kscans

Chapter 52 - A Signature Even I Can't Read

After parting ways with Harry and Claire at the ramen shop, I took a taxi near my house, then drank an invisibility potion and went home.

Once I was back, I didn’t change back to Okita-kun but stayed as Eleanor and practiced tying my hair.

"This is hard…"

I was searching for ‘how to tie long hair’ on my phone and trying to follow the instructions, but I just couldn’t get it right.

"I don’t want to ask Kaede-chan… For now, I’ll just try to master a ponytail."

I use a sword, so that should be good enough. When you think of a kendo girl, you think of a ponytail. Well, I’m not exactly a girl anymore.

As I was diligently practicing tying my hair while looking at my phone, Satsuki-san’s name appeared on the screen.

"A call…?"

I pressed the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Hmm? Eleanor? Are you out right now?"

It was Satsuki-san’s voice.

"No, I’m back home. Just practicing tying my hair."

"Your hair?"

"I had ramen earlier, and it was getting in the way. Besides, I use a sword, so I was thinking of tying it up during adventures too."

I hadn't moved around much before, so it never bothered me, but it's definitely a hindrance for more acrobatic movements.

"Yours is long. Just cut it."

"This is my trademark."

And I paid a lot of money to dye it.

"Hmm, well, whatever. I think tying it is a good idea. Want me to teach you?"

"No thanks. I’ll do it myself."

For some reason, I don’t want to be taught by a girl.

"Well, good luck. More importantly, did you go to the headquarters today?"

"I did. They offered me a million for a Level 2 Healing Potion, so I went home."

I might have considered two and a half million, but one million was out of the question.

"I see. The director just called me. Apparently, the guy you talked to has nothing to do with the Guild."

"Is that so? A Diet member named Shindo-sensei was there, though."

Ah, I was meaning to look him up but forgot.

"He’s a politician with a lot of shady rumors. I hear you threatened to close the Gates?"

"He threatened to have me detained for being an illegal resident. So I threatened him back. It was effective, right?"

"It was. A little too effective. The higher-ups in the government are holding a meeting about it right now."

Ah, it went that far.

"Was that bad?"

"No, it’s better that you did that. It makes it easier for me to move."

"Hmm. Hey, aside from Shindo-sensei, the guy named Nonaka, was he made a scapegoat?"

"That’s what happened. The director was genuinely furious that he caused unnecessary trouble."

Serves him right. He was so condescending, just like my former boss. It feels good.

"So? What did the director say?"

"He wants to talk properly this time, without any interruptions. He called me asking me to connect you two."

Ah, what should I do… I already made a deal with Claire.

"Umm…"

"You don’t want to? Or have you already sold them?"

"I promised to sell them to Claire."

"I knew it. The director was worried about that too."

Really?

"Why?"

"The director knew you were with Harry and Claire. He said it might already be too late."

Her information network is amazing. Well, then again, I was being super conspicuous at that ramen shop.

"Was that bad?"

"Do whatever you want."

She sounds uninterested since it doesn’t affect her profits.

"Well, now that I think about it, don’t I have to go through the Guild?"

I was pretty sure all items obtained in Frontier had to be submitted to the Guild first.

"You don’t have to worry about that. No one believes you got them as a normal drop, and Claire will handle it smoothly. She’ll probably just say she found them herself and sell them."

"But I’m selling her a hundred of them."

"She’ll just say she happened to find a hundred."

"Is that okay? Isn’t that incredibly suspicious?"

It’ll be painfully obvious that I sold them.

"There’s no proof. They’re American agents, so they can slip through customs too."

That’s smuggling. How awful.

"Hmm, how dirty."

"Well, we’re the same. Everyone wants money. Am I wrong?"

"You’re not."

What I want is money, money, money! And Kaede-chan!

"Right? So, are you only selling a hundred to Claire? Do you not plan on making more and selling them to the Guild headquarters?"

"I still have four hundred left. But she told me not to sell to anyone else because the price would crash."

"…………Perhaps I should have assigned someone to you."

Huh?

"What’s wrong?"

"What do you plan to do with those four hundred? From now on, you’ll only be able to sell them to Claire."

…I have a feeling that might not be the case.

"No, the contract isn’t final yet. Claire plans to participate in the auction, so she doesn’t have the money for the potions right now."

"Not yet… then that’s fine. If you do make that contract, make sure you decide on a time limit for how long you’re not allowed to sell. Otherwise, you’ll only be able to sell to Claire, and she’ll lowball you on anything after the first hundred."

Ugh, what a cunning woman.

"I’ll think about it properly."

"Worst case, I’ll step in and mediate."

"Got it. I’ll keep it in mind."

Well, I already decided on the price and everything, though.

"Then I’ll call the director and tell him you’re declining."

"For now, please put it on hold. In any case, it’ll have to wait until after the auction."

My level might go up by then, and I might be able to create new things to sell. It’s better not to give the director a bad impression here. He is O…Saegusa-san’s boss, after all.

"Understood. Also, I heard from Kaede that you’re not coming in this week?"

"That’s right. Weekends are crowded, so I’m scheduled to go on Monday."

"Roger. Well, I’m getting back to work. We’re getting a lot of inquiries about the auction. We can expect big things from this!"

What a money-grubber.

"I’m looking forward to next week. See you."

"Yeah, later."

With that, Satsuki-san hung up the phone.

"Hmm, maybe I acted in a fit of desperation."

That Nonaka and Shindo pissed me off so much that I rashly made a deal with Claire. The contract isn’t final yet, so I’ll think about it until then.

"Alright! I’ll practice my ponytail, and I’ll practice my signature too!"

I’m well aware of how ridiculous this is, but since I’m bored, I’ll give it my all. And so, I spent the weekend doing nothing but practicing tying my hair and practicing my signature.

As you’d expect, I got pretty good after all that practice.

I’ve acquired the Hair Tying skill! Not that such a skill exists.

◆◇◆

Today is Monday. It’s the day the auction begins, and the day I go adventuring with Nanapon for the first time in a week.

I turned into Eleanor-san, stood in front of the bathroom mirror, and used my well-practiced hair tying skills to create a perfect ponytail.

"To be honest, a blonde ponytail doesn’t really go with a black robe."

Since I use a sword, a blonde ponytail would probably look better with armor. Though I kind of hate it for being too knight-like.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and felt a bit ambivalent.

"Oh well. It’s time, I should get going…"

I finished my preparations, drank an invisibility potion as usual, and left the house. Then, at a good spot, I dispelled the invisibility and got into a taxi.

After getting in and giving my destination, the taxi quickly started moving. I gazed out the window at the familiar neighborhood scenery.

Only a few more trips from that apartment to the Guild…

I’ll be moving out of that place soon. I started living there after graduating from university and endured my painful corporate life in that house. It holds some memories.

My next-door neighbor, Yaa-san, giving me nikujaga because he had extra is a fond memory. I couldn’t help but retort, "Isn’t that weird!?"

But the best memory is watching the auction results with Kaede-chan in that house and getting all excited. So while I feel some sentimentality, I won’t have any lingering attachments, since I’ll be living with that same Kaede-chan in my next home.

I made a mental note to bring a box of sweets and say my goodbyes to Yaa-san, who had been so good to me. As I waited for my arrival, the taxi pulled up behind the Guild.

"Ma’am, are you Eleanor Ocean-san?"

As I took out my wallet to pay, the taxi driver, who hadn’t said a word until now, asked.

"I am."

"My daughter is a huge fan of yours. Please keep up the good work."

Hmph, he has a wonderful daughter.

I paid the fare, then took a piece of shikishi board and a marker out of my bag.

"What’s your daughter’s name?"

"It’s Mina, but…"

I coolly wrote ‘To Mina-chan’ on the board, followed by some illegible, worm-like scribbles.

"Here. And don’t you dare stop your daughter if she wants to dye her hair blonde."

I said, handing the board to the driver.

"Ah, thank you… but my daughter is in elementary school."

"On second thought, don’t. Tell her to wait until middle school."

Though I’m sure it’s against the school rules in middle school too. She can do it during summer vacation or something.

"O, okay."

"Well then, thank you for the ride."

With that, I got out of the taxi.

Alright! I’ll write a signature for Nanapon too.