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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 10 Chapter 1.6

At the same time that Tetsunoshin first noticed it and was surprised, a blade shot out of the sheath and passed by an empty bottle in its path. The empty bottle didn’t move.

Then suddenly, the top of the bottle, which had been cut diagonally across, began to slowly slide down.

「WHA!?」

At this point, Tetsunoshin couldn’t help but let out a cry. It was because of the two empty bottles lined up in front and behind, only the one at the back had been slashed diagonally. The bottle that was in front remained untouched.

Sheathing his sword, Iori picks up the uncut bottle in front of him and offers it to Tetsunoshin. He accepts it and examines it, finding not a single scratch. Iori’s sword trajectory must have passed through both bottles. It’s impossible.

「What on earth was that just now…?」

「It’s not that I’m a master swordsman or anything. It’s simply thanks to this sword.」

「A sword?」

Iori holds his sword out towards Tetsunoshin.

「A sword that can cut only what I want to cut. Ah, I should point out that it’s an evil sword.」

Tetsunoshin’s expression tightens at the fearless smile.

「Or perhaps it would be easier for you to understand if I put it like this, Tetsunoshin-kun. This is a Nanana collection.」

「! This is…」

Iori’s eyes widen at the sword in his hands.

「Just because it’s an enchanted sword doesn’t mean there’s any need to be so cautious. There’s no cost to using it. It’s just classified as an enchanted sword. What they would call a magic sword overseas. It’s just a matter of what kind of ability it has.」

「……」

「Those with power are simply either black or white. And the difference in color has no meaning, I believe you already understand that.」

Iori’s words were as if he could see right into his heart. Tetsunoshin was struck by this, as Iori handed him the cursed sword from its sheath.

「You want power, don’t you? If so, I’ll give it to you.」

「Why are you giving it to me?」

「Because you have a good soul.」

「A good soul?」

「You have conviction and a strong desire to achieve something. That’s the kind of young people I like.」

「………」

「Please don’t be so suspicious of me. I simply wanted to lend my strength to a promising young man. But if that’s the case, then I’ll do this. I’ll give this cursed sword to you, Tetsunoshin-kun. In return, you can give me your sword.」

「This sword?」

「It’s a barter exchange. Rather, wouldn’t this put your mind at ease, Tetsunoshin-kun? It would create a price that you paid to obtain this power.」

His hands naturally tighten as he grips the beloved sword tied to his waist.

「Now, you have a choice. Will you continue to wield the sword of punishment in your hand, or will you gain new power?」

Tetsunoshin’s eyes turn to the cursed sword. In his mind, he recalled the Nanana collections the challengers he had seen had. These are items that go beyond common sense. Items that you would never be able to obtain if you lived a normal life. And they are undoubtedly powerful. Power that can change anything.

It makes Tetsunoshin think. ‘If only I had this, I might be able to protect Yun-chan next time.’

And so Tetsunoshin voices his current feelings.

「Please, give it to me.」

「Then the deal is complete.」

Then, Iori pulls Tetsunshin’s beloved sword, which he’s just exchanged, from its sheath and slams it against the wall.

SNAP

With that, the sword that had belonged to Tetsunoshin broke in half.

「You!!」

「Whatever I do with what belongs to me is up to me. Besides it’s none of your business anymore, Tetsunoshin. You’ve gained new powers, after all.」

Tetsunoshin, holding the cursed sword, trembles with rage. Iori tosses the hilt from his hand. In front of him Iori places two empty bottles vertically, just as before.

「Now, it’s time for a test cut.」

After Iori steps away, Tetsunoshin holds his sword in front of the bottles. He concentrates and draws the sword in one swift motion. The blade slides out of the sheath and passes straight through the two empty bottles.

「…..I see.」

Tetsunoshin sheathed his <<utsusemi>> and picked up his own broken, discarded sword. The sword he had given away. The sword entrusted to him by his father, a master swordsman.

***********************************

「Hmmm, so that’s how they’re distributed.」, Sansa muttered to herself as she sipped a shot of whiskey on the rocks in her room.

Sansa Kurosu was using the eyepatch covering her left eye, the Nanana collection <<Klaus’ demon eye>> to secretly peer into the field of vision of others, and was watching the entire series of events from the comfort of her own room.

Sansa glanced to the wall across from her. There, displayed on a shelf, was the sheath for the <<Sword of Nanana>>. It had been stolen from the winner, Juugo Yama, immediately after the <<game>>. It was also the sheath that Iori had come out of.

「Nice to meet you.」

It is the day the seal on Nanana’s <<big pocket>> (on the sword’s sheath) was broken.

Iori appeared before Sansa.

「My seal has been broken, so does that mean Nanana is dead?」

That was the first thing Iori said.

「No, she’s fine」, Sansa said calmly, half lying.

「I see. But for you to have broken the seal, it seems something very serious has happened to you.」

The man laughed and bowed to Sansa once again.

「Sorry for the late introduction. I’m the guardian of this sealed sphere, Iori.」

「Guardian?」

「As the one who broke the seal, you probably know this, but all of the items sealed inside are ones that Nanana has deemed dangerous. They should not be given to others without due consideration.」

「Who cares? Anyway, just hurry up and give me all of the Nanana collections you’re protecting.」

「That’s not possible. You already have the answer.」

「Answer? What do you mean?」

Iori smiles.

「The Nanana collection that I received from Nanana should belong to someone worthy of it. Now that I’m free, I’m simply distributing it to those young people who deserve it.」

「Distribute it?」

「I’m sure that’s Nanana’s wish too.」

Iori smiles.

「I have no intention of hoarding them. I only intend to give it to a young person who is worthy of it.」

In the end, no matter how much she threatened or tried to persuade Iori, he refused to listen. Sansa offered to let him join the Three Skulls as a recruit.

Iori readily accepted, saying, 「I’d be happy to」, and that’s how we got to where we are today.

Iori had said that he would only give them to promising young people. Indeed, he had given one to Tetsunoshin. It was given to a young person whose soul was worthy of possessing it. But something about his words and behavior had Sansa on edge.

The item sealed in the <<big pocket>> was undoubtedly something that Nanana had deemed dangerous. It was something that she had intended to keep close at hand and keep an eye on at all times.

A man had emerged from within. He was definitely not human. He was an inhuman being, like the <<white emperor>>, the great white tiger spirit beast that served at Sansa’s side. Nanana had classified it as part of the Nanana collection. He himself claimed to be its guardian. And this man was now going around distributing the dangerous Nanana collection. Should we take all that at face value?

Sansa thinks so.

There’s no excuse.

Sansa felt something similar to herself in Iori. He was like herself, a being on the other side of things.

「Well, it’s fine if he’s just handing them out. I can just collect them later.」

Sansa then pours the contents of her glass down her throat.

Point… Is this man poisonous to her… No, to the Three Skulls? Or maybe he’s a deadly poison to all of Nanaejima.

The Third Account: Summer Vacation of Isshin Yuiga -The Red Notebook-

**********************************************

Late that night, the man was walking down a deserted street. He was the owner of a Nanana collection, and had also participated in the <<game>> before summer vacation.

「Excuse me for asking, but do you own a Nanana collection?」

The moment he heard that question, he instinctively reached into his pocket.

It was at that moment that he was bathed in a blinding light. When he came to, he found himself on the ground, and the suspicious person was nowhere to be seen. He had no idea what on earth had just happened.

「He quickly got up and looked around. Then, he suddenly put his hand in his pocket and realized…

「…My Nanana collection is gone.」

1

「It’s been a while, Isshin. 「

「Hey, Kagetora. It’s been awhile.」

Kagetora arrived earlier than their appointed time. Isshin, who was already there, gave him a refreshing smile.

It was the 18th day of summer vacation, about a week into August.