kscans

Chapter 42 - Human or Demon... ★

I glanced in the rearview mirror at the smiling witch.

Is this woman really a witch? How can she smile in this situation? How did she know the pistol wasn't loaded?

"Could you please put the gun down? It's unpleasant, regardless of whether it's loaded or just a model gun."

Claire must have decided that continuing this was pointless. She slowly lowered the gun.

"Golden Witch, I apologize."

I should probably apologize first.

"Right. Well, that's fine. In that case, please take me to Ueno."

Ueno... Is that the place with the zoo? ...Where is that?

"I'd like to talk for a bit."

Well, the witch is probably just saying a random place anyway. She wouldn't give away where she lives. I'll just drive aimlessly.

"Be my guest."

What's with this woman's composure? Even if she knew the gun wasn't loaded, how can she remain so calm in this situation?

"Claire, you take it from here."

Feeling out of my element, I decided to pass the buck to Claire.

"Weren't you going to do the talking, Harry?"

"Sorry. This is my first time with a right-hand drive."

That part was true. Plus, the roads are narrow and there's a lot of traffic, so I want to concentrate.

"Try not to crash."

The witch smiled faintly.

"Golden Witch, we are American agents."

Hey! Who just blurts that out!

I thought that and glared at Claire through the mirror, and she glared right back.

Is Claire losing her composure too...

"America? Hello."

The witch gave a little wave.

"Hello..."

Claire returned the greeting with an exasperated look, but then her expression suddenly turned to one of surprise. Seeing that, I finally realized it too. This woman was speaking Japanese. Not that creepy language from the video the other day.

"What was that language you were speaking before?"

Claire asked.

"Language?"

"The one from that TV broadcast."

"Oh, that... Hmm, I feel like I probably shouldn't say yet, but I suppose I have no choice in this situation. It's like I'm being threatened and have to talk, right?"

It's not like this doesn't look like a threatening situation, and we did in fact do that. But the one being threatened is completely composed, while we have no composure at all.

"Tell me."

"Alright."

The witch reached into the white bag slung over her shoulder. I reflexively took my left hand off the steering wheel and was about to reach into my coat, but I stopped myself just in time.

This was an unknown witch. It was better not to provoke her. Though it feels like it might be too late for that...

While I was thinking that, the witch pulled a flask filled with a colorless, transparent liquid out of her bag.

"Is that a potion?"

But I've never seen or heard of a colorless, transparent potion. Potions always have a color.

"This is called a Translation Potion. If you drink this, you end up like that. Shall I drink some?"

Translation Potion? What the hell is that! I've never heard of such a thing!

"Drink it."

When Claire said that, the witch chugged the potion.

"Like this. How is it?"

The words the witch spoke certainly sounded like Japanese, English, and German all at once. It was the exact same situation as before.

"Whew."

I couldn't help but whistle. Claire shot me a glare.

"That's amazing. Where did you get that?"

Claire quickly looked away from me and back to the witch. The witch grinned.

"It just happened to drop from a slime."

You've got to be kidding me!

I managed to swallow the words I was about to shout.

"That's incredible. For thirty years, not a single one has ever dropped from a slime, or any monster for that matter."

Claire said, sounding completely unconvinced. Well, no one would believe that.

"I'm just lucky."

This definitely wasn't a drop item...

"We've done a foolish thing. We made you waste such a precious item."

Claire shook her head regretfully. I felt the same. I would have liked to bring it back to the States if possible. But I bet...

"A waste? Fufu."

There it is. That laugh means she has plenty more.

I could guess as much from how she drank it without hesitation.

"Would you be willing to sell some?"

Tch! She beat me to it. Should I have been the one in the back seat doing the questioning? But well, it's probably better with someone of the same gender.

"How many?"

She's asking a nasty question. This witch is toying with us.

"I'd like to analyze it, so two, maybe?"

Idiot! Ask for more!

"Two is enough... Then, here you go."

The witch took two more of the same colorless potions from her bag and handed them to Claire.

Tch! This witch really has more!

"How much?"

"...I hadn't decided. It hasn't even been announced yet. Let's see. How about we trade for a loaded pistol. Things have been getting dangerous lately."

A gun... This woman knows that Claire has a loaded pistol hidden on her!

"Here, take it."

Claire pulled a pistol out from under her and handed it to the witch, but isn't giving her a gun a bad idea?

"Oh, so quick. Then our deal is done. Oh, and don't tell anyone, okay?"

The witch put the gun in her bag.

"I know."

I thought she might use the gun, but she didn't...

"Is that all you wanted to talk about? By the way, Harry, Ueno isn't this way."

The witch said, looking at me through the rearview mirror...

"How do you know my name!?"

Just how much does this woman know!?

"...Huh? Claire called you that just a moment ago."

Come to think of it, she did. Calm down, me.

"Oh, right."

Claire was glaring daggers at me, but she was the one who said my name without thinking. Though I called her by her name too.

"So? Ueno?"

"Sorry, but where is this place?"

I seriously have no idea. This taxi doesn't have a navigation system.

"Haa... Fine. Just drive around, and when you're done talking, let me out. I'll take a real taxi home."

The witch let out a resigned sigh and leaned back against the seat.

"Who are you...?"

Claire managed to force the words out and ask the witch.

"The Golden Witch, Eleanor Ocean."

She calls herself a witch...

"Is that your natural hair color?"

Norman's investigation had confirmed that this witch had dyed her hair at a salon. Apparently, she was a black-haired woman who had come in wearing a tracksuit. Now, how will she answer?

"My hair? It's beautiful, isn't it. I've always admired blonde hair."

She admits it's not natural so easily...

"And your eyes?"

"Colored contacts. Don't you think blonde hair and blue eyes like yours are nice?"

"I think black would suit you better."

I think so too. Japanese people should have black hair. Especially when it's that jet black.

"Maybe I'm just wanting what I can't have. So? Is that what you're curious about? For the record, there's no such thing as a hair dye potion."

I wouldn't want one even if there was. You can buy similar stuff anywhere.

"Did the name Golden Witch come from your hair?"

"I suppose so? I didn't give myself the name, so I wouldn't know. But I like it. Though the golden part refers to money, not my hair."

She does seem to be making a lot of it.

"I'm quite envious."

"Really? Say, can I ask you something?"

The witch asked.

"What is it?"

"A simple question. Why are American agents here? You didn't come just to talk, did you."

Well, of course she'd ask.

"For one, we came to participate in the auction."

"Do it online."

Well, we can place bids from our home country.

"We have to pick up the items anyway."

That Claire, she's already acting like she's won the auction. She's certainly confident. I'm a little less sure.

"I see. Good for you. Any other reasons?"

What do we do? Do we tell her?

"You're just too popular. There are a lot of people trying to forcefully ask you on a date."

"I know. There's a blonde woman who shoves a gun in my face instead of a box of sweets, and a muscle-bound man who can't even drive properly."

Is she talking about us?

I took my left hand off the wheel and showed off my prized bicep.

"Yes, you, you muscle-head. Next time, try to memorize a map of Tokyo."

Maybe I should...