kscans

Chapter 66 - Beware of Guys Hitting on You

I had leveled up and could now create doping items called Buff Potions. I continued to hunt Hide Skeletons after that to level up, but as expected, my level didn’t increase again today.

"Let’s call it a day soon…"

When I checked the time, it was already past four o’clock. Kaede-chan’s work ended at five, but we needed time to shower, and Nanapon said she was going back to her own place first, so considering all that, it was probably time to wrap up.

"I agree…………"

Nanapon agreed, but she was looking in a different direction, not at me.

"What’s wrong?"

Her gaze piqued my curiosity, so I asked.

"There are people outside the mine. A lot of them."

People? In this super unpopular place?

"When?"

"Just now."

"Kidnappers? Black suits and sunglasses?"

"No, not my… not those people. They’re just normal adventurers."

So they weren’t attackers.

"Are they heading this way?"

"No, they’re just hanging around in front of the Gate, like in the Kunaar Ruins. I think they’re here for you, Eleanor-san."

Eleanor-san’s fans… They were basically stalkers.

"What a pain…"

"Tell me about it…"

Nanapon looked annoyed as well.

"Who could have leaked it? The SDF adventurer from before?"

"No, I doubt it. According to Guild Master-san, the SDF adventurers are basically here for your sake, Eleanor-san. I don’t think they would do something like that."

She was right, they wouldn’t do something that would just create more work for themselves.

"In that case, it must have been the people who were at the Guild. They posted online, so others found out I was in Frontier and came all the way here…"

"How did they know we were here?"

"Because I wasn’t in the Kunaar Ruins or Eden Forest. They’re probably just searching everywhere else, right? The timing seems about right, too."

I had shown up at the Guild reception around one o’clock, so about three hours had passed. In that much time, they would have figured out that Eleanor-san wasn’t in the Kunaar Ruins or Eden Forest.

"You can’t even trust the adventurers from our own Ikebukuro Guild."

"They’re all beginners. They either wanted to go viral or were paid off…"

Either way, it was the worst.

"What should we do?"

"There’s nothing we can do. We have our party, so we’re heading back. You go first, Nanaka-san. It might look suspicious, but we have no choice at this point………… Are you okay?"

Nanapon disliked being talked to. But in this situation, she would definitely be approached.

"I’ll be fine. I’ll just say I’m in a hurry and run. The SDF person is here too, so I don’t think they’ll be persistent."

That was exactly how you brush off someone hitting on you.

"Maybe I should do the same?"

"I think that’s a good idea. They’re probably after a party invitation or want to talk about the auction, so it’s not worth listening to them."

That was also true. They weren’t the media, so there was no problem with giving them the cold shoulder. In the first place, it was a breach of etiquette to needlessly approach someone in Frontier. Besides, I was a woman. No matter what they wrote about me online, it wouldn’t be a problem.

"Alright. Then you go on ahead, Nanaka-san. Should we meet up somewhere?"

"It’s fine. I know where your home is, so I’ll get ready and head there directly."

Nanapon knows where I live? Did Kaede-chan tell her?

"Okay. I’ll be waiting."

"Yes. See you later…"

With that, Nanapon started walking toward the mine exit.

To give it some time, I took out a folding chair from my bag and sat down. Of course, I didn’t forget to stay vigilant for Hide Skeletons. You couldn’t see them, but they made noise, so I would know if one got close.

I sat there and waited, just waiting. After about ten minutes, I stood up and started walking toward the mine exit.

When I stepped out of the mine, I could see adventurers loitering in front of the Gate, just as she had said. As soon as the adventurers saw me emerge from the mine, they all started walking toward me at once.

It was a little scary to have them all come at once…

I walked along the edge, wary of the possibility that they might try to enter the mine. But of course, the adventurers headed straight for me.

When the distance between us closed to about ten meters, I reached into my bag and drew my sword. The adventurers’ feet stopped.

"What are you doing?"

An SDF adventurer stepped between me and the group, asking me why I had drawn my sword.

"Can’t you see? A large group of sturdy, armed men are trying to surround me. I will cut them down in self-defense."

When I said that, the SDF member glanced at the adventurers behind him.

"Put away your sword."

The SDF member looked back at me and gave the order. I obediently put my sword back in my bag. The SDF member then walked over to the group of adventurers.

"What are you all doing here?" he asked them.

"We just want to talk. Is there a problem?"

There are a lot of problems.

"Talk? With this many people?"

"We’re not all together. We just happened to be here at the same time."

"Is that true?"

The SDF member looked to the other adventurers for confirmation, and after exchanging glances, they nodded.

"Hmm… I see. However, you are to avoid unnecessary contact within Frontier."

The SDF member seemed to accept their explanation but offered a word of caution.

"Why do we have to be told that by you? It’s our personal freedom."

"Observe proper etiquette."

That’s right, that’s right.

"It’s not like we’re breaking any laws."

"The woman over there has filed a complaint, stating that she feels her life is in danger."

"Like I’d do something like that!" the man shouted, and the other adventurers nodded in agreement.

"Who are you people? Are you trustworthy? I’m sorry, but I can’t say I trust you."

I should probably say that much. They were scary, scary.

"Wha, what did you say!?"

The man got angry at my words.

"…………All of you, think calmly. There is no way that a large group of armed men surrounding a lone woman in a dimly lit place like this is not a problem."

Schooled by the SDF member, the adventurers looked at each other. They seemed to realize the situation immediately and had awkward expressions on their faces.

"We just want to talk for a bit…"

"I do not. I reject all of your requests. If you have urgent business, please go through the Guild. Right now, you all look less like you’re trying to hit on me and more like violent thugs."

At least leave your weapons behind. You’ll make me kill you.

"All of you, go home for today. I don’t intend to make an issue of this, but any further and I will have to report it to the Guild."

Being told that, the men seemed to realize that being reported to the Guild would be bad, and they reluctantly started to turn back.

"Hey, what about Nanaka-san?" I asked the remaining SDF member.

"Your companion? She came out earlier, saw those adventurers, and asked me to escort her to the Gate, so I did. She should have already returned to the Guild by now."

I see. So we should have just relied on the SDF member from the start.

"I see."

"You should also refrain from needlessly drawing your sword. What would you do if they had gotten agitated?"

"Fufu, there would just be a few more corpses, that’s all."

I’d kill them in an instant.

"That’s what I’m telling you to stop. I’m not asking for your cooperation, but unnecessary conflicts will be met with severe punishment. That includes revocation of your adventurer license and even arrest."

"They’re quite strict."

"Of course. When an adventurer commits a crime, the punishment is heavier than for an ordinary person. Be careful."

Well, that made sense. They would be stronger than normal people due to their levels, and they had skills.

"Understood. I will be more careful in the future."

"Good. I won’t make an issue of this incident, but I will issue a notice to all guilds to be more vigilant."

"Please do. It’s not just me, I hate that so many guys try to hit on us."

That’s what Nanapon said. Incidentally, Eleanor-san has never been hit on. But Okita-kun was hit on by Saegusa-san.

"Understood. I will include that in the notice to the guilds."

"Thank you."

I thanked the SDF member and started walking toward the now empty Gate. Then, I passed through it and returned to the Guild.