Chapter 291 - Chapter 257: Connecting People and Places
Monday
"So, the second-years are on their `school trip` starting today, huh?"
"Yeah."
It was drizzling outside, so we had lunch in the classroom.
On a humid day like this, I felt like lightly toasting my sandwich in the oven to make it crispy…
"Do most typical high school `school trips` happen around this time?"
"Probably, right? Or in autumn, but ours has a big culture festival, I hear."
Come to think of it, Marie (Mashiro) Nee seemed pretty busy after summer break too.
Was that because she was on the disciplinary committee?
"Here."
"Thanks."
Mion brought me a thermos filled with hot tea.
When I visited Mion's house on Sunday and told Tsubaki-san how delicious the tea was, she offered to bring enough for lunch.
"Hm? Iincho, what's up?"
Iincho was looking at me with a half-lidded gaze as I received a cup from Mion and had her pour tea for me.
Is it possible she thinks I'm making unreasonable demands on Mion?
"Haa… It's nothing. More importantly, Bell-san will be away for a while starting today, won't she?"
"Ah, is that so?"
Act clueless, act clueless…
No, would it be more natural if I said Miki had vaguely mentioned it?
Come to think of it, there was supposed to be an announcement about the `Necropolis` from the `Demon Kingdom` side during yesterday's live stream.
"Shou, didn't you watch yesterday's `triple collaboration`?"
"Ah, I was just playing IRO until 11 PM, so…"
For club activities today, I need to make `Warabi Mochi` and send it over…
"Well, I watched the beginning, and it was really lively. `Thunder Empress Leona`, `Ice Princess Anshia`, and `Majo Bell` all appeared in IRO, and they announced a new conquest base for the `Necropolis`."
Natto was quite excited.
Seeing his reaction, Iincho sighed again.
"?"
"Eh, oh, I was asked to tell Kashihara-kun…"
Iincho's message was an inquiry from `Silver Manor` to Natto's guild, `Fairy's Friend`.
They wanted Natto's group to go to the `Necropolis`, specifically to the `Empire` side, the monopolized frontline base.
"Hmm? They're not letting us use the `Demon Kingdom` side base?"
"That's not it. Listen to the end."
"Understood…"
The monopolized frontline base must be agitated by yesterday's announcement from Bell-buchou and her group.
If left alone, that guild would eventually have internal conflict and give up their monopoly, but the plan was to strike a blow before that happened.
That was…
"Ah, connecting the frontline bases?"
"Exactly. We want Kashihara-kun's group to clear a path counter-clockwise from there, while simultaneously clearing a path clockwise from the `Demon Kingdom` side base."
"I see, if the two bases connect, Princess Anshia won't have a lifeline (supply line) over us…"
"As expected of Miki-chan!"
Natto said, smiling.
I thought she was planning something, but with this, there won't be any objections, I guess.
"Anyway, I get it. It's probably fine, but let me consult with my guild members. A reply by tomorrow is okay, right?"
"Yes. If you accept, we'd like to finalize the preparations and schedule. And… I'll need to visit your guild for that, if that's alright?"
"Oh, yeah, of course. Actually, it'd be a big help since our guild members are pretty disorganized."
Good for you, Natto.
Or rather, did Miki think all of this through? There's also the possibility that Bell-buchou or someone from `Silver Manor` put her up to it…
But will this at least advance the `World Quest`? For me, I would have preferred for them to hold back until Argenta-san and her group secured that `Transfer Magic Circle`…
No, there was another problem.
"Did you figure out why the `World Quest` progress keeps resetting? If we don't fix that, won't it be tough even from the `Demon Kingdom` side?"
"Nah, not at all. We won't know until we actually see it, and Miki-chan says she'll figure something out."
Natto replied, and Iincho nodded, seemingly agreeing.
The correct answer is probably that `Goddess Statue`, but… I guess it's fine to keep it a secret until they really get stuck…
*
Shou-kun, about the `Goddess Statue`…
"Hmm, it's probably fine. Seth (Miki) will probably figure it out, and I also have a slight feeling it's not just about that one `Goddess Statue`."
Eh?
"Since it was once a city, there must have been a `church`, right? If they go there, I think they'll definitely find clues about the `holy domain`."
I see!
I can't imagine they'd just drop a '`Nameless Goddess Statue`' with no hints and expect us to figure it out.
If they investigate other items found there, they should figure out how to use that `Goddess Statue`, or some other clue should be available.
"I, you know, I'm treated as a non-participant in the `World Quest`!"
Hehe, that's right.
If Argenta-san sends word that they're `in trouble`, I'll think about it, but there are other things I need to do first.
"Hello there~"
Hello.
"Hey there."
Yata-sensei appeared in the club room.
It felt strange for the homeroom teacher, who had just finished class, to also be the club advisor, but I'd probably get used to it.
"By the way~, Bell-san contacted me to say she arrived at the hotel there~"
"She checked in quite early, huh?"
"Many students get tired from traveling on the first day~"
`Hokkaido` is big, after all…
Shou-kun, Bell-buchou sent a photo.
"Oh, show me, show me."
Mion displayed the received photo in a window on the `Holographic Display`.
It showed Bell-buchou and her group in a two-horse carriage.
The comment below read, 'Moving to quest location'…
"I feel like she's already showing withdrawal symptoms."
"She'll be fine for now~. When she truly runs out of steam~, she won't even be able to say things like that anymore~"
Isn't that already a bad sign…?
But well, I can't take my `VR HMD`, and I need a `PC` to play IRO, so even if I could, I'd probably just be checking the `official forum`.
Will we be going to the same place next year?
"No~, we'll decide in the third term of your first year~. It'll be either southern, central, or eastern `Hokkaido`~. By the way, Bell-san's group is in the central region~"
The central course was apparently for enjoying nature, and that carriage earlier was from a ranch.
Shou-kun, can you ride a horse or anything?
"Eh? No, I've never done it, so I don't think I can."
Is that so? I somehow felt like you could, it wouldn't be surprising…
When I was staying at my Grandpa's house in the countryside, there was a ranch nearby, so I'd seen cows and horses.
However, the horses there were only allowed for short walks, not proper `Riding`.
"Perhaps you could practice `Riding` a `white horse` in IRO for Mion-san~?"
"I'm too embarrassed for that, please spare me…"