Millennium Science School, Seminar Office.
"…That is the full report of the mission."
From the other end of the communication, Asuna paused, then asked, "Um, may I ask if you have any questions?"
After several seconds of silence, the blue-haired girl listening to the report finally spoke. Her tone revealed no emotion at all.
"Rather than questions… it seems you all caused quite a commotion…?"
However, standing beside Yuuka, I could clearly see it. Beneath her calm expression, her brows were trembling with restrained anger.
Asuna explained, "Ah, yes. But please do not worry. As I mentioned before, this will not become an inter-school issue. Although there are some expenses that need to be covered… well, shall we say we did our utmost duty…"
Upon hearing the phrase "some expenses," Yuuka finally snapped.
She took several exaggerated deep breaths in a row, but still could not calm down.
"Yuuka, calm down, calm down," I said, exchanging a subtle glance with Noa, and placed a hand on the accounting girl's shoulder at the right moment.
"Haah… haah…" the arithmetic prodigy pressed her temple, trying to regain composure. "T-this was with Sensei accompanying them. I won't say anything more… sigh."
Even so, a heavy sigh still escaped her lips.
Poor Yuuka.
Still, I had tried my best to reduce the compensation amount as much as possible.
I changed the subject.
"By the way, how is Koyuki being handled?"
Yuuka responded, shifting topics as expected. "That girl was detained last night after being delivered. As long as nothing unexpected happens, she will not be released for a while."
After a pause, she continued, "For reference, she is currently in a highly inescapable state. Koyuki is being held in a perfect 10-meter-wide cubic glass room. There are no electronic devices inside. Everything is handled using paper documents and human personnel. The surrounding area also prohibits entry with smartphones."
A prison designed entirely around countering Koyuki's unique talents.
As expected, this was not surprising. Koyuki had always been confined when she made mistakes. This time, the confinement was simply more strict.
To deal with someone gifted yet fundamentally not evil, but who still caused massive losses to the Seminar, there really was no better option.
"…Sensei, I know you are kind and have a good relationship with that girl, so I will say this in advance. You do not need to feel sorry for her. Visiting her occasionally is more than enough mercy."
"I know, I know," I reassured her. "She brought it on herself. If anything, handling it this lightly just shows how kind you are, Yuuka."
"Sensei, please do not say strange things like that."
Even as she said it, her mood improved slightly from the praise.
Then Yuuka remembered Noa, who was still on the call.
Turning to her, she asked, "Anyway, that's it for now. See you."
Without waiting for a reply, the girl already overwhelmed by C&C's actions hung up the call.
She leaned back in her chair and complained to me and Noa.
"So what were they even thinking, making such a huge bill like that? Honestly! Even if you ignore the earlier parts, once they already had control over the Odyssey students, couldn't they just capture Koyuki immediately? Why drag it out so long? Aaaah, it's so frustrating!"
In other words, Neru's desire to vent her frustration ultimately became Yuuka's burden.
Noa smiled and tried to comfort her.
"Now now, Yuuka-chan. What's done is done, so please take it calmly. If you keep frowning like that, you'll get wrinkles and won't be as pretty anymore."
"No, rather than me, aren't you the one who should be worried?" Yuuka replied, looking at her with concern. "Did you not sleep well last night? Your dark circles are pretty noticeable."
"Eh… hehe, you noticed?"
The Seminar secretary, who had pulled an all-nighter and even tried to conceal it with makeup, gave a light laugh. I also averted my gaze slightly, feeling a bit guilty.
Still, I was in excellent condition. Noa also only looked slightly tired at most. Yuuka, unaware of anything suspicious, simply assumed her friend had not been able to sleep well at Schale, or had been exhausted from watching Koyuki recently.
Even though Noa was the third person to grant me an authority, within just three days of staying at Schale she had somehow advanced further than the others, taking a crucial step forward in a place Yuuka knew nothing about.
Or rather, it was precisely because of how rapidly our relationship progressed that I managed to "conquer" this sensitive literary girl.
As for Noa's authority…
——
Conversion Ability: [Poetry]
Description: Allows transmission of "Poetry".pdf to electronic devices.
Source: Ushio Noa cleared
——
A completely expected result.
Typical Millennium rewards. Already used to it.
As long as the next time I "conquer" Asuna it doesn't unlock something like "Luck".pdf, I'll be grateful.
And this morning, after confirming the details of this ability and as expected, reading another Noa-style poem from the downloaded file, I suddenly realized something important.
Even now, I still had not talked to Noa about the invoices.
I had been thinking that since I missed the chance when she was fully alert, I should confirm again whether I remembered something wrong, and then discuss it with her privately.
Without telling Yuuka.
After all, if the inconsistency I noticed was real, the list of suspects would immediately shrink to just a few people.
So I casually asked, "By the way, since Koyuki has been captured, the bond issuance must have stopped as well, right?"
"Yes, of course."
"So in the end," I asked, "what was the total amount of the bonds?"
"…Sensei, please do not remind me of such painful memories."
Even so, Yuuka sighed and still recited a long string of numbers.
Compared to what I had seen from Koyuki's spending on the Golden Fleece ship, it was not even in the same league.
At this point, it was basically confirmed.
Someone was using the fact that "Koyuki illegally issued bonds under the Seminar's name" to achieve some hidden purpose.
Now that I knew this, I should find time to tell Noa and discuss it with her.
But for now…
I should let her, who had been working all night, get some proper rest.