kscans

Chapter 121 - A Relaxing Phone Call

After returning home from the sushi restaurant, I checked my phone, but there were no messages from Nanapon or Yoshino-san. We spent the rest of the evening lazing around, but still no word came, so we went to bed.

The next day, Kaede-chan suddenly declared she didn’t want to go to work and took a paid day off.

After breakfast, as we were relaxing on the sofa with some coffee, my phone started to ring. I looked at the screen and saw that the call was from Yoshino-san.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Okita-kun."

It was indeed Yoshino-san.

"Morning. You’re up early."

It was only nine o’clock. I would usually still be asleep, but Kaede-chan woke me up early today.

"I have work, you know."

Not adventurer work, but work at the guild headquarters. She was probably wearing her sexy secretary power suit.

"Sorry to hear that. Did you hear from Nanapon?"

"Yeah, I did. To think such a terrifying skill exists."

Being able to see through lies… Just like Nanapon’s Clairvoyance, it’s incredible. Maybe Kiryu is so popular because of that skill.

"Did you report it to the Chief?"

"I reported it first thing this morning. Apparently, Kiryu has appeared at meetings with the Shibuya Branch Manager before."

So Kiryu is completely under the Shibuya Branch Manager’s thumb.

"It’s probably more useful in that line of work than in Frontier."

"Yeah, that’s right. He probably used it to get money and work his way up."

I think there are a few ways to become an A-rank at a young age. One is to have a combat-oriented unique skill. Claire’s Recognition Impairment and, though I haven’t seen it, Harry’s Steel Thread would fall into that category. The second is to be strong from the start with a background in martial arts, like me, Yoshino-san, and Lin-san.

The last is to use money to get good equipment. Weapons from Frontier are expensive but powerful. With a Magic Wand like mine that can cast Air Hammer, even a child could defeat a monster. You could use that to level up and get stronger.

I suspect Kiryu falls into this category. He had good equipment when I saw him on TV, but when we met yesterday, he didn’t seem particularly strong, nor did he give off the impression of a skilled fighter. If I wanted to, I think I could have lopped off his head in an instant. …Not that I would, of course.

"So the Shibuya Branch Manager sponsored him?"

"Probably. In fact, the Chief sponsored us too, providing us with good weapons and consumables."

Compensated dating, huh.

"Our branch doesn’t give us any support," I complained. Come on Satsuki-san, send some good weapons my way.

"Satsuki-nee-san is too stingy for that. Besides, she was angry, saying, ‘He dared to call a former A-rank like me a small fry,’ so I don’t think she’ll ever help you."

There’s no way I would say something so incredibly cocky.

"That’s an exaggeration."

"‘A small fry on my level’?"

That woman talks way too much.

"Yoshino-san, you’re too defensive. I don’t know if it’s because of that trauma, but if you just kept attacking, you could be pushed back. I’m stronger, after all."

Satsuki-san is the opposite. I haven’t seen her fight, but her mindset is too focused on offense. She’s always leaning forward.

"I’m not aggressive like you and Lin."

"Because you’re a masochist."

"I’m not an M… not an M… not an M…"

I wonder what happened. Maybe she gets told that all the time.

"Sorry… Anyway, Eleanor-san is going to the Shibuya Branch tomorrow. What should we do?"

"Ah, I heard from Nanapon. It’s probably best to go. The Chief said so too. Minors are a pain. But the Chief was praising you. He said that kind of attitude is wonderful."

I can’t get a read on the Chief’s personality. Is he a power-harassing boss or a good person? …Well, for better or worse, he’s probably just a serious person.

"Yeah, I’ll go. The problem is that the Shibuya Branch Manager and Kiryu are likely to show up."

"The Shibuya Branch Manager will definitely be there, as he needs to mediate between the parties. But I don’t think Kiryu will be in the room."

In the room, huh…

"Security cameras?"

"It’s unclear if a unique skill like Truth Discernment works through a camera, but it’s better to assume it does. Don’t speak carelessly at the Shibuya Branch, even if Kiryu isn’t there."

That’s a good idea.

"Got it. It’s enemy territory."

"Exactly. Also, there’s a possibility he’ll approach you directly. I don’t know if you’re aware, but that man is famous for being a womanizer."

I know that from what Kaede-chan told me. Like Yoshino-san, Kiryu is a frequent subject of gossip, and guys with faces like that tend to be that way, in my biased opinion.

"So Eleanor-san is finally going to be hit on for the first time…"

"You’ve never been hit on?"

Don’t call me ‘you.’ That makes me Okita-kun. Call me Eleanor-san.

"You hit on me. You asked for my phone number."

"That wasn’t hitting on you, though…"

"I know. You called me by my name when we first met."

"Did I slip up…?"

What a clumsy, masochistic, busty twenty-six-year-old.

"Besides, I’d know if an A-rank was talking to me."

"Well, your swordsmanship was truly impressive."

Hehe. Of course, of course. But you’re the only one who compliments my sword skills, Yoshino-san…

"I’ll buy you a juice next time… Anyway, have you ever been to the Shibuya Branch, Yoshino-san? Is it crowded?"

"Not often, but yes, it’s crowded. The difference between it and Ikebukuro is like Heaven and Earth."

"Even on a weekday afternoon?"

Tomorrow is Friday, and the appointment is in the early afternoon.

"There are a lot of full-time adventurers. But I’m sure the Shibuya Branch Manager has sent out a notice, so I don’t think there will be any trouble. The other adventurers know Eleanor is an important figure. And well, they’re simply afraid of the witch. You should look online. There are all sorts of rumors, like she can curse people to death, or that she eats people. And that Nanapon isn’t her disciple, but a sacrifice."

Claire said something like that…

"That’s because you call me a witch."

"I feel bad about that, but you look like a witch, don’t you? Even if I hadn’t said it, I think the name would have stuck eventually."

Well, even I looked in the mirror and thought I looked like a witch. I even considered going to a Halloween party the other day.

"I guess it can’t be helped. It’s the price of fame."

"Exactly. You still have it easy. Okita-kun isn’t famous. I have it terrible."

She does have it bad. Nothing but sleazy gossip.

"Is it all lies? What about the AV?"

"Why would I have to appear in one of those…?"

For the sake of everyone. I think it would bring peace.

"So it’s fake. Just like with Kiryu, there’s a lot of terrible stuff out there."

"This is after the guild protested and got some of it taken down. The generation of adventurers before us had it much worse."

That’s scary.

"I’ll be careful too."

"Aside from Eleanor, I think you’ll be fine."

"Why? Because I’m a good person?"

"No, Ikebukuro is safe. There’s no one to spread rumors or cause trouble. There’s hardly anyone there during the day, right?"

How sad…

"Kaede-chan, who’s sitting next to me, just got depressed."

In reality, she’s not that depressed. She’s just tapping away on her phone.

"Oh? Kaede is there too? Is she off today?"

"She said she didn’t want to go to work."

I used to think that every day. Well, I guess everyone does.

"Well, everyone has those days. She should rest while she can."

"What about you, Yoshino-san?"

"After my break, I have a meeting with the Chief. There’s the matter of Kiryu, but there are other problems too. It’s a lot of work."

She sounds busy.

"I see. Well, it’s not good to keep you on the phone for too long, so I’ll hang up. I’ll contact you if anything happens tomorrow."

"Please do. Oh, and one more thing. It’s not urgent, but the Chief said he wants to buy some Translation Potions, so please sell some more to us."

"Translation Potions? Does he really need those?"

Their effect is amazing, but the 24-hour time limit is a drawback.

"Claire’s auction was a success. Apparently, some big shot wants one. We can negotiate the price later, so just keep that in mind."

"Got it."

"Thanks. Let me know when you’re free to go adventuring again. See you."

"Yep, work hard."

With that, I ended the call.

"Hmm, Translation Potions…"

Are they really that expensive?

"If you look at Claire-san’s site, they’re currently at 5,000 dollars. It’s predicted to go over 10,000 dollars," Kaede-chan said, looking up from her phone.

"I don’t know the exchange rate, but it’s definitely over a million yen, then."

"Right. Maybe he got jealous?"

What a child! But then again, maybe that’s just how rich people are. I want Lin-san’s extending sword too.

"As long as it makes money, I don’t care."

"Right," Kaede-chan said, nodding as she sipped her coffee.