Anoseka Volume 3 Chapter 11

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

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Chapter 11 "What Is The Purpose Of The School Trip?"

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Part 1

When the luxury cruise ship arrived at the port, the students were very excited.

"This is the first time I've been to this floating island."

"The atmosphere is different~"

"So many wooden buildings."

While the other students were looking at the floating island with a different culture in curiosity, Marie and I were overcome with mixed emotions.

The view from the harbor reminded me of my previous life in Japan.

"I knew it was a Japanese-style island, but it really touches my heart to see such an atmosphere."

Marie seems to be feeling the same way as me.

Although she looked nostalgic, she also seemed a little sad.

"The problem is that the atmosphere is too similar."

I even feel a sense of melancholy at the landscape that reminds me of my hometown from which I cannot return.

I don't say it's the same scenery as in my previous life.

But in a previous life, I would have seen this kind of scenery if I had gone to a rural area.

It's an idyllic scene.

Luxion, who was following us invisibly, had the same doubts as we did.

[I found a number of similarities with Japan in the data. In particular, the torii —— shrines are so similar that I suspect they may have been recreated.]

Both Marie and I had the answer to that question.

"Isn't that the setting of that otome game?"

"Maybe they made it Japanese to show a foreign culture on the school trip?"

It seemed to me that they chose the Japanese style because it was too much hassle to prepare a different culture for the event.

[I think both of your answers are a bit overly game-like in your thinking.]

"How else do you explain it?"

[I'll proceed with my own investigation.]

Luxion cut our conversation short, likely deciding that further discussion was pointless.

Marie had a melancholy expression on her face, but she changed her mind by slapping both cheeks.

"All right! Well then, let's enjoy this floating island! Maybe there'll be some Japanese food here, it wouldn't be a bad idea to look for it."

She's a guy who can switch gears quickly.

I honestly respect her for that.

"If there's miso and soy sauce, I hope they share."

"Whether it's white or red, and whether it's sweet or dry——We need to investigate."

Marie and I laughed as we walked through the harbor.

As we were passing by, Deirdre-senpai was wearing a swimsuit for some reason.

She was wearing a white swimsuit and a pareo.

"We've finally arrived. Let's head straight to the lake."

She was leaving at a brisk pace, accompanied by her cronies, the girls.

I stared at her.

Mainly around her chest.

"As soon as we arrived, she changed her clothes and went out to play, and she is really active!? ——O-Ouch?"

Marie was hitting my side.

"Hmph! You're always staring at the breasts! You're such a disgusting person!"

"Ah, oi!"

Marie went ahead by herself.

Luxion is questioning my actions.

[I wonder how many times Master has to repeat the same mistakes before he learns?]

"Human beings are creatures that make mistakes repeatedly."

[At least learn this much. Maybe I should seriously consider Marie's breast implants once and for all.]

As Luxion pondered whether he should allow Marie to have breast implants, I knew I had to tell him this.

"I'm not interested in fake breasts."

Everything is natural-oriented.

[I am truly blessed to have such an extraordinary Master.]

"Really?"

When I accepted it without hesitation, Luxion said in a low electronic voice.

[It's sarcasm. Don't take it seriously.]

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Part 2

After disembarking from the luxury cruise liner, Olivia looked around restlessly.

When she realized the person she was looking for wasn't there, she let out a small sigh.

"He's not here. Maybe he went down there first?"

Olivia, who came down later, was disappointed that she could not find Leon.

Kyle, who was walking behind Olivia, had a troubled look on his face.

"Are you perhaps looking for the boy who helped you?"

"Y-Yes."

Kyle raised his eyebrows at Olivia, who nodded shyly with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"I think it's okay to at least thank him, but be careful not to approach him too blatantly, because that would be bad for His Highness Julius and the others."

Kyle doesn't seem to understand Olivia's crush on Leon.

Comparing Leon and Julius and his friends, Julius and his friends were overwhelmingly superior.

Status, wealth, power——these are the possessions of Julius and the others, so Leon is not a match from the beginning.

"——Is it no good?"

However, to Olivia, just being a nobleman is like an existence above the clouds.

She can't even imagine what class there is like above the clouds.

Although she had gained some knowledge by coming to the academy, she still couldn't say that she fully understood the hierarchical relationships in aristocratic society.

"Eh? Don't tell me you are interested in a man like that? I've heard he will be a Baron after graduation, but he is a country lord after all, okay?"

Kyle makes condescending remarks about Leon.

Olivia didn't like that.

"To me, they're all still out of my reach."

"What are you talking about? You can reach them. Since His Highness Julius and the others remember you so well, there are plenty of possibilities for you. You should think more about your future."

You should choose Julius and the others over Leon —— Kyle's words sounded like that to Olivia.

However, when he said that she should think about her future, the only thing that came to mind was Leon's face.

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Part 3

The accommodation was an inn.

The students at the school were excited to experience a foreign culture that they normally don't get to experience, but Marie and I were different.

After paying an additional fee to the inn, I rented a private room and ended up being alone with Marie.

The school did not criticize my actions.

Rather, the attitude was that if the inn approved, you could do as you liked.

A mysterious space that is a common feature of inns.

There was a desk there, and we were sitting across from each other.

"I'm glad there's green tea, but it's kind of confusing. Are we back in Japan?"

Marie, wearing a yukata provided by the inn, is eating tea and sweets.

——You ordered a large portion for dinner and have had seconds several times, and still have more to eat?

"It's amazing how they managed to recreate even the mysterious space. I never imagined in my previous life that I would one day feel nostalgic for a place like this."

"I agree."

It was a peaceful time.

I don't dislike spending some time relaxing and drinking tea.

But there is a reason I went to the trouble of renting a room and inviting Marie.

"Now, let's have a serious talk."

Marie's expression hardened.

"Yes. It's an important matter."

We both became serious.

No wonder.

The reason I chose the Japanese-style floating island for the first stop of my school trip is actually because there is an item that will help me get a head start on that otome game.

The walkthrough only covers the adventure part.

However, the items that could be obtained here had a high priority in relation to the growth rate.

Since it increases your growth rate when you level up, you will get more benefit from it if you obtain it when you are at a lower level.

That's why he went to the trouble of offering a bribe to choose a Japanese-style floating island.

However, just because we could come to a Japanese-style floating island did not mean that everything was resolved.

This is where the problem begins.

"It's an important item, but it will be sold as a charm at the festival that will be held tomorrow. Only one can be purchased per person. In that otome game, the contents are completely random, so you never know what you'll get."

When I confirmed the situation, Marie nodded.

"If it were in a game, I could just keep reloading until I got the item I was looking for. But in real life, there is no load."

"You only get one chance."

There are several types of amulets, and in some cases they may turn out to be dud items.

I had to go over again and again until I got the item I was looking for.

But this world is also real for us.

"I wish I could start over in real life."

When Marie said that, the corners of my mouth turned up in a grin.

"It's true that you can't undo reality. But because it's reality, there are choices you can make."

"That's!"

I placed a bag full of gold coins on the table.

"Money. We can solve this with the power of money. We'll buy up all the amulets sold at the festival!"

Marie's eyes lit up at my plan.

"As expected of Leon! Your despicable willingness to make choices that people would hesitate to make is what we can count on in times like these!"

"Fuhahaha! ......Is that a compliment?"

"Yep, for now!"

I see. So this is the only time she praises my cowardly nature.

I can't say I'm happy about it, but if she approves of it, it's not so bad.

However, Luxion was looking at us with a disappointed look from the corner of the room.

[I was wondering what you were seriously discussing, and it turns out you're collecting items of the game. You should have just confessed your feelings]

Eh? Could it be that we are seriously under concern from AI?

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Part 4

And then the day of the festival arrives.

"Waiiiit!!"

"Leave your amulettttttttt!"

Wearing the yukata we had prepared for the occasion, we ran around, completely ignoring the festival.

Chasing a man wearing a fox mask.

He was carrying a box on his back containing amulets to sell at festivals.

The man with the fox mask was running away from us with all his might.

"Someone help meeeeeee!"

At first I called out casually.

When I asked him to sell me the amulet, he happily said, "Here you go. One per person, please." He showed me the amulet in a white bag.

It was impossible to tell from the outside what was inside.

So I suggested, "I have plenty of money —— sell it all to me."

And guess what?

The man with the fox mask said, "You can't do that!" and refused to sell it to us, and finally ran away from us.

That is where the chase began.

"I have money! I'll buy it for ten times the price! No, even a hundred times!"

As I said that, the man with the fox mask turned around and started running.

"Absolutely no!"

This fox-masked man was extremely fast.

Even though Marie and I were running as fast as we could, we couldn't close the distance at all.

"This me can't keep up!? I'm the one who was able to escape from the ferocious beasts in the snowy mountains, who is he?"

Marie was amazed at the fox-masked man.

But the fox-masked man is more surprised.

"What do you mean, escape from the ferocious beasts in the snowy mountains!? Why are you still alive!? It's a little scary!!"

He's right.

It's amazing how Marie managed to escape after being chased by a wild animal on a snowy mountain.

I feel the same way about this as the fox-masked man.

The fox-masked man doesn't seem out of breath, even though he's carrying a large load.

Not only that, he is running lightly on the mountain road in clogs.

I guess you can't beat the locals.

On the other hand, we were starting to get out of breath and slowing down.

I looked at Marie and she nodded, looking frustrated.

Marie shouted out to the fox-masked man.

"Okay. I get it! We give up! So at least sell us one!"

The fox-masked man turns and runs backward to confirm.

"It's really each person can only have one. Just one! Please stop robbing me!"

I shout at the fox-masked man who is making sure.

"Okay, so please stop! I mean, you're too fast——"

Just how far had we been running? Marie and I were both drenched in sweat.

The fox-masked man who stopped was frightened and wary of us.

I pull my wallet out of my pocket and pay the fox-masked man for two.

While Marie and I were breathing heavily, the fox-masked man was breathing steadily.

"You should have just done it so from the start. You've made me run around all over the place"

I apologized to the fox-masked man who complained.

"Sorry. That's just how much I wanted it."

"You were the first customers to say that you were willing to pay a hundred times the amount. I was happy about that, but these things are something that each person should only get one of. The customers who come to the festival look forward to this every year."

Is customer happiness more important than profit?

That's why he does not allow us to buy them all.

If he had said so at the beginning, we wouldn't have wasted our time chasing after him.

Or perhaps it was a bad idea to push too hard.

I scratch my head.

"I reflect on my actions, so please forgive me."

The fox-masked man opens the box he is carrying and shows us the contents.

There were many amulets wrapped in white bags.

You can't check the contents, and it seems that you can't touch it with your fingers to check it.

"So, one for each person."

Marie was seriously selecting an amulet while regulating her disordered breathing.

"Since we're paying for it, can't I just be allowed to pick out the amulet I want?"

I wish I could choose the amulet I was looking for.

The fox-masked man replied in a troubled voice to that opinion.

"The amulet is designed to be in the hands of the person who deserves it. There is no such thing as a miss, so don't worry about it and choose the one you prefer."

For us, anything other than the targeted item is a miss.

"Please, get it right——Ah!? Aaaaah"

I put my finger in the bag I had chosen and was convinced it was a miss just by the feel of it.

My finger touched the braided cord, but when I pulled on it, I found a golden metal fixture connecting the cord to the body of the bag.

At the end of the braid was a white ball.

It was about the size of a marble, but when light reflected off it, it emitted a seven-colored light.

It looked a bit like a large pearl.

However, if it were a pearl, it would have cost much more, so it must have been a fake.

Still, considering the price, it was plenty good enough.

Unfortunately, it's not what I was looking for.

Marie then reached inside the boxes and picked up one of the bags.

She hurriedly checks the contents of the bag.

"Get right. Come on, hit it right! Uwaah."

Her expression of expectation instantly changed to one of disappointment.

That alone conveyed that Marie didn't get what she wanted.

What Marie took out of the bag was a shiny silver amulet.

It was a silver shield with a sword attached to it, and it was an amulet of good fortune, which increases the rate of growth of physical status.

The fox-masked man, who had seen our disappointed looks, shouldered the box.

Even though it was hidden behind a mask, I felt like he was smiling.

"It suits you. Well then, I'll be heading back. Haa~, I've strayed too far from the festival grounds."

At the same time that the fox-masked man disappeared from sight, Luxon appeared from hiding.

[I'm glad you got the item you wanted.]

"......I suppose that's true."

Marie and I were looking at the amulets we had with each other.

The white ball I got was an amulet that strengthened the attributes.

It also increases the growth rate of magic-related stats, but the white orb only strengthens healing magic.

There's no point in me having it.

On the other hand, Marie also has no interest in increasing her physical stats......right? No, if Marie is stronger than a bad man, is it not a bad idea to have an amulet of the fortunes of war?

It was easy to imagine Marie, who had become even stronger with the amulet of the fortunes of war.

——Marie, who has the strongest physical strength, is scary, but it looks interesting, so I'd like to see it.

As I was imagining things on my own, Marie offered me the amulet of fortunes of war that she had.

"It's not my thing, so I'm giving it to you, Leon."

"Are you sure?"

I receive the amulet of fortunes of war and Marie tells me why she doesn't like it.

"That looks like one of those key chains they sell as souvenirs, right? You know, the ones with the dragon wrapped around the sword. It's the kind of thing boys often buy."

Marie doesn't seem to understand boys' taste.

However, I bought such a keychain when I was in elementary school.

"Ah, I bought that too."

"I'll never understand boys' tastes."

A good luck charm with a design that reminds me of a souvenir keychain —— I don't hate it.

"I quite like it."

"Ah, okay. Then give that one to me."

What Marie was looking at was the white orb I was holding in my hand.

When I handed it to her, Marie took it and put the red braided cord ring on her right arm.

"All right! We couldn't buy them all, but this isn't a bad result."

Marie looked happy as she looked at the amulet attached to her right wrist.

Her hair was sweaty and stuck to her skin, and her yukata was slightly revealing.

Her hair was tied up in a ponytail today, so her neck was visible.

It looked strangely seductive so I quickly turned my face away.

I couldn't help but find it strange that my heart was beating so fast in front of Marie.

I force the topic and change the mood.

"I'm really tired from all that running."

"I'm sweating too."

We were exhausted from the chase with the fox- masked man.

We were exhausted, Luxion said to us.

[But if you go back now, it's just the right time.]

Just the right time, he said, and Marie tilted her head.

"Did something happen?"

Marie seemed to have forgotten, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

Before we left, she was looking forward to it so much.

"It's fireworks. Who was the person who's been looking forward to it since yesterday, saying they'd get the best spot to see the fireworks?"

After being pointed out, Marie remembered an important event and began to panic.

"That's right! The fireworks. Fireworks! We have to hurry back!"

As I followed Marie as she ran off, I looked over at Luxion.

"How is the preparation going?"

[Everything is in place. The rest is up to you, Master.]

"That's what I'm most worried about."