Ch.182[Chapter 182] Anomaly: Candy Hail

Sir Dominic joined up with Sir Dominica and they exchanged information with each other.

“The jelly used in the event is indeed from the Black Group.”

“Recently, jelly was purchased in bulk from three places. The Executive branch, System Industries, and Princess Teu Le Vante.”

“…I can understand the Executive branch and System Industries, but why the Demon Lord?”

“It’s for the Four Mighty Kings’ welfare. Apparently they feel self-conscious eating sweet things because they look too fierce.”

“That’s very fitting for the demon army.”

As Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica continued exchanging information, they began to share more important details.

“Miss Sweet-Sweet is a new villain. I heard her dream is to fill Gachaland with cookies, candy, cakes, and cotton candy.”

“It seems there’s a problem with System Industries’ weather system. Probably Miss Sweet-Sweet’s doing.”

After exchanging their final pieces of information, Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica decided on their next destination.

“System Industries.”

“That makes sense. We need to check the weather system. But how?”

“We can do a patrol.”

“Ah.”

Sir Dominica made a blank expression as if she had forgotten something.

“You’re security, right. Well, that shouldn’t be difficult then.”

“Let’s go right away. There’s no reason to hesitate.”

Sir Dominic started walking.

Sir Dominica followed behind him.

Alice, who had been playing with a hamster doll on her head, saw Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica walking away in the distance.

Alice hurriedly followed after them.

…

“Unfortunately, outsiders can’t enter System Industries. My junior here is an employee so it’s fine for him, but for the rest…”

v.a.l.l.o.c. scratched the back of his head as if troubled.

“Can’t be helped.”

Sir Dominica quickly gave up.

Since Sir Dominic could enter anyway, he would be the one to gather information about System Industries.

Meanwhile, Sir Dominica would head to the Executive branch to gather information there.

Sir Dominic seemed to have the same thought, as he said to Alice who was hugging the hamster doll:

“You help Sir Dominica. I’ll take care of this place.”

“…Yes!”

Alice smiled brightly.

“Then I’ll leave System Industries to you.”

With those words, Sir Dominica left the System Industries building with Alice.

“So-“

v.a.l.l.o.c. asked Sir Dominic, who was now alone, about his purpose for coming here again.

“You want to see the weather system?”

“Yes.”

At Sir Dominic’s firm answer, v.a.l.l.o.c. stroked his chin in thought.

Normally he would have eaten a donut while organizing his thoughts, but v.a.l.l.o.c., who had recently gained weight, was cutting back on donuts under the pretext of dieting.

“Well, it’s not difficult. Actually, you can see it anytime. You’ve probably seen it often.”

“But you can’t touch it,” he added.

Sir Dominic couldn’t understand v.a.l.l.o.c.’s words.

When had he ever seen the weather system?

“Judging by your expression, you’re wondering when you’ve seen it.”

Sir Dominic nodded.

“It’s that thing. The one on the roof of this building.”

v.a.l.l.o.c. gestured with his finger toward the antennas on the roof of the building.

Ah. Sir Dominic finally understood what v.a.l.l.o.c. meant.

The strange antennas that were always on top of the System Industries headquarters building remained in place no matter how much the building changed.

To think that was the weather system all along.

“We don’t usually need to use it. The central system already manages all the weather.”

“But if there’s a request from the Black Group, after getting approval from the Executive branch, we can operate it from here. Then the weather changes like today. Even if it’s completely absurd weather.”

Let’s see. The first time I regressed was probably when lightning struck Gachaworld, right? v.a.l.l.o.c. began to recall the past.

“By the way, I heard System Industries bought an enormous amount of jelly.”

“Ah, that.”

v.a.l.l.o.c. nodded.

“Actually, I bought that. I’m… practicing making jelly donuts these days.”

Keep it a secret since I told everyone else I’m on a diet, v.a.l.l.o.c. said somewhat embarrassedly.

Sir Dominic was about to ask why he needed so much jelly, but then he thought about the amount of donuts v.a.l.l.o.c. usually ate, nodded, and understood.

Assuming v.a.l.l.o.c. ate as much jelly as he did donuts, that amount of jelly was nothing.

“Anyway, you want to see the weather system? Shall I guide you?”

Sir Dominic nodded at v.a.l.l.o.c.’s words.

As Sir Dominic was still unfamiliar with System Industries’ ever-changing corridors, v.a.l.l.o.c.’s help was essential.

“Good. Follow me.”

v.a.l.l.o.c. gestured to Sir Dominic and headed toward the corridor.

Sir Dominic followed behind v.a.l.l.o.c.

…

Sir Dominica and Alice, who had left System Industries, now headed to their next destination, the Executive branch.

“We’ve arrived but… what now?”

Sir Dominica fell into deep thought in the lobby of the Executive branch.

It was good that they had come to the Executive branch, but she had no idea where to start gathering information.

“Hm? Oh my. Isn’t this Sir Dominica?”

“What? Ah. So it is.”

Sir Dominica turned around in surprise at the voice calling her.

There stood Senator Muscleman from the Tanker Union and his niece Pandemonium.

“What brings you to the Executive branch?”

Senator Muscleman politely asked Sir Dominica.

“We’re looking for Miss Sweet-Sweet!”

Alice answered instead of Sir Dominica.

“Well, that’s right. Actually, I was just wondering where to start.”

Senator Muscleman nodded at Sir Dominica’s words.

“Actually, we’ve been troubled by the incident Miss Sweet-Sweet caused as well.”

“The already slow tankers have become sticky and even slower.”

Ugh. That’s disgusting, Pandemonium said, shuddering.

“So, what exactly would you like to know? Since we’ve met by chance, I’ll help you.”

Senator Muscleman smiled, revealing his sparkling white teeth.

“First… I want to find out about Miss Sweet-Sweet.”

Sir Dominica said.

“If she’s a citizen of Gachaland, she must be registered somewhere.”

Her residence might be listed there too. Right?

Sir Dominica spoke as if it were obvious.

“Ah.”

Muscleman let out a deflated sound.

“Hmm. I didn’t think of the most straightforward approach of finding the opponent’s base.”

“Isn’t that what anyone would think of?”

“Actually, the people of Gachaland tend to think… a bit differently. They prefer trying complicated things before simple ones.”

While Senator Muscleman was admiring Sir Dominica’s direct approach, Pandemonium and Alice were playing with the hamster doll.

“Very well. Then it would be best to go this way.”

Follow me, said Senator Muscleman as he started walking ahead.

Sir Dominica followed behind him.

“Where are we going?”

“Ah, that’s right. I didn’t mention that.”

Senator Muscleman answered Sir Dominica who was following behind.

“There are people who are best at finding homes, aren’t there?”

Senator Muscleman stopped after passing through a winding corridor.

“…Was this a state-owned enterprise?”

“Technically, it belongs to the Executive branch.”

Sir Dominica looked around in disbelief at where they had arrived.

“Welcome to Heaven Delivery. How may I help you?”

An angel standing at the entrance greeted Sir Dominica.

This was the headquarters of Heaven Delivery.

…

“This is where the weather system is located.”

v.a.l.l.o.c. said as he opened the door to the roof.

Sir Dominic looked around the roof where strong winds were blowing.

He saw massive machines separated by wire fences, gears rotating fiercely, and heard clicking sounds of something calculating.

A giant calculator-like machine device that encompassed the entire roof.

That was the true form of the weather system.

“This is truly… amazing.”

Sir Dominic couldn’t help but admire it.

The weather system was both intricate and extraordinary in scale.

“Well, it’s a machine responsible for the weather of the entire Gachaland.”

v.a.l.l.o.c. said with his hands on his waist and a proud expression.

“This scale is only natural.”

v.a.l.l.o.c.’s words, actions, and expression were filled with pride.

Pride in System Industries’ technological prowess.

Sir Dominic understood v.a.l.l.o.c.’s feelings to some extent.

Even to Sir Dominic, who knew nothing about technology, it was marvelous, so it was natural to have pride in it.

“So this is what causes jelly showers like earlier… hm?”

While Sir Dominic was admiring the machines beyond the fence, he noticed something moving on one of the pillars supporting the machine.

Sir Dominic had very poor eyesight, but not so poor that he couldn’t perceive that much.

“…Who goes there!”

Sir Dominic drew his sword.

The flinch of whoever was hiding behind the pillar was felt all the way to where Sir Dominic stood.

“Come out and identify yourself immediately!”

“That’s right. Otherwise, there might be consequences.”

v.a.l.l.o.c., startled by Sir Dominic’s shout, also noticed the presence of someone hiding and agreed with Sir Dominic’s words.

However, whoever was behind the pillar did not appear.

Instead, the person on top of the pillar threw something toward the weather system.

With a crackling sound, the weather system suddenly sparked.

Sir Dominic and v.a.l.l.o.c. stared blankly at the weather system now coursing with electricity.

[Weather system prediction failure.]

[Candy hail will arrive in Gachaland earlier than expected!]

[Everyone take shelter indoors! Candy is falling!]

The system’s warning message appeared.

Good heavens.

Sir Dominic looked up at the sky after turning off the warning.

Dark clouds in all sorts of sweet colors were gathering.

And from those clouds came a rumbling, rattling sound—

“…Take cover!”

Candies began pouring down toward the ground.

Something unexpected happened at an unexpected time.