LGHTNOVELBOOK Volume 1 Chapter 28 - Love
I guided Kaede-chan to the branch office, and was led into Satsuki-san’s room, who is the guild master of this branch.
I drank coffee brewed by Kaede-chan on the sofa.
“First, here’s the statement. The bidder paid promptly, so the transaction was smooth.”
Satsuki-san, sitting across from me, handed over as many as eight statements.
Furthermore, unlike last time, Kaede-chan was sitting next to me.
“Thank you. What’s the total?”
“It came to 182 million yen. After deducting the commission, 163.8 million yen is yours. It’s already transferred to your card.”
Wow!
“It went for more than we expected, didn’t it?”
“Really. I never thought it would go that far for 5 kilos, 10 kilos. Maybe it’s the novelty?”
“Probably, right? Satsuki-san, you must have made a profit too.”
“Absolutely. We’ll need you to be more active.”
Such a money-grubber.
Me too, though.
“I’ll do my best.”
“How are the media?”
“Annoying. But still, better than the stealth photography.”
The citizens who take pictures and tweet without permission are worse than the media approaching us.
It’s simply unpleasant.
“There’s nothing we can do about that. It’s a fame tax.”
“I know. That’s why I created Eleanor Ocean.”
If this were Okita-kun, I couldn’t even rent an erotic DVD, let alone go on a date with Kaede-chan.
I hate that kind of life.
I want to live like an ordinary person on the surface and become rich.
“Thinking about it now, I can understand the shocking act of changing your gender.”
Hey!
…Hey, you next to me!
Don’t nod!
“Don’t I look completely different from Okita-kun?”
“Well, yes. But you’re amazing. You talk like you’re a completely different person.”
“I am a different person. Satsuki-san was the one who said to completely separate.”
Honestly, I really think Okita-kun and Eleanor Ocean are different people.
It feels more like transforming into another person rather than a sex change.
Because Okita-kun is not ugly, but he’s not this beautiful.
“Oh well. And you met Yoshino, right?”
“Mie-san? I met her yesterday at the Cuner ruins. As Okita-kun, though.”
“She’s the headmaster’s pet.”
She knows a lot…
“…Yoshino-san is the Guild Master’s cousin.”
Kaede-chan, sitting next to me, whispered in my ear.
Hehe, that tickles.
“Cousin? Now that you mention it, their atmosphere and way of speaking are similar.”
“She was attached to me as a child, that’s why.”
But it’s amazing that both of them became A-rank.
“You were asking, by the way, but what you and Mie-san were doing was swordsmanship, right?”
“You can tell?”
“Of course. Just as you look at me and know.”
“Hmm. Well, yes. Yoshino’s father, or rather, my uncle had a dojo. He doesn’t anymore.”
There are fewer children these days.
“Why not change it for adventurers? My father was also teaching the local kids the sword like that.”
Adventuring is popular with children, so it was quite popular.
“Yoshino thought so too and recommended it to her uncle. But then he hurt his back, so it was no good.”
Ah, the back is bad.
It would mean retirement.
“So, is it true that Mie-san is the headmaster’s pet?”
“Yes. It’s the money. She’s been a gold digger since forever.”
You too, darn it.
“You’re similar.”
“Right?”
It seems Kaede-chan thinks so too.
“Money is important. What did you talk about?”
“Small talk. Oh, and she was looking for Eleanor Ocean. She wants to talk and also asked me to sell a personal item bag.”
“I see… I thought each guild branch would move, but the headquarters too.”
What does the headquarters do?
“I’ll sell it the next time I meet her. She’s your cousin, right?”
“Do as you like. But only up to 100 kilos.”
“I know. So? What will you do with 1000 kilos?”
I only sold up to 100 kilos in this auction.
The main thing is 1000 kilos.
“That’s it. Is it okay to sell?”
“Of course. There’s no such thing as too much money. And since I made it, I have to sell it.”
I put a lot of rubber bands in.
Thanks to that, my hands smelled like rubber.
“Great! Let’s put two 1000-kilo bags in the auction.”
Satsuki-san declared.
“If you think about it simply, 5 billion yen?”
I ask Kaede-chan while laughing excitedly.
“That’s right! Amazing!”
Kaede also giggled.
“Don’t flirt in front of my eyes. It was just a fake illness after all. You were staying at your senior’s house, weren’t you?” Satsuki-san complained, accusing Kaede-chan of faking illness.
“It’s not like that.”
“Yes, it’s different.”
A lie, but…
But nothing like what Satsuki-san is imagining happened.
I just stayed platonically.
Well, I just drank too much and passed out.
“It’s okay. I’m putting the 1000 kilos up for auction, but there’s something I want to ask Eleanor.”
Satsuki-san doesn’t seem entirely convinced, but she returns to the subject.
“What is it?”
“Actually, there’s a request for you to appear on a TV show.”
TV?
“What’s that?”
“It happens occasionally. People want to hear from famous adventurers, so they send requests through the guild. You have to go through the guild for this kind of thing.”
“Oh, do they come here sometimes too?”
This is an unpopular guild with no decent adventurers.
“They never come. It’s only in places like Shibuya.”
I knew it.
“Am I the first?”
“No, Yoshino used to be here before. She admired me and was a member of this guild, but she soon moved on.”
Weren’t you admired at all?
Don’t force it.
“And you want me to go on?”
“The requests are pouring in, and the reporters on the outside are annoying. We all admit that this place is unpopular, but we’ll be pitied if neither Eleanor Ocean nor any other adventurers come, despite being watched all the time.”
It’s too late now.
I already told the female announcer.
“What a hassle.”
“Go on TV and promote the 1000-kilo item bag. That’s the real goal.”
“I see. You want to create a talking point.”
It might be a good idea.
Then, companies might pay big money.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s also for your sake.”
“Me?”
“Simply put, win public opinion on your side. Make people aware of you. You exist in a very vague state, so you never know who will do what to you. I won’t say you’ll be erased, but someone might move forcefully.”
Eleanor Ocean doesn’t have a family register either.
I planned to make a quick exit once I made a fortune, but I should do what I can.
“Understood. Let’s go with that then. What TV show is it?”
“Which one do you like?”
Satsuki-san stood up, went to her desk, and brought some documents.
Then she handed them over.
“There are so many.”
Several pages.
“Golden Time is, of course, out of the question, but there are also debate shows. Choose what you like.”
“What’s the appearance fee?”
“It’s almost the same for all of them, so it doesn’t matter. Just pick what’s comfortable for you.”
Comfortable, she says…
I’ve never been on TV, so I don’t know.
“Isn’t there a press conference or something?”
“That would be if you cause a problem. Then I’ll have to appear too. Please don’t.”
Not an apology press conference!
“Umm, I don’t really understand any of these…”
I had no idea, so I decided to choose randomly.
“Which one has the pretty female announcer who was outside? The beautiful one.”
“Female announcer? I don’t know…”
You should know.
That’s why you’re left behind by young people.
Not that I’m much different.
“Isn’t it this one? The famous announcer from this TV station was outside.”
Kaede-chan pointed to a piece of paper.
I looked at the names of the performers and searched on my smartphone, and indeed, it was that female announcer.
“This one is fine.”
“Senior, do you like this kind of person?”
Don’t call me senior.
I’m Eleanor.
“No, not particularly. She just told me earlier that I’m pretty.”
“That’s it?”
“It doesn’t matter which program. She wasn’t unpleasant, so this is fine.”
“Hmm…”
Jealous?
Cute kid!
“Kaede-chan is cuter.”
“Yes, yes. When is the appearance?”
“Umm, the day after tomorrow… That’s soon.”
But the broadcast is next week.
“Freshness is essential for such things. But it’s perfect timing. I’m going to apply for the auction at the headquarters now, so I’ll announce it right after that program airs.”
“Sounds good. You’re not leaving any time in between.”
“Exactly. Don’t leak any information until then.”
“It’s fine. For the time being, Okita-kun will help me level up.”
There’s no point in leveling up as Eleanor Ocean, and the adventurers are annoying.
“Great! By the way, did you know that Kaede has applied for paid leave next week? Are you going somewhere? To greet your parents for a marriage proposal or something? I think it’s too soon.”
This guy’s petty…