Chapter 74: A Night at the Inn

We continued talking. Once Sis Linda returned, we searched for information about Minato on our phones.

Nothing new emerged, and time passed until dinner arrived. We all ate together.

“This shijimi clam miso soup warms the soul…”

“Miso really is the ultimate seasoning.”

“The fish is delicious too.”

We each enjoyed the kaiseki meal in our own way.

Tiny Elvis and Sis Linda looked happy as they drank alcohol with their food.

“Sis Linda, what are we doing from tomorrow onward?”

I raised the subject before she got drunk.

“Well, as you know, Hiroshima and Okayama are demon territory. This area is peaceful, but fighting is taking place along the prefectural border. It extends across the Chugoku Mountains, which separate the San’in and San’yo regions, so we’ll need to consider our route carefully before crossing to the other side.”

It sounded like the fighting around Mount Aso between Oita and Kumamoto.

“There must be plenty of possible routes.”

“Yes. We’ll watch the situation as we advance. I have a question: can you store this car with your spatial magic?”

When Sis Linda asked, everyone looked at me.

“Mine should be able to. I have the greatest capacity.”

Everyone could use spatial magic, but I was the only one with preservation magic, and my capacity was the largest.

I hadn’t mastered the Mage Job for nothing.

“Then we have nothing to worry about. There will be places where we must continue on foot instead of driving. We’ll cross the Chugoku Mountains somehow and reach Takahashi.”

Hmm?

“Me?”

Did she say Takanashi?

“Close, but not quite.”

“Let’s see…”

I checked the map app. Apparently, Okayama Prefecture had a city called Takahashi.

Only one syllable different from my surname.

“Here… This is a demon town, right?”

“Yes. Once we reach it, we should be safe. Though humans feeling safer in a demon town is rather strange.”

We were human, after all.

But as long as Elvis and Sis Linda traveled with us, it was undeniably true.

“It’s some distance away. Two or three hours by car, though we’ll have to walk as well.”

“Yes. We’ll need to proceed cautiously. Be prepared to sleep in the car or an empty house rather than a hotel or inn. The Self-Defense Forces will be on edge in a war zone, and the demon forces include many aggressive species. We must be careful.”

That couldn’t be helped.

The same had happened when we returned to Beppu from Kumamoto, and we’d encountered ogres on the way to Kokura.

“Ayaka, Takamiya-san, Kitaura-san, Riku—be ready for combat. Against demons… and against humans.”

We would try to avoid it, but a fight could still happen.

It had happened many times before.

“Leave it to me. I won’t make the same mistake as last time.”

“My sword finally gets a chance to shine.”

“Time to show what an Assassin can really do.”

“I’ll provide support.”

None of them seemed afraid.

They’d spent ten years fighting. Of course they were accustomed to it.

“We’ll need you too, Elvis.”

“Of course. For me, it’s an opportunity to gain mana. I’m looking forward to it.”

He’d gained a considerable amount from killing Yamane.

“I’ll take the role of the princess. Please protect me, everyone. I’ll reward you with a kiss.”

You wouldn’t stop at a kiss.

And you’d steal our mana.

What a princess.

“No kisses. What time do we leave tomorrow?”

“Around ten?”

Ten?

“Isn’t that rather late?”

“I’d prefer to advance in the middle of the night. We’ll travel part of the way, then wait.”

I see.

“All right. Ten it is. That gives us time for another bath.”

“Indeed. Please relax today.”

After dinner, we went to the hot spring again.

When we returned, the dishes had been cleared and the futons laid out.

I was sharing with Riku this time, so unlike before, the sight didn’t make me think anything in particular.

Riku, Elvis, and I were talking at the table, which had been moved to the side, when the women returned from the bath. We drank, chatted, and passed the time playing cards.

“Hah, I’m out. I win.”

Kitaura-san went out last, leaving Takamiya-san as the loser.

“Card games can get surprisingly heated.”

We were high school students at heart.

“I’m taking a break.”

“Me too.”

After finishing a game, Ayaka and I moved to the familiar window alcove and sat down.

“Sis, let’s play President!”

Takamiya-san invited Sis Linda, who was drinking.

“Strip poker? Wonderful.”

“No stripping.”

“Oh, I see. Elvis-san, shall we wager mana?”

“Sounds good.”

Sis Linda and Elvis joined, and the card game resumed.

Meanwhile, Ayaka and I looked outside.

“This really has started to feel like a school trip.”

“Yeah. Even more so now that we’ve found Riku.”

Until now, apart from Elvis, I’d been the only man.

That wasn’t much of a school trip.

“Have you calmed down a little?”

“A lot. You helped me.”

Ayaka and I toasted with cans of low-alcohol chuhai.

“You’re welcome. I’m relieved too, and I’m glad. Riku looks like he’s having fun.”

He was very excited.

He’d even eaten his late-night cup noodles earlier and given us a full food review.

“Yeah. The view is beautiful.”

The little river in front of us was illuminated, and many people were strolling along what seemed to be a popular relaxation spot.

“It is. Want to go take a look?”

“That sounds nice… Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

We stood, and without either of us initiating it, joined hands.

“We’re going for a walk.”

“Take your tiiime!”

Leaving the others absorbed in their game, Ayaka and I exited the room and rode the elevator to the first floor.