kscans

Chapter 90 - Aren't These Guys Too Nice?

As we continued on our way, defeating monsters, we saw a signpost on the side of the road. I was curious, so I approached it and read it.

[1 Kilometer Ahead. No Entry.]

That's what it said, plain and simple.

"Is this the restricted area up ahead?"

I asked Yoshino-san.

"That's right. So, just to be safe, this is as far as we go. The area beyond is crawling with SDF Personnel, and if they get suspicious of you, you'll be taken in for questioning."

"Rumor has it they strip-search you, regardless of gender."

That's scary. But I guess they have to go that far. If someone trespassed without permission, the Gate could be closed.

"No way I'm going past here then, that's too scary."

"Right. So we turn back here. Well, it's a good time for it, so shall we have lunch?"

Yoshino-san suggested having lunch in such a frightening place.

"Here?"

"It's actually safer here. No shady types will bother you, and the SDF guys will ignore you if you're just eating lunch."

Lin-san explained.

"Then let's eat here."

Honestly, I was starving.

We laid out a sheet on the plains a little ways off the road and sat down. The sheet was something Lin-san had brought.

Once seated, we each started to eat our lunch. I had the round onigiri that Kaede-chan packed for me, and Yoshino-san had bread from a convenience store. And the married woman had brought a bento.

"Did you make that, Lin-san?"

"I did. I have to make one for my husband anyway. And you... did you make those yourself?" Lin-san pointed at my onigiri with her chopsticks.

"Nope. A bento from my loving wife."

To be honest, I can make triangular onigiri just fine.

"I see..."

Lin-san quietly averted her gaze.

"I wanted to ask, are the SDF strong?" I asked while eating my onigiri.

"They are. Not just their individual strength, but their coordination is amazing, just as you'd expect from an army."

"The SDF guys train here in Frontier. They're a bit intimidating, but it's reassuring."

So they really are strong. I'd better not pick a fight with them.

We enjoyed our lunch like a picnic, took a short break, and then resumed our adventure. In the afternoon, at Yoshino-san's suggestion, we decided to head back the way we came.

On the return trip, we occasionally strayed from the road, defeating monsters in a three-person rotation. By the time we got back to the Gate, it was 4:30 PM.

There were more Adventurers hanging around the Gate than in the morning. They glanced at me, or rather, at Yoshino-san, but quickly looked away and went back to talking with their companions.

"This is pretty much how you do an adventure here. For a half-day trip, you'd turn back a little sooner," Yoshino-san explained as we arrived at the Gate. It seemed she had timed our return for 4:30 PM perfectly.

"I see. This is a pretty good time to finish."

"We've come here many times."

"At first, we'd end up staying until night, or coming back at an awkward time like three o'clock, right?"

So today's whole routine was a method they had established over countless adventures. They were really kind to teach it to me. I'm sure they could charge money for this. I'd even pay if they asked.

"Thank you so much for today. I learned a lot."

"Not at all. This is normal for us."

"Ah, let's head back soon. I need to stop by the supermarket."

It seemed Lin-san had to make dinner.

"Well then, let's part ways here. Okita-kun, when's the next time?"

Next time, huh...

"Are you coming back here? I'll be adventuring here for a while, but isn't it too low-level for you, Yoshino-san?"

"I can make money no matter where I go. Even today, I made over 100,000 yen. That's plenty."

One hundred thousand yen... So I made about that much too. That's amazing.

"Well, if you're free, I'd like to ask you again. I'll get in touch."

"Sounds good. I'll be waiting. We'll head back first. You should head home soon too. See you."

Yoshino-san and Lin-san started walking towards the Gate.

"Take care."

"Yes, you too."

"See ya."

I watched the two of them pass through the Gate and return, then I took out my Status Card from my bag to have a look.

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Name. Okita Hajime
Level 8
Job. Swordsman
Skills.
≪Swordsmanship Lv6≫
≪Speechcraft Lv1≫
≪Provocation Lv1≫
☆≪Alchemy≫
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Level 8
Healing Potion Lv1, Gender Reassignment Potion
Sleeping Potion, Pure Water
Translation Potion, Item Bag
Invisibility Potion, Appraisal Glasses, Appraisal Contacts
Healing Potion Lv2, Buff Potion (Strength)
Buff Potion (Speed), Buff Potion (Defense)
Auto-Map
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As expected of a mid-tier area. I leveled up in a single day. With this, I've caught up to Nanapon.

And the new recipe is Auto-Map. Apparently, it lets me create a strange paper that automatically becomes a map of the places I've walked.

Yeah, don't need it. The SDF has already surveyed and mapped Frontier. And of course, Earth has maps too.

It was a dud... Well, I guess this happens sometimes. I'll hope for better next time!

◆◇◆

After passing through the Gate, we returned to the Shinjuku Guild.

"Lin, what did you think of Okita-kun?"

"He's strong. He took down the High Wolf and Great Eagle in an instant. He should just become a B-rank adventurer already."

It was true. Even by a conservative estimate, he had the skills of a B-rank adventurer.

"Kaede is the one holding him back from ranking up, isn't she? Okita-kun has a tendency to get a little cocky, so maybe she wants him to gain more experience first."

"Worried about her boyfriend? Well, it's the same for us, but guys who know martial arts from the start tend to be like that."

No, I wasn't that cocky. Lin, on the other hand, was full of herself.

"Anything else you noticed?"

"He didn't take out his Status Card."

So Lin noticed too...

"Right?"

Neither Lin nor I would ever take out our Status Cards. It would be bad if someone saw them, and more importantly, our levels would never go up on Mireille Road. But Okita-kun was different.

He was level 7. If a level 7 adventurer defeated monsters on Mireille Road, their level would rise quickly. He could probably reach level 10 in no time.

But today, not once, not even during our lunch break, did he take out his Status Card to check his level. Normally, people do. Rookies, especially, look at their Status Cards so often we have to warn them. They'll do it after every single battle.

"You think he didn't want us to see it?"

"Probably. But he talks about his skills openly, right?"

"He was bragging about his Swordsmanship and worried about his Provocation."

Exactly. Not showing his Status Card might suggest he's secretive, but in that case, talking about his skills would be strange.

"Did Satsuki-neesan or Kaede tell him not to?"

"That's the logical conclusion. Which means there's a high chance he has a unique skill."

Could his strength be related to a unique skill? Or is it something else...

Eleanor Ocean and Okita-kun... Two individuals who appeared at that unpopular guild around the same time. A coincidence?

I suppose I'll have to use that to investigate...

"Lin, could you come with me again tomorrow or later?"

"Sorry, but my husband is taking me to the zoo tomorrow."

Just for a moment... a tiny, fleeting moment, I felt a flash of irritation.