第１１９５堀：交流会の結果と目的 (Part1)
Chapter 1195: The Results and Purpose of the Exchange Meet
Side: Yuki
"Ah, I'm beat."
"I hear you."
"Man, playing that game for real is surprisingly taxing. Or maybe I’m just out of shape?"
"Who knows? But it was fun, wasn't it?"
Four men sat soaking in an open-air bath, gazing up at the night sky and reflecting on the game we’d just finished.
"In the end, even us, who should be used to that game, only managed second or third place at best."
"Well, there’s always an element of luck involved, I suppose."
"To begin with, we were at a numerical disadvantage."
"That’s true. Having fewer people is a huge handicap. Still, you guys managed to break into the top ranks, so that’s something, right?"
That’s right—our results in today’s battle royale were, across the board, miserable.
We managed to scrape through the preliminaries, but in the finals, our small team size worked against us, and we ultimately lost.
Our team finished third in the finals, and Taizo-san’s team finished fourth.
The winners were, surprisingly enough, Team 7: Comet’s team.
That team had maintained mediocre rankings in the preliminaries—fifth, sixth, and fourth—but when it came time for the finals, they snatched the victory right out from under us.
For the record, the first round was won by Team 3, Aslin and her group.
The second round was won by Team 2, Eris and her group.
The third round was won by Team 11, Tori and her group.
Man, I never expected that we wouldn't win even once.
Well, the fact that I’m even thinking that way just goes to show how much I’d been underestimating everyone else. Conversely, it means…
"It is a joyous thing that they defeated us to take the win. After all, it means they have surpassed our own experience and knowledge."
"Ah, I see. That’s one way to look at it."
As Taizo-san said, the wives have effectively surpassed us in strategy now.
Granted, the situation was a bit unique since it was inside that game, but the fact remains that they won.
Yes, it’s a fact that they used every trick in the book to devise strategies that outdid us.
Man, it’s clear that their level is completely different from what it used to be.
They’ll survive tenaciously in any situation.
While I was lost in such reflections, Zargis, who had been soaking leisurely, suddenly asked a question with a formal air.
"Now then, while the improvement in the ladies' capabilities is certainly a cause for celebration, might you tell us the reason for setting aside this period of time for such an event? Weed itself is calm, but the matters you are currently handling, Yuki-dono, should all be quite troublesome, should they not?"
"Ah, that. I guess you could say I 'left them alone' on purpose. Or rather, I wanted to observe them all at once."
I answered Zargis’s question with a hint of lethargy.
Upon hearing that, Taizo-san and Zargis seemed to catch on.
"I see. So that’s it."
"Well, there are things that only become visible when you step back, aren't there?"
"Eh? What do you mean?"
Taiki-kun seemed to be the only one who hadn't caught up, so I was about to explain, but—
"It’s nothing all that complicated, really."
"Ah, Souta-san."
Turning toward the voice, I saw Souta-san entering the bath, having finished washing up.
"Yuki-kun’s pending issues right now are the newcomers, the Academy and the ghost, and the princess. Those are the main ones."
"Yes. That’s right."
"You observed them all together, didn't you? Orelia-kun and the princess, and then Niruah and Wazfi-kun were all grouped together, weren't they?"
"Ah, you’re right."
"As for Havia, I left that entirely to Souta-san, in case there were any developments. It’s a bit of a makeshift situation, but as Zargis said, none of these problems can be solved all at once. This event served as a catalyst for interaction, at the very least."
I said this while scooping up hot water with both hands and splashing it over my face.
*Phew*, that feels good.
"Ah, is that what it was? I thought you were just taking a breather because you were tired."
"That’s part of it, too. Zargis said it—there are things you only see when you step back. If you only focus on work, you tend to develop tunnel vision. So, I took this break."
"I think that’s a good thing. Havia is a bit lonely since Kagura-san and the others aren't around, but she seems more focused on her research than anything else. She’ll have plenty to talk about when you meet next."
"That’s good. So, what is the status of the aforementioned Havia?"
"She is stable. That said, she is a ghost, so one never knows what might happen, but she is closer to a normal person than a ghost at this point."
"I suppose so. The question is what will happen when she realizes she is already dead… Should I talk to Kagura and the others? And to Wazfi and Niruah as well?"
"That would be for the best. Fortunately, their bonds seem to have deepened during this event, and it would be good if we could ask Princess Fiora for her assistance as well."
I was a bit surprised by Souta-san’s words.
Princess Fiora had nothing to do with the Academy matter, so the idea of involving her hadn't occurred to me.
After all, this is about a 'ghost.'
I didn't think there would be any progress just by involving her.
"Souta-san, do you see a benefit in involving Princess Fiora?"
"Well, I don't know if it will be a benefit or a detriment. However, there is no doubt that Havia was the one least stimulated by this event—or rather, the one least involved."
"That is certainly true. She cannot leave the Academy. Though, being research-minded, she doesn't seem to mind that fact."
"So, we are throwing a stone into that pond. What do you think, Zargis?"
"No, Taiki-dono. Even if you ask for my opinion… that type of ghost is Earth-style, isn't it? I’ve never seen that type of ghost before, so I can’t say. Besides, it doesn't even look like I could dissect her."
Oh, the fact that your first thought is to dissect that young honor student is what surprises me.
Taizo-san and the others seemed to feel the same, as they were giving wry smiles.
"Ah, I’m joking, of course. I value my own life, too. I certainly wouldn't want to be hit with a 'curse' or something like that. Regardless, I agree with Souta-san’s opinion. As it stands, the girl named Havia has become too stable, including her very existence, and we aren't seeing any changes. In that case, we need to provide some form of stimulus from our end."
"Zargis-dono is right. Well, providing stimulus naturally means there will be changes, so it becomes a question of how we assess those risks. What do you think, Yuki-kun?"