kscans

Chapter 26 - The Astonishing Charm Magic

I passed through the Gate and arrived at the Kunaar Ruins, and I was shocked. A large number of Adventurers were milling about in front of the gate, and when I emerged, every single one of them turned to look at me. However, it seemed I wasn’t the person they were looking for, as they all quickly lost interest and went back to talking with people who appeared to be their comrades.

They must be looking for Eleanor Ocean… But what for? Do they want an autograph or something?

I quickly left the area where the Adventurers had gathered and began my exploration.

I started exploring and hunting Skeletons. As I fought them, I realized my movements were on a completely different level compared to when I was Eleanor.

Is it the physical difference between men and women? Plus, I’m wearing a jersey that’s easy to move in, while Eleanor wears robes.

As I thought about how I was definitely better off as an Adventurer like this, I swung my katana and shattered a Skeleton.

"Do you have a moment?"

I had just defeated a Skeleton and was bending over to pick up the dropped skeleton sword when a voice from behind startled me.

I slowly turned around, my right hand slightly open. Five meters behind me stood a woman with long black hair, raising both hands with a wry smile.

Who is she? I didn’t sense her presence at all. I’m pretty good, so I should be able to sense most presences…

"My apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you."

The woman apologized, keeping her hands raised. But I couldn’t let my guard down. This woman knew I had entered a combat stance. That’s why she raised her hands, to show she had no hostile intent.

Her ability to conceal her presence, combined with this level of insight, means she’s no ordinary person! Who is she…?

As I was striking a needlessly cool pose in my mind, I realized I knew this person.

"Could you be the A-rank, Saegusa Yoshino-san?"

"Oh! You know me. Yes, yes, that’s me. So please don’t attack."

Saegusa Yoshino-san is a celebrity. Even someone like me who doesn’t know much about Adventurers knows who she is. After all, she’s famous for being the impossibly beautiful Adventurer.

And what’s more…………

I glanced at Saegusa-san’s large chest.

Yep! It’s the real deal! It’s the real Saegusa Yoshino-san!

Every man knows.

I relaxed my guard and eased my body.

"My apologies. It was my fault for carelessly calling out to an Adventurer after a battle."

Saegusa-san apologized.

That one shouldn’t approach an Adventurer carelessly is written in the beginner’s guides I often read. But it doesn’t say anything about after a battle.

This is the logic of a fighter. A person is most vulnerable right after a victory. In other words, this person has likely studied some form of martial arts.

"No, I’m the one who should be sorry."

"No, no, men and women alike, everyone stares, so it’s alright."

That’s not it. I’m apologizing for getting into a combat stance!

"No, I’m sorry."

"Really, don’t worry about it. I’m used to it."

"Is that so…………"

Online rumors say she’s an F or a G cup, but…

"Well, even so, please stop staring so intently."

Saegusa-san was looking at me with a troubled expression.

Oh, I’m going to get arrested. Kaede-chan is going to dump me.

"Was there something you needed?"

I’ll try to change the subject.

"Huh? Oh, right. Well, your swordsmanship was so impressive. I was just a little curious."

I’m so glad I learned swordsmanship! Thank you, Dad. Saegu… oppa… Saegusa-san approached me on her own!

"Thank you. I’ve been doing it since I was a child."

"Kendo?"

"No, I learned from my father. Although, I did join the kendo club in high school."

For the sake of my school records, of course. It’s no exaggeration to say that’s how I got into university. After all, I’m no good at studying.

"I see. Are you a rookie? I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’ve never heard of someone with your level of skill."

"Ah, that’s right. I used to be a salaryman, but I quit to become an Adventurer."

I won’t say I was fired. It would make me seem incompetent.

"I see, I see. A salaryman-turned-adventurer."

I don’t like that label, but well, it’s accurate.

"What are you doing here, Saegusa-san?"

The Kunaar Ruins are popular, but they’re not a place an A-rank would normally visit.

"Well, you know, I came because of that witch business."

Eleanor Ocean, I see. Well, that makes sense.

"I see. Are the people milling around the gate here for that too?"

"Probably. They want to recruit her."

Scouting, huh. I’m a solo player, so I’d turn them all down.

"You too, Saegusa-san?"

Weren’t you a solo player too?

"I’m not here to recruit, exactly, but I wanted to talk to her for a bit. And I wanted to make a request."

"A request?"

"You know how she put Item Bags up for auction? I wanted to ask her to sell one to me privately."

I hear Item Bags are essential for high-rankers. Next time I see her as Eleanor Ocean, I’ll sell her one!

"So that’s what it was. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to wait in front of the gate?"

"I was waiting there at first, but there was a never-ending stream of Adventurers trying to talk to me. I ran away."

Ah, I get it. If I were to team up with someone, I’d want to team up with her. I’d want to hit on her and go for tea.

"I see…"

"Aren’t you interested in that witch?"

So Eleanor is completely being treated as a witch now.

"I’m a rookie, and there’s my age to consider. I don’t really have the luxury for that."

"Age? How old are you?"

"Twenty-six."

"We’re the same age!"

Seriously? What a coincidence!

"That being the case, the time I have to be on the front lines is limited. My swordsmanship is already rusty from the long break, and I want to level up and start earning as soon as possible. That’s why I’m not interested in Eleanor Ocean."

This part is true. Once I’m over thirty, it’s going to get physically demanding. I could probably still manage at thirty, but since this is a life-or-death situation, a single moment of carelessness could mean death. It’s best to earn money quickly and drop out.

"Huh… Adults are different, even when they’re rookies. The high schoolers are all so reckless."

Like those guys from before.

"I was like that too when I was in high school."

"So was I."

Another coincidence! Well, most people probably were.

"Um, how long do you think this commotion will last?"

"Who knows? The Adventurers are gathered here because of information that Eleanor Ocean was seen here."

I did pass by quite a few other Adventurers last time. Maybe I should deliberately go to a different place and draw the Adventurers over there? Then this place would be peaceful.

"I see… When there are a lot of people, I can’t help but worry."

"I know what you mean. The enemy isn’t just monsters. It’s people, too. It rarely comes to that, but that kind of mindset is important."

Always on the battlefield. This person is definitely a martial artist.

Her aura is probably similar to mine… but, she’s so big. Is she an F, or a G… amazing.

"—kun, Okita-kun."

"Huh? Oh, sorry, what is it?"

My name was called, so I looked up and stopped my train of thought.

"Oh, it’s nothing important, but if you happen to see Eleanor Ocean, could you let me know?"

"Me?"

"You’re active here, right? I can’t stay here forever, so just if you happen to see her is fine."

Huh…

"Understood."

"Do you have a cell phone? Shall we exchange contact information?"

She’s hitting on me, hitting on me! A busty girl is hitting on me!

"Yes, yes."

I took my phone out of my bag, and Saegusa-san took out hers as well. We then exchanged contact information.

"Well then, sorry to ask, but I’m counting on you. Oh, and please don’t leak that to anyone."

"I won’t."

"I’m counting on you. Well then, it would be nice if we could meet again somewhere."

Saegusa-san said that and then went off somewhere.

Huh… Okita-kun, she says… She’s beautiful and busty, but Kaede-chan is more honest and cute.

◆◇◆

"How was it?"

When I moved away from Okita-kun and went behind a building, the subordinate who was waiting for me asked.

"His swordsmanship is considerable. There’s a possibility."

"He’s a man, though?"

"He could be cross-dressing."

"Well, I suppose so, but…"

Even I would be put off if he were cross-dressing.

"It’s one possibility. But he is without a doubt the best swordsman among the recent rookies."

Eleanor Ocean uses swordsmanship. So, I was looking for rookies who use swords and came across him.

"Is he strong?"

"Yes. Very strong."

To be honest, it was a little frightening.

"Well, there might be a connection."

"That possibility is high. They’re from the same Ikebukuro Branch, and besides…"

I trailed off.

"Besides?"

"He wasn’t holding the skeleton’s sword."

The only things he was holding were his katana and his bag.

"That means…"

"It’s highly likely he has an Item Bag. Of course, there’s also the possibility that he was just here to level up."

Skeletons are popular because they’re moderately weak, but they have the disadvantage of having large, bulky drop items. That’s why some Adventurers deliberately choose not to pick up the drops.

He could be one of those… No, when I called out to him, he was about to pick up the skeleton’s sword.

"What should we do?"

"Don’t report this to the head director just yet. I’m going to investigate a little more."

"Understood."

Well then, time to head back… However, there’s one thing I’d like to warn Okita-kun about.

His vigilance and awareness were excellent. He is likely a considerable sword master. He wasn’t careless, and he had extremely few openings. But I think he should do something about how he becomes completely defenseless when he’s looking at a person’s chest. Also, he stares too much. Normally, he’d be disliked for that.