Vol 3 Chapter 8 (1/2)
Published
at 28th of June 2019 05:00:56 PM
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
───Spirit Train 'Sun Thousand' - Panorama Wagon .
Large bath with a view on the Ley Lines .
One of the wagons of the Spirit Train was used as an outside scenery viewing spot . Right now the train had only just departed and was still merely travelling on the surface of the river . When it would finally start travelling through the sea and earth veins, however, people would have the opportunity to admire the scenery of the Ley Lines from this wagon . The dining hall and a big bath inside this carriage were used as relaxation spots for entraining Players and other guests .
Homura and others learned about this place and decided to treat their fatigue in the public bath until it was time to contact Izayoi .
After all, this day had been filled with too many surprises .
Such as when the recognition money was embezzled by Tokuteru .
Or them being forced to partic.i.p.ate in a Gift Game . Because of Tokuteru again .
And even being saddled with the debt of Tokuteru's son .
Without a doubt, the day had been too eventful . Mainly because of Tokuteru . He would've been found guilty for this in the outer world for sure . There was no compa.s.sion for a useless G.o.d .
But now, their turbulent day had finally come to an end .
The veil of darkness had completely covered the sky . This was their trip to another world, something that didn't just happen every day, so they were surely allowed to enjoy their share of fun moments .
” . . . Wow, this is great . ”
Homura's first impression of the panoramic room was summed up in that single phrase devoid of strong emotions . He was a scientist, not a poet, so it was somewhat understandable, however, his reaction was too dull even with that taken into account .
Girls' group, on the other hand, was devouring the brilliantly decorated room with sparkling eyes .
The intricate candle lamps made out of gla.s.s were honed to the tiniest of details with exquisite skill . Their stunning craftsmans.h.i.+p a.s.serting itself so strongly, that it made one worry that they would lessen the scenery outside . They were, however, barely giving off a glow of a heat haze so as to not obstruct the view of the stars .
The tiny spirits gathered in the mes.h.i.+ng light of a lamp and a star were bustling about as if to fill the place with colour .
A feat they could achieve only by the virtue of being pure beings with pure souls .
The spectacle made Suzuka lose her weary expression, replacing it with her best smile of the day .
”Ohh . . . a lot has happened, but it seems it finally started to look like a proper trip to another world, don't you think?”
”Ohh . . . A lot has happened . Things finally start to look like a proper trip to another world, don't you think?”
”Yeah, we have really been through a lot . . . Most of it was related to Tokuteru's debt, though!”
”N-Now, now . I'm sure Tokuteru-san's favour will prove to be useful in future . More importantly, let's head for the panorama wagon bath . Will you be coming along, Kasukabe-san?”
”Yup . Taking a bath before a meal is good for digestion . ”
You nodded with her eyes glued fixed in the direction of the dining hall .
Ayato responded with a strained smile and walked through the bath curtain .
”Well then, Senpai . See you later . ”
”Have fun . I don't mind if you stay late . Just take your time . ”
Leaving those words behind, Homura disappeared behind the curtains .
Ayato and the others headed for the girls' bath and reached the changing room . She touched her clothes which reminded her about the climate of the daytime .
”It was midsummer in the outer world, so Little Garden's climate feels really nice . ”
”You are right . It's a season of seduction during which you can faintly see Aychan's pink bra through her sweaty blouse . ”
” . . . Uh, please just stop with these kinds of jokes . I'm not even sure how to react,” said slightly embarra.s.sed Ayato while covering her chest .
”Well, I was holding back with these kinds of jokes around you, Aychan, but I decided to increase the dosage bit by bit so you can build up some resistance!”
Suzuka’s reply was followed by an uncanny smile . You, who was in the middle of undressing next to them, stared at Ayato's chest and gave a small nod .
”Yeah . . . you really are just someone else with a similar name . ”
”Wait a minute, Kasukabe-san . I'm not going to ask who exactly were you comparing me to just now, but you judged it based on my chest, didn't you?”
”Having big ones is a good thing . ”
”That's not what I'm asking about!”
”Mind if I touch?”
”Yes I do!!”
Ayato quickly swatted away the devilish hand reaching for her . Again, again, again, and again, the encroaching hands were knocked down, and You frowned in dissatisfaction .
” . . . Stingy . You are stocked with b.o.o.bs, it wouldn't hurt to share a bit with me, would it?”
”I don't have a lot of them, don't word it in a way that would invite misunderstandings!”
Hearing her retort, Suzuka swallowed her breath in realization .
”A lot of b.o.o.bs . . . a lot of big b.o.o.bs . . . ? The likelihood of Aychan's previous life being the one of a milking cow remains non-zero . . . ?”
”Absolutely not! Okay . That does it . Suzuka, if you don't drop this topic, I'm not going to treat you even if you follow me the next time I go to an all-you-can-eat cake buffet . Enjoy losing your weight . ”
”Gah, are you going to betray me now, sister! Aren't we the sworn friends who signed the Search and Devour contract! And it was you who begged me many times to go in together because you had trouble going in alone so . . . looks like it's not this Suzuksan who'll be troubled by it . Sure . Go and gain excess flesh by yourself . ”
”Huh!? No, that's not what I was trying to . . . !?”
Alas, it was impossible for a Kouhai to win against her Senpai in a quarrel from the start . Angry Suzuka's seemed to suddenly lose all her warmth . I can't mess this up, Ayato thought as she quickly tried to patch things up .
Meanwhile, You put her hand on her chin, gazed up at a distant star, and muttered, ” . . . An all-you-can-eat cake buffet . . . Yeah, that has a nice ring to it . I also wanted to try checking it out at least once when I was in the outer world . ”
”Why not? Let's just do that here in Little Garden! It seems the cafeteria of this panorama wagon is an all-you-can-eat place too! Actually, Suzuksan is famous as the Cookie Monster back in her hometown!”
”I see . A nickname quite unlike mine . ”
If Suzuka was a Cookie Monster then You was a chef’s doom incarnate . If they ever had a showdown, the kitchen would undoubtedly turn into a scene from h.e.l.l .
” . . . Hmm? Wait, doesn't that mean that You-san is a person from our world?”
”Yup . Izayoi, me and another girl called Kudou Asuka were summoned together . ”
Hearing the explanation, Suzuka tilted her head in wonder .
” . . . Kudou? Is she someone related to ”Everything Company”?”
”Nope . Besides, isn't ”Everything Company” a big conglomerate centred around Europe? She is a pure j.a.panese person . The kanji of their names are probably just p.r.o.nounced the same . ”
”I see . Is that person going to show up in these Sun games?”
”I'm not sure . At the very least, it seems to be possible to join midway, so she might . ”
” . . . Is that so . So she hasn't applied yet . . . ”
There was no emotion in Ayato’s voice, however, the other two didn't catch her muttering and obliviously continued to put their folded clothes on the shelves .
”By the way, Suzuksan . ”
”Suzuka is fine . Both I and Homura would find it very unsettling if Iznii's friends started calling us with honorifics . ”
”I see . In that case, why were Suzuka and Homura summoned here? Do you two have a history of being compet.i.tive eaters?”
”I just followed Homura . Brother is actually researching something amazing even if he doesn't look that way . ”
”Researching? What kind of thing?”
”I'm not really sure, but it's some kind of Particle Bodies . What was it again, Aychan?”
Hearing Suzuka's question, Ayato compose herself and spoke in a boastful manner with her hand to her chest .
”Saigou Homursenpai is researching the third perpetual motion — the 3S Nano Machine Units . His achievements as the lead researcher have been recognized and he has been permitted to partic.i.p.ate in the battles of this Little Garden of G.o.ds . Suzuka and I were probably allowed to tag along as people related to him . ”
You, wrapped in a big towel, frowned for the first time hearing that .
”Researcher . . . of Particle Bodies? And moreover, 'Saigou'?”
”What about it?”
”Uhh, hold on . Homura's surname is written with the ‘Sai’ of west and ‘Gou’ of hometown, right?”
” . . . ? Well, yeah?”
”So . . . it's not ‘Karma’ of ‘West’ . . . it's not that ‘Saigou’, right?”
The two girls affirmed with quick nods . Neither Ayato nor Suzuka had any recollection of the name ”Saigou” she mentioned, and moreover, Homura didn't have any relatives . They had never heard anything about him having relatives outside of the orphanage .
Kasukabe You still didn't relax however and remained for a while with her arms folded, until she suddenly recalled a past conversation and clapped her hands .
” . . . I see . Ayato and Asuka also have h.o.m.onymous surnames by chance . I suppose these kinds of coincidences do happen . Besides, he doesn't look like a Demon Lord no matter how you look at him . ”
”D-Demon Lord?! That Senpai who wouldn't even harm a bug?!”
”What the, that sounds hilarious!! If Homura was a Demon Lord, I feel like he'd get one-shotted by a Hero's punch!”
”Well, now I understand what you meant by Homura being a total opposite of Izayoi . ”
You smiled faintly and faced towards the bath .
”Now then . . . Let's jump in, shall we? There are several kinds of them, but let's start with the standard one . Let's go, you two . ”
”Aye aye, sir!”
”Suzuka . In this case, the correct word is not ‘sir’ but ‘ma'am’ . ”
The three made their way to the large public bath with Suzuka reflecting on Ayato’s off-hand remark .
Meanwhile in the men's section of the bath . . .
Homura disrobed and entered the bathhouse quickly . People around him had him for someone who earnestly devoted everything to his research and lacked any hobbies but, in reality, he was a boy that could take an interest in and enjoy just about anything . And if that something was a public bath of another world, that fascination would know no ends .
But rather than the bath itself, it was the realization of the fact that he was actually here that had him shocked in the first place .
(Wow . . . There are barely any humans here . . . !)
It wasn't only the Players that had come to take a bath .
It went without saying that the bath was full of races like Demi-humans, Demons, Demi-Dragons and such, but the most shocking was the fact that the Giants, clearly bigger than the entrance door, were taking a dip here as well . Homura didn't know which retort to go with first .
Incidentally, according to the information board, it appeared that there was also a Eudemon-exclusive bath too .
As he was trying to figure out which side should he enter from, a Unicorn that just happened to be there lightly pushed his back with its horn from behind .