kscans

Chapter 27 - I Wonder How She'd React if I Said We Only Have One Room?

I finished my adventuring just before 5 PM and returned. Back at the Guild, I settled my earnings at Kaede-chan’s desk, and then the two of us went to the same izakaya as last time. We were shown to a private room, and after ordering beers that arrived immediately, we made a toast.

"So, I met Saegusa-san today."

I told Kaede-chan about my day’s adventure while sipping my beer.

"Saegusa Yoshino-san? The A-rank?"

"Yep. She was just as beautiful as the rumors say."

And she was huge!

"Oh."

Kaede-chan pouted.

"You’re cuter, Kaede-chan."

"You think so? I thought men preferred people like her."

Her chest, she means. Kaede-chan is well-endowed herself, but Saegusa-san was on another level.

"I like the soothing type, like you, Kaede-chan. You’re really comforting…"

Kaede-chan is cute, she’s kind, she listens to me, she’s just a really good girl…

"…Don’t get all gloomy on me all of a sudden. Here, drink up, drink up."

"Yeah."

Ah, this beer is good.

"Anyway, that woman seemed really strong. A-ranks are amazing."

"Well, she is an A-rank. Our Guild Master was one too, but A-ranks are in a different league. Plus, Yoshino-san often works solo. She’s crazy."

She really is amazing. But I’m solo too! Ah! So she must not have any friends either!

"She’s incredible. And get this, we even exchanged contact info! How rare is that!"

"Oh…"

Uh oh, Kaede-chan just turned ice-cold.

"She wanted me to contact her if I saw Eleanor Ocean."

"I see… Senpai, do you really think that’s all it was?"

I’m getting used to Kaede-chan’s sidelong glance.

"Not at all."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Kaede-chan looked surprised.

"Because she called me by name. Even though I never introduced myself."

She called me Okita-kun.

"That means…"

"She knew who I was from the start and approached me. She probably looked into me because we belong to the same guild and became Adventurers around the same time."

But calling me by my name was a slip-up. She’s a clumsy one. A clumsy, busty one.

Well, I think she probably blurted out my name because I was staring at her chest, but I can’t tell Kaede-chan that.

"So they came after you, senpai."

"Well, it’s fine. I won’t mess up."

"Hmm, I can’t quite nod to that."

I did mess up big time with Kaede-chan. But it’s fine now. I’ve learned my lesson. People are creatures that grow.

"It’ll be fine."

"Well, I’ll trust you. Oh, and also, could you come in tomorrow too?"

"Tomorrow? Sure, but why?"

"To receive your money. And to discuss what to sell next. The Guild Master is calling for you."

Which means I need to go as Eleanor Ocean.

"The media is so annoying."

"Just slip past them quickly."

"Hmm, alright."

I could go as Okita-kun and transform in the Guild’s bathroom… no, that wouldn’t work. I’ll just go normally.

"Please do. Oh, and about the main topic. I took next week off, so let’s go eat some crab."

Oh!

"Let’s go, let’s go! Oh, you don’t have to pay a single yen. After all, I’ll be a millionaire by tomorrow!"

180 milli-ooon yen!

"Senpai, you’re so cooool!"

Right? Right?

"Is Sapporo okay?"

"I think so. I kind of want to go to some hot spring, but that’s probably far, isn’t it?"

"Probably? Well, a regular hotel is fine, right?"

"Yeah."

We’ll just eat crab and go home.

"Alright, I’ll book something then."

"Please do."

It’ll have to be two rooms, of course…

"Alright, let’s drink."

"I’m so excited."

Me too, me too.

Kaede-chan and I drank while looking for crab restaurants, and we called it an early night.

◆◇◆

The next day, I changed into Eleanor Ocean, drank an Invisibility Potion, and became invisible. By the way, when you drink an Invisibility Potion, your clothes and bag become invisible too. The reason? I don’t know.

When no one was around, I drank another Invisibility Potion and reappeared. Then I headed to the station and got on the train.

I was able to get a seat easily today as well, but I could clearly tell that the people around me were paying attention to me. Some were even pretending to look at their phones while pointing their cameras at me. They might think I haven’t noticed, but from the target’s perspective, it’s so unnatural that it’s completely obvious.

I decided to start using taxis from now on and closed my eyes.

When the train arrived in Ikebukuro, I immediately left the station. I was about to head to the Guild, but a large crowd of media was gathered near the station exit.

Crap! Someone must have posted about it online…

They saw that and are waiting here instead of in front of the Guild. The proof is… look, here they come.

"You’re Eleanor Ocean-san, aren’t you!?"

"Could we have a word with you!?"

So annoying…

"I’m on my way to the Guild. You can talk to me until then."

Well, if I treat them too harshly, I don’t know what they’ll write. I’ll just handle them appropriately.

I started walking towards the Guild. Naturally, the media followed.

"You are the one who listed the Item Bags for auction, Eleanor Ocean-san, correct?"

a female announcer asked.

"That’s right. I did."

"Where did you obtain them?"

This time, a different reporter asked.

"They dropped from monsters. I am an Adventurer, after all."

"From monsters? Which monsters would that be?"

Yet another reporter chimed in.

"There were ten of them. I’ve forgotten which one came from which monster."

"One theory suggests they were created by a corporation. Is that true?"

This time… ah, it’s yesterday’s announcer.

"A corporation? I am not employed by a company."

Ugh… fired… Kaede-chan, heal me.

"Are you not an ambassador hired by some company?"

…………………….

"No, I am not."

What’s an ambassador? I should have drunk a Translation Potion… I’ll make sure to drink one from now on.

"So you’re saying they were really drops?"

"That’s what I’ve been saying. I was just lucky."

Yes, just a coincidence!

"You’re quite beautiful. Have you done any modeling in the past?"

Yesterday’s announcer asked that, so I stopped walking.

"You say the nicest things. But no, I haven’t."

I started walking again.

"Do you have any plans to list anything else in the future?"

A male reporter asked that just as we arrived at the Guild. I stopped in front of the Guild door and turned around.

"Everyone, members of the press are not allowed beyond this point. Please leave."

Only Adventurers and staff are allowed in the Guild without permission.

"Um, could you at least answer that last question?"

The male reporter asked with a troubled look.

"I am an Adventurer. If I am lucky enough to find something that seems worthy of auction, I will list it."

"So you don't have anything now?"

He said it was the last question… Oh, but it’s yesterday’s announcer. I guess it can’t be helped.

"I do. That is all. Goodbye."

I answered, then opened the Guild door and went inside.

"Phew…"

I took a breath and headed towards Kaede-chan.

"Good work."

Kaede-chan praised my efforts.

"They caught me at the station."

"I thought so. I saw it online too."

Kaede-chan showed me her phone. On the screen was a picture of a blonde woman with her eyes closed on the train.

"I’m using taxis from now on."

"I think that’s for the best."

I have money. I’ll say it again! I have money! Wahahaha!

"The Guild Master."

I decided to get to the point.

"Yes, right this way."

Kaede-chan stood up, went to the end of the reception desk, and let me into the area behind it. Then, she led me to the same room as before.