An excavation site located in the Abydos Desert.

In a building established there, two adults sat across a table from each other.

One was a person from outside Kivotos. The other was a figure whose completion took a turn for the worse.

—

I convey His words.

The deadline is approaching, so do not forget the terms of the transaction.

Also, do not dare try to brush it aside as something that never happened.

Our towing unit is always ready to conduct outdoor classes.

I hope your company is prepared to fulfill the transaction and make a wise choice.

—

“Heh heh. Aren’t we in quite the predicament? None of us has achieved our goals, and yet, the hands of what can be described as the most dangerous person in Kivotos are tightening around our necks.”

At the words of the one in a black suit, the man who once stood atop a tower built from machinery—who established a kingdom called Kaiser but now retains only a small domain—lifted his bowed head.

“Even so, I am hindered by the sandstorm, which has disrupted the excavation work. And isn’t your plan also facing the same issues?”

“I won’t deny that. The plan to pressure Abydos using an unending sandstorm has been temporarily put on hold. My easily manipulable pieces are all tucked away in their little huts, waiting for the silence of the persistent storm.”

However, despite all these circumstances not flowing as intended, both adults maintained an oddly relaxed atmosphere.

“Do you have a proper solution? With just a wave of her hand, your little kingdom could be swept away in that storm without a trace.”

“Hmph. You seem rather relaxed yourself. Has the girl named Takamachi Hoshino become unnecessary?”

“Oh, it’s not that at all. Let’s just say a new opponent has emerged to reshape our dealings.”

“…Saint Nephthys, then. A company that was originally slated for a hostile takeover by us has transformed into a monster that could devour us at any moment, all because of one person. I never anticipated I would feel the saying, ‘Life is unpredictable,’ in this manner.”

Clang! Clang clang.

The President, tapping lightly on the metal table with his fingers, quietly declared.

“Indeed, it would be best to fulfill the transaction with her.”

“Oh? Wasn’t the price of the deal you two struck supposed to be a ‘solution to the desertification of Abydos?’ I find it hard to believe you could discover such a solution in a matter of that short time.”

“A method certainly exists. Why do you think Saint Nephthys has re-entered this desert?”

“Certainly, as the local company in Abydos, Saint Nephthys might be closest to resolving this crisis. However… they were also the ones who pulled the trigger on desertification. Using the metaphor, they set the timer of a ticking bomb before starting to disarm it… This situation can only be deemed quite interesting.”

With a bizarre smile, the one in the black suit interlaced his fingers. Then he looked at the President and posed a key question.

“However, there’s no guarantee that Saint Nephthys will move based on certainty, and they have no reason to provide you with that information. President, what are you scheming?”

“…All the answers will lie with Abydos.”

“Oh? Are you saying that the now diminished academy holds that answer?”

“I think it’s in bad taste to talk nonsense while being aware of the truth. There’s no way that a remnant based in the last remaining annex would possess such important information.”

The President, chuckling softly, uttered two coordinates.

“The very place where everything in Abydos began. And where it lingered just before shifting to its final resting place. Answers might be found in these two locations… At the very least, that should be enough to ward off that woman’s wrath until the day the treasure is discovered.”

“…Heh heh. Is that so? But I believe there are only about two weeks remaining until the deadline.”

Bwahahahaha! “So you don’t know everything after all.”

Seeing the President burst into laughter, the one in the black suit uncrossed his fingers and slightly loosened his tie. It’s tough to pretend when you know everything, he thought, as he pressed for an answer.

“We’ve already been conducting excavation work for quite some time. Just figuring out what Saint Nephthys is after could yield a lot of results.”

“…In the end, all you need is to buy time from her, right?”

“I won’t deny that. Well then, the sky-piercing confidence of mine will ultimately lead to winter, won’t it?”

The Kaiser President envisioned a distant future ruling over his small domain.

A brilliant future laid beneath his feet, one far beyond that of Kivotos.

*

Honestly, I thought it would be quite some time before the Teacher came while the Shalle kickstarted its activities. After all, ever since I got involved, the situation in Abydos had changed considerably.

I had considered the possibility that Hoshino wouldn’t bother asking the Teacher for help since there was ample room now, but that was a variable dependent on the choice made by the one in the black suit, so it couldn’t be taken for granted.

Anyway, circling back to why I brought up this story…

“Nothing.”

There was nothing.

Not in the living quarters of Shalle, nor in the administrative office. Not in the clubroom, which I jokingly referred to as the Teacher’s paperwork prison.

Ah, except for the basement of Shalle. I didn’t go in there out of respect for the Teacher’s privacy.

In any case, I couldn’t spot a single shadow in the Shalle building.

I distinctly remember pushing for the rabbits to be assigned directly under the Teacher, but their absence meant…

They’re probably out on an external assignment. Is there anywhere they could go?

I thought about asking Yukino, but with the Teacher being the direct superior of SRT, I figured the RABBIT Squad wouldn’t have any reason to report their activities to the separate FOX Squad, so I abandoned that hope.

Then what could it be? I didn’t think it could be the Game Development Club. Considering their upcoming competition called ‘Millennium Price’, the timing felt off.

What about the Abydos Crisis Committee? It would be difficult to say for sure. Just the sandstorm itself made Hoshino quite adamant that I shouldn’t come, so would they even bring the Teacher in?

Still, just to be sure, I sent a Momotalk to Hoshino.

[Hoshino-chan, do you have a moment?]

[Uhe~? What’s going on?]

[This old man is currently in a state of discharge.]

[Just typing is draining me…]

[Um, I was just wondering if the Teacher from Shalle is, by any chance, in Abydos!]

[The Teacher from Shalle? Uhh, I don’t know…]

[It’s the first I’m hearing of it.]

[But more importantly, my old man’s fingers are a bit sore…]

[Ah, sorry! Should I maybe talk over the phone?]

[Oh, if you do that my conscience might hurt a bit…?]

[Right now, I’m lying in the perfect place for a nap.]

[…I see. So to you, I’m just a passing Miko, less than a good night’s sleep.]

[Uhe?! I don’t understand at all!]

[Later, I’ll definitely call, so wait for me, okay!]

[It’s fine. Once I get up, I’ll easily forget someone like you, so it’s alright. No need to go through the trouble of promising to contact later!]

[…]

[(A whale lying flat and apologizing emoji)]

[Seriously, I’ll be sure to contact you! Just trust me this once, Mika-chan!]

[Mika has fallen for it… again.]

[Uhe~ This time I really will contact you.]

…Wait a moment.

Hasn’t the content of my Momotalk been getting slightly suspicious lately? It was always intense, but it didn’t feel like it reached this level before.

Is this the change that happens when you spend ten months in the body and mannerisms of a highschool girl…? I don’t particularly care about masculinity anymore, though.

To be honest, I thought it wouldn’t matter now that I had completely handed over the reins to Nagisa.

Anyway, according to Hoshino, I might as well rule out the Crisis Committee.

The Eden Treaty…is scheduled to finalize the signing ceremony after the trial operation period of ETO is done, and since that’s something I have to bring up with the Teacher, of course, it’s not an option.

The rabbits had effectively been sewn up before anything happened, so that’s no problem.

Hmm… Could it be an event story? Maybe a connection story?

Or perhaps it’s just an inconsequential external assignment, and I’m attributing excessive meaning to it.

Taking the chance when no one was around, I slid into the chair where the Teacher usually did their work.

It’s…rather cozy. I can’t help but wonder if it’s okay to be this relaxed.

With someone like Urawa Hanako beside me, I feel like I could finish any paperwork in no time flat.

I rested my elbows on the desk and supported my chin. Maybe it’s because the chair is adjusted for the Teacher, but my feet dangled as I unconsciously moved back and forth.

…I don’t know. Where else could someone like the Teacher be, and how am I getting so serious about it?

I trust they’re managing just fine, I suppose.