"You're self-centered and arrogant, yet you have principles when it comes to friends—you definitely wouldn't make dangerous plans here. So, this concoction might have a slight issue, but at most, it's probably just a prank."
"Tch, why do you sound like you know me so well? I'm getting chills down my back."
Having her thoughts laid bare like this was a bit hard for Tachyon, who always prided herself on her intellectual superiority.
'Hmm, though it does feel nice to hear—being trusted...'
Her ears twitched atop her head, swaying gently from side to side, while her tail followed suit with a light wag.
Still, Tachyon kept that arrogant smirk on her face—a small piece of her dignity, perhaps.
"Liar, you're clearly happy."
Manhattan Cafe muttered softly behind her, giving an exasperated glance at the restrained wagging of that brown tail—a sure sign of joy.
Having spent the most time with Tachyon, how could she not understand?
But her voice was too soft, drowned out by the fierce wind, so no one heard. Up ahead, Tachyon put on an annoyed front and retrieved her test tube.
"Well, you guessed right. This really shouldn't have any side effects—it isn't even medicine, just harmless chemicals."
Flicking the glass tube with a finger, she tucked it into the pouch on the back of her clothes.
"To be precise, it's scrap. It's not harmful, but it doesn't do any good either. Its only purpose seems to be irritating your mouth and throat—such a strange combination. How on earth did I even make this?"
The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.
What was just a normal complaint for Tachyon served as a major clue for Nearl.
"Cola? Right, this taste—isn't it just cola? Was I blind to the obvious? Because I've seen soda in vending machines, I just assumed cola was already out there."
"Huh? What cola? Nearl, do you know what this scrap is called?"
"No, I just suddenly thought of the word. Let's call it cola, then."
"Hmm... sure, that fits. Something that exists just to have a little fun when pulling a prank. Fine, we'll call it cola. I can use it to tease people later."
Tachyon nodded, then promptly set the matter aside. She'd been curious about the two behind Nearl for a while now.
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Tachyon's gaze swept over Godolphin and Byerley, her sharp mind already analyzing the available information.
'That appearance—identical golden hair, pure gold like the real thing. They must be related. And their ages aren't far apart either. Sisters would be the first guess.'
With that thought, Tachyon decisively spoke up.
"Assistant, are these your sisters?"
Right, Tachyon knew Nearl grew up in an orphanage, so the sudden appearance of family was... intriguing.
But she keenly sensed the harmony between Nearl and these two. Pressing further might make things awkward, so it was better to act normally.
"Yes, both of them are my sisters. Their names are—"
"Hi, I'm Maria!"
Before Nearl could finish, Godolphin cheerfully offered the fake name. She seemed quite happy to keep up the act.
"Hello, I'm Zofia. We're both Nearl's sisters. First time meeting—should I say 'pleased to meet you'?"
Compared to the fully relaxed Godolphin, Byerley maintained a more proper demeanor in front of outsiders.
"The assistant's sisters? I'm Agnes Tachyon, Nearl's boss and acquaintance. No need for formalities—let's just keep it casual."
"I'm Manhattan Cafe. Pleased to meet you."
A brief exchange, but that counted as an introduction. For some reason, facing these two, Tachyon instinctively became a bit more earnest, though they soon warmed up.
"True, the assistant really should have rested earlier. Though taking her to the Pillar of the Goddess on her first visit was a bit much."
"Me? I've been here many times, actually... due to some personal reasons."
While Tachyon chatted merrily with the two goddesses up front, Manhattan Cafe quietly slipped closer to Nearl from behind.
"What's wrong, Cafe? Feeling scared?"
Seeing Cafe draw near, Nearl thought she might be seeking a sense of security.
"No, I... well, my legs feel a bit shaky."
Cafe, who originally intended to say she was fine, seemed to reconsider mid-sentence. Since it was an internal dialogue, Nearl didn't notice.
"I see. Then hold my hand. This area isn't like other mountain paths—if you stray from the trail, it's a straight drop. Very dangerous."
"Will I be a bother?"
"Not at all. As you know, Cafe, my strength is a bit beyond that of an average Uma Musume."
Without further hesitation, Cafe firmly took Nearl's hand, letting her pull her along.
This handhold, devoid of any emotion—simply an offer of help—still filled her with satisfaction.
The climb was fraught with thrills, but the views were beyond ordinary. The five of them chatted and laughed, and before they knew it, the second rest area was in sight.
But this place wasn't as easy to reach as the first rest stop. What lay before Nearl now was a cliff like a natural chasm—a valley within the mountains.
"Every time I come here, I think—is the second rest area really not meant to kill people? One slip here, and it's truly over."
Tachyon sighed in annoyance, eyeing the steep, U-shaped trench ahead.
"Tachyon, there's no path here."
Manhattan Cafe walked up from behind, looking puzzled.
"No, there is a path—just not one you walk on. You jump."
Pointing at the ravine below, Byerley took over.
"You slide down this U-shaped slope, use the momentum to leap at the end, and jump to the other side. That's the way across."
"!"
This time, Manhattan Cafe's tail really stood on end. She stared blankly at the vast gap between the two sides—it definitely wasn't a distance you could cover with a standing or running jump.
"But saying 'it's over if you slip' is an exaggeration. There's a lake accumulated below. If you enter the water correctly, you shouldn't get hurt, and you can climb back up from a gentler spot over there."
Tachyon added this deliberately, as if to reassure everyone, though honestly, none of those present needed comforting.
Nearl and the others were, of course, fearless, but Cafe's reaction was somewhat odd.
Outwardly, she showed no expression—as if stunned—yet her heart was racing wildly. Not from fear, but from excitement, an extraordinary thrill.
This mountain climb might have awakened a hidden side of her.
"Alright, I'll go first as the demonstration. Watch closely."
Agnes Tachyon stepped to the edge of the cliff.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.