CH 35

“Akira onee-sama is overly unconcerned with how she looks.”

“Even if you said that…”

Sora-san is leading the way as I am being reprimanded while we make our way around to greet the R&D Team.

As for why she is upset with me… I honestly don’t understand.

All I did was simply express my appreciation to the people on the R&D Team for their continuous support.

For whatever reason, most of them averted their faces, stuttered, or in some cases, exhibited some sort of terrified look.

Well, I am conscious of the fact that I am a beauty. But I do not regard it as something that would make a person petrified just by calling out to them…

“Isn’t it fine since we had positive outcomes?”

“Well, that is true but…”

“Oh, I am sure it is a relief to have the cooperation of the R&D Team in this aspect.”

The fruits of this visit to the R&D Team, nonetheless, have been well worth all the effort.

In particular, other than weapons and armor… yeah. This is with regard to menstruation-related supplies as well. The women in the R&D Team are developing their own products for the women in the eradication squad.

There is only one thing that bugs me.

“(Speaking of which, Ys? This body still hasn’t gotten that kind of thing, is it okay?)”

It has been over a month since I assumed this body, and I have yet to encounter menstruation or anything of the sort.

Although my knowledge is half-baked, I have heard that it comes once a month for ordinary women…

I, therefore, question Ys about it, to which she responds as follows.

[Akira’s physique transformed as a result of our contract. Perhaps you might be in an estrous cycle or something like that.]

I have a nasty feeling about this. Yeah. When that moment comes, it could be a smart option to fade into the background for a while.

“And this is the last place.”

“This is… Oh, it’s Matsunami-san, isn’t it?”

“Ah, indeed.”

[Oh. I’m looking forward to it.]

In the meantime, the R&D Team’s round of greetings has come to a close, and the door of Matsunam-san’s room, who caused the earlier explosion, appears in front of us.

I knock once and swiftly open the door to enter since Ys, who has done absolutely nothing up to this point, seems to be enthused about it for unexplained reasons.

“Hey. I’m glad you’re here. Anyway, please call me at your convenience.”

“Excuse me.”

“Thank you for having me.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

[Ohoho. All of these are very impressive…]

At the request of Matsunami-san, we enter a room filled with documents, books, and other work in progress, and each of us takes a seat in an appropriate chair.

“Let me first say a few words about myself. I’m Matsunami Yatsume, the head of Room 29 of the Security Organization R&D Team. By the way, please be aware that I am the only one in Room 29.”

“I am Akira Whiteice, head of the Special Operations Squad of the Security Organization. Please take care of me.”

“I’m Tajika Toki, a member of the same unit.”

“Likewise, I am Tajika Sora.”

We individually present ourselves to Matsunami after he introduces himself in his distinct intonation.

“So what do you do here at… Room 29?”

“Anything.”

“Anything?”

When asked by Toki-san what he specializes in, Matsunami-san answers without the slightest air of pretense.

But still, anything…? If taken as the word signifies, it means weapons, armor, medicine, tools, clothes, buildings, and many other things… If that’s true, then it’s terrific. 

“And yet the rest of the Rooms seem to call you an embarrassment?”

“I’ll elaborate on it. That’s because the level of what I’m creating is too advanced to be grasped, or because there’s nothing wrong with the conception or design, but when I really try to create something, the technology, materials, and output just aren’t up to par.”

“That’s…”

In all honesty, what you are saying about the things you have created is futile, right?

I can only presume that whatever it is that they don’t grasp is due to a lack of technology and resources, rendering the concept you have in mind only a theory on the table.

And just as I am about to open my mouth to say that…

“[It is genuinely fascinating. I would like to see the actual device that can be powered by divine power, which you just showed me.]”

“Oh, it seems that the princess of the Special Operation Squad understands what I’ve developed… no, you are not the princess, right?”

[[!?]]

My mouth motions are being controlled by Ys, who is forcing me utter different words.

Ugh, what the hell are you trying to do, Ys?

By observing my actions other than my lips, Matsunami-san appears to have realized that the words I just spoke were not mine.

“[Ah, I am late in introducing myself. I am the Ice Basilisk, the one who bestows power on this one. Since I cannot speak directly to you, I am borrowing this person’s mouth for now.]”

“Wow, you are really possessed by a fissure of God, aren’t you? I might as well show it to you.”

“[Oh, what is it? This is fun…] Enough, Ys!”

I get all riled up and reclaim control of my mouth from Ys since I find it irritating that she utilizes it constantly.

No matter what that thing is, Ys should speak in a way that makes my intention apparent if she wants to express something.

“Akira onee-sama, you pulled off a highly rough trick, casually but forcefully recovering the initiative.”

“As expected.”

Even though I can hear Sora-san and Toki-san conversing behind my back, I choose to ignore them.

As if I will care about being rough or not.

Matsunami-san is fiddling with something on the floor as we are doing that.

“Well, I don’t mind. If you’re interested, follow me.”

[Hmm. A hidden staircase, huh? Akira. After him!]

“Fine.”

“Wait, Akira onee-sama!”

“I’ll go with you.”

Matsunami-san descends on the ladder that is hung there as soon as the hidden entrance on the floor is opened.

Well, if I pulled out now, I couldn’t help but be intrigued about that thing or something, so I’ll simply go along with them.

We all descend the ladder together, with me taking the lead.

———-

I wonder how far we have descended.

If the sensations in my body are reliable, the ladder ends after about 10 meters of descent, and the three of us each put our feet on the floor.

“This is…”

“You…”

“Is this legal?”

It is a space akin to an aristocratic home where carriages and other such items are kept.

The interior is so spacious and well-appointed that it is inconceivable it is a basement. It has a paved road that appears to lead someplace, various materials, and something in the process of being built.

But well… I have never heard of such a thing in the basement of the Security Organization R&D Team building and I genuinely doubt that having something of this nature here would be a sensible move.

Perhaps this is something unlawful, something that Matsunami-san developed on his own at a hidden facility.

Well, being a former male myself, this sort of thing excites me!

“Oh, you made it down here. Anyway, all three of you come this way.”

And then we all begin to move towards the direction that Matsunami-san’s voice is emanating from.

Now, what in the world is that thing?