Chapter 174 - Gallia Research Facility

We headed east, a bit away from the facility.

[This way.]

[Kairos, why are we going here?]

[You’ll see when we get there. Just brace yourself for the smell.]

[The sewer. The facility drainage leads to this place.]

[Are we really going through there?]

[Yes. Is something wrong?]

[According to the information I got, the sewer is the least secure part of the facility. To make it easier for us, my collaborator will turn off the security of the sewer.]

[Is that person trustworthy?]

[I knew you’d say that. Then let’s make it like this; trust in me who trusts that person.]

[Proceed onward. We mustn’t waste any time.]

Kairos tried to proceed with the infiltration. But there’s someone who wouldn’t budge from where she stood!

[Myne, we’ll leave you if you don’t make haste]

[…..this is impossible for me. My maiden’s heart can’t take this]

I never thought that I’d get to hear the word ‘maiden’ coming out from her mouth. As a result, I unintentionally snorted a small laugh.

Gotsun!

And got poked with the flat part of the black axe

[Ooowww! What was that for?]

[Karmic retribution.]

[No helping it. Come, get on my back. That way you won’t get drenched by the water.]

[That’s…embarrassing]

[Then just stay there. I’ll tell Kairos-san about it.]

[Wait, I get it. I’ll do my best]

[Heavy!? Too heavy, we’ll sink! No more…we’ll sink…]

[Excuse you! Saying that to a girl when she has resolved herself.]

[Don’t be mad. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not you. It’s Sloth who is too heavy. Have you undone the accumulated weight from your previous fight?]

[….I forgot]

[You guys…do you even remember that we are on an infiltration mission here?]

[ [ Yessir! ] ]

[Your replies are good, but this isn’t the right time and place.]

[You can do it if you try after all. Well, it’ll be troublesome for me if you can’t.]

Halfway through I finally saw another color mixing in. Kairos pointed toward the ceiling from where light leaked out

[That’s it. We’re going up through that built-in ladder. I’ll go first.]

[Okay, Myne you’re up next.]

[Alright.]

[Kyaaahh….. You’re not allowed to look up.]

[But it’s hard to climb that way.]

[Just climb while looking down. Or else I’ll drop this axe on you.]

[You’re still looking. I’ll drop it now!]

[Uaaa, stop! Pardon me.]

[I told you guys already, keep quiet!]

[Hello there. For everyone other than Kairos, pleased to meet you. My name is Mikuria. I’m sure you’ve all heard from Kairos, but I’m working with him. Come follow me. Kairos too. If you stay there any longer, the smell will spread.]

[Yeah yeah.]

[You needn’t repeat your answer like that!]

[This woman is really strict in weird places.]

[Please wait.]

[That woman….she could treat Kairos like he’s beanbag. Not bad.]

[This is my lab. And there is the bathroom, so it’ll be better if you all take a bath first before continuing. Your clothes will be washed in the meantime. No worries, it’ll dry in no time at all.]

[Fate also smells bad. Better wash up yourself properly too.]

[I’m carrying a certain someone on my shoulder, that’s why I’m extra dirty.]

I said so while pointing at my dirtied clothes. Then she responded to me with a slightly dismayed tone.

[That….. Thank you.]

She actually made me feel the urge to pet her head.

[Yoshi yoshi.]

Actually, my hand already did just that.

[What are you doing!]

[What’s so funny? Why are you smiling like that while staring at me!]

Then I heard a sound of coughing. It was coming from a smiling Mikuria.

[You two really get along well, don’t you?]

[We, we don’t!]

[It’s alright. Not like I put something I should be worried about in there. It’s alright if it’s trashed!]

[That’s good to hear.]

[Let me introduce myself once more. My name is Mikuria. I’m the deputy director of this research facility. My relationship with Kairos? …..well, let’s just say that a lot has happened… between me and that rotten to the core guy.]

[My name is Fate. And that little girl earlier is Myne.]

[He was supposed to come alone, so I’m a bit surprised to see he brought you two along. But nice to meet you.]

[Eh!?]

[Fate, is there anything wrong?]

[Nnn!?]

[Was it hard to get here? Kairos can be a bit harsh to his people after all. You can take a break if you want after taking a shower. I still need to do something else, so would you please wash up yourself in the meantime?]

[Hey you, taking a peek at my research material is a no go. How rude of you]

[Pardon me.]

Sure enough, when I tried to take a peek at the panel again, she reprimanded me.

[Kairos seems to have exited the bathroom, go ahead quickly.]

[Can I ask you one question?]

[U~n, alright. But make it short.]

[Are you the one who created that collective lifeform?]

[Yes, I am. Okay now, hush hush.]

[Now that I got a good look, nothing much really changed. Still as refreshing.]

[What do you mean?]

[Just get yourself some shower first.]