SWNOVELXO Volume 1 Chapter 48 - Kidnapping (2nd time this week)
Negotiations for the Level 2 healing potion fell through, and just when I was about to go home, I got kidnapped again.
“I’ve been kidnapped twice this week.”
“Well, I can’t deny the first time, but you willingly came along this time, didn’t you?”
I guess so.
“Sigh…I’m bored. Harry, drive us to a random shop. I’ll treat you.”
“I want to eat ramen. Japanese ramen is delicious, isn’t it?”
I don’t know about ramen overseas.
“Fine. Order extra garlic or something. I’ll just have the regular one.”
I’ve only eaten Kaede-chan’s rice balls today, so I can eat ramen.
“Where’s the ramen shop?”
“They’re everywhere. Find one you want to go to.”
“Will do.”
Harry starts using his smartphone while driving, which is like picking a fight with the police.
“Are you guys free? Have you been following me all this time?”
I ask Claire, who is sitting next to me.
“No, it was a coincidence this time. I had business at headquarters, and then you coincidentally entered the headquarters. So I hurried back to get a taxi.”
You didn’t need to get a taxi; you could have just called out to me.
“Anyway, what do you want?”
“You’re not directing any hostility at me today?”
“You’re not even worth it.”
I mean, I’ve already seen the status card.
“Is that so? I feel underestimated.”
“Relying on a gun at this distance… are you really a soldier?”
“Guns are good for intimidation.”
“I see. Indeed.”
It’s scary, especially in this country where guns are prohibited.
“Right? Anyway, it’s just to check your reaction. We have no intention of attacking you.”
What a nasty psychological test.
“Get to the point. What’s the matter?”
“I have a question. Who are you, really?”
“The Golden Witch, Elenora Ocean. Nothing more, nothing less.”
I’m a witch who can’t use magic. And I told you that last time.
“What’s with that item bag? 1000 kilos is ridiculous.”
“It’s convenient, isn’t it? Though I’ve never actually put 1000 kilos in it.”
I say that and slap the bag I’m carrying.
“Is that also 1000 kilos?”
Harry mutters, glancing at us through the rearview mirror.
“Don’t interrupt a girls’ conversation. Go look for a ramen shop like a man.”
“Hey, I can’t decide between salt, soy sauce, miso, and pork bone.”
That’s practically all of them!
“Just go for soy sauce today. Do a shop tour alone some other day. You’re free anyway, right?”
“Will do.”
Harry goes back to searching for a ramen shop.
“Hey, will you sell it to me?”
Claire asks when Harry is silent.
“I’m selling. Participate in the auction.”
“I feel like there will be a lot of competition.”
“That’s good to hear. Looks like it will sell for a high price.”
This is going to sell high. Yay!
“I’m anxious about winning the auction.”
“If you don’t win, I’ll list it again. Save up money until then.”
“Next time… Do you have 2000 kilos?”
“2000? You’re greedy. I don’t have that much.”
Who would put 2000 rubber bands? It’s a hassle.
“What else are you planning to sell?”
I need to increase my recipe repertoire. Selling the same items lacks impact.
“I haven’t decided.”
“It’s not a drop item?”
“I haven’t decided what to drop.”
But it’s going to be Mr. Slime.
“What were you doing at headquarters?”
“I was thinking of selling potions.”
“Potions? The translation potions from before?”
“No, healing potions.”
As soon as I say healing potion, Claire’s atmosphere changes.
“How did the negotiations go?”
“It was pointless. Some congressman came out and offered an incredibly low price. Plus, they threatened me… it was the worst.”
“No wonder you’re in a bad mood.”
I’m really pissed off.
“Maybe an auction is the better choice after all…”
Satsuki-san also mentioned it, so maybe I’ll go with that.
“Instead of doing that, sell it to me. I also run a business, you know.”
A business? A side job for an adventurer? Well, I do it too, so I guess that’s possible.
“Do you want to buy healing potions?”
“The going rate in Japan is around 500,000 yen, right?”
“If Level 1 is fine.”
I should have around 400 Level 1 potions in stock right now.
“Wait a minute! You have Level 2 or higher as well?”
Claire asks, sounding surprised.
“It was negotiations for Level 2.”
“Just out of curiosity, what price were you offered?”
“1 million yen.”
“What? For a Level 2 healing potion?”
Claire looks dumbfounded.
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that absurd?”
Claire snorts.
“I think so too. The difference probably goes into the congressman’s pocket, right?”
I don’t know about that.
“That’s really terrible. I would have spit at them.”
That’s disgusting.
“I didn’t go that far, but they threatened to arrest me, so I threatened back saying I would close the gate and came back.”
I was trying to keep my cool, but I was visibly shaken. I was sweating too.
“Serves them right.”
“Really? Can you actually do that?”
“Of course not, I just said it.”
“If you say it, it’s very effective, isn’t it?”
“Right?”
I’m a mysterious witch, after all. Some people in the world even believe that I’m really a Frontier person.
“So, the negotiations fell through, huh?”
“Yes, yes. So, will you buy it?”
“How much?”
“Um, let’s say 5 million yen.”
Kaede-chan and Satsuki-san said that.
“That’s expensive. If it’s for personal use, I’d pay that much, but I can’t make a profit if I resell it.”
Well, that might be true.
“How much will you pay?”
“3.2 million yen.”
Hmm, well, that’s okay.
“One more thing, I’ll include a 100-kilo item bag for delivery.”
It’s a hassle to carry it around, after all.
“How many Level 2 healing potions will you sell?”
“I only have 100 right now.”
“I’ll offer 4 million.”
The healing potions would sell for 400 million… If it’s 3.2 million, then after deducting it, the item bag sold for 52 million, making it 80 million…
“Alright.”
As long as it sells, anything is fine.
“It’s good that we could negotiate well.”
Ah, I should have pushed for more.
Well, it’s fine. I practically have an unlimited stock.
“But wait, are you planning to spend 400 million yen on the item bag auction?”
“…Can we talk about this later? The formal contract can come after the auction.”
I don’t need the money right now, so that’s fine.
“Okay.”
“And also, please don’t sell it to anyone else if you can.”
“Why?”
“If you flood the market with thousands of them, the value might plummet. I’ll go bankrupt.”
Ah, that could happen.
“Is it only for Level 2 healing potions?”
“Yes, the rest doesn’t matter.”
“What about selling a few to friends personally?”
“That’s fine. I’m talking about not wholesaling it to shops or guilds… do you even have friends?”
………….
“I’ll tell the guild not to allow you to participate in the auction.”
“I’m sorry.”
Heh! I’ve got Kaede-chan, you know!
“Is the discussion over? Hey, Elenora, is this restaurant okay?”
Harry shows his phone.
“I don’t know. It’s fine. Let’s go.”
How many ramen shops do you think there are in the city?
“Hey, Harry, are we really going to a ramen shop with this crew? Shouldn’t it be sushi or tempura when you come to Japan?”
Claire seems a bit put off.
“We can eat that stuff in America too. Alex told me when you come to Japan, you should eat ramen. He said it would change my world.”
Who is this Alex?
“Huh, if gourmet Alex says so, it must be true.”
A ramen-loving gourmet? Is he okay?
Just then, the taxi stops.
“Here we are. Good thing I memorized the geography.”
Looking out the window, there is indeed a ramen shop. But quite a few people are lined up.
“I hate waiting in lines.”
“Me too.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll show you a foreigner’s secret weapon.”
Harry says and steps out of the car. Claire and I exchange glances and also get out. Harry heads to the end of the line.
“Hey, man, I have work after this and don’t get many chances to come to Japan. But I really want to eat ramen from this shop. Would you mind letting me go ahead?”
Harry… is that your secret weapon?
“A disgrace to the country.”
Claire is also exasperated.
“Ah, yes, sure. You’re Harry, right? Could I get a handshake?”
A guy who looks like a student asks Harry.
“Ooh! You know me!”
Harry says, clasping shoulders and shaking hands with the guy.
“Of course!”
Then, people in the line start to focus on Harry.
“I hate this.”
“Hey, Elenora, shall we go somewhere else? I’d rather have sushi or tempura.”
Nice idea!
“Hey, Claire, Elenora! You should at least give him a handshake.”
Don’t drag us into this! We’re trying to leave!
But it’s too late. Everyone in the line is looking at us now.
“That guy’s the worst.”
“Seriously.”
No choice but to go. Claire and I make faces at each other and decide to head to where Harry is.