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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 7 Chapter 5.5

This is dangerous, what on earth is going on? The man who assured me confidently in the hallway that he 「has a plan」 is now dancing and swinging his hips to a zun zun rhythm?

The frigid wave of embarrassment floods the great hall.

Witnessing Tetsu-kun’s bizarre behavior, Yun-chan and Nishi-san’s eyes go dead, staring blankly like those of dead fish. They gaze in frozen horror at the unfolding disaster.

And while chanting 「zun zun」, Tetsu-kun begins to mime the actions of someone descending down stairs into a subway behind the wide, large table in the robbery room.

On the other side of the table, Tetsu-kun starts from one edge and his head gradually dips lower and disappears around the middle, only for it to rise again as he continues across… and then…

「What!」

I blurted out involuntarily.

「What on earth is going on here! The announcer’s voice echoes throughout the grand hall with panic.

In the Robbery room, both Ikusaba-san and President Yuiga are likewise stunned by the unbelievable event.

Then,

「Aaaaah!」

The high-pitched scream reverberates in the great hall… though that scream was mine, you know.

You would scream too though because it was Batako who mimed coming up the subway stairs.

6

Tetsu-kun disappears and is replaced by Batako-san.

This joke-like scenario unfolds on the monitor before us.

But this impossible phenomenon makes perfect sense to me.

I don’t know exactly what it is exactly… but it’s the ability to switch places with someone else.

That’s likely the power of Tetsu-kun’s Nanana Collection.

Before the second stage, Batako-san emerged from the restroom where Tetsu-kun entered, this is how. Moreover, Tetsu-kun probably came out of the women’s restroom because Batako-san moved to a stall there and they switched back. Still the worst character trait.

However, that’s not the current issue.

The problem is the outright use of the Nanana collection, live on television.

This is a clear violation of the second stage rules.

Participants in the grand hall, including me and the TV staff, are visibly slack-jawed with shock at the turn of events.

「N-n-n…」

A trembling and unsure M who was watching the monitor suddenly dashes out of the grand hall.

Several of us immediately follow, rushing toward the robbery room.

「Looks lively as ever, eh?」

M reaches the robbery room out of breath and faces off with Batako-san, now dressed identically to how Tetsu-kun was.

「Do you realize what you’ve done!?」 Instead of anger, M’s question is in fluster.

Batako-san nonchalantly grins and says, 「Of course.」

Batako-san spreads her arms wide toward the camera with a sunny grin.

「Wasn’t that a nice magic trick? 」

「Magic?!」

A flabbergasted M, or rather Yun-chan, couldn’t believe Batako-san’s answer.

「What else could it be?」

「There’s no way such an excuse will be accepted!」

「Hmm, then how else could someone do something like this? Tell the good children watching TV. M, let’s hear the truth from your mouth?」

Pressured by Batako-san, M stammers with a panicked 「Uh, um.」

「On camera, right now?」

「That’s right. Right here on camera. If what I’ve done by surprising everyone with a magic trick was wrong, then state the problem here and now. 」

Realizing Batako-san’s intention, it dawns on M or Yun-chan, who becomes visibly worried.

「Let’s talk in the hallway…」

「No, that’s too much trouble.」

「Then I’ll speak to you later!」

「No, I want it cleared up right now, right here. The game had to be paused M because, you forced your way into this room. The audience needs an explanation for such an interruption.」

「But, well…」

「Come on, I’m not blaming you. Just clarify your reason for stopping the progression right now. You’ve got nothing to hide, right?」

「Ugh.」

Completely cornered, M (or Yun-chan) is at a loss for words.

I am honestly surprised by Batako-san’s tactics to nullify the rules violation. The infraction was presented, but how to make it an official rules violation wasn’t quite explained.

Likely, M didn’t expect it either. So when the violation was pushed to the forefront, the idea of it being used against them was unfathomable.

「Or should I continue the magic? Perhaps, for example, I could slice off the head of that black snowman over there that follows your orders.」

With a sly grin, Batako-san glares. The trembling gorokuma and others behind M appear ready to protest as if to say, 「Us?」

「What are you…」

「If that happened, you, M, would have to endorse this magic show by saying the mysterious creatures can live without its head, right?」

「Wa-wa-wa-wa!」

Faced with the persistent threats from Batako-san, M and the similarly flustered gorokuma group don’t know what to do.

They’re like frogs being stared down by a snake.

And the one-eyed snake whispers into the ear of the masked frog.

「Decide now, will you let this go as magic or shatter the 《game》 and end it all?」

Suddenly, the tables turn and M is on the defensive. What a display of brute force.

M’s conclusion…

「It’s a great magic trick!」

Flashing a forced smile, M gives a thumbs-up.

Instantly, Batako-san smiles brightly.

「Right, isn’t my magic super great? Thanks M, for coming all the way to praise me.」

Retracting her predatory expression, Batako-san smiles and pats M on the head.

「Heh, hehehe!」

And an overwhelmingly happy M (or rather Yun-chan) basks in the attention. Utterly tamed.

「Now get out. I’m about to send this malicious idiot flying」, Ikusaba tells Batako-san.

「Mr. Servant B has turned into Ms. Servant B… is this even allowed? Ah well, it’s interesting so we’ll allow it… Yes, we’ll go with allowed」, voices the on-air announcer from the speaker.

It seems the TV side has readily accepted the incidents. 《NNE》’s TV staff are quite adaptable indeed.

And so, Tetsu-kun’s exchange with Batako-san (thanks to the Nanana collection), is brushed off as ‘magic’ and the 《forced acquisition game》 resumes.

At the direction of Yuiga the banger (who is looking nervous), Batako-san and Ikusaba-san face each other at the central table.

「You do use some forceful methods」, Ikusaba comments calmly to his suddenly swapped opponent.

「What? I just wanted to have a bit of fun.」

Looking at how casually they converse… could it be that these two know each other?

12th turn 《forced acquisition game》,

Hiiyo Ikusaba (Phantom Thief) of Great Detective Team (285 coins)
VS
Tetsu-kun (Servant B) → Batako-san of Lady Team (194 coins)

How will Batako-san, who appeared in place of Tetsu-kun, conduct themselves against the unbeatable Ikusaba-san?

What will become of this match?

…And I’d like to say one thing to Tetsu-kun, who switched with Batako-san.

You left it to me… but what exactly am I supposed to do with Batako-san?