kscans

Chapter 262 - Misfortune

Once we were out of the cave, we looked at each other.

"What’s the plan?" Claire asked.

"The main problem is the darkness. We need to do something about that."

"Should we borrow some military-grade lights from the army guys? I know some people on the American side, so I could probably get some."

Since this request is for them in the first place, I’m sure they’d lend them to us, but…

"You’d need some big ones to light up a space that large, right? Can you even bring something like that in? Won’t it take time?"

I’d seen them set up in the basement of the Kunaar Ruins before, and they were pretty massive.

"It would take time… and the client probably won’t like that."

Are the clients the Japanese and American governments?

"They’d definitely hate it."

"So, what now? I think we could just call it quits, you know. The pay isn’t that great, and if we explain the situation and hand over the map we have so far, they can handle the rest themselves."

Hmm… But quitting halfway through… No, I have a feeling either Arc or Lydia-chan can do something about the lighting.

"…I’ll consult with my disciples."

"Shorty No. 2 and No. 3? I’ve never seen No. 3, though."

Shorty No. 3, Lydia-chan, only showed her face during the briefing here.

"All my disciples are convenient… I mean, talented. They might be able to do something."

"I feel sorry for your disciples. You treat them like complete pawns."

I dote on them and treat them to things, you know.

"They adore me this much."

I looked at Nanapon, who was clinging to my back.

"It’s true…"

Nanapon hugged me tighter. It was an act she would never do with Okita-kun. I really wish they would just average out their two personalities.

"Well, whatever. Anyway, you think your disciples might be able to handle it?"

"Yes."

"Then I’ll leave it to you. Let’s head home for today."

We decided to leave and headed back to the Gate. We passed by some SDF Personnel and American soldiers on the way, but as usual, none of them made eye contact.

"Am I disliked, I wonder?"

"They’ve probably been ordered not to engage with you since no one knows what you’re thinking."

And here I am, not thinking about anything in particular this time.

"Well, whatever. We’re going back through the Gate to the Ikebukuro Guild. What about you two?"

"Same for us. We came from there."

Oh, really.

"Then let’s get going."

The four of us passed through the Gate and were transported to the familiar Ikebukuro Guild.

"Alright, we’re heading out. Contact me tonight."

"Later."

Claire and Harry left quickly. I took out my smartphone and called Kaede-chan.

‘Hello?’

"Ah, Kaede-chan? Is Arc there?"

‘He’s playing a game with Lydia-chan.’

Business as usual, then.

"Tell Arc I’m done and to come pick me up. I’m by the Gate."

‘Okay.’

As soon as Kaede-chan hung up, Arc appeared.

"That was fast."

"Something came up… I’ll explain when we get back."

"Got it."

Arc waved his hand, and our view changed to the living room. Nanapon and I went to the sofa, while Arc went back to the TV and resumed his game.

"Ah, I’m beat."

"Same here."

Nanapon and I sat down on the sofa. Mia immediately brought us some cold barley tea.

"Welcome back."

"Thanks."

"Thank you."

We drank the tea and took a breather.

"You’re back early, senpai," Kaede-chan said, sitting next to me.

"We ran into a little problem… Shorties, assemble!"

At my command, Arc and Lydia-chan paused their game and came over.

"What, what?"

"What is it?"

The two of them sat on the sofa, and Mia went to the kitchen to prepare snacks.

"We went to that mysterious cave in the Emeraldis Mountains today, and just like you said, Lydia-chan, it seemed like the ruins of a mine."

"I knew it…"

"So, there was a giant floating skull inside the cave, you know anything about it? And for some reason, the drop item was a femur bone."

What was that thing?

"A skull…"

"A Laughing Skull…"

Huh? They seem to know it.

"What’s that?"

"Eleanor, what about the drop item? You didn’t bring it back, did you?" Arc asked, sounding frantic.

"I had Claire appraise it, and it just came up as a femur bone, so I threw it away. It didn’t seem useful or sellable."

Not knowing what bone it was gave me the creeps.

"I see…"

"That’s a relief…"

Arc and Lydia-chan looked relieved.

"Huh? What is it, really?"

"The Laughing Skull is a nasty monster that curses you."

"What? A curse? What’s that?"

Seriously?

"The Laughing Skull’s eyes were glowing blue, right? When they turn red, it casts a curse."

They were definitely blue…

"They didn’t turn red, did they?" I checked with Nanapon.

"No. You sliced it in two before it could do anything, so they stayed blue."

Right.

"What kind of curse is it?"

"Apparently, it brings you Misfortune. Like dropping your wallet."

That’s subtly annoying…

"How irritating."

"That part’s not so bad. It’s the drop item that’s the real problem."

"The bone?"

It was definitely a nuisance and creepy.

"That bone is cursed, too, and it brings you extreme Misfortune."

"At worst, you could die in an accident."

That’s terrifying…

"What kind of super dangerous item is that?"

"It’s bad, right? Good thing you didn’t bring it back."

So much Misfortune… wait.

"Ah! Maybe the reason I dropped my octopus sausage was because of that?!"

"No, that was just you being clumsy, Eleanor-san."

Nanapon sounded exasperated.

"Let me tell you, I’m extremely dexterous. I’m so good I can pick up individual adzuki beans with chopsticks and move them to another plate."

"Come to think of it, you do hold your chopsticks very nicely, senpai."

"See? My parents were super strict about it."

Kaede-chan’s way is a little… well, it’s within an acceptable range, and she’s cute, so it’s okay.

"Well, maybe it was because of the cursed bone, but I’m glad that’s all that happened. Like Lydia said, it can be fatal."

That was a close one. I’m grateful to Claire for telling me to throw it away.

"But isn’t that item dangerous? If it brings that much Misfortune, couldn’t you just give it to someone you hate?"

Nanapon? That person you hate isn’t Okita-kun, is it? …This girl, just like the despicable Black Nanapon she is, comes up with the best ideas for screwing people over.

"You can’t do that. For example, say I hate the damn witch and decide to give Hajime the cursed bone, pretending it’s a lucky charm, right?"

Hey… Don’t use me as an example. You love me, don’t you? I’m the master you respect, right?

"What would happen?"

"I’d get the curse. You can’t transfer it. You just have to throw it away."

"Oh, I see…"

Why does she sound so disappointed? Nanapon is scary…

"So, Arc, is it fine if I just explain it to the guild?"

"Yeah. The Laughing Skull is famous for being a dangerous monster, but it’s rare, so you don’t encounter it much. I never thought one would be in the Emeraldis Mountains, though."

How scary. To everyone in Japan and America, please don’t hold a grudge against Eleanor-san.