<h4>Volume 3 Chapter 9.1</h4>


    Trantor: Reflet


    Editor: Weasalopes


    「Became more of a long haul than we initially thought, eh?」


    「Yeah, I never thought we’d be stayin’ the night right after leavin’ the ruins.」


    This was the fourth day since their excursion into the desert, slightly after 10. Everyone breathed sighs of relief upon finally being able to see the entrance to Darl. They could see the vast barley fields as they got closer, which felt oddlyforting.


    「It seems that we need to check in at the temple once we get back.」


    「Big Sis, the only future I see for us is admonishment……」


    「Technically speaking, we have contacted them daily, and the time spent away wasn’t really something we were responsible for, so I don’t think they’ll get angry at us……」


    「I get the feeling that we’ll get quite the long scolding for worrying them……」


    Thinking about what they would deal withter, the Norton sisters sighed once again with rather mncholic faces. The guilty party, the Japanese members of the group looked at the two of them.


    「But couldn’t you have just returned using transportation stones or transportation magic?」


    「If it’s about two hours by car, then I figured y’all could still get back home as long as ya didn’t dilly-dally.」


    「Well, I mean, there is some truth to that, but……」


    「Besides, if ya teleported back to Darl, ya woulda ran into Barold. That woulda been real bad, right?」


    Unable to counter Hiroshi’s argument, Tatsuya simply made a grim face. They had all but entirely suppressed Barold because of the minivan and its many functions, but if they had tried to face him head-on, they certainly wouldn’t have had it as easy. He had many ranged attacks, so it would be out of the question to fight him downtown where so many people were. Then again, fighting him in a deserted, wide open area risked his summoning spells getting out of hand and overwhelming the team.


    Barold just so happened to have started the fight, and thanks to that they were able win in the easiest fashion: by bumping into him with the car. Otherwise it would have escted into quite the bothersome fight. Carrying baggage like the Norton sisters while ensuring no one in the vicinity got hurt and having to deal with gueri tactics on top of all that could have really done a number on their nerves.


    It wouldn’t have been a bad idea to drive the car home in a nonchnt manner, but if they hadn’t gone investigating after the whole underground ruin excavation, the Norton sisters would not have been absent for so long. In that sense, Hiroshi was really the one who had to reflect on what he did.


    Then again, Tatsuya and the others didn’t know this, but their actions had caused Barold to lose sight of where they were, forcing him to think up a more optimal n.


    「Well anyhow, this is all water under the bridge, so let’s think of what’ll happen from now on instead.」


    「Umm, but that’s exactly what frightens me……」


    「Wait, we’re not going to be involved in that too, are we?」


    「I’ll leave that stuff to y’all. I gotta weave some clothing.」


    Hiroshi tried to leave the decision-making to everyone else.


    「Hey don’t run away! You’re the root of this issue!」


    Right after Hiroshi said that, Tatsuya immediately interjected. Letting him go meant he might repeat the same mistake again.


    「Why’s it matter if I’m there or not, mate?」


    Hiroshi continued to attempt his escape from trouble.


    「That’s not the issue, dude.」


    Tatsuya continued to put pressure on Hiroshi to do the right thing. Smiling awkwardly at the two of them, Haruna nced out the window and sensed something unusual.


    「……Hm?」


    「What is it?」


    「Haru, something happen?」


    「Don’t you think security seems a little heavy around here?」


    Now that it was brought to their attention, the other members began observing their situation. And then


    「Yeah, the atmosphere does give off a strangely…not quite murderous, but agitated aura.」


    「I wonder what’s going on?」


    Everyone’s eyes widened at the heightened security. There were clearly more guards than usual at the gates. They seemed to be taking quite a bit more time examining everyone entering the city, and there were many people waiting their turn in line.


    「It really is quite heavy.」


    「Was there some crazy incident when we were away, ya think?」


    「I can’t say it’s totally out of the question, but I can definitely say things weren’t this tense with the apprenticeship incident!」


    「Then somethin’ mighta happened outside.」


    They continued their incoherent conversation without even considering that they might be responsible for this.


    「In any case, we’d best just line up at the end, yeah?」


    「Luggage check’s are prolly gonna git real strict. We’d better turn off Share Capacity; it’s been on for a while.」


    「We’d better organize storage to make it look more natural right now, huh?」


    「Yup. So first we m a buncha sand from the desert into the trunk of the car……」


    The Japanese party decelerated the car to stall for time as they quickly finished up organizing. Expand Capacity was one thing, but Share Capacity was an enchantment not known very well to the public. Disabling it right now would make things go more smoothly.


    They normally had the enchantment off when leaving town unless they nabbed a really big item or needed to hand something over to someone else. They had gotten a lot of items this time around and couldn’t have perfectly managed storage without sharing it.


    「So this about does it for the inside?」


    「Alright y’all, sharing off.」


    Once they had divided the contents into everyone’s bags, Hiroshi turned off the shared storage function. Since Expand Capacity was a regr enchantment, they didn’t need to worry about it. It was more normal to have 4 times normal capacity, but with enough money and connections you could go 30 times or 40 times that amount. Then again, expanding to more than 4 times the original space never really had much of a purpose unless you reduced the weight by a hefty amount.


    「But seriously, what happened?」


    「……Maybe it has something to do with us.」


    「Oh? And on what basis?」


    「Because one of those higher-ups are walking over here and their face looks livid.」


    Haruna pointed out as she lined up at the back.


    The Japanese party cocked their heads, not knowing what could have possibly caused this. Meanwhile, judging by the expressions on their faces, the Norton sisters seemed to have thought of something. Haruna noticed this, calling out to them just in case.


    「Prim-san, Judith-san, would you happen to have any ideas?」


    「Actually, we’re wondering why none of you have realized this yet……」


    「Come on, Big Sis. I think we should know by now just how out of sync everyone is in that regard.」


    「Hmm, I feel like I’ve just been insulted in some way, but anyhow, can you think of anything?」


    「If you think about carefully, normally there would be some sort of disruption caused from using such shy moves in that desert……」


    Prim exined with an exhausted expression.


    Everyone other than the sisters looked at each other in puzzlement. Was that really the issue?


    「But that move was on par with Armageddon, so it wouldn’t cause that much of a ruckus, now would it?」


    「Uhh no, how many people do you think can actually use a move called Armageddon……?」


    「Sure it’s rare, but you see them every so often.」


    Makoto replied.


    「I don’t think our world will be in good shape if there are that many users……」


    Prim interjected while holding her head in exasperation. As per usual, these Japanese folksckedmon sense in the strangest ways.


    「But Doul and Ju-san put up a good fight with Makoto, so I figured it ain’t all that powerful. Guess I was wrong.」


    「I do not know what position of society those people you mention are in, but I do not think that the amount of people in Fane or Darl with power equal to Makoto-san can be counted on more than two hands……」


    「It’s a hard-knock life……」


    Hiroshi said wistfully.


    「Hiroshi-san, I don’t think that’s the right way to use that phrase……」


    Judith interjected mercilessly.


    As they continued this carefree, nonsensical conversation, the minivan had already been surrounded by a group that appeared to be knights. They were clearly saying something, but the minivan’s soundproof, airtight nature made it difficult to hear what they were saying.


    「What is it?」


    Figuring that it was best to not ignore them, Tatsuya opened the window and called out.


    「Were you not able to hear what I just said?」


    「You see sir, this car here is adept at being both airtight and soundproof, so it’s rather difficult to hear anyone speaking outside.」


    「You don’t say. Then I will ask again. Am I right in assuming that youdies and gentlemen are from the Azuma Workshop?」


    「Yes, we are…?」


    「Then I’m sorry to say this, but we would like you toe with us to the temple right away.」


    The (apparently)manding officer coerced them toe along in a superficially polite manner. Tatsuya determined that grumbling would not be the best idea. This affair seemed to be a bit more serious than they had thought.