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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 8 Chapter 3.8

I wondered the same thing when the third stage was explained. But does this great detective really want to take the story to a highly suspicious point?

「I don’t know. In the long run, it’s probably not a good move.」

「What do you mean?」

「For the leprechauns, the <<game>> is the place for efficiently collecting the Nanana collection. If they used such heavy-handed tactics, they’ll only be shunned by the owners of the Nanana collection which would keep people from coming to any more games. Plus, if we were to appear on a late-night live broadcast and then all disappear, it would definitely become a police matter. For the leprechauns who are trying to stay hidden, that would be too much trouble.」

「That’s true.」

「And maybe they didn’t anticipate a situation like this.」

「You mean the possibility that M, (aka Saki Yoshino) would be defeated?」

After all, being the organizer, they were able to take advantage of the loopholes in the rules and do whatever they wanted. Well, this is just speculation though.

「Let’s get back to the topic on hand. I have a general understanding of the current situation. Tetsunoshin has turned against us. With that in mind, Juugo, what exactly are you planning to do?」

「Ah, well…」

Then I tell Tensai the whole plan. Upon hearing it she responds, 「Mhmm, 5 points.」

「Huh? You mean out of 10 right?」

「Out of 1000 points.」

「The rating is ten times lower than I expected! I mean, why!?」

「Shut up! My marks are harsh! …You’re really not being evil at all.」

Is that what you were evaluating?

「Well, I think it’s quite shocking.」

「And because it doesn’t ultimately lead to a showdown with me, that’s why it’s rated so low!」

「That’s just selfish.」

「Well, that’s fine. I’ll lend you a hand. However…「

「However…. What? What is it?」

Tensai thrust her notebook at me, which she had taken out of her pocket.

「Write a pledge.」

「A pledge?」

「Just write, ‘At a later date, I will engage in a fierce battle with the greatest detective of the century, Ikkyu Tensai-sama.’」

「Wait a minute. You have that little trust in me?!」

「Of course! Zero trust!」

It was quite a shock. Well, I can’t deny it because I’ve done so much already. I don’t really get why she wants me to sign this, but Tensai’s cooperation is essential. I reluctantly take the pen that is offered to me.

Well, having said that, it seemed a bit like writing out spouse coupons. I created a ‘challenge coupon’, instead of a ‘shoulder massage coupon’.

「How, when you’re ready to use it, just cut along these lines here.」

Was that a bit too childish?

「Wow! That’s a pretty exciting creating for you, Juugo!」

….to my surprise, she takes the bait. Her eyes are sparkling.

As an aside, the expiery date is the last day of summer vacation. However, I thought I would get in trouble if I tried to trick her by writing the previous year, so I wrote the current year.

As I returned the notebook, a question suddenly occurred to me.

「Hey, Tensai. What on earth are leprechauns?」

「The identity of the people who created the <<ruins>> is completely unknown. However, what we have seen so far is sufficient to deduce that they possess considerable power.」

「The series of events leading up to the Tanabata Festival, where they hid Yun-chan, then the preparation of the tram for this <<game>>, the use of Sevens Land before it opened, and the live broadcast on ‘NNE’.」

「It’s a lot of things that normally wouldn’t be possible.」

This is an organization with the power to move many people and manipulate information. But sometimes it just doesn’t make sense.

「Placing the Nanana collection in this <<ruin>>, and then collecting it by putting on this <<game>>. Do you think there’s any point in doing this as an organization?」

「No, in fact, I don’t see any benefit or productivity in this act itself. If there is any, it’s only for one purpose.」

「And that is…?」

「It will keep us maintaining the environment in which Nanaejima hides the Nanana collection.」

The only reason for the leprechauns’ existence is to ensure that the Nanana collection is hidden somewhere on the island.

「Why though…? It’s just pointless. There’s only one person who wants that.」

The person that comes to mind was that child eating pudding at home with way too much energy.

「What’s the matter, Juugo? You look very displeased.」

「That’s possible….」

「Are you scared now? Are you going to pick a fight with Nanana-dono?」

I’m really fed up with Tensai’s grinning and laughing with amusement.

「That’s a misleading way of saying it. Add ‘possibly’ to the question.」

「It may be pretty close to the truth though.」

Yes, picking a fight with the leprechaun is highly likely to be the same as picking a fight with Nanana-chan. Because the two are definitely connected.

Take Nanana-chan’s intrusion of the second stage for example. The way she was able to be involved was by borrowing the body of M (or Yun-chan) who was the organizer and one of the leprechauns. And right now Nanika is also controlling Yun-chan’s body in the same way Nanana-chan was. Is that a coincidence? Of course not. Given what has happened so far tonight, I have to assume it was done in the same way, although I have no idea what that method is.

「The question is, ‘how closely connected are they?’「

「? What do you mean?」

「I mean that literally. I think there’s information being exchanged. But it’s probably not directly.」

「That’s a strange thing to say. The leprechaun’s ultimate goal is to make Nanana’s wish come true. But you’re saying there’s a distance between Nanana and the leprechaun? Why do you think so?」

「Even though nanana wants to, she still can’t leave room 202 of the Happiness Dorm.」

Tensai narrows her eyes.

「What do you mean?」

「If she’s close to a leprechaun, she should be able to use the Nanana collection as much as she wants. After all, the one in charge of the missing Nanana collection is undoubtedly the leprechaun who is hiding them in the <<ruins>>.」

Once the entire Nanana collection is complete, almost anything a person could wish for can be obtained. These are the words that Nanana-chan once said herself.

「But Nanana-dono, wasn’t she able to leave that room tonight? By borrowing the body of M, Saki Yoshino?」

「Yeah. And I think it was the first time she’s been able to go outside since she died.」

「Is that true?」

「That’s probably true, judging by how happy she was.」

「Indeed, her excitement was incredible.」

Nanana-chan, with M‘s appearance, looked really happy as she ran around the large hall where the second stage was held.

‘Yeah, I wanted to go. When I heard Juugo and the others talk, I always thought, I want to do something fun like that with everyone.’

I remembered a lonely look she would sometimes show in room 202, staring out the window, and I painfully understood the feelings behind those words.

「I don’t know what happened, or what exchange took place, but tonight Nanana’s long-held wish came true. There’s no doubt that it was Nanika who made it come true.」

「Nanika was who allowed Nanana to possess, or control, Saki Yoshino. And now, it is possessing, or controlling, Saki Yoshino the same way.」

「Yeah. So in terms of the relationship between Nanana and Nanika, it’s Nanika who took the initiative.」

「So the question that arises is, ‘Is Nanana and the leprechauns in cahoots’ … or rather just, ‘How closely connected is Nanana-dono and Nanika’?」

Simply put, if it was something that was being done under Nanana’s orders, she would definitely be angry. However, if it was something that the leprechaun was doing on its own accord in order to grant Nanana’s wish, she probably wouldn’t be angry.

「It’s difficult. Nanana-chan has her own Nanana rules, you see.」

These are iron clad rules that Nanana decided upon. Nanana seems to absolutely adhere to these rules. Therefore, if there was a rule that said she can’t use the Nanana collection for herself, then this reasoning would not even be valid in the first place.

The more I think about it, the more holes I see in my speculation. And I don’t have the time or the means to fill them right now.

「Juugo, let me ask you again just to be sure. Are you really sure about doing this?」

Now all that’s needed is for me to decide if I’m going to do it or not. That answer has already been decided.

「Yeah, I’m doing this. If I pick a fight with Nanaika and Nanana starts to dislike me, then there’s just no helping it. I’ll probably cry for about a week, but then I’ll swallow those tears.」

「What a pathetic guy.」

It’s not pathetic, it’s a normal reaction. And anyways…

「Besides, Nanana-chan would never reject what I do.」

Hearing my confident words, Tensai grinned.

「I agree with you on that.」

So, I made up my mind.

「Okay, let’s go over the next steps one more time and then we’ll get started.」

Now, it’s time for a fight, Nanika.