Jeran |
"Grragh! Let's assault dah~! Jeran will show you how to hunt dah~!" |
Jeran |
"...IT'S, C-COOOOLD!? What the, it's snowing all around the Train daah~!" |
Khajuraho |
"It's true. Because of the heating magic in the train, I didn't feel too cold either. Aaangh, I'm getting goosebumps now...♪" |
Jeran jumped out without thinking, and we all followed her outside the train. Incidentally, this area is northern M. Nishiki and is always covered in snow, probably because of the extremely low number of celestial orbs. |
Sentosa |
"Yeah, that was also mentioned in the documents, wasn't it? Goodness, really wished you all would take your missions more seriously lah!" |
Sentosa |
"As an aside, chocolate is important in Valentine's Day, isn't it?" |
Sentosa |
"And yet. The ingredient of chocolate, cacao, is a plant that is originally grown in the tropics - the hot regions. So it is almost never found in these cold regions." |
Sentosa |
"And that's why. If Ours Truly spread the culture of Valentine's Day here and sell sweet and tasty chocolate, we can make a lot of money and- AIYAH!?" |
Khajuraho |
"Little Sento, you're talking too much♪ And no one is listening anyway~?" |
Sentosa |
"Please listen to me! Yours Truly is trying so hard to talk! I mean, please don't simply touch me, it's impolite lah!" |
Khajuraho |
"Mhmh, it's cold, so I thought I'd warm you up with body contact...♪" |
Jeran |
"Get it now! Sentosa looks warm because she's fluffy~, Jeran is warm too~! Cuddle~☆." |
Sentosa |
"Graawh~!? So please don't stick so closely to me, it's hard for me to move! Yours Truly can't deal with the rampaging monsters while being this tied up!" |
Asahikawa |
"Not going to matter. The demon-like creatures don't seem to be interested in us." |
Asahikawa grumbled while aiming her gun, her weapon at them, while hugging my back for some reason. Where she pointed - were countless beast-like creatures are rampaging about in the snowfields. |
Monster |
'Ugrrru! Ugrrru!' |
Monster |
'Ugruuuuu!' |
Asahikawa |
"Hmm~? What are they really, wolves? But they look human-like too, don't they?" |
Khajuraho |
"They look like werewolves." |
Sentosa |
"It's a possibility, that they could be residents of the small nation where Ours Truly planned to spread Valentine's Day." |
Khajuraho |
"Aaah, I recalled you mentioned something like that." |
Khajuraho |
"However, aren't those monsters running amok over there? Do you think it's okay to deal with monsters, as far as the SSS is concerned?" |
Sentosa |
"Hmmmm, that's the difficult part. Werewolves - that we call them, but the inhabitants of the small state in question are so-called demihumans." |
Khajuraho |
"Demihumans... I think it's a generic term for humanoid monsters, like goblins or gillmen, which are very famous." |
Sentosa |
"Yes. And although demihumans are usually considered to be monsters that are enemies of humanity, some of them have intelligence and culture comparable to ours." |
Sentosa |
"It is sometimes possible to do business with such intelligent and rational demihumans." |
Conductor |
Yes. And if you can interact with them through trade and build a friendship with them, you don't have to fight those demihumans by force. |
Khajuraho |
"Fighting until one side goes extinct is needless bloodshed. If we can get along, that's the best." |
Jeran |
"Understand now - it's more peaceful that way dah! It's like the SSS dah!" |
Conductor |
Of course, it is impossible to reconcile with Mist Monsters - demons that has been invaded by Phantom Mist. With other monsters though, there is room for negotiation. |
Sentosa |
"I mean. The purpose of Your Truly's team mission is to create that kind of 'room for negotiation'. Not to solve via war, but diplomacy, so to speak." |
Sentosa |
"That can be said as a strategy too. If we just charge in and crush each other without thinking, what is the point of our intelligence then?" |
Asahikawa |
"But that sounds like a lot of work." |
Jeran |
"Mhm, mhm! It's easier to hunt all enemies dah~♪" |
Sentosa |
"N-No, that's too savage! Now I don't know which one us are demons lah, gosh!" |
Khajuraho |
"Hmhmm. Actually, as little Ranran said, I think it would be quicker to just kill them all without thinking." |
Khajuraho |
"Where there's a will, there's a way. Keep expanding and never give up, and eventually even a clenched fist will fit in the hole." |
Sentosa |
"For a second I thought you were being serious, but you were saying depraved nonsense again!?" |
Khajuraho |
"Eeeeh? How can that be a sex joke? I don't think I uttered a single sexual word. Hey, hey, do tell me which part of what I said was naughty?" |
Sentosa |
"P-Please don't rub my breasts while engaging in strange rebuttals! Real hamsap...!" |
Conductor |
It's fine that you're all friendly, but don't be too relaxed. |
Asahikawa |
"Yeah. It seems like the werewolves noticed us because we were making too much noise." |
Werewolf |
'Ugrrru! Rrrru!' |
Asahikawa |
"What should we do? Shoot them? They only have primitive spears and swords, we can still slaughter them unilaterally for now you know?" |
Sentosa |
"Graawh~? We're not even engaged yet, surely it's not reasonable to make a preemptive attack? We are here for diplomacy, so to speak--" |
Khajuraho |
"Ahaha. If we kill even one of them, we'll be in full-blown hostilities and we won't be able to sell chocolate." |
??? |
'You all!' |
Suddenly, one of the werewolves rushed towards us, speaking in human language. |
Werewolf |
'If I'm not mistaken, are you the Special Steel Squad?' |
Jeran |
"Whoa? That monster spoke dah~!" |
Khajuraho |
"Contrary to the impression it gives on the outside, it seems to have a certain amount of intelligence. Well, it can't do diplomacy otherwise, can it?" |
Werewolf |
'Oh, what luck! I have heard of your fame!' |
Werewolf |
'Hail the messengers of great peace, members of the Special Steel Squad! I know we've never met before and apologies for my rudeness, but I have a favour to ask of you all...!' |
Asahikawa |
".........?" |