Episode 12

Charles Move

　One hour after the start of the competition.

　In the school area, we finally arrived at our destination, the first training ground. It is the place where the treasure chest mark is located.

　The training ground is a large open space with grass. It’s probably a place to practice magic.

“There should be treasure chests around here! Look, everyone!”

　Ganette shouts at the top of her lungs what she wants, people nodding in unison.

　We all begin searching, moving grass as we look.

　However–

“No!”

“We can’t find it anywhere!”

“No where to be found!”

　Ganette rubs her chin.

I say something relatively obvious.”She said,’Rely on hints and perhaps magic,’ and I think I’m hiding it’s in a place where you can’t find it without using magic.”

　When I say this, Ganette agreed immediately, “That’s it!”

“Someone! Does anyone have locator / tracker magic?”

“Yes, yes! I can use it!”

　It was Monica who raised her hand.

　Monica points an orange cane, that seemingly came from nowhere, into the sky.

“[Zooheden Fine]. Look for a wooden treasure chest!”

　Green light is scattered from the cane, solidifying and becoming powdered and widely scattering.

　The grains of light were scattered on the lawn…

　Monica tilts her head.

“If it’s nearby, light should be heading for what we’re looking for …”

　A couple grains of light fell to the ground. 

　I carefully look at the lawn with the light scattered upon it.

　There was only one place where the color of the lawn was different. The other parts are somewhat dry and not properly taken care of but this part was new looking.

　After digging, they must have planted a new lawn. I kneel on the ground where the new grass is and begin digging.

I hit something hard.

　I pull the treasure chest out of the ground.

　The girl who saw it pointed out, “There it is!”

“Oh! It’s big.., uh…”

“It’s Charles.”

“It’s big, Charles!”

　This girl named Ganette really is charming.

　A girl who only lightly reprimands, has a positive attitude and praises politely every time someone makes a good move. Thanks to Ganetye, the atmosphere in the class is getting better and better. However, it seems that only Himari is not interested in the hunt or whos mood is improving.

“I’ll open it”

　Ganette opens the treasure chest.

　What was inside …

“Puzzle pieces!”

　Another 20 pieces. As expected.

　Himari comes forward and attempts to assemble the puzzle.

　Together with the 20 pieces, she makes the map of 40 pieces. The treasure chest mark appeared upon the newly assembled map.

“Oh! Maybe I understand!”

“I guess that when we get all the pieces, or maybe the final treasure chest, tells us where the school building is.”

　Monica said.

　…….

　A few seconds of silence.

   Yeah? Monica tilts her head cutely.

　No, she’s not wrong

　But everyone here knows that much. She just said the obvious.

“Seriously! You noticed it! Monica, beautiful and smart!”

　Rand praises Monica.

　Does he favor Monica? I don’t think so, I do think he’s either truly happy she figured it out or maybe.. Rand was a fool?

“Absolutely! Genius or you! Genius!”

“That’s right! You may be a genius!”

“Genius! I guarantee!”

“Oh, oh! Alright, that’s the way it is. It’s very likely what Monica says. Let’s find a treasure chest!”

　After that, we all work together to find the treasure chest.

　Four hours after the start, we found a total of 4 boxed parts of the map and 80 pieces, including the treasure box at the starting point.

　4 hours left.

　Everyone was tired from running in the school area, but since there was only one left, they regained their spirit and searched for the last treasure chest.

　One hour has passed since then,

　We found the last treasure chest in the second field in the school area.

　There were 20 pieces in it, and the puzzle was completed.

“Yeah! Look everyone!”

　Ganette shouts and gathers everyone.

　A cross was written on the completed map.

“If you go to this x mark, there should be a class building!”

“I did it! We don’t have to drop out!”

　Monica waved her hands and rejoiced.

“Let’s go early. I’m hungry.”

“I am too,” Ganette nods to Rand.

　We are all in a good mood. But this was too easy.

   Maybe I’m just thinking this over too much?

“… That doesn’t seem what you’d expect, right?”

　Karen said.

“You think so too, right? Charles.”

“Mmm?”　

　Karen looks at my face and immediately turns away and walks forward.

“How do you know my name….”

　I haven’t introduced myself to her yet. Did she listen to the conversation between me and Ganette

　Anyway, Karen’s muttering and worries were right.

　Arriving at the location marked on the map, I am disappointed.

　At the place marked with a cross, there was a building with the magic of transparency. It’s a palace like place. Himari solved the magic of transparency, but what was written on the nameplate of the building follows.

  Vermillion Bird.

　Not a white tiger.

“Well, it seems, we’ve made a, like, mistake.”

　Monica says in a quivering voice.

“Perhaps, this wasn’t indicative of the actual location of our building?

　Karen says while inflating the gum.

“Yes, but they said that the contents of the treasure box would be a hint. Hint …”

　Himari thinks, but can’t find the answer.

“What should we do!”

“We don’t have time anymore!”

“It’s over… dead..”

　Classmates start panicking.

　No wonder. It’s 14:15 now.

　2 hours and 45 minutes until 17:00 of the time limit. I know we don’t have time.

　Moreover, they have run out of physical strength. They don’t even have the energy to search for it.

“Everyone calm down! There must have been puzzles in the treasure chests of other classes. In the treasure chests of some class, the location of our class building …”

“I can’t. There are 13 classes in total? Even if you can get in touch, there are only so many classes to have completed the puzzle. And there’s almost no chance of them having a puzzle for our class building. “

　Himari ignores Ganette’s words.

　Himari’s face is also impatient.

　I’m not allowed to drop out as it is.

Karen comes up to me.

“What do you think of this, Charles?”

“I had a peculiar idea, I suppose ideas come in the oddest times.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, stay with me here, perhaps in the teachers office there’s something that could help us.”

“Like?”
A questioning look came upon Karen’s face.

“Perhaps a master map?”

Everyone starts to listen in on me and Karen’s conversation.

“You think?”

“Perhaps!”
“Yeah! That makes sense! Everywhere on the map seems to be circling around the Castle, ignoring the origin. It’s our only lead!”

Well then.

I point in the direction of the school building.

“Let’s go steal a theoretical map.”