kscans

Chapter 45 - Report ★

I opened the contact for Harry that I'd saved on my phone and pressed the call button. The ringing tone echoed from the speaker.

"Hello?"

That was Harry's voice.

"Hey, Harry. We meet again."

I greeted him cheerfully, in an over-the-top foreign accent.

"I thought it was an unknown number, but it's you. Isn't this a bit soon? Did something happen?"

"A big problem. Is Claire there?"

"She's staking out your guild."

With that skill of hers, she could probably keep watch without being suspected.

"And you?"

"On standby at the hotel. Just like you said, I'm studying the geography."

Good for you.

"It's perfect if Claire isn't there."

"What? Is it something you can't let Claire hear?"

"Not exactly. The problem is Claire's unique skill."

"Recognition Impairment?"

"That's the one. I'm scared she might peep on me in the toilet or the bath."

Claire is a woman too, though.

"Haha! She wouldn't. She's not into that, and it only impairs recognition. You've already recognized her once, so you'll notice her if you're paying attention. It's basically a first-encounter-only trick against people. It's effective against normal people and monsters, though."

So it doesn't erase her presence or form... Then there's no problem.

"That's good to hear. I was worried she might be right next to me."

"I'd like to do that, but you disappear too quickly. The other day, I thought you went into an alley and I chased after you, but you were gone. What was that?"

I just drank an Invisibility Potion.

"I'm a ghost."

"Haha! ...Seriously?"

Harry's tone of voice dropped.

"Just kidding. Bye! Good luck with your work."

I said that and ended the call.

"That's what he said. So there's no problem."

I put my phone in my bag and looked at Kaede-chan.

"Could he be lying?"

"That muscle-head doesn't have the brains for that. Even just now, there was zero subterfuge, right?"

Worst case, I was planning to offer him a potion or something to get the information. But he answered normally.

"Well, he did seem like that. So we're safe for now?"

"I think so. Well, it doesn't change the fact that I'm in danger, so I won't go out much. Oh, I'm changing back to Okita-kun."

"Ah, senpai, I'm heading back to the guild to report to the Guild Master, so I'll be going."

As I started to get up, Kaede-chan stopped me and stood up. Now that she mentioned it, she was wearing her guild uniform.

"Aww... Let's have a drink together."

"...I have overtime."

Ah...

"Sorry. Good luck..."

"I'll do my best. Oh, right. Let's go look at apartments the day after tomorrow. The real estate agent called."

Ooh! Living together!

"Sounds good. Let's go the day after tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Kaede-chan nodded with a very cute smile and left the house.

I'm lonely... I'll change back to Okita-kun.

◆◇◆

"—and so, senpai is safe."

After visiting Okita-san's house, Asakura-san returned to the guild and reported Eleanor-san's safety to the Guild Master-san. The Guild Master-san and I had been on standby in his office at the guild.

"That's a relief for now. But Okita-kun is a little lacking in his sense of danger..."

The Guild Master-san looked relieved, but then immediately exasperated.

"I think he's confident in his Swordsmanship. It is level 5, after all."

"Level 5 as a rookie... that's a bit unbelievable, but is he really that good?"

"I haven't adventured with him, so I've never seen it myself. But in the past, when he got drunk, he'd try to slash people's tables with a kitchen knife, or say things like he could cut down this telephone pole."

He's the worst. Trying to slash someone's table... Huh? Someone's table? Does that mean she let a drunk man into her house?

Oh my. An adult relationship. Maybe they really are friends with benefits.

"Hmm, he's a very dangerous man."

"Well, I think he just wanted to show off. Senpai has that side to him."

"Hmm... Hey, Nanapon, what's he like on an adventure? You're the one who actually goes with him."

The Guild Master-san asked me, but I wish he wouldn't call me Nanapon. But I can't defy him. This is all Okita-san's fault.

"I think he's amazing. He can cut down an invisible Hide Skeleton like it's nothing, and partway through, he started needlessly beheading them."

I wish he would stop doing that. Even if it's a skeleton, it's still humanoid. It makes me imagine things.

"Hmm, well, I get that he's amazing. So he can protect himself..."

The Guild Master-san said, looking convinced but with a complicated expression.

"I think so. In Frontier, he has Nanaka-chan's skill, and outside, he has Invisibility Potions, so he should be fine for now."

I don't intend to complain at this point, but I'm being counted as a regular member of the team...

"He also has a Level 2 Healing Potion. Well, he'll probably be fine. But is it really Claire Walker and Harry Baker?"

The Guild Master-san confirmed again.

But I understand how he feels. I was shocked when I heard the explanation earlier too. Claire Walker and Harry Baker are top adventurers who compete for first and second place among America's A-rank adventurers.

"I don't think there's any mistake. He said he saw their Status Cards and checked their faces on his smartphone right then and there."

"Then it must be them... They're famous and have a lot of public exposure."

"Yes... I'm scared of my senpai, who would casually threaten people like that."

I'm scared too. Scared in many ways.

"Kaede, you keep him in line when he's here. Nanapon, you keep him in line in Frontier."

"I understand."

Asakura-san nodded confidently.

"I wonder if I can keep him in line..."

I'm not confident.

"It's alright, Nanapon. If he seems like he's about to do something reckless, just tell him you're not confident. For all his faults, he is a 26-year-old adult, so he'll be considerate of you."

Come to think of it, that's right. That person is 26... He's so mentally immature that I forgot.

"Why is that person so childish?"

"That's how adventurers are. Decent adults get normal jobs."

I tried to blame Okita-san, but the damage came back to me.

"I guess you're right..."

I decided to become an adventurer because I thought I could easily earn some pocket money. Yep, childish. Well, Eleanor-san did give me an incredible amount of pocket money the other day. Eleanor-san really is a good person, and cool.

"Well, in return, it pays well, and it's fun."

The former A-rank adventurer nodded in agreement.

"I suppose so. Well, I understand. I'll do my best with Eleanor-san!"

I don't want to with Okita-san, but with Eleanor-san, it's fine!

"Do that... Now then, this means I have to make a move as well."

The Guild Master-san said, standing up.

"Ooh! Guild Master! Are you finally going to do some work!?"

Seeing Asakura-san so happy, it seems this person usually doesn't work.

"Well, yeah. With American A-ranks involved, I have to talk to the headquarters chief."

Huh?

"Is that all?"

I couldn't help but ask.

"The ones who do the moving are the ones below. I report to the top and give orders to the bottom. That's what a person in charge does."

I'm still a university student so I don't really get it, but it sounds pretty easy.

"Good luck!"

Seeing that Asakura-san was still happy after hearing this, his usual state must be even less than this. In other words, he really does nothing.

This is why I can't respect him, unlike Eleanor-san...

"Hm? Nanapon, what's wrong?"

As I stood there dumbfounded, the Guild Master-san asked with a smile.

"N, no, it's nothing! Good luck with your work!"

"Mmm. I'm going to headquarters, so you can drink that and go home whenever you want."

The Guild Master-san pointed at the coffee on the table, said that, and left the room.

"Nanaka-chan, please take care of senpai."

Once we were alone, Asakura-san asked me.

"Ah, well, yes. I'll do my best."

I don't really do much work, though. I'm mostly just watching.

"And I'm sorry for getting you involved."

This person is a good person. A very good person. She doesn't call me Nanapon.

"No, I get a cut too... Oh, by the way, what's your cut, Asakura-san?"

The Guild Master probably gets a lot in commissions and stuff. But what about this person?

"I don't have one. I'm just working the reception."

Well, I guess that's true, but.

"But you're still walking a dangerous path, right?"

"It's fine. Senpai's money is my money."

...I take it back. She's a bad person.

"Um, what do you think of Okita-san?"

"Hmm? My university senpai."

Ehh...

"I heard you're moving in together?"

"We're room sharing."

...Isn't that the same thing? I have no experience with romance or room sharing, so I wouldn't know.

"Aren't you scared?"

"Why?"

"Well, I mean, you're living with a man, right? S, so... you know, he might do things to you."

"I wouldn't mind, but..."

Ehh...

"B, bitch..."

She has such a cute face, but she's such a bitch. She's so adult.

"Don't call me a bitch. It's not like I'm like that with just anyone. I'm just saying it's fine if it's senpai."

Oh?

"Do you like him?"

She just said he was her university senpai. No, I guess she didn't mention her feelings...

"Casually, yes."

"Um, for reference, what do you like about him?"

From what I've heard, he has no good points. Oh, is it the money!

"Hmm, he's a fun person. And then..."

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

She went silent... Is that all there is? Isn't that a little... sparse?

"Is it the money after all?"

"No, I don't really care about that. Worst case, I felt sorry for him, so I was thinking of feeding him. Right after he got fired from his company, senpai said he would become my kept man."

That man is the worst. I hate him.

"I, is that so... Um, you're not dating, right?"

"We've never talked about that."

This is what I don't get.

"Aren't you going to date?"

"Maybe if he confessed. But there are zero signs he will."

"Is that so?"

"If he does, it'll probably be a marriage proposal, don't you think? He said he'd make me a housewife. Oh, and he said he wants kids too."

My head is starting to hurt from not understanding any of this.

Alright! I'll just try not to get involved!

"I see... I wish you happiness!"

This is a world I don't know.

"Well, I will. I have money, so I'll live a life of leisure."

Do whatever you want. Ah, but it looks like I might be able to get enough money to live a life of leisure too. I'll do my best with Eleanor-san!

"That's great."

"Right? But you know, Nanaka-chan... you should stop being a stalker."

What is she talking about... I have absolutely no idea what this person means.