Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 9 Chapter 2 (section)

== 2.02 Nanana Part 6 ==

''There’s something I’d like to check—

Saying this, Munakata Kaiji had brought Nanana and Nihei into the shack.

Sotheby waited for Nanana’s answer outside and Mushibane were watching over him. They were probably staring at that creepy visitor now.

“Do you all feel proud of your business?”

With the young merchants Nanana and Nihei in front of him, Munakata asked this.

It went without saying. What Munakata wanted to make sure of was their resolve, or perhaps their determination.

Who was going to bid in the auction?

Munakata probably wanted to confirm that. Thinking of the possibility of Nanana monopolizing it, perhaps she intended on asserting some sort of ownership.

But while talking with Munakata, Nanana thought of something entirely different.

The words she’d heard from Shiika just before reverberated in her head.

''—Also, umm… if you do something with that person, or do something for them, that’s also called loving them.

This was apparently a speech she heard from Munakata, but right now that didn’t matter at all.

Doing something for someone was love.

“What do you need out of the thing called money?”

She was loved.

Without doubt, Nanana had been loved by the Kind Magician.

As well as her grandfather.

She was very important for the both of them. They protected her, expecting nothing in return.

And what about Nanana?

''—Enclosure, Bubble, Paradigm Shift… these are history. As I am a mere duckie, I gave up on trying finding the swan who caused that.

Nanana had merely listened while the Magician said this.

And so—was this why she vanished?

Even back during their first meeting, the Magician had said she “didn’t want” any reward from Nanana. From then onwards, she also refused to receive anything from her.

Her grandfather was the same. Not accepting anything from Nanana, he showered her with unconditional love.

However, at that time…

Even if it was useless, shouldn’t Nanana have presented something to them?

“What do you think business—money is?”

On the other hand, all around Nanana were people who’d never leave her. Those of the Akasegawa Foundation, her secretary, and Pochi. As long as Nanana kept giving them money, they would stay at her side even if they hated it.

Meaning, wasn’t the truth like this?

Both the Kind Magician and her grandfather had left Nanana.

Those who lusted for money would always stay at her side.

''—It’s fine. I’m better off protecting the swan in front of me.

If, at that time, Nanana had given to the girl something—would the Kind Magician have stayed at her side?

“Since I was saved by you, Akasegawa, I greatly respect your opinion on this.”

''—Because you’re like a magician, Nanana.

Anmoto Shiika.

She felt no discomfort with that girl at her side. Nanana still loathed Mushitsuki, but that girl wasn’t to blame. Perhaps because she never wore a sorrowful, self-pitying face like the others? She’d probably actually went through a happy life with no major disasters. It was obvious just by looking at her.

When she was next to Shiika, so innocent and unreliable, she felt like looking at a poor younger sister.

What did Shiika think of Nanana?

''—I-I don’t need anything.

Just like her precious person before, Shiika also refused getting anything from Nanana.

At this rate, she would lose Shiika as well.

If she made her accept anything right here and now, even by force, she would never vanish without a word like the Kind Magician or Nanana’s grandfather—

“So it’s settled then.”

Nanana grinned, clasping her hands.

Opening the shack’s door, the swimsuit-clad Shiika poked her face in.

“Umm… have you reached a decision? Sotheby-san’s still waiting.”

“I will be the one to bid on this auction.”

Declaring this, Nanana left her seat.

“Say, Shiika. Do you want to know about Alpha—about the roots of Mushitsuki?”

She stealthily asked Shiika who stood in front of the door. Shiika thought for a bit, then answered.

“Yeah. I do.”

The forsaken desire of the Kind Magician.

The secret desired by Anmoto Shiika.

Nanana was trying to obtain those. —She felt as if she finally found a way to use her money that was no more than trash unable to even buy back the sweet crepe.

“Leave it to me. I’ll definitely buy it.”

Using the magic known as money, Nanana looked like a magician, and if so…

Nanana would become just that.

Without turning into a Mushitsuki, Nanana would become a magician—

Shiika looked at Nanana, surprised.

Watching the two girls whispering among themselves, Munakata smiled.

“Perhaps there is no longer anything I can do for Mushibane.”

I no longer have any regrets—

The man’s calm face looked as if he was saying that.

As Nanana returned to the beach, Sotheby and Mushibane were glaring at each other just as expected.

No, actually only Mushibane was cautious while Sotheby’s face was calm. —Well, she couldn’t see his face that was hidden by the black cloth, but so it seemed to Nanana.

Nanana and the rest once again faced the abnormal auctioneer.

“This really isn’t normal… I’d never heard of conducting business with non-humans.”

Although everyone claimed to have resolved themselves, Chouya Nihei alone was as always hesitant. He was watching over them from a little way off.

“Have you finished your consultation…?”

Sotheby, body completely clad in decayed suit and accessories, spoke with a low voice. He was apparently looking at their faces with a slouched posture; everything about his stance seemed servile.

Yeah—

Nanana was about to say this and nod.

“W-wait.”

For some reason Shiika started the conversation.

“Can only members of the Round Table participate in that auction?”

She probably had something to say. Even though she was scared of the monster in front of them until now, for some reason she stared at Sotheby with a desperate expression.

“…Hmm.”

Sotheby stopped moving as if thinking a bit.

''Twitch—

Seeing him act like this, Nihei raised an eyebrow. Perhaps there was something that bothered him.

“…Those aware of the true worth of Alpha are those who possess the most assets in this country, the Round Table… are you hoping to participate as well…?”

“Can I?”

Nanana couldn’t understand why Shiika with her sparkling eyes wanted to do.

It wasn’t only Nanana that didn’t understand her actions. Even Munakata and, of course, the other Mushibane members, the secretary and Pochi also looked confused.

“T-then… how about this.”

Shiika cheerfully brought something out of her hoodie pocket and handed it to Sotheby.

It was almost as if a question mark appeared over the heads of everyone there. Similarly, Nanana’s head was stuffed full of question marks.

“…”

The sound of waves coming nearby echoed on the beach.

The thing that Shiika had presented to him.

It was—several coins.

If she put them into a vending machine, she would probably be able to buy about two juice cans. Or possibly a single 500-ml large water bottle.

“I just want to do something for Alpha as well… umm, I know there’s no way I’d win, but if I can just try and participate—”

As Shiika mumbled this while fidgeting, Nanana stared at her with shock.

None of them had been able to foresee this action.

And even if they saw this action—as expected, none of them understood its meaning.

“…Pfft.”

Having stood there as if frozen, Sotheby’s body suddenly started shaking.

“Pff… Kuku…! What an amusing jest… I wonder if your ears have gone deaf while I spoke just now… h-however, it is not often that I see such a poor person… pfft!” 

Just before, Sotheby had clearly announced the starting price of the bid. While everyone was shocked at that time, Shiika was probably troubled by something else entirely.

Bidding starting price meant that they would start the auction from that amount. Shiika had apparently not known that.

“Eh? Eh?”

Her cheeks blushing, Shiika glanced at the people around. Nanana and the rest of the Akasegawa Group were shocked, while Munakata, Aijisupa and the rest looked troubled, as if thinking who should explain to her.

“—Hey.”

This low voice was heard from afar.

“Merchants shouldn’t laugh at their clients.”

It was Chouya Nihei. His vision was focusing at none other than the one he was cowering from before, the abnormal auctioneer, glaring at him. —But looking more closely, his knees were shaking.

“Pff… cough,” while the surprised people all looked at Nihei, Sotheby recovered.

“I do apologize, it was simply such a surprise… I offer my most sincere apology. Currently only the members of the Round Table are invited to this auction…”

“I-I see.”

Seeing Sotheby stifle his laughter and bow, Shiika looked regretful. She apparently actually wanted to participate in the auction.

“Jeez… just leave it to me and watch from the side.”

Tapping Shiika’s shoulder, Nanana took a step forward. “Y-yeah,” Shiika drew back, nodding.

Facing Sotheby, Nanana spoke.

“I’ll pay the following sum.”

Hearing the sum she mentioned next, the people behind her were shocked.

“You fool…! That’s double the amount of the opening bid!”

Other than Munakata, no one could speak.

She wouldn’t feel sorry.

No matter how much money she’d lost, she could make it back.

In exchange, Nanana would obtain that which she could never get again.

Sotheby also had his entire body shaking. But unlike the time with Shiika, this time it looked like he was shaking from happiness.

Sotheby straightened his slouch, looking straight at Nanana.

“Will you bid or fold?”

Spinning her stick, Nanana declared.

“Bid.”

''—Apparently, the first person who had this sort of power was called Alpha.

The Kind Magician so told her.

Alpha.

The first—the original Mushitsuki.

According to Sotheby, Alpha was the pandora box starting all disasters.

If that was actually true, then Nanana was a worthy owner.

“Thank you very much for your bid…”

Sotheby politely lowered his head.

“Charging will be in three days… as long as there is no other bidder to make a bid during that time, you will be the winner…”

Saying this with a happy voice, Sotheby rotated his body. Dragging his leather shoes on the sand, he was walking back the direction he came from.

“For close to ten years, none have touched Alpha. —Now it’s settled.”

Hearing Munakata’s mumble, Nanana kept cheerfully spinning her stick.