kscans

Chapter 145 - I Have the Composure Not to Hate Others' Happiness

The day after my first meeting with the two SDF members, I finished lunch around noon and headed to the guild. After getting my weapon from Kaede-chan at the reception desk, I passed through the Gate and made my way to the long-unvisited Kunaar Ruins.

When I arrived, the area in front of the Gate was crowded with adventurers milling about, just as it always was. According to Kaede-chan, Nanapon hadn’t arrived yet.

As I scanned the crowd to see if Yoshino-san was there, the adventurers gradually began to notice me, their gazes darting in my direction.

No sign of Yoshino-san… Well, she’s always late.

If I stayed here any longer, I’d probably get accosted by adventurers, so I decided to head straight to the meeting place. Usually, I just get glanced at or have my picture secretly taken with a smartphone, so it’s rare for anyone to speak to me. But right now, the auction for the Healing Potion Lv3 was in full swing, so there was a chance I’d be asked all sorts of questions.

I quickly left the gate area and headed for the designated building. Along the way, I only passed a few adventurers and didn’t encounter any skeletons.

As I approached the building, I could see two SDF members in helmets and camouflage uniforms standing in front of what looked like a brick residence. Assuming they were guards, I walked closer.

"Halt."

As I approached the two SDF members, one of the men ordered me in an intimidating voice.

"Huh? Can I go home?"

"To be honest, I know your business here. But these are the regulations. Sorry, but state your purpose."

What a pain. Well, he’s with the SDF, so I guess it can’t be helped.

"I am Eleanor Ocean. I’m here for the investigation of the underground ruins."

"I’ve been briefed. Before I let you pass, please show me your status card."

Huh?

"Excuse me? Are you trying to pick a fight? Do you want to die?"

Seriously, I’m leaving.

"It’s regulations. Proof of identity. Of course, you can hide your skills and job. All I need to confirm is your name."

"I’m the real one."

You can tell just by looking at me.

"It hasn’t been confirmed, but there could be a skill that allows someone to change their appearance."

That’s true… A unique skill like that might exist.

"I suppose it can’t be helped…"

I took my status card out of my bag and showed it to him, covering my skills, level, and job with my fingers.

"…………Confirmed. You may pass. Yanagi and Maede are waiting inside."

They’re here already? Well, I suppose they wouldn’t be late.

"Then I’ll go in. Oh, and an A-rank named Saegusa-san will be coming later with a young girl. Don’t use that intimidating tone with her. She has a fear of men and is very timid, so she might start crying."

She probably won’t cry, though.

"…………Understood. We will be considerate."

The man exchanged a look with the other SDF member, and they both nodded.

"Thank you."

With that, I slipped past the SDF members and entered the building. Inside were shelves and a fireplace, giving it the feel of a medieval dwelling. However, it was quite dilapidated and didn’t seem usable. In the middle of it all, a distinctly modern desk and chairs had been placed, and sitting there were Yanagi-san and Maede-san, whom I’d met yesterday.

"Hello."

I called out to the two of them, who were sitting side by side, and took a seat opposite them.

"Good work today. We’re looking forward to working with you."

Maede-san greeted me. It seemed she had recovered from yesterday’s depression and fear.

"Hello. Saegusa-san and………… um, Agent Seven aren’t here yet."

Yanagi-san said, as if trying to recall Nanapon’s code name.

"You can just call her Yokokawa. I think she’ll be in normal clothes today."

"Come to think of it, she did say something like that."

"That outfit was just wrong. More importantly, how long have you two been here?"

I don’t really care, but aren’t they sitting a little close? They were seated next to each other, so close their shoulders were almost touching.

"We’ve been here since morning. It’s our job, after all."

That’s rough. Good work.

"Hmph, well, whatever. By the way, where is the entrance to the underground?"

"Over there."

The fireplace was in the direction Maede-san pointed.

I thought there was nothing there, but upon closer inspection, I could see something silvery and metallic inside the dark fireplace.

"A ladder?"

I stood up to get a better look and saw a ladder leading down into the fireplace.

"We installed that. Originally, it was a rotten wooden ladder."

That would have been dangerous and unusable.

"But are there really underground ruins in a place like a commoner’s house? Isn’t that just a storeroom?"

"No, it’s actually quite vast. There’s a large structure underground. I don’t know the details, but it could be a temple or a castle…"

Well, if it were small, they would have found the gold bars right away.

"Why here, I wonder? Normally, wouldn’t you hide it in a church or a fancier mansion?"

That feels like the standard RPG trope.

"I don’t know. This area is all ruins."

There’s no one left who knows. A Frontier native might know. Conversely, if I were to spin a tall tale here, would they believe it?

"Actually, that’s my castle."

So everything in it is mine.

"…………I don’t know how to respond to that."

"I was hoping for a more over-the-top reaction."

What a boring man.

"You’re joking, right?"

Maede-san asked, looking slightly taken aback.

"You’re so honest and cute. Of course I’m joking."

"R, right."

She doesn’t look entirely convinced. Well, this is fine. I can maintain my mysterious persona.

"Hello."

"Well, it looks like everyone is here."

Just as I was feeling pleased with myself, Nanapon and Yoshino-san arrived. Nanapon was wearing her usual red cardigan, with a cute white rabbit backpack on.

"Were the SDF guards outside intimidating?"

I checked with Nanapon.

"No. They were oddly nice."

"What was that about? They were so nice they seemed suspicious."

Did I overdo it…

"I was just giving them a warning out of consideration for you."

"Ah, I see. Thank you."

"Not at all. I just thought you might hide behind Yoshino-san’s back."

Nanapon does tend to hide right away.

"She was doing that. Reminds me of when my little brother was small."

So she did it anyway… And Yoshino-san has a little brother. Is that why she’s so good at looking after people?

"Anyway, that makes everyone. Let’s head underground right away. Eleanor, please draw the map on this."

Yanagi-san said, handing me a piece of paper.

"Mm. Understood. Turn around for a moment. I need to use magic."

I instructed Yanagi-san and Maede-san to face the brick wall. They both stood up and obediently turned their backs. Confirming this, I took a compass and pencil from my bag and created the Auto-Map. Then, I wrote the scale with a pen, activated the Auto-Map, and put it away in my bag.

"You can turn back now. I’m ready."

When I gave the okay, the two of them turned around.

"You’re done already?"

"Yes. Preparations complete. Shall we go?"

"Alright."

We decided to begin our work and gathered in front of the fireplace.

"It’s so dark…"

The vertical shaft in the fireplace was pitch black, and I couldn’t see a thing.

"Below this is a cave. Go down and walk a little way, and you’ll reach the ruins. The SDF has placed lights near the entrance to the underground ruins, so it should be bright there. But the inside of the building will probably be dark."

Huh. From the way he talks, it might be quite large.

"Understood. Well then, let’s go down."

"Right. We’ll go first."

Yanagi-san said, crouching in front of the fireplace and taking hold of the ladder.

"Yanagi-san, wait a moment."

Yoshino-san stopped him.

"Hm? What is it?"

Yanagi-san looked up at Yoshino-san, who had stopped him so suddenly.

"Eleanor, you go first."

Huh? I have to go first into a dark place like this?

"No way."

"Do you realize what you’re wearing? With that robe, they’ll be able to see everything if they look up from below."

What…

"You are the worst."

I looked down at Yanagi-san with contempt.

"Huh? N, no, I had no such intention!"

Yanagi-san frantically denied it.

"Sigh… This is why men are………… You think so too, don’t you?"

I directed the question to Maede-san.

"Huh!? No, I don’t think he meant it like that…………"

Him? These two are definitely dating.

"Hmph, congratulations to you both. Well then, I’ll go down first."

After blessing the two of them, I pushed Yanagi-san aside and crouched down.

"It’s so dark. Don’t you two dare slip and fall on top of me."

I’d be right underneath and would definitely get caught in it.

"I know. Now, go on ahead."

Since Yoshino-san told me to go, I turned on my lantern, stuck my legs into the narrow fireplace, and placed my feet on the ladder.

"I wish the ancient Frontier people had put a little more thought into the entrance."

"You complain a lot. Everyone’s waiting, so hurry up and go."

Yoshino-san, you’re so loud… But looking up from below, this person is seriously huge…

Feeling a little happy, I began to climb down the ladder.

"No, I really can’t see a thing!"

I shouted, but no one answered.

Could it be that I have to take this path every time until the investigation is over? It’s dark and scary…