Candlelight, Rabbits, and a Banquet · Chapter 5
The Club Owner
We moved deeper into the inner corridors of the club.
Scarlet
There are so many doors on both sides of the hallway!
Claire
...Hmm, we'll have to check them one by one.
...This looks like a private lounge.
Scarlet
This one too!
Claire
Most of them look similar.
It seems all these rooms are private lounges assigned to club members.
We have no choice but to go further inside...
...Ah.
From deeper in the corridor, a large man in a suit was walking toward us.
He wore the same uniform as the guards earlier, but his presence was different.
I had a feeling he was of a higher managerial rank.
Guard Captain
May I assist you? Is there something you need?
His tone was polite, but his cold eyes, devoid of any smile, scanned our group.
Scarlet
W-we were just... um...
Claire
Our master said he was tired, so we were looking for a place to rest for a while.
Guard Captain
In that case, let me assist you.
May I have your name?
...This is bad.
Guard Captain
...Excuse me, could you tell me your name, sir?
I will look it up for you.
The guards in the hall had shown no interest in me and only checked the bunny girls' identities.
But this time, I am clearly the target.
He is likely someone who knows the faces of all the club's members.
And he is definitely suspicious of us, whom he has never seen before.
Guard Captain
...Headquarters. Situation in the south corridor.
Intruders have entered. Requesting backup.
In an instant, guards swarmed us from all directions.
Claire
This is my fault for not preparing a more thorough plan...
I only prepared contingency plans up to Plan C for failing to meet Emily...
And only up to Plan F for Scarlet's behavioral patterns!
It was far too careless of me!
If only I had made a more perfect plan!
...No, you did everything you could.
Claire
...In the end, we have arrived at the one plan we wanted to avoid the most, Plan G.
Scarlet
No, was this not the best plan from the start?!
I'm sick of crawling around on my knees and sneaking about!
Claire
*Sigh...* There's no other way.
We'll have to force our way through.
Scarlet
I've been waiting for this!
There's no turning back.
Guard Captain
Our master despises uninvited guests the most.
That's why, ever since this club was established, we believed entry control was flawless...
Heh... heh heh...
You insignificant little rats... How dare you tarnish this club's security?
Claire
Are you really that proud of it?
We gathered all the information, including the club's location and infiltration method, within an hour.
Guard Captain
Lies!
That's impossible!
If we let you leave here alive, you'll go around blabbing about this place.
I'll deal with you before this gets out of hand.
Claire
Captain, are you all right?
I'm fine.
Claire
Scarlet?
Scarlet
Oh! I'm finally starting to warm up!
Claire
I'm glad everyone seems to be all right...
We take one down, and more just keep coming.
Guard Captain
You've got some nerve walking into [Deep Field]. I'll give you that much.
But don't think you'll last forever.
All units, get over here now! Keep only essential guards at your posts!
Claire
Now that we've come this far, we'll have to take them all down and push through.
Scarlet
Naturally!
Just as we were steeling ourselves for another round—
???
Please wait a moment.
A voice mixed with mechanical distortion echoed from somewhere.
From a strange device carried by one of the guards, a modulated voice flowed out.
???
Now, now.
This is a place where the intellectual elite of NOA gather to in pursuit of noble desires.
Club [Deep Field].
Of course, violence is also a form of desire...
But violence without rules or purpose is not a desire worthy of our club.
I believe everyone gathered here are distinguished gentlemen and ladies of NOA.
So... why not resolve this matter through dialogue, like proper intellectuals?
Who are you?
???
How rude...!
My apologies for the late introduction.
My name is [Hubble].
Hubble
The owner of this place, Club Deep Field, and a seeker of pure desire... That will suffice as an introduction.
Claire
[Hubble]... I have heard that name before.
They say you are the ruler of NOA's underworld.
Hubble
Hahaha, ruler of the underworld? That is far too generous.
In the underworld you speak of, there exist monsters and secrets far beyond anything like me.
I merely perform a bit of management to maintain my modest little club.
Guard Captain
My apologies!
Hubble
Hehe, it is quite all right.
There are certainly opponents in this world that are beyond your ability to handle.
Guard Captain
I-I see... then please forgive me...
Hubble
However...
Failing to recognize the caliber of your opponent and resorting to petty violence...
That is rather disappointing for someone in charge of security.
Guard Captain
Th-that's...!
Hubble
Let us discuss that later.
For now, we have more pressing matters.
Guard Captain
Tch...!
So you want to talk this out...?
Hubble
Indeed.
Dialogue is the greatest tool given to humanity by the divine.
It is the boundary between savagery and civilization.
Therefore, there is no better way to bridge the gap of misunderstanding between us.
If I may speculate...
You have likely come here in search of Ms. Bell of Candle Square.
Scarlet
Just as I thought! So you were the one who kidnapped the gravedigger!
Hubble
Haha, I'm glad we cleared up our first misunderstanding.
While it is true that we brought Ms. Bell here...
To call it a kidnapping is quite inaccurate.
I presented her with a proposal that would be mutually beneficial...
And she simply accepted it.
More importantly, Ms. Bell is a member of Candle Square.
What would we stand to gain by harming someone like her?
So you're saying you would harm her if it benefits you.
Hubble
Ah, you must be...
I see. You're the newly appointed [Journey Captain].
You know me?
Hubble
Of course.
You're the one [Alicia] personally recruited.
Alicia, founder of NOA and the enigmatic Grand Witch.
You should be aware that you are far more well known than you think, Captain.
If things had gone as planned, I intended to send you a formal invitation next month...
It's unfortunate that our first meeting has taken such an improper form.
But please do not misunderstand my sincerity.
I wish to build a very good relationship with you, Captain.
For a long, long time.
...Where is Bell?
Hubble
Ms. Bell... is in a private area deeper within the club.
Of course!
She is resting safely and comfortably, under no threat whatsoever.
For now, at least.
Claire
...That sounds like a threat.
Hubble
My, you don't trust me very much, do you?
Given the circumstances, that is understandable...
But my words are true.
If you simply accept the proposal I offered, Ms. Bell will be able to return safely.
Along with a very generous reward.
So why don't we all calm down and settle things here?
Scarlet
You expect us to believe that?! Bring her here right now!
Claire
Agreed. That sounds like you are implying something will happen if we refuse.
Hubble
Hmm, I thought I was being quite generous...
Very well. I understand.
Well, then...
Hubble
Let us decide this with a game.
A game? What are you talking about?
Hubble
This is a place where desires are settled through games.
It's [Deep Field], after all.
You and I will compete.
If you win, you may leave immediately with Ms. Bell.
However, if I win...
Hmm, what shall it be...?
Ah, yes, how about this.
In place of Ms. Bell, the Captain will remain here at Club Deep Field.
Scarlet
Wh-what?!
Claire
That's absurd!
Hubble
Absurd? That's quite an unfair accusation.
Is it not you who are making unreasonable demands after entering my establishment?
...Why should we follow your rules?
Hubble
First, because you are uninvited guests.
If you had come at my invitation, that would be another matter...
But as it stands, you are intruders who have violated this club's rules.
Second, because that is how things work here.
What one desires must be obtained through a game.
That is the rule of Club Deep Field.
My desire is to conduct a certain transaction with Ms. Bell.
Your desire is to have her returned immediately.
When desires clash...
Wouldn't it be fairest to let the rules decide the outcome?
If I lose, how long do I have to stay?
Hubble
Well...
Is it just me, or did the distortion in the mechanical voice grow more unsettling?
Hubble
I've always been highly observant since I was young.
From ants crawling on the ground to the stars in the sky...
I have observed many things in pursuit of understanding their true nature.
And when I realized that this was my fundamental desire...
Ironically, I was faced with the fact that there was nothing left to observe.
Captain... to me, you are a trove of priceless discoveries.
Despite all the rumors surrounding you...
There is astonishingly little that has actually been confirmed about you.
So until I have observed you to my satisfaction...
I would like you to remain here.
...Hehehe.
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