3 bar menu

Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 8 Chapter 3.5

「What made you think I would approach Tsujimi?」

「I thought you were that type of person Ageha-ojousama.」

Hearing Juugo’s judgement of her character made Ageha laugh happily.

「It seems that in the short time you spent as my servant, your training has progressed more than I expected. Yama, if you are willing, I will allow you to become one of my real servants anytime.」

「Hard pass.」, Juugo replies in a dejected tone.

「Well then Ojousama, what’s the situation?」

「I’ve been under the spell of Ikusaba’s ring and my collection has been sealed away so I can’t use it for another seven or eight minutes. The little mouse is still out of the fight.」

「Got it.」

「Don’t get it! Don’t act like I’m useless!」

「So? That’s not your specialty, detective. Just make sure you check what’s in the bag.」

After seeing Tensai, who fell silent and said with a ‘hmph’, peer into the cloth bag she was holding, Juugo stepped forward in front of Ikusaba.

「Well, for now I’ll be the one to deal with Ikusaba-san.」

Ikusaba laughs happily as he faces off with Juugo.

「This will be a rematch from some time ago.」

「Yes, but this time I won’t lose Ikusaba-san.」

5

I quickly closes the distance between myself and Ikusaba-san and throws a punch. Of course, I was wary of Ikusaba’s counter throws, and I didn’t want to attack in an unnatural position. I stood firm and made sure to hit him. I deliver a light jab and Ikusaba-san dodges it.

「What’s wrong, Yama-kun? You don’t seem to have the same energy as before.」

「I’m tired of just charging in blindly, so today I’m going to fight with style.」

「What that face?」

「My face doesn’t matter!」

Without thinking, I went for a punch, but he caught me by the arm and threw me. I was supposed to be thrown to the ground with full force…

「What?」

However, that was not to be the case. Just before I was about to be thrown, I jumped hard away from Ikusaba-san, forcibly breaking up Ikusaba-san’s throw attempt. Of course, I flew through the air and fell to the floor, but the throw wasn’t full strength. Furthermore, by rolling to the side while still firmly gripping Ikusaba-san’s arm, I pulled hard on Ikusaba-san’s arm and took him to the ground also.

「Ugh.」

Rolling on the floor, I wrap my arm around Ikusaba’s arm that he’s still holding. Ikusaba lands a few blows on me as I try to get away, but I manage to forcefully lock the joint in Ikusaba-san’s arm.

OK, I got this.

I put all my strength into it with the intention of breaking Ikusaba-san’s joint.

「Yama-kun, ‘let go’.」

However, after hearing Ikusaba-san’s words, his body automatically let go of the arm. Ikusaba-san took the opportunity to stand up and create some distance. There was no need to ask why this happened. This was from the ‘absolute command’ ability from Ikusaba’s skull ring. Apparently the ring had gotten into his field of  vision.

「…I see, that’s really troublesome.」

Unlike the calm conditions of the table game battle of the second stage, during the fast-paced actual battle it was difficult to take my eyes off the skull ring completely, even if I was trying to.

「That was dangerous.」

Ikusaba-san lightly waves his right arm. Now it’s Ikusaba-san’s turn to attack. He closes the distance and lands a strike.

「Yama-kun, ‘your right leg is loosening up’.」

Because of what had happened earlier, I was on high alert and was able to quickly look away from the skull ring on my right hand and avoid the ‘absolute order’. However, the moment I turned to the side, I received an attack from my blind spot.

I frantically tried to fight back, but my arm was caught and this time I was thrown with perfect form.

Crash

「Ooooff.」

Ikusaba-san’s throws are as painful as ever, especially when I can’t defend against them.

I quickly got up and rubbed my back.

「That ring’s power is broken.」

「I think so too. So feel free to use your Nanana collection, Yama-kun.」

Ikusaba-san smiles confidently. I’m sure he knows that I have <<Yugutoth’s one eye>> and couldn’t use it in this situation.

「Oh, I see. In that case, I won’t hesitate.」

As Ageha-ojousama said this, Ikusaba-san was suddenly blown away by a blow to the side. Even Ikusaba-san was surprised by this.

「That’s impossible, it hasn’t been 10 minutes yet.」

「Yeah, that’s why I didn’t use it.」

He looked over to Ageha-ojousama’s side and saw the little detective standing there, clutching silver key with both hands and swinging it with all her might, causing a force that sent him spinning.

「Hmmm, it seems that the power of the ring <<death’s whisper’ can only be applied to an individual. Therefore, the suggestion you cast on Ageha-dono did not apply to me.」

Tensai was laughing fearlessly while staggering around because her legs are giving out. Ikusaba-san clicked his tongue.

「I told you about the ability, but I don’t think I explained what its scope is.」

「If you think about the previous stage of the <<game>> and the previous battle at South Red Mall, it’s not that difficult to deduce.」

「I see. As long as she’s an ally she’s reliable, but as an enemy there’s no one more troublesome than this great detective.」

「Hmmm, you can praise me more if you like. Oh, and by the way, is it ok to be looking this way?」

At almost the same time that Tensai’s warning finished, I delivered a powerful kick to Ikusaba-san’s face.

「It’s poor manners to interrupt a conversation, Yama-kun.」

「Sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.」

After giving a completely insincere apology to Ikusaba, who was back on his feet, the two began exchanging blows again. Ikusaba-san moved to a position where he could see Tensai and I on either side of him to guard from an attack from a blind spot.

「Hii-ya.」

He hits me with a blow coming from the right side. I block it in front of my face. However, the moment I received the blow, Ikusaba-san’s right hand grabbed my arm which I used to block.

Sensing danger immediately, he tries to forcefully shake it off.

「That’s a good counter.」

Ikusaba-san took one step in. A moment later my vision was spinning as I was in the air and my back hit the floor. I couldn’t understand what had happened. Not just a counter throw like before, but a throw from a strike? Is that even possible?

I look up and Ikusaba looks down. Ikusaba-san is then quickly blown away. With a quick glance I see that Tensai was spinning again. It was a supportive attack from Tensai.

「What a really annoying Nanana collection.」

I quickly got up as well. My body didn’t hurt that much. It seems that the new throwing technique that Ikusaba-san had used earlier was less powerful than the counter throw.

They closed the distance again and exchanged blows. However, unlike before, Ikusaba-san doesn’t seem to be trying to throw me. Why? I see, since we’re so close Tensai can’t help me. In other words he won’t throw me and create distance.

‘In that case…’, he though and charged forward with all his energy. Not caring about the light blows that Ikusaba-san tried to use to ward him off, he punched Ikusaba-san with all his might.

「Uraaaa!」

With a big swing, Ikusaba-san’s guard is blown away and he stumbles. Now I can launch a quick attack. I aimed my fist at Ikusaba-san’s stomach, thrusting it upwards from below.

「Guh!」

It was blocked and the hit was shallow, but Ikusaba-san’s body bent over.

「One more!」

A powerful swing was aimed at his face.

「Don’t…get…cocky!」

A big swing was caught in his arm and sent me flying straight into the air.

Bam

A loud noise is made when I hit the ground and a sharp pain shoots up from my spine. It really hurts. I take a direct hit from the throw and writes in agony on the floor. And that’s not the end of it.

At the same time that he threw me, Ikusaba-san jumped to the side. Then something passed by where Ikusaba-san had been. I glance over and saw Tensai spinning around again.

「I don’t hit him.」

Tensai’s support attack failed. Realizing that this was bad, I quickly sat up, but because I didn’t prepare for the fall, the numbness in my body didn’t go away yet. I remained on my knees, unable to move. Of course Ikusaba-san didn’t miss this chance.

「This is payback for earlier.」

He raises his fist and closes the distance.

Bam

「Gaaahhh!」

But suddenly, he leaned his head back and stumbled backwards, as if he had run face-first into a wall.

「The ban has been lifted.」

After being sealed for 10 minutes, Ageha-ojousan crushes the silver egg, <<Humpty Dumpty>> with a grin. As our eyes meet, Ojousama adjusts the shirt around her chest. Although I would like to take my time admiring the beautiful sight now happening, I understand Ojousama’s intentions, so I head straight for Ikusaba-san.