Chapter 137

So if this was to be a battle of large-scale ceremonial conjurings, Menou and company would have to find a whole new way to fight, too. As she contemplated how to deal with Michele, Menou gazed at the changed scenery before them. In the central zone of the Mechanical Society lay an oddly nostalgic white school building. There were few buildings like it. But in the other world, at least in Japan, it was the most common architectural style for a standard school. “Why is it a school, I wonder?” “Beats me. As far as I know, it’s been like this ever since the creation of the Mechanical Society.” Abbie didn’t know the answer to Menou’s vague musing. Evidently, its appearance hadn’t changed since well before she came into existence. “Well, if it isn’t my big sis.” The first to react to Menou and company’s appearance in the schoolyard was a wolf with bright blue fur. Abbie broke into a huge smile and jumped at the blue wolf immediately, ruffling his fur. “Heya, Gi! You been hard at work, I hope?” “Ha-ha-ha. Bet you clean forgot that you dumped all your responsibilities on me and ran off without askin’, didn’t ya? Hrmm? Gimme a break, dammit. You got any idea how tough it’s been for me, big sis?” “Aww, come on. It’s an elder sibling’s responsibility to work hard for the younger ones, right? Well, I’m gonna go see my beloved little brothers and sisters! You show li’l Menou and friends around, Gi! Thanks!” “Hey, don’t run off on me! Get back heeere!” The blue wolf’s howling didn’t slow Abbie down in the slightest. She bounded cheerfully into the school building and vanished from sight. Menou sidled over to him, smiling dryly. “Good to see you again, Ginoum.” “Hrmm, Menou, eh? Thanks again for your help back then.” “That’s my line.” Menou smiled at Ginoum. He was the conjured soldier who had helped Menou the most in the battle at Grisarika’s borders. It was largely thanks to him that they managed to get that area under control while it was a battlefield hostile toward humanity. Ginoum approached Sahara. “Hrmm… So you’re the youngest sister she was talking about—our last sibling, eh?” “Nope. Not me. I’ve got nothing to do with any of this.” As Ginoum pressed closer, Sahara denied everything for no particular reason. She probably didn’t want to draw any more attention to herself—and this, like most things she’d gotten caught up in recently, sounded like a huge pain. Ginoum was unconvinced. “Big sis can get things done when she puts her mind to it,” he muttered. “She really did finish it…” Sahara didn’t know what he meant, but she knew it sounded suspicious. She quickly backed away from him. Maya, on the other hand, was staring firmly at Ginoum. Her gaze had been fixed on his blue fur since the wolf first appeared, and now she steeled herself and spoke up. “C-can I pet you?” “Ha-ha-ha. Of course not, dammit. The hell d’you think my terminal is made of, you blasted child of Original Sin?” “Aww…” Maya hung her head in obvious disappointment. Ginoum was a conjured soldier, after all. If Maya touched him, his body would corrode and fall apart. Despite this, she kept casting tragic glances at him, clearly wishing she could touch his fur. “Eh, whatever. You can use that school as yer base. If big sis brought you in here, we’ll accept ya. The only Triad soldiers left after that last scuffle are on her side.” Ginoum laughed, his wolf’s teeth flashing. “Welcome to the central zone of the Mechanical Society. This space ain’t any of us Primary Triad conjured soldiers. Yer the first humans to come all the way here since Genom.”