kscans

Chapter 39 - I Can't See Anything

When I passed through the Gate, I found myself not in the usual ruins, but in a dimly lit, flat area about fifty meters square, enclosed by rock walls. A solitary hut stood near the Gate, with a shabby table and chair placed in front of it.

Nanapon was sitting in that chair, but she immediately stood up when she noticed me. I walked over to her.

"Hello. I'm sorry I'm late."

I apologized for my tardiness.

"No, I haven't been waiting long at all!"

Nanapon waved her hands frantically.

"What's wrong? Ah, I suppose this is our first official meeting? I'm Eleanor Ocean. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"O, oh. My name is Yokokawa Nanaka! Nice to meet you."

"I thought this yesterday too, but are you socially awkward?"

I tried speaking my mind.

"Well, I mean, you're the person of the hour. The Golden Witch. Y, you eat people, don't you?"

What was that? Did she read that on the internet or something?

"Of course I wouldn't eat people."

"Right... Also, your tone, or rather, your atmosphere is so feminine it surprised me."

"There's no atmosphere to it, is there? I am a woman, after all."

It should be obvious just by looking.

"Knowing the Okita-san from yesterday, it just feels so strange... And why are you speaking like that?"

"I'm doing this because you said you don't like men. Or would you prefer Okita-kun's way of speaking?"

"It's confusing, so please stop. Eleanor-san is fine."

Alright, I'll do that. It's better for me too, since I also get confused.

"Still, this place is creepy..."

I looked around.

There were only a few scattered trees here, and almost no grass. Just rock walls ten or twenty meters high. Because of them, it was dim despite being daytime.

"I know, right? I hate being here alone."

"I can see why."

Nanapon came here because she dislikes men. But it's scary. That must be why she's stuck at level 8.

"Oh, right. What happened with your rank?"

"I was demoted to E-rank. They said since I've been away for a while, I have to start over from scratch."

Pfft. Serves you right.

"Well then, let's get along as fellow E-ranks."

Though Eleanor-san is still an F-rank.

"Um, did you do something you weren't supposed to?"

"I only made a suggestion with your best interests at heart."

"See, you did do something you weren't supposed to!"

Shut it, E-rank. I won't forgive you for being a higher rank than me.

"Once Okita-kun reaches D-rank, I'll have it changed back for you."

"Why do you get to decide that!?"

"I asked Kaede-chan, and she said she understood."

That girl is so nice.

"This is the worst kind of fraud! An abuse of power! I don't think this is right!"

Silence, you lump of fraud. A despicable cheater has no human rights.

"You'll rank up quickly. Come on, let's go. The Guild Master asked me to raise your level, as well as my own."

"Ehh... I have to do it too?"

This one is so selfish.

"Shall I turn you into an ingredient for a Philosopher's Stone?"

"Eek! A witch! I'll go! I'll go!"

"Very well. So? Where is the entrance to the mine?"

I can only see rock walls.

"Oh, it's this way."

Nanapon said, walking behind the hut. I followed her, and sure enough, there was a cave-like hole behind the hut. The hole was about three meters high and only about two meters wide.

"This?"

I pointed at the hole.

"This is it."

"We're going in there?"

"We're going in here."

I don't want to.

"Isn't it cramped?"

"It's spacious inside."

"It's pitch black."

"I can see with my Clairvoyance skill."

That's just you!

"Are you an idiot?"

"Then how about this?"

As Nanapon spoke, she raised her empty left hand to chest height, palm facing up. With a bo sound, a ball of fire the size of a dodgeball appeared, floating in the air.

"Oh!"

"Now it's bright."

Amazing! It's magic!

"Come to think of it, Nanaka-san, you were a Level 2 Fire Magic user, weren't you."

"That's right!"

Nanapon looked proud.

"That's amazing. This is the first time I've ever seen magic."

"Huh? But Eleanor-san, you're a witch, right?"

"Did Okita-kun use magic yesterday?"

"Oh, it was a sword!"

It's a katana. Pay attention.

"I only have Alchemy and Swordsmanship."

"What about that staff?"

Nanapon pointed at the staff I was holding.

"This is a Magic Wand. You can use it even if you can't use magic."

"A Magic Wand!? Aren't those incredibly expensive!?"

"Fufu, it was only about 10 million yen."

Cheap, cheap. Hahaha.

"10 million yen... Amazing! My staff was 50,000 yen."

That is cheap. But well, she's a student and hasn't been adventuring that much, so I guess that's normal. I started with a 50,000 yen short sword myself.

"You'll be able to afford an expensive one eventually."

"Can I sell the Healing Potion you gave me yesterday?"

"No."

That's for emergencies.

"What kind of magic does that Magic Wand have?"

"Air Hammer. It sends Skeletons flying in the most amusing way."

"Please don't use that in here."

It is a mine, after all. It's dangerous, so I'll refrain.

"I know. I have my sword."

I put the staff in my bag and took out my 1 million yen short sword instead.

"Hmm, you look completely like someone from a fantasy world."

A woman with long, waist-length blonde hair, wearing a black robe and carrying a sword. Yep, fantasy.

"Well, Frontier is a fantasy world, isn't it. Do you want to wear a black robe too? I can make you my disciple."

"You can't even use magic despite looking like that, right? What am I supposed to learn from you?"

"How to make money. A true alchemist, you see."

Let's make some gold!

"As expected of the Golden Witch. I think I'll just take the scraps."

"Then let's go."

I said, moving behind Nanapon.

"Huh? I'm in the front? Shouldn't the person with the sword be in front?"

"You're the one holding the light. Besides, this is my first time here, so you should guide me."

"Fine, I'll go first then... What a useless master."

Nanapon muttered under her breath.

"You turn into Black Nanapon sometimes, don't you."

"Could you please stop calling me Nanapon? I feel like it's going to spread."

Too bad. Satsuki-san is already calling you that.

"Come on, go, go."

I pushed Nanapon's back.

"I, I get it, so please don't push me. It's dangerous."

Nanapon and I entered the mine. Just as she had said, the inside of the mine was a wide, open space. And I could see several tunnels that looked like mine shafts.

"It looks easy to get lost..."

It's dark, and there are many tunnels.

"It's fine. I can see everything."

How cool!

"It's really easy with you around. Where are the monsters?"

"This way."

Nanapon entered one of the tunnels, so I followed after her.

"There's one up ahead. It's slowly coming towards us. What should we do? Should I attack first?"

"It's fine."

I said, drawing my sword from its sheath and taking a stance.

"Um..."

"Be quiet. You're distracting."

Don't get in the way.

I held my stance and just waited. Then, I closed my eyes.

I think I waited for about ten seconds. I stepped forward and swung my sword. A solid impact met my blade, and smoke erupted in front of me.

"Hmph."

Trying to look cool, I sheathed my sword.

"Huh? H, how did you know?"

Nanapon was astonished.

"It's a matter of presence. When you reach my level, you can just tell."

That was a lie. The truth is, I just listened for the sound. Skeletons make a katakata noise.

"A, amazing! You're like a master!"

Respect me!

"Fufu, this is Swordsmanship Level 5!"

"Five!? So high! For a witch, that's so high! You're a full-on vanguard, aren't you!"

"My job is Swordsman, after all."

"So not Witch, or Alchemist..."

Come to think of it, Witch aside, my job isn't Alchemist... No, surely it just means my Swordsmanship is that incredible!

"Alright! Let's go to the next one!"

"Oh, there's one deeper in."

"Then, Nanaka-san, please use your magic. Let's take turns and raise our levels."

"Okay... Um, can I put out this fire? It's kind of in the way."

Nanapon had been holding her left palm up the entire time.

"I suppose it's fine. We'll have to bring a flashlight next time."

"Can't you make something like that with Alchemy?"

"Unfortunately, I can't make things like that. I wonder if I'll be able to once my level increases?"

"It would be nice if they sold recipe books."

If they existed, I'd pay a fortune for one.

"Indeed."

"Ah, it's coming. Sorry, but I'm putting it out."

As soon as Nanapon said that, it suddenly became pitch black. I seriously couldn't see a thing.

Just as I was thinking how scary it was, the space in front of me began to glow faintly, becoming slightly brighter. Looking closely, I saw that the tip of Nanapon's staff was shining. The light grew stronger, and then it turned into a flame.

"Fire!"

Nanapon aimed her staff deeper into the tunnel and shouted, and the flame shot forward. It hit something and spread out. Then, the flame died out, and everything became dark again.

"How was that!?"

I could hear Nanapon's voice.

"The flame was amazing. But I can't see."

I can't see a thing... Never mind a Hide Skeleton. It's too dark to see anything at all. Now I understand why no other adventurers come here.

"Oh, sorry."

As Nanapon apologized, it immediately became bright again. Just like before, a ball of fire illuminated the surroundings.

"Well, I think I have a good idea of how amazing your magic is, Nanaka-san. Shall we move on to the next one?"

"Yes. The next one is that way."

We retraced our steps and continued hunting Hide Skeletons in another tunnel.