OKIH 46

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Chapter 46

"I've come today to escort Tarou-dono alone. Will the other guests kindly stay here?"

"Seriously......"

It was Naito-san who picked me up on the next day.

Kawazu-san nodded in assentment to that notice.

"Oh, is that so. Then Tarou, you have to properly say your greetings when you're alone. I'm tired from yesterday's sightseeing. I'll be relaxing in the room"

"...... terrible, Kawazu-san"

"Then! I'll also be doing things in the room! Good luck, Taro!"

The dragonfly added while holding what looked like ale with both hands, it's easy to understand her intention.

"...... you guys just definitely don't wanna do the troublesome part, right?"

""Not true at all, not at all""

"Kuu...... you're just echoing each other"

It's looks like there's no one here who would be with me through hardships.

Even if I'm nervous.

I won't say that I don't wanna go because I'm not a child, but I would like to avoid it if possible.

"Um......"

Sailor Soldier looked like she wanted to say something, but it's already inevitable.

I cracked a nihilistic smile and waved my hand.

"...... Sailor Soldier should stay with them. It's a simple affair, it would be over soon"

"...... got it, then I'll be with the others"

Huh? Could this possibly be breaking the 'I'll follow along'-flag?

Silly me.

But this way, I won't be able to say 'I'm nervous so come with me'.

I also know some shame.

"Now then, shall we?"

I nodded reluctantly to Naito-san when she finally asked for confirmation.

"...... yes, then please, Naito-san"

"......"

She led me to the famous Parliament Tower, but seeing it from the bottom really emphasizes how big it is.

At least, there's no doubt that it has enough impact to instill on the bourgeois like me.

"We're...... not required to wear things like neckties or the like, right?"

"I'm sorry but I don't really understand?"

"You're right! Since it's just me talking! Yea!"

Damn! I reverted to normal!

Of course you won't know, since it's from a different world.

The unrelatable joke made the temperature rise to boiling.

I was quite uneasy that I have to go out alone with Naito-san this time.

The interior of the building was also built elegantly. It gave me the impression of what I think a medieval temple would be like, and it had a majestic atmosphere that comes naturally.

The floor, ceiling, and the walls, are polished to the extent that even shadows are naturally reflected. It's bright and shiny.

Is it really okay for me to be in weird sneakers, which are not even branded?

I had the impulse to check to soles of my feet, but I resisted to urge.

Even if I stepped on gum, I'll just needlessly worry on what would happen to all the shine and gloss.

While being flustered inside, Naito-san suddenly stopped, and so I followed suit.

It was a close call, especially since I can't see any semblance of it being a room.

Even so, Naito-san stopped on her tracks.

"What's the matter? Um, is this our destination?"

"No, but I could only go this far"

"Huh? So you won't guide me until the end?"

So my last hope even said something like that, now I feel the pressure increase.

I'll be very troubled if I'm left alone in a place like this though!

Another me was screaming in my head, just what will happen?

"Yes, I apologize...... I'm not allowed to enter further from here"

"Ah, I see......"

And so, my small hope was crushed.

I was still going to go alone in the end.

How lonely! The memory of the time before I passed the exam suddenly flashed in my head.

"I will be guiding you from here, please follow me"

"Alright......"

But my vitality was restored by a little.

What appeared next was an Elf dressed like a civil official, with glasses.

But even with a cold-eyed beauty, talking and being familiar with a woman I'm not acquainted with when I'm alone is...... something I can't do! And the civil official Elf-san is too cool.

Not saying anything from the start and having those cold eyes, it would feel distant and the level of awkwardness would rise.

Had it been a minute since I've followed silently? The place that I've been taken to was a little different from what I've been seeing earlier.

"This was please, kindly wait inside. Just go straight ahead"

"Thank you"

Ah, leaving after all.

The elf just suddenly went away after saying that.

Left alone, I observed the strange thing in front of me.

"...... a waterfall? In the room?"

There flowed a waterfall that went into a stream made from black marble.

I looked around but I can't see where it continues.

How did it get here?

While looking around, I went into the river as instructed, and it turns out that you can walk on top of it!

There seems to be a subtle film of light, and a platform that only appears where your foot is.

While admiring it, I proceeded to the waterfall, and the water simply parted like a curtain without even getting me wet.

"The automatic door of the waterfall was a surprise"

Here, I can't make fun of the unexpected fantasy-ness of this world.

But after passing through the fantastic automatic door, the place it led to wasn't very pleasant.

The circular floor is obstructed by a high wall, and at the top are chairs arranged to surround.

I was placed below, and there was an unpleasant feeling from chair in the middle I where I just sat.

"This feels like a trial......"

Just like the word, I remembered a court somewhere.

Before I knew it, there were five figures of people that appeared on the platform, looking down on me.

Are these people the elders?

Should I say some greetings for the time being?

I lowered my head and made a smile.

"Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Tarou. It's an honor to be invited"

The one who answered my greeting was a composed middle-aged man, who was at the center of the five people.

He had a white robe and even among them, he seemed to have a special dignity, very Elf-like, and he had pointed ears.

"Hm, likewise, we also thank you for the trouble of coming over"

"Well then, I thought it would be over once I've given my greetings, but what is the meaning of this?"

I'm sorry for being abrupt but I'll have you explain this situation.

No matter how you look at it, the place I've entered isn't designed for interaction between equals.

I did not come to take an exam, nor am I here for a trial.

I'll accept yesterday's encounter as your type of welcome, but I'm getting tired of  situations like I'm being tested.

"Well then, exactly what do you mean?"

The Elven elder ultimately played dumb, and my temple naturally throbbed.

"Aa, how troublesome. I'm talking about this wonderful atmosphere. It looks like you're about to start an interrogation. I'm sorry but I don't have any intention to play along"

I've already quit on using terms of respect, and the air over there evidently changed.

It became quite unpleasant, I could say that it was emanating negativity, and I could tell even though I'm dull.

"...... that's unfortunate. However, it isn't that we called you here just to test your competence.

We had to see for ourselves whether or not you're dangerous"

"Why do I have to do something like that? Well I could somehow understand if you want to be clear about my abilities. Even the Dragon Elder warned that my powers are dangerous after all. But if so, I wouldn't mind showing you, had you asked without using these roundabout methods"

Everybody else understood my power without me showing my abilities through magic though?

After saying that, the man's true nature finally appeared.

"...... then we shan't hold back. Why don't we test that power of yours?"

"Mn?"

The man stood up after saying that.

Then the other four followed suit in rising up, as something started to move.

The five people said something that sounded like an incantation, with their hands held as if in prayer.

I resolved to put my guard up against whatever is about to start, and a suspicious aura vibrated around me.

"...... what is this?"

At first, it was a faint violet light, but it got darker and denser, and it's force was increasing.

The light swirled and wrapped around me, then it transformed into a magical array.

I remained staring at the Elf elders without moving an inch.

Then the man at the middle stared down on me and fearlessly laughed.

Confident of victory, he became talkative.

"It's an Elven Sealing Barrier, one of the few secret arts that were passed down since ancient times. 

You should feel honored, as you are too dangerous.

Enough that you're capable to deal a blow to the authority of us Elves.

This is a powerful prison that even a dragon won't be able to move it's limbs, it would offer you a peaceful slumber"

There was a countless number of rings that came from the magical array, surrounding the area around me.

"...... oh I see"

Troublesome after all.

The light cage continued to increase, until it finally completely covered my surroundings.

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