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Arifureta After IIIAbyss Lord Arc Chapter 2Dear Sir, Nagumo-sama Vatican Is Really Bad News, Seriously

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A little bit before Emily and others witnessed Kousuke's disappearance and went to the security bureau

Kousuke who arrived at Ro in a cheap hotel like before when he was at Britain

Although, it wasn't like before where it was really a worn out hotel, while this hotel was cheap, its quality was fine and it see flight by sleeping throughout the night

Especially when there was no gun fight that was started upstair or any intruder breaking theand entering like in Hollywoodsafely, finished his preparation quickly and left the hotel

And then, he was enjoying the pleasant n country while for the ti he entered into a café to have breakfast because one couldn't fight with e to war, it's still the first day, so I'll look around the location while sightseeing at the sa the menu

The waiter wouldn't notice even if he called out, so he went by himself to order

The café's auntie who only noticed that there was a Japanese custoot tapped showed a shocked expression, but Kousuke didn't pay it any mind Because he was a man of experience In stealth

He ordered a set of croissant, salad, and several kinds of ham sliced thinly And then a cup of cappuccino

It wasn't salmon sandwich It wasn't, salmon sandwich It wasn't-!

「Oh? This cappuccino……it's delicious」

The cappuccino was exquisite Inside the relieving gentle sweetness, a subtle bitterness could be felt,many cups of it The croissant too wasn't bad It was crispy and fluffy, with arohted him

「Yup, I only entered randoh they don't have salmon sandwich here」

His seat was beside the , so he brought his breakfast into hisat the townscape of Ros that were overfloith at to protect the scenery, whichinto a fantasy world The atmosphere somehow reminded him of Tortus

Naturally, what crossed at the back of his ate opening", she would stay fully in Endo fa here would also be a type of test case in preparation when the "this and that" related to Hauria in Tortus had also calree and they built their base at this side, so she would coh his faether with Rana……

His wild delusion swelled out

And then, Eh in interception

「……」

He had finished introducing Emily to his family too, and his family had already accepted her The Grant family too had accepted Kousuke as their fa it away

He had no such intention but……actually, until now Kousuke still hadn't conveyed his feeling toward E was approving, but his Japanese sensitivity that had been cultivated within hi, and he was unable to express well the feeling inside hi words It would also be fine if there was soh him cleanly but……

「No, that's just ……」

Hethe cappuccino into hisability of his clone body But, the cup was already e in reverie even though he was co smile on Kousuke's lips beca to order another cup of this delicious cappuccino that he encountered in this trip

「Excuse me~ Another cup please」

Naturally, no one noticed him

He walked briskly and tapped the auntie's shoulder once more

「Hih!? Who!?」

「……It's the Japanese customer who ordered just now Can I ask for another portion of cappuccino and croissant?」

After a eez, I'etful!」 to cover up her an to prepare Kousuke's order She was an auntie with pluood-natured face, so he couldn't hate her no h, in the first place he was used to this treatry

Kousuke returned to his seat in looking a bit dejected like usual He stared at the townscape with a feeling that was different fro a faraway look seen fro off sorrow that was unexpected to be coe

「Here, enjoy Cappuccino and croissant……」

「Ah, two of them」

「Yes♪」

Surely the auntie understood that Kousuke liked the croissant She took out two croissants froer and placed it on his plate in a pleasant ot Kousuke's existence just now, or perhaps she was ht away and talked with Kousuke as biting into the croissant in delight

「You look really young Are you with your family?」

「Aa~, no, I'm alone」

「My! You are still in your first year at ht? Could it be you are an oversea student?」

「No no, I'o to Vatican after this Also, I'e of Japanese people……」

The auntie flapped her hand looking like 「Good grief s Perhaps it was a universal truth that all auntie liked to talk, or perhaps it was just that this auntie liked to talk

Kousuke got the feeling that it was the latter case while politely listening

Since coht and his travelling abroad was increasing in frequency He was enjoying the encounter in the , or anything And so, Kousuke also liked people who liked to talk

Such auntie was teaching Kousuke about the sightseeing spot in Vatican, the efficient route, the delicious restaurant and little-known good sightseeing spot with a practiced way

「Anyway, that place is co if you want to go up to the dohtly before eleven o'clock」

「I see I'll keep that in mind」

By the hat the dome here referred to――was about the dome of Cathedral San Pierro It was a lovely place where people could take unobstructed view of Rome and Vatican, but it was a cramped place, so often people would have to hen it became crowded

Kousuke who had finished his breakfast and drank the cappuccino stood up thinking that he should depart soon

「Also you see――」

「……」

The auntie who loved to talk seeood listener?

He was unable to say clearly that it was enough already Kousuke whose act was typical for a Japanese in a sense sat back down

「Recently, it looks like there are a lot of tourists here」

「? Will there be so soon in the future?」

「No There isn't any plan like that, that's why it's strange Froe nu by 15 times」

This auntie incredibly loved to talk He wondered just where did she get that data

There was no iration process to enter Vatican, there were also Vatican personnel that were co back and forth to there from Roma, so perhaps it was because of that

Then the auntie lowered her voice slightly 「Also」 while bringing her face closer to Kousuke and said

「The people ere coo, it looks like they are visiting here repeatedly with a the same place?」

The auntie nodded It seemed that it was information that was obtained from the network of the local citizen who put their root in Roreat nu this café and the restaurants of the auntie's acquaintances

There was also a possibility that those people were staying here for long because of work, but their appearance seeroup of friends who cae story

Although, there was also the possibility of celebrity posting things about Ro the topic to become popular te that was the cause

「I thought that you came here also because of that……」

「Aa~, no, I' like that in internet though」

「Isn't that right? I also tried investigating what kind of celebrity is popularizing this area, but I didn't find anything like that at all I was thinking of having you telling me if you know about it but……it's unfortunate」

This auntie didn't just like to talk, it appeared she was also a ruation lover

Kousuke s your expectation」, then there the auntie finally noticed that Kousuke had finished his breakfast since a long ti!」She flapped her hand while showing an embarrassed smile

Kousuke paid the bill and headed to Vatican while thinking that he had just heard a strange story since the

It was a rare chance, so he tried slowly experiencing walking through the "Via della Conciliazione" where the cathedral was visible ahead His s sound

He would show it to his family when he returned home He also took selfie Currently, a supernatural phenoe had never happened

Before long the plaza and obelisk of San Pietro ca gallantly with colorful outfit and stiff posture, and the tourists ere visiting early

「Oo……as expected, it's a great view」

The cathedral in front of hi, the line of pillared corridor with several hundred trees surrounding the plaza, and thenup above it were also stunning

「It can't be helped that I have to hurry because of the ht, it's better to coroup rather than alone」

He didn't hate travelling alone, but as expected it was better if there was friend, family, or lover to speak their i Kousuke looked around at the tourists around hi that aside, he changed his feeling while subtly tensing his expression

「……The auntie said that it will be crowded around 11 o'clock but……there is already quite a lot of people here」

It appeared that the story about the nuh the tie crowd had forht a bit 「Now then, what to do froo he tried to contact Hajime to ask him to confirm the location of the person who stole the infornal didn't connect

In the first place, they didn't know if the thief was really from Vatican, so this was to confirm it for sure If it was true then it would be easy to investigate

Although, it was pointless to plead for so to climb to the dome and took a bird-eye view of the whole place but……

When he looked, there was already a line formed in front of the entrance to the dome

「It's not like I can just cliet up to the do elevator untilthe stair right fro, but there would be ht froh, even after using elevator, people would still need to cli narrower the her

If it was Kousuke then he could cli bothered by that, even so this situation wasn't suited to look around the surrounding without rushing

「H~ a bit」

He would try waiting for one or two hours If it looked like the queue wasn't smooth at all, he would use the outer wall and cliht while changing his smartphone into selfie mode and walked

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About two hours from then

Kousuke whose heart was completely stolen by the solemn and wonderful works of arts and structures returned to his senses suddenly due to the hunger that he slightly felt

「Crap I was coh I' instead ……How terrifying, Vatican It's too beautiful」

Kousuke pretended to wipe the sweat that didn't even co this, but so slacking off like that」 by Haji like a co around looking at everything, but he had went around quite ht that he should soon start infiltrating for real under the pretense of "I' here, any problem?" and acted to realize that

But, at that tie presence that he suddenly felt He closed his eyes to concentrate a bit, and then, his gaze turned under his feet―― through to the underground

「There is underground passage? Well, it seee even if there is a underground passage that isn't open for public but……」

The problem was, the current location of Kousuke and the direction the person walking underground was heading to

「……An underground passage that is connected to outside, huh」

Yes, Kousuke right noas at the edge of the northwest side of Vatican's artto the north without stopping It was obvious that there was an underground passage that was connecting outside and inside

Kousuke who got interested got outside from the door of the Vatican's art round was heading to

Not htly old four storey building standing inconspicuously between buildings The first floor seeeneral store, where it looked like the iteot noplace Even though it was afternoon, the curtain was closed and the situation inside couldn't be observed

Because it was close to tourist attraction spot, quite a lot of people were passing by, but no one even turned their gaze toward the general store

That was how inconspicuous and quiet the at was

「……The person went up huh Directly to the fourth floor without even showing their appearance」

Kousuke was observing the general store fro it He sensed the presence of the person underground going up the afore the presence inside, it seemed there was no one at the second and third floor, but there was just one person at the fourth floor

For now, he would try searching inside Deciding that, Kousuke was going to move, but before he could a person appeared a fewthe street

He casually turned his gaze toward that person It was a young man with hair of ash brown color and a face that looked really sullen Although, his height was around 170 c trouser and hoodie while carrying a large leather rucksack on his back

「……」

Looking in a glance, he looked like a local without anything particularly standing out, he could also be thought as a tourist

But, Kousuke understood At the very least, this young man wasn't someone with respectable occupation

The way he aze showed it But it was the atave the feel of "sorounded froh the carnage in Tortus sointo the aforeeneral store with a nonchalant face

He then chatted for a bit with the shop oho looked un toward the general store with a faint smile

He entered the store casually

Normally, Kousuke would be able to enter inside without anyone paying attention even without hih Kousuke felt a bit down of that fact, he still entered the store without doubting that fact, but……

Here unexpectedly,

「……」

「――tsu」

The young aze was accidentally directed at Kousuke He detected soaze moved toward Kousuke accurately

Kousuke praised himself hoas able to stop the bewilderment inside his heart to show out

He headed toward the spot where drink was sold inside the store withouta beat

(He noticed me? Certainly I didn't even use any invisibility but……seriously?)

Inside his heart, 「This isn't the time to feel happy isn't it,his presence bit by bit by reinforcing his invisibility

The gaze that was fixed on him slowly oing」

「Yeah, good work」

Their conversation continued with a naturalness as though no one else was there The young man called Aziz then went up the stair inside the store

Kousuke norh he didn't even notice hih him Kousuke's invisibility was in different di that truly should be called as "Presence Thinning", in situation where he was seriously turning invisible, it would beco dreadful where a normal person wouldn't notice even when he waved his hand in front of their eyes

「……?」

(Seriously!? He isn't noticingout of place!)

The young man suddenly turned around inside the cramped stair and tilted his head Kousuke i and stuck there, so the young ination?」

The young man muttered that and shook his head, then his sullen face became even more sullen in discontent while he rushed until the fourth floor as though to pull hiuy who stole the inforht coat andpri dressing like that though……)

If that person i the co wouldinside his heart

There was only one door at the fourth floor The young man called out 「……It's Aziz」 in front of the door

「Aziz Welcoht you will come soon」

The one who opened the door was a wo like she was around sixty years old With her gentle look, it felt like she would be called "mother" by those as close to her even if they were unrelated

The door was opened largely and the wo

「……」

「Welcome back, Aziz ……? What's the matter?」

Inside the room there was one more person, a man withAziz looking around restlessly with a suspicious look the moment he entered the rooo」

「……Because it's you who possess outstandingly sharp senses is the one who said that, I cannot just deny that out of hand but……no matter how you look, there is only us here you know?」

No, there was another at the ceiling, clinging there

Though, of course that person didn't say that Although, the senses of the young uy is seriously not nor is out of place even when I turn invisible)

Kousuke was feeling more nervous than usual Below, thehis mouth

「Could it be there is spy caular inspection had just been done the yesterday you know?」

「If Madam Maya had checked then surely there is no doubt about it……」

Kousuke thought 'Doing regular check for hidden cauys aren't nor that was connected to Vatican through underground passage…… Just who in the world these people were he wondered

He didn't know if these people were related hat he should investigate, but at the very least they wouldpoint It could be said that he hit the jackpot

Kousuke used all his effort to turn invisible and held his breath Ahead of his gaze, the conversation of this unknown and not nor

「Well, ill be careful just in case Even so, I will leave after this for work though」

「……Recently, there is a lot of work isn't it?」

「Yeah I'ht, you were investigating about the danger level of that ancient ruin right?」

「Yes That was the work of the ement department」

「I see Recently it's not just worshipper, even corporations are also getting active……it will be great if it's just normal relic」

「The possibility that there are worshippers in that company is by nofro for salvation even though they understand that it's a teod, they will be inevitably increasing in nuaze

「……I think it can't be helped to think that the cause is the returnees」

Kousuke was startled by Aziz's words It was a grand jackpot It see to the conversation of the two silently spoke with a slightly rebuking tone

「Aziz Jureatest pitfall We shouldn't speak uncertain words」

「But……what those guys did to our comrade」

「Certainly that's true but, in the end there is no one dead Isn't that also a proof that they have conscience?」

「……」

Younglike he wasn't convinced at all It see expressionlessly sullen was his default look, but right noas definitely in a badthe opinions of Maya and Aziz about themselves the returnees were in opposition of each other, Kousuke was at a loss of how to judge their position

Perhaps, Vatican and the people affiliated with it were gathering their information to try to meddle with them Such suspicion was somewhat mollified by the peaceful and rational words of the woman called Maya

Aziz as childishly unable to hide his displeasure and Maya who looked troubled

Leda was htly back up Aziz as in disadvantage, he spoke while shouldering the baggage

「Well, there is no doubt that disquietingaround the time of these returnees' return Their th that even us cannot approach……it's not unreasonable for Aziz to be alert against the about his family」