kscans

Chapter 41 - Taxis Are Scary, Huh

"Alright! It's settled!"

Nanapon had fallen to the dark side. Though she seemed a bit dark to begin with.

"I'm glad we could wrap things up nicely. Still, you two have gotten pretty friendly. Nanapon, you used to always be so timid and whisper."

Come to think of it, she was timid yesterday, but not today. Her voice was at a normal volume, and she even shouted her retorts. Though she did shrink back when she was alone with Satsuki-san just a moment ago.

"I wonder if Nanaka-chan's fear of men has been cured?"

Kaede-chan looked at Satsuki-san.

"Who knows? But why is she fine with Eleanor, but timid around me?"

"Eleanor-san is cool... but the Guild Master is..."

Nanapon quietly averted her gaze.

"Cool!? This idiot?"

"Don't call me an idiot."

I'm not an idiot. I am not an idiot.

"It was the same when I watched you on TV, but you looked so cool swinging your sword today."

Hmph, that's Swordsmanship Level 5 for you. Wait a minute.

"You saw Okita-kun yesterday too, right?"

I think he looks cooler. He even had a katana.

"Okita-san seems like a manslayer, so I don't like him. He's scary."

Hey!

"Who are you calling a manslayer!"

"Also, you touched my shoulder earlier, so I don't like it. That's sexual harassment."

..................

"I paid you a million, didn't I."

"Senpai, that's not okay."

Ah... Kaede-chan's being cold to me.

"It's fine if it's Eleanor-san, but not the Okita-san from yesterday."

They're both me, though?

"Hold on. What about me? Back when I was an active adventurer, people often told me I was cool!"

Does she have to say that herself? This woman has this unfortunate side to her.

"Well, you're the one who threatened me..."

That's fair.

"Satsuki-san, you lack elegance and mystery. Unlike me, you see."

I crossed my legs and swept my long hair back with a hand.

"Shut up, you cross-dressing bastard."

...You really shouldn't have said that.

"Putting aside senpai's hobbies and the Guild Master's lack of coolness, does this mean Nanaka-chan will be able to work with senpai from now on?"

It's not a hobby.

"I'll be fine with Eleanor-san."

"Well, it should be alright in areas of Frontier where there are no people. Guild Master, is that acceptable?"

Kaede-chan checked with Satsuki-san.

"That's fine. Hurry up, level up, and become an A-rank."

"A-rank... Can I really do it?"

Nanapon stared at Satsuki-san.

"You can. You were one of our most promising members, and you have a rare skill. Trust me, a former A-rank."

Come to think of it, this person was an A-rank.

"Understood. I'll do my best!"

Nanapon was showing some motivation.

"Is our talk over? Then I'm going home. Kaede-chan, could you call a taxi for me?"

"Of course."

Kaede-chan took out her phone and started operating it.

"Oh, then I'll head home for today too."

Nanapon said, standing up.

"Since it's a taxi, shall I give you a ride?"

"Ah, if it's alright, could you drop me off at Nakano Station?"

"Sure."

Nakano isn't too far.

While we waited for the taxi to arrive, Nanapon and I discussed our future adventures. Then, when Kaede-chan told us the taxi was here, we got permission from Satsuki-san and left through the back exit.

When we went out the back, we saw a single taxi stopped in front of the parking lot. Nanapon and I gave a nod to the security guard and walked towards it.

As we approached the taxi, the rear passenger door opened automatically. I was about to get in first, and as I placed one foot on the seat and put half my body and my face inside the car, I saw that someone was already in the back seat.

It was a blonde woman, and she wasn't Japanese.

I frowned when I saw the black object in the woman's hand.

What was going on? There was no one in the back seat just a moment ago. This woman suddenly appeared as I was about to get in.

"Nanaka-san, I'm so sorry, I forgot I had plans to meet someone. I'm sorry, but could you take the train home after all?"

I apologized to Nanapon without changing my position.

"Huh? Huh?"

Nanapon was confused, unable to grasp the situation. She could probably see what was happening inside the taxi with her Clairvoyance.

"Let's meet again if fate allows. I'll treat you to lunch to make up for it. See you."

I said that and got into the taxi. The automatic door closed, and the taxi started moving immediately. The blonde foreigner was still pointing the black object, a pistol, at me.

"I think it's strange to start driving when I haven't even told you my destination."

"Just humor me for a little drive."

The taxi driver replied.

"A drive, huh. It seems you already have a customer?"

I glanced sideways at the woman who was still pointing the gun at me.

"Do you mind if I share the ride?"

The woman asked with a grin.

"Well, I suppose it's fine."

"You seem awfully calm. Are you expecting that girl from before to call for help?"

"That girl? Oh, her. She's just a female adventurer from the same guild, so I was going to give her a ride in the taxi. Our relationship is only that, so there won't be any help. Not that I need any."

I have no connection to Nanapon.

"Heeh, is that so. You don't need help?"

"Nope."

"You can't see this?"

She was probably referring to the pistol.

"Fufu. This is interesting. What should I do? Hmm, shall I tell you?"

"Are you going to beg for your life? Go on, I'm listening."

The blonde woman nodded with a laugh.

"First, I'll grab your head and twist it. Then, I'll draw my sword and stab it through the back of the driver's seat. And then you'll both be finished."

However, the driver would die, so I'd crash too.

"I'll be faster on the trigger."

"Fufu, even though there are no bullets in it?"

I knew from the start that the pistol wasn't loaded. My contact lenses are Appraisal Contacts. And more than anything, these two had no killing intent.

"How do you know?"

"You did this knowing who I am, didn't you?"

"The Golden Witch..."

"Fufu, you know your stuff."

Get it? Then hurry up and put the gun down. It's scary even if I know it's not loaded.