For a moment, I fail to respond to her words. Senpai…? Did she just call me senpai? Impossible. Currently, I should be disguised as Ichinose-san.
My mind becomes chaotic. However, the confusion that springs up calms down the very next moment. I calm down.
(So this is the effect of “Mental Tolerance”…)
It is a skill which I acquired during the escape from the huge golem. Apparently, it seems to be effective even during times when I am simply upset or confused. What a life-saver.
“…Umm…p-please release me.”
I act as if I am a nervous girl as I flail my arms. Nijou becomes flustered and releases me.
“Eh? Huh…? Oh, so-sorry! I got the wrong person!”
She apologizes with her head down.
“I’m sorry. There is this person I’ve been trying to find, and amidst the crowd, I felt a familiar presence, or should I say atmosphere and smell…Anyway, I felt something familiar from you so… I’m really sorry about this.” So it was her misunderstanding… Don’t surprise me… I thought you saw through my disguise for a moment there.
Hm…? Wait. Didn’t she just say something disturbing?
“What? What’s wrong, Natsun?”
Rikka-chan looks over at our direction after noticing the situation. I quickly hide myself behind her, pretending like I am scared.
“Ah…”
Nijou reflectively attempts to stretch her arms to grab me, but Rikka-chan stops her.
“Who are you? Do you have something to say to our Natsun?”
As if she has understood the situation from my performance, Rikka-chan glares at Nijou while acting vigilant.
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to do anything towards that girl! Please listen to my story!” “To your story? What is that? I don’t want to listen to someone who scared our Natsun. And you know what? You’re being really irritating you know?” Rikka-chan is scary. This girl’s tone is really domineering. Also, that killing intent isn’t something a high-school girl should possess. It’s what monsters should have, you know?
“Ah, um…”
Due to Rikka-chan’s overwhelming presence, Nijou falls down. She’s trembling more than newborn goat. Wait, this is bad.
(Um, Rikka-chan, please hold back a bit.)
(Eh? But she was trying to hard Natsun right? I’ll hit her. No, I’ll slaughter her.) (Nonono. She hasn’t done anything. Don’t say such murderous words.) She’s seriously scary. Rikka-chan’s eyes are devoid of light.
(If we raise a commotion, people would turn their attention to us.)
We’re in the corridor and everyone else is looking towards the mayor, but any more than this would be bad.
(Ah, right. Sorry, Nats.. oh, it was onii-san inside… I completely forgot.) This girl seriously forgot that I am disguised as Ichinose-san.
(Please refrain from forgetting such an important piece of information!) (But onii-san’s impersonation of Natsun is quite impressive. At first, it was normal, but it became seriously good from the middle…) Is it from the moment when I acquired the skill “Acting”? As I thought, this girl is quite perceptive.
(Oh, I remember now. Isn’t this person the one that we met on the beach? I thought she was onii-san’s colleague?) (You’re right. However, I don’t want to reveal my identity to her. Right now, I want to leave here quietly.) (Okay.)
I squat down and extend my hand.
“Um…I’m sorry about this. Can you stand?”
“Ah, yes…thank you.”
Nijou stands up and stares at my face once again. I avert my eyes.
“You caught the wrong person… I can leave right? Let’s go, Ricchan.” “Yes.”
I try to distance myself from Nijou.
“Wait! Please tell me your name! I’m Nijou Kamome…”
I know that already.
“I’m Ichinose Natsu…”
“Aisaka Rikka.”
I introduce myself humbly along with Rikka-chan.
“Ichinose-san, Aisaka-san… I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you…” Well, I was really surprised nonetheless. Rather, I hope she stops talking to us. I want to quickly leave this place after all. Still, Nijou seems to desperately want to hold a conversation with us. What is this annoying scenario… “Um… This is sound weird, but do either of you know a man named Kudou Kazuto?” That’s me though? However, Rikka-chan and I pretend as if we do not know.
“To be honest, Ichinose-san’s presence, should I say, is very similar to that person’s, so I called out to her.” “Is it onee-san’s acquaintance?”
“Yes, he was a colleague of mine who took care of me a lot…”
“Hee~ I see.”
Rikka-chan glances at me. She isn’t really that close to me. I don’t remember taking care of her. We had a normal senpai-kouhai relationship.
“This is that person’s picture. Have you guys seen him while coming here?” Having said so, she takes out the group photo from the trip and points at me who is at the very corner of the picture.
(Onii-san, what a face you have there.)
(I was forced to participate after all.)
I wasn’t able to move about freely, I had to accompany people in their drinks until late at night, and I wasn’t able to meet Momo for several days. It was truly horrible.
“I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think I’ve seen such a person.” “Same for me. Sorry.”
“Is that so…”
Nijou’s shoulders slump in disappointment.
“Then if you ever see him, please tell her that ‘Nijou Kamome is at the City Hall waiting for you’.” “…I will.”
When she hears our reply, her expression turns bright. What is up with her expression?
(This person. Doesn’t she like onii-san?)
(…That’s not possible.)
Rikka-chan whispers at me, but her conjecture can’t be the truth. After all, it isn’t logical to fall in love with someone who only had a business-relation with her. There isn’t anything to like about me, and I don’t remember trying to make her like me either. It truly didn’t matter to me.
(Rather than that, please look over there. The mayor’s speech is over.) (Oh, you’re right.)
It seems like Mayor Uesugi’s speech is over. He gets off the platform and leaves the floor.
(Now what to do…)
To meet up with Ichinose-san or to gather more information. I’m slightly worried about the feeling I got from the mayor. Guess I’ll collect a little more information before heading to Ichinose-san.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
After finishing his speech, Mayor Uesugi returned to his office. Sitting on a chair, he sighed.
“Well, how should I proceed from this point onwards…”
He took out a cigarette from his chest pocket and lit it up. He hadn’t smoke for a long time, but he really missed the taste. He looked out the window as he smoked.
(Amazing…)
The darkness of the night. Amidst the darkness, only one location, the City Hall, was shining brightly.
(It was the correct choice to restore the electricity…)
A ray of light. Wasn’t it a light of hope such as this that illuminates people in despair? In fact, everyone caused quite a commotion when the electricity came on. Their expressions became bright and their smiles returned. Seeing this light, more would gather at the City Hall as well.
Of course, there were some risks involved in this. The light could attract monsters as well as people. It was something so obvious that no thinking was required. Nevertheless, he couldn’t extinguish this light. It was the only source of hope.
(No matter what, we cannot afford to lose this.)
But that was also why he was worried. Was he supposed to tell his people about that “thing” which was weighting down on him?
There was a knock on the door.
“Enter.”
With that said, the door opened and the person who knocked on the door entered. It was Fujita.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Umu.”
Fujita sat down on the sofa.
“Didn’t you stop smoking?”
“Sometimes I feel like it.”
Saying so, he pressed the cigarette which was still half remaining on the ashtray. Fujita thought that it was a waste.
“The one good thing about the current world is that I can smoke anywhere now.” “That isn’t something a mayor should say…”
“It’s not like anyone is listening other than you. And even if they do, it doesn’t matter at this point.” “I agree.”
“So what is it? I assume you didn’t come here to chat with me?
“Yes. Well…”
Fujita cut to the chase while scratching his cheeks.
“It was the same speech as before, but why didn’t you mention the next ‘condition’?” Mayor Uesugi’s expression changed. He closed his eyes and exhaled.
(So it was about that…)
Fujita continued.
“You’re not going to say you forgot or something right?”
“You really are a perceptive one. And you don’t beat around the bush.” Kazuto felt discomfort from the mayor’s speech. There was someone else who felt it as well. However, in Fujita’s case, it was not due to his skill. Rather, it was simply his insight. As Fujita had known Mayor Uesugi for a long time, both in private and in public, he was able to quickly detect that something was amiss.
“Please tell me, mayor. What is the ‘condition’ for the next level up? What is the content?” “…”
Contemplating for a while, Mayor Uesugi took out a piece of paper and a pen from the draw. He wrote some letters on the paper and passed it to Fujita.
“This is the ‘condition’ presented this time.”
Fujita stared at the paper handed to him.
“I see now… This is… I can understand why you are hesitating.”
He nodded and looked up at the ceiling while muttering so.
Mayor Uesugi’s skill “Town Development” was not only different from other skills in its effects, but also in its method of level up. Normally, a skill’s level could be leveled up either through the accumulation of experience or through SP. However, there was no such thing with “Town Development”.
Instead, “conditions” for the next level up would be presented. By clearing then, the skill’s level would rise.
For example, the “conditions” to reach LV 2 were to secure 10 magic stones and 10 residents. Leveling up to LV 3 required 100 magic stones and 50 residents.
To slay monsters and secure magic stones, he didn’t have to do the work himself. As long as his allies moved, he could be given the magic stones, thereby meeting the “conditions”.
He believed that something similar would come out this time, but the “conditions” this time around far exceeded his imagination.
(This world… how much evil does it contain…)
Was it truly hope that was beyond the light? With a deep sigh, Mayor Uesugi looked at his status plate. Such things were written: “Conditions for Area Expansion
– Securing 100 residents
Progress: 76/100
– Securing 100 pieces of magic stones (regardless of type)
Progress: 8/100
– Subjugation of “Queen Ant. Name: Alpa”
– Subjugation of “Guardian Golem. Name: Titan”
The above conditions must be met within 72 hours.
Remaining Time: 70:29:12”