SWNOVELXO Volume 1 Chapter 72 - Cousins who are similar after all
Upon arriving at the Kuner Ruins, I looked around.
The Kuner Ruins are not dark like the Diana Mine; they’re well-lit. Also, there are more people here. However, it’s not as crowded as it used to be; people are sparsely scattered around.
It’s probably early in the morning, but I suspect that the Self-Defense Force’s warning has led other adventurers to exercise caution. As evidence, most of the adventurers here, like me, looked like beginners.
Except for a few who clearly aren’t beginners. One person, although lightly dressed, was obviously not a beginner. That’s because he’s A-rank.
It’s Saegusa-san, who I admire the most among the A-rankers. Well, I assume most guys probably admire him.
Saegusa-san was chatting with three young women who seemed to be his companions, and he hadn’t noticed me. I decided to head over to talk to him about the item bag.
As I was walking towards Saegusa-san, I felt a presence from the side. A slightly hostile presence, to be exact.
I slightly opened the hand opposite to the one holding my sword, ready to draw it at any moment, and looked to the side. A woman with black ponytail hair was glaring at me as she approached.
Who is she?
I stopped and tried to remember who she was, but couldn’t. To begin with, I don’t think I know her. My life hasn’t been particularly involved with women.
The woman stopped in front of me.
“What do you want with us?”
She asked while glaring at me. She’s probably one of Saegusa-san’s companions.
“I have something to discuss with Saegusa-san.”
“You have some nerve approaching him right after an announcement. Are you stupid or something?”
Ah, she must think I’m hitting on him. Well, I get it…
A man with a sword approaching Saegusa-san… now that I think about it, this situation isn’t much different from the adventurers yesterday. A mistake on my part.
“No, it’s not like that. I actually know him.”
We’ve only met once, but we did exchange contact information, so I guess that counts as knowing each other.
“I’ve heard that line so many times.”
Wow, there are really a lot of disrespectful adventurers.
Well, from her perspective, I’m probably the same. This isn’t going well. I’ll call him later.
“Understood. In that case, could you pass on a message for me? About the item bag we discussed earlier—”
“Ah, Okita-kun!”
Just as I was about to ask her to pass on a message, Saegusa-san noticed me. He jogged over to where the black-haired ponytail woman and I were standing. Also, he was a little… bouncy.
“Good morning.”
Being a proper adult, I greeted him properly.
“Ah, good morning. Sorry, Rin. He’s an acquaintance.”
Saegusa-san said that and patted the woman named Rin on the shoulder.
“I see… My apologies.”
Rin apologized straightforwardly.
“No, it’s fine. I’m clearly the one at fault.”
Yesterday, Elenora-san, who was in the same situation as you, immediately drew her sword!
“So, Okita-kun, what brings you here?”
Saegusa-san asked.
“Ah, yes. Remember when I mentioned Elenora-san? I have news about selling the 100-kilo item bag. It seems like it’s okay to sell it privately.”
“Really? Directly from Elenora Ocean?”
Hmm, better not say I heard it directly. It’s not like Elenora-san and I are going to bump into each other.
“No, actually, a junior from my university works as a receptionist at the Ikebukuro Guild. She mainly handles Elenora-san, so I asked her to pass on the message.”
“Ah, who could that be?”
Saegusa-san seemed to be trying to remember, putting his hand to his chin.
“Kaede-chan… Azakura-san.”
“Ah, that girl. She used to be a party member with my cousin Satsuki. I know her.”
Well, Saegusa-san was originally affiliated with the Ikebukuro Guild, so he probably knows Kaede-chan.
“Yes, that’s her. Is it alright if I give her your contact information? I wasn’t sure if I should do so without asking.”
“Ah, I see… Sure, go ahead. By the way, how much for the 100-kilo bag?”
“I don’t know, but it went for about 50 million yen at auction. Maybe around that?”
Thinking about the handling fee, I plan to sell it for 45 million yen.
“Hmm, we’ll have to negotiate. Maybe around 40 or 45 million yen…”
Alright, let’s go for 45 million yen!
“A-rankers are amazing.”
“Well, it’s a given at this level…”
I’ll never reach that level just by hunting skeletons. I should quickly become D-rank and move on to the next step.
“By the way, why are you at the Kuner Ruins, Saegusa-san? Looking for Elenora-san?”
“No, I’m training new recruits today. Look.”
Saegusa-san said that and pointed to the three young women he was talking to earlier. They did look young and their gear suggested they were new.
“You do that too?”
“Well, yes. They’re of the same gender and belong to the same guild, so I do care about them.”
Makes sense, they’re girls after all.
“I see.”
“Do you want to join us?”
That was an unexpected invitation.
Again, reverse solicitation! Does he like me or something? Well, probably not…
“No, I’m good. I’ll just get in the way. I’ll go on my own.”
“Is that so? Ah… Can I ask you one thing?”
“Sure.”
“Are you dating Kaede?”
Did he investigate?
“It’s something like that. We live together.”
“Hm? Hm? Something like that?”
Saegusa-san seemed confused, as if a question mark had appeared above his head.
“Yes, it’s something like that.”
“Hmm… Well, it’s none of my business… but could you tell my cousin the same thing? She followed us when Kaede-chan and I went drinking.”
And she left right after drinking a beer.
“That’s just how she is. She’s a small person… and also very greedy for money.”
Just like what her cousin Satsuki said…
Thinking how similar they were, I parted ways with Saegusa-san and decided to go on a lonely adventure by myself.