Chapter 134: Shovelers Unmatched / From Within the Flames (1/2)

Chapter 133: Shovelers Unmatched / For Some Reason I Want to Pull Them Tight Chapter 135: Shovelers Unmatched / Maskless but Driver

Translator: Reflet

「So ya ain’t satisfied with your close friend comin’ to save ya?」

「That’s not what I mean. I’m not asking the reason; I’m asking how this began.」

「Ah……」

Taiyou tensed up at Youran’s serious expression. He immediately grasped what kind of conversation it was.

「What, ya too lovestruck to realize?」

「Eh？」

But he couldn’t understand Leticia’s words. Youran was lovestruck? He tilted his head down.

「Just answer the question.」

「’Right. ‘Though it ain’t anythin’ special. There was just somethin’ I forgot to tell ya and when I called ya once more it didn’t go through.」

「So that’s why……」

「That’s why? Huh, could you at least explain that?」

Taiyou cut in. For whatever reason, he always ended up using polite language when talking to Leticia.

She came off as easygoing with her Kansai dialect, but her fantasy-like blonde hair and blue eyes reminded him of a princess’s appearance, which made him do that.

「Yer a commoner.」

「Eh? Well, I suppose I am.」

Taiyou made a face as if to ask “And what of it?”

「Here, that, could ya gimme it?」

「Yeah.」

Youran nodded, taking out her own cell phone.

「This here just looks like a cell, yeah? Can’t be helped since it looks like a simple cell, but it uses all imaginable techniques and can transmit anywhere on the globe. Whether it be the cavern of a snowy mountain or the deep part of the sea where no light reaches, it’s made to transmit through all of that. Well, as long as the main body doesn’t break. Hmm, I wonder if it would’ve been able to even transmit to and from space if conditions were met.」

She sought confirmation from Youran, who gave a small nod.

「And so for disaster strikin’ and the like, the batteries also are set with every method out there to be replenished and last longer.」

「That’s amazing. I didn’t know they made those sorts of cells.」

「They had ‘em made. One-of-a-kind custom-made.」

「Oh, come to think of it, there wasn’t any maker’s logo on it at all.」

「Right. By the way, I have somethin’ similar, though it ‘as some unnecessary functions.」

Leticia said, waving her own cell phone in front of him.

「These sorts of things ‘r necessary, fer us. We’re humans of that sorta world. We’re really connected by a hotline, me and ‘er.」

「Hotline?」

「The usual meaning, yeah.」

Youran said, supplementing. He couldn’t initially understand what the usual meaning was.

However, he did understand one thing.

「So it’s unthinkable that your lines wouldn’t connect.」

「”That’s right！”　Welp, although I didn’t realize ‘till it was too late ‘n then when I dashed over here it was all over.」

Leticia shrugged her shoulders in the exaggerated mannerism of a westerner. While looking at that, Taiyou developed another question.

「So things would progress as expected. But then why did you ask that?」

Taiyou threw the question point-blank at Youran. If such a thing was really to be expected, then Youran should understand it without having to ask.

「Well now, I wonder whyyy」

Youran didn’t answer. Leticia instead made a phrase that sounded as if she were playing dumb, putting a mischievous smile on her face. Youran gave her a stern glare; they seemed to have made a meaningful exchange.

But even that was just for an instant. When that was over, Leticia erased her smile, gazing at Youran with an earnest face as she spoke.

「But still, this is your home ground innit? Things that don’t normally occur shouldn’t occur…What ‘appened?」

「……Michiyo.」

It was a simple word, and Leticia made an expression as if comprehending everything.

「Hah, “a snake in one’s bosom” I see. Always the woman to experience things in style.」

「Michiyo？」

Taiyou asked puzzledly, hearing that name for the first time.

「This gal’s subordinate, and until yesterday she was the retainer held in high regards.」

「So by “a snake in one’s bosom”…did she seriously betray her?」

「Right. Otherwise I wouldn’ta said all that. Gave one human too much jurisdiction.」

「……」

「Welp, ain’t nothin’ helped now.」

Youran kept her mouth shut as Leticia spoke exasperatingly.

It was becoming a rather long-winded conversation, but he was able to somewhat grasp the situation.

He glanced out the car window. Hera showed no signs of returning. Taiyou decided to dig a bit deeper into this conversation.