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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 9 Chapter 3.11

「It’s not like I was doing it because I wanted to. I was the one who came to visit first. I’d like you to praise me for being so considerate as I was not interrupting.」

「I see. Then as a reward, I’ll make you my boyfriend.」

Ikusaba looked shocked at Kanata’s cynical smile.

「I don’t really need one.」

「Just get rid of your lingering attachment to Kasumi and take my hand.」

「I don’t like insensitive women like that.」

「You have a habit of wanting to chase women who run away from you, but you run away from women who try to get close to him. You’re a really messed up guy.」

「You’re meddling. But I’m surprised. I never thought Tensai-kun was Kanata’s sister. That’s why she’s so smart.」

「That girl is literally a genius.」

「Only second to you Kanata?」

「Objective comparisons are bad because they make things monotonous. Wanting to divide everything into black and white is a bad human habit. Superiority and inferiority are just self-gratification.」

「Geniuses say strange things.」

「I don’t like you putting it that way.」

「You say strange things, Kanata.」

「I don’t mind that.」

「What do you mean by black and white?」

「It’s a bad human habit. What is it Hiiyo? You didn’t know? I’m still human.」

Ikusaba could only chuckle bitterly at the woman who never stops talking.

「Well, Hiiyo, we don’t have much time left, so let’s get back to where we left off. …It’s certainly interesting. The <<robber>> and the <<information leaker>>.」

Currently, there are two cases involving the Nanana collection occurring on Nanaejima.

「As for the robbery, I knew it would happen some day.」

「After all, it’s just an unspoken rule decided by me, Kasumi, and Ruri.」

「Kanata Ichijou, Kasumi Konjou, and Ruri Kanna. It was decided by the three who were leading the attack on the <<ruins>> and the search for the Nanana collection at the time. No one spoke out, and everyone hoped for that.」

「But after all, it’s just a verbal promise and has no real backing. Anyway, who do you think is the suspect?」

「I’d like to think it was Yama-kun’s doing, but it’s probably not. He has integrity.」

「Juugo Yama, heir to the world-famous Phantom Thieves <<matsuri>>, Kasumi’s successor, and the man who may destroy Nanana Ryuugajou?」

「What are your thoughts?」

「From my perspective, all I can say is that it’s troubling. After all, Nanana Ryuugajou is a valuable source of information. If she were gone, it would be impossible to distinguish between the Nanana collection and regular objects. But having heard about her from Kasumi, I can’t help but feel that it can’t be helped.」

「That’s a kind thing to say.」

「Even though we’ve never met, she’s Kasumi’s best friend. On the other hand, I feel like you are the one who’s crazy for being so mean to her, even though you’ve met and spoken to each other in person.」

「I just don’t like her kind of personality.」

「I see, that seems to be the case. But if I could find out who released the information about the Nanana collection, it would be a different story. If it wasn’t Nanana Ryuugajou.」

「That’s definitely not the case. That earthbound spirit has its own strange rules.」

「So there is another person with information about the Nanana collection… or rather, they appeared. If that’s the case… is it really someone from the <<game>>?」

「Ah, that was a turning point.」

「I see, I see, it’s getting interesting. It’s getting really interesting. It’s getting so interesting that I don’t want to stay in this cell.」

「That’s good.」

「But unfortunately, it looks like it will be a while before I can get out of here. So, Hiiyo, you should leave soon. My roommate is about to wake up.」

Kanata taps her head.

「I see. I guess I’ll go home too. Getting killed wouldn’t be worth it.」

「Please do.」

「I’ll come back again soon.」

「Yes, I’ll be waiting. I’ll make sure to remember the time to come and the password.」

「I know.」

「That’s fine then.」

「Kanata.」

「What?」

「Do you think we can win?」

Unusually, Kanata didn’t reply immediately to Hiiyo’s question.

「It’s still a 50-50 chance. That’s not a fair bet though, is it?」

「That’s great. If you lose, the existence of Kanata Ichijou will simply disappear. But if you win, you will be ranked higher than humans. Every human will disappear someday. So it’s rare to find a bet with such a good return.」

「Unfortunately, I love myself. I’d be in trouble if I disappeared.」

「Then you should just stay human and put up with it.」

「I am greedy. I’m human after all. After I get something I want, I want something else.」

The two people who came here earlier come to mind. And her beloved father. That’s why she says that.

「Yuuya is by my father’s side, and Tensai can now walk on her own. So, I’m going to do what I want to do.」

「Wasn’t there another one?」

「I don’t need Yahichi. He’s not cute.」

Then she says with a bored look on her face.

「And soon he won’t’ be my ototou anymore.」

「Is that a prophecy?」

「No, it’s a very simple guess.」

That alone is enough to convince Ikusaba. It will definitely come true.

「Kanata.」

「What is it?」

「Win.」

Kanata smiles happily as Hiiyo turns away and says these words, 「Thank you for everything. I love you, Hiiyo.」

「Really? I don’t really love you.」

「You can lie. Just say you love me too… Oh, he’s gone.」

Alone in her cell, Kanata sighs.

「I got dumped again. But I wonder why I can’t get a boyfriend, even though I’m such a good girl.」

The greatest genius in the history of Nanaejima is alone, pondering, still not knowing the answer to this difficult question.

「Well, if I’m not sure, I guess I’ll become a god first.」

Then Kanata feels the divine beast she has absorbed into her body begin to move.

「Well, let’s talk again some day, Karma.」

「And Kanata Ichijou crouches down. Her body begins to transform into a strange form.

8

「Where have you been, Tensai?」

It was quite late when Yuuya returned her to room 203. Of course, she hadn’t said anything to D’ark, so he was angry. Ignoring D’ark, Tensai collapsed into bed.

「Today, so much has happened that I’m a bit tired.」

He never expected that after meeting the GREAT7 and hearing their story, she would also be reunited with Kanata in such a way.

D’ark brews some tea for Tensai. The delicious aroma of tea wafting from the mug makes Tensai jump out of bed.

「It’s the smell of Daikuro-dono’s tea.」

「Yeah, I got some on the way home. And he’s going to be teaching me a lot of things.」

From what she heard, it seemed they had even exchanged addresses.

Just as she started relaxing and drinking the tea made by her assistant, D’ark asked a question.

「So, Tensai. I’ve heard a lot of things today, but do you think you’ve found the culprit who killed Nanana-san?」

「I have no idea.」

That was Tensai’s honest opinion.

「Really?」

「If that’s all it takes to figure it out, then Ikkaku-san would have already caught the culprit.」

As she answered, Tensai thought things through. If the Nanana collection was involved in Nanana-dono’s murder, then the culprit must have known about them 10 years ago.

It is true that the adults benefited the most from Nanana’s death. But that was because Ikkaku had withdrawn from the battlefield. In other words, this could be considered an afterthought.

She took a sip of tea and once again considered the murder of Nanana Ryuugajou.

In any case, the most troubling thing about this case is that Shunjuu Ikkaku’s report completely proves that it is physically impossible.

And another thing is that if we consider the case within the scope of a paranormal phenomenon that assumes the use of the Nanana collection, any method of murder is possible. With this in mind, Tensai has imagined the yet-to-be-seen powers of the Nanana collection and has come up with 58 different ways to murder someone using them. All of these would have made it possible to kill Nanana Ryuugajou in the situation 10 years ago. But it is impossible to prove. Because of that it is all armchair theory.

To begin with, we don’t know if the Nanana collection really does have the power to do the things that Tensai imagines, and we don’t know if it was ever used. There is no evidence at all.

With that being said, there is only one major lynchpin to this case. That is to identify the Nanana collection that is believed to have been used when Nanana Ryuugajou was murdered.

「In that case, the problem is the information of the Nanana collection.」

The only one who knows everything about the Nanana collection is its owner. Nanana Ryuugajou. The leprechaun who is hiding them in the <<ruins>> may also know some information, but it’s not certain. Tensai has no intention of accepting Nanana’s help though. In other words, there is nothing more she can do at the moment.

Tensai laughs.

「Hmmm, this is getting fun.」

She is excited by the prospect of a difficult problem that has no hope of being solved.

「By the way, D’ark. How was Nanana-dono doing?」

「She was feeling lonely because Tensai didn’t come.」

「I see. I’ve done something bad to Nanana-dono. I thought I’d buy some pudding from the pastry shop I found the other day, tomorrow… but I think I’ll go see her now.」

And so she stood up. After all, her best friend is in the next room. And then she sighs again. In reality her rival actually has a closer place in Nanana’s heart than she does. She says some nasty words in her mind aimed at him.

「Really, where is Juugo and what is he doing?」