Chapter 1704: with translation of chapter title

NO．319：Facing the Challenger

【Sirius Symbol: Hey, what should we do now?】

——Sirius withdrew a message——

Ludaofu Xiangzheng stared at the name that had been changed several times, and now it had become the chat room screen of 《From Which Side to Watch the Fireworks》.

Six minutes had passed since the last message in the chat room, and for a moment there were people who followed the traces of the Ultraman warrior and the monster into the forest, but those who chased news hotspots and peculiar hobbies were always few, while more people chose to continue enjoying the festival with music and dance.

Incidentally, they used their past experiences as conversation material, making the festive atmosphere even better.

But aside from Narita Hakujin, who joined the former group, the other horse girls couldn't do that.

Everyone stared at each other in this sudden situation, waited a moment, and then, at the moment when there was no trace after six minutes——the Sirius Symbol, appearing as the most impatient or perhaps the least concerned about letting others know, typed a message in the chat room.

No one responded.

Immediately after, he angrily shouted questions at others, then withdrew it.

It was, upon realizing from the words he himself had typed, also accompanied by an awareness that, while speed is precious in warfare, one must also employ deceitful tactics.

Looking at this bunch, each feigning death with hidden motives, one would feel that his words, which easily provoke realization, truly should not be left behind.

But even if she understood the motive behind these people feigning death, it didn't mean she could rely on that information to clarify the current situation.

She merely realized that she ought to take action.

As for how to act, perhaps she still needed to find those who had previously said they were dispersing to look for the trainer Duìyou.

Provided she could find them……

"Luna, have you found anyone?"

You see, now Sirius Symbol is returning from the sea of people, looking at his childhood friend with a listless appearance.

But compared to her gaining nothing, that childhood friend's appearance actually deserved more attention.

However, that mental state, which was unusually abnormal for the emperor, falling to Luna was perfectly natural. A horse girl who had lost her trainer ought to display her distinctiveness amid anxiety, restlessness, secret joy, sorrow, etc.; the gentle, yet strong, lady of high birth exhibited precisely that lost-spirited state under unease.

Wait, lost-spirited?

Understanding the childhood friend's true nature to such depth, Sirius Symbol suddenly realized something was wrong.

Would Luna be feeling down merely because Aomo that guy is temporarily missing?

Or is she upset about the attitude of this bunch?

That also fits Luna's habit of thinking too highly of people, but frankly… do we really know each other that well?

As for Qianming's representative, that's fine, but do people like Hakujin and Suzi deserve Luna's concern?

Sirius Symbol was quite suspicious, and suspicion means asking.

"Luna, what are you upset about?"

"You haven't noticed? Sirius Symbol, the trainer is angry."

"What a coincidence, you're not with Little Millet Bath and Little Jade Algae, are you, Little Harbinger?"

"Master, have you seen Master?"

"Eh? Aomo?"

Standing before the takoyaki stall located at the edge of the forest, which was also very much on the periphery, Maruzen Sukii chewed a snack and looked around.

Just as Narita Hakujin had taught the Chazuo running technique, Qianming's representative had once made Ailisuzhi reluctantly follow suit, and the running of Mihara Harbinger had also given a few pointers that made this red supercar before them light up.

But compared to the first two, Harbinger's attitude toward the instructor could be called textbook-level proper.

It also made the easygoing instructor, after his refusals came to nothing, feel indifferent, and whenever he saw that stern face, he wanted to crush it.

His face is clearly soft, why is he always so serious? Did he learn that from little Aomo?

"Speaking of which, I really haven't seen that little brother, and earlier the ace also said Qianming was missing, well, who knows~"

She, holding the wooden tag, traced an arc with her hand and smiled, a rather ambiguous smile, but she didn't forget to say, "Shall I try calling?"

"No, thank you… I'll continue looking for the trainer……"

This time, too, she remained proper, bowing before leaving; her slightly hesitant series of remarks made her seem less stiff, and instead caught Maruzen Sukii's attention.

"Would this count as… being a bit flustered?"

Although the horse ears' hearing is consistently not low, that self-talking red car obviously doesn't mind the other hearing it themselves.

If that is indeed the case, then the girl also couldn't afford to dwell on her own doubts.

But then……

At such a good time, instead of gathering nicely, we end up fighting over something unsightly with the underclassmen……

You guys……

Maruzen Sukii, picking up another takoyaki to chew, shook his head and swayed, but his keen eyes caught a glimpse of a striking gold-on-blue hair highlight that left a strong impression.

"Hey! You little lady over there! Are you called Shinchuu? Are you looking for that busy adult of your household?"

"Sephirah? Negative, I'm looking for NEBX—uh, the center of the nebula, do you know the sister of scintillation?"

"Um, wait, I'll open an app—NEBX…NEBX…I remember Aomo's little brother mentioning an app, oh, found it! nebulas, that is the nebula, and this scintillation, the planetary twinkling phenomenon…oh? Are you actually praising me?"

"Statement of facts."

"In other words, the liveliest spot of the festival, right? The nebula direction? Good, I fully understand now—I almost thought you wanted to see the liveliness of Aomo's little brother, but honestly, his place probably isn't lively either."

After all, when Zhenjiling first approached her, she had already figured it out.

Aomo's little brother, in this regard, can be said to be unfamiliar and excessive, but he is certainly not slow.

To expect to see the usual panic of a man amidst a many‑woman shura‑scene from him……

Hmm…… Thinking about it, that child's solo move earlier… Qianming and Luna being out of contact…… could also be part of his calculation?

"I don't know if Tunshu is calculating this, after all he's always overly indulgent with Akane and the others, so there's a chance he'd be held up by them, but does this have anything to do with you tailing me? Zhenjiling."

"Huh~? By now, Suzi‑senpai, are you still going to play dumb? Karen knows, after all—the easiest way to find your brother is right among the upperclassmen."

"Your cute little act doesn't work on me; doing those small gestures only makes me think you're being pretentious. Instead of blaming me for hiding things to the extreme, you ought to first apologize for stalking me."

Sorry, Suzi senior, I saw you suddenly head over to that bushy area, I got worried and followed you~

I was just about to give you a straightforward apology, but I'm surprised in two sentences?

With arms crossed, she watched this cunning guy who, after no longer needing to act, pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight; Ailisuzhi's eyes showed not the slightest surprise.

As for that, Zhen Jiling merely held up her phone, smiled, and asked: "Are you relieved?"

Ah, of course, anyway I should find someone to send you back, like Xiao Lin Li Qi, Qiangji and them, you have a pretty good impression of them, right?

Why not look for Aizhi? Do you know she's actually walking ahead of you?

…

Originally, Chazuo-san was already walking fast, but if you keep doing this, you'll still fall behind Aizhi, you know~

This is none of your business!

No way, Zhen Jiling can't get through to her brother on the phone; the only hope is that you all, the older sisters who have monster cards, would help.

Then you should go find that guy Tianlangxing.

That senior probably hasn't learned how to use the cards to sense her brother yet.

I'll record this and let her hear it——

Oh my, what a coincidence, you two.

「「……Mr. C. B. 。」」

Hmm~ Are we supposed to have such a distant relationship where we call each other by name directly, Xiao Suzi?

Who cares about you, the one over there, won't you say something?

Say what?

Aizhi senior?

So it's not just a coincidence, you two.

In this dense and gloomy forest, amidst the hidden, dark, and perilous trees, Ailisuzhi, Zhen Jiling, Qianming the representative, and Aimu Zhiji happened to meet under their own artificial lights.

The atmosphere thus dropped to freezing point.