CH 326

“Fuh …… Ash is so warm ……”

“Kuon?”

“Are you scared, Makina-oneechan?”

“Yes, when I was a child ……  I was about Aina-chan’s age, my father threatened me that if I went outside at night, I would be possessed by a ghost and go to a faraway place ……”

So that was the reason why Makina was afraid of ghosts and undead. I was hesitant to ask, so I was waiting for her to tell me, but thanks to Aina, I was able to find out.

The trauma of childhood can be quite traumatic, so her father’s crime was quite serious. I hope she’ll become more resistant of this kind of request with me.

“Well, I don’t think there’s anything here, but just in case, let’s investigate it.”

I used more magic than usual to light up the entire hall. Makina, who was less afraid now that the light was brighter, spoke to me.

“How do you know there’s nothing there?”

“Nyan?”

“Well. I can’t say for sure yet, but there shouldn’t be anything that would scare Makina.”

“Hmm, from the way Lars-niichan said it, if it’s not scary, it’ll come out.”

I answered Aina’s question by reaching out and patting the tip of Ash’s nose as he flailed at me. Yes, there are …… those who are not ghosts.

“It’s not the ghost girl, but there’s a living person sneaking around in the shadows. I thought it was a patrolman, but–“

“!!”

While I was explaining, Sephiro, who was on top of my head, tapped me with a branch and pointed to the side of the stage with the other branch.

“Wait!”

As I looked over, the other side noticed us too, and a shadow quickly shook the side of the stage. I quickly flew to the stage with my levitation and was able to catch the fleeing figure.

“Hiiii, I, I’m sorry!?”

“Who the hell are you? I don’t think you’re related to the theater from the looks of it.”

“Oh, I’m just some guy who was tempted by that guy …… he said he’ll get me into the theater.”

“That guy?”

The man I pinned down had a thin body that had nothing to do with fighting, and he was desperately trying to make an excuse while breaking out in a cold sweat. And then Makina and the others who had caught up peeked out from behind.

“You got him!”

“Yes! Lars-niichan, you’re amazing!”

“Yaya!? I’ve never seen these cuties before either!? Are you the new idols ……?”

“Aina and the others are not idols? The idols are Helena-chan and Milfy-chan.”

“Oh my god, you’re an acquaintance of Helena-san, the number one idol!”

The man looks at Makina and Aina, snorts and bends his neck forcibly. It seems that the man is a fan of the idol and has been sneaking into the theater.

“At any rate, trespassing is unacceptable. But how did they get in here? And who is ‘that guy’? I’ll let have you tell me that.”

“Owowow!? P-Please stop, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you, okay!?”

I was annoyed that he was giving Makina and the others a nasty look, so I twisted his arm and he gave up easily. He’s not the type of person that’s suitable for fighting or rough things, as you can see.

“Makina, give a rope.”

“Yes, is this okay?”

Taking the rope, I tied the man up behind his back and got him to his feet, then resumed my questioning.

“Now, let me ask you, what were you doing here? And how did you get in? It’s better if you don’t lie to me. I’m going to give you a hell of a hard time if I find out later.”

“Hiii!? …… W-We’re fans who support our idols. There are two of us, including myself, and one of us is employed to be a patrolman here.”

“I see. So that’s why you came in through the back door?”

When Makina opened her mouth, the man shook his head in resignation.

“…… Actually, there’s some work done on the walls of the first floor of the theater, near the middle hall. It’s a narrow passage further behind the reception desk. That’s where I got in.”

“Is it some kind of hidden door?”

“That’s right, little girl. Huh, now I can’t sneak in. It’s been short fun.”

“So, what were you doing when you snuck in?”

“I wanted to watch up close while the idols sang and danced on stage. The guy guarding it said he was going to take the costumes home with him, but if he did that, he wouldn’t be able to see the idols, would he?”

Then he let out a sigh, and the existence of a hidden room that even Kleinert-san didn’t know about was revealed. This guy was just curious and didn’t seem to be doing anything negative to the idol. I guess the main culprit is the hired patrolman. Anyway, I thought I’d meet up with Urka or Helena–

[That’s right …… I want you to be sorry and never do it again …… what if the concert is canceled because of selfish people like you?]

“Eh? Who’s voice is that?”

“It’s not Aina’s!”

“Kuoon!”

“Nyaan!”

When Makina wonders, Aina denies it, and Ash and the little snow tiger squeal that it’s not them. A few moments later, a man with a gloomy face appeared beside Makina, as if he were floating in the air.

[Hmm? You guys are cute like idols …… Do you want to be an idol? I’ll support you, you know ……?]

“It …….”

[It?]

Makina turns her head towards the vague man and her eyes meet his. She takes a deep breath, and then.

“It appeareeeeeed!? A ghooooooost!?”

“Kuoon!?”

“Ah!? Onee-chan! You’ll get separated!”

Makina screamed loudly in the hall and ran up the stairs with Ash in her arms.

“Wait, Makina! What the hell are you doing!”

[What? I’m not sure what I did wrong. I was having trouble catching the intruder because of my appearance, but you guys caught him, so I thought I’d thank you ……]

[You’re such disciplined ghosts!? Let’s go after Makina for now, Aina!]

“Yeah!”

“Uwaaaaaaaah!? Y-You’re easily ……”

I used Strength to pick up the fan man and goes after Makina. The ghost man seems to be slowly following her. I don’t want him to follow me for Makina’s sake, but I want to hear what he has to say, so I’ll let him do what he wants for now.

“There she is, Lars-niichan!”

“Makina!”

“Fuh …… Fuh …… Lars, A-Aina-chan!”

I spotted her in the middle of the corridor, around the reception desk where they cut the ticket, and called out to her, and she stopped and turned around. Her eyes are a little teary, but she seems to have calmed down. As I pondered whether to move the ghost away for a moment, I heard heavy footsteps coming from behind us.

“Aaaaaaah!? Get out of the way, please!?”

“Oh, Hanza!?’

“Chucks!?”

The man I was holding was startled, and so was the fat man running towards us. This direction is where the stairs to the second floor are, so Urka probably found them. I was hoping that if I waited long enough, Urka and the others would come…

“D-Don’t come here!”

“……”

I saw a skeleton approaching at full speed, probably following the fat man. This is not good!

“Makina, shut your eyes!”

“Nooooooooooooooo!? There’s a skeleton toooooooo!?”

“Kuoooooooon!?”

Makina turned on her heel and ran further down the corridor, while Ash hung his head limply in her arms.

“Lars-niichan, we have to save Ash!”

“Both of them! We have to get that man too!”

Aina and I ran after the skeleton that crossed in front of us. Then the fat man ran into the middle hall on the right. I called out to Makina, who was running right behind him.

“Makina, go after that guy!”

“Ugh …… Gusu, o-okay ……!”

When Makina answered and stepped into the hall, she grabbed the fat man by the collar and pulled him down the stairs.

“Y-You startled me ……! I got you now!”

“Gefu!? D-Damn it …… Even though I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to put my patrolman to sleep so that I don’t run into these guys ……!”

Hmmm, It seems that he knows why we didn’t see any of the patrolmen yesterday or today. Then I heard two footsteps coming from behind.

“Lars, what was that scream!? Is Makina okay!?”

[It was a loud scream …… right?]

The owner of the footsteps was Urka and Milfy. Overhead, a ghost girl and Sarge were flying. Now that we have all the actors on stage, all we have to do is question them.

Now they just have to question the men ……!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“I guess this is the end of it.”

For now, right?