ch301-ch320 · 316-ch316
Chapter 316: The Trio
"K-Kidnapped? What do you mean, kidnapped?"
Mia-mama-san is in a fluster.
Her daughter has been kidnapped—can't blame her.
"Do you have any leads on the culprit?"
What would the kidnapper's objective be?
A ransom?
No—if Mia-san is the target, maybe Mia-san herself is what they're after?
In that case, that regular customer is suspicious.
"Leads? It was Sword Saint-chan, ssu! According to witnesses, she got shoved into a blacked-out car and driven off, ssu!"
My most sincere apologies.
......Doesn't sound like a crime, does it.
A scout, maybe?
"S-Sword Saint-chan? THAT Sword Saint-chan? Why Mia-chan?"
"Please calm down. In any case, let's go up to the surface. The culprit may contact us."
To anyone who didn't know better, I suppose it really would look like a kidnapping......
Well, I should head up too.
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"Kasumi-san, perfect timing. The branch called—Mia-san wants a phone call."
The moment we step outside, Hayashi-san flags us down.
A call from Mia-san herself, apparently.
So not a kidnapping after all.
"......Understood."
"Is Mii-chan safe?"
"......Hello? Are you all right? Not all right? I see. Please give me the situation."
'Not okaaaay—!'—Mia-san's loud voice comes through the receiver.
Sounds like she's fine.
"Hey, Haruki. What's going on? Did Sword Saint-chan leave?"
Soushi and Aikawa return from their shopping.
"Then I'll hang up for now. ......Akashiya-san, please, the phone to Mia-san."
"What? What's happened?"
"Mia-san's been taken away by Sword Saint-chan, apparently."
"Taken away" fits better than "kidnapped," honestly.
"Hello, Mii-chan? Are you okay? Huh? You were carried off? Call the police right now! Huh? No need? Huh? Hand the shop money to Shiraishi-san? A ransom, you mean? Huh? Food money? Just for today and tomorrow? ......Mm-hm, mm-hm. No dinner for Mii-chan, then. ......I see, you're heading to headquarters. Got it, I'll pass it along. Don't be late. ......Sou-chan, Mii-chan says she's eating dinner out."
Hmm—it's not the dungeon, so I couldn't catch Mia-san's voice properly, but apparently she's been taken to headquarters.
"Hello, this is me. Is your work finished? You're home right now? Yes, I'm coming over, so please grant passage permission. Also, Mia-san is headed your way, and I would like you to hold her there...... No, it seems Sword Saint carried her off......"
Kasumi-san is on the phone to somewhere else now.
"What's going on?"
I'd like to know that too.
"I believe she is safe, but I will go and collect Mia-san. Natsukawa-san—do not serve Shiraishi-san any parfaits."
"Huh?"
I'd almost forgotten—Shiraishi-san needs dealing with too.
No parfaits for a while, then.
"Kasumi-chan, take good care of Mii-chan."
"Yes. ......Haruki-san, please be home by curfew. And do NOT go back to sleep a second time! Aikawa-san, please stand watch so that Haruki-san does not sleep."
Ugh.
And I was thinking of one more round......
"Okaaay."
MP is sitting there spare—maybe I'll practice Armor Manipulation?
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"【Charge・Armor・High】 【Charge・Armor・Armor Enhancement・Armor・High】 【Charge・Armor・Armor Manipulation】"
I touch the armor laid out neatly on the ground and begin the 'charge.'
My hand leaves the armor the moment 'Armor Manipulation' activates—but my MP is still draining.
"Whoa, it actually stood up."
The armor rises to its feet right there.
I'm practicing Armor Manipulation in the warehouse, under Aikawa's surveillance.
Soushi is busy making dinner.
I'd rather not be seen doing this—I wish Aikawa were watching Shiraishi-san instead of me......
(【Charge・Armor・Magic Up・High】 【Charge・Armor・Endurance Up・High】 【Charge・Armor・Strength Up・High】 【Charge・Armor・Agility Up・High】)
Super mode first.
I walk the armor a step, then two—and it does feel smoother than before, exactly as intended.
The instructions are reaching every last detail.
(【Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear】 【Charge・Spear・Magic Up】 【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】 【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】 【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】)
I take up the spear and charge it too.
Double—no, hyper mode.
I hand the charged spear to the armor.
MP?
Draining even faster now.
Success, I'd say.
"Whaaaat—? Whaaat—? ...Whaaat's—happening—???"
Aikawa's voice drones out, long and drawn.
The hyper mode holds even after I let go of the spear.
We're not done yet.
(【Charge・Shield・Armor Enhancement・Shield・High】 【Charge・Shield・Magic Up・High】 【Charge・Shield・Endurance Up・High】 【Charge・Shield・Strength Up・High】 【Charge・Shield・Agility Up・High】)
I touch the Shield Gauntlet fitted on the armor's left hand and begin the shield's charge as well.
And with it, shield super mode.
Triple!
Ultra Mode!
The sound disappears......
It stays that way even after my hand leaves the Shield Gauntlet.
It's quiet.
I direct the armor to line up beside Aikawa.
"Aikawa. Dance. Please."
I meant to speak slowly—did it get through?
"O—kaaaay—got—it—"
Aikawa's reply makes my ears ring.
I can't make out what she said.
"Heeere—we—gooo—!!!!! O—ne—, ...two—......"
I manage to catch the starting signal and set the armor dancing.
Slowly.
While Aikawa keeps one beat, I can lay down five.
I have the armor dance slowly, careful not to speed up too much.
The armor's movements are endlessly smooth.
It dances more beautifully than me—no, more beautifully than Aikawa, even?
The wrong-footed step goes off without a hitch too. Second lap—on to 【Prima Dance】.
I don't think the first lap's 【Dance】 buffs came to me.
Are they on the armor?
Now that it's said, did the armor's movements get lighter?
"Ha—ru—ku—n—me—!!!!!"
Me?
Aikawa turns bright red and stops the dance mid-way.
Huh?????
Drip, drip—I feel droplets falling on my feet......
Nosebleed again?
My red-streaked vision goes white......
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A spotlight shines down on me.
......The usual dream.
It'll be here any second!
(【Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear】 【Charge・Spear・Magic Up】 【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】 【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】 【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】)
I begin the spear's charge and brace for the headless armor.
――――――――――
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