kscans

Chapter 43 - The Witch's Magic ★

The witch had called me a muscle-head. Well, working out is my hobby, and I'm proud of my muscles, so I won't deny it.

"I apologize for our boorishness. We're actually supposed to be your bodyguards."

It seems Claire decided to tell her our objective.

"Bodyguards? It seems the meaning of that word is different in Japan and America. In Japan, we call this kidnapping."

It's called that in America too.

"We'll take you home safely."

I nodded while looking at the witch through the rearview mirror.

"Even though you don't even know where we are?"

"Sorry. Which way is Shinagawa? Our hotel is there."

We'll drop her off there.

"...Turn right at the next signal."

Right, got it.

"Right now, the whole world wants you. You're in danger."

Claire continued speaking.

"Wants me, huh... Say, have you two been to the guild in Ikebukuro?"

Ikebukuro? Is that the guild she belongs to, the one from before?

"We want to go, but we haven't gotten permission yet."

It doesn't have to be Ikebukuro, but it is true that we are trying to go to the area of Frontier that Japan has leased. I'm curious what kind of areas other countries have leased.

"Hmm... I thought it might have been you."

The witch said, looking at Claire, but I didn't know what she was talking about.

"What do you mean...?"

Claire, you're too flustered. Calm down.

"It seems I was really wrong. I thought it was you because your skill probably lets you turn invisible or erase your presence."

I don't know what she's referring to, but she's right about the skill. Claire's skill removes her existence from the perception of others. Of course, it's effective against monsters too.

"I'm sorry. I really don't know. Did something happen?"

"Apparently, a burglar broke into the guild yesterday. It seems nothing was stolen, though."

Tch! Someone already made a move!

"T, tell me the details!"

Claire frantically tried to get more information.

"I've told you everything. I don't know any more than that. I'm not a guild employee."

That's true. She's an adventurer.

"We'll protect you."

"I don't need it. There's a high probability that you two are the ones targeting me."

Well, yeah.

"Won't you believe us?"

"Believe? Me? You? You're living in a fantasy land."

Claire, calm down! Don't clench your fists! No matter how you look at it, we're the ones in the wrong.

"Then what do we have to do for you to believe us?"

"Show me your Status Card."

"What?"

You can't show your Status Card to other people. Your skills, level, and job are things you must absolutely keep hidden.

"Fufu, don't look so shocked. It's fine if you're scared."

Tch! A cheap provocation. Anyone who falls for something like that is...

"Fine. I'll show you."

Yeah, I knew it. Norman, I'm sorry. We're not cut out for this kind of work.

"Hmm, so you're an adventurer."

"Like you didn't know."

Claire is famous, after all.

Claire really did take her Status Card out of her pocket and showed it to the witch. Of course, she was covering the skills section with her finger.

"Claire Walker... What!? Your real name? It's not a codename?"

The witch looked surprised for the first time.

"There's no point in hiding it. Our faces are already known."

She is an A-rank, after all.

"................"

The witch took a smartphone out of her bag and started tapping on it.

"Oh, you're an A-rank."

You didn't know...? Does Claire have no name recognition in Japan? She's more popular and well-known than I am...

The witch immediately started tapping on her phone again.

"Say, Harry."

"What?"

"Are you Harry Baker?"

Ah, she didn't know me either.

"...That's right."

"Sorry about that. I'm not very knowledgeable about these things. But when I looked you up, I got a lot of hits, so you must be amazing."

She's trying really hard to be polite. This is her genuine reaction.

"...Do you believe us now?"

Ah, Claire is dejected too. She's popular with kids in America.

"Fufu, not yet."

The witch gently caressed the finger that was covering the skills section of Claire's Status Card.

"The skills are off-limits."

"Hmm... Then how many skills do you have?"

"Five."

"You're lying? Should I carve out your heart and eat it?"

Seriously? She's a witch, so that doesn't sound like a joke...

"...Hmm, Recognition Impairment, I see."

Ah, Claire showed her. But the fact that this witch can see Claire's unique skill confirms that she has a unique skill herself. The only question is what kind of skill it is.

"Harry."

Ah, is it my turn? No way in hell.

"Sorry, I forgot my Status Card."

Yes, I must have left it at the hotel.

"...Do you want to die?"

The moment I heard the witch's whisper, a chill ran down my spine, and my back was drenched in sweat.

I'm going to be killed.

That was my only thought.

"Come to think of it, I did bring it."

Keeping my eyes on the road, I took the Status Card out of my breast pocket. The card was immediately snatched from my hand.

"...Harry, you have nothing but physical ability skills."

"You can tell by looking at my body. Weight training is my hobby."

"What's Steel Thread?"

Of course she can see it.

"It's my unique skill. I can produce steel threads, just like the name says. They're sharp, too."

"It doesn't suit your character."

I know.

"I get that a lot."

"Well, fine. I'll believe you. So why are you two going to be my bodyguards?"

The witch leaned forward and returned my Status Card.

"Our country and Japan are allies. There's also an agreement between the Adventurer Guilds. So we decided to help out voluntarily."

"Well, it's more that we can't let a rival nation snatch the Golden Witch," I said.

"Hmm, so you came on your own. But I'll be fine. I won't be caught."

She does disappear quickly. We've tailed her a few times, but just as Norman reported, she vanishes before we know it.

"There are times like now, and inside Frontier, right?"

"I'm not going to Frontier. But I'll be coming to the guild for auction arrangements. Well, go ahead and guard me as you please. You'd do it anyway even if I refused, wouldn't you."

Well, that's true. We only came today for greetings and to probe for information. Though it was a massive failure.

"Contact us if anything happens. We'll both be ready to respond at any time."

I handed her a piece of paper with my and Claire's contact information.

"Hmm, if I'm going to contact someone, it'll be Claire."

The witch took the paper, pulled out her phone, and started tapping. She's probably saving the number.

"That's for the best."

Claire nodded at the witch's words.

Well, that's fine. Even though I said what I did, it won't work if she's in Frontier.

"Got it. Harry, this spot is fine. Let me out."

Is this Shinagawa already? Where are we?

"Harry, what about tracking?"

Claire asked for confirmation.

"None."

We don't have that kind of car.

"Then stop. We can't hold her any longer."

I guess this is our limit...

"I don't mind being detained since I have time, but you could at least show some hospitality. You didn't offer me anything and you got lost..."

Sorry about getting lost. To be honest, I'm still lost.

I quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road and stopped.

"I'm sorry about today. Next time, I'll bring you a hamburger or something."

Huh? Is she mocking me?

"I don't need one. Just drill a map into that muscle-head over there. See you. Good luck with the auction."

The witch gave a wave and got out of the car. A crowd of passersby stared at her in surprise, but the witch paid them no mind and walked away.

"Do we follow?"

Claire asked.

"It's useless. She'll disappear soon enough anyway. I'm more worried about the burglar. Let's stake out the Ikebukuro guild."

"You're right. Let's go to Ikebukuro."

Where was that again? Actually, where are we?

For the time being, I decided to start driving.

"Phew... I want to take a shower."

After we had been driving for a while, Claire let out a breath.

"What's wrong?"

"I was on edge the entire time. That witch was directing her killing intent only at me the whole time."

Ah, that... I experienced it once too. Claire was in that state the whole time...? That's why she was so worn out.

"My condolences. That's what you get for pointing a pistol at her."

"She's a murderer. I really thought she was going to eat me."

"She is a witch, after all."

It reminds me of a fairy tale I read a long time ago.

"But it wasn't all for nothing."

Claire held up the colorless potion and smiled defiantly.

"The Translation Potion, huh. What did you think?"

"Doesn't it feel like she realized her mistake after the commotion and hastily prepared it?"

Well, that's the most plausible explanation.

"Do you think it's real? Are you sending it to the States?"

"One of them. The other one is mine."

"You don't need something like that."

English is enough.

"You idiot. This is one of a kind. A rich enthusiast will pay a fortune for it. The Japanese guild will probably announce it soon, and I'll put it up for auction at that timing."

"The witch will be first."

"Japan is slow, so it'll take time for them to sell it. I'll be faster."

"What are you going to say about its origin?"

That you bought it from the witch?

"It dropped from a slime, didn't it. I'll say the same thing."

Depending on the price of this Translation Potion, will the whole world start Slime Hunting?

"You're a crafty one."

"I don't go down without a fight."

Adventuring is her main job, but she's also in business.

"Well, do what you want. What about contact? Should we stop?"

"No, we'll continue. That woman is truly the Golden Witch. She reeks of money."

She's got an evil look on her face.

"You think so?"

"An Item Bag, Translation Potions... and Healing Potions."

"That incident? Where the witch tried to sell five Healing Potions to a buyout shop?"

We found that out during the investigation.

"Not just that. An unusually large number of Healing Potions are being sold at each guild branch in Japan. Without a doubt, that witch sold them. The Ikebukuro branch manager then sold them off to the other guilds."

"Well, that's the most logical conclusion."

"That's right. And I want those Healing Potions. You can never have too many. Plus, I can sell them for a higher price in America. The supply of Healing Potions is drastically short of the demand."

I understand that. Healing Potions are essential for adventuring, but they rarely drop. What's more, there's a shortage in the medical field as well. A Healing Potion can heal a broken bone in an instant. Of course, non-adventurers would want them too.

"Are you going to negotiate? The Japanese guild and government won't stay silent."

"I can handle it. In the first place, the Item Bag, the Healing Potions, and this Translation Potion are all impossible. That witch is an anomaly. And those bureaucrats with their red tape can't handle this anomaly. There will definitely be trouble. And I'll swoop in and snatch it from the side."

Well, I can kind of see that. We risk our lives to defeat monsters, and the guilds and countries take the drop items we get in the name of research, or they take a huge margin. Japan is one of the better ones in that regard, but in this situation, who knows. And I can't imagine that witch would tolerate that.

"Hmm."

"The Golden Witch is a source of gold. We absolutely cannot let her be taken."

"Norman and the others probably thought the same thing."

"At this point, I don't care whether she's from Frontier or not. I'll protect her to the death."

Everyone is probably thinking the same thing as you.

We want to secure that Golden Witch. We can't let anyone else have her.

Claire has been completely blinded by money.

That woman named Eleanor Ocean is a real witch. A witch who drives people mad with the magic of money.

"Hey, Harry."

The money-crazed woman called out to me.

"What?"

"That looks like the Skytree. Where are you driving?"

There is indeed a big tower in sight...

"I don't know."

"...Since when?"

"To be honest, I've been completely lost since the witch got in the car."

I don't know Tokyo.

"Let me drive, you muscle-head bastard."

I guess I should memorize the geography when I get back to the hotel...