Artist's commentary
Karindou 4 Koma Extra Story Pseudo Short Story [Ghostrick Live] 8
A mere 3 seconds after the elevator doors opened, something happened.
"Hah... hah... What!?"
Right in front of Ran, who was breathing wildly, some mysterious being with a shaved head appeared out of nowhere.
"Kukukuku, is that all?"
"Don't act so toughhhhhhhhh!"
Bringing down the metal bat on top of its head, the mysterious being fell silent. The small pool of blood slowly started forming was proof that it was super effective.
"That was a wonderful preemptive strike, and now we'll follow it up. Leave the rest to us. Pink!"
"Yes, ma'am."
And then, the mysterious creature jumped backwards with incredible force, dodging the bullets flying out from the two revolvers, and the machetes being swung down. With agility that would be unimaginable for such a large frame, he landed on top of the store's show case, and jumped again and again, retreating so Col couldn't follow him. Quickly hiding behind the counter with the register on it, a moment later, he opened fire with a large caliber gating gun with a drum magazine.
"Little mistress, what are you doing, spacing out, get down!"
Ran, who was dazedly not paying attention to the developing situation, had her arm grabbed and was flung to the side by Mifi, as the gatling gun shot at her. However, they were protected by a steel shelf, and none of them were hit. Looking, Col and Pink-chan were using a showcase that was built like a trench for some reason as a shield, and watching the direction of the gatling gun's fire, and preparing for a counter attack.
The gunfire was concentrated on Pink-chan, who was hiding behind a relatively thin display case. Taking that opportunity, Col leapt over the showcase. The gunfire immediately turned towards Col, and Pink-chan, who was not taking fire, moved to close the distance, putting her strength into her legs and kicking off from the floor. But before she could take her first step, a submachine gun poking through the counter opened fire, and she wasn't able to use the machetes in both hands to stop them all, and so Pink-chan had no choice but to hide. Her normally optimistic face was contorted in frustration, and she clicked her tongue.
Col, who was being targetted by the Gatling gun rolled and hid in the shadow of the showcase, and while exchanging fire to the left and right of the case as a feint, she threw a hankerchief above the case. For an instant, the gatling gun aimed at the hankerchief, and at the same time, Col dove head first from the other side of the showcase, towards the side of the counter to draw the gatling gun's shots. She turned sideways to aim at the space where the employees come out from the floor. However, the face looked surprised, and quickly leapt out from there, and jumped into the shadows of the nearby showcase. Right after that, the bullets coming from Col's location made it there, just a little too late. At the side of the counter, from where Col was, there was a blind spot where the barrel of a sniper rifle was poking through.
During this suddenly erupting gun battle, Ran, who had finally come back to her senses, was being held down by Mifi, as she looked around. She realized that none of the interior of the shop was destroyed. None of the showcases that seemed to be glass that had been hit by the gatling gun's bullets were broken, but she didn't think that it was bulletproof glass. Since she had been spending every day shooting a real gun, she knew. First, that the sound of the impact of hitting something sounded strangely light.
"What part of this is recreation!?"
Still at a loss about what was happening, Ran heard a light paching sound from the wall behind her, and dropped to the floor. In front of her, a small round object rolling there.
"BB bullets...?"
As Ran picked up the plastic bullet with her fingers, Mifi gave a dry laugh and quietly whispered in her ear.
"It's a little late for an explanation, but the one you hit earlier was the owner, little mistress. By the way, that was a bulletproof mask. He was a war buddy from when the head chamberlain was a mercenary, and when the head chamberlain comes here, the store is reserved, and they have fun with this fake battle."
"His thinking...! He's being controlled by a demon!"
"It's too late, he has a relationship with the head chamberlain, thought not as much as she has with the mistress. The store's interior can't be normally destroyed, so they use electric guns. See, the one I have isn't the real thing. The one Pink-chan has is the same. They're fakes made out of hard rubber. The head chamberlain is using paint balls."
Now that she mentions it, the gun that Col is using now is the one that she uses to punish maids, but it doesn't seem to be making holes in the wall with their misses. Looking closely, it's just spreading along the walls in a shocking pink color.
This is a game... Thinking this, she felt exhausted.
"...Then why did she give me a metal bat?"
"...T, that's, umm, well... I mean, for show, I guess... I think... Probably."
"Ah, I see..."
Ran sighed. It was a deep, deep, sigh, one that could almost reach the depths of the earth. Hearing that sigh, Mifi laughed even more. Ran then picked up the metal bat that she had dropped, and with half closed eyes, said.
"Basically, I got caught up in their hobby... But that sin... Is hard for me to forgive!"
Mifi suddenly stopped feeling her hand pushing on Ran's shoulder and stared wide-eyed as Ran's body sunk into the floor in front of her. Realizing too late that she could go through physical objects by turning her body ghostly, Mifi, who couldn't move due to the gunfire by the gatling and submachine guns, realized what Ran intended to do due to her words and vanishing into the floor, and broke out into a cold sweat.
"Oh, she's mad. When such a meek child gets mad, it's scary... I don't know what will happen now."
As Mifi was muttering this, behind the mysterious creature that was the owner, Ran appeared out of the floor, and as the owner, sensing Ran turning physical, turned around, he was struck by the metal bat. Of course, it was a full swing. The metal bat that was swung by the frail Ran made the owner's face cave in as he screamed.
"A home run!"
It's a line drive! Or rather, the owner got sent flying.
"Little mistress!?"
"Wai, no matter what, that's a too far!?"
"Of course you idiottttttt!"
Bomp.
Pink-chan and Col, in a fluster, ran over, and also got a metal bat to the face.
With the owner lying face up and the two fallen maids at her feet, and the metal bat in one hand, Ran gave off a ghostly aura. Mifi, staring at her from behind, felt a strange compulsion to mutter this.
"The 3 of their lives has stopped... They're dead. Once again, Kawagoe is safe."
"So she's Elza-chan's little sister? I was holding back since Mifi-chan was here today, but even if Col-chan and Pink-chan weren't here, I wouldn't have been able beat that girl. Even though she looks quiet, she's pretty good."
"I'm going to say this, but you shouldn't treat the little mistress lightly. The other day, at the mansion, Onee-sama lost in a strange game of tag~"
"She beat Col-chan!? ...I see, then defeating you would have been impossible for me. And she's cuter than Col-chan."
"Do you want a lead ball shot into that rotten miso brain of yours, Bear?"
"Oh, if you think you can, then try and do it?"
The disgusting, wriggling raw food put his hand to his cheek, and Col was surprised. Pink snickered and watched.
He had scars here and there showing on his large, bony, squarish face. With the mask he had been wearing for the gun battle with Col, the owner looked like if a child were to replace the head of a GI Joe figurine with one of a soft vinyl monster figurine. With a strong body that looked like he could kill a bear bare handed, a receding hairline, sleepy eyes and a beard, and talking in a charming older sister type way that was uncomfortable, there wasn't anything that was outright disgusting, but he was the one who taught Col many things on the battlefield when she was a novice mercenary, and was known as the great mercenary with the alias "Grizzly". He was also a monster, and as his alias indicated, his true form was that of a werebear. As such, rather than mainly using a gun, or bullets, hand to hand combat with his great body and strength was his specialty, and even now if he didn't have his electric guns and were to fight hand to hand, even if both Col and Pink-chan were to both attack, it would be a relatively close battle. That was what he meant by holding back.
Even he couldn't withstand a point blank direct hit, and while he could hold on for a long time with a serious injury, it would be impossible to last long in actual combat, so he no choice but to retire. Col didn't know the details of what happened after, but about 10 years later he reappeared, with a totally gay personality, and at some point, had opened a jewelery store. Col wasn't able to suddenly accept this truth and shot him right in the forehead. And now, his jewelery store, due to Col's connection, was under the umbrella of the Schtlehertz Konzern, and Col would often come to play here. And for the three of them, who had a band aid covering the middle of their face, this was fun?
Ran, who was unconcerned about this situation, dragged Mifi along as she looked around the store.
"What about this, it's very clear and has a good cut."
"Yeah, it is beautiful, but... maybe if it had 3 less zeros..."
"What are you saying, being so cheap? With that card, you can easily buy something like that."
"For a 14 year old who grew up in a normal family, that's too much to handle."
Sputtering that out, Ran squatted down against the showcase. This is what she expected when she heard the words jewelery store, but for Ran, who was only lower middle class, that wasn't a price she could lighthearted pay. For the price of just one of the earrings that Mifi recommended, she could treat all of her friends to lots of different places for several months. It wouldn't be impossible for her to buy up the entire candy store by the station, or the cake shop.
Even though she has so much money to buy whatever she wants, something is bothering her, thought Mifi. Even now, Elza was (without her permission) putting her wages into a savings account, and Mifi was living off of the allowance that Elza gave her. Mifi felt jealous, but didn't understand her worries. As one of the senior maids of the Schtlehertz family, Mifi had earned decades of her salary in her savings. And since maids make a good living, she had gotten a huge amount of money. When she learned this, maybe she thought the same thing about that huge amount of money... But imagining that was beyond Mifi.
"Then you won't be able to pick out souvenirs. Hmph, if you can't choose one yourself, then it can't be helped... Owner! Could you choose some jewelery that will suit the little mistress?"
"Something cheap? In any case, since it's something you'll wear at the social party, it needs to be flashy."
""""Huh?""""
Everyone's voices, except the owner's, were in harmony.
"What's with those dumbfounded looks... Elza-chan told me, she'll be making her social debut? And so, that's why you've come here?"
"B, Bear, did the mistress really say that? At the minimum, this is the first I've heard of it..."
Flustered, Col looked at everyone else, but each and everyone of them had their head tilted to the side.
"I'm sure of it, my ears weren't far away, so I didn't mishear it. 'If it looks like she's going to buy something cheap, I want you to make her buy something that was made well.' is what she said."
Everyone stood still for a good 10 seconds. Ran slowly inched backwards, as if to flee, but the moment she took 1 step back, the gaze of everyone was fixed on her.
"...If that's the case, then this isn't the time to worry about the price, little mistress."
"C, can't I borrow one! She has lots, right!?"
"What are you saying? From now on, you might be invited to parties by yourself, and what do you plan on doing if the mistress is not there? You need to have your own jewelery."
"W, wait a minute, that's, if I can, I'd like to buy it, but no way no way no way, no way! There's no way I can appear at that party!"
Her hair became disheveled as she shook her head, but the adults were used to it and ignored her.
"However, in that case, we also need to have a dress made."
"That's true... We should choose something that matches the dress, but if we make another reservation here, that would be problematic for Bear, so we'll have the dress match the accessories. Therefore, we'll buy the jewelery, and then go get a dress, little mistress."
"I'll resist! I'll turn my body ghostly and stop you from measuring me!"
"Ah, sorry little mistress, I can tell a person's three sizes just from looking, so I already have a general grasp of your three sizes~"
"Oh, so even if the little mistress isn't there, then we can have a dress made to fit her?"
"Jesus."
Ran capsized.
"Now that that's decided, we need to find something that will suit the little mistress. In any case, what do you think about a tiara, it will make her look like a princess, and that would suit the little mistress' image, right?"
"Good, good, then a necklace would make her look really gorgeous! And a ring, earrings..."
"Mifi, Pink, the mistress is the one buying it. So think about the budget."
""Yes ma'am.""
With a simple bow, the two of them started looking for accessories that would suit Ran. In a way that would make a nice guy turn pale and run off, Col gave a big smile at Ran, who was trembling at how big the conversation got.
"You were able to escape very well in the game a few days ago, but today, there's no escape, little mistress."
In the end, they bought a set of a pink sapphire necklace, morganite earrings and a garnet ring, based on how the red would highlight Ran's black hair and white skin. They didn't actually have a tiara prepared (for that, they would have a ruby processed, with rose quartz for the accent), but with this, Ran, who was beyond despair, bought souvenirs for her friends without worrying about the price. Depending on the item, she recklessly bought items which even more expensive than the ones for herself. As Mifi handed her the expensive items for her friends that were being called souvenirs, she felt and thought "this must be the shock or confusion of suddenly obtaining expensive goods that you can't easily get."
And after buying the jewelery, and having the package of it placed on her lap, Ran had finished getting measured for the dress and was now in the car, returning to the mansion. Looking out the window with a difficult expression, she also somehow seed spaced out.
"You look sad, little mistress. Now that you've bought some expensive goods, does it not seem real?"
"...Eh? Ah, yeah, I feel scared now... I feel like I've done something that can't be undone."
With a small smile, Mifi gently patted Ran's head.
"Hehe, it's all right, buying something like this won't hurt the mistress' wallet. By the way, what did you buy as souvenirs for Tamaryuu-dono and the others?"
"Mmm... For Tamaryuu, I bought a cat's eye bracelet that matches when she turns into a dragon. Shizuki's is also a bracelet, but her's is a rubellite cat's eye that matches when she turns into an animal. They have the same design as the red beryl bracelet I bought, so they match. We can't wear them to school, though, since we'll get in trouble.
"Hmm. And for the others?"
"For Inukai-san, a brooch, and for Shiraishi-san, earrings. They're childhood friends, so they have matching tourmalines. For Elly, I didn't know what would suit a demon lord, so I got her a obsidian pendant."
Mifi thought that it certainly is expensive for a middle schooler to wear, and realized there were two other items that she hadn't mentioned yet. Based on the case, she guessed one was a ring, but it was in the pouch where the other souvenirs were, so it wasn't a ring for Ran.
"Ah, little mistress, what's that?"
"This is something special for Tamaryuu."
"That's not good to favor only Tamaryuu-dono."
"I said it's special. It's an engagement ring."
Hearing that Col's hands slipped from the steering wheel, and the car swerved, and Mifi and Pink-chan screamed.
"Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!"
"Hyaaaaaaaaaa what are you doing Onee-sama~!?"
Luckily, they were already on a private road, and there were no other cars around, so nothing bad happened. Mifi, who had slid down in her seat, gave a sigh of relief.
"I, I, I, I, I'm terribly, sorry, I, I was so started, I mean, umm, a tree branch, f, fell onto the road."
Col was uncharacteristically flustered, and of course, her mind was in a panic. She felt that this was a topic that she shouldn't touch upon any more, and as she saw Ran in the back mirror, she wasn't able to ask about her circumstances.
(Engagement ring~~~~!? But, that Tamaryuu is a girl, right... I, is it because she was violated by a man and died, or maybe it's because of the mistress' bad influence? Uwa, I have a feeling it's both! In this case, as an attendant, what should I say!? 'Congratulations on your engagement'? No! Probably, but no!)
Feeling like the inside of head was physically spinning, Col focused on driving safely. Beside her, Pink-chan was thinking.
(Oh~ I was surprised by the little mistress' words, but Onee-sama, who was driving, was even more surprised. Even though she's used to the mistress, so she's never this flustered before. But still, for the little mistress to give the engagement ring, the little mistress must be the "top"~ Which one is the submissive one, and which gently loves the other... I'll have to confirm that next time!)
As a result, late that night, someone's heel got smashed into someone's face, but that's probably not important right now.
"O... Uh, that surprised me. Head chamberlain, even if you're avoiding it, please be careful. Are you all right, little mistress, did you get hit anywhere?"
"...Mmm"
Sitting up in her seat and finally sighing, Mifi asked Ran, but Ran was fidgeting around up in the sky, and only gave an uninterested response. Actually, while they were coming back home, Mifi had talked to Ran many times, but unlike before, she only gave a half-hearted response.
(...What happened to the little mistress? Her reactions have been really weak for a while...)
She thought maybe it was because her sense of reality had been blown away, and she was even giving up the ghost? Though that would be strange since she is a ghost, but she had been like that since the measuring had ended and they were on their way home. Mifi, who didn't understand, could only tilt her head to the side. Because of this, she missed her chance to ask about the contents of the other package.
Ran was in the air, so seeing the city streets stirred something in her, and she restarted her previous attempt while she was in the car to remember when she was alive, so she was absorbed in this. She tried to remember more clearly and more detailed, but no matter how hard she tried, the memories were only general and vague, and wasn't as good as what Ran wanted.
Ran gave a small sigh.
(Probably, due to the shock of when I was killed and that my grudge was too large, when I turned into a vengeful spirit, the majority of the memories from when I was alive faded. Location bound spirits and vengeful spirits are attached to a single thing, and all other things because hazy, and I was the same... It's sad, but Etranger is a past existence, a memory of person. I'm no longer human, but I now exist as Ran. Etranger became Ran, and I'm no longer Etranger... I guess it's like that. Although I've never thought about this before...)
In that case, it's fine... Is what she wanted to think. But her impatience towards her inability to remember her memories as Etranger gave her a small feeling of anxiousness.
Faintly... Although real... This quietly had an effect on Ran's mind.
Meanwhile, at the Foxrider home, Elza and Aiina were taking a break from their investigation, and were spending some of the afternoon lazing around.
"It's independent investigation VK handed down to me. That guy, making me help him with over 10 incidents, while he neglected his own city, that bastard. VK, you oni! Brute! Atergatis floridus!"
"Mmm... I don't really get it, but please don't speak ill of him. This social party is being held at his hotel, so he will need to supervise it as the owner."
"That's true... For this, we have a time limit of the end of Ran's summer vacation, so if we can't produce any results, then there was no point in bringing Ran along~"
"I told you at the beginning, that there was nothing certain."
Aiina elegantly brought her herb tea to her mouth, as Elza faceplanted into the table. Staring at the back of Elza's head, she snickered.
Thinking about it rationally, processing the information she obtained, recreating the data system, and started her investigation over from the beginning... She knew that was what was necessary to take a step forward. In the first place, what they were looking for most of all was the missing part of a girl's corpse from a past murder. But since there was no way this could be explained publicly, the investigation could only go forward slowly and with great caution. Despite this, the person herself had been brought along, who wanted it to be found asap and go back, so she was very impatient. So it couldn't be helped that it was funny.
(But, that's Elza-san's kindness. Once they join her family, they are nothing but one of her precious relatives, and she showers them with love that goes beyond blood ties. The way Elza-san expresses her love is clumsy, and can be mistaken, but it's not fake, so the warmth that she expresses it is real. It's not done well, but it's an oddly mysterious family love that she can freely give and it's real. Seren-san told me this. Though she has a slightly rebellious personality, since she doesn't hate Elza-san, she'll be there for her as long as she's nearby. I know she loves her, so even when she's badmouthing someone, she'll support them... No, maybe that's one way she hides her embarrassment.)
Aiina was not hostile towards Ran, who Elza loves. Because she would be her future sister-in-law.
"Well, first of all. Officially, I was given the task of investigating the incident of almost all the spirits vanishing from the city, and accepted that responsibility. None of VK's followers accepted it, so I have to be careful as a 3rd party. In this role, I need to hold back in my use of magic, so I have that limitation, but in exchange, he will turn a blind eye to me barging into any facilities in order to do my investigation."
Saying this as she got up and stretched, Elza gazed down at the printed map of the city. The locations she already investigated were marked with a X, but those were only locations were VK was accompanying her for incident resolutions, so the number of locations were few enough to count on her fingers.
"For good of bad, with this, we can plan how to reverse the situation all at once. We need to correct the slowness of the search."
"Ah. In terms of magic that's useful for searching, it can't be flashy so I can use it freely. So, there's a limit in terms of the number of facilities I can investigate per day. Rather than randomly selecting places, we should decide on an order to shorten the travel time and increase the success rate. First, we should pick up the places that haven't been already investigated, and the locations that look it could hide a research facility, and select each area to look around.
Aiina nodded in agreement, and grabbed a red pen to make a checkmark on the map. From the contents of the experimental data that Elza decyphered, they knew that this wasn't a single person's lab, but a large research team. With this in mind, houses, apartment buildings, office buildings that contained lots of small business, and small buildings could be ignored. From the secrecy required to prevent the experimental data from being leaked out, they guessed that it would be a research facility isolated from the outside, and they could ignore places with lots of people coming and going all the time, like stores with lots of commercial activity, facilities involved in multiple businesses, and restaurants. Finally, in terms of investigating, currently it can only be done one at a time, so it would naturally be hindered.
In addition, since Aiina liked to hack military facilities in her spare time, in this case, they had nothing to do with this, and could be completely ignored. Is that a good or bad thing?
"I see, the labs of drug companies or electronics companies would be the obvious choice, not only for information control, but for their inherent high secrecy. Religious organizations also seem like they wouldn't have anything to do with this, but it's easy to use them as a front, and they could be related. If I had to say unrelated things, then the zoo would be... I got it, don't make those eyes, I'll go. The facility would have a lifeline, and who knows what's underground, so even though it's a pain, I have to go. Also, there are several abandoned factories and ruins of hospitals and execution sites... Those sorts of places to mind, right? This hospital was a public facility, but if they have a connection to the government, it would be hard to do that. Aiina, what is going on at this abandoned factory and hospital right now?"
From Elza's question, it was now Aiina's turn, and she called up the information on the screen. It was pretty big for a pocket-sized one, and it looked just like an old pocket-sized computer. However, it was made by Aiina during her school days, and even now was her beloved high powered computer. She constantly updated it with cutting edge technology and the latest version, and it could operate under all environments. After the PC cluster in her room, this was her also her best hacking tool and her original module. But that's another story.
"Just as it says, it's an abandoned factory. As far as I can tell, it was something like a paper or glass or toy or food factory. In any case, the factory has been abandoned for about 5-10 years, and it doesn't match the time that of the first of the experimental data was created. However, assuming the factory's abandonment was planned for in advance, then it's possible that it is to preserve the land and provide cover for the facility. Though it might be that the land is being held on for some other use."
"Cover, huh. However, at the least, to do that would require the funds of a corporation. If they move that much money, then they would stand out, whether they want to or not... Can you pinpoint the end of that trail?"
"Data analysis is my job, so leave that to me. Elza-san, if you could confirm the existence of the research facilities, or even reclaim the thing you're after, that would be great. Umm, and then, the ruins of the execution site. This has been there over 20 years... That time coincides perfectly with your sister dying. The building remains, but people aren't allowed in there, so you won't be able to go in there and look around. Especially since there aren't any repairs or maintenance done on it, so right now it is now completely ruined. The owner of this land is... eh?"
Aiina's hands stopped as she she gave a gasp of surprise, and stopped working the computer.
"E, Elza-san... Have you heard of Norris Carmine?"
"Of course. Norris Carmine was a hybrid of a human and a monster, created in an experiment as a superhuman soldier. A descendant of medieval nobles, he was a genius since birth. However, he was aware of his own insanity and tried to preserve his sanity. So, he became a mad scientist, and used his money to invent many occult inventions considered taboo by most, and gained the nickname "Lord Inventor". He was a pitiable man, who was killed by a chimera he created. I helped to subdue the rampaging chimera, so I remember quite well. He died during world war 2."
"Oh, but... He had a son. The son didn't have any interest in research, but was very successful as an entrepreneur. In one generation, he was able to clear all of the debt that Lord Norris accumulated from his research, and reestablish himself. And then his son, Lord Norris' grandson... I've heard a rumor that, using the facility that his grandfather used for his research, he was also conducting research into the occult. And those ruins of the execution site, around the same time that it was abandoned, the whole area was bought up by Lord Norris' grandson... Ryuuto Carmine. Elza-san, did you realize something?"
"...I see, a place like an execution site that has long accumulated human death, would be a maelstrom of the regret and grudges of the dead. So he thought to obtain that land as a place to perform experiments on those who died and linger there. And if he performs some kind of experiments on spirits there..."
"Then those experiments would be in line with the experimental data that contained your sister's name."
There was a brief silence. Because this was only a possibility, and there was no proof of this fact at all.
"By the way, this social party. Will the Lord Inventor's grandson be attending?"
"Wait a second... Yes, his name is on the list, see, right here. 'Ryuuto Carmine.' ...Elza-san, could it be that you're planning on giving him the third degree?"
"Is that how you see me... I just want to make contact and see his personality. And even if I don't sense anything wrong, going by the order of investigation, the ruins of the execution site will be after the social party. And if I feel there's something strange, I'll look for trends, and move up my planned investigation if necessary. I'll finally be able to meet him face to face, so it's a chance to see all sides of him."
The ruins of the execution site were in the outskirts of the city, and was separated from the other districts and was left alone. Just as Elza said, if the investigation continued normally, she would get to it 2 days after the social party.
"By the way, will your sister also be making an appearance at the social part?"
"Ah, I'm making her appear. If they know Ran... I mean, Etranger, they should give some sort of reaction, which would be confirmation. And, since I've taken custody of her, I haven't returned here, so this will be her social debut. She's been registered as part of my family, so trying to dodge the point won't work, so she has to show up. And it's a perfect opportunity, I'll generally introduce her as a Schtlehertz. Col told me that she wanted to take her shopping today, so I told the store employees to outfit her with something appropriate, and I'm looking forward to seeing Ran all dressed up."
Taking an invitation out from her pocket, Elza gave a bold smile, but Aiina, who was looking at her purse, started sweating.
"Elza-san, why do you have 2 invitations? ...You did tell your sister and Col about the social party, right?"
"Of, ...?...Ah..."
She didn't tell them. She splendidly forgot. If they had arrived in the mail, Col would have known about it before Elza got it, but since she was going around resolving supernatural incidents with VK, the owner of the hotel where the party was taking place, to save time mailing it, he gave the invitations directly to her. Once she got home, she immediately went to crawled into bed without saying anything to anyone, and continued on with her routine. So, aside from Elza, no one at the Schtlehertz mansion knew anything about receiving the invitation.
Aiina realized all of this from Elza's expression, and with a look of astonishment, she deeply sighed.
There were only 5 days until the social party.