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Nanana’s Buried Treasure Volume 9 Chapter 3.4

Tsuki smirks.

「Thanks to Nanana-chan’s death, Nanaejima seriously almost disappeared. What a nuisance.」

Tsuki’s expression as she spat this out was very cold, in stark contrast to the cheerful smile she had been sporting up until then. But that only lasted for a moment, as her expression returned and she clapped her hands.

「Oh, that’s right. I forgot, there was one other special person. The person who benefited from Nanana-chan’s death.」

「Who is that?」

「Uchiya.」

「…What?」

「We both benefited from Nanana-chan’s death.」

Tensai ponders this confession from Tsuki, who smiles with amusement.

「What benefit did you gain from the death of Nanana-dono, who was also a member of the GREAT7?」

Hearing Tensai’s carefully chosen question, Tsuki chuckled amused.

「It’s not that formal. It’s simple.」

「?」

「Back then I wasn’t number one.」

Tsuki smiles sadly and says, 「Well, to be honest, I’m probably not number one now either.」

「Did you …. Hate Nanana-dono?」

「I started to hate her, you know?」

「Why?」

「No comment.」

Tensai frowned, but Tsuki smiled.

「Isn’t it the job of a great detective to investigate that?」

「I see, that’s certainly true. Now, my last question. Are you familiar with the Nanana collection?」

「Of course I am.」

「How long have you known about them?」

「I’ve known about them since Nanana was alive.」

「Have you ever used any?」

「Yes, I have. I’ve even touched them.」

「What did you think?」

「I was surprised, of course. It was like a fun toy and it was interesting.」

Fun toys, that’s how a woman named Tsuki Kakyouu assessed the numerous treasures endowed with special abilities.

「That was very helpful. Thank you, Tsuki.」

「Hey Tensai-chan, what were you like when Haru-san asked you to do this?」

Just as Tensai and the others were about to leave, Tsuki suddenly asserted her certainty that Tensai had been asked by Ikkaku to Investigate the incident.

Tensai responded honestly, without denying or dodging the question.

「Just like always.」

「I see. Just like always, huh?」

Her smile also looked somewhat lonely.

「Well then, Tensai-chan, see you later.」

It might have just been my imagination, but I sensed something absolute about those words.

4

Next, Tensai arrives at Tsukuyomi-Machi, home of the Three Skulls.

Most of the people here were students who are unable to keep up with their studies and drop out end up.

Most of them….

「T..Tensai, let’s go home.」

「Hmph, what are you scared of? How pathetic.」

「Why are you saying that while hiding behind me?」

The two of them are unable to move a single step from the town entrance, with its end of the century atmosphere.

「What are you guys doing?」

The confused pair are startled when someone suddenly calls out to them. However, when they turn around, their expressions soften as they see a familiar face.

「Tetsunoshin-kun!」

「Hmph, you’re late, Tetsunoshin.」

In contrast to D’ark’s tears of joy and Tensai’s sudden arrogance, a good-looking young man holding a bag containing swords has an indescribably expression on his face. His name is Tetsunoshin Tsujimi. He is a second-year student at the Third High School and a classmate of Tensai’s. And above all, he is one of the Three Skulls.

However, Tetsunoshin wasn’t the only one there.

「Oh, I was wondering who we were going to welcome, and it was Chibi-sempai!」

「Who’s Chibi-sempai, Chibi-kohai?」

The girl with the cute, wide smile is named Saki Yoshino. She’s a first-year student at the Third High School and a kohai of Tensai and the others. And above all, she’s one of the leprechauns who acted as the masked organizer of the game, M, which was held just before the summer vacation to collect the rare Nanana collection.

「Once again, it’s been a while, Tensai-sempai and D’ark-sempai.」

「I heard you were in the hospital, but you seem to be doing well. How have you been lately?」

It’s still fresh in Tensai’s memory that in the <<game>>, Saki was seriously injured and near death, but her wounds were completely healed by the power of the <<Magician’s Staff>> from the Nanana collection owned by Haruaki Ikkaku, and she survived.

「I’ve been taking extra lessons at school since I was released from the hospital. It’s a bit tough because I gave up all my summer vacation, but it’s fine because Tetsu is with me.」

Saki glomps onto Tetsunoshin’s arm.

「Oh, so Tetsunoshin is taking extra lessons too?」

「That’s right. Tetsu is a real brat, so he skipped school for a month and missed a lot of final exams. That’s why the teacher is scolding him so much and giving him a lot of homework.」

When she glances at Tetsunoshin, who is being held by Saki’s arm, she opens her mouth with a somewhat awkward look on her face.

「Don’t worry about me. Anyway, I’m here to show you around on Anego’s orders. Follow me.」

Tetsunoshin quickly starts walking. The other three follow.

「Do you think your classes will be okay?」

Tensai asks, standing next to Tetsunoshin.

「Well, I’ve had these classes before. It’s not like I didn’t understand it before.」

Due to certain circumstances, Tetsunoshin is repeating his second year of high school.

「I see.」

「Honestly, I’d be fine with quitting school, but I have a promise with Juugo.」

「What kind of promise was that?」

「I promised that if Yun was saved, I’d go to school again.」

Tensai somehow thought that this sounded like something Juugo would say.

Tensai asked Tetsunoshin again in a low voice.

「So, what is the actual situation with Saki Yoshino?」

Understanding the intention of the question, Tetsunoshin glanced at Saki, who was chatting with D’ark behind them.

「There’s a lot of memory loss.」

That’s what she thought. She had predicted it to some extent based on their previous conversation, how Saki had been too harsh towards him while he was participating in the <<game>>.

「Specifically? The Tanabata festival?」

「Before the <<game>> and Tanabata, ever since the assault incident with Isshin Yuiga, things have become quite hazy.」

「So what about the leprechauns?」

「She doesn’t remember anything.」

「I see.」

Tensai believes that the memories of leprechauns may have been manipulated in some way.

「However, she herself is aware that her memory is clearly incomplete, and it worries her. Those of us around him try not to mention it too much.」

「That’s the right thing to do in a way.」

While it’s clear that Saki Yoshino is a member of the Leprechauns, there are still many mysteries surrounding the Leprechauns themselves. If she somehow manages to recall her memories and remembers the Leprechauns, there’s no telling what will happen to her. At worst, she could be taken out to silence her, or even be forced to commit suicide.

「Tensai, I’m sorry, but I’d like you to go along with Yun’s story for a while.」

「That goes without saying.」

「I see. You’re more cooperative than I thought. That’s a relief.」

「What’s with that, Tetsunoshin? That’s a weird thing to say.」

「Well, according to Juugo, you’re a woman who is loyal to her own desires and doesn’t care about the inconvenience it causes to others. And someone who doesn’t know how to handle situations properly.」

「Damn you, Juugo. You’re just making stuff up.」

Tensai’s face is red with anger. By the way, Tetsunoshin agrees with a lot of what Juugo says, but he doesn’t say it. Instead, he asks about something else.

「Anyway, how’s Juugo doing lately?」

「I don’t know. He went off-island recently.」

「With family?」

「I don’t think that’s the case because he said he was disowned, but he’s definitely not up to no-good.」

「As expected of the arch-rival of Juugo. You know him well.」

「Hmmph, it’s not a big deal.」

He doesn’t realize that she’s not entirely opposed to the idea.

「We’re here.」

A rundown building towering in the center of Tsukuyomi-gai is the Three Skulls’ headquarters. Following the intimidating Tetsunoshin, Tensai and D’ark pass through the men standing at the entrance. Unlike its appearance, the inside of the building is kept in good condition. However, the people hanging around there are all bad.

「Do all of the Three Skulls live here?」

「Yeah, they make this whole area their stronghold.」

Tetsunoshin says as he leads the way and starts climbing the stairs.

「Oh, Tetsunoshin-kun. Did you bring a customer?」

Just then, someone came down from above.

Tensai frowned at this, because the man standing there was quite an old man. He was probably around 30 to 40 years old. A tall man with a scruffy beard. He was wearing a jinbei kimono and was strangely pale.

「Who is this, Tetsunoshin?」

「He’s one of our new guys.」

「New guys?」

It’s rare to see an adult mingling with a group of dropout students. But even more so when it’s a new guy. The new guy who came down to Tensai and the others bowed his head.

「Nice to meet you, I’m Iori.」

That’s how the laid-back man introduced himself.

「I’m Tensai, a great detective.」

Iori stares intently at Tensai who boldly calls herself a great detective.

「Oh, you seem to have a very good soul.」