kscans

Chapter 16 - What a Clown!

The winner's party I had with Kaede-chan ended just before nine. Of course, Kaede-chan went back to her own place. Even though she'd said she didn't want to go home tonight, she went home just like that. Well, can't be helped.

I fell asleep right away that night, and the next day I went shopping. I bought bags of all different kinds and started making Item Bags.

I made two each of 5-kilo, 10-kilo, 50-kilo, 100-kilo, and 1000-kilo capacities. I touched so many rubber bands that, honestly, my hands reeked of rubber.

Through various experiments, I also learned that you can put an Item Bag inside another Item Bag. However, this only works if the bag is empty. If you try to put an Item Bag with something in it into another Item Bag, for some reason it won't go in. So, I stored the empty Item Bags for selling inside my personal white bag. I also made a large quantity of all the potions and medicines I could currently create and stored those as well.

By the time I was done with all that work, it was already nighttime. Around nine o'clock, Kaede-chan came to visit. It seems she'd brought the underwear she bought for me, which I received along with a portion of her dinner she'd shared.

I invited her to eat and drink with me at my place, but she turned me down, saying she had to prepare for tomorrow. Too bad.

But the dinner was delicious. I think Kaede-chan will make a fine wife.

After eating the side dishes Kaede-chan gave me, which had discount stickers on them, I drank a beer by myself and went to bed.

◆◇◆

The next day, I packed a change of clothes and other things in my bag and left the house. I took the train to Ikebukuro and went into a stall in a nearby park restroom.

I have to wonder what sad state of affairs led to me having to become a woman and change clothes in a public toilet, but it can't be helped.

Eleanor Ocean will undoubtedly become famous. And just as there's a price to fame, becoming famous will probably mean I can no longer live a peaceful life. That's why it's better that Okita Hajime and Eleanor Ocean are not connected. That they must not be connected. My dream of working a normal job, getting a wife, having kids, and living my life is already over. My new dream has changed to having a lot of money, getting a cute wife, and quietly living a life of leisure. To achieve that, I need to use Eleanor Ocean as a cover.

Or so Kaede-chan said.

Well, she's right, so I don't really have any complaints.

After I finished changing, I put on my colored contacts and stepped out of the stall. I thought someone might be surprised to see a woman come out of the men's restroom, but luckily, no one was there.

I hurried out of the restroom and made my way to the Ikebukuro Guild.

When I arrived at the Ikebukuro Guild, I walked straight to Kaede-chan's reception desk. As usual, it was quiet and nearly empty. Honestly, I don't think they need eight people at the reception desks.

"Good day."

I walked up to Kaede-chan and greeted her.

"Yes, hello. Eleanor-san, may I have a moment?"

"Oh my, what could it be?"

"Pfft... Actually, our Guild Master-san would like to have a word with you. Do you have the time?"

Hey, this girl just laughed!

"That's fine."

"Then please come this way."

Kaede-chan walked to the end of the reception counter and let me in behind it. Then, the two of us headed toward the back.

"...You laughed, didn't you."

I complained in a voice too low for anyone else to hear.

"...Because, putting a hand to your cheek and saying 'Oh my, what could it be?' is just too much. What kind of socialite are you?"

"...Mysterious! It's mysterious!"

"...I get it, I get it. Look, we're here. Just try not to blow your cover."

You're the one who's going to blow it. Don't laugh again.

"Branch Manager, I've brought Eleanor Ocean-san."

"Come in."

A woman's voice came from inside.

"Branch Manager? Not Guild Master?"

I was a little curious, so I asked.

"Guild Master is a common nickname. Her official title is Branch Manager of the Ikebukuro Branch."

I see.

As I was processing this, Kaede-chan opened the door and went inside. I followed her into the room.

The room was a decent size, with two sofas for receiving guests in the front, and a table placed between them. At a desk in the back sat a woman with wavy black hair.

Is this Kaede-chan's boss? Is she my age, or older... It's hard to tell with women. But if she's a Guild Master, she's probably older, right?

"Please, have a seat."

Guild Master-san stood up from her desk, walked over to the sofas, and invited me to sit. I sat down as prompted, and Guild Master-san and Kaede-chan sat across from me.

Uh... You're sitting over there? I mean, I guess it makes sense given your positions, but I'm lonely.

"Is there something you need?"

I tried not to let my loneliness show on my face and asked mysteriously.

"Yes, first I'd like to ask, are you from this country?"

"I am. Born and raised here."

"And your parents?"

"Do I need to answer that? Very well. They're dead. That is all."

They're actually alive. My dad is overseas teaching swordsmanship and doing performances, and my mom went with him.

"My apologies... Then, did you, by any chance, go to this shop to sell Healing Potions?"

Guild Master-san said, placing a photograph on the table. Looking at the photo, I saw it was the exterior of the shop I'd gone to before.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then what about this?"

Next, she showed me a photo that was likely taken from a security camera. It showed a woman with long blonde hair wearing a black robe. It was me, of course.

"Is that me? Hmm, I don't remember. Isn't it just a lookalike?"

"I think it's a very distinctive outfit..."

I think so too!

"Oh? Are you saying I'm strange?"

"No, my apologies... Then, you're saying you did not sell Healing Potions here?"

I didn't even know about recognition numbers, so I couldn't have sold anything.

"I don't know. I don't remember. That is all."

Kaede-chan gave me strict orders to just say I don't know or don't remember.

"I see... Understood. Next, you acquired your adventurer qualifications here. Is that correct?"

"I believe that might be the case."

She also told me not to make any definitive statements. But this question seems fine.

"I see... And what about the fact that your address and phone number are fake?"

"Hmm, I must have made a mistake?"

I just wrote down whatever.

"Very well. That's our fault for not checking. The other day, you went to the Frontier for the first time and five Healing Potions dropped for you. And you sold them here. Is that correct?"

"That might be the case."

"Were those potions really drops?"

I made them!

"If not, what would they be?"

"Stolen goods?"

"Where would they have been stolen from? And do you have proof that those potions are the same ones I sold?"

There's no way such a thing exists.

"No..."

"Then there's no problem, is there?"

"You're right... Alright, that's all. There is no problem with you. I will report this much to my superiors."

Guild Master-san clapped her hands together with a pan.

"Come in."

"Now, for the main topic. Eleanor Ocean, the Healing Potions were made with your Alchemy skill, correct?"

"That's right."

Kaede-chan had actually told her beforehand. The exchange up until now was just a formality to show she'd conducted an interrogation, a confirmation of our story. The real business starts now.

"First, I need to confirm, does it really say Alchemy here?"

Guild Master-san showed me Eleanor Ocean's Status Card.

"Yes, right here."

I pointed to the word Alchemy in the skill section of the Status Card.

"I can't see it."

"I can't see it either."

It seemed neither Guild Master-san nor Kaede-chan could see it.

"It's probably only visible to me. Or perhaps it might be visible to someone who has a skill with a star mark, just like I do."

"Hmm... I've never heard of such a thing. Kaede, bring me everyone's Status Cards."

Guild Master-san seemed troubled, but she gave an order to Kaede-chan next to her.

"Huh? All of them?"

"That's right. I'm going to check."

"I, I understand."

Kaede-chan hastily stood up and left the room.

"She's a cute kid, isn't she?"

After Kaede-chan left, Guild Master-san asked.

"Perhaps."

"I should check, just in case. Are you two dating? Okita Hajime-kun."

Busted.