kscans

Chapter 179 - The Letter

Having been summoned by Satsuki-san, I reluctantly began to get ready.

"Where are you going to change into Eleanor-san?"

Kaede-chan, who had followed me into my room as I was getting ready, asked me.

"The guild is impossible, so maybe a public restroom in an Ikebukuro park?"

The media is at the front entrance, and Harry and Claire are at the back. It would be a bit of a problem for Okita-kun to go to the guild.

"That sounds tough, in this cold."

"You're telling me."

I wish Yoshino-san could have picked me up.

"If you're changing in the park, you should avoid the black robe since it's conspicuous. There are probably reporters near the guild."

That might be true. It would be a hassle if I got surrounded by the media between the restroom and the guild.

"I guess I'll go in casual clothes..."

If I wear a coat and hide my long hair, I probably won't be recognized.

I put my casual clothes into my bag along with the black robe.

"But what do you think the letter is about?"

"I'd be happy if it was an apology letter saying sorry for doubting me."

"Somehow, I don't think that's it."

I don't think so either.

"Well, we won't know until we see the letter. I'm heading out now."

"Take care."

Sent off by Kaede-chan, I left the house and took a train to Ikebukuro. When I arrived at Ikebukuro station, I went to a nearby park restroom and, shivering in the cold, took off my clothes. Then, I drank the TS Potion and changed into the clothes I had prepared.

"Alright, let's go..."

After finishing my preparations in the restroom stall, I put on a white coat as a final touch to hide my long, tied-back blonde hair.

"It would be so much easier if my clothes changed automatically like in a Super Sentai show or a magical girl anime."

Apparently, since Eleanor-san is a wicked witch, that's not how it works.

Muttering to myself, I finished all my preparations and left the restroom. Then, I walked around to the back entrance of the guild.

The guild's back entrance was deserted, with only the usual taxi and security guard present. Feeling the cold, I quickened my pace and hurried into the guild. Inside, I went through the corridor and came out behind the reception area, but even though the lights were on, there was no one there. Figuring they were in Satsuki-san's room, I knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Hearing Satsuki-san's voice, I opened the door and entered the room. Inside, Satsuki-san was sitting at her desk. Yoshino-san and the Headquarters Director must have already arrived, as they were sitting side by side on the sofa.

"Sorry I'm late."

I said as I sat down across from Yoshino-san and the Headquarters Director.

"No, we're the ones who called you here on such short notice. It's fine."

The Headquarters Director shook his head.

"Eleanor, let's get right to it. This is the letter that arrived from the Frontier side this morning."

Yoshino-san said, placing a white envelope on the table.

"Just a simple question, but how did it get here?"

It wasn't the post office, was it?

"This morning, when I was doing my rounds of the guild, it was just sitting there in front of the Gate."

Satsuki-san, leaning on her elbows at her desk, explained.

"In front of the Gate, huh..."

Come to think of it, those guys can use the Gate to come over here. Isn't that dangerous if they decided to attack?

"Read it."

At Yoshino-san's urging, I picked up the letter from the table. Then, I read the characters written on the envelope.

"To the Golden Witch-sama... Honestly, just write my name."

They're calling me a witch too.

"You can read it?"

The Headquarters Director asked.

"Of course."

I drank a Translation Potion before coming since I knew it was a letter.

"Please open it and check the contents. I assume it's a letter."

As instructed, I tore open the seal and took out the contents. Then, I began to read the text written on the paper inside.

Hmm hmm...

"Hmm..."

I nodded as I read the letter.

"What does it say?"

Now, should I be honest, or should I fudge the details...

"In a word, it's an invitation."

"An invitation?"

"That's right. They want to talk, so they're inviting me over to visit."

What it actually says is that they want to buy Healing Potions.

"Visit? What does that mean?"

"That kid must have fallen for me."

It also says they want to buy transparency potions.

They want to negotiate, so they'd like to talk once... or so Arc's father says. Wait, isn't Arc's dad the King?

"Is that true?"

"The invitation is real. Now, what to do..."

"Are you sure you weren't identified as a person from Frontier after all?"

Satsuki-san asked.

"It doesn't feel like that. It's very friendly."

It's business, after all.

"Hmm, are you going to go?"

"Let me ask you instead. Am I allowed to go?"

"Hmm, Headquarters Director, what do you think?"

Satsuki-san asked the Headquarters Director.

"I cannot give an answer here. There is no precedent for such a case. I must report to the Prime Minister and the Guild and we must confer."

A conference of the higher-ups... That sounds like it'll take a while...

"It says they want me to come as soon as possible, though?"

That part is true.

"As soon as possible... Excuse me, I need to step out."

The Headquarters Director stood up and left the room.

"Is he going to make a call?"

"I think so. Eleanor, what did the letter really say?"

Now that the Headquarters Director was gone, Yoshino-san asked again.

"It's about business. They want to buy Healing Potions and things like that."

"Oh, so that's what it is..."

"I can't tell him honestly, can I? I might get some incredible item in return."

The Guild or the government would probably demand I hand it over or let them investigate it. In the end, there'd be taxes. I absolutely don't want to tell them.

"It said 'as soon as possible,' but I wonder how soon that is?"

"That part wasn't written. But those guys seem impatient, don't they? I feel like I should go right away."

Their response to the inquiry was instant, after all.

"Want to go in secret?"

Satsuki-san said with a laugh.

"Is that okay?"

"That conference of theirs will definitely take time. And once they grant permission, they'll start arguing about who should accompany you and so on."

Ah, that sounds plausible...

"What a pain."

"Exactly. You're going through the Gate again, right? You can just use our guild's Gate secretly."

"Maybe I'll do that."

"You can trade for more of those gold bars from last time, or exchange them for something good."

Satsuki-san looks happy.

"Go for it, Eleanor!"

Yoshino-san looks happy too.

"Alright. When the Headquarters Director comes back, let's just play dumb."

I said, putting the letter into my bag. Then, after waiting for a short while, the Headquarters Director returned.

"My apologies, I was just speaking with the Prime Minister."

So he was on the phone.

"What did he say?"

"He said 'as soon as possible,' but a decision cannot be made immediately. The deliberations have already begun, so please wait a little."

This seems to be just as Satsuki-san predicted.

"I understand. It's all the same to me. Do as you please."

"We will provide an answer swiftly... Hm? What happened to the letter?"

Only the envelope was left on the table.

"The letter vanished after I finished reading it. The magic of Frontier is amazing."

That's a lie. I think it's probably fine, but it would be bad if they used a Translation Potion on it, so I'll stick with that story.

"It really did."

"It vanished in an instant."

Satsuki-san and Yoshino-san played along with my lie.

"A vanishing letter... Hmm, I had wanted to verify it."

That's exactly what I don't want you to do. You can blame yourself for leaving your seat, trusting the money-grubbing, instantly-convinced Yoshino.

"It was an invitation addressed to me personally, wasn't it? One shouldn't try to read other people's letters."

What if it was a love letter?

"It's just that receiving a personal letter is unprecedented..."

They really are isolationist. Even though they were the ones who made contact.

"Do your best with your conference. I'm going home. Yoshino-san, see me home."

"I have to see the Headquarters Director home, though..."

Yoshino-san looked at the Headquarters Director.

"Take a taxi. I don't want to run into the media."

"Yoshino, see her home. I will head to the Prime Minister's office from here."

The Headquarters Director is going to the conference too... He seems busy.

"Understood. Satsuki-neesan, please call a taxi."

"Right away."

Satsuki-san took out her phone and started tapping on it.

"Well then, I'll be heading home."

I said and stood up.

"Headquarters Director, I'll be taking my leave now."

Yoshino-san also stood up and bowed her head to the Headquarters Director.

"Alright. Be careful."

Yoshino-san and I left Satsuki-san's room and exited the guild through the back entrance. Then, we got into Yoshino-san's car and left the guild behind.