第１６５４堀：出発前の確認 (Part1)
Chapter 1654: Pre-Departure Confirmation
Side: Hiiro
"Did you remember your handkerchief? Do you have your tissues?"
For some reason, Vilia-onee is fussing over me incessantly right in front of everyone. It’s making it look like I’m some kind of scatterbrain.
"I’m fine. I have them right here."
I pull the handkerchief and tissues out of my bag to show her.
"Honestly, Vilia, you really should start trusting Hiiro by now."
Dore-onee sighs beside us.
"But Hiiro is often forgetful at work, and over there, there’s bound to be some resistance against Weed..."
"It’s alright. Hiiro is actually quite reliable when it counts. You know that, Vilia."
"Mmph."
Vilia-onee seems to realize that even she can’t call Hiiro incompetent, so she bites her tongue. I do my job properly, after all!
Just as we’re going through this, the door opens and a face peeks in. It’s Firia-onee, who is coming with me to the Zurabl Academy.
"Yup, I’m ready!"
I decide that if I keep listening to Vilia-onee, I’ll be late for the meeting time, so I head out of the room to join Firia-onee. Once I’m out in the hall, I find not just Firia-onee, but Labyris-onee, Aslin-onee, and Shera-onee waiting there too.
"Well, it’s going to be tough starting today, but Hiiro will be fine."
"Yeah, if any bad kids give you trouble, feel free to give them a good thwack."
"Haha, I’d prefer it if it didn’t come to that, but please make sure to heal them properly afterward if it does."
The usual four offer their advice.
"Roger that."
"Leave it to me. If any idiots refuse to listen, they get a *bonk*."
Firia-onee’s "bonk" sounds like it might make someone’s head pop, but I doubt she’d go that far.
"Listen, Hiiro. If there’s any bullying, report it to Brother immediately."
"I know, I know~."
"It’s fine. I’ll blow away anyone who tries to bully Hiiro."
"That’s right. Firia, just give them a good thwack."
"Haha, Labyris-chan, you need to phrase that a bit more gently."
"True. I’m sure you know this, but you’ll need to show some restraint."
Hmm, putting Aslin-onee aside, it seems Labyris-onee and Shera-onee are firmly in the "blow them away" camp. Well, Show-onee did say to show them the power of Weed, after all.
As we chat and head toward the entrance, the others are already gathered.
"Oh, you’re here."
"Sorry for the wait, Brother!"
"Sorry for the wait, everyone~!"
"It’s fine. You’re still before the scheduled time."
Tori-onee says this as Firia-onee and I apologize. It’s true, we’re still early. Seeing everyone else gathered even earlier makes me realize how serious they are.
"Well, if we overslept, we’d definitely get an earful from Hifi."
"Wait, didn't Comet-san oversleep and get scolded by Hifi-san?"
"When we arrived, her hair was a total mess."
As Comet-onee says this with a straight face, Wazu-onee and Nai-onee expose the truth from behind her. I already know that Comet-onee making it anywhere on time by her own power is a fairy tale.
"Don't go blabbing that!"
"Well, I’m going with you, so... Comet, seriously, learn to pack your own travel gear."
"No, no, I’m used to traveling! It’s just that Hifi packs all these stuffy clothes for me. And shampoo, too."
"That’s because you’re acting as an instructor at the Academy. You can’t show up in tattered or worn-out clothes. If Weed looks inferior because of that, that’s a problem in itself."
"Eh? Is that so? Isn't judging people solely by their appearance against the etiquette of Japan?"
Comet-onee is spouting sophistry again. Even I can tell she’s being unreasonable.
"Judging by appearance isn't about what you demand from others; it’s about one’s own mindset. The point is to follow the rule of not doing things that make others uncomfortable. If you try to test people like that, you’ll end up losing their trust instead."
Exactly. If she were destitute and had no choice, that would be one thing, but going as a state guest while deliberately dressing like that is just wrong.
"Geez, I’m not good with all that stiff stuff. I’d rather wear clothes I’m used to..."
*Sigh*, Comet-onee is as free-spirited as ever. I was wondering if all researchers were like this, when...
"Hmm, I personally don't see an issue with casual wear, but Comet-dono is a top-tier researcher and mage. If that attire is what makes her feel most relaxed, I have no objections. It’s not as if it’s filthy, after all."
Show-onee appears from outside the entrance. She said she’d come to see us off.
"Besides, the clothes Comet-dono is wearing are top-class armor, aren't they?"
"Yup, yup, exactly~! As expected of Show-onee, you get it. So, it’s not like it’s dirty or anything."
"Haa... if Show-onee says it’s fine, then fine, but you can’t rely on just one set of clothes for defense."
"I know, I know. Look, I’ve got the rings equipped too."
Comet-onee shows the rings on her right hand. They are enchanted rings with absurd defensive capabilities, proposed by Brother and created through the combined opinions of Nar-onee, Firia-onee, Agil-onee, Comet-onee, Zargis-oniisan, Taiki-oniisan, Taizo-oniisan, and many others. She wears several on both hands, plus a necklace and bracelets.
I wonder why she needs so many, but since it’s common to use underhanded tactics to neutralize powerful equipment rather than attacking head-on—like simply removing the gear—wearing multiple layers solves that problem. Usually, the cost would be too high to make them, but since Brother is an amazing person, it’s no problem at all. Of course, it’s not just Comet-onee; we all have them, and we’ve provided the same—well, older models—to the dignitaries of various countries.
"Well, if Comet gets looked down upon because of that, so be it."
"Yes. In that case, please give them a good thwack. Since we can heal the wounds, it shouldn't be a problem even if they end up dismembered."
"Ugh, I don't intend to go that far, but is it really that bad?"
Everyone, not just Comet-onee, is shocked by Show-onee’s suggestion. It makes me wonder just how many idiots are gathered over there.