Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 9 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 4===

Equipped with insulation and air conditioning, the building was more comfortable than imagined.

The living room behind entryway had extravagant sound and home theater equipment with a large sofa in the middle. There were two doors inside, probably both bedrooms.

There was an air like it was a space Charlotte used to relax.

Although it looked quite spacious from outside, it still felt quite cramped after so many people came in.

Not permitted to touch Mitsuki and the others yet, I stayed on the edge of wall on the far side of the room.

Two groups were naturally formed in the room with Iris, who had already touched me and Jeanne, with Kraken Zwei on her back, on my side.

"—Perfect. Rooms are scarce so Mitsuki-san, your group will stay in the left room while Mononobe-san's group will use the room on the right. I will deliver more bedding and food later to make up for deficiencies."

Standing in between the two groups, Mica-san gave such directions to us.

"I-I can sleep in the same room as Mononobe!?"

Iris was very surprised. Going "w-with the Captain..." in a conundrum, Jeanne was very flustered.

"This is necessary to avoid inadvertent contact. However, numbers are distributed rather unevenly. Those who chose to touch Mononobe-san may switch rooms next."

"I know you all should know this, but please know your boundaries as students and do not cross them."

The faltering Iris went "Yes" and huddled herself with a stare from Shinomiya-sensei.

Smiling with slight wryness, Mica-san continued.

"Also, this place has a toilet but no bathroom. If you wish to take a bath, please use the hot spring outside."

"Umm... Mica-san, the hot spring outside looks too hot to enter."

I recalled the seething hot spring I had seen along the way and asked Mica-san.

"Don't worry. There is a flow of cold groundwater near this cottage, mixing with the hot spring water to produce an appropriate temperature. But indeed, there are parts with higher temperatures so please do not venture too far away."

"Understood."

Charlotte must have built her cottage at this spot so that she could take baths immediately.

—But still, a hot spring huh?

I could not help but recall what had happened at the volcanic island we visited during the Basilisk campaign.

There was a hot spring on the island too, but Firill had brought all the girls in while I was enjoying a dip, putting me in quite a perilous situation.

I looked at Firill only to meet her gaze by chance. Putting her finger against the corner of her lip suggestively, she smiled. It looked like she was remembering the volcanic island incident too. Most likely, she was hinting to keep what had happened a secret.

"—Thus concludes what you need to know about living here. Going forward, you will remain here on standby until NIFL's inspection ends. They will have to withdraw within a week at most."

Mica-san told us that, seeming quite confident in Charlotte's clout. Then Shinomiya-sensei spoke next.

"Mica and I will be in charge of replenishing living supplies. Also, portable terminals cannot be reached here. Do not move recklessly even if you are curious about the situation outside."

"But what should we do in case of unforeseen circumstances? There is a possibility that you might not come, Shinomiya-sensei."

Raising her hand to ask a question, Lisa showed a worried expression. While entrusting things to Charlotte, it was only natural to worry about unexpected developments.

"In that event, I leave it to all of you to exercise your own judgment. But even if you must verify the situation above ground, please send someone who bears relatively less risk. It is very dangerous for those with colored dragon marks, Shion and Jeanne to be exposed before NIFL."

Sweeping her gaze back and forth over us, Shinomiya-sensei warned solemnly.

"Yes, we will be careful."

Lisa and the rest of us nodded. Shinomiya-sensei turned her gaze to Mica-san.

"Very well. Mica, then let us return to the surface."

"Yes, Charlotte-sama will have her hands full if left to her own devices. We shall depart now, everyone."

Mica-san nodded and bowed her head at us.

The two adults left, leaving us looking at one another.

"What do we do, Mitsuki?"

Firill asked for instructions from Student Council President Mitsuki.

"Yes... We need to first check out the rooms where we will be staying—No, before that, let us decide the sequence we will follow to have our individual discussions with Nii-san."

Mitsuki pondered while she spoke, then proposed what they were going to do next.

"Sure, but how will we decide?"

Agreeing with Mitsuki, Lisa asked her how.

"—Rock-paper-scissors."

Making a fist to indicate 'rock,' Mitsuki answered with a serious face.