kscans

Chapter 30 - Television

I ended up watching TV with Kaede-chan in the hotel room while drinking beer.

"Senpai, you’re looking around way too much."

Kaede-chan, watching the TV, laughed with delight.

On the screen, Eleanor-san was sitting in a chair, her eyes darting around restlessly.

"I was nervous. It was my first time on TV."

"You’re a total amateur."

Because I am an amateur.

"But senpai, your makeup is perfect. And your hair is tied up."

On the screen, Eleanor-san was wearing makeup, though not heavily, and her lips were a little red. Her long blonde hair was also slightly braided.

"The makeup artist did it. I can’t do it myself."

"I figured. But you look beautiful."

"Everyone said so."

"You’re so beautiful!" "You think so? Ehehe?"

That was the conversation I had with the makeup artist.

"But your clothes are your usual black robes."

"I thought I’d have to change into a costume too, but they told me to go on like that."

"It’s practically your trademark."

Well, yeah.

The show began, and the announcer from before explained the show’s premise. This program wasn’t anything grand. It was just Eleanor-san answering questions from a critic and a former Adventurer commentator, more of a discussion than a debate. Plus, the announcer served as a moderator, so it wasn’t too difficult.

‘And now, for today’s guest. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call her the person of the hour. The rumored Golden Witch, Eleanor Ocean-san.’

The announcer introduced Eleanor-san.

"Oh, so you really are the Golden Witch."

"Apparently. I was thinking, so that’s what they’re calling me…"

I thought being called a witch was a bit harsh, but after the filming, the show’s producer told me that having a character is important. If a professional says so, it must be true.

‘A pleasure to be here.’

Eleanor-san greeted them and bowed her head. Her movements were a little strange.

"So stiff!"

"I told you, I was nervous."

It was my first time. Can’t be helped.

‘Yes. It’s a pleasure to have you. Well then, to get right to it, Eleanor-san. You recently put an Item Bag up for auction, correct?’

‘Fufu. That’s right. I did.’

Eleanor-san, who had been stiff and straight-faced until a moment ago, suddenly crossed her legs and began to speak elegantly.

"What happened all of a sudden?"

Kaede-chan looked at me from beside me.

"Well, at that moment, the only word in my head was ‘mysterious.’"

Mysterious, mysterious! I have to be mysterious! That’s what I was thinking.

‘I, I see…………’

The announcer was flustered by Eleanor-san’s sudden change, but as expected of a professional. She quickly recovered and began asking questions. The questions weren’t that difficult, mostly things I had been asked before. I think they were being considerate.

‘Next, let’s hear from our expert. Mimura-sensei, what do you think?’

The announcer passed it on, and the screen showed an old guy, the expert. This Mimura was apparently an expert on Adventurers. But he wasn’t an Adventurer and had never been to Frontier. I didn’t quite get it.

‘First of all, putting eight Item Bags up for auction at once is unthinkable. Could it be some kind of demonstration?’

Also, I really dislike this old guy because he touched Eleanor-san’s butt when she went to greet him in the dressing room.

‘I see. Eleanor-san, what do you say to that?’

The announcer turned to Eleanor-san, and the screen showed her. Eleanor-san was completely off guard, drinking tea.

‘………………A demonstration of what? I am a mere Adventurer. There is no reason for me to put on a demonstration. Besides, I am a rookie, so I have no sponsors.’

Eleanor-san hurriedly put down her tea and answered elegantly.

"What are you doing?"

"Being nervous makes your throat dry. You’ll understand if you go there."

The lights were hot, and the nervousness made my throat parch.

‘So you are not a corporate shill?’

The old guy pressed again for confirmation.

‘Of course not. As I answered earlier, I simply sold items that happened to drop.’

‘You happened to obtain eight Item Bags?’

‘Yes, that is correct. I was lucky.’

‘Impossible! Item Bags do not drop that easily!’

‘But they did, in fact, drop.’

‘It’s fraud!’

‘Fraud of what?’

I really didn’t understand this. What kind of fraud gets you Item Bags?

‘Sensei, excuse me, but we need to move on. Next, let’s hear the opinion of the former Adventurer, Tsuchiya-san.’

The announcer cut off the increasingly heated old guy and turned to the other commentator. This part was a real help.

‘I also find it hard to believe that you could obtain so many Item Bags at once. If I may ask, what skills do you possess?’

This person was calm. But he asked unpleasant questions.

‘I cannot say. My skills are my trade secrets. They are not something I would tell others.’

‘The Guild is not aware of all skills. New skills are discovered every year. Could it be that you also possess a new skill? It would help if you could tell us your skills.’

See? An unpleasant question. Because he’s right.

‘I cannot answer that. However, I have properly submitted my Status Card to the Guild, and the Guild is aware of my skills. The fact that there have been no reports of new skills should tell you everything. My skills are common ones.’

Swordsmanship is a common skill. So I’m right.

After that, the critic Mimura and the former Adventurer Tsuchiya continued to question Eleanor-san, but Eleanor-san continued to answer evasively.

‘This is getting quite heated. However, it seems we are running out of time. We would love to have Eleanor-san on again to hear more.’

The announcer cut off the conversation at a good point. This person was really nice. And beautiful.

‘Yes. If the opportunity arises.’

‘Thank you. Um, could I ask one final question?’

The announcer asked before wrapping up the show. This was something Eleanor-san had asked her to do beforehand.

‘What is it?’

‘Eleanor-san, you listed eight Item Bags for auction this time. Will this happen again in the future?’

‘Well… I am an Adventurer, so if I obtain another rare item, it will likely happen again.’

‘Oh! That’s wonderful. Can we get our hopes up?’

‘Fufufu… Yes, indeed. In fact, I was lucky enough to have another Item Bag drop the other day. So I’ve listed it for auction again.’

I intended to laugh elegantly, but my face looks a little evil… Less mysterious and more like a real witch.

‘Y, you had another one drop? Is it 100 kilograms this time too?’

‘No. This time, it is 1000 kilograms.’

‘Huh?’

Even the seasoned announcer froze.

‘1000 kilograms. And just like before, there are two of them.’

‘What?’

The announcer’s smile vanished.

‘Don’t be ridiculous! The maximum capacity for an Item Bag is 400 kilograms!’

The old man Mimura shouted.

‘That was the case until now. Records are always meant to be broken.’

‘Th, that’s absurd!! 1000 kilograms is impossible!’

‘Then let me offer you some fitting words. The word impossible is, itself, impossible. An announcement will be made at the Guild after this broadcast, so please see for yourself.’

Go ahead and bid. Not that I think you’ll win.

‘…………You witch! Who are you!!’

‘Fufu. You said it yourself, and I was introduced as such at the beginning, was I not?’

Oh, I’m making a really evil face. I’m a complete villainess.

‘The Golden Witch…………’

I could hear the former Adventurer Tsuchiya-san’s whisper.

‘…Alright, that’s all the time we have for the show. Sensei, Tsuchiya-san, Eleanor-san, thank you all very much! Next week, we’ll have a special feature on A-rank Adventurers. See you next week! Look forward to it!’

The announcer brought the show to a forced close with a strained smile.

"You’re completely a witch now."

After the show ended, Kaede-chan said as she turned off the TV with the remote.

"Looks like it."

"The first half was boring, but the second half got pretty wild."

"A lot of that was cut. The old guy got really heated."

He called me a monster and stuff, but that was cut, as expected. The old guy is lucky it wasn’t a live broadcast.

"Well, this should be plenty of publicity. It should sell for a high price."

"Yeah. Well then…………"

The TV show is over, and it’s now 11:30 PM. A good time.

"Let’s drink! A pre-celebration for the successful auction!"

"Yeah!"

Tch! Did she find out I bought that stuff at the convenience store?

After this, we drank a lot, made a lot of noise, and passed out at 4 AM. But when I woke up in the morning, Kaede-chan was sleeping soundly while hugging me in bed, which was so cute that I was completely satisfied.

I’m so glad it was cold in Hokkaido!