Chapter Three — Heart of Nihility
Episode 29 — Class Meeting in a Different World #3
～ Part 1 ～
Read at translatedino.blogspot.com
“The Pawns are not coming back. With this, it’s five of them.”
In an old abandoned castle, a woman muttered so. A man sitting on a tattered sofa snorted.
“We can just get any number of replacements for Pawns. Do we still have some?”
“Opening the gate isn’t free. Besides, what I’m worried about is something else.”
This castle was one of the bases secured for attacking the human forces. The humans living area in this world wasn’t so wide. At least, it wasn’t in the continent they were on right now.
It seemed humans were once attacked by various foreign enemies and were forced to huddle together. In the process, many countries were abandoned by other countries and were destroyed. This castle, which they regarded as a stronghold, belonged to a country that had been destroyed more than 200 years ago.
The man looked up at the ceiling in boredom and said.
“The Queen? I wonder why there is still no response.”
“She isn’t so obedient to the King, but it’s hard to believe she is harboring rebellious thoughts.”
“Even though she’s been gathering a bunch who’s likely to become our strength after much troubles.”
The woman put her hand on her chin and walked around the hall while being deep in thought.
“It’s fine. It wasn’t just two Knights and Bishops each in this castle, there was also that one person who was especially put here. We’ll come to see the King’s intention.”
“Ah—, yes yes. You mean that guy Zoccon. I know. I want to see the Queen soon.”
To the woman’s worried manner of speaking, the man waved his hand dismissively. The woman wrinkled her eyebrows.
“Why is a bastard like you a Knight…”
“Rather than that, Akeno. How’s that guy? The high elf we picked up from the Catacombs.”
“We have confirmed his progress to Phase 2. Although there’s no short coming in his battle capability, it is necessary to train his mentality.”
“That’s troubling. Let’s take it easy. Do you know the story of The North Wind and the Sun?”
“Is it Anderson?”
“It’s Aesop. You’re pretty stupid.”
To the frivolous insult, the woman fired a mass of dark energy toward the man, the man, while lying sprawled on the sofa, flicked it off with one hand. The repelled mass of dark energy bored a big hole in the ceiling and disappeared into the sky shrouded in black clouds. The man looked at the falling dust scattered about and muttered 『Oh boy!』.
“Well, the places where rain will leak have just increased.”
“Who fault do you think this is…”
“It’s because of Bishop-san’s lack of patience. Akeno.”
When the man stood up from the sofa, he grandly stretched.
“Ah—, I want to play games…. Hey Akeno, next time you invite a Pawn, let’s me bring a TV and a PlayStation.”
“There won’t be any electricity.”
“Tough life. This is why hate this different world.”
Looking at the dark clouds covering the sky, it appeared to be raining soon.
The 3rd class meeting in a different world was being held in a borrowed room at the royal palace. Among the members of 2nd year class 4, excluding Kogane, Goubayashi and then Kaoruko, all names were present. Compared to the 1st meeting in the wasteland and the 2nd meeting in the dining room, the quality of the desks and chairs were first-class. Despite that though, the number of students who couldn’t sit in said chairs wasn’t a few.
On the stage was the class rep Ryuzaki. And then, Sakuma was standing beside him as the secretary.
The secretary of this class was originally Goubayashi. But since he had already disappeared when Ryuzaki pulled the class together as the class representative, it was often Sakuma who stood in that place.
Sakuma, who was originally introverted, had also grew strong after so many incidents, both in terms of combat and leadership. Given her high influential voice, the situation where she was in the same place as Ryuzaki held a very significant implication.
She was also a valuable existence who could voice her opinions against Akai Asuka, the one who was sitting in the corner of the class tinkering with her nails.
“Now then, that is everything that we’ve heard from Her Majesty the Queen of this country.”
On the stage, Ryuzaki said so while looking through his documents.
“It is indispensable that we as a class decide on our future policy once again. I want to hear everyone’s opinion.”
A commotion ran through the class.
The talk itself was very simple. Will we ask Master Majina for a way to return to our world, or possibly continue staying here in this country forever?
“Is Himemizu in favor of leaving the country?”
“Yeah. Very much so. What about Utsurogi-kun?”
“Well, I also think so…. How about Akira?”
“I think living peacefully here in this country would also be nice. However, I have this bad premonition since there are too many things that we still don’t understand.”
As Kyousuke group was doing so, other classmates were also exchanging words with their close friends. This wasn’t a matter that they could make a decision just by themselves. Among them, there were also those who held unshakable determination like Kensaki, Gofunkawahara, Okumura, etc. Those people didn’t make any movements.
As for Inugami, she was lying face down on the desk, sleeping. Akai also was polishing her nails in boredom. However, at both side of that Akai, her followers Harui and Hebitsuka were talking among themselves with serious faces. Speaking of sleeping, there was also Harao. That guy absolutely wouldn’t come out of his coffin.
“I will tell you first. I intend to move proactively to search for a mean to return to our former world.”
“About that, class rep, is it no good to wait for the war to end?”
It was Uozumi Sakeichiro who raised his hand and ask that question in response to Ryuzaki’s words.
“Yeah. I also think that way is safest, however, when I enquired the Ministry of Magic, at the same time as we tripped over here, that thing, was it called the space-time boundary? Look like that was becoming unstable.”
“What’s that?”
“Isn’t it some wall-like thing that separate world from world?”
Recently getting along well with Uozumi (just that she sometime sent a gaze as if looking at preys), the Cait Sith Nekomiya Miya calmly stroke her prided whiskers.
“That thing which was stable has become unstable for the last 20 years, and it seems to be easier to move between worlds right now. Therefore, it should be better if we act earlier if we want to go home.”
“You mean it will become stable again if we take our time?”
“Well, it seems so.”
Ryuzaki shrugged his shoulders.
The red winged devil, no, the Blood of Red Moon obviously knew something about Kyousuke and the others’ trip to this different world, perhaps they were involved in it somehow.
It was unknown whether the space-time boundary was unstable due to their activities, or conversely they started their activities aiming at the time when the space-time boundary was unstable, but if the students just sat back and waited for the war to end, there was enough possibility for the boundary to stabilize and movement between worlds would become more difficult.
“Well, that Master Majina seems to be a Great Sage, so it might be possible that we can still return to our world even if the boundary has stabilized somewhat. However, this is how I want to move after all. I will not compel everyone.”
The noises in the class got bigger.
The two choices Ryuzaki spoke of gradually took on this kind of implications.
Will we jump into this dangerous world to ensure the way back to our world ourselves, or will we accept the possibility of not returning home and stay safe in this world?
In other words, this was a very important decision that might have a big influence on their lives from here on.
“Incidentally, how many students have already decided on their answers at this stage?”
The first person to raise her hands to that question was Rin. After that, Kyousuke raised his hands, and Akira followed suit as well.
Then there were Kensaki who was sitting a different place, and Sakuma in the secretary’s seat. Hebitsuka and Harui also raised their hands. All these students would be the ones who were in favor of heading toward Master Majina’s place. A little bit later, Gofunkawahara and Okumura also raised their hands.
“Well, now that I think about it, I have to take care of the goblins of the heavy cruiser for a while.”
“Me too, I have to keep Zeku company debuu.”
Is it okay to assume that the opinions of those two are aligned somewhat with Ryuzaki’s objective?
However, it appeared that only a few other students had raised their hands for quite a while now.
“Well, I won’t ask you to decide immediately. I’m thinking about holding another meeting at a later date. However, the grace period I’m giving to everyone is one week. While it is selfish, if it takes anymore time than this, it would be better to accept living here in this country.”
Unusually, Ryuzaki’s words were harsh. Still, that might be natural as well. Supposing they didn’t establishing a deadline, things would be delayed endlessly, and they wouldn’t be able to leave this country no matter how much time passed. Things like going back to their world would be impossible then.
“Ne~ ne~, Utsurogi-kun.”
Rin sullenly poke Kyousuke’s iliac bones.
“Utsurogi-kun, are you fine with going home?”
“That’s right. I raised my hands a little while ago, didn’t I?”
“I mean, was it because I said I will go home?”
“Eh?”
As he didn’t expect that question at all, he reflexively returned a question.
“Even at the last class meeting as well…”
“Himemizu.”
It was Akira who interrupted Rin’s words. As his words were unusually filled with emotions, Rin spontaneously jumped up and down.
“Hi~yaa~! I’m sorry, legal wife-sama! A triangular corner like myself was getting carried away!”
“No, I am not particularly angry, but…”
Rin was like a bread dough thinly stretched against Akira, who murmured a little confusingly.
I wonder what exactly was it at the last meeting? Kyousuke tilted his head.
Well, let’s go home for now. I have no objections against that plan. Although it is certain that danger will be accompanying with this decision, if we put together the strength of Rin and Akira, as well as Ryuzaki and everyone, there won’t be any hurdles that we cannot overcome, Kyousuke thought. Of course, it will be a lot better if many students were to come with us.
“Mu…”
“What happened? Himemizu.”
“Iya~a, yea~h…. It’s nothing in particular…”
Rin’s voice seemed a little sulking and a little troubled at the same time.
While their acquaintance was short, but when the person herself said 『It’s nothing』, then she wouldn’t say anything even if he were to pursue the matter. He had come to understand that much. So Kyousuke didn’t try questioning her in particular and turned his gaze back to the front.
“If you’re hungry, how about going to a small restaurant later?”
“Eh!? It’s no good!? Well, it’s a little different but my pocket money is a little insufficient…”
“It’s because Himemizu overbought the cool-looking stones, isn’t it?”
“Because it was so cool, I just…”
In the end, the 3rd class meeting in a different world lasted a little longer after that, and then it concluded with most of their classmates having more troubles to think about. And as Rin, who was supposed to be treated to a meal at a small restaurant right after, left the meeting room along with Kyousuke in a cheerful mood, Akira kept looking at the two of them for a while.
To be continued…
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