kscans

Chapter 19 - Kunaar Ruins

After finishing our discussion, I went to the second floor to look at weapons, and I decided on them right away. I chose the recommended staff that can cast Air Hammer and a one million yen short sword. Selecting the armor, however, took some time.

For Eleanor-san's armor, there was only one black robe for sale, so that was decided quickly, but I struggled with what to get for Okita-kun. I had no intention of wearing armor that would slow me down, but they also sold lightweight things that looked just like regular clothes, which made me hesitate.

After long consideration, I eventually decided on an inner suit type to be worn under clothes. Of course, wearing just that would make me look like a pervert, so I'll wear a tracksuit over it. In other words, my appearance won't change from how it's been.

Once I'd decided on my weapons and armor, I went down to the first-floor lobby. As I descended, I saw that Kaede-chan was back at the reception desk, so I went over.

"You done?"

I asked Kaede-chan, who looked a little tired.

"Yes, it was a lot, so it was tough. The transfer is complete, so please check. Oh, here's the statement."

Kaede-chan handed me a piece of paper, and I checked it. It certainly said 25 million yen.

"Thanks."

"What are you going to do today? Are you going to the Frontier?"

What should I do? I've got money now, and I need to do some shopping. That said, I also want to level up.

"Right. Maybe I'll go to the Kunaar Ruins..."

The Kunaar Ruins, like Eden Forest, is one of the areas in the Frontier that Japan is leasing. It's a ruined cityscape of old stone buildings, and of course, monsters appear there too. It's dangerous to go inside the buildings because of the risk of collapse, but you can explore the city itself. In terms of difficulty, it's only a little more dangerous than Eden Forest.

"Isn't that a good idea? I think you'll be fine, Eleanor-san."

It seems Kaede-chan recommends it too.

"Then I'll buy the weapon and robe upstairs and head out."

"You're buying a robe too?"

"They had a mysterious black robe, you know. It's better than the 4,980 yen one I bought online, right?"

Visually, it was exactly the same except for the hood, but it cost 800,000 yen. My sense of money is starting to break.

"Well, I suppose so... Where are you going to change?"

"The changing room..."

The dreamy women's changing room... Ah, Kaede-chan's expression is scary.

"It's fine now since there are no customers, but... Senpai, senpai."

Kaede-chan leaned forward and called me in a whisper.

"...Whaaat?"

I leaned forward too and spoke in a whisper. Kaede-chan was so close. She smelled nice, and I could probably kiss her. Even though I'm a woman...

"...Please take the black robe you bought today home with you as is."

"...Is that okay?"

"...The regulations for armor are looser than for weapons, so you won't get caught."

So it's not really allowed.

"...Then I'll do that. Are weapons a no-go?"

"...Weapons are strictly enforced. With armor, you'd get off with a stern warning, but with a weapon, it's immediate detention. It would be bad if you got caught, right? Because Eleanor-san is a person who doesn't exist."

That's true. I don't have an ID.

"...Got it."

I nodded and straightened up.

"Well then, here is your Status Card. Have a good trip."

Kaede-chan handed me my Status Card and waved with a smile.

I went up to the second and third floors, purchased the weapons and armor, and then headed to the women's changing room. I thought my heart might race in the women's changing room, but there was no one there, and it was no different from the men's, so I was disappointed.

Since I had an Item Bag, I didn't need to use a locker, so I stood in front of the mirror at the built-in washstand and began to change.

First, I tried on the inner suit I bought for Okita-kun, which was unisex thanks to some mysterious technology.

"Suspicious..."

At first, I thought it looked cool, like a spy, but on closer inspection, it still looked suspicious, so I quickly put on the robe. Then, I struck a pose with the staff I'd just bought.

"Yep. Mysterious."

It's not like I don't just look like a regular mage, but it's mysterious. Well, the only thing that's changed is the addition of a hood, but it's exactly the same as before.

After I finished changing, I slung my bag over my shoulder and left the changing room. Before heading to the Gate in the back, I stopped by Kaede-chan's desk and bragged, "Mysterious, mysterious!" but she replied, "That's what you call a suspicious witch." Well, that's one way to put it.

Eager to try out magic, I skipped over to the Gate. I focused my thoughts on wanting to go to the Kunaar Ruins and passed through.

◆◇◆

On the other side of the Gate was a ruined town with stone-paved roads and stone buildings. It was probably an ancient town of the Frontier people, and I guess they gave it to Japan because they didn't need it anymore.

I began exploring the ruined town with the staff in my left hand. I held the staff in my left hand so that my right hand was always free to reach into my bag and draw my sword. Even though I was holding a 10 million yen staff and looked like a mage, my main weapon was my sword.

As I walked through the ruined town, I felt like there might be a treasure chest somewhere, but of course, there wasn't. Other adventurers and the SDF had already explored it many times, so there were no valuable items lying around. The only things that appeared were monsters.

Just as I was thinking that, a skeleton holding a sword respawned right in front of me. A Skeleton.

When you defeat a monster in the Frontier, it drops an item and turns into smoke. Then, after a certain amount of time, it respawns. I don't know how it works.

Well, it's holding a sword, so I'd like to fight it with a sword... But first, a test.

I pointed the tip of my staff at the approaching Skeleton, which was making a clattering sound, and concentrated. I heard a hyun sound, the sound of cutting through the air, and the Skeleton was sent flying with a cloud of dust. Then, the Skeleton fell apart and vanished into smoke.

"Awesome! Getting hit by this would be bad."

No matter how confident I am with a sword, if I got hit by this from a distance, it would be over. It goes without saying that adventurers are not allowed to fight each other. The SDF patrols the Frontier, and if you get caught, the penalties are severe. But there are all sorts of people in the world. I need to be careful, just in case.

I steeled myself once more and picked up the Skeleton's drop item.

"A sword..."

It was probably the one the Skeleton was holding. From my appraisal, it looked to be of poor quality.

"Getting a sword drop is just bulky if you don't have an Item Bag. Unless it sells for a high price."

I can't imagine this shabby sword selling for much. 10,000 yen at best.

I stored the sword in my Item Bag and started walking again.

As I continued on, I saw two men walking towards me from ahead. They had noticed me too, but showed no signs of stopping.

I didn't stop either, and kept walking, ready to draw my sword at any moment. The two men stared at me, but as we passed each other, they just gave a slight nod and kept walking.

I hardly saw anyone in Eden Forest, but it seems there are adventurers in these ruins even during the day...

I continued hunting Skeletons after that, and I did see a few other adventurers here and there. The one thing they all had in common was that none of them were solo.

So everyone really is in a party. Well, of course. The reward is halved, but your safety is doubled or tripled. Life is precious.

I raised my guard and continued exploring, and this time, two Skeletons appeared. A one-on-two fight is very disadvantageous, but the Skeletons weren't fast, and they were helpless against the powerful Air Hammer.

Hmm, as expected of something that costs 10 million yen, the Air Hammer is overkill at this level.

As I collected the drop items, I decided to use my sword from now on. I wouldn't fall behind against this level of opponent, and I wanted to raise my Swordsmanship level.

Thinking that, I became curious about what my own level was, so I took my Status Card out of my bag and checked it.

"Oh, it went up."

I really wish there was a notification. It goes up without me noticing, so there's less of a sense of accomplishment.

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Name: Eleanor Ocean
Level: 4
Job: Swordsman
Skills:
≪Swordsmanship Lv5≫
☆≪Alchemy≫
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☆≪Alchemy≫
Can create new items by consuming materials.
Recipes increase as the skill holder's level increases.
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Level 4
Healing Potion Lv1, Gender Reassignment Potion
Sleeping Potion, Pure Water
Translation Potion, Item Bag
Transparency Potion
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Transparency... Peeping...

Man, my potions are all so crime-adjacent. I'm scared of how Kaede-chan will react.

"I can't sell this one."

The ingredients are pure water and water, and the effect lasts for one hour. It seems that even within the hour, you can cancel it by drinking another Transparency Potion.

If something like this were on the market, it would only be used for evil... But well, now I don't have to change in a toilet anymore. I can just become transparent, leave the house, and cancel it where there are no people.

I'll make this an item for personal use, not for selling.

Satisfied with that, I resumed my exploration, hoping to gain at least one more level.