kscans

Chapter 113 - Sparkling Grass

"Senpai, it's morning."

I'm sleepy, I'm cold.

"I'm awake…"

I replied while burrowed under the covers.

"Senpai, you're not awake at all."

Kaede-chan started shaking me, comforter and all.

"I don't wanna go."

With no other choice, I poked my head out of the futon.

"A harem party with Yoshino-san, Lin-san, and Nanaka-chan is waiting for you."

"That's a money-grubber, a married woman, and a shorty. I'd rather be with you, Kaede-chan. Let's sleep together."

"I want to sleep, too. Come on, stop being a baby and get up. You're the one who invited Nanaka-chan, right? She'll be mad."

I told her to come in the morning, so she'd definitely be angry if I didn't show up.

"Sigh… I guess I'll get up for Nanapon's sake…"

I pushed myself into a sitting position. Getting out of the futon was freezing.

"I think Nanaka-chan would be very angry if she heard you say that."

Kaede-chan propped herself up on her elbows on the bed, resting her cheeks in her hands and looking up at me with a smile. I patted the head of the adorable Kaede-chan.

"Let's go for sushi in Ginza today."

"Ooh! Finally!"

Kaede-chan exclaimed happily. We had been talking about going, but never actually went.

"I'll probably hit level ten today, too."

"A celebration, then."

"Yep."

"To be honest, though, I'm both excited and worried that some outrageous recipe will unlock at the level ten mark."

Well, yeah. Considering Nanapon's Clairvoyance leveled up at the level ten mark, it's possible something might happen with my Alchemy, too.

"Let's hope it's something worth celebrating."

"I hope so. Come on, Senpai, get up and let's have breakfast. I'll get it ready while you wash your face."

Since Kaede-chan was rushing me, I stood up and headed to the washroom. After finishing breakfast, I got ready and took a taxi to the Guild with Kaede-chan.

I parted ways with Kaede-chan behind the Guild, entered through the main entrance, and changed into my usual jersey in the locker room. Once I was changed and ready, I left the locker room and went to find Kaede-chan at the reception desk.

"Mornin'."

"Morning. But we were just together."

Well, yeah.

"Nanapon isn't here yet, right?"

"Doesn't look like it. I mean, it's not until nine, so I doubt she'd come this early."

We were supposed to meet at nine, and it was currently eight thirty. I couldn't imagine Nanapon, who seemed like she wasn't a morning person, being here already. To be honest, I'm not a morning person either, but I have to wake up early to come with Kaede-chan.

"Well, she'll be here eventually… I'm going to go on ahead. It's better if I'm there before Yoshino-san and Lin-san."

They're the same age as me, but they're my seniors as adventurers, and they've been looking out for me, so I should be polite. And I should try not to let my Provocation level go up.

"Understood. Here are your Status Card and weapon."

Her tone was professional, but her expression was a brilliant smile. This is how Kaede-chan should be.

"Alright, I'm heading out."

I put the Status Card and weapon in my bag and raised a hand to Kaede-chan.

"Okay, be careful."

I nodded to the waving Kaede-chan and headed for the Gate.

After passing through the Gate and arriving at Mireille Road, I saw that several parties had gathered in front of the Gate. The party members were talking amongst themselves, face to face. They were probably doing a pre-adventure check.

If I had been Eleanor-san, I probably would have drawn a lot of attention, but today I'm Okita-kun, so I was ignored. Well, I doubt anyone is interested in a guy in a jersey anyway. I'm not.

I decided to wait somewhere no one was around, and as I looked around, I saw a woman standing alone. It was Lin-san, with her black hair in a ponytail.

I was a little surprised to see Lin-san here thirty minutes early, but I quickly went over to her.

"Morning. You're early."

I said as I approached Lin-san.

"Morning. Well, I figured you'd be here around this time since you come in with Kaede. I thought you might get lonely waiting by yourself, so I came early."

This person is seriously so nice. And she's definitely popular. A married woman, no less.

"Thanks for that. Nanapon will probably be late, so this is a big help. By the way, where's Yoshino-san?"

"Not yet. She's slow at getting ready."

She said that before, so I had a feeling that was the case.

"Was it okay for you to come today? What about your husband?"

Lin-san is married and prioritizes her husband over adventuring.

"He works on weekdays, just like normal. It's boring being at home alone, so I'll tag along."

Well, I get that. I get bored being at home alone, too. The living room feels big when I'm by myself, and somehow cold.

"We'll be done by evening."

"Make sure of it. I can't do nights."

"Me neither. I'm going for sushi in Ginza with Kaede-chan."

An adult date. Though I'm not sure if going out to eat can be called a date.

"You're loaded. Oh, by the way. I'm not getting involved in whatever you guys talk about today."

Oh?

"You think something's going to happen?"

"Nanapon is Yokokawa Nanaka, right? I get it."

"You know about Nanapon?"

"The people at headquarters do. There was that kidnapping incident."

It seems even Satsuki-san reported the kidnapping incident.

"Hmm, well, whatever. But are you sure you don't have to get involved? What about your job? You're one of the department head's subordinates, too, right?"

"Yoshino is the one who actually communicates with the department head. Me and the other party members just help out. To be honest, we're not that serious about it."

"Is that okay?"

"Me and the other members are thinking of retiring. We don't want to get involved in any trouble or problems at this point. We want to retire peacefully. Yoshino and I are the same age, but the others are older. To be perfectly frank again, I want to retire right now."

She's being really frank…

"Why? You got tired of it?"

"I have a husband, you know. My body isn't just my own anymore. I want to retire before I get injured. I have savings, and my husband makes a decent living, so there's no reason to continue."

She did say she wanted kids. I can understand that feeling. And what's more, Lin-san is a woman.

"But you're not quitting?"

"Yoshino and I are childhood friends. I don't know how long she'll continue, but I plan on sticking with her until the other members quit."

"When that time comes, Yoshino-san will be alone, huh…"

I wonder if she'll be okay?

"Well, she has associate members, and someone like Yoshino would be in high demand. You could team up with her."

"That's a possibility, but I don't plan on continuing for long, either. I have Kaede-chan."

To be honest, Kaede-chan probably wants me to quit being an adventurer. More than that, she probably wants Eleanor-san to make her exit. I've already earned a lot of money, and three billion yen is more than enough for the two of us to live on.

"A former adventurer working as a receptionist would probably think so. Don't make her cry."

"I know. Her smile is the most important thing."

Kaede-chan is cutest when she's smiling.

"My husband has said that to me before."

"Men probably think that way. Charm is important."

"Hmm… Charm, huh."

The married woman started to ponder something. For some reason, it's a little erotic.

"Oh, by the way. Lin-san, do you know about Sparkling Grass and Silken Grass?"

I asked Lin-san, who was lost in thought.

"Sparkling Grass… Well, it grows all over the place here, doesn't it?"

"Eh? I looked for it yesterday, but I couldn't find any."

Though I only looked for thirty minutes.

"Ah… that was in the afternoon, right? Sparkling Grass only grows in the morning."

"What is that!?"

What do you mean by that!

"No, that's just how it is. Look, that area over there is sparkling, right? That's Sparkling Grass."

When Lin-san said that and pointed, I looked in the direction she was indicating and saw grass that was indeed sparkling faintly in the morning sun.

"That's Sparkling Grass?"

"Yep. It'll stop sparkling once the sun gets a little higher."

"How does that work?"

I don't get it.

"I don't know the details. But it's a fact that it changes from Sparkling Grass to just a normal weed."

"It was the same with the Fluffy Grass before, but you know a lot, Lin-san."

"I've been doing this for a long time."

Lin-san folded her arms and nodded reflectively.

"Yoshino-san has the same amount of experience, but she doesn't know anything at all."

"She's not interested in anything that doesn't make her money, right?"

That makes sense.

"Alright, Lin-san, since the other two aren't here yet, let's gather some Sparkling Grass."

"Huh? Why? This is a huge pain."

It seems she doesn't want to weed in the morning.

"Because I'll teach you something good."

"Something good?"

"Something that will make your husband happy."

"I don't care…"

Despite what she said, Lin-san did end up helping me. The end.