SWNOVELXO Volume 1 Chapter 66 - Beware of Pick-Ups
I leveled up and gained the ability to create doping items called Strength Potions.
We continued to hunt High Skeletons to level up, but my level didn’t rise any further today.
“Shall we call it a day?”
I check the time and it’s already past 4 o’clock. Kaede-chan finishes work at 5, and it takes time for us to shower. Nanapon also plans to go home first, so it’s time to wrap up.
“Yes…”
Nanapon agrees but is looking in another direction.
“What’s the matter?”
Curious about Nanapon’s gaze, I ask.
“There are people outside the mine. A lot of them.”
People? Here, at this unpopular location?
“When?”
“Just now.”
“Kidnappers? Men in black suits and sunglasses?”
“No, they’re not ‘those people’ I was talking about. They look like regular adventurers.”
So, they’re not attackers.
“Are they coming here?”
“No, they’re just loitering near the gate like at the Kunar Ruins. Probably here for you, Eleanor-san.”
Fans of Eleanor-san… Basically stalkers at this point.
“Annoying.”
“Really annoying.”
Nanapon also seems displeased.
“Who leaked the information? Was it the Self-Defense Force member from earlier?”
“No, that’s unlikely. According to Guildmaster-san, those adventurers from the Self-Defense Force are basically here for you, Eleanor-san. They wouldn’t do such a thing.”
Makes sense; they wouldn’t want to create extra work for themselves.
“So, it’s the people at the guild. They must have tweeted that I’m in the frontier, and these people came all the way here.”
“How did they know it was here?”
“They must have searched everywhere after not finding me at the Kunar Ruins or Eden Forest. That’s what I think, considering the time.”
I showed up at the guild’s reception around 1 o’clock, so it’s been about 3 hours. That would be enough time to confirm that I’m not at the Kunar Ruins or Eden Forest.
“Can’t trust adventurers from the same Ikebukuro Guild.”
“They’re all beginners. Either they wanted to go viral or they’ve been bought off.”
Either way, it’s bad.
“What should we do?”
“There’s nothing to do. I have a meeting later, so I’m going home. You should go ahead, Nanapon. It might be suspicious, but it can’t be helped… Are you okay?”
Nanapon hates being approached. But in this case, it’s inevitable.
“I’m fine. I’ll just say I’m in a hurry and escape. There are Self-Defense Force members around, so I don’t think they’ll be persistent.”
Classic way to deal with pick-up attempts.
“Should I do the same?”
“That would be best. They’re probably here to recruit you or talk about auctions. No point in listening to them.”
True. They’re not media, and there’s no issue with brushing them off coldly. It’s against manners to approach someone unnecessarily in the frontier. Moreover, I’m a woman. It doesn’t matter what they post on the internet.
“Got it. You go ahead, Nanapon. Should we meet somewhere?”
“No need. I know where you live, so I’ll just go there directly.”
Wait, Nanapon knows where I live? Did Kaede-chan tell her?
“Understood. I’ll be waiting.”
“Alright. See you later.”
Nanapon walks towards the exit of the mine.
To give her some time, I pull out a folding chair from my bag and sit down, keeping an eye out for High Skeletons. They’re invisible but make noise when they approach.
I patiently wait. After about 10 minutes, I get up and walk towards the mine’s exit.
As I exit the mine, I see adventurers loitering near the gate. They all start walking towards me when they see me.
This feels a bit intimidating…
I cautiously move to the edge to avoid letting them enter the mine. But they naturally keep approaching me.
When the adventurers are about 10 meters away, I reach into my bag and draw my sword. They stop in their tracks.
“What are you doing?”
A Self-Defense Force member steps between me and the adventurers.
“Isn’t it obvious? A large group of armed men is trying to surround me. I’ll cut them down in self-defense.”
The Self-Defense Force member glances at the adventurers.
“Put away your sword.”
I comply and put my sword back in my bag. The Self-Defense Force member then walks over to the adventurers.
“What are you all doing here?”
“We just want to talk. Is there a problem?”
“Talk? With this many people?”
“We’re not coordinating this. It just happened.”
“Is that so?”
The Self-Defense Force member consults the other adventurers, who nod.
“Fine… But avoid unnecessary contact within the frontier.”
“Why do you get to tell us that? It’s our personal freedom.”
“Follow the manners.”
“Exactly.”
“We’re not breaking any laws.”
“She’s reported feeling endangered by your presence.”
“We would never do anything like that!”
The men shout, and the other adventurers nod.
“Do any of you have credibility? Sorry, but I don’t trust you.”
Their faces grow angry at my words.
“Think about it calmly. It’s clearly problematic for a large group of armed men to surround a single woman in a dim place like this,” the Self-Defense Force member chides the adventurers, who then look uncomfortable.
“We just wanted to talk…”
“I’m not interested. I reject all of your requests. If you absolutely need to talk, go through the guild. Right now, you’re crossing the line from pick-up attempts to assault.”
The Self-Defense Force member tells them to leave for today, and they reluctantly disperse.
“Where’s Nanapon?”
“She left earlier. She saw them and asked me to escort her to the gate. She should have returned to the guild by now.”
“I see.”
“Be careful not to draw your sword unnecessarily. What if they get enraged?”
“Heh, they’ll just become corpses.”
“Stop that. That can lead to severe penalties, including the loss of your adventurer qualifications or even arrest.”
“Got it. I’ll be careful.”
“Thank you. I won’t make an issue of this, but I’ll alert the guilds.”
“Please do. I’m not the only one annoyed by the pick-up attempts.”
With that, I thank the Self-Defense Force member and head towards the now-empty gate. I pass through it and return to the guild.