kscans

Chapter 12 - That Got Exposed Way Too Fast

After the drinking party, I returned home and placed the bottled water, sugar, and rubber bands I had bought on the table.

"First, let’s make this so-called Translation Potion..."

I turned the bottled water into Pure Water and added the sugar.

"Ugh, looks sweet..."

Am I supposed to drink this? I’m not a beetle.

"Well, whatever... Become a Translation Potion."

As I said it in a near monotone, the bottle of sugar water transformed into a pet-flask.

"This one is just colorless... Well, whatever. Let’s drink it."

I’m drunk, so it might be just right.

I opened the pet-flask and took a small sip.

"Hmm? Where did the sugar go? It’s tasteless and odorless."

Well, I would have hated it if it were super sweet, so I guess this is fine.

Confirming there were no issues, I drank it all in one go. Then, I opened my smartphone to check a foreign website.

"Hm?"

I was about to open the internet browser when I noticed I had a message. The sender was, of course, Kaede-chan. Because she’s the only one I keep in touch with.

I opened the messaging app and read the message.

‘Thank you for today. It was fun drinking with you after so long, Senpai. Let’s do it again! Good night.’

She’s so courteous. What a good kid.

‘Thanks to you, too. Let’s go again. Good night.’

I thought about writing that it was the most fun day of my life, but it felt cheesy and I thought she might pity me, so I decided against it.

After replying, I searched for a foreign website.

"Hmm... porn, I see."

I nodded as I looked at the site. I don’t know if it’s English, but I can read it just fine. The foreign language is still a foreign language, but I can understand the meaning.

Next, I checked a video site to test my listening comprehension.

"They’re not talking. It’s all just moaning..."

Having no other choice, I went to a different video site to check.

"Amazing! I can understand!"

The Translation Potion is incredible! With this, I can travel the world without an interpreter!

I searched for and tested other languages, and as far as I could search, I was able to understand every language.

"Hmm, the effect lasts for a day, huh..."

Isn’t there a huge demand for this? With this, you could get a perfect score on an English or German test.

"I wish I had this when I was a student..."

I hated both English and German.

Just in case, I also searched for the existence of Translation Potions or if they drop, but I couldn’t find anything. Well, that’s to be expected. If something like this were discovered, it would be all over the news, and school curriculums would change.

"Well, I can put this on hold too. Next, next."

Next up was the main event, the Item Bag. This can be used in both daily life and for adventuring. And, it will sell!

"Let’s see, any container will do. And I can adjust the capacity with the number of rubber bands..."

Apparently, one rubber band is one kilogram.

"Hmm, for now, let’s put in a thousand."

I dumped the rubber bands I bought into my white gathering bag. Then, I stared at it intently and willed it. The bag began to glow, and its form... didn’t change.

"The bag stays the same, huh..."

The Item Bags that drop from monsters are called bags, but they’re actually round, blue orbs. When you put one into a bag or other container, it becomes an Item Bag. So, when Item Bags were first discovered, there were apparently a lot of accidents where people put the orb they found into their bag to carry it home, and that bag turned into an Item Bag.

"So that means I can substitute rubber bands for the orb..."

And I can even adjust the capacity. The capacity of Item Bags that drop from monsters is random. Apparently, Item Bags that drop from stronger enemies tend to have a larger capacity...

"There’s a demand for even just a few kilograms of capacity... This will sell."

Hehehe. The Translation Potion is difficult, but I’ll alternate selling Healing Potions and Item Bags. I’ll become a millionaire in no time.

"Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Frontier, come right back, and sell the potions. Then on the way home, I’ll go buy some random bags."

Kaede-chan has tomorrow off. She’s probably at home suffering from a hangover.

I’d like to go to a different guild, but now that I think about it, I’ll have to do the transfer paperwork because of the Status Card. I’ll take care of that tomorrow when Kaede-chan isn’t around.

I hear the receptionists at other guilds are amazing... According to the online forums, Shibuya seems to be especially recommended. They even have a former gravure idol working there.

When I’m a man, I’ll have Kaede-chan soothe my soul, and when I’m a woman, I’ll have the other guilds soothe my eyes.

"But won’t Kaede-chan get suspicious if my financial situation suddenly improves...?"

I want to move, and I want to buy a lot of things. But won’t that be extremely suspicious? I mean, Kaede-chan is a receptionist, so she knows almost exactly what my income is.

"I’ll just brush it off with the lottery story..."

That should be fine. She’s a practical girl, so I don’t think she’ll worry about it too much.

"Alright! I’ll do my best tomorrow too! Time for bed!"

I’m really sleepy. I drank a lot, too.

I packed the Healing Potions scattered around the room into my Item Bag, laid out my futon, and went to bed.

Hmm, this futon is thin... I really can’t have Kaede-chan sleep on this. If I were in her shoes, I’d just leave without a word.

◆◇◆

The next morning, after finishing breakfast, I drank a TS Potion for dessert. Then, I took off my clothes and changed into the black robe.

"I don’t need a bra, but I’d like some panties. It feels drafty and weird."

I’ve never worn a bra, so I don’t care about that, but I want panties. It feels strange when something I always wear is missing.

"Panties, huh... I don’t want to go buy them."

I don’t want to go to the women’s lingerie section.

"Kaede-chan would never give me any, so I guess I’ll buy them online..."

Kaede-chan, give me your panties!

Yep, that’ll get me arrested! Goodbye, me.

I abandoned my foolish thoughts, finished changing into the robe, put on my contact lenses, and grabbed my bag.

"Alright! I’m going to sell ten today!"

That’s five million yen!

I left my house, took the train, and headed for Ikebukuro. When I arrived in Ikebukuro, I went to the guild, saw the front reception, and froze.

Huh? Kaede-chan is here... Doesn’t she have the day off?

I had stopped in my tracks, but I quickly thought I could just go to a different receptionist and headed toward a counter staffed by an older woman. However, in an instant, all the reception desks except for Kaede-chan’s put up plaques that read ‘Reception Closed’.

Why!? Huh? What is this? It’s true there are no other customers besides me, but am I being forced to go to Kaede-chan?

Seeing this situation, I thought about going to a buyout shop instead and backed away. Just then, Kaede-chan beckoned to me with a huge smile.

Ehh... Do I have to go? But I have a really bad feeling that I have to.

I had no choice but to slowly walk forward and head to Kaede-chan’s reception desk.

"Good morning. Are you going on an adventure?"

Kaede-chan asked with a smile.

"Good morning. Yes, that’s right. By the way, why is this the only one open?"

"There are no other customers, so everyone must be on a break."

Is that so? A coincidence? No, there’s no way.

"Well, whatever. I’m going to Eden Forest again today."

"Slime Hunting?"

"That’s right. I have a feeling some Healing Potions might drop."

Ten of them!

"Understood. Here is your Status Card."

Kaede-chan took the Status Card from her drawer.

Huh? Weren’t they managed in the back room?

"Thanks..."

I took the Status Card and checked it.

It’s definitely mine, or rather, Eleanor’s... huh? The level is 3!

This is bad... This is linked to my Status Card. I hope she hasn’t figured it out...

I carefully glanced at Kaede-chan.

Kaede-chan, who had been smiling until just a moment ago, now had a deadpan expression.

Oh crap! She’s super suspicious of me! This is bad! Very bad!

"Well, I guess I’ll be off..."

I put the Status Card in my bag as if nothing was wrong.

"Oh, by the way. Starting today, to prevent confusion, progress reports from the Frontier must be made at the same desk where you checked in. So, Eleanor-san, please come here when you are finished with your adventure."

Huh? Is that so? But well, it’s true that it would be less confusing with the same person.

"I understand..."

I replied and hastily made my way to the Gate and headed for Eden Forest.

Once I arrived in Eden Forest, I didn’t enter the woods like before, but instead sat down in the grassland in a crouch.

"Oh man... She’s definitely suspicious."

Was five potions a bad idea?

"I can’t use this place anymore... After I sell these last ten, I’ll move to another guild or sell at a buyout shop."

It’s better to do the transfer procedure when Kaede-chan isn’t around. She was here today for some reason, but her schedule probably changed at the last minute.

"I’ll sell some potions and Item Bags, then transfer, and repeat. If I space it out, it should be fine."

They all sell for a high price. I can reach an annual income of 100 million.

"Alright! I’m not coming back to the Ikebukuro guild, so it’s fine."

I hadn’t even been in Eden Forest for thirty minutes, but I stood up. Then, I went through the Gate and returned.

Back at the guild, I walked briskly back to the lobby. It was still before noon, so as usual, there were no other customers. In fact, there was no one at reception except for Kaede-chan.

That meant Kaede-chan and I were the only ones in this lobby.

Having no other choice, I walked straight to Kaede-chan’s reception desk.

"Welcome back. You’re back quite early."

Kaede-chan was smiling. It’s cute, but is it just my imagination, or is it a little scary?

"It seems I was lucky again today."

First, I handed over my Status Card. Kaede-chan stared at the Status Card for a moment before quickly looking up.

"Um, my results..."

I placed the bag from my shoulder onto the counter, reached into it, and started taking out Healing Potions.

"Today, I was really lucky and got ten of them..."

I had taken out about nine Healing Potions and was about to take out the tenth when Kaede-chan grabbed my arm.

"Huh...?"

I looked up and saw Kaede-chan. She was shaking her head with a truly disappointed look on her face.

"Senpai, this is just too much..."

Huh!? Senpai!? Did she just say Senpai?

"I’m not your senpai, you know?"

"Yes, you are, Senpai."

"I’m a woman, you know?"

"How do you know the person I’m talking about is male?"

...She’s right! It was a leading question! How cruel!

"I, I just had a feeling, that’s all..."

"I see..."

Kaede-chan didn’t seem to believe me at all. She was so cute yesterday, but now she’s scary.

"I, I just remembered I have something to do! I, I’m leaving!"

I shook off Kaede-chan’s hand, shoved the Healing Potions back into my bag, and hastily left the spot.

I was about halfway across the lobby when I heard a phone ringing.

From my bag...

I stopped dead in my tracks, slowly took my phone out of my bag, and looked at the screen.

【Kaede-chan】

That’s what was displayed on my phone screen...

I tapped to answer the call and put the phone to my ear. Then, I slowly turned around.

At the reception desk, Kaede-chan was sitting with a smile, her own phone to her ear.

‘Senpai, I’m taking paid leave this afternoon. And I don’t feel like going home today, so would it be alright if I came over to your place?’

A sweet voice came from my ear, and at the reception desk, Kaede-chan was looking up at me with an adorable expression.

"...You should have told me that yesterday."

I’m busted!