“Huh? I am?”
Yurika blinked in confusion as Shizuka pointed that out. After giggling a little, Shizuka told her why.
“Whenever Satomi-kun is about to start something, he always invites Yurika-chan first”
“And I always suffer for it! It's not a privilege at all!”
“It's a luxury, Nijino Yurika”
“Even Maki-chan! You're wrong! A privilege is something warmer and kinder! Painful stuff is not a privilege!”
“I understand how you feel, Yurika”
Koutarou and the others were descending from the mountain in a harmonious atmosphere. It was just another summer day. However, Koutarou and the others knew how valuable that was, and they prayed that days like this would come forever.
However, there were those who were trying to destroy that peace. The first ones to notice it were the two haniwas that served Kiriha.
“Ho! Ho Ho-! This is bad Ho-!”
“Ane-san, sorry for intruding on your fun Ho!”
Karama and Korama had been using camouflage to keep themselves hidden up until now, but as they sensed someone approaching, they appeared in front of Koutarou and the others. If what approached them were normal people they wouldn't have said anything, but sadly, the people were not normal.
“We have detected something on our spiritual energy sensor Ho! The reaction is weak, it is most likely a sensor that they are using Ho!”
“The distance is 200 meters ahead! It seems they are climbing up the mountain path Ho!”
The approaching people was using spiritual energy technology. In other words, they were People of the Earth, or those related to them. They weren't normal, and a quick reaction was necessary.
“Karama, Korama, class II stealth mode. Depending on the situation, we might use sleep mode”
“Got it!”
“Understood Ho-!”
Kiriha swiftly gave Karama and Korama the order to conceal themselves. At this point, Kiriha suspected that it was likely that the ones approaching were hostile. The reason for that is because Kiriha had forbidden her subordinates that had come to the surface with her from using spiritual energy technology. Because of that, since the ones closing in were using spiritual energy technology, there was a high chance of the ones approaching being from the radical faction.
“Nee-san, this is strange Ho! Their spiritual energy is too unstable. Even if it's a sensor, the resolution would be too weak Ho!”
“I remember this spiritual pattern Ho-! With a 90% probability, it's that fun group of five we've met before Ho!”
“What...”
However, Kiriha's expectations had been betrayed. The ones approaching were neither ally nor foes.
They were from a third faction.