Chapter 62: The Two of Them: “How Long Are These Two Going to Keep Holding Hands?”
The werewolf Dean left, and Sis Linda returned a short while later.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I found an inn where Riku-san stayed.”
“I knew it…”
“Yes. Apparently, Riku-san looked at the ocean while he was there. That must have been when the photo was taken. He checked out the following day, but they said he was alone.”
Alone…
“Then Minato is somewhere else.”
“It would seem so. Riku-san was probably transported back here by himself.”
Being alone must have been hard…
“I understand. We got information from the werewolf too.”
I told Sis Linda what Dean had said.
“Hmm… Hamada. If I remember correctly, the boundary with human territory in Shimane is around Izumo.”
“Right. Riku is definitely heading there, and he won’t be able to hitchhike once he tries entering Izumo. He’ll have to walk.”
Or maybe ride a bicycle.
“I see… We may be able to catch up with him now. Understood. We won’t stay here tonight. Let’s leave immediately.”
“Please.”
We left the beach, returned to the parking lot, and climbed into the car.
Then we checked the route on Elvis’s tablet and discussed it with Sis Linda.
“We should still avoid the expressway, right?”
“I don’t want to deal with land mines or collapsed roads. Let’s take the ordinary roads. It should take about two hours.”
“If we leave now, we’ll arrive before four… Then it’s another two hours to Izumo…”
Six o’clock… It wasn’t impossible.
“Take us to Hamada for now.”
“Understood. Then we’re off.”
Sis Linda started the car, and I looked at Ayaka.
“So, what do we do? We’ll go as far as Hamada for now, but…”
“I don’t think he’d walk all the way from Hamada. Wouldn’t he hitchhike until he was closer to Izumo? With enough mana, a demon would probably take him.”
That was what I thought too.
If he paid the proper amount of mana, a demon would likely give him a ride.
“I would.”
“So would I. Although if someone asked me to drive into the human town of Izumo, I’d have to think about it.”
Just as we thought.
“How far should we go…?”
“We can’t panic. Let’s gather information in Hamada first.”
That was probably best.
“Oh, I forgot to mention something. Apparently, the woman at reception commented on Riku-san’s clothes, so he’s most likely changed his outfit.”
That was hardly surprising.
“All right. Sis Linda, let’s stay in Hamada tonight.”
“Understood. Please sit tight a little longer.”
I suppressed my impatience and looked outside.
“It’ll be fine. We’re steadily getting closer to Riku.”
Ayaka said that and took my hand.
“You’re right. Thanks.”
I calmed down a little.
“Where should we stay in Hamada?”
“Let’s look.”
Takamiya-san and Kitaura-san began searching for lodging on their phones.
I took out mine as well and looked at the screen with Ayaka.
Due to certain circumstances, Ayaka was having difficulty operating her own phone.
“Hmm… Wouldn’t a hotel be fine?”
“Yeah. It doesn’t seem like a hot-spring town.”
“Sure, why not?”
“Sis, take us to an ordinary hotel.”
Kitaura-san relayed our decision to the driver.
“Understood. Elvis-san, please guide me.”
“Sure thing.”
We watched the scenery while waiting to arrive.
We traveled along the beautiful coastline and entered Shimane Prefecture. Continuing along the coastal road, we reached Hamada shortly after four.
“Hmm… There aren’t many demons around.”
Only a few demons were walking the streets.
“You’re right… Did something happen?”
“I’m checking social media, but I don’t see anything. Hardly anything comes up in the search.”
“Most of the results are old.”
It seemed peaceful, at least.
“Everyone, we’ll be at the hotel soon. As usual, Elvis-san and I will gather information, so please wait there.”
The usual arrangement, then.
“You’re starting the investigation this late?”
“I don’t think there are any succubi here. At times like this, you gather information at bars in the evening.”
“You lot don’t drink, and it’s better to go in a small group. I’ll talk to goblins who are drinking.”
I see.
If they were investigating bars, those of us who didn’t drink would only get in the way.
“All right. Drop us off at the hotel.”
I nodded, and before long the car stopped in front of one.
“This is it. We’ll probably be late, so please eat dinner without us.”
“We will. We’ll stay awake, so come to our room when you return.”
“Certainly. Please reserve rooms for us as well.”
“Got it.”
We nodded and got out of the car, which immediately drove off again.
“How should we divide the rooms?”
“Same as before should be fine. Me and Yuu-kun, Mayumi and Hina, and private rooms for Elvis and Linda-san.”
“Sounds good.”
“That’s the safest arrangement.”
If the women agreed, I had no objection.
We entered the hotel and approached the kobold at reception.
“Welcome. Staying the night?”
“Yes. Two twin rooms, plus private rooms for a goblin named Elvis and a succubus named Linda who’ll arrive later. If you have a smoking room, give that one to Elvis.”
“Got it. That’ll be… let’s see, thirty thousand mana altogether.”
The kobold extended his hand, so I took it.
I still couldn’t tell how it worked, but it felt as though some mana had been taken.
“Do you serve dinner?”
“That restaurant over there is affiliated with us.”
The kobold pointed to the right, where there was indeed a set-meal restaurant.
“All right.”
“Here are your keys.”
I accepted them and handed one to Takamiya-san.
Ayaka and I had Room 405, while Takamiya-san and Kitaura-san had Room 406.
“By the way, do you know this man?”
I showed the kobold the photo of Riku’s back.
“Hmm… You can’t expect me to recognize someone from behind.”
True.
“He’s a humanoid man like us. Have you seen him?”
“Hmm… No. At the very least, I don’t think he stayed here.”
I see…
“All right.”
I put away my phone and entered the elevator.
“You boys were friends and in the same class in your first year too, right? Don’t you have any photos?”
Ayaka asked as I pressed the button for the fourth floor.
“No.”
“You never took any?”
“Would you?”
“Huh? Wouldn’t you?”
Did people do that?
“We took plenty, didn’t we?”
“Yeah.”
“We did. Even you took pictures at Tsunoshima and Hagi.”
Those were with Ayaka…
“Hmm… I don’t think men take many pictures together. Maybe we would at a tourist spot like that, but we never went anywhere.”
“We’ll show you pictures of us later.”
“Yeah. We’ll send them to you.”
Takamiya-san and Kitaura-san were so kind.
What I heard was that they were giving me photos of Ayaka.