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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 6 Chapter 3.6

In response to Yukihime’s question, Ikusavba makes light of the Nanana collection that was his spoils of war.

「It was a brilliant move. I never imagined that someone could steal coins in such a way without arousing suspicion. 」

「Even if you keep praising me, you’re not getting anything. 」

「Still, I don’t think anyone else who was there could have dreamt it up. You who started talking about crime prevention, when it turned out you were the culprit and manipulated everyone at your own convenience. Moreover Nanana collections had nothing to do with it. You actually just picked his pocket. 」

「You also came up with a good plan to rob him of his Nanana collection in such a short amount of time. 」

「Robbery is such a disgusting word. Please say that I won it in a fair fight. 」

The person who came up with this series of schemes was Hiiyo Ikusaba. Immediately after listening to M’s  Guaranteed Victory Strategy seminar he proposed a plan to Yukihime, saying 「Can you steal the giant man’s coins? 」

The purpose was to obtain the bug guy’s Nanana collection.

「Did you want his Nanana collection that much? 」

「It is one I have been aiming to get for awhile, but because it’s so powerful he didn’t want to let it go. Honestly, there is no hope for peaceful negotiations over money or trade. 」

「Didn’t you consider stealing it? 」

「That may seem like the quickest solution, but it’s not the smartest one. This island is small, and the amount of people who know about the Nanana collection is even smaller. When something bad happens, word spreads quickly. That’s not something you want to come back to bite you in the butt in the future. That’s why I asked for your help, to create an environment where the other side is will agree to make a deal. 」

When Yukihime was approached with this plan she expressed her reluctance. She was reluctant because the target was a mere civilian. However she changed her mind when she learned from Ikusaba that the big guy was a bad guy who was secretly using the Nanana collection to do evil things. So Yukihime did her work as a member of 《Matsuri》.

The result was that Yukihime’s coins increased from four to eight, and she only needs 2 more to clear the first stage. As for Ikusaba, he got the Nanana collection that he had been aiming at for awhile, and ended up being the only participant who has two Nanana collections. On top of that, only Yukihime knows of this fact. This secret can be a huge advantage later on.

「Well then, our cooperation ends here. 」

「Now we just wish each other good luck. 」

「Don’t even joke about that. I at least wish from the bottom of my heart that you lose quickly. 」

Ikusaba shrugs his shoulders when Yukihime speaks her true feelings.

「You’re very tough as usual. Well then, I’ll do my best to disappoint you. 」

With a fearless smile, Hiiyo Ikusaba disappears into the park.

「Jeez, that man is two faced. 」

After Ikusaba left, Yukihime looked back at the circumstances leading up to the 《game》.

Yukihime and her partner Shuu Todomatsu learned of the existence of Ikusaba from Fumika Sanada, the number one informant on Nanaejima. He knew more about the Nanana collection and its former owner, Nanana Ryuugajo, than anyone else. So Yukihime and her partner decided to kidnap Ikusaba and extract information. She really should have just bought the information from Sanada Fumika, but the fee that Fumika set for the information was so high that it wasn’t something that was affordable. It was as if Fumika didn’t want her to know.

The reason why they allied themselves with such a person as Ikusaba is that, while Ikusaba was imprisoned with Shuu standing watch over him they made the agreement without Yukihime’s permission. Of course Yukihime didn’t like this transaction, which took place while she was gone from the table. And of course she grilled Shuu harshly for it.

However, due to this alliance, Ikusaba (who had been silent up until then) actively provided information.

And there is no excuse for us not to show our sincerity.

Yukihime revealed that they were members of the 《Matsuri》.

「Wha! I had heard rumors about them, but I had no idea they were real. Don’t these 《Matsur》 people want to steal everything they can get their hands on? 」

「We only steal from bad people. 」

「Hmmm, isn’t it inconvenient for thieves to have such righteous restrictions? It’s really inefficient. 」

「Without that pride, we are no better than beasts. 」

「I see, the pride of a thief that I’ve heard about is truly an admirable idea. 」

「By the way, I would not hesitate to steal from you. 」

「I see. I’ll have to be careful after our alliance ends. 」

Among the information given to Yukihime and Shuu from Ikusaba, who was still indifferent despite their malicious intentions, Yukihime was particularly interested in two things: the leprechauns and Nanana Ryuugajou.

Ikusaba had this to say about the leprechauns: They are a mysterious group that continues to create 《ruins》. I know that they are living on this island among the ordinary people, but for some reason I can’t pinpoint who they are. It is unknown how they are connected and how many there are. Their roots are deep and spread wide throughout Nanaejima.

On top of that, Ikusaba explains his theory about the 《ruins》 that the leprechauns are making.

「The main way to obtain the Nanana collection is to find and clear 《ruins》. This acquisition method seems to be a system that is carried out according to the will of the former owner Ryuugajou Nanana. However, I hate that I cannot get the treasures without doing this. I am willing to follow this method though because I won’t be able to get the Nanana collection otherwise, but I couldn’t hate it more. 」

Ikusaba showed how irritated he was at Ryuugajou Nanana.

And then, about that Ryuugajou Nanana…

She is the former head of the GREAT 7 who was killed 10 years ago. It is said that she still remains in this world as an earthbound spirit. It sounds like a bad joke, but it seems to be true.

And so for some reason the place where the earthbound spirit resides is Room 202 of the Happiness Dorm, where Juugo Yama, who Yukihime knows well, lives.

「They seem to be getting along quite well. 」

「Is that so? 」

Ira Ira Ira Ira… (TN: Sound of frustration)

「It might be my imagination but I’m feeling some serious bloodlust. 」

「It must just be your imagination. 」

Ira Ira Ira Ira….

Actually, Yukihime once visited Happiness Dorm. At that time she had only put an envelope containing Juugo’s allowance in the door mail slot. Actually though she wanted to secretly check in on Juugo, but the smell of alcohol and the presence of someone approaching made her feel in danger, so she immediately left the place.

At the time she had just dismissed it as not a big deal, but now she regrets not looking into it more carefully.

Well, putting Yukihime’s personal frustration aside. He told her information about Ryuugajou Nanana, however his last words which revealed his true feelings were very impressive to Yukihime.

「I’ve never known such a monster. 」

She doesn’t know why but Ikusaba Hiiyo is afraid of Ryuugajou Nanana. Even excluding the fact that she was an earthbound spirit, a non-human, Yukihime felt that he was afraid of something even greater than that.

This is the information that was shared from Ikusaba to Yukihime and Shuu, but there is no doubt that not everything has been shared yet. Ikusaba is still hiding some things.

Yukihime still doesn’t trust Ikusaba. However, even taking that distrust into account, she believes that the information Ikusaba provided is valuable. She wants to somehow extract the information that Ikusaba has.Therefore, she believes that the alliance with Ikusaba should continue as long as possible. However she could imagine Ikusaba Hiiyo is forming the alliance to take advantage of her group as well.

They join forces with each other for their own benefit, waiting for the right moment to drain the other person to the bone. Yukihime thinks that the alliance between them and Ikusaba is built on this strong feeling.

This is the basis of the alliance that Ikusaba and Yukihime form.

The purpose of each of them participating in the 《game》 was the same as the other participants, to win 《Nanana’s Sword》.

A clear agreement has been made between the two to achieve this goal.

During the 《game》, the alliance is temporarily canceled, although there may be cooperation depending on the situation, there is no real alliance. There is only one winning prize.

As for Yukihime, she wants to outwit Ikusaba and have the advantage.

「Well then, shall we get going? 」

With only two coins left before she clears the first stage, Yukihime considers the abilities of her own Nanana collection 《Beside the Sun God》 and thinks about how to use it to play this 《game》.

「From what I heard at the training session earlier, this is about how to get your opponent into a battle area where you have the advantage. The question is how to get our opponents into that battle area…」

As she walked through the park with the booklet she had gotten at the seminar in her hand, she caught a glimpse of the participants standing in front of a battle area.

When the participants noticed Yukihime, they asked, 「Would you like to compete in this battle area? 」

Yukihime thought that their appearance was similar to the men who caught fish that she often saw in the downtown area when she was still on the mainland.

However, even though she was invited by them, she didn’t feel like competing.

She knows that the battle area has to be advantageous for the participants that were inviting her, so she would hardly agree to a battle.

While thinking Yukihime suddenly realized, 「I see, this could have been done. 」