206-Later, Tan 34 Launch Practice

'Hey, bro!I'm here!

'It's my first time in District 42.

The Beetleman, Kaburiel, and the Stagman, Markus, arrive together.

This is in front of Regina's store.

We asked them to come here to practice throwing fireworks.

In the actual event, they would be assisted by a larger group of movers, but it would be difficult to deal with them if they came all at once.

I'm going to ask the two leaders to learn the job first, and then they can tell me what they know.

'What the ...... heck, those two were the guests?

I've been frightened since this morning when I heard that there was a visitor from the 35th district. ...... No, you're in the customer service business,......, after all.

But when they found out that it was Kabriele and her friends who had come, they were a little relieved.

Regina had met these two when she first went to District 35. I guess it's better than not knowing each other at all.

'They're a pair of guys who hang out in the Mecca of lovers.

Don't look at me like that.

'Tell me the taste of your honey, ......'!

Okay, let's shut up. Rotten pharmacist.

'Oh, hey, bro, ...... there's that black woman looking at me weirdly, is she someone who doesn't like ...... variants?'

'No, no, no. In fact, you're my favorite race. Also, .......'

I pop Cabriele's horns like a deco-pin.

'You're not a subspecies.'

'Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. That's right. Bug people.'

Don't call yourself a subspecies when you're trying to break that prejudice.

From now on you will call yourself the Bug People without subspecies or sub-lineage. In District 35, Lucia is currently pushing for that to happen.

However, my random ideas of "beastmen" and "insects" have become quite widespread.

Well, if there are people who are happy with it, I'm willing to let them use it.

''Show us your Bug People,'' ''Please don't, if you do that, my Bug People will be ......'' .......''

'Hey, hey. You corrupt pharmacist.

That kind of usage is unacceptable.

What's with the 'my bug people' ......

Can you please not give me a weird image?

'Well, anyway. There's no one here who cares about race or anything like that.

'Well, it looks like you're right.

Kabriel said, looking around at the people gathered here.

Magda, Delia, and Milly have joined us today.

It's a racially mixed group.

'Oh, there's the ladybug boy.

'What?Mi......Miri......?'

'Oh, oh!That's right, that's right!It's you.'

'Pii............'

A large beetle beckoned Miry to hide behind Regina.

The beetle beckons her to hide behind Regina.

RPG. Why are they lined up vertically?

'Can you please stop picking on me?

'No, I'm not!That's not what I'm talking about!I'm into more mature women!

By the way, Kabriele's strike zone was 48 and up.

...... "mature women"?No, an adult is an adult. ......

'I've got a package for you from Lucia-sama.

'What, do you guys do courier services too?'

'Yes, we do!It's our job to carry the packages!

Kabriele unloads the package on his back, showing off his clenched fists.

From a cloth bag shaped like a backpack, a wooden box the size of a tangerine box emerges.

The box is branded with the emblem of Lucia's house.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to use it.What is ...... it?'

'Well, I wonder what ...... it is?

'What, what?A message game?

Questions are being thrown at me from behind in turn.

Is this it?Are you asking me to open it?

'If it's this size, there's no way he's in it.

'Haha, don't do that, Regina ......, he could do that.'

He comes out of a big box and says, 'I'm the present! or something like that. ......Wow, that sounds like something I would do. ......

But fortunately, this box is too big for even Magda to fit in.

It's not like it's been compressed into a small package or anything.

I open the lid with confidence.

'Whoa.

'What is it?

'Whoa!

Regina peeked at the package over my shoulder, and Milly peeked over her shoulder.

As soon as she saw what was inside, Millie jumped out from behind Regina behind me and jumped on the crate.

'This is the nectar of the garden: ......'

'Is that right?'

Inside the crate were countless jars, all lined up tightly.

'How did you know?

'Hmm. It's got my name on it, and this scent ...... soooo ...... soooo, I remember it.'

Millie's right, the name of the flower is written on the lid.

Perhaps they collected only the nectar and bottled it for us.

But the scent ......?

I sniffed and sniffed, but I couldn't smell anything. It's definitely a sweet smell, but it's ...... impossible to tell.

I'm not sure if this is a characteristic of the bug people or not. I'm not sure if this is a characteristic of the insects or the flower guild,.......

I'm sure you'll be able to make a lot of candy balls with this.

Millie gazes at the bottled honey with sparkling eyes, as if looking at a treasure.

Making candy canes seems to have become a hobby of hers. She must be having a lot of fun.

'I'm going to talk to Jinetto-san and Nepheli-san, and make the wrapping paper pretty.

'Nepheli?

Aside from Jeannette, Nepheli is an unexpected ............, or maybe not.

I'm sure you'll love the cute stuff, Nephrite.

Well... So, from Millie's point of view, Nepheli is a fashionable older sister.

If she has the slender, model-like figure that Ukrines praises and a good sense of style,............, the chicken face will finally seem like a pity.

I'll carry you home later if you want.

Millie is a little scared when Kabriel talks to her.

He quickly hides behind me.

It's so nostalgic. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you. ......

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

'Well, I'll take it for you.'

'Really?Thank you, Dea-san!

'......Am I that scary?'

Cabriele's shoulders drooped at the blatant difference.

Well, don't worry about it. Millie's just shy. It's not that she doesn't like you.

'So, what are you going to do now?

Leaving the nectar hauling aside for the moment, Delia turns to me.

Delia had been staying at the Sunlight Pavilion since last night. I told her that I wanted her to help me first thing in the morning, and she agreed to come with me.

'...... Magda is also very motivated today.

Magda, who's been away from home a lot lately, seems to be getting into the spirit of things.

Ginette and Loretta are the only ones working at the store today. I can't keep Norma and Umaro for more than a few days. Though I'm sure they'd be willing to do it if I asked.

Well, as long as Jeannette's around, the store will run. Loretta's here, and we're not going to be gone the whole day.

'Then you don't mind if we start as planned, do you?

'Yes. I'll leave that to you.'

'Okay. Millie-chan. Are you going to help me with this?

'Ah. Hmm. ...... What should I do?'

Regina beckoned to me, and I went to the store with Milly.

As we were going to practice fireworks, we took a position a little far from Regina's store, just in case.

...... I'll try not to let anything happen to you, though.

'Hey, Yashiro. Millie is Regina's helper?'

'Well. There's that too. ......'

'...... It's better to have the Bug People to welcome the Bug People.'

Magda is right, Miry is going to be the mascot for welcoming Cabriele and the others. It's not so much entertainment, though.

I'm also thinking that she'll be a good companion for Regina, who is extremely shy.

I've got a lot of work to do here, so I may not be able to give Regina much attention.

The only person in the 42nd district who can have a private conversation with Regina is Millie.

I'm sure you'll agree. In the forty-two districts, the subspecies ...... oops, was it the bug people ...... and the humans seem to be getting along just fine.

'In the forty-two districts, this is the norm.

'Haha......, that's right.......'

Marx couldn't hide his surprise at the relationship between Regina and Milly.

'Well, at first, I suppose it can't be helped.

But by the end of the day, I don't think you'll be thinking about it anymore.

'What are you talking about, Marx?

Kabriel smiles like a man and puts his arm around my shoulder.

'Wow, you're burly.

'We're good friends now, aren't we? Hey, bro?

'...... The closer we are, the further apart our hearts are.'

I don't care what race you are, I don't want to get too close to a man.

Get off me, muscle. They're hard.

'That's right, stag!I'm good friends with Yashiro too!That's normal!

Delia clasps her shoulders from the other side, perhaps in response to Kaburiel.

Wow, you're so soft!It's taut and pliable~!

'Aah!

'd*mn it!Is there a difference between insects and beasts?

'...... different. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

''Ah, .......''

''Hey, don't convince me!

''You're right, but it's a little embarrassing when you're convinced!

''Well, it's when they start to droop that they really become attractive.''

'You have a point, Turnip!But the beginning of the bulge is also good!

'...... Ah. Yashiro has brought in another pervert with a boob connection: ......'

'Wait, Magda. I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Don't lump me in with the MILF maniacs and the anything-goes maniac duo.

I'm not with those who can't see that defying gravity is a beautiful thing!

''So. Let me get back to the point.

'...... Magda only brought some spare underwear from the hunting guild. ............ Do you want some?'

'How far back did you go!That's the conversation we had the first time we met, isn't it?

'You've gone back too far, Magda!

'Brother ......, you're talking to such a small girl ......, and you're talking to her right after you met her .......... ...'

'Don't be a donkey, you mature maniac!

It's true that we had that conversation, but it wasn't my fault.

'Today we're going to practice setting off fireworks. And I'm going to need Magda and Delia to help me.'

'...... launch?'

'To be precise, 'throwing'.'

'You want me to throw the fireworks?

Magda tilted her head to the right and Delia tilted her head to the left.

What's with the two of you shaking your chemo ears? It's so cute!

We're going to leave the real work to Kabriele and the others, but we don't know how good they really are.

We don't want to invite them, but have them turn out to be a complete mess.

That's why we've prepared two of our "capable" men. Insurance, in short.

'Hey, Omaato-san!

With strange words, Regina returns with a wooden box.

Inside the box was a ball about the size of a cannonball.

'This is what fireworks are made of. But this time it's just for practice, so we've kept the explosions to a minimum.

'What's the explosion like?

'Even if it spreads, it's only about 10 meters. It's about a tenth of the real thing.

You're throwing it 150 meters into the air. We can't see it unless it spreads some.

'How long until the explosion?

'Ten seconds. It takes exactly ten seconds from the time you ignite the powder in the fuse to 'boom! Yah.

It takes ten seconds for the firework to reach 150 meters in the air, after it is ignited, set, and thrown with great force. That's pretty tight.

It's ...... kind of scary. ............'

'Oh,......, I don't know what an explosion is like,......'.

Marx freaked out, and Cabrille also had beads of sweat dripping from her cheeks.

I'm not sure what to say. How can it be dangerous if it was made by Jashiro?

Delia looks at the scared big guy with a dumbfounded expression.

No, I didn't make it, and even if I did, fireworks are pretty dangerous.

'Well, I'll throw them first.

With great enthusiasm, Delia takes out one of the fireworks from the crate.

She plays with it in the palm of her hand and checks the weight of the firework.

...... scary scary. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that the fireworks ignite pretty quickly.Be careful with them.

'But I've never thrown anything straight up before, so I can't ...... get a good feel for it.

'Then why don't you try throwing it once without lighting it?

'Oh, is that okay?Then ......'.

Delia changed her form several times as if she was trying to figure out the best way to throw.

After experimenting with different forms, such as the cannonball throwing style, the top throw, and the bottom throw, she settled on the most standard form, where she leaned back and swung her arms down from above.

'ugh~.................. rya!

An unignited firework is thrown into the sky.

The fireworks roared and flew straight upward, quickly exceeding the limit of what I could see.

It's quiet because they don't explode.

I have no idea what happened to them or how far they flew.

I kept looking up at the sky until my neck ached. ............ After a while, the fireworks started to fall.

'Whoa, that's dangerous!Something's falling!

'Oh, no!Pick it up, pick it up!

The firework flew right above me and fell straight at Delia. ...... Delia avoided it and I had to catch it sliding.

It's a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your vacation.

...... It was a bad idea. I'm not sure how you did it, really.

It's easier than you think.

'No, no, no, no. ......'

That was just a throw.

From now on, you have to adjust the speed and angle of the throw, the time until the explosion, and how to keep throwing at the same altitude continuously.

But first and foremost, you have to thoroughly teach them to be careful with ...... handling.

'...... Delia. It's probably not good enough at its current speed. It won't reach 150 meters before it explodes.'

'Is that so?'

'...... Then it's too late to go into motion. Ten seconds will pass sooner than you think.'

'Hmm~ ...... I see. I guess so.'

Magda seemed to have made a detailed analysis of Delia's throw.

As expected, he's a smart guy who instantly understands what we're looking for.

'Good!I'm going to throw it again before I forget the feeling I just got!I'll make it explode properly this time!

'Okay, I'll give these to the others.

Regina hands out a card-like object to everyone.

It's just a card with a hole in the middle. ...... What is it?

'If the diameter of the firework that exploded is the same as this hole, it means that the firework exploded at exactly 150 meters.

So you calculated how big the fireworks would appear based on their diameter and the distance of 150 meters. That's convenient.

'It's so small. Is it like this?

'The real one is ten times larger than this. It's very powerful.'

'I don't know. ......'

Delia boredly bent her mouth into a crook as she popped the fireworks.

So, how to handle it!

This guy is a little too lacking in a sense of urgency. It's really dangerous to mix fire dust, scale dust and light dust.

I think I need to remind him of that.

'All right, I'll throw it then!How do we light it?'

'If you pick the fuse with your finger and rub it, it will catch fire.

'Haha, that's easy. Well, let's light it first. ......'

The fuse is lit.

It doesn't burst into flames, but the fuse slowly turns red and burns slowly.

'...... It's kind of plain.'

'Stupid, Delia!Throw it quickly!

'Hmm?Oh, I see. Okay, here we go!

The fireworks are lit, and Delia takes a big swing.

...... Your form is different from before, are you okay!

I'm not sure what to make of it.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to try.

............ right next to her.

The fireworks shot out with such force that they hit the wall of Regina's store a few dozen meters away and bounced back.

The angle of the fireworks changed slightly upward at an angle, and they turned back in the direction from which they had come.

In other words, the fireworks came back 'popping' like a parabola toward the direction we were in.

'Everyone run!

At my signal, the people who had been crowded together scattered and ran away.

The people spread out in a doughnut shape, leaving a gaping hole in the center.

As if aiming for that space, fireworks fall into it and explode .............

'Oh, dear!

With a tremendous bursting sound, the scales and firecrackers scattered flames, and the light particles sparked over a wide area.

The dangerous sparks, up to ten meters in diameter, became a dazzling torrent of light that enveloped the entire area.

Then, a moment of silence.

Instead of the fireworks that had blown away without a trace, there was a black scorch on the ground.

I stood up and shouted with all my might.

'You almost killed me!

It seems that Delia was overexerting herself and let go of the fireworks at the wrong time.

But the fireworks bounced well,......, though it's lucky they didn't explode near Regina's store.

'Is everyone ...... safe?'

'I'm surprised you're okay,.......'

'Hmm ...... Miry is fine too ............ even though it was scary.'

Magda is standing next to Millie and Regina.

I'm sure you'll be glad you did. I'm glad I brought you along, seriously.

'......We're not just going to throw this thing out there, we're going to ......'.

'Oh, man, this is bad!I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

Cabriele and Marx are sweating from the corners above their heads. I didn't know that sweat could come out of such places. ...... Strange people.

After looking around, it seems that no one was hurt.

It's a good thing I gathered a bunch of physical people.

At .......

Delia, the very spark of this catastrophe, is ......

'............ this is scary ...... fireworks scary ......... ...'

She was crouching on the ground holding her head.

No, no, no. I'm scared of you.

'...... It's just a little hard for Delia to do the math. I knew that from the start. Don't worry about it.'

Magda pats Delia on the head, comforting her as she crouches.

'...... No, that's not comforting, is it?

'...... This is where Magda comes in.'

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

Her eyes are downcast and look at you.

'...... Your arms are as soft as your tits.'

'I don't know where you heard that, but it's not relevant right now.

'...... recommended to look at guns.'

'Can you throw me a fast one?

I'd like to get this over with as soon as possible.

A little frustrated, Magda takes a firework out of the crate.

He sucks his fingertip into his mouth and raises his damp forefinger above his head. He is looking at the wind direction.

'...... wind is good, ...... go.'

As soon as he says this, Magda picks up the fuse and rubs it.

A spark ignites, and the tip of the fuse glows red.

'......10......9............'

He counted calmly and swung slowly in a large motion.

'......7............6'

Magda threw the firework with 'six'.

The rapidity is fast, and the friction with the wind makes a high-pitched 'whirr......' sound. Oh, that sounds like fireworks.

'......3............2......'

Magda continues to count even after the throw is over.

And then--

'......1............zero'

The fireworks exploded at the same time as 'zero'.

The count was perfect.

It seems that Magda's internal clock is quite accurate. That's amazing.

'Yeah. We're good. This is the best height.'

Regina was measuring the height of the fireworks with a card she made.

Apparently it was a perfect altitude.

'I saw ...... Delia's first pitch and calculated the speed at which the firework flew and the time until it exploded on the second pitch.

No, that's really too much, Magda. ......

'...... Delia's failure was not in vain. It made it easier to fine-tune.'

'Magda ......, did I help you?'

'...... Of course.'

'You're a good guy!

Delia jumped on Magda and hugged her.

Delia's large body drapes over Magda's small body, and they both fall to the ground together, as most people expected.

Not content with that, Delia presses her face into Magda's bosom.

It's the kind of thing you get when you're being nuzzled by an overly friendly golden retriever.

'...... Delia was there for Magda when she was lonely.

For the two days that Jeannette was gone, and while Jeannette and I were in District 35, Delia was there at the Sunny Pavilion. That must have made Magda happy.

Come to think of it, Magda was kind to Loretta too, wasn't she?

Maybe Magda has grown up a little.

He was now able to spoil her and return the favor in a straightforward manner.

'Alright!I'll do it again!

Overcoming her failure and the fear of a misfire, Delia stood up again.

'Are you okay?

'Yeah!I saw Magda's and I feel like I can do it!'

I hope I don't overexert myself again and send her flying in the direction of the day after tomorrow. ......

However, it is quite common that once you see a successful example, you can do it easily.

You can't be fooled by a good example.

'Okay!Regina, give me the fireworks!

'Wait a minute. There's no point in practicing only with the bear, you know.The real show will be the turnip/quava duo poking and prodding at your upper and lower corners.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out the best way to use the site.

And don't tie men together with an "X" without permission.

I'm not sure what you're talking about.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'stag beetle'.

Marx got a funny nickname. Well, I guess it's nothing to worry about.

'I'll show you a good example now!

'No, if it's an example, the daughter of the tiger tribe over there was just on .......'

'I'll show you now!You guys wait until you see my example!Do you understand?

'But hey, we'd like to try throwing one too. ......'

''Let's wash up!

''............ wash it?''

Yeah, Delia.

Only your raccoons would be scared of that.

Look, Kabriele and Markus are puzzled, and they're looking at me like, 'What's going on? They're looking at me like.

'That's not good. Hey, it's faster to just throw him over.

'Hmm ......, Ria, you hate to lose, don't you?

Regina gives up and hands over the fireworks.

It takes a lot of time and effort to make one of these. I'm sure you don't want to get shot for nothing.

...... I mean, please don't make them explode on the ground. That's what I'm worried about.

Let's go!Let's go!

Delia is the only one with a satisfied look on her face.

She puts her arms around herself and sets off the fireworks.

All the members present, including me, move away from Delia at once.

'Hey, what's going on?Why are you running away?

Because I'm scared!

My hippocampus isn't worn out enough to forget the tragedy that just happened.

'Hey, ............, I'll do better this time.

'If it flies up properly, I'll come by!Just throw it!

I give Delia the go-ahead, keeping a good distance.

With a look of disapproval on her face, Delia lights the fuse.

She then holds up the firework in a similar motion to Magda.

'Ten, nine, eight, seven......'

Then, imitating Magda, she began to count. ...... Fast, fast!Obviously fast!

Delia had always been a forward-thinking person, and this count really showed how she lived her life.

I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm not sure what to make of that.

...... If the count was accurate, you'd have a huge explosion on your hands, wouldn't you?It's a good thing I've lived a sluggish life. It saved your life.

The fireworks that Delia shot off went straight up into the sky.

They move away quickly and are out of sight in the blink of an eye.

And ......

...................

A small sound rang out in the distance, far away in the sky.

'You're flying too fast!

'What's with the gutless fireworks?You've got to hold on a little!

'Don't be reckless. ......'

After all, Delia might not be able to adjust or fine-tune things.

'Okay!This time!

'I can't do this anymore!I can't let her waste any more shots!

'What the hell!It's okay, it's not decreasing.

'It's decreasing!You're losing a lot!

'I have to set an example for them!

'That's enough!I'm more than enough of a 'bad example'!

'What the hell?You should tell her that!

I'm not sure what to do.What?

I'll be back.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you'll do fine.

...... Oh. I never thought I'd be stuck in a place like this. ............

'......Yashiro. You should successfully shut Delia up and start practicing for the show.'

'I know, .......'

'Magda's probably worried about the store too.

It implies that she should leave early and go home.

Good grief. ......

'Regina. How many fireworks did you see at Delia's earlier?'

'I don't know. ...... Well, it was a rough estimate, but ............ it was about 600 meters high.'

600 meters ............I'm genuinely impressed with your strength.

600......600 or .................. okay.

'So, that was the launch altitude of the three-shaku-dama.

'Sanshaku-dama?'

The bear's ears fluttered.

'Yes, Delia, listen to me carefully.

'Sanshaku-dama is like the parent of the fireworks in my hometown.

'Oh, you're the master?That looks strong!

'Yeah, it's strong!After all, it's ten times as big as the fireworks we're about to set off.

'Ten times bigger?That's awesome!

'In other words, that's it. Delia set off a firework as big as ............'s.'

'What, is that amazing ............?

'Of course it is. After all, it's the master!

'Oh .................. I see. ......... ......... Haha!I see!I guess I've raised my master!

'Well, this time I went beyond the standard of ordinary people, so I ended up like this.

'Nah, it can't be helped!I'm at the level of a master, after all!

Delia laughs gaily. It seems she's taken the bait well.

In short, Delia just hates to lose, but she doesn't really care.

She was just frustrated by the fact that Magda had succeeded and she had failed.

Then, let's pretend that the success was even greater than Magda's. In the first place, the fireworks were an exercise to measure height and speed.

It is enough if they fly straight up and explode in the sky.

It's a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your time with your family and friends.

But Delia is not like that. All that matters is that you leave feeling good.

This simple and straightforward nature is one of Delia's strong points.

When she smiles and laughs happily, the people around her become cheerful. Delia should be in such a position.

She's not good at dividing things up.

Her sense of responsibility is so great that she cries and chews on the spicy chicken, which she hates.

'Alright!Beetles and stag beetles!Try throwing them as well as I do!

'Oh, yeah, ............, I'll do it in moderation.

'I'm starting to think I can do it easily. I'm not that clumsy. ......'

It's a little too simple for my taste.

Delia is in a good mood, Kabriele and Markus can start practicing early, and Regina doesn't have to waste time shooting. It's all good.

It's all in the use of words, isn't it?

Now that we've got that out of the way,............, I thought.

'...... Magda can fly even higher and farther than Delia'.

'No, Magda ......?'

'...... earlier was the result of 'deliberately' suppressing the force so that it would explode at just the right height. You can't beat that for distance. ......'

I was careless. ......

There was another person here who was extremely competitive: ......

It was a bad idea to compliment Delia in such a nuanced way that she was the greatest .......

'...... Regina. Bring all the fireworks you can.

'Yourself ...... responsible?

Regina's gaze stung me.

I don't know why it's stinging me.

Well, it's hard to say, isn't it?

I'm sure you'll agree. ............ Good grief.