kscans

Chapter 140 - Meeting the SDF Personnel

The day after eating tsukemen with Claire and Harry, I woke up before noon and started preparing to go adventuring. I had gotten another call from Yoshino-san last night, and since Nanapon was okay with the next day, it was decided that we would go to the Diana Mine this afternoon. Thus, I was in my Eleanor-san form.

After getting ready and finishing lunch, I left the house and headed for the guild in Ikebukuro. When the taxi arrived at the back of the guild, I paid the driver and got out. Just then, a blonde woman emerged from another taxi that was parked unnaturally.

Huh? It's Claire.

I got out of the taxi and tilted my head at Claire, who rarely came out like this. She approached me.

"Hi. The black robe means you’re going adventuring?"

Claire called out cheerfully.

"Hello. What is it? This is unusual."

"Well…"

Claire hesitated, then wrapped her arm around my shoulders, putting us side-by-side.

"Seriously, what is it?"

I asked while looking at Claire’s face, which was now very close.

"About yesterday’s Hair Growth Potion. It was insane."

"Eh? You already tested it?"

"A subordinate of mine who was in Japan for the level 3 Healing Potion auction just happened to be bald."

Hmm, the way she says ‘bald’ sounds strangely like an insult.

"Hmm, and?"

"I had him use it last night, and when he woke up this morning, he had a little hair growing."

So fast!

"Really?"

"Really. He’s an old guy over fifty, and he’s all excited about getting his youth back."

Amazing!

"As expected of a Healing Potion. I plan to test it separately on my end as well, but please proceed with selling it."

The separate test subject is the headquarters manager.

"Got it. I’ll aim for around ten thousand dollars, so keep that in mind. About 500 units?"

"Can’t you sell more?"

"It’s better to create a sense of scarcity. A thousand might make people think it’s fake. Also, simply selling a thousand Healing Potions is a bit…"

Is that selling too many… I’ll probably get flak for wasting life-saving Healing Potions.

"Understood. I’ll prepare them next time."

"Is it okay if I pay you after they’re sold?"

"Yes. Just give me the amount they sold for. As promised, ten percent is yours."

"Hehe. Yes. Leave it to me."

Claire laughed happily. Now I know why she’s been in such a good mood.

"I’ll contact you again."

"Please do. Well then, good luck with your work."

Claire said cheerfully, then let go of me and returned to her taxi, raising a hand in farewell.

I watched Claire leave and headed towards the guild. I gave a nod to the security guard who was looking at my secret conversation with Claire with a suspicious expression, and entered the guild through the back door. Inside the passage, Nanapon was waiting, dressed in a black suit and sunglasses. Of course, she had her usual cute rabbit on her back.

"It’s rare for you to be early."

"The Guild Master-san called for me."

"Satsuki-san? For what?"

"It wasn’t a big deal. She just told me to use Clairvoyance on the SDF’s status cards."

I see. So she wants us to check them out, just in case.

"It’s probably a good idea to confirm."

"Yes."

"Then, let’s go."

I started walking with Nanapon in tow, passed through the reception area into the lobby, and headed for Kaede-chan. After receiving my weapon from Kaede-chan, I went to the gate and passed through it while thinking of the Diana Mine.

◆◇◆

The other side of the gate was a dimly lit, flat area surrounded by rocky mountains where the mine I hadn’t visited in a while was located. As usual, there were no other adventurers, but in front of the hut stood a man and a woman in camouflage uniforms.

"Are those them?"

Nanapon asked, so I checked the time and saw it was five minutes before our one o’clock appointment.

"Probably. Let’s go talk to them."

"Please don’t start a fight."

"I won’t."

Honestly… Does everyone think I’m some kind of mad dog?

Feeling indignant about this unfair evaluation, I led the shy Nanapon, who was clutching my back, towards the SDF members. The two of them straightened their posture. Then, as Nanapon and I approached, they saluted.

"Are you Eleanor Ocean-san?"

The man asked.

"I am. Are you the SDF members who will be accompanying us?"

When I asked back, the two SDF members dropped their salute.

"That’s correct. I am Yanagi. This is my subordinate, Maeda."

Yanagi-san introduced the female member, and Maeda-san stepped forward.

"Maede Sumire. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Maeda-san saluted again.

Maeda-san was taller than me, probably around 170 centimeters. She had short black hair and eyes that looked strong-willed.

Yanagi-san was also tall, probably around 180 centimeters. And… huh? I’ve seen this person before.

"Have we met somewhere before?"

I was curious, so I asked Yanagi-san.

"We met here before. Remember, when those adventurers tried to talk to you and you drew your sword."

Ah! He’s the person from that time!

"Thank you for your help back then. Thanks to that, the number of weird people trying to talk to me has decreased."

"Ah, from that time… Thank you for escorting us."

Nanapon, hiding behind me, thanked them.

"Hm? Oh, the girl from back then… No, that’s our job, so don’t worry about it."

Hmm, so they assigned someone who knows me, along with a female member.

"I should probably introduce myself too. I am Eleanor Ocean. This girl is… which do you prefer?"

"…Agent Seven."

Are you serious…

"Um, this is Agent Seven-san."

"…It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Nanapon greeted them while still hiding behind my back.

The two SDF members looked at each other, then immediately looked back at Nanapon.

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

The two of them returned the greeting with very kind smiles.

"By the way, where is Yoshino-san?"

I asked about the A-rank who wasn’t here.

"She’s not here yet."

"Well, it’s still two minutes before the appointed time."

That woman is always late. She doesn’t seem to have the spirit of being five minutes early.

As we waited, Yoshino-san appeared from the gate. I checked the time and saw it was one minute before one o’clock.

"Well now, everyone’s early."

Even the two SDF members couldn’t help but smile wryly at that comment.

"You’re meeting people for the first time, you know? You could at least come a little earlier."

I had to say something.

"I’m not late, so it’s fine. Besides, it’s not my first time meeting them. I met these two yesterday. It’s called a pre-briefing."

Yoshino-san nodded in agreement.

"Well, whatever…"

It’s pointless to say anything to this woman. If she could be fixed, Lin-san would have fixed her by now.

"By the way, have you all introduced yourselves?"

"Yes. We’ve finished with that."

"Hmm, by the way, what did Nanapon say?"

Don’t call her Nanapon. What’s the point of the alias?

"Agent Seven."

"Hmm, even though they know she’s Yokokawa Nanaka?"

The guild staff knows, and the SDF knows too? Since the government issued the designated request…

"Please respect her wishes."

"Well, fine. Shall we start the briefing then?"

"Ah, wait. Come over here for a second."

I took Yoshino-san’s hand and pulled her away from the SDF members. Nanapon was still stuck to my back.

"What is it?"

"You know, about yesterday. I thought we should talk about it first."

I lowered my voice.

"Yesterday?"

"The Hair Growth Potion."

"Ah, right. The one mixed with a Healing Potion."

Yoshino-san nodded as if she remembered.

"I had Claire’s people test it, and it showed effects overnight."

"That’s amazing."

"So, could you have the headquarters manager try it too, just in case? If it goes well, Claire will sell it."

"Understood."

Since Yoshino-san agreed, I took the Hair Growth Potion out of my bag and handed it to her.

"Got it. I’ll stop by headquarters on my way back today and give it to him."

"Please do… Huh?"

As Yoshino-san and I were talking, Nanapon started pulling hard on my sleeve.

"What is it?"

I asked Nanapon, but she didn’t answer and just handed me an open notebook. Yoshino-san and I looked at it.

[That female SDF member’s unique skill is ‘Hellish Hearing’. She probably heard everything.]

Yoshino-san and I raised our heads and looked at each other.

…Are you serious? Another person with a terrifying skill has appeared.