kscans

Chapter 34 - The Translation Potion is Just Sugar Water

We left my apartment and headed to a real estate agency. We had them show us various places, but none of them felt quite right, so we couldn't decide on one. The agent was a polite person who offered to find more options for our next visit, so we decided to come back another day. Kaede-chan and I parted ways there, and I went home.

The next day, I changed into Eleanor-san's form, drank a transparency potion, and left the house. Once I was in a deserted spot, I undid the transparency, hailed a nearby taxi, and headed for the Ikebukuro Branch.

A short while into the taxi ride, the Ikebukuro Guild came into view, but a large crowd of media was waiting out front.

"Ma'am, you're Eleanor Ocean-san, aren't you? What would you like to do?"

The taxi driver had apparently recognized me. Well, I suppose that was to be expected.

"I can't cause any trouble for you. Please let me out here."

If we went all the way up there, the taxi would probably be surrounded. That would be a nuisance for him.

"Understood. You should probably call a taxi in advance for your return trip."

"I'll do that."

I had him stop about fifty meters from the guild, paid the fare, and got out of the taxi. Immediately, the media noticed me and came running.

"Eleanor-san, do you have a moment!?"

"What language were you speaking yesterday!?"

"Is it true that you've put a 1000 kilogram Item Bag up for auction!?"

So annoying.

I ignored all their questions and somehow managed to walk to the front of the guild. When I reached the doors, I spun around.

"One question per person, please. Now, if you'll go in order."

When I said that, the members of the press exchanged glances. Then, one reporter raised his hand.

"Yes, you."

I pointed to him.

"I heard you put a 1000 kilogram Item Bag up for auction. What kind of monster did it drop from?"

"A Slime."

"Eh? Is that true?"

"It is. Yes, next."

I broke eye contact with that reporter, and another one raised their hand.

"Go ahead."

"What was that language you were speaking yesterday? I heard that people from every country could understand it."

"I cannot answer that at this time. I will make an announcement through the Guild at a later date. I am an Adventurer as well, so I must follow the rules."

"Some have voiced the theory that you are from Frontier, what do you say to that?"

The same reporter asked another question.

"One question per person. I have work to do."

"Ah, then, you can use my question for that!"

Another reporter raised her hand.

"I am not from Frontier. Besides, do people from Frontier really exist? I believe I learned the same things as all of you, but I've never met one. That is all. Next."

After that, I continued to answer questions concisely. Finally, the last person raised their hand. It was that beautiful announcer.

"Yes, go ahead."

"Thank you for the other day."

"No, thank you as well. It was my first time on television, and I was nervous, so I'm grateful for your help."

I really was grateful.

"My question. Can you create Item Bags?"

Oh...

"Fufu. You say the most interesting things. If there were someone who could do that, I'd love to meet them. The answer is no. I got my Item Bag as a drop from a Slime. That is all. Now, I must get to work. Also, I will be taking a break starting tomorrow for the foreseeable future. Good day to you all."

I raised a hand in farewell, then opened the door and entered the guild.

I said that, but they'll probably still be swarming the place tomorrow. It'll likely continue until the auction is over.

I sighed and went over to Kaede-chan.

"Good work out there."

Kaede-chan bowed her head.

"Thank you... Say, am I causing trouble for the guild staff? You must be getting bombarded with questions."

"It's fine. The guild staff use the back entrance to come to work, and that entrance is off-limits, so no one can get in. Plus, interviewing guild staff is strictly forbidden. That's an absolute rule."

Is it because the guild staff know a lot of things?

"As long as I'm not inconveniencing everyone, that's good. Where is the Guild Master?"

"This way."

As usual, Kaede-chan led me to the end of the reception counter and let me in. We went to the back and headed for Satsuki-san's room.

◆◇◆

"My, my, that looks like a lot of trouble."

Satsuki-san laughed from the sofa across from me.

"I knew it would happen, but it's such a pain."

I replied while sipping the coffee Kaede-chan, who was sitting next to me, had brewed.

"The publicity was good, though. And seeing that Mimura fellow in a panic was quite satisfying."

"Is he famous?"

"He's famous for calling himself an expert despite never having been an Adventurer or even visiting Frontier. He's also annoying. I'll give him credit for studying up on things, but in the end, he doesn't know anything about Frontier or Adventurers, so he just speaks in hypotheticals."

Yeah, that is annoying.

"Hmm... I didn't really know what to expect since it was my first time, so I went to greet the other guests before the recording. As I was leaving, he touched my butt. It was cut from the broadcast, but he said some terrible things to me. Things like I must have stolen it, or sold a fake, and he even ended up calling me a monster."

On the other hand, the former Adventurer named Tsuchiya was very polite. Though I didn't like the unpleasant questions he asked.

"He's the worst. I'll file a complaint."

"Please do."

Even if I appear on TV in the future, I don't want to deal with that guy. I'll make sure we're never on the same show.

"So? What was that language? I wasn't told about it either."

I've only told this woman that I can make Healing Potions, Item Bags, Appraisal Glasses, transparency potions, and Gender Reassignment Potions.

"There's something called a Translation Potion. I drank one."

"What's that? Does it let you speak foreign languages?"

"That's what I thought, but it seems to be a little different. According to the internet, people who understand multiple languages said it sounded like both Japanese and English."

They wrote that it was creepy. I'm shocked!

"I don't really get it. I only speak Japanese."

"Me too. That's why I didn't notice. Anyway, please make an announcement about this. You can sell it if you want. Otherwise, I'll be treated like a monster."

It's a problem if people start saying the Golden Witch was a real witch all along... They're the ones who started calling me a witch, so I'd be in a tough spot if they later turned around and said, "so you were a real one after all."

"A Translation Potion, huh... Do you have one?"

Satsuki-san asked, so I took a colorless plastic flask from my bag and handed it to her. Satsuki-san put on a pair of glasses and began examining the flask. Those glasses must be the Appraisal Glasses I gave her.

"Hmm... First of all, what is this material? Is it a plastic bottle?"

"It changes depending on the container I use to make it. If I use a glass cup, it becomes a glass flask. If I use a plastic bottle, it becomes this plastic flask. Yesterday, I made one with an empty beer can and got an aluminum flask."

"I see... When you deliver them for sale, please use glass."

"I know."

All monster drops come in glass flasks. Since I'm officially saying it was Dropped by a Slime, I make the ones for sale using cups from the 100-yen shop.

"It certainly says Translation Potion... Effect lasts for 24 hours... That's a bit underwhelming."

It's not a permanent effect. It's a consumable, so it's not like you only have to drink it once.

"I decided against it because I didn't think it would sell for much. Kaede-chan also said it would take a long time to sell, considering people might misuse it for things like cheating on tests."

"It's true this would take time to get approved, and its use would be restricted. We couldn't sell it to the general public. It would probably be a government buyout. And government buyouts are cheap."

They're cheap? Well, it's probably taxpayer money, so I guess they can't pay a high price.

"I'll give you a few. Please make the announcement with those. If you really insist, I'll sell them."

"Got it. This is going to be a headache for the general manager. Serves him right."

She's just going to dump it on the main office.

"Is there anything I need to do?"

"You just need to fill out a document about where you found the new item. Just write 'Slime' or something. No one believes you anyway."

Zero credibility!

"Maybe I should just honestly say I made it?"

"Don't. There are probably people who suspect as much, but don't confirm it. You'll be flooded with requests from all over."

I might even get kidnapped.

"How scary."

"What else can you make?"

"That's about it for now. Ah, I have a Sleeping Potion, but I can't sell it."

"We can't sell drugs. Nothing else?"

"Just Pure Water. But the recipes increase as my level goes up. That's why I'm in the middle of leveling up."

I want to level up and be able to make gold. It's Alchemy, so I should be able to, right?

"Report to me when you level up and can make more things."

"Understood."

I messed up on TV, so it's better to involve this woman. She seems competent.

"If you can, please level up quickly. It's good if the number of sellable items increases, and you might get more items to protect yourself, like the transparency potion."

"That's true. Well then, Okita-kun will go on an adventure tomorrow. What about the auction?"

"Bidding starts next week and will last for one week. Also, foreign countries will be bidding this time."

"Foreign countries? I thought only Japanese nationals could participate in the guild's auctions?"

I think I saw something like that online.

"It's a 1000 kilogram Item Bag. We caved to the pressure."

"How pathetic."

What a weak spine. Be more assertive.

"The price will go up, so it's a good thing, right?"

"Discrimination is not good. I think it's a very good thing."

Equality is wonderful!

"So that's the situation. Lay low for a while. And take this."

Satsuki-san took out her smartphone.

"A smartphone? For me?"

"You should have two, and using Okita-kun's name is risky. I set up a contract under my name."

"Huh."

"Oh, and the bill will be charged to the credit card I gave you."

So I have to pay for it myself, huh.

"Thanks. Kaede-chan, let's exchange contact info!"

"Okay. Not that we'll have much to contact each other about."

Well, yeah. I can just talk to her as Okita-kun. More importantly, we're going to be living together.

After exchanging contact info with Kaede-chan, I checked the phone.

"Oh, Satsuki-san's number is in here too."

"Of course. Contact me if anything happens. I'll respond until 9 PM."

"And after 9?"

"I'm busy watching video sites."

Whatever. I'll figure it out myself.

"Wow! It's only girls' contact info!"

A playgi... girl!

"Well, there are only two of us. It might increase from now on, though."

"I'm fine if it doesn't. But if this number were to leak, it would probably be ringing non-stop."

"Probably."

It's probably best not to exchange numbers carelessly, and I should avoid taking this phone out too much, even if I'm bored.

I called a taxi that day and decided to head home quickly.