NOVEL ONLINE FREE Volume 1 Chapter 97
When Satsuki-san arrived at our house, we invited her in.
“Hmm, nice place you’ve got here…”
Satsuki-san murmured as she looked around the living room.
“Well, we do have money. This is about right for two people.”
“Maybe so…”
Satsuki-san wandered even into the kitchen.
“Um, could you please not explore too much? I’m making coffee right now, so please have a seat.”
Kaede-chan, who was preparing tea for the guest in the kitchen, couldn’t help but express her annoyance.
“I’ll take a beer.”
“…Please, have a seat.”
Kaede-chan, clearly exasperated, responded, and Satsuki-san returned to and sat down at the table.
“Are you drinking beer?”
I asked Satsuki-san as I sat opposite her.
“It’s a good time for it. But more importantly, why are you still Eleanor?”
“I was just on the phone with Nanaka-san. She gets angry when Okita-kun calls her.”
Change!
I always say this.
“She’s a hassle…”
“I’m used to it. She’s always been a bit of an oddball.”
“I guess so.”
Satsuki-san nodded as Kaede-chan brought over three beer cans.
“Are you drinking too, Kaede-chan?”
“Since you’re going to drink, I might as well join you.”
Kaede-chan sat next to me and replied.
“Geez! I hate that ‘I know what you’re thinking’ attitude of Kaede.”
“Really, stop making a fuss and just drink.”
Kaede-chan seemed truly bothered.
“Kaede used to be so sweet, but lately she’s become quite harsh. Did she get influenced by a man?”
“It’s definitely your fault. You’re annoying.”
Jealousy and resentment were evident.
“Ah, I don’t want to get old…”
Satsuki-san said this as she opened a beer can and started drinking. Kaede-chan and I also began to drink.
“So, about Yoshino-san…”
I started the main topic while we were drinking.
“She came to your house suddenly, claiming Okita-kun is Eleanor, right?”
“That’s right. Without an appointment.”
“Bold move.”
Satsuki-san nodded thoughtfully.
“Does this mean the guild headquarters knows? Yoshino-san is from the headquarters, right?”
“No, that’s unlikely. The head of the headquarters is cautious and is trying to mend relations with Eleanor, so she wouldn’t make a direct approach. This is definitely Yoshino’s own initiative.”
Indeed, the Golden Witch wouldn’t do something to provoke me. I’ve threatened to close the gate before.
“Why would Yoshino-san do such a thing?”
“Probably, she suspected you, not Eleanor. She must have had some thoughts while adventuring together.”
“I don’t think Okita-kun made any mistakes. Maybe we shouldn’t have teamed up?”
Was it really that risky?
“She’s sharp. But don’t worry. I was prepared for being exposed.”
“Because you can bribe with money?”
“That’s right. If we bring Yoshino to our side, we can even get information from the headquarters. Convenient.”
She planned this from the beginning, recommending Yoshino-san to me…
“Will she easily betray? She’s a bit greedy, but basically, she’s serious and good-natured.”
“Well, she did leave her cousin and switched guilds…”
“Betrayal isn’t the plan, nor making the headquarters head draw a bow. I just want her to relay information to us as quickly as possible. In the worst case, just give her some recovery potions or something. Besides, 5% of our auction profit goes to the headquarters. The head won’t complain.”
Dirty adults…
“Do you think Yoshino-san will keep quiet about me, Okita-kun, and alchemy?”
“That’s where money comes in. Negotiate with her when she wakes up. She’ll likely want potions or an item bag.”
“I’ve already sold the item bag. So it’s down to potions for negotiation?”
“Could be direct money, but likely so. With her large party, recovery potions are always welcome.”
She did say she had over 20 members.
“Satsuki-san, could you please handle the negotiation? You might smooth things over.”
“I’ll be there, but you do the negotiation. You formed a temporary party with her, so trust her.”
Trust a money-grubber? Well, she’s one too…
“Hmm…”
“Or shall we kill her? Simplest way to silence someone.”
“Eh… No way.”
That would get us caught right away. And I don’t want to kill Yoshino-san.
Especially with such… attributes.
“Then it’s down to bribery.”
“Yeah, let’s try that.”
“Is it about time?”
Satsuki-san looked at the clock on the wall. It was 10 PM, about time for
the sleeping potion to wear off.
“Let’s go to my room.”
I finished my beer and stood up. Kaede-chan and Satsuki-san also rose, and we left the living room for my room.
Entering my room, we saw Yoshino-san sleeping soundly on the bed, lying on her back. Honestly, seeing Yoshino-san sleeping in my bed was a bit thrilling.
“Her clothes are… on, and there are no signs of disorder.”
Satsuki-san checked Yoshino-san’s clothes by lifting the quilt.
“What do you think of Okita-kun? He wouldn’t do such a thing.”
I’m no sex offender.
“Can’t be too careful with someone who chooses a sleeping potion…”
“Hey, don’t say such things. Even Kaede-chan is trying to defend me, but it’s not really working.”
“I had no choice. It’s different when you’re around.”
Yoshino-san and Satsuki-san are cousins, and she greatly admires Satsuki-san. Having her here should make negotiations smoother.
“Well, with Kaede around, you probably wouldn’t do anything weird.”
“Or maybe Yoshino-san wouldn’t even come if Kaede-chan wasn’t living here.”
Yoshino-san wouldn’t visit the house of a man who ogles her chest.
“Uh, um…”
As Satsuki-san and I were talking, Yoshino-san woke up.
“Hey, Yoshino, good morning.”
Satsuki-san greeted the waking Yoshino-san.
“Satsuki-neesan…? Eh? Where is this!?”
Yoshino-san panicked and sat up.
“Okita-kun and Kaede’s love nest. Don’t you remember?”
Stop calling it a love nest…
“Right… I came to see Okita-kun… Huh? Why am I asleep?”
“You were drugged by Okita-kun. Don’t easily drink something at a man’s house, especially when he’s a witch.”
I’m going to eat you.
Not in a sexual way, okay?
“That coffee… Right, I don’t remember anything after that.”
“Anyway, get up. We’re going to the living room.”
“Ah, right…”
Yoshino-san was still confused but got up, dusted off the sheets, and folded the quilt.
“Is this Kaede’s room?”
“Does it look like a woman’s room? It’s Okita-kun’s room. Couldn’t enter Kaede’s room; it’s always locked.”
She’s always locking it, huh?
“Just give up, will you?”
No way!
“Uh, so what’s the relationship between Okita-kun and Kaede?”
Yoshino-san asked, tilting her head.
“They’re like a married couple.”
“We’re just senior and junior.”
Kaede-chan and I answered simultaneously.
“…I don’t quite get it, but good luck, Okita-kun.”
Yoshino-san is a nice person.
“Tch!”
Satsuki-san is so petty…