kscans

Chapter 202 - Shopping

After Arc left to get more sweets, I found myself alone with Kaede-chan for the first time in a while.

"Still, it's easy to say you're going to auction off an area of Frontier, but how are you going to do it?"

"I'll leave that part to the Guild. I'm just providing the product."

It might not be possible to do it openly. If a country is buying, it will be with taxpayer money, and they probably won't want to disclose the price to their citizens.

"It seems like it will draw criticism whether they win the bid or not."

If they win, they'll be accused of wasting money. If they lose, they'll be criticized for not winning. Well, that's just how it goes.

"The buyers will probably be governments. It's unlikely individuals or corporations could afford it."

Maybe a massive global corporation would have a slim chance?

"I suppose so. By the way, how will you connect the area to a Gate?"

"That's not up to me. Either the King or Arc will handle it. I'll just ask them to connect this country's Gate to the Emeraldas Mountain Range."

"The Emeraldas Mountain Range... Of course, I've never heard of it."

Naturally.

"Apparently, you can mine gold and rare metals there. And it's quite large."

"Will you disclose that information?"

"That's the plan. I'll put it all together later and give it to the Chief Director through Yoshino-san."

It won't sell if I don't disclose what kind of place it is. As long as there's a chance they could bid on a barren wasteland, they'll be hesitant to use tax money.

"That information will leak to the media, and the world's attention will be on Eleanor-san."

"The impossible is happening. It's a fitting finale for the Golden Witch."

That said, it's not like I'll disappear completely. I'll just sell things on a smaller scale through the connections I've built.

"It would probably be better for Eleanor-san not to go outside. At this point, it wouldn't just be the media, you might even attract assassins."

That's possible. There are people out there like the ones who kidnapped Nanapon, and countries that likely can't afford to win the auction are also suspect.

"That's why I made that errand boy Arc my disciple. With him around, I don't need to go outside."

"I see... What about Claire-san and Harry-san?"

"I'll call them later. They've been blowing up my phone, too."

They're so persistent.

"You should probably talk to them once. By the way, what did Satsuki-san say?"

"Nothing. She just seemed happy, saying it looked profitable."

"She's such an optimist. I'm full of anxiety."

That's the normal reaction. But Satsuki-san isn't normal. Why on earth doesn't she have a unique skill?

"It'll be fine. It's just like before. Worst case, we just run away. In any case, this will be Eleanor-san's last public appearance, and if things get really bad, I'll just sell it to America through Claire."

Japan would be fine, too. If, in the worst-case scenario, the auction can't be held, that's alright. It's still a massive amount of money, no doubt about it.

"If Arc-chan is here, I guess it'll work out somehow..."

Exactly.

"...Did someone call me?"

Suddenly, Arc appeared right in front of us.

"You scared me..."

"Don't just pop up like that."

He seriously startled me.

"Well, it's not like I can call out and say 'I'm on my way!'"

"Don't appear in the living room. Teleport into the hallway and knock. It'd be awkward if Kaede-chan and I were kissing."

We might even be doing something better.

"Ah, you're right. I'll be careful."

"Not that we would be doing that, you know."

That's only because the situation involves Arc coming back, right?

"Oh, here are the sweets."

Arc placed a basket overflowing with sweets on the low table.

"Thanks for this."

"No problem. We're out of stock now, so I'll have to go buy more. Also, they told me to buy a ton of those chocolate cookies and the consommé potato chips."

I knew it...

"Consommé over lightly salted?"

"The lightly salted ones are good too, but they said the consommé flavor is incredible. I got curious and tried one myself, and it's amazing. It's a flavor they don't have over there."

So they don't have consommé.

"Isn't that a soup stock?"

"Well, there is consommé soup, so I think so?"

Neither Kaede-chan nor I cook, so we don't really know.

"The food culture is really different, huh. I'll have to buy a lot of things to take back."

"Yeah. Not just snacks, but you should buy drinks and seasonings too."

"I will. But I don't have any of this world's money... Where can I sell gold?"

I have no idea. A pawn shop?

"I'll cover the money. It's the least I can do."

Snacks aren't that expensive, and he's helping me earn way more than that, so it's a small price to pay.

"Then I guess I'll take you up on that."

"Should we go to the supermarket now?"

Let's do that.

"Arc, we're going shopping."

"Can I come too?"

"Sure, that's fine."

"Is this outfit okay?"

Arc was wearing a white, dress-like garment.

"Hmm, it's a bit borderline. Should we have him wear Kaede-chan's clothes?"

"He's smaller than me, so I'm not sure."

Arc is barely 150 centimeters tall.

"He should be able to wear them. We can just buy him some clothes while we're out. This guy seems like he'll start going shopping on his own sooner or later."

"That's true. Then I'll lend you some of my clothes. Senpai's, or rather, Eleanor-san's clothes wouldn't really suit you."

Eleanor-san's build is about the same as Kaede-chan's, but Kaede-chan's style would probably suit Arc better. Arc is more cute than beautiful.

"Kaede is lending me clothes? That's nice of you."

"Not at all. This way, please."

Kaede-chan said this and stood up, intending to lead Arc to her room, so I stood up as well.

"Hm?"

Kaede-chan looked at me as I stood up.

"I'm just going to change too. I have no intention of following you, okay?"

Really, I don't.

"...Is that so."

Ah, she doesn't believe me.

"As expected of someone with a top-tier unique skill. You're naturally awful."

What? Unique skills have ranks? Is Alchemy top-tier?

"Well then, time to get ready."

I scurried away to my room.

◆◇◆

After getting ready to go out, we headed to a shopping mall and first bought some clothes for Arc. Arc bought several outfits, but he ended up wearing one of the outfits he tried on right out of the store. He was now standing outside the shop, looking at his reflection.

"Does this look weird?" Arc asked.

"You look super cute."

"You really have a perfect face, a solid 100 out of 100."

The dress he wore at home and the clothes he borrowed from Kaede-chan both suited him, but now he was dressed in an adorable, age-appropriate outfit.

Hmm, I think he's going to grow up to be a real beauty. Is he really going to turn back into a guy? What a terrible waste.

"You think so?"

"Yeah. You're super cute. I'd want a daughter like you. What do you think? Should we buy some boy's clothes too?"

I've never seen the male version of Arc, but I'm sure he's ridiculously handsome.

"No, men's clothes are fine. I'll come here in this form when I visit."

"Well, I prefer that, but be careful not to get kidnapped."

Even in peaceful Japan, sex crimes aren't nonexistent.

"I'll be fine. I can manage with magic and teleportation."

"Then I guess it's okay. Is it fine if we just buy food and drinks?"

"Yeah. There are other things I'm curious about, but food comes first."

That's an important priority.

"Then let's go to the supermarket on the first floor. You can buy anything you find interesting. You have storage magic, right?"

"I do. First, let's go to the candy aisle!"

Such a kid.