kscans

Chapter 181 - To Frontier Again

After returning home, I immediately changed from Eleanor-san back to Okita-kun and headed for the living room where Kaede-chan was.

"What was in that letter?"

Kaede-chan was sitting on the sofa, so I sat down next to her, and she immediately asked about the letter's contents.

"They want me to sell them potions. They said they want me to come to Frontier to negotiate."

"Frontier... are you going?"

"I'm going. I don't know what their currency situation is, but it can't be the same as ours. So the trade will probably be through barter. I might be able to exchange them for something valuable."

Other useful items would be fine too.

"Isn't it dangerous? Do you need money that badly? You already have enough, don't you?"

"To be honest, a big part of it is that I want to see Frontier. I'm curious about this place that's been a mystery for thirty years. And there are probably items there that we don't know about, which is exciting."

To be frank, this is my true feeling.

"Well, it would be a lie to say I'm not curious myself."

"Right? Anyway, I'm not going alone this time, I'm thinking of taking Yoshino-san with me."

If she can come along, that is.

"If Yoshino-san is with you, I guess it's safe. She's a cautious person."

Except when it comes to money.

"I don't know what we'll discuss, but I'll go tomorrow and hear them out first. From what I've seen of Arc and Mia, they didn't seem like a barbaric people."

"If they were barbaric, they would have probably attacked us by now. They might be a peaceful people."

If they have teleportation magic, they could use it in a war in countless ways. It seems like they have no intention of fighting. Or rather, they probably don't want to get involved.

"Anyway, I'll go, get the negotiations over with quickly. Then, I'm taking my winter break for real this time. Oh, right, let's invite Yoshino-san over for a wrap party next week."

Even though it's Christmas.

"That sounds nice. This was a good year, so let's have a party at the end."

"It was supposed to be a holy night for just me and you, Kaede-chan."

It's Nanapon's fault.

"It's fine, isn't it? In fact, it'll be three women for just one Senpai. That's not just a flower in each hand, it's a harem, isn't it?"

This Christmas, I'm going to be drinking at home with three women.

If I told the men of the world this, I'd probably get a lot of jealousy and envy. But...

"The moment Nanapon shows up, I'll have to become a woman too. That's just a girls' party, isn't it?"

"...Nanaka-chan would definitely not like it if you stayed as Senpai."

That kid is really something...

"She's the only one who says Eleanor-san is better. Is she maybe... into that sort of thing?"

"No, I think it's just simple admiration. With a slight hint of stalking..."

She has Clairvoyance, after all. If she wanted to peek, she could do it anytime. In fact, she found out I was Eleanor-san by peeking into my house with Clairvoyance.

Curious, I decided to send Nanapon a message.

"You're not peeking right now, are you?"

"I'm in a lecture, so I'm not. It's so boring... I want to go home."

University... I don't know if I can call her diligent, but she seems to be attending her lectures properly.

"I'm going on a trip to Frontier with Yoshino-san tomorrow, so you be a good girl and get your credits."

"Crying."

She's crying...

"Is she going to be okay, starting her first year like this?"

I showed the message exchange to Kaede-chan.

"I can understand how she feels, though..."

"She'll never make it as a working adult. Her only options are to find a good man or become Satsuki-san's lackey."

"It'll be lackey, won't it..."

I think so too. I can easily imagine Nanapon being worked to the bone by Satsuki-san.

"Well, whatever. I'm going to prepare for tomorrow."

It's not just Healing Potions and transparency potions, I might be able to sell all sorts of things, so I should prepare a variety.

"Okay. Then I'll go make dinner."

"Thanks. What are you making?"

"I'll make some omurice."

Huh?

"You can make that?"

"It'll be fine."

Really?

"Have you made it before?"

"Nope."

Ehh... But well, it doesn't seem that difficult, and Kaede-chan is cute, so it'll probably be fine.

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

"Leave it to me."

Although I was a little worried, I entrusted it to the motivated Kaede-chan, returned to my room, and began my preparations. Then, in the evening, I ate the scrambled eggs and ketchup rice that Kaede-chan had made.

Well, it was delicious.

◆◇◆

After eating Kaede-chan's omurice(?), I spent a relaxing time with her and then went to bed. The next day, after finishing lunch, Yoshino-san came to pick me up, so I got into her car and headed for the Ikebukuro Guild.

"Is it okay for you to be away from work, Yoshino-san? The Headquarters Director seemed busy."

"I can't exactly participate in the government's conferences. I'm just an adventurer helping out the Headquarters Director. So I'm on break."

"Oh. Have you heard how the conference is going?"

"I heard a little... As expected, it's not going smoothly. But at the very least, they've decided they can't let you go alone."

I knew it... An escort would be nothing but a hindrance. It could even cause the business talks to fall through.

"What a pain."

"Well, that can't be helped. It's a good thing America hasn't intervened yet."

"I hope it doesn't leak."

"If it does, you'll probably get a call from Harry or Claire."

If that happens, I'll probably end up going with them. Hmm, I'd rather have Yoshino-san. Those two are idiots.

"Let's get this over with quickly. The more time we take, the more trouble seems to pile up."

"Agreed. Let's prioritize time, even if it means compromising a bit on the profits."

"Right."

After Yoshino-san and I decided on our policy, we arrived at the back of the Ikebukuro Guild. We parked the car in the lot, entered the guild, and headed for Satsuki-san's room.

When we entered the room, Satsuki-san was lazing on the sofa, looking bored as she played a mobile game.

"You look bored."

Yoshino-san looked at Satsuki-san with a wry smile.

"I am bored. The only reason I came to work is because you two were coming. I have nothing to do."

She might have been here since this morning.

"So you're playing mobile games? Did you report the letter to the guild?"

I asked Satsuki-san to confirm.

"I did. The guild higher-ups are in a conference too."

"What about you, Satsuki-san? You're a higher-up too, aren't you?"

You're a branch manager.

"I wasn't invited. They're saying it's a problem for the guild as a whole, and the Ikebukuro branch has nothing to do with it."

"No, the guild has nothing to do with it either. It's my problem, isn't it?"

I was the one who was invited, the guild has nothing to do with it at all.

"It doesn't work that way. Well, either way, it has nothing to do with us. I don't know what answer the government and the guild will come up with, but finish it before they do. Don't you think 'getting the jump on them' is a nice phrase?"

"I do. And I hate the phrase 'snatching it away.'"

I hate taxes too.

"I agree. Alright! Go on... Tch! No SSR. Is this drop rate even correct?"

Alright! Let's ignore the person playing gacha and go to Frontier!

Yoshino-san and I left Satsuki-san's room and headed for the Gate. We stood before it, and together, we looked up at the Gate.

"I think you can get in, but I wonder if I'm invited too?"

There is that... Alright!

"I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm taking this person with me. Because I'm scared to go alone."

I called out towards the Gate.

"Do you think they understood?"

"Who knows? If this doesn't work, then it can't be helped. Oh, should we hold hands? That might just work."

"Let's try it..."

Yoshino-san said and took my hand.

"You swing a sword so much, yet you don't have a single callus."

"You don't either."

So soft.

"Potion soap is amazing."

Did you get some from Nanapon?

"It really is. Alright, let's go."

"Let's go on three."

Are you a kid...

"Alright, alright... one, two, three!"

Timing it together, Yoshino-san and I jumped into the Gate.