kscans

Chapter 174 - Well, That's Over, That's Over

When the white light in my vision faded, I found myself back in a familiar scene in front of the Gate. When I turned around, I saw the usual Gate.

"I really came back..."

It seemed Arc really could use transfer magic.

"Oh well. The negotiations went well, so that’s that."

I was lucky the other party was a kid. He agreed for so little. If my opponent had been some greedy old man, he probably would have demanded much more.

But why was the person I was meeting a thirteen-year-old child? He did say that only royalty could use transfer magic, so maybe that had something to do with it.

"Transfer magic, huh..."

I muttered to myself as I touched the giant Gate.

This Gate was probably a form of transfer magic as well. In that sense, it might have been a good thing that Eleanor-san was seen as a princess. Being royalty, she should be able to close the Gate.

"No, I’m done with this. It’s over."

I stopped thinking and decided to return to the reception lobby where everyone was waiting. When I got back to the lobby, the same three people were still there, the Chief Director, Satsuki-san, and Yoshino-san.

"Ah, she’s back."

Satsuki-san said, pointing at me. Then, Yoshino-san and the Chief Director also looked at me.

"Welcome back. How did it go?" Yoshino-san asked.

"I met him like normal. And the maid guarding the man I met was hiding with an invisibility potion, so I threatened to cut her down."

"What did you do!?"

Yoshino-san had an exaggerated reaction.

"As expected! I knew I had an eye for talent!"

Satsuki-san was hoping my Provocation level would go up.

"..."

The Chief Director hung his head in silence and shook it from side to side.

"Well, there are no problems. At the very least, there will be no forced deportation. He was a good boy who listened well to what I had to say."

He was a gullible kid.

"No forced deportation... Does that mean it’s because you are not a Frontier person?" the Chief Director asked. It was probably a probe.

"Who knows? I imagine there will be a response from their side to the inquiries soon enough. We’ll find out then. Ah... I should have pressed them for it."

"As long as there are no problems, I don’t really care," Satsuki-san said. Of course she wouldn't.

"By the way, it seems more than one country made inquiries, right? They seemed to find it troublesome as well," I said, checking with the Chief Director.

"...That just goes to show how much you’ve been doing as you please."

"Hehe. I’m not the only one doing as I please, am I? Oh well. Tell the Prime Minister to wait for their response. I’m going home."

"Ah, should I give you a ride?" Yoshino-san, who had brought me here, asked.

"It’s fine. I want to give a brief explanation to the two idiots in the taxi as well... See you."

I waved to the three of them, went into the reception area, and decided to leave through the back entrance.

I went out the back and headed for the usual taxi. The taxi’s automatic door opened, so I got into the back seat. Of course, Harry and Claire were inside.

"Yo. Is it true you were questioned by a Frontier person?" Harry, in the driver’s seat, asked.

"I just met with him right now."

"Oh! So it was true! What were the Frontier people like?"

"He had blond hair, just like me."

Both the kid and the maid were blond.

"So Frontier people are blond... Hey, you’re blond too."

"You investigated and found out I dye it, remember? My hair is black."

"Ah, right."

Seriously, this guy’s brain is all muscle.

"Harry, no ramen today. Drop me off somewhere with no people."

"Well, I guess so. We can’t exactly go to a ramen shop in this situation... It’s a shame, but let’s do it next time."

Harry said that and started the taxi.

"No, I mean, I’d prefer somewhere other than a ramen shop."

"Sushi or tempura? I’m not interested in healthy food."

I can understand sushi, but is tempura healthy? It’s deep-fried.

"Never mind. Talking to you is going to make me fat..."

"I agree. Too much ramen means too much salt, and you’ll get fat," Claire said, apparently thinking the same thing.

"Exactly."

"So, Eleanor, were you identified as a Frontier person?" Claire got to the point.

"If I had been, I wouldn’t have come back. They were planning to kill me if I was a Frontier person."

"‘Kill’ sounds so violent..."

"It’s not like they could have killed me. I think they knew from the start that I wasn’t a Frontier person."

If they had really suspected me, I can’t imagine they would have sent only those two weak-looking people. Much less royalty.

"Hmm, so that means your being a princess of Frontier is not true."

What part of me even suggests I’m a princess? I know it myself, but I have zero elegance.

"I told you from the start that wasn’t true. Well, eventually, the Frontier side will give a response to each country... an ambiguous one."

"Ambiguous?"

"I asked them to be vague. It’s annoying to have people meddling."

It’s fine to tell these two. They’re incompetent bodyguards with nothing but money and ramen on their minds.

"Ah, I see. But I’m surprised you were able to ask for something like that."

"The Frontier people were just like people from here. A bribe worked instantly. A Healing Potion Lv2 made them fold in a second."

I won’t mention the invisibility potions. If I do, they’ll be persistent about wanting me to sell them. Invisibility potions are for my own protection, and if they circulate elsewhere, I’ll be the one in a pinch.

"Level 2? It’s worth several million yen here, but is it valuable over there too?"

Judging by their reaction, it seems so.

"Who knows? In any case, contact and trade between Frontier people and Feire people are forbidden in principle."

"Feire people?"

"That’s what they call us Earthlings. Just like how we call them Frontier people."

"Huh."

"That sounds delicious."

Filet mignon? The muscle-brain should just be quiet.

"I didn’t get much information, but if I can’t do business, then I don’t care."

"That’s quite a bit of information, though. It’s been thirty years since we connected with Frontier via the Gates, but there’s really no information on them."

"Then report this to that idiot, Norman. Not that it’s useful information."

He’s the one who smokes in the shower, right?

"Well, I’ll make a report. I also have to report that you came back safely."

"Right... Oh, can you give this to the President?"

I took out a bag and a potion from my bag.

"Is this a Healing Potion Lv3 and a 2000-kilo Item Bag?"

"That’s right. You know, your president works too hard. Everyone had dark circles under their eyes. The poor things..."

Satsuki-san, and the Chief Director too, looked drained of energy.

"No, ninety-nine percent of that is your fault."

No, it’s the fault of the big shots from the countries that made the inquiries and the idiot who leaked the information.

"It’s not my fault. I’m just selling my products like normal. Am I wrong?"

"Well, you’re right. I’ve contacted Minerva and told them to go through me."

"Thanks. The Guild Master-san told me to stop getting involved with strange people and causing scandals."

"I can understand that. Adventurers are easy targets for criticism."

So true. I haven’t seen it, but apparently, I’m being torn to shreds online and on TV.

"You go ahead with the business talks. My forced deportation is off the table, and the Hair Growth Potion’s effect seems to be certain."

"Understood. I’ll start reaching out to various people then. You should lay low for a while."

"I will. Harry, drop me off after you turn at that corner."

"You got it."

He dropped me off in a place with few people, and I walked until I was somewhere deserted before drinking an invisibility potion. Then, without any detours, I went straight home.