??? |
"'What are girls made of? What are girls made of?'" |
??? |
"'Flesh! Bones! Blood...! But in the end, burn and they all turn into ash!'" |
??? |
"Mmm~, something seems different, sì?" |
??? |
"Hmm? That was--" |
Zouérat |
"...? Did you see someone walking outside your window just now?" |
Salem |
"Eh? I'm terribly sorry, I didn't see anything!" |
Zouérat |
"No, there's no need to apologise, senior Salem." |
Zouérat |
"Why are you bowing at me? Senior you're older than me and you're a better magician." |
Salem |
"Woah, I'll apologize again and again! Did I offend you? As an apology, I would like to strip naked and have you whip me up!" |
Zouérat |
"But nobody asked you to do that!?" |
Monte Carlo |
"Or rather, aren't you trying to satisfy your own desires by pretending to apologise, Salley? Can't pronounce 'Salley' properly without 'S' for 'Sexual desires'~♪" |
Salem |
"Aaah, please give me more compliments♪" |
Zouérat |
"I-I'm not used to this! The peculiar weirdos of the SSS people...! You're newer than me, Monte Carlo, how can you get used to this?" |
Monte Carlo |
"Hmm~? Well, I'm good at just going along with the conversation, the trick is to stop thinking so much, you know?" |
Termini |
"Students of Termini's Classroom. Sorry to interrupt your fun, but can I have a word with you?" |
Zouérat |
"Aye... Hmhmm... You seem to be angry♪" |
Termini |
"I'm not angry. This is a fun school trip, and I'd rather the mood not be like a funeral." |
Termini |
"More importantly. We're almost at our destination, so be ready to get off the train at any time." |
Monte Carlo |
"We weren't told to be ready. We don't even know where we're going, and we don't even know what we need, yeah?" |
Salem |
"Yes. We were suddenly told that we were going on a school trip and we were forced onto the Train." |
Zouérat |
"This is now an abduction, an abduction." |
Conductor |
So that's what happened. I was surprised, too, when all the members of Termini's Classroom suddenly boarded the train. |
Zouérat |
"Oh, Conductor, you're here? Sometimes there's no sign of you, just saying?" |
Salem |
"? Lady Zouérat, why do you subtly distance yourself from Conductor?" |
Zouérat |
"Because he sexually harasses whenever he gets the chance... You senior, should be careful." |
Salem |
"Hmm? What have you done to Lady Zouérat, Sir Conductor? You can do that to me instead...!" |
Conductor |
I don't even know where to begin. |
Termini |
"Ahaha. I'd love to delve a little deeper into that, but right now I'm more interested in explaining." |
Termini |
"We're going to a special place called the 'Cenere Desert'. Over there - For about a week or so, will be our school trip." |
Termini |
"Actually, the government of Verforet has asked us to investigate the Cenere Desert." |
Salem |
"From the Verforet government, you mean, not M. Verforet?" |
Termini |
"Yes. The Cenere Desert is in M. Verforet, but the request came from the government on the surface." |
Termini |
"It was a request for me personally. It's not my style to do everything myself, so I called in everyone from Termini's Classroom." |
Conductor |
Incidentally, Termini's Classroom is a study group that meets irregularly at the Special Steel Squad's Academy. |
Conductor |
As the name suggests, the Great Sage Termini is the instructor and teaches magicians who are still inexperienced or specialised how to use basic magic. |
Termini |
"Yeah. Well, I'm teaching them a lot of things in the spare time of my very long life." |
Zouérat |
"Yes. You've been very helpful, I mean, I'm really learning a lot. I've been self-taught for a long time, so all I know is pretty much just the basics--" |
Monte Carlo |
"I also only learnt about magic in a veery~ basic way compared to swimming, so I'm quite grateful to be able to study it again." |
Salem |
"Yes. Thank you Professor Termini, for scouting out and improving us♪" |
Termini |
"Hmhmhm. However, I'm not doing it for charity either." |
Termini |
"I'm giving you knowledge and stuff, and you're doing me favours in return." |
Salem |
"Ah, will our lives be sacrificed in some magic ritual!? Pant pant...♪" |
Monte Carlo |
"Why are you excited?" |
Zouérat |
"Senior Salem, your reactions are basically strange...?" |
Termini |
"Hmhm. I'm not going to sacrifice you, but I'm going to ask you to help me increase my knowledge." |
Termini |
"First of all, we'll be studying more about M. Verforet's Cenere Desert, which is unknown territory for those of us born and raised on the surface." |
Termini |
"Let's have fun learning together and increase our knowledge♪" |
Conductor |
Studying is fine. But more importantly, I want you all to hurry up and get ready for battle now. |
Zouérat |
"C-Combat? Why is that?" |
Monte Carlo |
"Did demons appear?" |
Conductor |
Demons - I'm not particularly sure if they are? |
Monster? |
'Parrilla! Parrilla!' |
Monster? |
'Parrilla! Parrilla!' |
Armed people are approaching the Train, emitting a distinctive trumpet-like sound. They were armed and travelling at high speed, using eerie monsters as their vehicles. |
Zouérat |
"W-What are those things? Humans, do they look like humans?" |
Monte Carlo |
"Are they not demons? Normally nobody rides demons though...?" |
Salem |
"I-I don't know! In the meantime, we should be prepared to intercept them!" |
Salem, the most experienced of the SSS members, said this, and everyone else nodded and readied their respective weapons. All of the women are mages - All of them have staffs in their hands. |
Zouérat |
"N-Now that I think about it, our team's not very balanced, are we?" |
Monte Carlo |
"I think we want, or rather need, someone forming the vanguard position, don't we?" |
Salem |
"Well, why don't we have Lady Zouérat's golem to protect us?" |
The coordination between these women, who have not gathered for combat, is awkward, and attacks fly in as they moped around. The people on demons(?) fired bullets consecutively, causing the windows of the car to crack. |
Zouérat |
"Ugh, they fired at us without hesitation!?" |
Salem |
"Hmm? Meaning they are bandits, or are they enemies?" |
Termini |
"Hard to tell. I don't know much about the subterranean universe of Iris Metro myself, so I'm not sure." |
Termini |
"Hmhmm. Quite fascinating, I'm happy that it's something I don't know...♪" |
As Termini looked on, somewhat in a good mood, the members of Termini's Classroom began to intercept the unidentified enemies. |