Chapter 34: Breaking Through

“This is Flare. It’s a high-level spell that will burn everything in this area. Even if you try to run into the tunnel, it’ll burn everything inside too. Do I really need to use this? We aren’t here because we wanted to fight you. We’re just passing through to get to Kokura. We’ll probably never meet again.”

It was a warning.

“Tch!”

“He’s bluffing!”

A bluff?

“You can’t even sense mana?”

They should be able to.

“Ugh…”

“H-Hey, what do we do? This isn’t a joke anymore.”

“Shut up!”

The ogres were visibly shaken.

I could see the ogres behind them slowly retreating as well.

“What? What’s going on? It’s only 4 a.m., but is it already morning?”

From among the ogres behind them, a particularly large ogre stepped forward.

“Boss!”

So he was the leader here…

“What are these guys? Why are they making a sun appear?”

“Boss, these guys want us to let them through!”

“Haha, I see. So that’s what this is about. Hey, kid, this is our territory. We don’t let people pass through for free.”

“We said we would pay mana.”

Elvis answered.

“Give us 100,000 mana.”

“100,000?”

I checked with Elvis.

“How much is that?”

“About twice what that inn charged.”

So that inn had cost 50,000 mana.

Well, considering we barely noticed the amount being taken, it wasn’t really a big deal.

“Fine. We’ll pay the 100,000 mana.”

“Per person.”

So that meant 300,000 mana for the three of us.

“No problem. I don’t want any unnecessary killing, and that price is cheap enough.”

“Tch! Go through. But don’t ever show your faces here again.”

The ogre boss stepped aside.

The other ogres also moved to the sides, clearing a path.

“Then we’ll pay the mana.”

I approached the boss to transfer the mana.

“Don’t bother. Don’t come any closer.”

The boss stopped me, so I halted.

“W-Boss?”

“Shut up. There’s no way I’m fighting monsters like these. Just get them out of here already. And you—put out that fire. Then get out of here.”

The boss glared at me.

I looked at Elvis, and he nodded, so I extinguished the flames.

Then we returned to the car and got back in.

“Are we really okay just leaving like this?”

A trap?

Could they attack us from behind?

“They saw how much mana you guys had and got scared. They act tough because they have a position to maintain, but inside they’re completely terrified.”

“Is that so?”

“Either way, they told us we could go, so let’s go.”

“Yeah. I’ll slow down.”

Elvis started the engine and moved forward slowly.

As we approached the ogres, we were met with intense glares from both sides.

“They look like they’re about to attack…”

“They won’t. It’s just posturing. People like them use this kind of behavior to convince themselves they’re still in control. Want me to stop the car? They’d run away.”

Elvis laughed.

“No, let’s not do that.”

“Exactly. We should avoid unnecessary trouble. Let’s just hurry to Kokura.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go.”

After leaving the ogre group behind, we entered the tunnel.

Inside, it was practically a settlement, with tents and signs of daily life everywhere. However, there was still enough space for a car to pass, so we continued slowly.

Once we exited the tunnel, Elvis accelerated.

“That went smoothly.”

“They became reasonable once we talked.”

“Thinking that was smooth or that they were reasonable means you’ve been seriously influenced by this world.”

That couldn’t be helped.

What happened in Kumamoto had been far worse.

“Either way, it looks like we’ll leave Oita safely. It’s about another hour until Kokura.”

An hour…

“We should arrive in Kokura around 5.”

That was definitely early.

“I’ll try calling them.”

Ayaka operated her phone, and the ringing began.

Then, after only one ring, someone answered.

“Ayaka? How’s it going over there?”

It was Takamiya-san.

“We’re doing fine. We ran into a bit of a roadblock, but we should arrive there in about an hour.”

“I see. Sorry. I haven’t been able to get in touch with Sis at all. She’s probably asleep.”

Well, at this hour, that was understandable.

“It’s okay. We’re heading straight to the racetrack, but come over at your own pace. We’re going to sleep too.”

I was really tired.

“Got it. Wait for us a little.”

“Should we sleep too? Sis probably won’t wake up until morning.”

“Yeah, you’re right. See you at the racetrack.”

“Okay. Sorry for waking you up.”

Ayaka said that and ended the call.

“We just need to go straight to the racetrack now, right?”

Elvis asked Ayaka.

“Yes. Please.”

“Got it. You two can sleep.”

“That’s a bit unfair. We’re making you drive even though you’ve been awake too.”

That was true.

Elvis hadn’t slept either, so I felt bad.

“Don’t worry about it. Just sleep. If you can sleep, you should.”

Well, if all of us were sleep-deprived, we’d be in trouble if something happened.

“Really? Then I’ll take a short nap.”

“Sorry about this.”

Ayaka and I closed our eyes without changing our positions.

As we were rocked by the vibration of the car, our consciousness gradually faded away.

When I suddenly woke up, I felt a soft sensation beneath my head, along with a pleasant feeling as someone gently stroked my hair.

“Hmm…”

“Good morning.”

Hearing Ayaka’s voice, I looked up.

I saw a slightly larger-than-average chest and her cute face.

“Why are you patting my head?”

Somehow, Ayaka was stroking my head.

“Let me ask you the opposite. Why am I letting you use my lap as a pillow?”

Ah.

So this soft feeling was…

“Sorry… Wait, why?”

I sat up and tilted my head in confusion.

“Who knows? Maybe you toppled over?”

Maybe it was because I’d fallen asleep sitting up?

But wouldn’t that mean I’d fallen onto her shoulder?

Why was I using her lap?

Was it my instinct?

“I don’t remember anything… Did I say anything weird?”

Had I said something dangerous in my sleep?

Something related to a secret I’d only told Takamiya-san.

“I don’t know. I only just woke up too.”

“I see…”

“Oh, the car is stopped.”

Where were we?

“Probably the racetrack parking lot? Elvis is outside smoking.”

Following Ayaka’s words, I looked out the window.

The morning sun was already beginning to rise.

Around us was a large parking lot, with cars scattered here and there.

Among them stood a wild-looking goblin, smoking and letting out trails of purple smoke.

“Let’s get out.”

“Yeah. I still didn’t get enough sleep.”

We opened the doors and stepped outside.

The slightly chilly morning air felt refreshing.

“Fwaaah… Yeah, I’m definitely sleep-deprived.”

“You looked like you were sleeping comfortably, though. I ended up stroking your head without thinking.”

Well, no wonder I slept so comfortably.

“Think there are any camper vans around?”

“That’s actually a good idea.”

I wonder if there was one somewhere…