kscans

Chapter 211 - Happy to Have a Good Disciple

The day was Monday, the day after the Christmas festivities of December 24th and 25th. It was the day I was scheduled to meet with Satsuki-san and the Director to discuss the auction.

I woke up early, changed into Eleanor-san, and got ready. After I finished dressing, I started eating a piece of bread for breakfast.

"I'm so sleepy. Why'd you have to call me out this early in the morning?"

Arc sat across from me, complaining as he sipped his apple juice. The current time was nine in the morning, and Kaede-chan was still asleep.

"It can't be helped. I can't go outside, after all."

There was no way I could walk around outside looking like Eleanor-san at this time of year. That's why I was having Arc use his teleportation magic to get to the Guild in Ikebukuro.

"I get that, but... couldn't you have made it in the afternoon?"

I had said the same thing, but it was up to them. Apparently, they wanted to have the meeting as early as possible.

"I gave you a Christmas present yesterday, didn't I? Just bear with it."

Since yesterday and the day before were Christmas, I had given presents not only to Kaede-chan but also to Nanapon, Yoshino-san, and Arc.

I gave Nanapon a stuffed rabbit and Yoshino-san a golden shachihoko statue.

I meant it as a joke, but they both seemed delighted.

As for Arc, I had considered giving him an adult magazine, but my conscience and the commotion from yesterday made me reconsider. I gave him a Level 3 Healing Potion instead.

And for Kaede-chan, I gave her a necklace that cost a ridiculous amount of money.

"You did... By the way, what is Christmas? Why was everyone so excited?"

So you didn't even know...

"Just think of it as a festival or a celebration of sorts."

I don't know the details myself. It's a day you spend with family or your significant other, right?

"Hmm. Should I have given something too?"

"I don't need anything from you. I don't accept gifts from children."

Children should just quietly wait for Santa Claus.

"Well, I don't really get it, but thanks."

"It's fine. It's for my disciple, after all."

"Ah... the damn witch is steadily establishing facts on the ground."

"Be sure to invite me to the wedding."

I'll celebrate with you. I'll even give the bride a TS Potion.

"I absolutely will not. I wouldn't invite someone who held a press conference like that even if I were dead."

And I didn't even say anything...

"Well, whatever."

I'll just ask the King. I'll have him arrange for me to be a surprise guest.

"I have a very bad feeling about this..."

What an intuitive little brat.

"It's just your imagination."

"I don't really care, but please finish up by noon. I'm going shopping with Kaede in the afternoon."

"Hey, hey. Don't leave Okita-kun out of it."

We said the three of us would go yesterday, didn't we?

"I get it... You've finished eating, right? We should probably get going."

Prompted by Arc, I glanced at the clock. It was 9,10. Our appointment was at 9,30, so we needed to leave soon.

"I know. I'll do the dishes, so you go wake Kaede-chan up. That girl has turned into a complete degenerate."

If we weren't careful, she might sleep until noon. It was probably a reaction to everything she'd been through. I was the same way.

"A couple of peas in a pod, huh."

You're a degenerate yourself, you know.

I took my finished plate to the kitchen sink and started washing it. Once I was done, Arc returned, leading a sleepy-looking Kaede-chan.

"Good morning."

I greeted Kaede-chan, who was wearing a cute set of pajamas.

"Mornin'. Are you heading out already?"

A few strands of Kaede-chan's hair were sticking up, which was adorable.

"Yeah. I'll be back in the afternoon, so wait for me."

"Okay... Is udon all right for lunch?"

It seemed Kaede-chan was offering to cook.

"I want ramen."

Arc placed his order before I could even nod.

"You want ramen?"

"That stuff is delicious. I think I'm getting hooked."

Stop. Come back. Down that path lies a dumb musclehead.

"Hmm... Well, we have ramen, so I'll make that. Is that okay with you too, Senpai?"

"That's fine."

It's not like I disliked ramen. What I disliked was going to a ramen shop with that group. More specifically, that autograph session Harry called an intermission.

"Yay! Well, we'll be off then. Eleanor, shall we go?"

"Right. To the front of the Gate."

If we suddenly appeared in Satsuki-san's room, the Director might be there, so that was our plan.

"Got it."

Arc acknowledged and held out his hand. As usual, my vision was enveloped in pure white.

◆◇◆

When my vision cleared, I was in the familiar area in front of the Gate.

"This really is convenient. With this magic, I don't need an Invisibility Potion."

Invisibility Potions were useful, but you had to drink one to become invisible and another to undo it. Not only that, but drinking a TS Potion and various other potions filled up my stomach and made me need the bathroom more often.

"Invisibility Potions are used for things like bodyguard duty, the way Mia used them."

Isn't it more for the darker side of things, like assassinations and undercover operations, than for protection?

I felt like that's what royalty would use it for, but it wasn't my place to say. He should learn such things from his father, the King, not his master.

"That might be true. Well then, let's go."

"What should I do? Wait here? Can I go home?"

"Come with me. It would be rude to make you wait here, and you can't go home."

I wanted to leave the instant the conversation was over.

"Should I drink an Invisibility Potion? But will the meeting be over in an hour?"

The effect of an Invisibility Potion lasts for one hour. If it wore off in the middle of the meeting, Arc would suddenly appear. Satsuki-san aside, the Director would certainly be surprised.

"You don't need to drink an Invisibility Potion. Just come with me normally."

"Is that okay?"

"I'll make up some excuse."

With that, I led Arc toward the reception area. Naturally, no one was there.

"I saw online that guilds are usually crowded with adventurers and really lively. This place feels kind of lonely."

No, this place has always been empty. To me, it looked like it had finally gone out of business.

"It'll go back to normal eventually. Do you want to become an adventurer too?"

"I can't, I have a Status Card."

Were Status Cards for people from Frontier white? They would stand out, so it was probably impossible.

"By the way, can you teleport to the Kunaar Ruins or Mireille Road?"

"I've never been to either, so I can't. His Majesty can, so if he takes me there once, I'll be able to teleport there too."

Hmm, hmm. I'll keep that in mind.

"You really are a good kid."

So incredibly useful. Full of potential.

"And you really are a bad one."

"Fufufu. Well, it's fine, isn't it? You have to enjoy life. Let's go."

I said with a laugh and started walking toward Satsuki-san's room. When I stood before the door, I looked at Arc behind me.

"You shouldn't talk too much, okay?"

"I know. I'll keep quiet."

"Good. Then let's go."

I knocked on the door.

"Come in. Let yourself in."

Having received Satsuki-san's permission, I opened the door.