CH 235

“Chapter 235: Union of the Five”

With Shiori as our new temporary member, we began slowly climbing the dangerous mountain.

– Nagami-kun, I would like to confirm something. Our priority is finding Mike-chan, right?

– Right. We’ll worry about everything else later.

We have to figure out what to do with the magic barrier.

Even if we manage to find Mike, we need Shiori’s teleportation magic to leave Snowpeak.

We could reverse the order, but we don’t know who we’re up against, how many, or how strong they are.

As stupidly strong as Shiori is, she won’t be useful in battle if most of her magic is sealed. Mike is our only ace.

– …I’m sorry I can’t be of use when it matters.

– Don’t get hung up on it. It’s not your fault. Whoever trapped us here keeps poking us from afar.

I’m not as on edge as the first time I saw Shiori. If it wasn’t for her unexpected entrance, we would all be dead right now.

I can’t bring myself to fully trust her, but she definitely earned more points in my book.

– You are such a kind and caring person. You’re the same as always.

– …As always?

I wasn’t in the same class as Shiori throughout all of school. We only became classmates during our last year.

– I’m sorry. I had my eyes on you even before we were classmates.

– R-Really? I think I was just a pitiful punching bag at the time.

– That’s not true! Even if I was only looking at you from afar, I could tell how much of an amazing person you were. Despite being thrown into an unknown world, you still tried to help everyone.

– …Is that why you left the group? Because they were bullying me?

– Of course. Those guys would kick you when you were down just for the fun of it, regardless of how hard you worked for them. How could I ever forgive them?

– She’s right! Screw those guys! You’re amazing. (Meirir)

– Yeah. (Roar)

– Damn right. (Dyke)

These three had to witness my suffering when Akito kidnapped me. Their hatred for my classmates is still burning.

– Thank you for helping us, Shiori-chan. I don’t know what else we could say to express our gratitude. (Meirir)

– The thought is enough. I’ll make sure you all get back safely to Bay Road.

– I’ll show you around once we’re back!

Meirir and Shiori shook hands. So did Roar and Dyke.

The three now trusted Shiori as “Takaya’s Friend”.

– With that out of the way, we need to hurry. Come on out, bugs.

Several small beetles appeared from under the snow.

– ……―――……、。。。、……～～～～

She can easily communicate with them…

What does her paper tree look like? She’s as strong as the six sages.

– One of my friends seems to have spotted Mike-chan recently. It was in a cave, though. (Shiori)

– Let’s go. If she found a cave and didn’t come back something must have gone wrong. (Takaya)

– I’ll lead the way. (Shiori)