kscans

Chapter 137 - I'm Definitely the More Reasonable One

After the phone call with Yoshino-san ended, Nanapon arrived a short while later.

"Good afternoon… Huh? Where’s Eleanor-san?"

As soon as Nanapon entered the room, she started looking around, even though I was right there.

"Am I invisible to you?"

"…Why are you Okita-san?"

Nanapon came over to the sofa with a blatantly disappointed expression and sat down next to me.

"That’s a harsh reaction."

"And I rushed all the way here…"

Apparently, she wouldn’t have rushed if it was just for Okita-kun.

"It’s fine if it’s me, right? I’m like this today because you said you had college."

"Well, I guess it’s fine…"

It doesn’t look fine at all.

"I don’t care about your weird relationship. More importantly, Nanapon. Is it true you knew about the underground ruin in Kunaar Ruins?"

Satsuki-san confirmed with Nanapon.

"Yes. I saw that there were buildings underground too."

"Why didn’t you say anything?"

"Well, I thought everyone knew… Besides, my main area of activity was the Diana Mine, so I haven’t investigated Kunaar Ruins that much."

Kunaar Ruins has a lot of people, so Nanapon, being shy and having a fear of young men, didn’t like it.

"Haa… Whatever. So, is it true there are a lot of gold bars?"

"It was far away, so I only got a glimpse, but there was something stacked up that looked like it. I don’t know if it’s actually gold, though."

Well, you can’t tell just by looking. It could be gold-plated, or it could even be an unknown mineral.

"Hmm, fake or real…"

Satsuki-san pondered.

"Satsuki-san, either way, it’s worth going, right?"

"That’s right. I don’t think something in an underground ruin would be fake, and it might be something even more valuable. Either way, I think we’ll make a profit."

Filled with desire, Kaede-chan and I encouraged Satsuki-san.

"Well, you and Nanapon are the ones going, so I won’t stop you."

We’re going! Gold bars are most fitting for the Golden Witch! Well, I’ll sell them, though…

"Um… is it confirmed that I’m going?"

Nanapon asked something incredibly late.

"Of course. If you don’t go, who will?"

"Ehh… Isn’t it scary? It seems like ghosts might appear."

"You went to the Diana Mine alone, you’ll be fine."

That’s way scarier.

"I’m scared…"

I’m telling you, it’s fine.

"We’re inviting Yoshino-san just in case, and the SDF will apparently be accompanying us."

"Eh? Seriously? Aren’t you going to get into a fight with the SDF?"

"Why would I get into a fight with the SDF…"

What do you think I am?

"Hmph… Is this the extent of the SDF’s ability to protect the country? You’re in the way, so stay back."

Nanaka-san, who is that an impression of?

"Sounds like something she’d say…"

"Provocation level 3 is close!"

Damn it, that’s annoying.

"I would never say that. I am filled with patriotism and respect the SDF for protecting the country and its people."

Thank you!

"I guess this is what they call saying something you don’t mean."

"This is the first time I’ve heard the word patriotism come out of your mouth, Senpai."

"All you have on your mind is money."

Shut up… Yoshino-san, hurry up and get here.

◆◇◆

After a while, Yoshino-san, dressed sharply in a suit and in full capable-secretary mode, arrived. But when she did…

"I won’t budge from thirty percent."

"You’re just a chaperone. Thirty percent for just watching is out of the question. Twenty percent is enough."

As a result of telling Yoshino-san about the gold bars, a heated battle between cousins was unfolding.

"I’m a veteran A-rank, you know?"

"According to Okita-kun, you’re small fry."

When Satsuki-san said that, Yoshino-san shot me a sharp glare.

"I’d appreciate it if you didn’t drag me into this…"

Just settle on twenty-five percent already.

"The SDF will be there this time. Eleanor shouldn’t reveal too much of her hand."

"That’s why the SDF will be clearing the way, right? That makes you even more unnecessary."

When Satsuki-san said that, Yoshino-san once again shot me a sharp glare.

Seriously, why? I’m not in the SDF.

"Even if you ask Okita-kun for help, Kaede is here, so your cheap seduction tactics won’t work."

What a pain these two are. Stop dragging me into this.

"I should have come as Eleanor-san."

"I know, right."

Nanapon agreed with me.

"We’re fine with splitting it fifty-fifty, right?"

"Yes. That’s fine."

Nanapon is so agreeable. Compared to her, these two…

"The SDF is suspicious and wary of Eleanor. Considering Eleanor’s personality, a conflict is highly likely. That’s why I will mediate. I’m different from Eleanor and Satsuki-neesan."

"Even Eleanor will restrain herself. Probably… I’m sure."

"No way. During an adventure, this man only thinks about showing off his sword skills."

Hey now.

"Hmm…"

Hey! Don’t lose! Tell her that’s not true!

"I wouldn’t do that. Enough already, twenty-five percent is fine. This is a pain."

How long are they going to keep this up? It’s like this is my fault now.

"Tch! I could have gotten it down to twenty-three percent…"

"Tch! I could have gotten it up to twenty-seven percent…"

These two are definitely sisters, not cousins.

"That’s enough… More importantly, what did the headquarters manager say?"

I ignored their complaints and asked Yoshino-san.

"The headquarters manager has agreed to issue a designated request. Though he was questioning why Eleanor would be involved."

"Just as I thought…"

"Eleanor is thought to be a money-grubber, you see."

It’s annoying to be told that by her…

"You don’t have to mention the gold bars, but tell him that basically anything we get from the underground ruin will be sold at auction or to the guild."

"Understood. In that case, the guild won’t lose out, and the headquarters manager will agree. I’ll let him know discreetly."

What the guild and the government dislike is having valuable items flow to other private companies or foreign countries.

"Um, Yoshino-san, could you also ask him to select the accompanying SDF members?"

Kaede-chan made a request to Yoshino-san.

"Select?"

"It’s better to choose people who won’t clash with Senpai."

Hey! Kouhai!

"You’re saying that too?"

How cruel! I’m your beloved senpai!

"Well, listening to this conversation, I’m starting to feel a bit uneasy…"

Ehh…

"This is your faults! It’s not like I’d pick a fight with the SDF."

"Should we ask for a female member? Okita-kun is gentle with women."

"That might just make him eager to show off… But it’s probably better than fighting. The three of us are women, so we can use that as a reason."

Listen to me… Don’t ignore me.

"If possible, someone younger would be better. This person has a tendency to act mature around younger people."

Kaede-chaaan. I’m not acting mature, I am mature.

"It’s true he bites back at me and Yoshino… But a female SDF member under 26… are there any?"

"Who knows? I’ll try asking anyway."

Hmm, no one trusts me.

"Nanapon is on my side, right?"

"Eh? Ah, yes."

So I can only trust myself…

◆◇◆

"Headquarters Manager, it’s Saegusa. I have just returned."

It seemed Yoshino, who had gone to the Ikebukuro branch, was back.

"Enter."

I gave permission to enter, and the door opened. Yoshino entered the room with a bow.

"I have settled the matter."

"That was long. What happened?"

It was already evening. It took too long for someone who left in the early afternoon.

"I will be accompanying them. The investigation will be conducted by myself, Eleanor, and Agent Seven."

What?

"Agent Seven?"

"It’s Yokokawa. Apparently, it’s because Nanaka means seven. It’s a disguise, basically."

The witch’s so called disciple… Couldn’t she have come up with a better name?

"I see. Did you find out the witch’s objective?"

"Yes. However, she was evasive."

Well, that’s to be expected.

"That said, there is definitely something there."

"That’s what I want to know…"

There’s a high possibility that an incredible item lies dormant there.

"For now, she says that basically anything obtained from the underground ruin will be sold at auction or to the guild."

It’s confirmed that the witch knows what’s in that ruin. However, it seems to be something that can be sold.

"An auction… Does that mean there’s something valuable?"

"Probably."

With that information, I could send Yoshino’s party, but…

"Are you not willing to go with just your party?"

"I’m sorry. The other members would not participate. They have all reached a point in their careers where they choose safety over large sums of money."

They’re all veterans… Shimizu is married, so it’s impossible… It can’t be helped.

"Understood. I will issue a designated request for those three."

"Acknowledged. On another note, they have a request."

A request?

"What is it?"

"This is not from Eleanor, but from the manager of the Ikebukuro branch. She wants us to select the accompanying SDF members."

What?

"What does that mean? I don’t understand…"

"As you know, Headquarters Manager, Eleanor is not a docile person. There is a possibility she will clash with the SDF members."

Hmm, that’s possible. The SDF will surely try to probe the witch, and it’s conceivable the witch will get angry about it.

"I see. I’ll try making the request."

"If possible, please include a young woman. Eleanor would be more considerate with a young woman present, and Yokokawa, having graduated from an all-girls high school, is not very comfortable around men."

Hmm, well, all three of them are women, so I suppose we can ask for that consideration. The underground ruin will likely be dimly lit.

"Understood. The SDF is considerate about such things, so I will convey the message."

"Please do."

"By the way, what happened with your cut?"

"That doesn’t matter, does it…"

The reason it took so long was because the negotiations with that vixen dragged on. Really, they’re exactly alike when it comes to being money grubbers.