles have been happening for a long time. That's why adventurers avoid unnecessary contact."

I've learned that firsthand.

"You're making unnecessary contact right now. You should go through the Guild for things like this."

"I did call the Ikebukuro Guild. But the people there barely answer the phone, and when they do, they hang up the second I mention your name."

"They must get a lot of strange calls."

Poor Kaede-chan.

"I know. We got a notice from the department head telling us not to needlessly go to the Ikebukuro Guild or call them."

That department head gets things done. Even if his power harassment is the worst…

"So you decided to make contact in Frontier."

"That's what it came to. That said, I was suspended myself, so it ended up being delayed. I'd like you to meet with the parents as soon as possible, if you can."

"Hmm, alright then. By the way, is that girl continuing as an adventurer?"

"Her parents were against it, but it seems she's going to. She'll be stuck in training for a while, though."

She's still doing it… She should just quit since it's dangerous. Especially since she's a girl.

"She should just get a normal job…"

"Tell me about it. I would never let my own kids become adventurers."

I'd do the same. Even more so if it were a girl.

"By the way, what's this training?"

"It's lectures about Frontier and practical training with a pro. Then there's an exam at the end. They can go to Frontier after they pass it."

"So there's something like that…"

"The Shibuya branch has a lot of people, you see. They have plenty of adventurers and staff who can do that kind of thing. The training fees are high, though."

Shibuya sounds nice. Meanwhile, at the Ikebukuro branch, my junior wouldn't even give me my authentication number. No wonder they can't compete.

"Shibuya sounds like fun."

"Well, there are a lot of people, so there's a lot of trouble, too, but it's fun… Say, why are you at a place like Ikebukuro? I can understand why men go to Shibuya, but normally, female adventurers are in Shinjuku, right?"

It seems there's some kind of common knowledge about that.

"I prefer places with fewer people."

The real reason is I just picked it randomly! If I had to give a reason, it's because it's close.

"Hmm, well, I guess there are people like that…"

"That's right. I dress like this because I'm not normal."

I'm a witch, you know.

"I see…"

The man looked me up and down from head to toe and nodded as if in understanding.

"So? Where am I meeting these parents?"

"It will be at the Shibuya branch."

"Ehh…"

I have to go to the Shibuya branch? It sounds like it'll be super crowded, I don't want to go. It'll be a festival of upskirt photographers and guys hitting on me.

"I understand your reluctance, but this is a Shibuya branch issue."

Seriously…

"'Adventurers are responsible for themselves' are heavy words, aren't they."

It's your own responsibility if you die on your own, but it's also your own responsibility to deal with the trouble that comes from helping someone.

"Well, don't say that. You saved those kids. That's something to be proud of."

For a piece of crap, he says some nice things…

"Sigh… I understand. Shibuya it is… What time?"

"I'll coordinate it. Sorry, but could you give me your contact information?"

Well, I guess it comes to this…

I took my phone out of my bag and exchanged contact information with the man.

"I'm telling you now, if you leak my phone number or make any prank calls, I'll curse you to death."

"I won't. That's scary."

"What's your name?"

Come to think of it, I haven't asked for his name.

"Yamabe Kakeru."

Kakeru, as in running to the toilet, huh.

"Ya, ma, be, Ka, ke, ru."

I typed his name into my phone's address book and saved it.

"And you are?"

"To think you don't know me… I'm Ikebukuro Hanako."

"Eleanor Ocean."

The man, Yamabe, ignored me and operated his phone.

"So you did know."

"Of course. I confirmed it at the beginning."

Then don't ask!