第１１６６堀：彼女たちが集められた理由 (Part1)
Chapter 1166: The Reason They Were Gathered
Side: Neferi
Today is an absolutely disastrous day.
I was just feeling happy that my sister, Fio, had learned to do something new, when suddenly, we were abducted by Comet-san.
The fact that we had been visiting Lilishe-sama turned out to be our undoing.
Normally, I would have fled instantly, but because there were people around, I held back out of politeness—and that hesitation cost us our chance to escape.
"Sister, are you alright?"
"Yes, Fio. I’m fine."
"That’s a relief. So, why exactly are we being carried by this woman?"
"That is something I would like to know as well. Now, Comet-san, why are you doing this?"
"Oh, come now. You two always bolt the moment you see me."
"Please, place your hand over your heart and think very carefully about why that might be."
"I only remember having you assist me in 'highly meaningful experiments'."
"You *do* remember, then!?"
As for the Holy Swords, we chose to take them up ourselves, so that couldn't be helped. But since coming to Weed, what kind of "meaningful experiments" involve the countless human trials we’ve endured? I truly thought I was going to die.
"There, there. This time, it’s for the sake of helping others. So, be good and cooperate. Yuki asked for this, too."
"Haa... helping others, you say? But putting Yuki aside, why is it that just knowing Comet-san is involved makes me unable to trust this at all?"
"No, I think that’s a perfectly reasonable reaction."
"Yuki! You’re supposed to be backing me up here!"
"But it’s the truth, isn't it? At most, I was just watching and laughing, so there's no need to be so guarded."
"It is not strange to be wary of someone who laughs while watching others suffer."
It seems there truly is no such thing as a "normal person" among Dungeon Masters.
Acknowledging that fact gives me a splitting headache.
However, we are already captured.
Well, if I truly resisted with all my might, I could probably break free, but...
I don't think it’s necessary to go that far.
Even if she does conduct reckless experiments, I don't recall her ever violating our dignity as women or as human beings... wait.
Hold on. Is it really okay to just stay captured by Comet-sama?
She did save us in the past, but is that debt really worth this much trouble?
"Alright, Neferi, let’s calm down. The look in your eyes is getting colder and colder, you know?"
"Sister, your gaze is below freezing."
"She’s probably just starting to face reality. After all, look at her."
"Don't say 'look at her' like that!? I’m a beauty by any standard! And my figure is perfect!"
"Well, sure, you look the part. But having you emphasize it like that just makes me lose interest. It really highlights how pathetic you are."
"Hey! You could at least say you’ve wanted to pin me down once or twice!"
"Yes, yes. I want to pin you down. Like this, thrusting both hands out with all my might..."
"That’s literally just the pose for pinning someone down!?"
...Comet-sama.
I think this every time, but if you don't speak more straightforwardly, you’ll always be treated as a joke.
*Gasp!* Wait a moment.
Could this actually be an effective way to reduce our own suffering?
If we push Comet-sama onto Yuki, she’ll be stuck to him constantly, and the harm won't reach us.
Oh, how brilliant!
For now, we should just cooperate obediently for this occasion and hold a meeting with everyone later.
For a future where such calamities do not befall us! Or rather, to help our benefactor’s love bloom!
And so, I haven't given up; I have merely accepted a temporary, strategic defeat for the sake of the future.
That’s right. We just need to win in the very end.
There was a tactical manual in the Weed library that said as much.
No matter how many defeats you suffer, you only need to win when it counts.
While I was busy formulating this strategy for a glorious future, I realized we had been carried into the shopping district.
"Hm? Oh, the Master and the Doctor. And a half-breed, and a corpse. Hmm, does that mean you have business with the shopkeeper?"
For some reason, we ran into a dragon who seemed to be in the middle of shopping.
It was Coral, a female dragon, the same species of Black Dragon as Gaul-san.
She seems surprisingly accustomed to human life, working under Alfin, but...
"Could you please refrain from using the term 'half-breed'? Alfin, the shopkeeper, is the same, is she not?"
"Oh, my apologies. I wouldn't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings. Now, why are Neferi and Fio being carried? Though, I suppose you are being held by the Doctor."
"If you know that, please, help us."
"Impossible. Regrettably, my strength is no match for the Doctor."
Damn it, that’s the truth.
Because of Yuki’s absurd training, Comet-sama’s level is completely out of whack.
On top of that, she freely utilizes her own research results, which have only grown more malicious, making it impossible to even imagine what she might do next. That makes her even more troublesome.
The fact that even a dragon can’t do anything about it...
Haa... I held onto a glimmer of hope, but I suppose it was futile.
"But, I digress. If you have business with the shopkeeper, that works out well. I was just finishing my shopping and heading back. You may follow."
And so, we were carried all the way to Alfin’s shop, where...
"Um, Neferi, Fio? Are you two getting cozy with Comet-san?"
"It seems your head is filled with nothing but sugar."
"Eating too much cake is bad for you."
"Huh? It feels like I was just insulted quite harshly. Say, Coral, am I really that hopeless?"
"No, the sweets the shopkeeper makes are wonderful. Those two are likely just bad-mouthing you because you won't save them from the Doctor’s experiments."
"Ah, the experiments. But Yuki and Mikos are with her, too, right?"
"It’s not exactly an experiment today. I’ve just gathered everyone to hear something."
"Haha, I suppose I was the one who reached out to everyone."
"With that said, Alfin, it would be appreciated if you could come, too. Is the shop alright?"
Wait, why is Comet-sama being so considerate only toward Alfin?
What is the difference?
"Alfin has a shop to run. I suspect that’s the difference. It’s one thing to inconvenience only yourself, but it’s another to inconvenience customers."
"I can understand the latter part, but I don't think that gives you any reason to inconvenience us. Also, please stop reading my mind."
"Sister is so easy to read."
"Is that so?"
Putting Yuki aside, being pointed out by my own sister makes me worry.
Am I really that transparent?
"You should have realized it the moment I picked you up. So, Alfin, what will you do?"
"It’s fine. I heard from Mikos that everyone was gathering. I plan to leave the shop to Coral and the others."
"Indeed. Leave the shop to us, and you should enjoy your reunion with an old friend."
"Thank you."
After thanking Coral, Alfin joined us, and we headed toward our final destination.
Yes, the stuffed animal shop that Ratz had prepared for us.