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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 3 Chapter 1.5

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“TRANSLATOR:Foxsunes/EDITOR TheNix”

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「Y-you are a horrifying woman.」

「Did you say something, Kagetora?」

「No, nothing.」Answered Kagetora quickly to Yuu’s dark smile.

Now that the three of them had gathered, Isshin opened his mouth again.

「It seems like the three second-years aren’t coming today. So should we open the reflective meeting about the other day with just the three of us?」

「But, Isshin-sama, regarding the other day’s Ruins. The Nanana Collection was just already taken away. You say reflective, but there is nothing to reflect upon, is there?」

The locations of the《Ruins》,in which Nanana’s Collection was hidden, on the island were completely unknown. Among those, the 《Ruins》in the western-style house on the outskirts of Hot Spring village, were ruins that they had been able to discover by Isshin’s wit and Kagetora’s investigations. Certainly, the result was regrettable, but to hold a reflective meeting just because the discovered 《Ruins》had already been robbed of its treasures before they came was not really necessary, so Yuu thought.
To Yuu’s opinion, Isshin nodded 「I see」but he didn’t really say anything beyond that.

「Then I want to ask you something, Isshin.」

The one asking that had been Kagetora.

「What is it, Kagetora?」

「Isshin, why did you try to outsmart the second-years this time as well?」
This was about what Yuu and Kagetora had tried to do when they went to conquer the《Ruins》the other day, obeying to Isshin’s instructions. They had planned for them to split up into two groups at the time they went to the 《Ruins》and they themselves would go to the previously estimated location of the treasure chest first, so that only they would get their hands on the Nanana Collection. However, this ulterior motive effectively failed, and instead they ended up giving a hand to Juugo and the other second-years who had tried to get a jump on them.

「After Yama Juugo and the other underclassmen entered the club we challenged the Rising Building’s 《Ruins》. At that time I could still understand your behavior. That’ because I heard your words 『There is a Nanana Collection that I want to get my hands on no matter what』. In a way, the Nanana Collection in those 《Ruins》, the 《Wizard’s Wand》was your goal, and with that your previous actions can also be approved. However, the last time at the western style house, wasn’t it different from what you said?」

「Wait a second. Just what are you trying to say, Kagetora?」

Yuu asked this without thinking, as she was voicing his critical opinion about Isshin.

「We should have passed on that plan from the very start, and combine our forces as one group.」

She could not do anything but hold her tongue at Kagetora’s words. As for why, that’s because even though Yuu was obediently following Isshin’s orders, she also had been thinking the same thing somewhere in a corner of her mind.

After a bit of carefully thinking things over, Isshin opened his mouth.

「Kagetora, what is your goal?」

At that sudden counter-question, Kagetora answered honestly,

「To retrieve the ((Secret Script of the Two Heavens and 10.000 Flowers)) that Ryuugajou Nanana stole from my village.」

「What’s your goal, Yuu?」

When she was asked this, Yuu panicked.

「M.. my ehm…. I …. I want to be of use to Isshin-sama.」

「Ah yes, that is your “official” reason.」

When Isshin added that last part, Yuu cried a little. Isshin continued.

「Well then, what do you think are the goals of the second-years? Yama-kun is just saying that Nanana’s Collection piqued his curiosity. Tensai-kun is a rather special case. Because she took the Adventure Club’s entrance test without even knowing what the Adventure Club’s activities entailed. This also goes for D’arc-kun.」

Certainly, Isshin and the other third-years did not know why the second-years were looking for Nanana’s Collection.

「In short, we don’t know what’s in their hearts. So we cannot trust them.」

Isshin shook his head at Kagetora’s conclusion.

「I wouldn’t go that far. But they also want Nanana’s Collection. The number of Nanana Collection items is large, but only a few of them are things that can fulfill your wishes.」

「You mean that even if they are friends, they will still be opponents in the end?」

Isshin did not want to confirm nor deny Kagetora’s question. He just turned his back on the two of them and looked out of the window that was beginning to be colored by the late afternoon.

「『This fight is extremely simple. The one who is left standing at the end will obtain everything. There are no precise rules for this. Whether you can get your hands on the treasure or not; that determines the victor』These are the words that a man I hate said to me.」

While turned away from the two of them, Isshin looked a bit lonely when he softly muttered.

「And after all, he might not have been wrong about that.」

His profile looked somewhat sad, Yuu thought.

「If that’s true, then will Yuu and I also become your enemies?」

Her heart startled by Kagetora’s words, Yuu looked at Isshin involuntarily.

「You don’t even have to think about that. There is no way such a thing would happen. Tsurezure Kagetora, I trust you 100%.」

Isshin’s quick reply made Yuu feel some relief. But his words stopped there? No no no.

「E..ehm, Isshin-sama….. what about me?」

「Of course. I also trust you, Yuu. But it would be much appreciated if you didn’t attack me.」

Sweat dripped down Yuu’s back.

「Then, why can’t you trust Yama Juugo and the other second-years? They are also members of the Adventure Club.」

Isshin nodded at what Kagetora said.

「Yes, and they are much more formidable than I will ever be, those two.」

Yuu felt something cold in his eyes when Isshin murmured this.

In the end, without giving a direct answer to Kagetora’s question, Isshin ended with: 「Sorry, but I’ll let myself go home early today.」and then he unlocked the clubroom’s door and left. Yuu and Kagetora were left behind in the room. They quietly spend their time by sitting down on a chair and sipping tea for a while.

「Maybe Isshin is anxious about something.」

The one who said that was Kagetora.

「How so?」

「He looked to me as if he was afraid that his intentions wouldn’t be understood.」

These two, who walked beside him, knew very well just how hard Isshin had been trying.

「So you think that’s why he tried to betray Yama and the runt at the hot springs town?」

「Yes, that’s what I’m thinking. He must be having a pretty hard time accepting the fact that the ((Wizard’s Wand)) slipped through his hands, don’t you think?」

Isshin had managed to obtain the Nanana Collection that he had always wanted, but in a fight with Juugo he had used up all the power of that item. In the end, he had no choice but to sell it to Ikkaku Shunjuu, who was one of the Great 7.

「But isn’t it great that we got a ton of money thanks to that?」

「This is exactly what makes you a money-worshipper. My oh my」sighed Kagetora. Yuu glared at him.

「Hm? What about it? We’re talking about a hundred million here. One. Hundred. Million. We can buy anything we want!」

「There are things that cannot be bought with money.」

「Kagetora, you’re not planning to say something like 『A person’s heart cannot be bought』are you now?」

「No, but something similar. It also applies to you wanting Isshin, right?」

Kagetora was just trying to sound cool. But hearing that, Yuu was annoyed.

「Geez, this is why I hate men who keep saying things that I don’t understand. It’s not good when anything and everything you say ends up sounding difficult and vague.」

Yuu had no clue what the things that Kagetora was saying meant and wasn’t willing to try and understand them either. After all she thought that money really was amazing. As long as you have money, you can get anything. Clothes, bags, and accessories. As much as you wanted to buy. She could use money to make herself more cute and make even the guy she liked notice her.

For Yuu, money was a means through which her own wishes could be fulfilled. As long as they have money, a person could do anything and everything. They could run towards their desires via the shortest possible route. Even chances were things you could buy with money. In short, if you thought logically, even a person’s heart could be bought. Because the only thing you needed after a chance was your own work hard. If that was so, then there was no need to make any complicated calculations, because she already had that diligence. That is why the thing that you cannot buy with money, which Kagetora was talking about, was something that didn’t even have a shape. Yuu could not find any value in that, and she did not try to.

In the end, this talk was cut off at that and it had become about time to go back home.

Yuu, who started cleaning up, found a single photograph lying on the top of the club president’s desk. It was the picture Isshin had been staring at forever today.

「This is…」

「The original Adventure Club, I guess.」Kagetora, who had come to stand next to her, murmured.

「Ah. This person.. it’s Konjou-senpai. She was pretty famous in the Third Private Highschool, wasn’t she?」

Yuu recognized the young woman in the middle of the picture.

「This must be Sanada Fumika. She helped me out a few times in the past.」

「This girl.. she is Fuwa-san from the same year, right? She got injured very badly, and regrettably had to quit high school.    …. Now that I look at it like this, the Adventure Club had quite a line-up of famous members two years ago.」

While Yuu was impressed by this fact, Kagetora pointed out one of them.

「This guy as well.」

「Ah, I somewhat remember him. If I recall correctly….. Ikusaba-senpai, am I right? I don’t know his given name though.」

「Yes, but I haven’t heard any good rumors of him at all.」

＊＊＊

I had returned to Happiness Dormitories, and went ahead and rang the intercom for room 203. But there was no response, it seemed that they weren’t home.

「Tch. Where have you gone off to, Tensai?」

I couldn’t tell you why but it made me a bit restless. For a moment I considered giving her a call, but I figured it was a bit too much to go out of my way to phone someone who lives right next to me so I ended up not calling her. So onto my home next door.

「I’m home.」

「Welcome back, Juugo.」

「… and that’s what happened.」

After having finished up my dinner, I (as always) played games together with Nanana-chan and gave her a report of the day.

「Hmmmm. I’m a bit worried about Tensai-chan.」

「Well, I think it must be all right though.」

Despite having said that, it was really weighing on my mind. That Tensai.. What was going on? For real!

KON KON KON

「? What’s that sound?」

There was a sudden sound as if something was hitting something else, and I scanned around the room. Then I heard it again. 「KON KON KON」Echoed the knocking sound.

Nanana pointed out to a very puzzled me what might be causing the sound.

「Juugo, it’s probably the window.」

At Nanana’s hint, I stood up, approached the window that led to the balcony, and opened the curtains.

「Eh uwao!」

I was startled. On the other side of the window stood a man that I did not know.

「Ah, you’re the person who is now living in this room? Seems like I startled you, my bad.」

Saying this with a smile, the man was quite tall. This guy was probably older than me.

Even though it was already getting warm, he was wearing a black shirt, black trousers, black boots, and on top of that an extremely flashy black coat that was lined with fur. My eyes drifted towards the silver accessories that he wore around his neck, wrist and on his fingers.

「Wha…. who the heck are you?」

I was on my guard, so the guy with his somewhat conspicuous appearance waved at me with both hands and smiled.

「I sincerely apologize for having startled you. But I’m not a thief nor a burglar, so take it easy please.」

Even when I was told this by a guy who had suddenly appeared on my balcony, I wasn’t going to trust him one inch.

「Don’t be so wary now. I just have some business with that one over there, that’s all.」

As he said this, the long-haired guy pointed behind me.

「What did you come here for, Hiiyo?」

Nanana-chan sullenly approached us. The guy pulled back the smile he had given me, and with an expression that somehow seemed to be mocking her, he gave Nanana-chan a scornful laugh.

「It’s been a while. Right, Nanana? There is no more than one reason I would come to meet you, is there? 」

And then the man took it out of the pocket of his coat.

「I got my hands on a new Nanana Collection, so take a look at it for me will you?」

On the palm of his hand sat a dully shining copper-colored bell. Seeing that, I asked the man in front of me without thinking.

「Who in the world are you?」

「Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Hiiyo, Ikusaba Hiiyo.」

The man narrowed his eyes and gave me a broad smile.

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