kscans

Chapter 38 - If There Are Six Skewers, It's Two for Each Person, Right?

I'm drinking with the three of them, Kaede-chan and Satsuki-san. Come to think of it, I'm a rose between two thorns. Though I'm perfectly happy with just the healing flower sitting next to me.

"Well, I'm fine with teaming up with Nanapon. We worked together today, and her Clairvoyance is amazing. She tells me where monsters and other Adventurers are, so my efficiency went way up."

I agreed to team up with Nanapon while drinking my beer.

"Perfect scouting ability. That means you won't get ambushed by things like Wolves. Your skill is one thing, but rare skills are really something else."

Satsuki-san nodded while eating a skewer of yakitori. It was her third of the six skewers, but if I pointed that out, Kaede-chan would lecture me, so I kept my mouth shut.

"They are."

"If it gets out that Nanapon has this skill, there'll be a scramble for her. The top rankers in particular will want her."

Never getting ambushed and always getting the first move would be an absolute advantage for Adventurers whose lives are on the line.

"Plus, she's a college girl. She'll probably become popular."

"Hmph! I hate youth."

You need to stop being so resentful.

"Well, for those reasons, it would be bad if other people found out."

"I know. A power like Clairvoyance can be misused in any number of ways. I'll take responsibility for managing it."

She means she'll take responsibility for misusing it.

"My skill too, please don't tell anyone."

"I know. You two don't leak it either. And level up Nanapon, too."

It's better to raise her level so she can protect herself.

"I know. That's why we're going again tomorrow. But it'll be Eleanor-san who goes."

"Why's that?"

"Apparently, she's not good with men. It's not that she dislikes me, specifically."

That's what she said!

"Making excuses just makes me more suspicious... Did you sexually harass her or something?"

That was a classic case of saying too much! I shouldn't have said that extra bit.

"Nanaka-chan is just like that. I recommended she join a party because being a solo female is dangerous, but she said she was a little uncomfortable with men."

Kaede-chan provided some nice backup.

"Hmm. She was like that, huh."

Satsuki-san said, reaching for her fourth skewer.

"Did you not recommend a woman?"

I asked Kaede-chan.

"Most of the women are already in parties. When women become Adventurers, they often form parties from the start. It's difficult for a total newbie to join an existing party. Especially for a girl..."

I wonder if it gets messy? Well, if Nanapon joined a party of men, she'd be treated like a princess and spoiled rotten, so maybe this is for the best.

"So that's why she's solo. Well, can't be helped."

I nodded in understanding, watching Satsuki-san's hand reach for the fifth skewer.

"I understand that Nanaka-chan will be teaming up with Eleanor-san, but will that be okay? If Eleanor-san goes to Frontier now, she'll be swarmed, won't she?"

Kaede-chan turned to me and asked.

"It's fine. Starting tomorrow, we're planning to go to the Diana Mine."

"Ah, there probably won't be anyone there. The monsters there are a pain, and they don't even drop any decent items. It's a dud area."

I looked it up when I got home, and apparently, the drop item from a Hide Skeleton is the same 5000 yen skeleton sword as a regular Skeleton. No wonder everyone goes to the Kunaar Ruins.

"Nanapon said she can see the Hide Skeletons with her Clairvoyance."

"That's really amazing..."

"Right?"

When I first saw my Alchemy skill, I thought I had it made, but rare skills are in a league of their own compared to normal ones.

"But for Eleanor to be coming at a time like this... Okita-kun, when you come as Eleanor, use the back entrance."

Satsuki-san said, reaching for the last meatball skewer.

"Is that okay? I thought the back entrance was off-limits?"

"It's fine because I say it's fine. It's a temporary emergency measure."

"Then I'll do that."

The media is annoying.

I'll arrange to meet Nanapon at the Diana Mine.

"I'll tell the guild staff."

"Thank you. Also, I leveled up, and I have a new recipe."

I decided to report the new recipe.

"What can you make now?"

"Level 2 Healing Potion."

"Oh..."

Satsuki-san's expression turned serious, and she put down her skewer.

"How much will you buy it for?"

"The market price is around 3 million yen. But our branch can't buy it."

So expensive! That's six times the price of a level 1!

"That's expensive... But why can't you buy it?"

"Because there are no Adventurers here who would use something like that, so even if we bought it, it wouldn't sell. The kind of Adventurers who use Level 2 Healing Potions are B-rank or higher."

What a sad reason.

"Then where should I sell it? A buyout shop?"

"Sell it to the main headquarters. The branches are annoying, so no. And Eleanor can't use buyout shops."

Well, I have no intention of selling to another branch. We're accomplices, bound together by fate.

"Headquarters? No, why can't I use a buyout shop?"

"Headquarters has forbidden Eleanor from using them. It happens sometimes with top rankers. They don't want valuable items being circulated among the general public."

What's that about?

"Eh... Is that allowed?"

"It's within the headquarters' authority. Well, it doesn't make much difference where you sell it. In the worst-case scenario, I'll put it up on our auction."

Then that's fine, I guess.

"So I should just go to headquarters?"

"I'll report it for you. You'll get a call from them eventually. Just sell it for whatever."

Since it's not going into her own pocket, she doesn't seem to care.

"I'll do that."

"You do that. Alright, it's getting late. I'm going home. I have to watch my videos! Oh, and I'll pay for this."

Satsuki-san chugged the rest of her beer, stood up, and left.

"She's so free-spirited."

"Apparently, she has a favorite Virtual YouTuber she follows."

"Huh."

That's some useless information.

"What should we do? Change locations?"

This place is fine. Kaede-chan is right next to me.

"This is fine. Let's order some yakitori."

I opened the menu.

"You were staring the whole time, weren't you."

She noticed...

Kaede-chan and I continued to drink together after that and went our separate ways just before ten o'clock.

◆◇◆

The next day, in the afternoon, I changed into Eleanor's form and took a taxi around to the back of the Guild. The back of the Guild was a parking lot, and beyond that was the back entrance.

I got out of the taxi in the parking lot and saw two security guards in front of the back entrance, so I walked up to them.

"May I pass? I was told by the Guild Master that I have permission."

I asked just in case. That woman might have forgotten to tell the security guards.

"You're Eleanor Ocean-san, correct? We've been informed. Please, go ahead."

I wonder if they need to see any ID? I don't have any.

Having gotten permission, I proceeded forward and opened the back door. Beyond the door was a hallway with several rooms visible, but I figured it must be at the end of the hall directionally, so I walked down the hallway and opened the door at the end. The door opened into the familiar reception area.

With a nonchalant expression, I walked through, exited the reception area, and went to Kaede-chan.

"Hello."

"Ah, hello."

Kaede-chan was bright and cute today as well.

"Where is Nanaka-san?"

"She's already gone ahead. Please hurry and meet her."

Kaede-chan handed me my Status Card and weapon.

"Well, I'm off."

I wanted to talk to Kaede-chan, but it would be bad to keep Nanapon waiting, so I decided to hurry.

"Ah, Eleanor-san, if you have time after you finish your adventuring, please let me know. The Guild Master said she has something to talk to you about."

Talk? Did she forget to tell me something yesterday? She was drinking at a pretty fast pace.

"Understood. I'll be back in the evening."

"Thank you."

Wondering what it could be, I headed for the Gate and hurried to the Diana Mine where Nanapon was waiting.