Chapter 41: Departure
After hearing what Elvis had learned about Riku, we played cards and brought our last night in Kyushu to a close.
The next morning, I woke up, took a shower, and ate cup noodles for breakfast.
Then, after getting ready, I went down to the lobby, where Ayaka was waiting alone.
“Huh? You’re alone?”
It was 7:55, five minutes before the promised time.
“Elvis is already here.”
When Ayaka pointed toward the entrance, I saw Elvis smoking a cigarette beside Linda-neesan. They noticed us; Elvis raised a hand in his usual casual way, while Linda-neesan smiled and waved.
She tilted her head slightly, looking very cute.
Incidentally, I didn’t get hit by Charm.
“What about Takamiya-san and Kitaura-san?”
“I went to call them, but they were rushing around. Those two have been staying here this whole time, so they still have packing and stuff to do.”
Ah, that makes sense.
We had been moving around quite a bit, but those two had been waiting here.
We waited for Takamiya-san and Kitaura-san while checking the time on our smartphones.
Then, at 7:59, the elevator opened and the two came running over.
“Sorry~”
“Mayumi was looking for her socks.”
She occasionally misplaces one.
“Did you find them?”
“Found them, found them. Ah, thank you for everything.”
“Thanks~”
The two thanked the werewolf at reception.
“Yeah. Take care. Come again.”
We bowed our heads to the werewolf and left the hotel.
“Everyone’s here. Well then, shall we go? Please get in.”
Linda-neesan said that and got into the driver’s seat, so we climbed in too.
As on the previous day, Elvis sat in the passenger seat, Ayaka and I in the middle, and Takamiya-san and Kitaura-san in the back.
“You guys, you didn’t forget anything?”
Elvis asked.
“Yeah.”
“We’re all set.”
“We checked multiple times, so we’re fine~”
“Elvis, you’re like a teacher.”
I thought so too.
“Shut up.”
“Well then, shall we be off?”
Linda-neesan started the car.
“Linda-neesan, did you hear about Riku?”
“Yes. I heard from Elvis-san earlier. It was Hagi, right?”
So that’s what they talked about during cigarette time.
“That’s why we want to head to Hagi.”
“Yes. That’s the plan. However, today we’ll only go to Shimonoseki.”
Hmm?
“Isn’t it right there?”
Across the sea should be Shimonoseki.
“30 minutes by car.”
It really is close.
“Can’t we go further?”
“Information gathering comes first.”
“Yuu, I told you yesterday. From here on, we don’t know the area well either. So if we don’t investigate properly, we’ll get caught up in unpleasant trouble. There’s also your classmate to consider, and more than anything, many roads are blocked. And worst case, we could end up in a war zone.”
Ah, that’s true too.
Until now, Elvis was very familiar with Oita and Kumamoto, so we were able to move smoothly.
“Got it.”
“That’s right. Let’s go without rushing.”
That would be best…
“But, is Riku okay? Riku can’t really fight, you know?”
Kitaura-san asked worriedly.
“I checked social media again after that last night, but Hagi isn’t that chaotic, so don’t worry.”
“That’s right. And if you overdo it, you could cause another tragedy. Someone might die trying to save someone else. That would be awful, right?”
I couldn’t say I didn’t understand.
“Kitaura-san, Riku isn’t weak.”
“Got it. Let’s go carefully.”
Kitaura-san nodded as if convinced.
“Well then, let me explain today’s schedule. First, we’ll go to Shimonoseki and to a hotel. I’ll drop you off there, so please gather information while looking at the sea or whatever. I’ll investigate through my community.”
“I’ll do the same.”
So we’ll be taking separate actions.
“Community?”
Ayaka asked.
“Demons aren’t all friendly with each other. However, if you’re the same race, you’ll be accepted wherever you go. There are succubi in Shimonoseki too, so I’ll go talk to them there.”
“Same for me.”
I see.
“Got it. What should we do?”
“There are many souvenir shops and demons looking at the sea around there. Please chat with them casually. When you’re done, wait at the hotel. We’ll be back by evening.”
They don’t expect much from us.
Well, we’re human, so it can’t be helped.
“Elvis, Linda-neesan, please gather information not only about the route ahead, but also about our classmates. They’re what scare me.”
“I know.”
“Yes. I’m focusing on that too. You call yourselves Team Dropout, but none of you has the mana of someone who actually dropped out.”
“I’ve worked pretty hard, after all.”
“For the first five years, I fought monsters almost every single day. I can’t match the advance group, but I’m definitely stronger than the free group that didn’t do much.”
That was one thing I could proudly say.
“I’d like to know more about that. Roughly how many people are in this advance group?”
“Uh…”
I looked to Ayaka for help.
“There are twenty-eight survivors. The advance group is probably around ten people?”
Ayaka glanced behind her.
“That many? I feel like it’s closer to half that.”
“I doubt everyone kept charging ahead like that. Besides, no one’s died in the last three years.”
True enough. There hadn’t been any announcements from the gods.
“So that means there are around ten people stronger than you.”
“Hmm…”
“No, you can’t really say that for certain. There’s also the case of Yamane.”
He should have been in a town closer than ours.
Even so, I think he had more mana than we did.
“I see… For now, I’d better assume these classmates of yours are dangerous. If these guys say so, I trust them.”
“I suppose… Since I can’t fight, that’s the part that worries me the most. Sigh…”
Linda-neesan…
She was just too adorable.
I’ll protect you!
“Quit using Charm.”
“Hehe.”
Please don’t.
What made it so dangerous was that she was naturally both cute and incredibly alluring.
“There’s no way Linda-neesan is going to die.”
“If a murder happened on a deserted island, she’d probably be the one who survived until the very end.”
…Yeah, that sounded about right.
“Jokes aside, considering the situation in Hiroshima, the news about Riku, and the Yamane incident, your classmates are starting to make their moves. Don’t forget to keep checking social media.”
“You stir everyone into a panic, then wrap things up so neatly…”
Ayaka said with an exasperated sigh.