Chapter 396 - The Magic Doll Federation's Goal
Using the threads made of mana, I stuck to the ceiling and erased my presence.
I feel like a spider-man from some work of fiction. Imagining what I look like from an objective perspective almost makes me laugh.
"We're not exactly free either. The Chairman's slave-driving is really a problem."
"Yeah, absolutely. And with such a rush, too."
The two who entered were a man and a woman. It seemed they weren't guards who'd noticed a suspicious person, but Federation staff.
From the youthfulness in their voices, they didn't seem like retired club advisors, but rather current ones. I could only see the tops of their heads, so I couldn't tell their features.
"Want something to drink?"
"I'm not particularly thirsty, but since we're here, why don't we have some of the Chairman's secret stash of brandy?"
"Haha, that's a good idea. He won't notice a little bit."
The two seemed to be on friendly terms. Cracking jokes, they decided to take a break before doing the errand for this 'Chairman.'
They began rummaging through a shelf that held drinks and glasses, separate from the document shelves.
"...As expected of the high-end stuff, the aroma is different. I feel like forgetting our errand and just relaxing here."
"Even if it's a rush, taking a break shouldn't be a problem. We can't forget our jobs, though."
"Can't be helped. Anyway, are you practicing with your club during this break too?"
"We have a short break, but basically, it's practice. It's the same for you, isn't it?"
"No, our policy is freedom. We aren't that enthusiastic during the long breaks."
As I thought, the two were advisors for Magic Doll Clubs. Still, they’re taking a break with drinks while neglecting an 'urgent' errand.
Just get out already. Sticking to the ceiling with mana threads is all well and good, but keeping an unnatural posture for a long time is quite exhausting.
"If the advisor for the favorite to win said that, the other school officials would be furious."
"I shouldn't say this, but our boys are a cut above the rest. It's different for the girls, where a fierce battle is expected."
"...Especially since there's a school that's been standing out in a bad way this year."
"Saint Esmeralda Girls' Academy? Looking at it as a third party, they're an interesting presence."
Oh, look, it's us.
"I suppose it is if you can stay a third party. What our school went through..."
"I've heard that story many times. Besides, it's a fact that the Knights have taken an interest in magic dolls because of that. We should be grateful to the advisor of Saint Esmeralda Girls' Academy."
"As the party involved, I have no intention of being grateful, but there is certainly that aspect to it."
Hmmm, from the context, she's likely talking about the incident where I went on a rampage during that first practice match.
Which means the woman is the advisor of the school from back then. I don't even remember the name anymore.
Still, she seems to be 'grateful' rather than resentful. And the word 'Knights' came up; what's that about?
"Right? If things continue to go smoothly, we'll be rolling in massive wealth."
"I still don't like that the plans our predecessors have been working on for years are progressing because of that woman who suddenly appeared."
"Just think of her as having helped give the final push. Regardless, from what I've heard, she's a subhuman woman. In fact, they say she's been winning practice matches one after another since then, and by a landslide too. It's proof she's an excellent instructor. Can you beat a club like that?"
He wasn't genuinely praising me; he was just using a teasing tone toward the woman.
"I'll do whatever it takes to win. I've already gathered the necessary collaborators. At this point, they're not even a target of caution anymore."
"So the setup is perfect? If you can't beat an opponent with skill, use other methods! Not bad, that's also a legitimate path!"
What 'legitimate path'? They sure said some ominous things.
I like the idea of doing whatever it takes to win, but club activities are student-led, and they aren't life-or-death events. It's unrefined for an advisor to meddle too much.
The fact that they don't need to be 'cautious' about us must mean they're going to eliminate us before the match. Are they planning to force us into disqualification for some rule violation?
How many people could truly be happy about a victory where an adult secretly set a scheme behind the scenes to win without a proper fight?
I can't afford to lose to such boring tricks. I’ll have to be very careful with my own ground-laying and vigilance.
"Let's finish the job. The Chairman will run out of patience."
"It's a pain, but let's get to making the documents."
Tch, work is starting now? It’s going to take longer.
I have confidence in my muscle strength, stamina, and mana, but keeping myself stuck to the ceiling is a tough position to maintain.
Anyway, I focused on making my mind empty and waited for time to pass.
No one normally looks at the ceiling, so I’ll probably be fine as long as I’m not seen.
If I am... then I’ll just have to show my face as a member of the underworld and instill terror into their very souls.
In my current position as an academy instructor, I’d rather avoid such troublesome and annoying things.
I’m not the type to pray to the gods, but I’ll pray that I can get through this safely.
And then...
After a time that felt both long and short, the two finally left.
"Seriously, they stayed for nearly two hours."
I descended from the ceiling to the floor and let out a long breath along with a massive sigh. At any rate, I was relieved I wasn't caught.
I really don't need any more of these bothersome troubles.
"But I got what I came for."
I was able to pick up the information I couldn't find through their conversation.
As luck would have it, the documents with the information I wanted were tucked away in the desk I’d skipped.
I rummaged through the woman's desk once again.
"Found it, found it."
It had the information on the Knights and the person in charge who managed the training grounds in question.
With this, my goal for today was achieved.
"Regardless... they said some interesting things."
About the Knights being interested in magic dolls and them rolling in massive wealth.
In short, it's about the military use of magic dolls and the Federation getting a piece of that pie.
Military use was something I thought of right at the start too, but with the current performance of the dolls, a human fighting would be far stronger. Plus, if they wanted dolls with higher performance than what we have now, the cost would be absurd. The dolls themselves would be expensive, and they’d need maintenance. Considering that training for doll control isn't easy either, it would be too wasteful.
Even if you think of it for a moment, anyone would normally stop once they thought it through.
But there are people who move for interests even if they know it's wasteful.
The result of my accidental rampage was to show the potential of magic dolls, and it seems I was used by those trying to build interests.
The change of match venue to the training grounds owned by the Knights is likely an exhibition for the high-ranking officials.
If they can show a decent fight in an authentic location, they might be able to get as far as a trial run.
Everything's first step is important and difficult. Once that first step is taken, they'll likely keep using any means possible to expand their interests.
"What ridiculous people."
Even if it was only the result of something I did by chance, they're using me, a villain?
I don't care about the interests, but I don't like that they're trying to eliminate me while saying I was helpful.
They should have just pulled me onto their side instead. If they had, I might have even joined in on their wicked scheme.
Instead, they were even talking about treating Saint Esmeralda Girls' Academy unfairly through some means.
Seriously, they're making light of me.
I'll take them up on that fight.
In this case, I could either move to crush the idea of the interests itself, or take it over... but it would be difficult for us outsiders to take it over.
"Oh well, action first. The results will follow."
Once I had a lead, I had no use for this place. Next, next.
As I stepped into the empty hallway and headed for the stairs, I ran into a small group of people about to head out.
If I just followed closely behind and blended in as we went outside, it would be a perfect escape with nothing suspicious about it!
I'll keep going at this rate.
Since the sun is still high, I want to get through as much as I can.
In my academy instructor mode, rather than the interests and such, I want to handle the negotiations for borrowing the Knights' training grounds for the Magic Doll Club's practice. I want to settle that first.
"Though, I'll probably just be turned away at the door if I just charge in..."
Even if I’m in this mode, I can't exactly charge into the Knights' headquarters, and I have a feeling they wouldn't even talk to me since I’m not an acquaintance or Federation staff.
In a case like this, the normal way would be to inquire with the Federation and negotiate through them.
But since I seem to be viewed as an enemy, I don't think I’ll get the result I want even if I inquire properly.
"Then I’ll just have to move like a villain."
If I can't move normally, I’ll walk the back streets.
In that case, I'll use the information I've gained to break the enemy. I’ll have to move simultaneously on the negotiations with the Knights and a plan to give the Federation people a taste of their own medicine.
I have a vague idea for it, but I’ll ask my reliable Information Bureau sub-executive for any ideas too.
First, I moved in the vehicle to get within communication range.
"...This is Shinogami. Layla, do you hear me?"
I moved for a while and then turned on my earring-type communicator, and after a short pause, there was a reply.
"If you're busy, it can wait."
"I'm fine. I was looking into the backgrounds of those monitoring the academy, but there is no particular information. Do you have some business?"
"Actually, I was just scouting the Magic Doll Federation. I found some interesting information, but I'm unsure how to use it. I thought you might be able to use it well, Layla."
"I would like to hear the details. Where are you now?"
"The commercial district near the academy."
"Then please wait at the vacant lot on the west side of the back street. I will join you immediately."
I took the vehicle to the back street and waited in front of the vacant lot for a bit. Layla arrived and got into the passenger seat.
"That was fast. Where are my sister, Valeria, and the others?"
"They have gone to the port area to see the market."
"Oh, they did say something like that yesterday. You should take a break too, Layla."
"Heidi and the others are here, so I am able to rest. More importantly, the Magic Doll Federation?"
"Right. For now, I'll tell you the story..."
When it comes to schemes, Layla is far sharper than a muscle-brain like me.
I’m sure she'll come up with some kind of breakthrough.
After talking for quite some time, I decided to immediately use someone. That's the way to do it. At this point, I’ll use my connections.
Inside the car once Layla had left, I activated my tablet-type communicator.
"This is Yukarid Evilbanshee, can we meet now?"
"...That's sudden. I am also not free. However, it depends on the content. Is it trouble?"
The person I contacted was Moore from the Intelligence Department. He owes me, so it should be easy to talk to him.
"It's more like a lucrative talk. You might already know about it, though."
The first trick to making a request go well is to get the other person interested.
On top of that, if I can avoid creating a debt and instead even make them indebted to me, it'll be perfect.
"Hoh, a lucrative talk? Can you explain it simply like this?"
"Interests in magic dolls... does that ring a bell?"
"Interests? We don't have time for that right now."
"I thought if we could collaborate, it might turn into something lucrative for you. If you're not interested, then whatever."
The plan I came up with after talking to Layla is just a random idea at this point. I figured if I could get the Intelligence Department's cooperation, even a random idea might move closer to reality.
But if the Intelligence Department, which is busy with battles against foreign enemies and dealing with internal corruption, says they don't have the time, then there's no helping it. It's not a request I’d push through by force, and knowing when to back off is important.
"...Wait, what do you mean by a lucrative talk? In these days of budget shortfalls, if it really is a lucrative talk, I am interested."
He bit. In Belliza during these times, those who work seriously are plagued by shortages of personnel and budget. Even if there's something slightly suspicious about it, they'll show interest if they hear it's a lucrative talk.
Helping out people in trouble is the same tactic as a con artist, though. I don't think anyone would be bold enough to try and trick the Intelligence Department. It seems I’m not being particularly suspected.
"Then make some time now. Our usual bar... isn't open yet, is it."
"I am also out right now. I cannot leave immediately."
"Where are you? I can go to you."
"At the Magic Item Guild headquarters... fine, I will borrow a reception room. Can you be here in thirty minutes?"
Hoh, that might be a perfect location.
"Understood. I've never been there, but I’ll probably find it. See you later."
I cut the communication and started the vehicle.
I only have a vague memory of the location, but I’m sure it's a grand building. I’ll just look for the sign.
Speaking of Beltria, it's the location of the Magic Item Guild headquarters. They apparently have branches in the same city too, but I’m heading for the grand headquarters of them all.
They're the ones who develop and sell excellent magic items. It's likely a place like a demon's den where people gather to suck on the sweet nectar of numerous interests.
Being honest and upright is a weakness there, and it's surely a place where you'll be eaten alive.
Since our Kikyo-kai has a very close relationship with the Magic Item Guild's Exembra branch, they should at least recognize us at the headquarters. We contribute a lot to their sales, too.
I think Gradena has even been there for greetings, so it shouldn't be a 'who are you' situation at the guild. Regardless, I vaguely thought it would be good if I could bring the talk to a good conclusion overall.
About forty minutes later, I stood in front of a building that looked like a classic Western-style mansion.
After getting lost on the way, I finally reached it after asking a middle-aged woman out for a walk. I didn't think it would be at the very edge of the guild-clustered district, in such a secluded area.
And I’d imagined a lively feeling with people constantly coming and going. It would be impossible for the Magic Item Guild, which deals with enormous amounts of money and goods, to have few people. Judging by the lack of people, it seems they don't handle business-related talks at the headquarters.
"...This is the headquarters? It's shabbier than I thought."
The Magic Item Guild headquarters was an unexpectedly small building, and the parking lot only had space for a few vehicles. Compared to an ordinary house, it's certainly large, but I’d imagined a needlessly large castle or skyscraper, so I was surprised.
"No, it's only the appearance that's shabby. It's full of magic items."
There were magic items installed inside and outside the building to a degree that was a bit nonsensical.
In addition to magic items placed obviously for intimidation, there were many hidden ones. Only people with special skills would be able to notice them.
It was like a fortress made of magic items. I instinctively felt it would be impossible for even an expert to break in.
Even though I intended to visit normally, I didn't feel like opening the door myself because it looked like alarms or traps would go off if I entered uninvited.
Well, I have to open it to get in... and there doesn't seem to be anything like a doorbell.
"Oh well, here goes."
It's not like I’m an uninvited guest, so I’ll just try entering normally.
If anything happens, it's not my fault.
She wasn't intending to do anything bad, but she's plotting to use the situation and profit.
It feels like a side episode, but it faintly affects the main plot, so it's planned to be a bit long.
To be continued in the next chapter, "The Shortcut to Getting Along: Interests!"