NOVEL ONLINE FREE Volume 1 Chapter 99
Leaving Kaede-chan and Satsuki-san in the living room, I headed to my room with Yoshino-san.
“What do you want to talk about, just the two of us? Something you can’t discuss in front of them?”
I asked Yoshino-san as we entered my room.
“Well, yes. Actually, I have something I want to show you.”
Yoshino-san replied, lifting her shirt up to her chest. Although her large, white chest was partially visible, my eyes didn’t wander there. They were drawn to the painful-looking scar below her chest.
“What happened there?”
“I got injured by a monster. My own mistake. Remember I told you I had a sword worth over a billion yen? The reason for this scar is because I skimped on the sword, and it broke, leading to this injury.”
That explains why she uses such an expensive sword…
It’s clear why she, typically so frugal, would use a sword with such a poor cost-performance ratio.
“Hmm, it must be tough for a woman to have such a scar. Even with such great assets, it could be off-putting… Do the other two know about this?”
“They don’t. Only Rin knows.”
Rin knows about it…
Maybe from their time adventuring together.
“Can’t a Level 2 Recovery Potion heal it?”
“It’s already been treated with a Level 2 Recovery Potion. The wound healed, but the scar remained.”
So it must have been a deep wound to leave a scar despite the Level 2 Potion.
“I see. So what you want is a Level 3 Recovery Potion.”
“That’s right. Do you have it?”
If we’re talking about availability, yes, I do.
“Do you think I have it?”
“I do. You started by selling Level 1 Recovery Potions, then Level 2. And with the item bags, you’ve been steadily increasing the prices. So, the next logical step is to sell Level 3 Recovery Potions or thousand-kilo item bags.”
Correct.
“Right. I just became able to make Level 3 Recovery Potions today.”
“You just became able to make them…? Oh, so it’s not a strategic business order, but rather a matter of skill level?”
“That’s right. There is an order, though. Selling the item bags in sequence was part of that.”
That’s what Satsuki-san suggested.
“It’s a smart strategy.”
“Thank you… Well, I can’t let a girl have such a scar. I’ll give you a Level 3 Recovery Potion… It’s quite a predicament for someone with such large assets.”
I’m quite bothered by that scar.
“I’d appreciate it if you could also sell Recovery Potions at a lower price.”
“That’s fine too. We are, after all, part of a party.”
I’ve given plenty to Nanapon, and they only cost around 1000 yen to make.
“Thanks.”
“But they really are huge…”
I looked over the sunglasses at the white bulge above the scar.
“You can touch them if you want. It’s a cheap price to pay considering the Level 3 Recovery Potion.”
Yoshino-san made a tempting offer, but…
“Are you planning to use that as a threat? To tell Kaede-chan?”
“No, I had no such intentions…”
“Either way, I have Kaede-chan. I can’t betray her, and I’d be in trouble if she left me.”
Nanapon said it right; the oasis in the desert would become a mirage.
“Are you too dependent?”
“I am. Kaede-chan healed my troubled heart… Well, you can put your shirt down now. I’ve seen enough.”
I told Yoshino-san, and she lowered her shirt.
“I bet you were staring the whole time, even with the sunglasses.”
“To be honest, I was mostly looking at the scar. Maybe 60% scar, 40% chest.”
The scar was the bigger concern, honestly.
“I see. Well, that’s fine… Do such scars commonly happen?”
“It depends on the role. Rear support probably less so. Frontline fighters are more likely to get them.”
Close encounters with monsters increase the risk.
“Does Rin have them?”
“No, we’re women and don’t usually take such risks. This was just my clumsiness.”
Rin didn’t seem too passionate about adventuring.
“Well, I understand. I’ll give you the Level 3 Recovery Potion. It actually costs 1600 yen, but I’ll give it to you for free.”
I stood up, went to the desk where I perform alchemy, took out a plastic bottle and three herbs from my bag.
“Can I watch? I’d like to see how you make it.”
Yoshino-san asked from behind me.
“Sure, but it’s pretty boring.”
I put the herbs in the bottle and stared at it. The bottle started glowing and transformed into a
flask filled with a grey liquid.
“That was quick.”
“Right? That’s why it’s boring. The materials are cheap, and it can be mass-produced. Big profits.”
“Do you want information from the headquarters or the government?”
Yoshino-san put her hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear. I could feel something soft against my back.
Here it comes.
The gold-digger.
She probably thought it would be easy to seduce me when we’re alone.
“Could you not press your chest against me? How much do you want?”
It’s not like I’m defeated by her chest.
I anticipated this, and Satsuki-san also suggested getting information from Yoshino-san.
So, it’s not defeat.
“Just a little. 20% will do.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
20% is way too much.
10% is my limit.
“So, how much?”
“5%”
“You’re really bad at negotiating… Fine, let’s settle for 10%.”
How does she know my limit?
“Tell me about your Unique Skill.”
She initially said she figured out about me and Eleanor-san through her Unique Skill, but what is it?
“My Unique Skill isn’t anything special. It’s Complete Memory.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s hard to explain, but I can store anything I see or hear and retrieve it at any time. For example, if I want to recall a conversation with you, I can replay the scene and dialogue in my mind, like watching a recorded video.”
“That’s amazing. Better than Nanaka-san’s Clairvoyance for cheating.”
Just need to see a textbook once.
“I’m not a student anymore, so I hardly use it for cheating. It’s mostly for rewatching movies or manga when I’m bored. This time, it helped me notice the similarity in the way you and Okita-kun walk.”
“So you were comparing Okita-kun and Eleanor-san at Mireiyu Road in the afternoon.”
“Yeah, it’s not useful for adventuring. It’s more about accessing information. I don’t need to look at maps, and I can recall monster characteristics.”
Indeed…
“Convenient.”
“Yes, but it doesn’t enhance combat ability or make money. I would have liked Alchemy.”
Naturally. It directly makes money.
“Alright. I’ll pay the 10%. But first, apologize to Nanaka-san and Satsuki-san. You can’t cooperate with unresolved issues.”
Apologize to Nanapon for probing and to Satsuki-san for the transfer.
“I’ll apologize to Nanaka. I was planning to… But Satsuki-neesan…”
Yoshino-san looked away awkwardly.
“You’re really worried about it, right? Just apologize sincerely.”
“Will she forgive me?”
Yoshino-san asked anxiously.
“She doesn’t seem to care much. She’s more focused on making money now.”
“Really… Sorry, Eleanor, can I use this room?”
“Sure. Should I call Satsuki-san?”
“Please.”
It’s a hassle, but can’t be helped.
“Here, take this. Heal that scar quickly.”
I pointed to the Level 3 Recovery Potion on the desk as I stood up.
“Thank you. Want to see it once it’s healed?”
“I won’t be tempted. I have Kaede-chan.”
“An affair is fine too.”
She’s really after the money…
“You’ll take everything from me when I wake up, won’t you? Just wait here and don’t say silly things.”
I might lose both money and Kaede-chan…
I left Yoshino-san in the room and returned to the living room.
“Ah, senpai.”
“Hmm? Where’s Yoshino?”
As I returned, the two at the table drinking beer looked at me.
“Satsuki-san, sorry, but could you go to my room? Yoshino-san wants to talk to you.”
“Yoshino? Alright.”
Satsuki-san nodded and left the living room.
“Is the talk over?”
I sat next to Kaede-chan, who asked me.
“It’s over. Bought her off with 10%.”
“Is that so? Nanaka-chan also gets 10%. What about the talk with Satsuki-san?”
“Yoshino-san wants to apologize for the transfer. Maybe she’ll even kneel down.”
She specifically asked for privacy.
“Ah… she might.”
“Let’s not get involved in family matters.”
I said, reaching for the beer on the table, only to find it empty.
“Want a drink? I’ll get you one.”
Kaede-chan said, standing up and heading to the kitchen. Watching her walk away, I felt strongly that I wouldn’t be tempted.