"Musik, I told you, there's no need to be so nervous, and no need to fuss over your appearance."
"By my estimate, the blizzard will last for several more hours. It's obviously far too early for you to be doing this."
The blond man dressed as a soldier sat in a seat inside the carriage, absentmindedly straightening his buttons.
"But, Hyde, but..."
The chubby-looking young man appeared both excited and uneasy, rubbing his hands together incessantly.
"I practically bet everything I had to get this."
"'Everything' is rather an exaggeration. It was nothing more than worldly possessions like money. As long as that secretary over there is around, there's no need to worry about financial management, is there?"
The man called Hyde turned his head and fixed a cold gaze on the alluring pink-haired beauty seated on the other side of the carriage.
"Yes, just as the Major General says. So long as you use NFF's services, no matter how much money it is, you can always earn it back. In any field, too."
"Y-Yeah, but that still takes time, doesn't it? Besides, money isn't all I paid..."
Musik's expression was still somewhat stiff.
After taking a couple of deep breaths, he stopped pacing back and forth. Seemingly having regained his calm, he returned to his seat.
"Anyway, we'll wait for the blizzard to pass, then take the helicopter up the mountain."
"No matter what, I'm Chaldea's new director now."
"That's it, Musik. Keep yourself in that state."
Major General Hyde smiled, rubbed his neck, and let out a soft sigh before opening his eyes.
What filled them was an incomparable heaviness.
"And you two."
His expression returned to that of a smiling tiger as he looked toward the pink-haired secretary. Beside her sat someone else.
He was a man