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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 8 Chapter 5.4

Ikusaba-san is fully aware of how important the interactions and networks between challengers are in assembling the Nanana collection hidden on the island. Those who commit crimes are looked down upon and distrusted. Therefore, if possible, he would rather not resort to such a method. The fact that he let Taisei and the others go first without trying to take their collections is proof enough of that.

「So this sword is so attractive that you are willing to do anything to get your hands on it?」

Taisei and Haruto, who were at the announcement M made, already know that I won. They’re busy right now, but I’m sure the news will spread from them soon. Ikusaba-san must want to put an end to this before that happens. At worst, he may even consider silencing me.

Anyway, the problem is that the <<bow of light>> that Ikusaba-san uses, which is part of the Nanana collection, is extremely powerful. It slaughtered those violent humanoids in an instant. Unless I do something about it, I have no chance of winning.

As I was thinking about this, an arrow of light passed right above the cover I was hiding behind.

「Choose what you are going to do now, Yama-kun.」

What you are really having me choose between is living and dying… I shake my head.

Wait just a second, me. Don’t get the wrong idea no matter how cornered you are. The one who is in the lead right now isn’t Ikusaba san with his powerful Nanana collection, the <<bow of light>>. It’s me, who has the <<sword of Nanana>> that Ikusaba-san desires. The situation here won’t be decided by Ikusaba-san and his powerful collection. Ikusaba-san will respond to my actions as I wield the <<sword of Nanana>>.

I shifted my thinking. And then an idea hits me.

I have no intention of determining whether this idea will work or not (as I usually do) or making any adjustments to make it work. Time is tight right now, so I’m going to just do it quickly. The success probability doesn’t matter. Even if it’s only 1%. I’m going to make it work.

「Okay! Let’s go!」

So, my next action was to… jump out from behind cover, turn my back on Ikusaba-san, and run away as fast as I could.

******************************

「It went well.」

Asumi, who used the communication-based Nanana collection the <<sacred tree of Anborusa>> that Imawano Misao had brought. Sweat trickled down her forehead and she was breathing heavily. Communicating with so many people at once was clearly beyond the limits of the <<sacred tree of Anborusa>>, which could only be used to communicate with individuals.

Communication was set up to all students in possession of the Nanana collection, and located within Seven’s Land. Asumi’s head, which was the relay point for all the targets, was suffering from a terrible headache that wouldn’t stop. It felt like it was throbbing and going to explode.

「Are you okay Asumi?」

「Yeah, I’m fine.」

「But shouldn’t you have said that the dying girl was M?」

The one who asked this was Neidhart D. Polnareff. He, like Asumi,k was exhausted from being over the limit with their collection items. Due to his fatigue, he no longer had the energy to speak the broken Japanese that a psudo-foreigner (although he really was) would speak, and instead spoke perfect Japanese.

「That’s right.」

「So you kept it a secret. Well, if I had heard that it was M who was about to die, would I have been eager to help? … but it’s mean to think about that.」

「So be it.」

Saying this, Asumi stood up.

「You shouldn’t push yourself too hard.」

「I can’t afford to do that. I have to give a lot of instructions. But Haruto, you should get some rest. When Yuiga-kun gets tired, I’ll have you take over again.」

Right now, it is Isshin Yuiga who is using the <<Milt Meer’s pocket watch>> in place of Haruto to slow down time for the dying Saki. By switching over when he gets tired from being over the limit, he is able to maintain the slower time for as long as possible. The one who suggested this idea was Isshin himself. By having multiple people use it repeatedly, it could be used over the limit multiple times. Asumi immediately adopted this idea, and it was decided that from now on, Haruto and Isshin would take turns slowing down Saki’s time.

The other members must get to work now. There’s a lot to do, including fending off the attacking humanoids, building a barricade to face off against the approaching Nanaejima General Security, and picking up the girl who has the healing Nanana collection.

「But this is a strange island. Everyone is always thinking about everyone else 」, Haruto muttered as he looked up at the ceiling.

「That’s not true. There are many people who are not like that.」

「But is it a national character that is the reason so many people are like that?」

「I don’t think it has anything to do with the country this is or that this is an island. People are always wanting to act for the best of others, and are able to do so. I believe that it is the essence of being a human being.」

「Is that a belief in the fundamental goodness of human beings or something? Whatever it is, it’s a childish idea. It’s nothing more than idealism」, the gentleman thief snorted.

Asumi smiles, though.

「That’s right. It’s childish. If you think about it in terms of your own gain or loss, it may be negative overall. They may not know this themselves, but I thought the participants gathered at Seven’s Land would definitely take action.」

「Why?」

「The Nanana collection.」

「The Nanana collection?」

「Items endowed with various powers lie dormant on this island. Because you all believed in this child’s story, we searched for it, and obtained it. You should understand that if you take action, anything you wish for will definitely become a reality.」

「Imagination is not just an ideal, but a guidepost to a desired future. The existence of the Nanana collection is proof of that. Because we were able to do it before, we can continue to do it. …No, maybe we can do even more amazing things than that.」

「More than the abilities, the fact that they are able to demonstrate this kind of potential is what I think is the most wonderful thing about the Nanana collection. This island is filled with dreams like these, and I think that makes it a wonderful place.」

Haruto stared intently at Asumi as she spoke. He was staring at her strangely, and Asumi gradually began to feel embarrassed.

「Um… was that weird to say?」

Asumi had a red face and started shaking with embarrassment, but Haruto smiled.

「No, I was just so captivated by such a beautiful lady.」

「S..stop teasing me.」

「I’m very serious」, Haruto said with a smile.

「Anyway, Haruto. You should take a break for a while」, Asumi said, and then gave instructions to the other members.

Come on guys, let’s get this done!」

************************************************

Earlier in time:

The real Nanaejima General Security, led by Shiki Maboro, is struggling after falling into the trap set by Sansa Kurosu. In the midst of fierce resistance from the students, they desperately call for an end to the attack, while sending in the main force, the Special Forces led by Himeko Nonomiya, to wipe out the fake Nanejima General Security. They also have to pursue Sansa who has appeared to have already infiltrated the royal castle.

Many of the items in the Nanana collection used by the students have offensive abilities, so if we continue to just defend like this, our losses will only increase.

「…I guess there’s no other way.」

And so Shiki stepped forward alone, in order to minimize the damage to the resisting students. Shiki paid no attention to the Nanana collection and immediately knocked the two students u;nconscious and had them restrained by her subordinates.

「I didn’t want to do anything rough though.」

She cannot contain her anger at her own incompetence and at the injustice she has caused that dragged the students, who were participants in the <<game>> into this fight.

And then suddenly the students’ resistance suddenly stopped.

「Huh?」

There was a sudden silence, as if coordinated. Then a roar rises.

「Yeah! Let’s do it!」

「Bring it on!」

The students start fighting back again, but differently than before. Until now, the students had been acting independently, but now they seem to be moving in unison. It’s as if they’re acting under a unified will.

If something happened, it must have been during the silence earlier. I didn’t think anything strange had happened, though. What on earth was it?

Even as these questions crossed her mind, Shiki’s actions remained unchanged. Undeterred by the Nanana collection aimed at her, she silenced the students one by one.

Shiki stopped in her tracks though because of a girl who stood in front of her.