kscans

Chapter 223 - Recently, Arc Has Started Walking Around the House Like He Owns It

After finishing my conversation with Claire, I discussed the briefing with Arc and Lydia-chan, and we hammered out the details. Lydia-chan returned to Frontier in the evening, but Arc stayed the night at my place. The next day, January 2nd, Kaede-chan came back, so the three of us went for our first shrine visit of the year, and on the way back, we went to see the New Year's sales.

Then, a few days after the New Year's holiday ended, just as the festive mood was fading, I got a call from Satsuki-san.

'The Guild has officially given permission to hold the auction and the briefing.'

"That's good. A relief for now."

'After America issued their statement, several other countries issued statements too.'

I knew about that from the online news. As if following America's lead, they announced their participation and gave permission for the auction to be held in their own countries. Japan, however, had not issued a statement. Well, since they're working with America, there's probably no need.

"Has the schedule been decided?"

'They said the briefing will be scheduled to your convenience, but they'd like you to wait three weeks. They need time to prepare and notify each country.'

Well, that's fine. It's necessary, and it's not something the countries can decide on instantly. In fact, three weeks is quite fast.

"I thought it would take more time."

'You're completely thought of as a person from Frontier. What's more, they assume you're royalty or someone of an equivalent rank. People from Frontier are impatient, so they apparently moved up the schedule quite a bit. They really wanted more than half a year.'

Half a year is too long.

"The sooner the better, so I'm grateful. What about the auction date?"

'They promise to hold it within one month of the briefing.'

"They're being awfully kind."

'The Guild gets ten percent too, you know.'

Oh, right. If it sells for 100 billion, they get 10 billion. They wouldn't want another country to take that from them.

"Wasn't it five percent for Satsuki-san and another five for the headquarters chief?"

That's how it was for the previous auctions.

'That's the case when it's held in Japan, but this time, the Guild's headquarters, the WGO, will be the organizer.'

"What's the WGO again?"

'The Guild is an organization that doesn't belong to any country. You can think of the WGO as the top of the Guild. The WGO establishes Guilds in each country. In return, a portion of the profits goes to that country.'

"So that's how the headquarters chief gets his five percent."

'Exactly.'

I see.

"So that means you, Satsuki-san, belong to that WGO?"

'That's right. That's why neither the headquarters chief nor the country could investigate Eleanor Ocean. There were requests for her to turn herself in and voluntary questioning, but I refused them all. Being a Guild Master is actually a pretty big deal, you know.'

This woman was actually doing her job...

"This is going to sound incredibly rude, but how did you manage to get a position like that?"

'That's how impressive the title of A-rank adventurer is. Plus, and I don't mean to brag, but I'm actually incredibly competent.'

I thought she was just someone who got jealous of me and Kaede-chan and lazed around on the sofa playing mobile games, but apparently she's amazing. I have a newfound respect for her.

"You should have told me."

'Well, telling you, someone who doesn't know much about adventurers... You don't even know what the WGO is, do you? You learn about it in civics class.'

"I forgot all that stuff as soon as I got into college."

History, geography, civics, I've forgotten it all.

'So you wouldn't be interested even if I told you. You just need to shut up and sell things that make money. Leave the rest to me, Kaede, and Yoshino. Let the right person do the right job.'

I see. Leave it to the experts.

"Got it. Then I don't care about the lesson. I understand that the WGO or whatever is the organizer, but how will the auction be conducted?"

'They want to have a meeting about that after the briefing. The director himself is coming.'

The director? Who? Given my name, is it Kondo-san?

"Is he someone important?"

'The most important person in the Guild.'

"Hmm... what's he like?"

'A Canadian named Michael Smith. You can look him up.'

I don't really care. He's probably some old guy anyway.

"Anyway, roger that. He's coming to Japan, right?"

'That's right. We'll be meeting at my Guild. The plan is, the director will also attend the briefing, so we'll go to the Emeraldas Mountains together for that. When it's over, we'll come back and have our meeting.'

So it's the Ikebukuro Branch after all.

"Isn't Ikebukuro dangerous? Will the director be okay?"

'The Guild is the main authority for all things related to Frontier. It would be very bad for other countries to make a move on the executive director, so it'll be peaceful that day. Harry and Claire will probably stay away from our Guild that day too.'

The Guild is a scary organization.

"Well, I get it. I'll have Arc take me."

'Do that.'

"What about the director's security?"

'He probably has a lot, right? But for the briefing, I'm his guard.'

You are?

"Are you sure you're up for it?"

'Even if a dragon appears, it's no problem. I'll kill it in seconds.'

This woman is belligerent in her own way. As expected of someone with Provocation.

"Roger. I'm bringing Nanapon, Arc, and Lydia-chan, just so you know."

'I've heard, and the Guild has approved it.'

Did Kaede-chan or Yoshino-san tell her?

"Then it's fine. I was worried they'd say no kids allowed."

'The witch's disciples are witches... that's what they think. Nanapon aside, the others are thought to be from Frontier.'

Amazing! They're right about everyone but me!

"I hope those two don't get found out..."

'All the attention will be on you, so it should be fine. Also, this matter is completely off the record with the media. Don't mention it, okay?'

"I don't leave the house, so I won't run into any media."

And no one would believe Okita-kun if he said anything. Not that I would.

'Well, that's the situation, so I'm counting on you.'

"Got it. I'll decide on a date on my end. I'll call you when it's set."

Unlike me and Arc who are free, I need to check the schedules of Nanapon, who has university, and Lydia-chan, who doesn't really get how things work here.

'Right. I'm counting on you. See you.'

"Yeah, later."

I hung up and placed my smartphone on the low table. Then, I leaned back against the sofa and watched Kaede-chan doing her daily yoga on the floor.

"The briefing is in three weeks?" Arc, who was sitting next to me, asked as I stared at Kaede-chan's flexible body.

"Looks like it. Ask Lydia-chan about her schedule."

"I think Lydia is free anytime, but I'll ask."

Arc nodded in agreement, so this time I picked up Eleanor-san's smartphone and started typing.

'Nanaka-san, about that briefing, it looks like it'll be in three weeks. What's your schedule like?'

I have to make sure to send it as Eleanor-san. That girl is fussy. Besides, when I message her as Eleanor-san, it gets read in seconds and she replies right away.

'I don't have any particular plans in three weeks, so I'm fine.'

See?

"Hajime, Lydia says she's free anytime."

As I was looking at Nanapon's reply, Arc looked over at me.

"That was fast. Can Lydia-chan use Telepathy too?"

"No, apparently she's at my place talking with His Majesty."

So he asked the King.

"Hmm, Nanapon says she's free anytime too. When's good for you?"

"You're the Golden Witch, right? Let's do it on Friday."

I see. A connection to gold (kin). I'm free whenever, so let's go with that...

"Alright, that day it is. I'll tell Nanapon and call Satsuki-san, so you tell Lydia-chan."

"Okay."

After hearing Arc's reply, I sent a message to Nanapon telling her it would be on Friday. Then, I decided to call Satsuki-san again.

Alright, the date for the briefing is set. Now all we have to do is wait!

...Hmm, I have to wait for three weeks.