Mikakage took a small bite of his onigiri.
　These lunches delivered by the "enmusubi" are very popular in the Rodeiken. Although I've never been able to get statistics, it was widely rumored that more than half of the lunches in this guild were provided by Enmusubi.

　Behind Mikakage, an amiable 'Daichijin' girl wearing a triangular bandage was handing out onigiri with order tags attached to each one. Her glossy black hair was cropped above her shoulders and her ever-changing expression was adorable. I wondered if she was a girl named Kaede.
　There are more than twenty people running Onigiri Shop Enmusubi, and among them, five or so cute girls are treated like idols. They are especially popular at the Rode Institute, where they have a fan club. That girl, Kaede, who should be vying for the top spot along with Kudelya, I remember seeing her on a poster in the science building.
(No, you don't. I'm telling you, she's not that way now.)
　Mikakage raised his eyebrows and took a bite of his onigiri.
　It's really not a good idea to be carefree and think about the cute bento girl rankings today.
　Mikakage was partly responsible for all of this commotion. Of course, he's not responsible for it. Mikakage has only reported what he has learned from the current investigation and the possibility of such an incident, but he is not responsible for the incident itself at all. But that did not clear the haze in his mind.
　Mikakage handed a small rice ball to his partner, Arraune's Arie, a plant spirit who climbed from under his feet to his knees. Arraune held it with both hands, round and round, and took a bite of it. While being soothed by the sight of it, Mikakage looked around.

　This huge semicircular mortar-shaped hall is commonly referred to as the "lecture hall".
　Right now it's about an eighth of the way in.
　Most of the participants are taking their lunches out of their luggage or opening the packages of onigiri (rice balls) that have been delivered to them.
　Normally, it would be better if more people went out to the cafeteria or to the outside world, but today, in terms of content, that kind of activity was slow.
　There are meetings in the morning and afternoon, but the morning session looked more like a presentation of each department than a meeting. The same would be true in the afternoon.
　The guild members believe that the Rode Institute is an organization like a university. Even if a university is going too far, they are convinced that it is an organization that exists for technical research, study and accumulation. That's why, even if it is a meeting, if it's about technology, it will inevitably take on the appearance of a report of research results.
　The atmosphere in the stairwell was difficult to describe.
　The atmosphere in the stairwell was not bright by any means. You could say I was depressed. But rather than simply being disappointed, there was an underlying sense of excitement buzzing around the room. Both here and there, members of the same department are gathering and talking in low voices.
　Some of the groups were discussing in low voices across the majors.
　Some of the morning's presentations were that shocking.
Some of the presentations were that shocking.
　My coworker, Aomori, who was also chewing on her onigiri, spoke to me from next to me.
'Is that called a good thing?'
Hmm. Maybe?
　Hearing Aomori's raw reply, a slightly troubled Mikakage nodded vaguely.
　Certainly, I can't say for sure that it's a bad thing.

　In the morning, Mikakage made an announcement.
　The Rode Lab, due to its organization, holds many presentations every month. The cooking group to which Mikakage belongs is no exception. However, in the case of the cooking group, which is dedicated to creating delicious products, most of the presentations are in the form of tasting sessions. Mikakage had run out of energy from the morning's presentations.
　As a chef, Mikakage, who doesn't usually make presentations using materials or give long oral presentations, the task was too much for him. Resentment swirled around him towards his colleague who had pushed him to do it.
　Kicking Aomori to the ground, Mikakage snatched the fried food from her bento and quickly gave it to Allie.
What did you do?
Allie, are you good?
　Shy Ally doesn't answer the question, but instead hides behind Mikakage as she munches on her fried food. This is an adorable sight that relieves Mikakage.

　Even adventurers who don't have a sub-chef are slowly learning how to cook.
　That's what Mikakage reported.
　At present, there are two types of cooking methods in this world.
　The first is the "menu method. The first is the "menu method", in which the user takes the ingredients from a recipe he has "memorized" and opens a menu in the vicinity of the kitchen equipment. Select the desired dish from the control menu, and the dish is completed.
　The production time for any dish is basically ten seconds.
　There are major advantages to this method. First of all, the time is an obvious advantage. Whether it's a time-consuming stew or a fermented food, it only takes ten seconds.
　Another advantage is that fewer ingredients are consumed. The recipe only calls for a maximum of about five ingredients, and that's including seasonings. And that's including the seasonings. For example, to make "meat and potatoes", you only need 3 potatoes, 1 beef and 1 soy sauce. You don't need onions, carrots, or mirin. Of course, they seem to have been used in the finished product. It's as if the ingredients were supplied from nothing.
　Of course, there is a huge - too huge - disadvantage. It makes the finished food taste like bran porridge, no matter what ingredients it uses and what recipe it's made from. You could call it a flavorless taste. The texture is like a sluggish energy bar, not very appetizing.
　The other method is what is known as the "home-cooking method".
　In this method, you need to cook the food just as you would in the real world. There is no limit to the recipe; it depends on the cook knowing how to prepare the dish. All of the ingredients must be available, and they don't boil out of nothing. Also, the freshness and condition of the ingredients affects the perfection of the dish. In other words, it's almost exactly like cooking in the real world.
　In both cases, the overwhelming difference from the real world is that the cook has to be a sub-profession (chef). And whether it is the menu method or the hand cooking method, the level of the chef is limited.
　In the case of the menu method, if the level of the chef is not up to the level specified in the recipe, the probability of successful cooking decreases.
　With the manual cooking method, you can't see the specific level of the chef required, but complicated techniques such as steaming or frying, or cooking with many steps, have a higher chance of failure.
　If you fail at either of these, you'll be left with either burnt remains or raggedy wreckage, just like in the game.
　An adventurer without a sub-chef is likely to fail at every dish. No matter how good they were at cooking on Earth, they couldn't even make a salad. That was the conventional wisdom after the Catastrophe.

　This was the norm after the disaster, but it's slowly crumbling.
　Even adventurers who don't have a sub-chef (cook) can now easily season and cut up ingredients. Nowadays, you can make a salad.

　What's going on?　I don't know.
　To begin with, they don't even know what a "catastrophe" is. We don't even know what this change means.
　But it is not hard to predict the extent of its impact.
　Even Mikakage and the other chefs were unable to say for sure when this change had occurred. Akiva and the Roundtable had noticed early on that sub-occupations restricted the creation of items. That was the reason for the formation of the Roundtable in the first place.
　It can be said that the formation of clubs in the Rode Lab among subordinate professions of the same type was also based on this discovery. In other words, Mikakage is surrounded by only "cooks". All of them, Mikakage included, were of a high level of cooking skill. In Akiba, where this common sense was well known, people had come to understand that meals were prepared by the guild's chef, or that they had to buy the food that the chef was selling.
　So we were unaware of when this phenomenon began.
　A recent survey by the Rode Institute's culinary team of lizards showed that nearly half of the Adventurers had a good chance of succeeding at cooking a salad or so. Even those adventurers who were unsuccessful seemed to feel a different kind of satisfaction.
　We have confirmed the occurrence of this phenomenon.
　But whether this is the result of unconscious effort, an increase in the Adventurer's abilities, or just a fraying of the game's protections, remains unclear. I've confirmed that the same thing is happening to the Earthlings, but I'm not sure if it's a result of the adventurer's increased abilities or just a fraying of the game's protections. After all, even the plant spirit, Ally, was able to do this.

　What's even more frightening is that this phenomenon is not limited to cooking.
　For example, in the case of construction, the sub-profession was responsible for creating those items, and in the case of furniture making, the sub-profession was responsible for creating those items. That should have been our world (Elder Tail).
　However, during the morning debriefing session, reports similar to Mikakage's work as a "cook" were scattered throughout the room.
　Since construction and blacksmithing are not as familiar to modern people as cooking, the sample size is too small to survey with certainty, but there are clear reports that the rule of thumb is being shaken in several cases.
　Mikaliths aren't the only ones upset.
　Everyone at the Rode Lab, including the Aomori and the others in the hall, sensed the signs of something.

　Mikakage suddenly became quiet and lifted his gaze.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what's going on. Since it was still in the middle of lunchtime, his friends, who were munching on rice balls and sandwiches in the vicinity, were staring at Roderick with question marks on their faces.
　He broke out of his white coat and began to speak as he scratched his head, a tired look on his normally calm and hailing face.
'Ah. I'm in the middle of getting something to eat, but I've just received the news of the investigation I've been waiting for, and I've got to change gears this afternoon, so I need to interrupt. I'll have to change gears in the afternoon. And by the way, changing gears is the transition to countermeasures.
　There was a buzz at the word "move to countermeasures".
　Half of it was surprise that the level of countermeasures was necessary. Half that the rather cautious Roderick himself had decided to take an active role in the process.
'I hope you'll listen to me while I eat. There are three matters I have to report. Firstly, a redetermination potion and gender relevance to the gaming era. In more than a few cases...well, almost all of them, we've reported that personality is affected by the physical body, but it seems that the voice is also affected. Whether or not the vocal cords have a mechanistic role is unclear, but if you are currently an adventurer with a female body, your voice will gradually become female. Even if the player is a man.
　There was an obnoxiously loud sound, the rolling of a pen.
　The lecture hall was silent.
Now for the optical observation. ...Ah.... We can't be sure about this one, to tell the truth. We'll survey again, but it's still uncertain. However, I believe it is a fact. The distance between the city of Akiba and Fuji seems to be increasing. Or rather, the distance between any two points is growing apart, albeit slightly.
　This report seemed to have fallen on deaf ears for many in the audience.
''I'm sorry...''
　One timid-looking blacksmith raised his hand. The question I asked with Roderick's permission was on behalf of everyone else's questions.
'Is it anywhere?　So you're saying that Yamato is getting wider...?
We think so.
　The audience gasped at Roderick's answer.
'The last matter is the result of a research case that was brought in from outside, but I think it should be shared. ...It's about the flavor text set on the items, and for some of the items, it has been confirmed that it has an effect.
　Mikakage rolled his eyes.
　Flavor text has an effect?　What does that mean?
　For example, let's say you have a certain magic weapon. 'Damage +5%, additional fire damage 180-216 points, [STR] enhancement +15'. This is the weapon's magical power. In addition to the normal performance of the weapon, there are special effects attached to it that enhance the weapon.
　In comparison, the flavor text refers to a sentence like this. This weapon, the Spear of Fire, was given to the best knights by the ancient Westland Legion. It is decorated with fire dragon tusks and contains the power of fire. The ancient Roga-Zari used this spear to inspire courage in his men. In other words, it is a description of the item, its origins and characteristics. It's information you can read as a result of item appraisals, but it doesn't mean anything in terms of the game. It's text to add to the atmosphere.
　In the first place, the flavour of the flavour text means only that it is scented.
　It has no effect. Flavor is a flavour because it has no effect. It's supposed to.
　Besides, does it work?
　Mikakage wasn't quite sure what that meant in the moment.
　He didn't understand, so he looked at the aomori.
　The aomori didn't understand, and looked back at Mikakage anxiously.
　And it was the same with many of his friends.
　Roderick closed his eyes once and let out a deep breath. At the sight of it, the members of the group finally prepared themselves for the trouble this was going to cause.

'I don't think these are separate phenomena. I don't think that such phenomena coincide with each other unrelatedly at this time of year. I think of it as a series of events. I think of our world today as being in the midst of a massive, ongoing transformation. The catastrophe's not over. I would suggest that we do a maximum scale information gathering on this matter.
　Roderick's words rolled around without a response in the bland auditorium.
　Almost all the inhabitants of Akiva's city were still unaware of the change.



◆




　Akatsuki and Reinesia were sitting upright together in the busy office.
　In front of them were Liese and Henrietta. There were many maids in the vicinity, and for some reason Nazuna was relaxing while eating strawberry daifuku.
　Akatsuki, who was taken directly from the Great Temple, was made to eat breakfast and lunch with the word "for now", and then asked for details.
　I'm sure you'll find that you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.
　The plush carpet is long and fluffy, so your feet won't hurt, and Akatsuki usually lives in a Japanese-style room, so she has no qualms about sitting on the floor. But what about Reinesia?　He didn't seem to be used to sitting on the floor at all, just imitating Akatsuki with a genuine look on his face.

''I've already heard the gist of it. The murderer's true identity is the 'Daichijin'. Moreover, they are a sacrificial clan. That battle ability is due to their "powered armor," isn't it? The city's defensive magicians provide magic power, and they have the battle ability of a small-scale raid boss.
　At Riese's words, Reinesia hangs her head.
　Apparently, Reinesia had explained the situation to the female adventurers gathered at the tea party.
　Akatsuki was taken aback by this.
　The Daichijin kill the adventurers.
　The fact that Reinesia had been so frightened and distressed by this revelation should have been enough to cause her to be worried. But the look of determination on Reinesia's face as she sat upright next to Akatsuki, looking at Liese and Henrietta, was not despondent.
　But maybe that was just as well. The princess of the 'Earthling' whom Akatsuki wanted to support, come to think of it, rode on the back of a griffon to recruit heroes for the Siege of Zantorieff, and flew into the sky.
The relationship between the Adventurers and the Daichijin in Akiva's city will deteriorate if this incident is discovered. If the suspicion of the sacrificial clan increases, it could lead to cracks in city life itself. That's what the two of them thought. Mr. Akatsuki was concerned about this situation and wanted to solve the case instead of killing the murderer. Isn't that right?
　Akatsuki sat down to think a bit and nodded his head.
　Perhaps if he put it into words, he would do so.
　Akatsuki was aware of his actions, that he had run out into the night without thinking too much about it. Akatsuki just wanted to tell someone that Reinesia wasn't wrong. He felt that stopping the murderer would convey that. No, I can only understand it that way because I'm thinking about it in hindsight, and if I honestly remember what happened at the time, maybe it was just taking it out on him. It seems like I was just venting my frustration at a world that didn't want to understand me or Reinesia.
　But he didn't feel comfortable putting it into words, so Akatsuki remained silent and looked at Liese.
'I can understand that idea. I don't think it's an incident that can be concealed, but even so, a quick resolution would be a major factor in calming the commotion.
We've got so many victims out there.
　Nazna, who took out the sweet wine from her luggage, mixed back the words of the lecturer-like Lise.
''........The West Wind Brigade is going to make this matter public?
No. Shojiro said he's backing out. We won't go public and we won't take revenge. You may have something you want to say inside the guild, but that's something Soujiro will take care of. We are a guild. I'll just cover your ass. That's up to the two of us, though.
It's...
Just give me a quick lecture without having to check me out.
　At Nazna's words, Lise and Henrietta sighed.
　It's not that they can't handle it, it's more like they want you to follow a few more steps, but Nazuna didn't seem to mind at all. The sight of her white skin wrapped in chainmail protruding from the chest of her indulgent kimono, which looked disheveled depending on how you looked at it, and the way she lay on the couch reminded her more of a big cat than a fox.
　It was a figure that didn't match the harsh and tense atmosphere of the battle. But from Akatsuki's point of view, it looks natural. Maybe this figure is the real one.
(But maybe there's no such thing as a "real form"...)
　Shiroe is the real sovereign who pats Akatsuki on the head.
　But it's also the lord who has his head in his hands with papers, and it's the real lord who sends out reinforcements on the battlefield.
　A slight pain runs through my chest, but he is the real lord, whether it's praising Minori or smiling at Marielle.
　Just as the Reinesia next to you is not looking elegant and fragile or tired and limp, but determined and serious.
　I suppose there is no such thing as a lie.
　For the first time in a world that had become a little wider and brighter, Akatsuki realized that.
　There are many truths.
Is that what you're saying?
　Henrietta called out quietly as she crossed her arms in front of Akatsuki and Reinesia.
'They said they looked good thinking they could do it on their own. You knew you should really have consulted with them, didn't you?　Akatsuki and Miss Reinesia, are you a little peeved?　Don't you think your surroundings are stupid?
　Henrietta's eyes weren't shining with mischievousness as usual.
　She had a really serious expression on her face.
　Akatsuki had no words to say in return. He was right.
　Not this time, not yet. You can make the excuse that the blood came to your head and jumped out.
　But there's no excuse for hiding in Shiroe's shadow all this time.
　In the end, he was too much of a bother, or he just dismissed it as unnecessary and didn't want to get involved with others. Hasn't he been sparing words with even the younger members of the same guild, such as Minori and Touya, let alone Master Nyanta and Naotsugu?
　Of course we supported that activity. Secretly escorting and providing materials. Scouting and selecting hunting grounds, and so on. But we avoided discussing it directly or working with them. Not for any good reason.
　It's because it's not my role," he said in escape.
　The realization, which Akatsuki had a vague idea of, tormented him.
'How long do you plan on being alone?　Don't you think it's naive to think that all you need is Shiroe-sama?
　Akatsuki nods at the sound of Henrietta's accusing voice.
　There are no words. That's because it's true.
　Because I was so dependent on my lord, as soon as he was gone, I was unable to do anything. I wanted to do my lord's favor, but I couldn't even do that. It was a mission that Shiroe had entrusted to Akatsuki alone.
"You were going to this mansion as a guard?
　Feeling as if he had replied back to what he had been thinking, Akatsuki lifted his gaze.
'It's not just Akatsuki-chan's job to go to the House of Waterfleet and help with the security system. So am I, and so is Lise.
　This time Akatsuki turns red with shame and bitterness.
　If you think about it, it's no wonder. It's a good thing that you're not the only one, because that's what you're doing. Leinecia's tea party was at Shiroe's behest. You should be able to understand such a thing if you think about it for a while.
　Even the idea that he was being relied upon by Siloe was a hubris.
　It's sad and frustrating, and tears well up in my eyes.
　But now is not the time to cry. Akatsuki certainly wanted to protect Reinesia. But it wasn't just about protecting her life as a bodyguard. It was to protect the wishes and integrity of this girl, who as the representative of the Daichijin, had the heavy responsibility of protecting her.
Akatsuki-san, the..... And.....
　Reinesia interrupts with a tone of voice that looks like it's hard to say.
　But it is stopped by Liese.
'But I need help. I need to borrow it.'
　Akatsuki struggled to string the words together.
'Yes, of course. I will help you and Liese, too. Like I promised you earlier. But who are those words to?
　That was too difficult a question for Akatsuki to answer.
　To whom?　To Henrietta and Lise. To Nazna?　For the Mikakaras that aren't here?
　But who is it? Who can I rely on? What right do I have to rely on someone else?
　But surely, there is something there.
　Akatsuki has a gift, just because he can't find the right words.
　Akatsuki must have realized it in that lost dream.
　It had spilled out in the twilight of dawn, and it tormented Akatsuki.
　He should have clutched it along with Shiroe's coat, but when he woke up, his hand was empty.
　I couldn't bring it back from the dream.
　There was a frustration that couldn't build up in my chest.
　I couldn't get the words out that I really should have had.
　I couldn't show it to everyone, even though it should have been firmly in my heart.
　He really thought that he wouldn't mind tearing his heart out if it was possible to show everyone how important Akatsuki was, how important he really thought it was.
　But even if you ripped it open, you would never see it.
　Akatsuki's expression was distorted by her own clumsiness, and she felt like she was going to cry.

'Akatsuki-san is a friend.'
　Akatsuki stared at Reinesia, who shook off Riese's restraints, with an angry expression on her face.
　Something buried inside Akatsuki.
　It was the words he failed to grasp, the door Akatsuki pretended not to notice, the key to that door.
　The words came from the silver princess who would never speak them, and they warmed and strengthened Akatsuki.
'Reinesia is trying her best. I want to help her from ... All of us ... all of us. I mean ... my friends ...
　I couldn't put it into words well.
　Embarrassment, helplessness, and depression flooded my body.
　Yet there was also a strong will to do it.
　As if to break through that frustration, Akatsuki took a half-step.
　He took a small step forward that could hardly be called a step.
　The word "friend" seemed to fade with hesitation in his mouth.
　A slow understanding connected within Akatsuki.
　Reinesia, who seemed to be somewhere far away with a gentle smile, was real, but Reinesia, who was angry next to Akatsuki, was also real. Henrietta, who is always toying with Akatsuki, is also a real person, but Henrietta, who is disciplining Akatsuki, is also a real person. Liese, who carefully observes the dresses worn by the earthlings, and Liese, who shows the profile of a battle commander, are also real.
　If you look at Akatsuki from the front, there are many people around him who care about him.
　Even if Akatsuki becomes uncool, it doesn't make him a phony. The Akatsuki who can't forgive Akatsuki is still the real Akatsuki.
　There are so many people who cared about Akatsuki after he failed and fell on his deadly blade.
　I think it's understandable that Liese is a junior high school student. It's just a junior high school level. It's not a good idea to learn such a thing after all this time, Akatsuki thinks that Minori is no better than Minori. But there's no impatience in that, which can make your lungs burn. It's probably true that he's less than Minori. Besides, now there is someone in front of me who is worried about me.

''I understand. Then I have a plan. To bring this matter to a close. I've asked the Roundtable to put a curfew on the case. Three days from now, we're going to bring this maniac to justice.
　At Riese's words, Akatsuki felt his chest relax. This time, he wouldn't make a mistake.



◆



　Henrietta looked at the city of Akiba from the landing of the stairs.
　Most of the city's trees were deciduous, but some of them were evergreen. The green accents on the gray ruins were easy on the eyes. The headquarters of the Crescent Moon Alliance is located in this guild hall, so the view itself is familiar. But now, the altitude is different.
　The Crescent Moon Alliance (guild home) is on the fifth floor of the hall. This landing is on the 10th floor. We are aiming for the upper level of the same building, or the Round Table.
　Henrietta walked straight ahead. Climbing up and down a dead high-rise building with a dead elevator every time would be an ordeal in the real world, but the bodies of the Adventurers are highly efficient. Even while carrying a crate, the adventurer's body is highly efficient.
　The coldness of the stairs, with their bare concrete walls, didn't pose much of a problem when we reached our destination floor.
　Henrietta greeted her acquaintance, the daughter of the Daichijin, and entered the office. This is the heart of the Roundtable. The true Round Table Conference is a meeting of the heads of the 11 guilds that represent Akiba, and it is this office that manages the plans decided upon here.
　There was a strong feeling that it would be a bad idea not to give the eleven guilds, which are responsible for deciding Akiba's policies, a space for them to do so, and so each of the eleven guilds was given an office within the Secretariat. However, most of the eleven guilds are large enough to represent Akiba. Most of the guild masters have their own office inside their home base, where they do their various tasks. It is the same with the mid-sized guild, the Crescent Moon Alliance, which has a fancy office that reflects Marielle's interests.
　That's why it's normal to have an answering machine in the office of the secretariat to act as a liaison. But unfortunately, the Crescent Moon Alliance does not have that many people. That's why Henrietta regularly visits the office and organizes the documents and correspondence that have accumulated there.
　Many of the Daichijin's staff members work at the office.
　The purpose was to delegate simple administrative tasks to them, and also to test whether they could work together. It might be a good idea to ask them to serve as a liaison, but it's been postponed for now. There are plenty of jobs available to the Daichijin staff, such as contacting and negotiating with the hundreds of guilds that exist in Akiba, without the need for such work.
　After greeting them, Henrietta arrived in her office and groaned. The writing was once again overflowing from the office desk. As usual, just looking at them was disheartening. Even the Crescent Moon Alliance, which has been relatively easy to deal with among the eleven guilds, is like this. I don't want to think about the other guilds.

　Henrietta quickly sorted through the documents, pouring them into the crates she brought with her. Although it looks like an enormous amount of paperwork, most of it is reports and confirmation documents. The things that don't need to be taken back to the guild house are only signed by the confirmation and thrown into the settlement box provided.
　I looked back on the past few days while doing such a simple task.
　Things had moved fast since that day.
　What was remarkable was Riese's command, but the other participants were not to be outdone. Come to think of it, women like Nazuna, Kyoko, and Azukiko, even though they were women, had participated in large-scale battles (raids) at least prior to the 'catastrophe'. Organized action is something that they are very adept at.
　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them. It's as much of a shura as this one. The process of revising and purifying enormous amounts of written notes is what causes them to overflow. It was a headache for Henrietta and the other adventurers, who grew up in the paperless environment of modern Earth.
　The participants in the operation against the killers are called "Operation Capture" or "Operation Recapture" by the participants.
　Because the headquarters of the operation is located in Reinesia's mansion, the only participants are the women who were invited to the Reinesia Tea Party. Of course, Henrietta and Marielle also participated in this operation.

　There were two central figures. The two central figures are Akatsuki and Reinesia. They were both new to this kind of exercise, and both seemed unsuited to it. They are not only new to this kind of movement, but also unsuited to it. Although they were the main founders of the movement, they could not be relied upon to act as a group. So the actual administrative practices are handled by Liese and Henrietta.
　They had to do so.
　Disgusted with the organization, Henrietta sat down in the single leather seat and looked up at the ceiling. No staff other than the would enter the office unless called upon. You can't blame her for her usual relaxed attitude.
　You can't even be satisfied with thinking when you are in the guild, surrounded by bright but noisy members, including Marielle. Henrietta gently pushed her glasses up, sighed quietly and pulled out a card from her beloved small passcase.
　It's a plain card with just a few lines of text in an unadorned typeface.
　This card is an account.
　It is a card that shows the account of the Elder Tail, the only banking organization attached to the Guild Hall. It's an access card that previously didn't exist.
　Prior to the Catastrophe, the Elder Tail was a game. The "bank" in Elder Tail is not the same as the one on Earth, but a non-profit organization that holds the player's cash and items. No, it's not even a non-profit organization. It was "one of the functions of the game".
　Every character in the game automatically has a "bank" account the moment they are born as a character, or the moment they start the game. There is no need to go through the opening process. Guilds, likewise, have a single account the moment they are formed. It's an automatic process, it's not a hassle to open, and you can't refuse to open it instead. That's just the way it is. Of course, there are no cards or bankbooks. The game system can identify and manage individuals with absolute accuracy without the need for such things.
　But the card in front of you is different.
　Three cards that the three committees of the Roundtable will have the right to possess. One of those cards. It represents an account that is neither an individual nor a guild. Perhaps this is a possibility that the Adventurer hadn't even considered in this Yamato.
''It's time for me to be quiet for this, though.
　Henrietta spun the card around with her fingertips and meditated.
　Henrietta was vaguely aware that Shiroe was not in Akiva. She hadn't been told clearly, but the request she had been asked to make by Shiroe - it was expected, considering the management of this card.
　The card doesn't mean anything yet. There's no cash in that account, and it's not linked to any action. It's just an account that has been set up for now.
　But the possibilities in its future are dizzying.
　Henrietta is aware of this. Just thinking about how it will be used is enough to give me chills.
　The reason this account has not been openly discussed is because this card is still meaningless at the moment. That means it's still being tested for potential and not the time to announce it. At least, that's what Henrietta has been briefed on. On the other hand, Henrietta also had an idea of the circumstances that had not been explained.
　Shiroe avoided making an announcement, probably with the leak of information in mind.
　Akatsuki's behavior in hiding the fact that he was not in Akiba also supported this.
　Krusty, Shiroe and Michitaka are thinking about "problems that may arise in the future". And perhaps one of those problems is the "existence of an enemy". Worse, they think it's necessary to consider what's going on inside the Round Table.
　Henrietta senses that Plant Hwyaden is out in the west, watching Akiva. The "Hopefuls" (Odyssey), whose name we are beginning to hear, albeit in a minority, are also creepy.
(How is it possible that if you die enough you can return to Earth...)
　Henrietta sighs at their incomprehensible claims. It's too heavy a worry for the treasurer of a small or medium-sized guild. There's no way they can carry it on their shoulders. But then, who could bear it?　It's easy to leave it up to Shiroe, that he can carry it on his back. But is that enough?　From Henrietta's point of view, Shiroe is younger than she is.
(Yes.) Yes, he is younger than me. That pitch black guy. (Seriously.)
　Shiroe would not have any personal interest in Henrietta. Whatever he's doing, it's not something he's doing for Henrietta. But now, I don't think it's right to dismiss it as someone else's business because "Shiroe can carry it on her back. I feel that this would mean giving up on Shiroe.
　That's what I'm thinking, Henrietta agreed, I still need to be involved in the murderer's case.
　If Riese was going to assist Akatsuki in the combat aspect, then Henrietta should be involved in this matter from a different angle. She would send covering fire to the stubborn Shiroe. It wouldn't be a bad idea to take a skin to the ground for that, Henrietta thought.
　From that ball where she danced with Shiroe in the Ice Court, I guess I don't mind covering up for Shiroe, Henrietta thought. It suits her. Supporting Akatsuki and Shiroe from the shadows.
　Liese has been training Akatsuki and training the members to work together.
　By nightfall, she trains in "oral tradition." Not Akatsuki, but a few others who want to join us, so information about the "oral tradition" will spread a little.
　After that, they meet up for dinner and a meeting afterwards, Akatsuki, Liese and the rest of the battle group scatter to the streets of Akiba. This is to monitor a large area and capture the killer.
　After hearing the details of the situation from Akatsuki and Nazuna, Liese seems to have decided that the killer won't be out for a few days. Henrietta agreed with that, and was grateful for that time. The murderer had been damaged to an unprecedented degree after the onslaught by Soujiro and Akatsuki. It would take some time for him to heal from those injuries. I'm not an adventurer, so that time can't be overnight.
　Henrietta went to the Roundtable and imposed a curfew on Akiba's streets.
　In order to cut off the damage and fish out the perpetrators - a ploy decided after talking with Liese. The vigilant Akatsuki continue to patrol the streets until dawn, living a short sleep at sunrise.
　It's probably time for Henrietta to get to work, too.
　Henrietta stood up, assembling a list in her head of the people she needed to convince. The papers on her office desk are roughly poured into a crate without sorting them out, and she calls out Feiyan with a telepathic message.
　First, Michitaka. Karashin, then the eleventh guild's people. This persuasion process would even serve as a smokescreen against Shiroe's operation. I don't know to what extent Shiroe expects this, but Henrietta smiles with a bit of a teasing feeling.

''It doesn't always go as Shiroe-sama expected, does it? Especially--the girls' resolve.''