NOVEL ONLINE FREE Volume 1 Chapter 109
After Yoshino-san finished the contract, he left, so Kaede-chan and I spent a relaxed evening drinking and admiring the 14 billion yen.
The next day, I woke up before noon, got ready, and headed to the Ikebukuro Guild. Today, I was going to Frontier with Nanapon, so naturally, I was in my usual black robe as Eleanor.
I took a taxi to the back of the guild, greeted the security guard, and went inside. After passing through the corridors and coming out behind the reception, I headed towards Kaede-chan in the lobby. There were only a few customers today.
“Hello,” I greeted as I approached Kaede-chan.
“Hi, hello!” She greeted back with her usual 50% smile, hard to believe she was the same person who was fanning herself with banknotes while holding a beer can just the day before.
“Has Agent Seven arrived yet?”
“Not yet… Are we really going with that name?”
“Who knows? Anyway, she’s not the type to be in the spotlight. Anything’s fine, I guess.”
Rumors might circulate, but I have no intention of putting Nanapon on TV or anything, considering her shyness.
“Well, okay… She’s a bit of an odd one herself.”
That’s one way to put it. Does that mean I’m odd too? Oh, because of the gender change…
“I told her to come later than me, so she should be here soon.”
“Today you’re going to Mireille Road again?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then. Please take this.”
Kaede-chan handed me the weapon, which I put in my bag and took out a notebook in exchange.
“Can you give this to Satsuki-san?”
I placed the notebook on the counter and asked Kaede-chan.
“A notebook? What’s this about?”
She flipped through the blank pages of the unused notebook.
“I forgot to explain, but this is the auto-map I mentioned. Write the scale in the top right corner, and it’ll automatically create a map. Can you ask Satsuki-san to try it out? She wanted to see it, and I thought it’d be good for a test run.”
I’m not quite sure about the convenience of the auto-map, and I don’t know the details about hiring a surveying company, so it seemed best to just hand it over for now.
“Understood. I’ll give it to the guild master.”
“Thanks. I’m off then.”
“Take care!”
I left, accompanied by Kaede-chan’s farewell, and headed towards the gate, thinking of Mireille Road as I passed through.
Beyond the gate was the usual sunny and nature-rich road, but today, there were no other adventurers. I decided to wait for Nanapon in a suitable spot, enjoying the peaceful setting.
As I waited, a group emerged from the gate, but it wasn’t Nanapon. It was a party of four middle-aged men.
They started discussing something but soon noticed me. One of them approached.
I considered drawing my sword but decided against it as he seemed unarmed and without hostile intent.
“Excuse me, may I have a word?”
“What is it?”
“Are you Eleanor Ocean?”
“Yes.”
“Did you previously save some high school students at Koona Ruins?”
The high school students… Ah, those kids who called me a hyena. Wait, this man is from that time!
“Maybe I did.”
“I’ve been wanting to meet you! Sorry for what happened when I was away at the toilet. I apologize for involving you in that nonsense. It was my responsibility as the supervisor. And thank you for saving those kids.”
He bowed deeply.
“Alright, I accept your apology and thanks.”
It’s all in the past and doesn’t matter much now.
“About that, you used a healing potion on an injured girl, right?”
“Yes, she looked hurt.”
“Her parents want to apologize for the trouble and thank you for helping her.”
This sounds troublesome…
“Tell them it’s fine. Adventurers are responsible for themselves.”
“But when minors are involved, it’s not that simple… The parents won’t be satisfied.”
Parents would think that way…
“Apologies and thanks are bothersome. They’re not offering money, are they?”
“I think so. They want to at least pay for the potion.”
“Sigh… I don’t know their financial situation, but it won’t be cheap.”
“Still, it’s necessary.”
Indeed, any conscientious person would do the same. I would if my child was saved.
“Are there no complaints later? Honestly, it’s cheaper to get treated at a hospital than use a 500,000 yen potion.”
I’m afraid of complaints about whether the injury was real. Such hassle.
“No complaints. I met the parents, they’re ordinary. The guild mediates in these cases. Once apologies and thanks are done, no further complaints.”
So they have that covered. It’s
sensitive with minors. The guild’s principle of self-responsibility doesn’t apply to them.
“Fine. I’ll accept the apology, but no need for thanks.”
“I’ll relay that, but they’ll likely insist.”
“I guess so…”
It’ll be an annoying exchange of “No need!” and “Please accept!”
“You should have held it in.”
“I tried, but nature calls.”
“Next time, do it where you can see the kids.”
“In front of high school girls? I’d rather die.”
Understandable. Doing that in front of them would be awful.
“Sigh… You really keep an eye on kids.”
“I became an adventurer that way. I have kids myself, so I try to take on such jobs.”
Noble of him.
“What happened to those kids? Were they forced to quit?”
“One lost his license, the boy who insulted you.”
Poor kid… Serves him right!
“That’s severe.”
“He endangered not just himself but his companions. If you had reacted, they all could’ve died.”
I wouldn’t have done that.
“That’s a harsh accusation.”
“Not about you. It’s always been a trouble. That’s why adventurers avoid unnecessary contact.”
I’ve learned that the hard way.
“You’re making unnecessary contact now. Go through the guild for such things.”
“I tried calling Ikebukuro Guild, but they hardly answer. When I mentioned your name, they hung up.”
“Strange calls are frequent there.”
Poor Kaede-chan…
“I know. The chief told us not to bother Ikebukuro Guild unnecessarily.”
The chief really does his job. Harsh, but…
“So you approached me in Frontier.”
“I had to. I was under restraint and couldn’t come earlier. The parents want to meet you soon.”
“Fine, Shibuya then… When?”
“I’ll arrange it. Could I have your contact?”
That figures.
I exchanged contact details with him on our smartphones.
“Just so you know, if you leak my number or prank call, I’ll curse you.”
“I won’t. That’s scary.”
“What’s your name?”
I hadn’t asked for his name.
“Yamabe Kakeru.”
Kakeru, as in running to the toilet…
“Yamabe Kakeru, got it.”
I typed his name into my phone’s address book.
“And yours?”
“You don’t know?… Ikebukuro Hanako.”
“Eleanor Ocean.”
Yamabe ignored me and typed into his phone.
“You knew?”
“Of course. I checked first.”
Then why ask!
After our exchange, I prepared myself for the impending hassle and responsibility that comes with being an adventurer.