Back to Deep Field
Memories always have a way of quietly finding their way back.
Most flicker into view like passing light, only to fade away an instant later.
Yet every now and then...
A box tucked away in the depths of your mind suddenly springs open...
...And every memory inside comes back as vividly as the day it happened.
This memory, too, must be one of these.
A story about something we experienced when the air was just as cold as it is now.
Had it already happened, or was it still somewhere in our future... That I don't know.
Fleeting memories always seem to find their way back in scattered pieces.
2322, 2323... 232...4!
Phew...!
Ten thousand straight thrusts of gratitude... Mm, it's harder than I thought.
*Growl...*
Ugh... Maybe I'm just hungry? Should I have a bite and give it another go...?
Hehe, you're full of energy as always, Charlotte.
Carmen!
Would you like some bread before you continue? I thought you'd be getting hungry, so I brought some along.
Perfect timing! You always come through. Thank you!
Mmm! It's delicious...!
Hehe, care for more? With things the way they are, it's best to fill up whenever you can.
Of course! ...Huh?
...What do you mean by with things the way they are?
Oh, didn't you hear? Lady Frey said she had some business in NOA and would be away for a while.
Lady Frey? To NOA? What on earth for...?
I couldn't say. All she told us was to wait, and that she'd return with a large sum of money.
Something isn't right...
Wait...!
Surely she hasn't taken our funds for another "investment"...?!
...Huh? What's this black envelope on the desk...?
Th-This is...!
Exactly!
I found this in the envelope on Lady Frey's desk...!
Charlotte handed me an expensive-looking sheet of paper.
It bore an inscription in gold: "You are invited to an earthly paradise for the chosen few."
And this, too!
A... business card?
The business card bore a familiar name.
Hubble, Club Deep Field
Carmen said there was nothing to worry about, but...
You can tell this looks dangerous at a glance, can't you?!
...H-Hubble...?
Obviously, it's a secret club exclusively for high society...!
Lady Frey couldn't have gone there... could she?!
What could she be planning to get herself into at a place that dangerous?
So you're already certain she's gotten herself into trouble.
That's what it looks like!
Captain, would you mind telling me where this club is located?
If we let this go without checking what she's up to...
...I'm afraid something really terrible could happen!
...Well, that's quite a lot of "trust" Charlotte has in Frey. Of a different sort.
In any case, even if Charlotte knew where the club was, she wouldn't be able to enter without a membership.
A private club that's members-only... So they only let you in if you've been invited, right?
Hmm... I suppose I'll need to look for a different way to get inside.
Actually, I have a way to handle that.
It was the day of my scheduled welcome party.
After receiving a telegram saying Bell had been kidnapped, I had infiltrated Deep Field with Scarlet and Claire, both dressed as bunny girls.
Bell's supposed kidnapping had turned out to be a misunderstanding, but what had started as a small mix-up led to a much bigger situation.
I had ended up facing Hubble, the owner of Club Deep Field.
And by a remarkable stroke of luck, I had managed to win.
It may not be much, but...
I will have you and your companions registered as lifetime VIPs of Deep Field.
Well then, shall we head out?
Yes! I'll get ready to leave right away!
Welcome back to Deep Field, Captain Captain.
Ms. Hubble has instructed us to treat you and any guests you bring as VIPs.
Please, come in.
The doorman politely welcomed us and held open the club's entrance.
Before, we had entered the club through what looked like an ordinary goods stall farther into town...
Apparently, they had relocated the entrance to a new spot tucked away in an alley.
Without the location on Frey's invitation, we would have been wandering around in the wrong place.
Much appreciated.
Wow, Captain...! You seem like such a cool grown-up right now!
To think you have free access to a secret club like this... You're as impressive as ever!
Ahem...!
I tried to play it cool, but I couldn't help puffing up a little with pride.
Wow... So this is Club Deep Field!
It's completely different from how it looks outside...! This place is so fancy!
Ah, oops...!
Ahem, ahem!
As it seems... This place is bathed in resplendent golden light...!
...This must indeed be that... e-earthly paradise I've heard tell of...! Ack!
Ow, I bit my tongue...
...It's okay to speak the way you usually do.
O-Oh, no, never! We're at a club for high society!
If I were the only one out of place in such cultured company, I'd disgrace the name of the Monastir Knights!
And since I'm here as the companion of a VIP...
I need to mind my manners... and be, er, courteous... Ahem!
...For Charlotte's sake, I decided not to mention that she was probably drawing more attention this way.