CH 291

C291: Tea Party

It was supposed to be just me, Ranelle, and Nagisa having tea, but somehow we found ourselves in a noisy party with Alana, Linnecarlo, and others joining us.

“Alana, what are you doing drinking in the middle of the day?”

“It’s good. It’s better than bitter tea.”

“You’re a real prude, aren’t you? I’d be happy to share my special drink with you.”

“I don’t want to drink that disgusting stuff.”

Linnecarlo’s special drink has an unearthly color and smell, as Alana said, and I’d rather not have it if I can help it.

“Linnecarlo, Nanami wants a drink!”

“It’s a little early for Nanami. This is a drink for adults.”

I don’t think adults would want to drink it either…….

“So, what is this meeting about?”

Nagisa said numbly to the uncertain situation.

“It’s Ranelle’s welcome party, right?”

“I see. Nanami thought it was someone’s birthday party.”

“No, it’s an afternoon tea party.”

Don’t all make random statements. Well, I thought Linnecarlo was the closest, but affirming it would be another hassle, so I passed.

“Yuta-san……”

Ranelle stares at me with a sad look on her face.

“What’s the matter, Ranelle? Aren’t you having fun?”

“No……I know. That’s what happens when it comes to tea on Fugaku in the first place. It’s my fault for getting the timing wrong.”

Ranelle said as if she was convinced of something. I guess she didn’t like the fact that there were so many of us after all?

“Oh, so you mean……it’s all Yuta’s fault, huh?”

Nagisa seemed to have noticed something and said so to me.

“What the hell? What’s wrong with me?”

“All of it! You dullard!”

I don’t know what she’s accusing me of, but Nagisa doesn’t get mad at me for no reason. Maybe I’ve offended Ranelle, I don’t know.

“I’m sorry, Ranelle…….”

“No, it’s fine. But, Yuta-san……will you have tea with me next time?”

It seems that she didn’t like the noise after all.

“Oh, you’re doing it. Just in time for us to have a strategy meeting.”

Jean said and sat down at an empty seat and started handing out papers.

“Jean, I thought we were done with business. It’s a private tea party now.”

“Don’t be so hard on me. I’ve got too much to do and not enough time.”

Jean seems to be busy these days. He is working on something at a great pace, as if his merchant’s intuition is telling him it’s time to make money.

“Nanami. Go get Emina and the others, too.”

It looks like we’re going to have to call in some members who aren’t here and decide something in earnest.

“We’re going to use the battle for the fortress of the Raja Empire as a practical exercise for the trainees!”

Jean’s explanation was met with surprise from the instructors who were actually teaching the trainees.

“Yes. It would be easy for us to destroy the fortress ourselves, but it’s better to use it to strengthen the trainees. There’s a lot to be gained from actual combat, and it would be a waste not to do it.”

“The trainees have become quite strong, so I think they’ll be fine…….”

“Of course, we’ll support them. If something unforeseen happens, we’ll be there to solve it.”

“Alana and the others, as well as Kiyone, agreed.”

“What about you, Ranelle? Are you sure you don’t want your own riders to do something like that?”

I asked, to which Ranelle replied, sipping her tea slowly.

“I don’t have a problem with it, as long as the Iron Knights support them.”

I wonder how much she trusts us…….

Besides capturing the fortress, we also need to prepare for mining. We’ll need to secure personnel and procure equipment, and the federal government will have to make preparations for that, but I wonder if they’ll be okay.

“We’ve already made arrangements in that area. It should be ready in about three days.”

That’s Ranelle. It seems that she is already making preparations.

Then we talked about specific support plans and responsibilities. Everyone forgot that it was already a tea party and started discussing this and that.