kscans

Chapter 282 - What For?

On a weekday afternoon, Kaede-chan was at work, so I was watching the two shorties do some kind of paperwork when the phone rang. I answered it, but…

"Huh? You want another Cure Potion? What are you talking about?"

There was an idiot on the other end of the line saying absurd things.

‘No, the President is insisting on it. Apparently his grandchild has a recital, but she’s not feeling well.’

Like I care.

"Doesn’t that sound completely unimportant?"

‘He seems to be absolutely smitten with his grandchild.’

Well, I can understand that. I like kids, and I get that grandparents dote on their grandchildren. But to want a Cure Potion for that?

"Do you have any idea how much that costs?"

‘He told me to come negotiate that part.’

"Wear a mask."

‘They’re getting strict about that sort of thing lately.’

I don’t care.

"This is getting nowhere. Where are you now?"

‘At home.’

That apartment, I see.

"Wait there a minute."

I said, and hung up the phone.

"Is something the matter?"

Mia asked, peeking her head out from the kitchen.

"Someone wants a Cure Potion for their grandchild’s recital. Are all Americans idiots?"

There was Claire and Harry, and now this fool who smokes while showering.

"Looking at you, maybe they’re thinking the same thing about Japanese people."

Arc, despite being in the middle of work, purposely stopped what he was doing to chime in with his unnecessary commentary.

"They think I’m a Frontier person, so I’m fine."

"Please stop…"

Like I care.

"Arc, take me to that apartment."

"Alright. Lydia, sorry. Wait just a moment."

Arc apologized to Lydia-chan, who was working with him.

"No, that is important as well. Master, considering the future of the Ocean Kingdom, our connection with America is important. Please put them in our debt in a clever way."

"I’ll fight alone if I have to! I won’t change the country’s name!"

Ignore, ignore.

"Is our connection with America that important?"

"Even setting aside the fact that we sold them an area, they are currently our biggest trading partner. Considering the future, it will likely be them or Japan first."

Hmm, hmm.

"Got it. I’ll go with that approach. Arc, let’s go."

"Are you going dressed like that?"

I was wearing a baggy T-shirt and shorts. I was Okita-kun until a moment ago, so it couldn’t be helped. I had to quickly drink a TS Potion to answer the phone.

"I don’t care what I look like to meet them."

It’s just some apartment.

"That’s true. Alright, I’ll teleport us."

With Arc’s teleportation, we arrived in the usual room in that apartment. A listless-looking Claire was sitting at the table, her cheek resting on her hand.

"You’re in a bad mood… hm?"

What’s that smell? It’s a bit stinky…

"It smells strong in here. Actually, it smells like a ramen shop."

As Arc and I looked at each other and tilted our heads, Claire silently pointed toward the kitchen. Not wanting to believe it, I peeked into the kitchen and saw Harry standing in front of a large stockpot.

"Harry?"

"Yo, Eleanor. You look especially domestic today, or maybe like a girlfriend who just spent the night at her boyfriend’s place."

That’s because I’m wearing men’s loungewear.

"Never mind me. What are you doing?"

"Making ramen."

Ramen idiot… This man has finally started making it himself.

"Are you planning on opening a shop?"

"That’s a possibility."

Are you serious… But a part of me thinks it might actually be popular. He’s famous and popular, after all.

"...If you do, you’d better treat me."

At the very least, give me a free seasoned egg.

"I’ll book the whole place for you."

Thanks.

"Hey, hey, how do you make ramen?"

Arc seemed to have taken an interest. He likes ramen too, after all.

"First, you make the broth. The broth is the most important part."

"Wow."

Arc might be a lost cause. A ramen shop might open in the Ocean Kingdom before long.

"Go ahead and watch. Harry, try not to bother the neighbors."

"I know. Still, the kitchens in Japanese houses are so small."

It’s because you guys are huge.

I returned to the living room and sat down across from Claire.

"What’s his job?"

"Want to see his ramen blog?"

He even has one of those…

"No thanks. Let’s leave the ramen idiot be and get to the point. A Cure Potion just for a grandchild’s recital is just too stupid."

"The President is getting old."

Claire said, looking bored as she started to smoke a cigarette.

"Didn’t I say not to let Cure Potions go public?"

"You did. And they’re not public, right? But everyone in the underworld knows about them. In fact, there’s a scramble for them. Well, since you disappeared, I’ve become the target. Thanks to that, I can’t leave this stinky house."

It’s a potion that can cure cancer, after all. The aging and powerful would do anything to get their hands on it. But Eleanor is no longer on the public stage. So Claire, as the contact, is being targeted.

"Are you okay?"

"I’m fine. This kind of trouble is my main line of work, you know? I’m holed up right now to draw out the disruptive elements in my company."

So dirty. While I’m lazing around at home, there’s a whole drama unfolding over here.

"That’s rough."

"It’s worth it. And this current order from the President is extremely unimportant."

She took a drag from her cigarette, looking truly uninterested.

"Is a Level 1 Cure Potion fine?"

"Probably? It’s not like it’s that serious. But we don’t know about the future."

Hmm, hmm…

"The President is old, right?"

"That’s right."

This is it.

"If he gets a serious illness and his life is in danger, let me know anytime. I’ll help him."

"Oh, how kind. I would sell it at a high price. Not in terms of money."

I know. That’s what Lydia-chan meant.

"Is the President still going to be in office?"

"There’s an election next year, but don’t worry. His opponent is an old man too."

"Fufu, will he choose his country or his own life?"

"He is the country."

Easy to understand.

"The day I rule the world might be close. Perhaps I should rule the world… no, that sounds like a pain, I’ll pass."

I’ll leave it to the Dark Queen. I’ll play with Kaede-chan.

"You really only think about yourself, don’t you."

"You’re one to talk."

You money-loving old hag.

"Well, yeah. So? What about the Cure Potion?"

"Give it to him. I just so happened to have a Level 1 drop."

I said, placing a Cure Potion on the table.

"From a slime?"

"That’s fine. Arc!"

I called toward the kitchen. Arc came back, holding a cup of ramen.

"Got a souvenir."

"Good for you."

If your marriage falls apart and you get overthrown in a coup, have Harry hire you at his ramen shop.

"Our business is done, so we’re leaving."

"Alright, alright. See ya."

"Come again."

"Bye."

We teleported back to the sofa we had left from.

"I’m back."

"Welcome back. How did it go?"

Lydia-chan asked, looking up.

"I did some sales for Cure Potions."

"Thank you. By the way, Arc, you smell of something…"

"Huh? Do I?"

Called out, Arc sniffed his own clothes.

"It’s the smell of ramen."

"Oh, that."

As Arc seemed to understand, a maid immediately came from the kitchen.

"Arc-sama, let’s take a bath. We will wash your clothes."

"Do I smell that bad?"

"When your wife points it out, you should act immediately. That’s how it is."

Oh, I see.

"Got it."

Arc nodded and stood up.

"Nyaah, nyaah. You stink."

"Are you a kid… You were in the same place."

"I was in the living room."

Unlike you, who was in the kitchen.

"Supreme Advisor, one moment, please."

Mia came over and sniffed me.

"Huh? Do I smell?"

"The smell of tobacco…"

Claire was smoking…

"Isn’t it a mature scent?"

"At the very least, I believe Kaede-sama would dislike it."

That’s no good.

"I guess I’ll take a bath. Arc, want to join?"

"………………"

Arc silently gave me the middle finger and then went off toward the bathroom.

"What a rude kid. I was just going to check on his growth."

Also, where did you learn that? I have a feeling it was those two uncouth Americans.

"Supreme Advisor, please enter after Arc-sama is finished."

"Yes, yes."

"And please refrain from making comments like the one you just made in front of others."

Hm?

"Were you put off?"

"Just a little…"

Hmm…

"And the truth?"

"Quite a bit."

Is that so.