The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 142

We returned to my room via Leanne’s teleportation.

There, Natalia was sitting in the kotatsu, reading a book.

“Oh, welcome back. That was quick. Did you catch a lot?”

Natalia greeted us casually, unfazed by our sudden appearance.

“I’ve got some things to discuss… Natalia, could you go get Lily? We need to talk business.”

Alice and Annie had already burrowed into the kotatsu, looking absolutely determined not to move.

“Business? Sure. I’ll go get her.”

Natalia closed her book, stood up, and left the room.

“Leanne, could you let Pamela and Jeffrey know about this?”

“Understood.”

Leanne nodded and promptly disappeared.

“When Natalia returns with Lily, give them a quick rundown, would you? I’m going to go update Layla.”

No need to consult her, but a report is probably in order.

“Got it!”

“Leave it to us…”

“…warm…”

…Let’s leave it to AI-chan.

I shook my head at the two slackers and left the room, heading up the stairs to the third floor.

Once there, I knocked on the door of the first room.

“It’s open.”

Layla’s voice came from inside, so I opened the door and entered.

There, Layla was seated, writing something.

“Layla, you got a moment?”

“What’s up? Ah, well, take a seat.”

She gestured for me to sit down, so I did.

“There’s a request from the king.”

“Oh? Again… Is it another pointless one?”

I’d already briefed her on what happened last time in the royal capital.

“This time, it seems serious. Did you notice a dragon flying across the sky yesterday?”

Hearing this, Layla put her pen down on the table.

“That thing… There was definitely something strange up there. So, that’s a dragon, huh? No wonder…”

Layla put her hand on her chin, deep in thought.

“Something wrong?”

“Well, yesterday, my snake was acting all agitated, glaring out the window and hissing at the sky. When I looked out, I saw something there.”

That dragon over the town, you don’t think your snake had anything to do with that, right?

With how aggressive that snake is, it’s a real possibility.

“Why is your snake acting up?”

“Well, they’re kind of similar, you know… So, what’s the request? Dragon-slaying?”

“It was more like, ‘Stay out of its way because it’s dangerous.’”

“Dangerous? That thing?”

Layla looked completely unimpressed.

“You’re letting your true feelings show.”

“Hm? Ah, sorry. But it’s not really an enemy for you, right?”

“Enemy or not, there’s no point in killing it. It’s supposed to be gentle and not hostile to people, right?”

“Ah, so that’s how someone from Kisaragi would think. I, on the other hand, think it’d be better just to kill it.”

So, that’s why you tried to get rid of Mother, huh? Enju, you piece of trash.

“I don’t kill without reason. Apparently, the request is to investigate if it’s still in the country.”

“Got it. Sounds fine. You’ll be using that little one’s teleportation, right?”

“That’s the plan. I just thought I’d report it to you, since you’re the leader.”

“You’re so dutiful… Do as you like. You’re just spending time with women anyway, you must be free, right?”

“Well, yeah, I’m free. Anyway, that’s the gist of it.”

I stood up as I said this.

“Alright, got it. You’ll be fine, but make sure you protect the others.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“Yeah, yeah… Don’t bother bringing back any souvenirs; just get it done.”

With that, Layla resumed her writing, and I left the room.

Going down the stairs, I returned to my room.

It seemed Natalia had already brought Lily, and everyone was now gathered. Leanne had also returned.

I sat between AI-chan and Leanne, slipping into the kotatsu.

“Alice, Annie, at least sit up for now.”

The two were still lying there like floating heads.

“Yeah, yeah… I’ll just go along with whatever you say.”

“…Right. I mean, we were with Yuuma, so we already know everything.”

The two complained but sat up.

“How about Natalia and Lily?”

I checked with AI-chan.

“I just explained everything to them.”

As expected of AI-chan.

“Leanne, what about Jeffrey and Pamela?”

“I told them. Since it’s a royal request, nothing major… Pamela said she’d come by once her work is done.”

She always shows up, though.

“Alright, most of the explanation is done. We’ve taken on an investigation job from the king, so what about you all? Want to come along?”

I checked with everyone.

“Yeah. I’ll go.”

“I’m going too! I’m bored!”

Looks like Natalia and Lily are in.

“I’ll go too.”

“…Me too.”

Annie and Alice are coming along as well.

“So, everyone’s going.”

Well, nothing else going on anyway.

“Yuuma, going is fine and all, but we don’t all have to move together. With Leanne’s teleportation, we can go with whoever is free that day.”

Annie suggested.

“That’s true. You all don’t exactly have great stamina.”

“Exactly. That goes for Leanne too. Since she’s essential, make sure to keep that in mind. That’s all.”

Annie gave her opinion, then collapsed back down, turning into a floating head again.

“…Yuuma, you need to think about balance. Even if you, AI-chan, and Chibi-masu are fixed members, Annie and I aren’t necessarily essential; it’s fine if just one of us goes. But Natalia, who’s good with healing magic, and Lily, who’s skilled in the forest, are important. You should consider that balance too. That’s all.”

Alice shared her opinion and then flopped down, turning into a floating head as well.

“Such valuable opinions from our esteemed B-rank members.”

They’re quick to doze off.

“It’s not like I don’t want to go. If you tell me to, I’ll go, and I need the exercise anyway.”

“…If needed, I’m fine with going on the first day.”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it, so just relax. Leanne, you’re essential for this job. How’s your guild work looking?”

That’s important.

“Things have calmed down, and I’ve left it to Kenneth, so I can go anytime.”

She mentioned things quiet down in winter.

Still, Kenneth seems to have it rough.

“Could you go tomorrow?”

“No problem. Since it’s westward, we’ll start from the place where we encountered those demons last time.”

That place, huh…

We went there before.

“Alright, we’ll start from there. Annie, Natalia, come along.”

Since it’s the forest, there’s no need for everyone to go.

“Got it.”

“Understood.”

The two nodded.

“So, that’s the plan. Come by my place tomorrow morning.”

“Understood.”

Leanne nodded, and the plan for tomorrow was set.