Eyewitness accounts of the sea freezing over--
We arrive at a certain place in Flamarine where such information was received. |
According to Kotaro's team, one of their companions, Kirara Onizaki, has the ability to freeze water, which is quite promising information. |
Hebiko |
"Kirara-senpai, hopefully you are safe." |
Yakutsk |
"Tch... Looks like we've got company here. Take caution, everyone." |
Paddington |
"Hawawah! Mist Monsters!" |
Several Mist Monsters emerged from the bushes on the land side. With the ocean behind us, there is no way out. |
However―― |
Yukikaze |
"I'm finally gonna show them some good stuff! Let's go!" |
Hebiko |
"Fuuma-chan, please give us instructions!" |
Yakutsk |
"Heh... They jumped out without hesitation. It seems they all trust Kotaro's leadership. We can't be left behind either, Conductor." |
Working in tandem, we reduced the number of enemies. However, just when we thought we had cleared them out to some extent, a large shadow appeared from behind us. |
Yakutsk |
"So this is where their boss shows up? Good grief... I'm getting pissed..." |
Yukikaze |
"Leave it to me, I'll decide who w――" |
Hebiko |
"Eeh? The enemy's frozen solid... That means..." |
Kirara |
"SUPER FREEZE!!" |
A blonde woman suddenly appeared and smashed her frozen opponent by punching it as hard as she could. She has fighting prowess and special abilities, no doubt about it. |
Hebiko |
"Kirara-senpai! Thank goodness, you're okay!" |
Kirara |
"That should be my line. I figured you might be here, too, but I'm glad to see you're all doing well." |
Paddington |
"My name is Paddington, and I am the adjutant for the Special Steel Skuragh." |
Yukikaze |
"She bit her tongue..." |
Kirara |
"Plupbubbuplup~" |
Hebiko |
"......Eh?" |
Kotaro |
"W-What happened? Are you suffering from any serious brain damage...?" |
Kirara |
"You idiot. In this world, this is how we greet each other. I learned it from the woman who sheltered me." |
Yakutsk |
"Is that... by any chance is she Acapulco?" |
Kirara |
"Plupbubbuplup~! You know Acapulco? She was the one who saved me when I was suddenly thrown into this otherworld." |
Paddington |
"Well umm... I guess there's a lot of explaining to do..." |
―――― |
We exchanged information with Kirara who had joined us on the spot. We explained about our own Special Steel Squad and Mist Monsters. Shizuku Kuroki had also come to this world. |
And that 'Plupbubbuplup~' is Acapulco's peculiar verbal tic, a politically powerful individual of Flamarine... |
Kirara |
"H-how would I know that...!?" |
Yukikaze |
"You're so smug while saying that 'Plupbubbuplup~' there. This must be recorded down in the history books." |
Hebiko |
"But Acapulco-san is a great person, right? If so, you must have had a very good life. N, No fair..." |
Kotaro |
"We, well, had a rather difficult life..." |
Under Acapulco's protection, she apparently took a contract to take down Mist Monsters in return. |
Kirara |
"Hmph... You weren't worried about me anyway." |
Kotaro |
"Well, yeah." |
Kirara |
"......Wha! Even if you're plainly lying, you should at least have said you were worried about me!" |
Kotaro |
"I don't think Kirara-senpai is going to be defeated easily. You're someone I always have my back on, and I trust you." |
Kirara |
"......!? Wha, what are you, that, uh, gah, gosh...." |
Yakutsk |
"Hahah, I see. I guess the captains of such units tend to be like this after all." |
Yakutsk looked at me meaningfully. But before I could tell her not to involve herself in this―― |
Paddington |
"Ah! I see! Miss Kirara likes Mr. Kotaro!" |
Kirara |
"Eh... Wha, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" |
Paddington |
"And then Miss Hebiko and Miss Yukikaze likes Kotaro as well! Hmm hmm... So you are in the same boat as Conductor..." |
Hebiko |
"Wa-Wait a minute, Paddington-chan!?" |
Yukikaze |
"I, I don't actually like that guy but..." |
Conductor |
Stop it, Paddington. Realize that no one here is getting anything out of this right now. |
Yakutsk |
"Anyway, that's one more of your missing friends." |
Paddington |
"Since Acapulco is also a member of the Special Steel Squad, the story should be brief! Miss Kirara, please join and come with us." |
Kirara |
"――! This feeling!" |
Shizuku |
"Good grief, I've been waiting for you all. Independent Rangers, as well as the Special Steel Squad... Fun's not gonna start if you're not here." |
Yukikaze |
"Kuroki Shizuku! You've shown yourself!" |
Kotaro |
"You've been waiting...? What do you mean? Were you waiting for us to show up?" |
Shizuku |
"I mean what I mean. Let's say, that train for example ―― I've been waiting for the time to move it." |
Conductor |
The Mist Train...? No way, don't tell me you've set something up on the train...? |