kscans

Chapter 94 - Creating a Persona is Hard Work

Nanapon and I cut our adventure short and headed back early. Soon, the Gate came into view.

"Huh? Saegusa-san is here."

At Nanapon's words, I looked around the Gate. Sure enough, Yoshino-san was standing there alone.

"What's she doing here by herself?"

"Maybe she has some business with you, Eleanor-san? I ran into her in front of the guild before coming here today."

Nanapon met Yoshino-san?

"You mean in front of the Ikebukuro Guild? Did you talk?"

"Yes. She asked me a lot of things."

"A lot of things?"

"It was questioning about the recent kidnapping incident. Like if I had any idea who the culprits were."

"Now?" Isn't that a little late?

"Ah, she also asked about you, Eleanor-san, and about Guild Master-san."

"I can understand me, but Satsuki-san too? Did she find out about the break-in?"

"No, she asked if Guild Master-san had said anything about her."

That woman is really bothered by it, huh... She should just apologize or do whatever it takes already.

"Is that all?"

"Yes. I gave her some brief answers, and she said she wanted to ask for more details later, then she left."

So it was similar to what happened with me...? Was she trying to probe Nanapon after Okita-kun?

"I see. If she came back here after that, it must mean she has business with me."

"I think so."

Is she going to ask me to sell her something again?

I wondered what her business was as we continued down the road and arrived in front of the Gate. Besides Yoshino-san, there was only one other party of a few people clustered together.

As Nanapon and I walked towards the Gate, I made eye contact with Yoshino-san, who was standing right next to it. Actually, she was the one staring intently at me. And not just at my eyes, but she was looking me over from head to toe.

"...Are you here for work too?"

Yoshino-san's gaze made me uncomfortable, so I spoke first.

"Something like that... I'm waiting to meet someone. What about you two?"

"We're heading back. Oh, and thanks for recommending this place. It looks like my girl can handle it."

I glanced at Nanapon, who had somehow ended up behind me, and Yoshino-san looked at her too.

"And who is she? Dressed like a bodyguard, yet she's using her master as a shield..."

Nanapon is only brave when she's at home.

"My disciple. Isn't she cute? Her name is Agent Seven."

"No, that's Yokokawa."

Well, I did tell her before, and they just met, so of course she'd know.

"She's the one who insists on being called Agent Seven."

"A fake name... She seems to be in disguise, so I guess that makes sense?"

"Like I said before, she's still a student, and after what happened recently, I had her disguise herself. So? Is there something you need? If not, we're leaving."

"No, not really... but I think we'll have an important conversation soon."

An important conversation? Is it about some kind of deal?

"Hmm. Well, I'll be waiting. Agent Seven, let's go."

"Okay... Maybe I should change my name..."

Nanapon is fine, isn't it?

Nanapon and I bid farewell to Yoshino-san, passed through the Gate, and returned to the guild.

◆◇◆

Back at the guild, I took Nanapon to Kaede-chan's counter. After telling her we needed to speak with Satsuki-san, we headed to the branch manager's office with Kaede-chan.

"Satsuki-san, are you in?"

I called out as I knocked on the office door.

"I'm here. Come on in."

With Satsuki-san's permission, the three of us entered the room to find her sprawled on the sofa, fiddling with her smartphone.

"Playing a mobile game again?"

I asked as I entered the room and approached the sofa.

"Yeah... Oof."

Satsuki-san sat up with a groan like an old man, so we took seats on the sofa. As usual, Satsuki-san and Kaede-chan sat side by side, with Nanapon and me sitting across from them.

"You look bored."

"I am. The auction is over, so things are peaceful."

"Then I'll give you something to do. Here."

I placed the Level 3 Healing Potion I had made before returning on the table.

"Gray... huh."

It seems Satsuki-san understood just from the color of the potion.

"You know about it?"

"Yeah. I've seen it before."

Satsuki-san said as she took out the Appraisal Glasses I had given her and picked up the potion from the table.

"It's level 3, alright... Here."

After appraising the potion, Satsuki-san took off the glasses and handed the potion to Kaede-chan, who was sitting next to her.

"...I knew this day would come, but it came sooner than I expected. You'll probably be making level 4 potions before we know it."

Kaede-chan said as she stared at the potion she had received.

Currently, only a few Level 4 Healing Potions have been confirmed to exist. And no Level 5 Healing Potions have been found yet.

"So what do you think we should do? Sell it to the headquarters director? Or put it up for auction?"

I asked Satsuki-san as I took the potion back from Kaede-chan.

"Let's see... First, there's the Level 2 Healing Potion, right? Sell that off quickly."

Well, that makes sense.

"Got it. I'll hurry Claire along."

"Do that. After you sell the Level 2 Healing Potion to the director, let's put the Level 3 Healing Potion up for auction. A Level 3 potion hasn't been on the market for years, so we can't even put a price on it."

"Just one, then. Let's have everyone decide the price."

I can sell more after that. The director or Claire will probably buy them.

"Let's do that. Oh, and you can make something called an Auto-Map now, right?"

"Auto-Map? Oh, that. I haven't made one yet."

"Can you make one right away?"

"The ingredients are paper, a compass, and a pencil. So yeah, I can make it."

It's as cheap as ever.

"Could you make one and show it to me?"

"I don't mind, but what's it for?"

I was planning on trying to make one anyway, so it's no problem.

"I don't know yet. The thing is, the government has put in a request with a certain surveying company."

"A certain surveying company?"

"A company that specializes in surveying Frontier and creating maps."

Since there are monsters in Frontier, a regular company can't do the work. That's why specialized companies like that exist.

"Did they find a new area? Or did they receive one?"

"I don't know yet. But it's not a normal bidding process, so something is definitely up. I'm thinking of looking into it and making a sales pitch."

"Hmm, then I'll make one and bring it to you next time."

I don't really get it, but I can just leave it to Satsuki-san.

"Thanks... By the way, Nanapon, what's with that outfit? I'll be blunt, you're too short to pull that off."

She said it... That's probably why Nanapon hasn't warmed up to Satsuki-san.

"That's so mean!"

Nanapon was shocked.

"It's kind of cute, isn't it?"

I'll defend her, just in case.

"Eleanor-san..."

Nanapon looked at me with watery eyes.

"Tell me the truth, Okita-kun."

"She looks like a kid in cosplay, right?"

At Satsuki-san's prompting, I said what I honestly thought.

"I hate you, Okita-san."

She finally said it out loud...

"Come on, you know it doesn't suit you. And the wand was terrible too."

It's too weird to carry a wand when you look like a bodyguard.

"Let me just say this. You, who chose that form as your disguise, have no right to say anything. My outfit is better."

She said the one thing she shouldn't have...

"Kaede-chan, between me and Nanapon, who do you think is worse?" I asked Kaede-chan.

"You are, Senpai."

Kaede-chan answered instantly.

"What..."

"Okita-kun, it's no use asking anyone. Honestly, I'm a little put off by your ability to switch your speech and mannerisms so instantly."

"Me too. One minute he's talking normally, and the next he's Eleanor-san, like a completely different person."

How cruel.

"Fine, then. I'll just talk normally. You're the ones who told me to separate the personas, so don't get weirded out now that I'm trying."

I worked so hard, watching anime to practice.

"I'm not interested in Okita-san's potential, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't break Eleanor-san's character."

These people are such a pain...