Elsewhere, in one of the corridors aboard the Star of Bethlehem, Misaka Mikoto, Shokuhou Misaki, and Tsuchimikado Motoharu were still searching for the spell core that formed the fortress.
Honestly, for the three of them, failing to find the spell core even now was somewhat inefficient.
After all, all three of their abilities gave them a considerable advantage when it came to finding things.
Misaka Mikoto could release electromagnetic waves to determine the terrain and direction.
Shokuhou Misaki could use psychometry to uncover information about the fortress.
As for Tsuchimikado Motoharu, there was no need to even mention him. This spy, well-versed in onmyodo, was especially skilled at reading feng shui. Coupled with his knowledge of the Magic Side and the assistance of Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki, finding the spell core that formed the fortress should have been only a matter of time.
Logically speaking, it would not have been strange if the three of them had already found the spell core.
However...
"W-Wait... wait..."
Shokuhou Misaki's breathless voice kept echoing through the corridor.
"Y-You two, don't run so fast..."
As someone utterly hopeless at exercise, Queen had still been able to move at the beginning, but now she was practically advancing by bracing herself against the wall.
The sight of her drenched in sweat was enough to make anyone feel embarrassed for her.
"I mean, is your stamina really that bad?" Misaka Mikoto asked, looking dumbfounded. "How long have we even been running?"
"Well, you should be a little more understanding toward a girl," Tsuchimikado Motoharu said with a wry smile. "Though even by ordinary girls' standards, isn't this far too bad?"
Of course, those words carried little weight coming from Tsuchimikado Motoharu, who was being dragged along by Misaka Mikoto.
That left Shokuhou Misaki equally unconvinced.
"This