kscans

Chapter 7 - Everyone Makes Mistakes!

I submitted five Healing Potions at the shop that buys materials from the Frontier. After a short while, the same female employee returned with the potions.

"Thank you for waiting. We've confirmed they are genuine level 1 Healing Potions. Would you like to sell all of them?"

"Yes. Please do."

"Um, that will be 600,000 yen each, for a total of 3,000,000 yen."

Huh?

"Isn't it 500,000?"

"The price fluctuates daily. This is the current price."

Yay! I don't really get what 'fluctuates' means, but thank you!

"Then I'll take it."

"Understood. In that case, please provide your Adventurer authentication number."

Hm?

"Authentication… number?"

"Yes. Your authentication number."

What's that?

"Um, what does it look like again?"

"Huh? Only Adventurers and government-authorized dealers can buy or sell materials from the Frontier. Are you perhaps a dealer?"

What is this?! I didn't hear about this!

"No, I'm an Adventurer, but…"

"Then you need an authentication number."

Hey! I didn't hear anything about that! A-sa-ku-ra!

"I'm sorry. I don't remember my authentication number."

"Um, in that case, shall we check it for you? If you have your ID, we can check with the guild."

…Isn't this bad? My ID is my driver's license, but that's not me. I mean, it is me, but.

Hmm, I'll run away!

"No, actually, I have to go to the guild anyway, so I'll check it there. I'll bring these back after that."

I hurriedly put the potions back in my bag.

"Huh? Is that so…"

Bad, bad, bad! This employee is super suspicious of me!

"Well then, I'll be back. Goodbye."

After putting all the potions back in my bag, I immediately left the shop. I walked away quickly, then ducked into a convenience store and went into the bathroom.

This is bad! I've definitely aroused suspicion! And what the heck is an authentication number?! Should I have done more research?!

It seems I was blinded by the large sum of money. I neglected to do my research.

Damn it! What do I do?! My plan has already hit a snag!

No, at this point, I can't back down! I'll become an Adventurer too! That 3,000,000 yen is mine! Ohoho!

I signed up to become an Adventurer right there and then and left the convenience store. Of course, the profile information was all fake. But it's okay. When I did it, there was no request for any kind of identification.

It seems they're pretty lax about that stuff.

I went home for the day to calm myself down. Two days later, I headed to the same training venue I went to last week.

When I arrived, I received the exact same booklet in the exact same room, listened to the exact same lecture, and got my certificate of completion. With this, my savings were completely gone.

I can't pay next month's rent or utilities. I don't even have enough for food.

If I fail now, I'm completely screwed. I'll have no choice but to bow my head to my junior and borrow money. That's the one thing I absolutely want to avoid.

Feeling anxious, I took my certificate and headed for the Adventurer Guild in Ikebukuro. I entered the Ikebukuro guild and looked at the eight reception desks.

Of course, Kaede-chan was there too. Without a second thought, I went to Kaede-chan's counter.

"I'd like to take care of this."

Just like last time, I submitted my certificate to Kaede-chan.

"Yes. Please wait a moment."

Kaede-chan, of course, didn't recognize me and started processing the certificate.

Hm? Why did I come here? No matter how you look at it, this is a bad idea! I should have gone to a different branch, and submitting it to Kaede-chan is a definite no.

Realizing my mistake, I looked down and waited.

"Um, is your name Eleanor Ocean-san?"

Kaede-chan asked for confirmation.

"Yes. That's right."

I made up the name on the spot. Eleanor was from some game character, and Ocean was taken from Okita.

"Are you from another country?"

"No, born and raised here."

That's why I'm fluent in Japanese! In fact, I can't speak English!

"I see, understood. Now, I will give you the explanation."

Explanation? I heard it last week.

"That's fine. I agree to everything."

"H-Huh? U-Understood."

Kaede-chan was flustered, but I wanted my money fast. I'd been on edge for the past few days, and I wanted the peace of mind that comes with savings.

"Then, may I go?"

"Um, what about a weapon?"

"I don't need one. I'm just dealing with Slimes."

"Huh?"

With that, I headed for the back. I didn't want to talk to Kaede-chan any more than necessary. Because talking to Kaede-chan is fun, and if I keep talking, I might let something slip.

I quickly went to the back, through the hallway, and arrived at the Gate.

"I never thought my second adventure in the Frontier would be as a different person…"

I shook my head with a wry smile and headed for my second trip to the Frontier.

The place beyond the gate was Eden Forest, same as last time.

Whether it's the first time or the second, a beginner is a beginner, and this time I don't even have a weapon. I don't have the money to buy one.

"Now, it would probably be suspicious to come back right away with five Healing Potions, so I guess I'll kill some time…"

I looked around, wondering if there was a place to rest. Then, I noticed a card lying on the ground right behind me.

The moment I saw it, I felt a cold sweat break out all over my body.

I slowly picked up the card and confirmed what was written on it.

----------------------------------------
Name: Eleanor Ocean
Level: 1
Job: Swordsman
Skills:
≪Swordsmanship Lv5≫
☆≪Alchemy≫
----------------------------------------

"God! Thank you!"

I couldn't help but thank God.

In my haste, I had overlooked something important. This card.

A Status Card is like an Adventurer's license, given to those who come to the Frontier for the first time. Of course, it's one per person.

If there hadn't been a card for Eleanor…

"That was close… I'm way too thoughtless."

I feel like I'm just winging it. Or maybe this is why the identification for becoming an Adventurer is so lax…

"But the fact that a card for this form appeared means I'm treated as a different person, right? How does that work?"

The theory that the TS Potion doesn't just change your gender but turns you into a different person. The theory that the conditions for issuing a Status Card are super loose. The theory that the person issuing the Status Cards took pity on me.

"Yeah, I have no idea!"

Should I go to a hospital and have my body examined? No, that would only cause unnecessary trouble, and it's just a hassle.

"Oh well… It worked out somehow."

I don't know how much I'll get at the guild, but I guess I'll sell them at Kaede-chan's counter… Sorry to the clerk from two days ago, but my junior is more important.

"Phew…"

I took a breath, sat down on the nearby grass, and hugged my knees.

"I don't see any other Adventurers…"

There's no one here, and there was no one in the guild either. Maybe being an Adventurer isn't as popular a profession as I thought.

"What should I do from now on…"

I decided to think about the future.

Once I get 2.5 or 3 million, I won't have to work for a while. But I want to see Kaede-chan, so I should probably continue being an Adventurer. If my level goes up, my recipes will increase, and I might be able to make things that make earning money even easier.

"Oh, right. I have to ask Kaede-chan out to eat!"

We've been in touch occasionally since then. Just last night, I listened to her complain a lot about work. Being a guild receptionist seems tough.

I sat there hugging my knees, waiting, but I couldn't help feeling restless. I was worried about whether the Healing Potions would actually sell.

"It's only been an hour… Oh well, I'll go."

It feels a bit early, but I can't wait anymore. I've been waiting for two days since I started this plan.

I stood up, checked the potions in my bag, and headed for the Gate. I passed through the gate and returned to the guild.

My second adventure also ended in an hour. And without doing anything…

◆◇◆

I returned from the Frontier to the guild in an hour and headed straight for the lobby. And, as a matter of course, I went to Kaede-chan's reception desk.

"I'm back."

"Welcome back. I guess it didn't work out without a weapon?"

When I announced my return, Kaede-chan asked awkwardly.

"No, it was fine."

I defeated a Slime! And it dropped a potion!

"I, I see…"

Her face seemed to say, Even though you were back in an hour…

"Anyway, I'm submitting this."

I said, handing over my Status Card.

"Then, I'll take this…………"

Kaede-chan took Eleanor's Status Card and began to read it. But she was taking a long time. It took her more than ten seconds to read just a few lines.

As I was thinking she was slow, Kaede-chan looked up at me with a strange expression.

"What?"

"N, nothing…"

Seriously, what's with her?

"Oh well. And I have something to sell."

I took the Healing Potions out of my bag and lined up five of them on the counter.

"…………"

Kaede-chan stared silently at the lined-up Healing Potions.

"What's wrong?"

When I asked, Kaede-chan once again looked up at me with a strange expression.

"…What are these?"

"They dropped from a Slime."

"…All five of them?"

"That's right."

Doki doki.

"…How many did you defeat?"

Huh? Um, I feel like saying five would be a bad idea.

"About ten?"

"I see… Understood. I will have these appraised, so please wait a moment."

Kaede-chan placed the Healing Potions in a basket and headed to the back.

So far, it's the same as last time… I think it will be okay this time, but…

As I waited nervously, Kaede-chan returned with the potions.

"Thank you for waiting. They are all level 1 Healing Potions. These are extremely rare drops, that's amazing."

Well, of course.

"Is it due to my good deeds? Well, I was lucky."

"I see… Are you selling all of them?"

"How much?"

"550,000 yen each. That's 2,750,000 yen in total."

The other shop was 600,000 for a total of 3,000,000. Hmm, has the fluctuation or whatever changed? Or is this place cheaper?

"By the way, what's my authentication number?"

"Um, Eleanor-san is… F-003175."

"Hold on a moment."

There was no way I could remember that, so I took my phone out of my bag.

"One more time, please."

"…F-003175."

Kaede-chan made that strange face again.

"Let's see, F-003175."

I typed the authentication number into my phone's notepad and thought for a moment.

What should I do? Should I go to the other shop and ask how much they're paying? The difference is 250,000 yen.

No, I'll probably be able to earn more in the future, so I'll just get the cash now.

"I'll sell them all. Oh, and in cash."

"Cash? I would recommend a bank transfer."

A card is a bad idea. The name is Okita Hajime.

"I'm the type who only trusts cash."

"Huh? Understood. Then, please wait a moment."

Kaede-chan once again placed the Healing Potions in the basket and headed to the back.

Yes! Success! Hurry, hurry back with the cash.

Still, I feel like I'm committing a crime… Well, I guess it is, slightly…

As I waited restlessly, Kaede-chan returned with a thick envelope and a receipt.

"Here you are. Please sign here."

As Kaede-chan told me, I started to sign, but my hand stopped.

That was close! I almost wrote Okita!

I properly wrote Eleanor Ocean and handed it to Kaede-chan.

"Yes, confirmed. Then, here you go."

After confirming the signature, Kaede-chan handed me the thick envelope. I immediately put the envelope in my bag.

I did it! I did it! A huge sum of money!!

"When will you be coming next?"

As I was celebrating internally, Kaede-chan asked.

"Hmm, sometime soon? It's undecided."

First, I need to level up. The rich NEET plan comes after that.

"I see. It would be better if you came to this branch, you know?"

"Is that so? Then I suppose I will."

Even though I say that, I feel bad for Kaede-chan, but I'd rather avoid it if possible. I feel like I'll get caught. Yep, I'll go home quickly.

"Please do."

"I'll think about it. Well, I'm going home now."

"Thank you for your hard work. Please come again, senpai."

"Okay, see you."

I clutched my bag tightly and left the guild at a brisk pace.

Guhehe. I'm rich! I'm going to have a party when I get home!