"That--" He hesitates, grimacing at the shelves. "That's...that's what I was planning, but..."

But not with him and Kazuma.

"But I don't know enough yet! Not enough to safely ask anyone to take it on with me...and I'm definitely not going to strike out on my own, that's stupid." He exhales heavily, rubbing the back of his head with his unoccupied hand.

"Since talking to Vira-Lorr, though...it does make a bit of bad sense... Remember those crazy Sleepers who were stalking around attacking people months ago?" And the Tower. Ryunosuke remembers the Tower. Manabu's eyes wince as he glances over to check that awareness.

"It'd make sense for a group like that...to incentivize everyone to just...stay here. Not explore."

Because it'd be more meat for their machines.