Volume 3 Chapter 5 (2/2)
”It would be useless. I don't think she'd be offering us a helping hand in such an amusing situation for her.”
”What about her head butler, Scathach, then?”
”No way, are you telling me to die!!?”
That was a harsh remark. But somewhat true nonetheless.
Scathach was her teacher, so she would gladly lend her a hand after she tried her best with it. However, saying it in another way, she wasn't someone who would forgive a failure for not trying her best. If she troubled her for such a trivial matter now, there was no doubt that a sword, arrow, spear, or a fist would be flying her way.
However, if they missed the Spirit Train and failed to appear at the opening ceremony, they would also be facing another h.e.l.l of its own kind.
If that happened, it would not just be the safety of Homura's side, but even they would end up in a tough position.
Just as Ayato started to wonder whether it was better to just grab these two as hostages to infiltrate if worse came to worst, suddenly, a girl called out to them from across the window of the VIP wagon.
”...Oh? There seems to be someone with a familiar scent.”
The four reacted to the voice and turned towards the VIP wagon's window.
The window with a small crack became fully open.
And along with it came a wind that carried a faintly sweet fragrance.
Perhaps the owner of that VIP room wanted to replace the air within before the departure. There was an incense burner placed on the window, but it appeared that the girl in question didn't regard it as important.
It was commonly said that in the spring, one sleeps a sleep that knows no dawn. It seemed that she had indeed succ.u.mbed to the warm rays of the sun, coupled with the fresh wind of the riverside, and was having a nap.
Like a small animal that had just woken up, she popped her head out of the window and warmly gazed towards the four.
Ayato froze in place the moment she saw her face.
”...uh...!?”
Looking from the window was a lovely girl, seemingly sixteen to seventeen years of age.
Her hair, just long enough to reach her collarbone, made her look like an adult, but her young features overshadowed that impression. Her clothes were quite nice looking too, so she had to be a VIP guest.
With her nekomimi facing down, Sharol greeted her with an awkward smile.
”I-I-It's been a while, elder sis Kasukabe You!”
”Yea, long time no see, Sharol. About half a year, I suppose.”
The girl she called Kasukabe waved back with a small smile.
Suzuka silently approached Porol and asked who she was.
”Hey hey, Porol-kun. Is this little animal-like adorable young miss your acquaintance?”
”Yeah. She's the leader of an alliance that our Community is a part of. And she's also the leader of the 'No Names' where Master Izayoi belongs.”
”Iznii's community!? d.a.m.n it! He probably troubled her a lot, and I here didn't even bring a cake or anything!”
I messed up! Suzuka hit her forehead. Boisterous but honest, that part was her good point.
You looked around outside the VIP wagon, and then she suddenly bent her head in wonder.
”...Eh? I thought for sure that Asuka came back... but it was just Porol and Sharol?”
”Yes. We came to your room to finish up our round of greetings, elder sis Kasukabe.”
”I see. Seems like we will depart soon. And, who are those two?”
”This is Master Izayoi's stepsister and her friend. Haven't you heard about them?”
You focused her attention on the two with a bit of a surprise on her face.
”...Izayoi's stepsister? So the j.a.panese girl over there is Suzuksan?”
”Eh? Ah, yes! I'm Ayazato Suzuka! Thank you for taking care of our Izayoi in this other world! Sorry, I came empty-handed! I'll bring a box of cakes with me next time!”
”Eh? Ah, sure. I'm Kasukabe You. And I've been in his care too. ...Also, I'd be happy if that box of cakes would be wagas.h.i.+. It will make my day.”
Suzuka straightened up in surprise due to the sudden introduction, while You got surprised that she received a more polite greeting than she thought she would. Perhaps she was surprised by the fact that Suzuka was more diligent than the impression she got from Izayoi's story.
While holding down her hair that was fanned up by the wind, You looked towards Ayato this time.
”So, who is that European-looking golden-haired girl?”
”......”
Being asked for her name made Ayato stiffen in place. She was lost for words, with her eyes opened wide as if she had seen something unbelievable. It was hard to tell what bewildered her to this point, but such an att.i.tude was surely impolite towards someone she was meeting for the first time.
Suzuka elbowed her from the side and reproached her att.i.tude in a small voice.
”Aychan. You have to introduce yourself. Manners are important even if your ages look similar!”
”...Eh? Ah, right! My apologies! I lost my head there for a bit...”
Suzuka bent her head in wonder. She agreed that You looked really lovely, but Ayato was also the same in that regard. Or perhaps there was something other than the appearance that made her uneasy.
When she was going to introduce herself again, the Spirit Train's whistle started to blow.
That whistling sound made Porol jump in surprise and he suddenly clapped his hands as if he had remembered something.
”Ah, right! This must be some kind of fate too, so maybe elder sis could shelter these two in your VIP wagon? It seems they got rolled up in Queen's prank and aren't carrying the written invitations.”
”Sure, I don't mind. The door is quite far though, so wanna get in through the window?”
”Ah, yes please!”
Hearing her, Ayato became a bit curious. When Ayato was about to ask why couldn't they just teleport inside with Suzuka's skill, Porol handed a pamphlet to her and moved away.
”The pocket stage wagon where the exhibition match is being held is the seventh one from here. Going through the VIP wagon might be a bit dangerous, but good luck.”
”Eh?”
”Huh?”
Ayato and Suzuka simultaneously raised their voices. Could just being inside the VIP wagon bring about danger? Whatever the case, Porol and Sharol headed towards the staff wagon at a fast pace.
The Spirit Train blew its whistle for the second time.
”Oops, we gotta hurry! Let's explain our situation to that miss and meet up with Homura's side!”
”R-Right! Doing that is most important right now!”
While still having some doubts, they remembered that the train would depart on the third blow of its whistle, and thus, they decided to hop inside You's VIP wagon.
＊
At the same time, in a different place.
───'Spirit Train Sun Thousand', Pocket Stage Wagon.
While reading the Little Garden invitation doc.u.ment, Homura called out to Mikado beside him with a quivering voice.
”...Hey, s.h.i.+ttyteru.”
”What's up?”
”Answer me honestly. ...You knew it would turn out like this, didn't you?”
Hearing Homura's question, Tokuteru used his right to remain silent.
Besides him absentmindedly stood Uesugi.
Currently, the three were in the centre of the special arena, which in itself was located inside the Spirit Train, and they were being drowned in the cheers of the audience while basked under the bright illumination. Kuro Usagi who was acting as a moderator, confirmed the appearance of the summoned trio and declared in a loud voice with her usamimi perking up.
”Everyone, sorry for the long wait! We will henceforth commence the Sun Authority War exhibition match! Now, let me introduce these pseudo-Authority War partic.i.p.ants!”
OOOOOHHHHHHHH!!! The audience raised a loud enough cheer to even shake the Spirit Train. Since the Gift Games held an aspect of entertainment, it was good to entertain the audience. That much was fine.
The problem, however, was the fact that Homura and Uesugi who were summoned as Players had no idea of what was going on. He predicted that they would be thrown down from high above like last time, but his guess was way off. At first, he wondered whether Queen was the one who did it, but judging from what the invitation letter had to say, Queen wasn't the only ringleader here.
Homura once again lowered his gaze towards the invitation in his hands.
『 ─ Sun Authority War First Exhibition Match ─
・Game Overview
① Drive away the countless monsters that appear and defeat the monster related to the Sun Game. (Allowed to bring back).
② The period of the exhibition is once per day. Twenty four times in total.
③ There is a time-limit. If you can't clear it within half an hour, it will carry over to the next day.
④ For as long as the Sun Authority War final selection continues, it can be held any number of times.
・Winning Condition: Partic.i.p.ate every day in the Game, and the team that defeats all twenty-four monsters will be the first victor.
・Reward Clause: You will receive a reward for every monster you defeat. Victor can make an advantageous transfer to the final selection once.
・Partic.i.p.ating Condition: Everyone can partic.i.p.ate. You are welcomed to jump in and take part.
・Obliged Partic.i.p.ants: Those with debts must partic.i.p.ate in the aforementioned Gift Game as a team to repay the debt.
Oath: We swear upon our glory and flag to Host the Game in accordance with the aforementioned rules.
Seal of 'Sun Authority War Steering Committee' 』
───Gushaa!!!
”A DEBT HUH...?!! However many times I read this, the debt holders here clearly refers to US, doesn't it!? Why did I become a debt holder, huh!? AND IN ANOTHER WORLD AT THAT!!!”
”Wait, calm down, Homura. Let's all think about this first. There must surely be a profound reason in-”
”There's no need to even ask. Move aside, Saigou Homura! He befuddled us with that sweet talk earlier, but there's no need for explanations this time, you useless G.o.d! I will remove your head in place of my chief G.o.d!!!”
Uesugi pulled out her favorite sword and cast aside its scabbard without asking any questions.
As expected, even Tokuteru got nervous from such snap judgment.
”No, wait, stop! Listen to what I have to say, you muscle-brain! What the heck was written in that invitation!!?”
”Debtors are forced to partic.i.p.ate! Repay the debt with the reward! That's what!”
”Okay, he's guilty!!!”
The sword flashed along with the shout of execution. Tokuteru barely continued to dodge the deadly sword flashes, coming seven times in an instant. This was exactly what it meant to not lend an ear to sermons of a useless G.o.d.
The spectators were delighted from the sudden sword fight, but the moderator, Kuro Usagi, was unable to bear watching it. She surprisingly jumped down on to the Stage.
”W-W-Wait a second! It will be bad if the internal discord breaks out before the Game starts! The four of you are one debtor team! If you don't even defeat a single monster, your debt will increase even-”
”What the f.u.c.k is that underhanded game!! You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, just how much debt did you make!?”
”T-That's not it, calm down! Please, calm down for real! I'm not the one who made it! It was just pushed onto me by that fourth one keeping silent over there!!!”
...Fourth one? Homura and Uesugi said in doubt.
In fact, Kuro Usagi did say there were 'four people in one team'. If the debtors were supposed to be four in number, there was a spot left for another person...
”...My apologies. Would you be so kind as to release that father of mine?”
A tranquil voice reached the two's ears.
And they were surprised for different reasons.
”'Father of mine'....? This? You mean this guy?”
”Yes. I am referring to that. That is the father of mine...is what I'm saying.”
The blue haired young man pointed at Tokuteru with an even more displeased face.
Homura showed wonder towards the person he was pointing at, and raised his voice.
”You... You are Tokuteru's kid!? Tokuteru, you were actually MARRIED!!?”
”W-Wait a minute! Just calm down already!”
”That is not correct, boisterous young man. I will say this to clear up any misunderstandings, but my mother and father are not married. My mother has a different husband.”
”SO HE'S AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD NOW HUH!!?”
”Noo! I can see why you would think so, but that's wrong! Aghh, d.a.m.n it, this is becoming a headache to explain so just stay quiet there for a bit, Arjuna!”
The moment Tokuteru spoke his name, the audience of the pocket stage wagon all raised their voices in wonder one after another.
Even Uesugi standing beside him was shocked to see the young man calling himself Tokuteru's son.
That was just how unbelievable of an existence that young man - Arjuna was.
He had blue hair reminiscent of lightning. And a peaceful pair of eyes that reminded one of a still ocean. His appearance that made it obvious that he was a well-bred individual had spread the aura of n.o.bility around him.
Even the Divine Bow he held in hand had undoubtedly held enough power to ma.s.sacre every army.
”Did you just say Arjuna...!!?”
───In the Epic of Indian Pantheon, 'Mahabharata', Arjuna was a great hero who was the centre of it.
Blessed with countless Gifts, he had once climbed the ladder towards the level of strongest warriors.
The legitimate child of the G.o.d King Indra, the very same Prince Arjuna, looked towards the two with a displeased expression on his face.
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