NOVEL ONLINE FREE Volume 1 Chapter 98
Having woken up, Yoshino-san returned to the living room with us.
Back in the living room, we sat at the table, and Kaede-chan brought us drinks. Satsuki-san and Kaede-chan still had some beer left, so they continued with that, but I had finished mine, so it was a refill for me. In front of Yoshino-san was a cup of coffee.
“I don’t feel like drinking this…”
Yoshino-san looked at the coffee Kaede-chan placed with a wry smile. Well, she had been drugged with it.
“It’s safe, I didn’t do anything to it this time,” Kaede-chan said with a smile, but it was a bit scary.
“Would you prefer beer?”
I asked Yoshino-san, who seemed to dislike the coffee.
“No, this is fine. I can’t drink alcohol… I fall asleep immediately after drinking.”
Either way, she ends up sleeping…
Easy to bring home, this one.
“Hmm, so to the main topic, what do you know?”
“I know that you are Okita-kun.”
Hmm, is that really true?
“I am not Okita-kun. And it’s rude to assume I’m a man when I’m a woman.”
Let’s go with Eleanor-san’s usual diversion.
Time to show off my Rhetoric skill.
“No use playing dumb now, it’s too late.”
Failed to divert.
Well, I guess there’s no use in pretending anymore.
“Hmm… and why do you think I’m Okita-kun?”
“Before that, are you going to stay like this?”
So annoying.
Don’t be so judgmental.
“Do you prefer Okita-kun? I’m too lazy to change, so I’ll stay like this.”
“Okay, I see. It’s fine. People have their own preferences. Yeah.”
Let’s just leave it at that…
“So, the reason?”
“From the beginning, I suspected that Okita-kun and Eleanor Ocean might be the same person.”
“There’s a big difference in gender, you know.”
“I thought it was special makeup. But I abandoned that idea because of the height difference.”
Height can’t be disguised.
If I could, it would mean Okita-kun wears secret boots.
But that’s impossible for adventuring.
“So, despite that, you still thought I was Okita-kun?”
“The way you walk. You’re overly feminine in behavior and speech, but your walk is exactly like Okita-kun’s.”
The way I walk…
“You can tell by that?”
“I can. And both as Okita-kun and Eleanor, you’re always wary of your surroundings, ready to retaliate. Even when you were signing autographs at the family restaurant, you were cautious of me behind you. Only Okita-kun does that.”
“Hmm, just that?”
“Yes, just that. But as circumstantial evidence, it’s enough. I just had to confirm it from you… didn’t expect to be put to sleep first, though.”
She must have thought she could handle me, hence the direct visit.
Putting her to sleep was the right choice.
“Hmm, interesting… So, what do you want to do with this information? And what does it change?”
“I wanted to know your true identity. Honestly, I even wondered if Eleanor Ocean was a real witch. I wanted to confirm if you were a safe entity, especially with your threat about closing the gate.”
I just bluffed about that, but it worked well.
“Feeling relieved? But even if I were Okita-kun, it doesn’t prove I can close the gate, does it?”
“Can you do it?”
“Of course not. What even is the gate?”
Seriously, what is that thing?
“What’s your power? How do you get all those items?”
Here we go…
I glanced at Satsuki-san.
“Do whatever you want.”
Hmm, okay then…
Satsuki-san says it’s fine, and this woman is A-rank…
“It’s a Unique Skill.”
I decided to be honest.
“I guessed it was a Unique Skill. It’s not like you’re smuggling items from Frontier.”
How would one even smuggle?
“It’s an Alchemy skill.”
“I see… so the theory about you making them was right.”
Yoshino-san understood just by the word ‘Alchemy.’
Well, it’s quite direct.
“Amazing, right?”
“Amazing indeed… So, you’re just using your Alchemy skill to create various items and selling them?”
“That’s right. I never claimed to be a witch or from Frontier. You guys started saying that.”
Sorry about that. Actually, I started the witch thing. It just spread from there.”
You started it!
“Don’t just decide and be afraid of me, okay? I’m a good adventurer.”
“Good or not, let’s leave that aside.”
“I’m good!”
Good, very good.
“Actually, there’s
another reason I suspected you were Okita-kun and Eleanor Ocean. But we don’t need to talk about that.”
I can guess.
“Please, Yoshino-san, go on. I think I know what you mean.”
Kaede-chan urged Yoshino-san.
“You, even now, keep glancing at people’s chests.”
I can’t help it when they’re right in front…
“I’m just looking at the coffee.”
“Unlikely…”
I stood up, went to the sofa, took out sunglasses, put them on, and returned to my seat.
“Continue.”
Yoshino-san continued.
“Did you put those on at the family restaurant to hide where you’re looking?”
“Continue with the main topic, not that. I’m using Alchemy to make items. That’s all. So what? Is that a problem?”
“Not really… but that skill is abnormal.”
Yoshino-san seemed to bring the conversation back on track. Kaede-chan’s gaze was a bit cold…
“But it’s not a problem, right? I’m not committing any crimes.”
Just making and selling potions and item bags. Nothing wrong with that.
“Yes, but in my position, I have to report this.”
“To the headquarters head?”
“Yes. As I said before, I work for her. This investigation was her order, and I have to report the results.”
That makes sense.
“So… feel free to report. But Eleanor Ocean won’t appear anymore.”
“Why?”
“What do you think my existence is for?”
“To make money.”
“Right. But Okita-kun can do that too… You pointed out that I deliberately stand out. That’s true. I’m a decoy. Attracting good and bad people who come for money. I don’t want a life targeted by such people. So, the moment my skill is exposed, it’s the end for Eleanor. I’ll live with the money I’ve made with Kaede-chan.”
I have nearly 20 billion yen. Enough for two people.
“So, Okita-kun will be targeted instead.”
“Will the headquarters head tell others?”
“She might. At least, she’ll tell the government.”
“Then, goodbye to Japan. I’ll rely on Claire and Harry. Just provide them with potions.”
They’re simple and easy to deal with.
“You’re willing to abandon Japan?”
“Can’t trust them. They’ll want to buy it cheap or demand it for free.”
“I don’t think it’ll come to that…”
“Too bad. I can’t trust them anymore. Blame Shindo-sensei if you’re upset.”
If they knew about my skill and that the potions were made from water and herbs, they wouldn’t pay millions for them.
“I see… so it’s better for you and your skill to remain unknown?”
“Exactly. You don’t really plan to report it, do you?”
“I’m serious about my job.”
“Haha, lies. Then why did you come to my house alone? If you had information, you’d report to the headquarters head first. But you came to negotiate with me, right?”
There’s no other explanation.
“…Right. I decided it’s better not to report. As you said, politicians can’t be trusted. They will surely exploit the information or you.”
“So it turns out that way?”
“It’s been like that. Information about new items was quickly used. In fact, your information was leaked to the media. It might even reach foreign countries. You are valuable just for the information.”
I’m like gold.
“I see… so what do you want? You’re not the type to keep quiet for free, right? Money?”
“Give me a recovery potion.”
Just as Satsuki-san said, not money, but a potion…
“You want a recovery potion?”
“Yes… Sorry, can we go to your room? I’d like Kaede and Satsuki-neesan to stay here.”
Yoshino-san requested, so I looked at Kaede-chan and Satsuki-san. They exchanged glances and then nodded at me.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Yoshino-san and I stood up and headed back to my room again.