kscans

Chapter 150 - A Shocking Truth

After finishing the call, I went back to Kaede-chan and settled up for the day. I thought about reporting today's events and the phone call to Satsuki-san, but it seemed she had the day off.

I decided a report afterward would be fine and chose to wait for Kaede-chan to finish work. Right now, Nanapon and I were sitting on a sofa in the guild lobby, waiting for her.

"When she said she was stepping out for a bit, I had a bad feeling. So it was you, Okita-san..."

Nanapon, sitting next to me, looked at me with a disappointed expression.

"I told you I was getting food with Kaede-chan. Of course it was me."

"Haaah... Let's just eat at home."

Does she really like Eleanor-san that much? Or does she just dislike Okita-kun?

"We're going out for drinks today. You can eat and drink as much as you want, so just put up with it."

"Hmm, maybe I'll try a draft beer...? Oh, speaking of which, aren't you going to invite Saegusa-san?"

"She told me she can't handle alcohol."

If I remember correctly, she was the type to get sleepy right away, easy to take home. Honestly, what a cheap woman.

"She doesn't have to drink, does she? I feel like she'll sulk if you don't invite her."

Well, if I were in her shoes, I'd sulk too. I'd probably dwell on it for two or three days. I'd think, 'Huh? Does she hate me?'

"Alright, I'll send her a message..."

I took out my phone and sent a message to Yoshino-san.

'I'm going for drinks with Kaede-chan and Nanapon. Want to come? I actually have something to report.'

As soon as I sent it, the message was marked as read.

'Sorry. I'd like to go, but I have a meeting with the branch manager about today's events. I'll hear your report tomorrow. You three have fun.'

Hmm, she's a hard worker.

"Yoshino-san has a meeting. I'm sure she won't come, but should I try inviting Lin-san?"

"There's a 100 percent chance she won't come."

I think so too. She acts all cool, but that woman is way too in love with her husband.

"As for Satsuki-san... never mind. She's probably busy watching videos anyway."

"You think so? Well, it would be wrong to bother her on her day off."

Exactly. It's definitely not because she's annoying that I'm not inviting her.

"So it's just the three of us. Deal with it."

"It's not that I mind, but please don't get all lovey-dovey."

"I'd love to get lovey-dovey..."

"Oh, so you haven't yet... Heh... Why don't you just hurry up and confess?"

Did she just snort at me?

"Shut up... There's a thing called timing."

"I'm pretty sure you're way past the right timing."

Well, we are living together.

"I have it ready."

I'm even carrying it now.

"That piece of paper... No, that's jumping the gun."

"Leave me alone."

"Okita-san, you seem like the type to commit suicide if Asakura-san rejected you."

"If that happens, I'm taking you with me."

Let's die together.

"Why!?"

"When the master dies, so does the disciple."

"Thank you for everything until now."

Hey!

"You're terrible."

"A hundred people out of a hundred would say you're the terrible one. If you're going to drag someone down with you, make it Saegusa-san, not me."

I see.

"Maybe I'll do that..."

Though in her case, she'd probably just steal my money and run.

"That's a good idea... Oh, Asakura-san is here."

As I was pondering this, Nanapon spoke up, so I lifted my head. I saw Kaede-chan in a white coat, her hair styled all fluffy, walking toward us.

"Look, she's cute."

"She is. I feel like she put in a little too much effort, though. I'm just wearing a hoodie..."

Nanapon was wearing black pants and a light pink hoodie. Of course, there was a white rabbit on the back.

"That was my request. Don't worry, your little rabbit is cute too."

"Is that what you're complimenting!?"

"It's very student-like, isn't it? That's how it should be."

Besides, she's just come back from an adventure today. Normally, you wouldn't dress up that much. Especially not a young girl like Nanapon.

"The only thing I understand is that you have no interest in me."

That's because your short stature and the rabbit on your back make you seem so childish.

"What are you two talking about?"

Kaede-chan called out as she reached the sofa.

"Your voice is as sweet as ever..."

It's cute, so it's fine. If you're so jealous, you try making that voice. Actually, she does use a slightly similar voice for Eleanor-san...

"We were just saying how fashionable you look, Kaede-chan."

"Yes. And also about how Okita-san is going to commit a double suicide with Saegusa-san."

"A double suicide!? Why!?"

Kaede-chan was shocked. Of course she was.

"He said he'll die if Asakura-san dumps him. And since he said he'd drag me into it, I pushed it onto Saegusa-san."

"You won't dump me, right, Kaede-chan? I'll give you money."

"Okita-san, your way of thinking is just trash. Money..."

"I don't want to be called trash by you of all people. You despicable cheating girl."

How awful.

"You're both as bad as each other... Stop talking nonsense and let's go."

I could tell Kaede-chan was completely exasperated. I think this is Nanapon's fault. I'm sure of it.

"Should we go to that place?"

'That place' was the usual izakaya nearby.

"Yes. Let's go... By the way, Nanaka-chan, are you coming too?"

Kaede-chan looked at Nanapon.

"Oh, if I'm intruding, I'll go home."

"You're not intruding, I was just surprised. Since Eleanor-san isn't here."

"I was deceived on that front."

Hey! I didn't deceive you. You're the one who jumped to the wrong conclusion.

"There's something I need to talk about. We can discuss it over drinks."

"Hmm. Then I'll hear it later."

"Alright, let's go. I want a beer."

"Me too."

Nanapon and I stood up and left the guild with Kaede-chan. We soon arrived at the nearby izakaya and were shown to a private room.

"What are you having, Nanaka-chan?"

After entering the room and taking our seats, Kaede-chan asked Nanapon as she handed her a menu. For some reason, Nanapon was sitting next to me instead of Kaede-chan.

"Are you two having beer?"

"Yes, I am."

"Draft for me."

The first one is always a draft. Well, all of them are, but still.

"Then I'll have the same."

"Are you sure? It's bitter, you know."

Kaede-chan couldn't drink beer when she was a student. I could, but I didn't like it as much as I do now and mostly drank chu-hai.

"Everyone else drinks it, and I want to try an izakaya beer."

"Well, if you can't drink it, Senpai can chug it..."

Oh, so I'm the one drinking it... Well, I was planning to anyway.

Kaede-chan called a waiter and ordered three beers along with some random appetizers. The beers, poured in mugs, arrived shortly after.

"Cheers."

"Good work today."

"Cheers."

We toasted and started drinking our beers.

"Ah, this feeling going down my throat makes me forget about that annoying guy who tried to hit on me today..."

Kaede-chan drank her beer and let out a heartfelt complaint.

"That sounds rough."

"Maybe I should buy a ring to wear to ward off men."

I'll buy you one. One of those with eternal sparkle.

"Ugh... It really is bitter."

Nanapon grimaced after taking a sip of beer.

"Told you so."

"You shouldn't force yourself. To be honest, it doesn't taste good."

"Then why are you two drinking it?"

Who knows?

"The feeling in the throat?"

"Maybe the hardships of being a working adult made us stop feeling the bitterness?"

"That could be it..."

My memories of beer are all tied to complaining about my horrible boss after getting home from work.

"That's a depressing thing to hear... I hope the day I find this delicious never comes."

Nanapon placed her beer in front of me and pressed the call button. A waiter came immediately, and Nanapon ordered a chu-hai. It seems there aren't many customers today, as her chu-hai arrived right away along with the appetizers we had ordered.

"You're still a first-year. Think about your future later."

A first or second year should just get some easy credits and have fun.

"But won't it go by in a flash?"

"Well, I guess so, but are you planning to get a normal job? What about being an Adventurer?"

"I told you before. The moment Eleanor-san retires, I quit too. I don't want to be alone, and the only other person I can rely on is Saegusa-san, but she's about the same age as you, Okita-san, right?"

She's twenty-six. She told me not to call her almost thirty. I haven't, and since it would be a boomerang effect, I don't want to either.

"So you're going to get a job?"

"I don't want to. I'm going to save up money now and be a NEET. That's why I'm her disciple. I'm just a barnacle."

Does she have to say it herself?

"But you have a talent for splurging. Your savings will probably run out quickly."

I've never seen that watch before. It's definitely an expensive one.

"I'll be frugal."

"Wouldn't it be better to choose stability, like Yanagi-san said today?"

"I sense a malicious intent from you, Okita-san, telling me to suffer."

"Hmm, that wasn't my intention, but you don't seem like the type who could handle a normal office job. I can picture you crying in the break room."

She's always cheated her way through things without any hardship, she's shy, and she can't get along with coworkers. And as for her abilities, they're questionable.

"Doesn't that basically mean you're telling me to cry! Isn't that totally malicious!"

"Hmm, you should get a job at the guild or something."

"The guild?"

"Yeah. You have Clairvoyance, so you can become one of Satsuki-san's minions... Or rather, do you really think Satsuki-san would let Nanapon go?"

I asked Kaede-chan.

"She would never let her go. I think she would hold on to her no matter what. Nanaka-chan's Clairvoyance is even better than Kiryu-san's Truth Discernment."

"Right? Good for you, Nanapon. No job hunting for you."

Cheating on tests. No job hunting. Her university life is seriously just for fun.

"Eh, a guild employee? Will I get hit on?"

"You look like you'd get a lot of that."

A timid, short girl. She seems like the type to attract weird fans.

"I don't think Nanaka-chan could handle the reception desk, right? She'd probably be in a position like Yoshino-san's. An adventurer on the surface, but Satsuki-san's minion... no, secretary, behind the scenes."

It seems Kaede-chan also thinks she'll become a minion.

"So I'm a minion! Ugh, I don't want to be that woman's minion. Eleanor-san, you should do it too."

Nanapon grabbed my sleeve.

"I'm just going to retire normally. I don't want to work."

"Don't you think Satsuki-san is the one who won't let you get away?"

"Unlike you, I don't have to show up to work. I just have to make items and hand them over."

In my case, if I'm asked for something, it'll be a request to make this or that. But in Nanapon's case, what they want is her eyes. There's nothing to be done about that.

"Not fair!"

"That's probably what everyone thinks about you."

Clairvoyance... That's just too unfair.

"Then let's trade."

"Fine by me. I'll use Clairvoyance to see under your clothes."

"Asakura-san, this man is scum!"

You're the scum!

"Hmm, I wonder if only scum can have unique skills...?"

Hey, hey now! What a thing to say to your senpai!

...Wait a minute. Come to think of it, it's true that only scum have them. Huh? Seriously?