kscans

Chapter 209 - Episode 144: Fear

The ‘camping’ that Aira-san mentioned meant,

"Searching for an undiscovered dungeon in the mountains, you say."

"Indeed."

Aira-san, having changed into a black T-shirt, nodded magnanimously.

"Do you remember a man by the name of Yamadera Anji?"

"Yeah, I guess."

He was the lecherous monk who was researching Awakening training and was annoyingly persistent about getting me to go to a brothel.

I owed him for helping my parents with their Awakening training, but that aside, he was one crazy old man.

"Apparently, there have been sightings of what seems to be a monster on one of the mountains he manages. I want you, Kyō-chan-kun, and the others to investigate."

"Um, isn't that a job for the Self-Defense Force or the police?"

If you discover a dungeon gate, or have an idea where one might be, you are obligated to report it immediately.

Having civilians search for gates could lead to unnecessary suspicion. Like, about a ‘Private Dungeon’ or something.

If we were found to be hiding a dungeon, we could get a prison sentence in one shot. I didn't want to do anything that could make us look suspicious.

"That's true. But staffing shortages are the same everywhere. When he reported it, they apparently told him they couldn't conduct a search without clear evidence."

"I see..."

"On top of that, when he was consulting with the police, he mentioned that he knows a B-Rank adventurer, and as a result, they asked if he could request a gate search. This is the police-issued permit for a dungeon gate search."

"Whoa."

Inside the clear file placed on the table was indeed a permit identical to the one I'd seen in the training course.

Is that really okay, officer?

"Don’t be too hard on the police. There's a rumor that their staffing shortage is even worse than the SDF's. Especially when it comes to Awakened police officers. There have been many cases of officers being injured while searching for gates. If they have a connection to a B-Rank adventurer, it's natural they'd want to cling to that."

Aira-san’s words made me nod in understanding.

Gates don't choose their locations. From the middle of a residential area to deep in the mountains where people rarely venture.

Recently, it's become somewhat easier to find gates in inhabited areas, but the same can't be said for mountains and forests. We can't just clear-cut them.

As a result, there were rumors whispered about that places where people rarely go were overflowing with monsters.

If we were to deal with all of them, I wonder how many times the current personnel we'd need. They were apparently trying various things like flying drones and using satellite photos, but there are limits to resources, not just people. For now, there's no better method than having humans go and check directly.

"Then what about the Self-Defense Force?"

"For them, it's difficult to get involved in the first place due to jurisdictional issues. The police have to discover a monster, create the appropriate documents, have those deliberated on... it takes a fair amount of time before they can be deployed."

"I see... We’re not going to stumble upon an A-Rank monster in the middle of the mountains, are we?"

"I can't say for sure. However, Yamadera-shi had an astrologer friend of his look into it, and the result was that due to the mana concentration, the possibility of a high-rank monster is low. At most, it would be D-Rank. Well, even that rank is a threat to the average adventurer. After all, they're like brown bears with human-level intelligence."

"Hmm..."

Honestly, it felt like there was a lot of wishful thinking involved, but then again, the ratio of dungeons that are C-Rank or higher is very small. The vast majority of dungeons are D-Rank or lower.

A situation like when the white dragon appeared, where the surrounding mana was greatly disturbed, doesn't happen outside of a dungeon. Erina-san's teleportation should also work without any issues.

This was a request from Aira-san... which probably means it came from the professor. I can probably trust it.

"I’m fine with it, but what about you two?"

"I’m okay with it! Being in the mountains is so ninja-like!"

"I agree as well, as long as we secure a retreat route while exploring."

Erina-san gave a thumbs-up with a beaming smile, while Mia-san nodded with a serious expression.

Seeing our reactions, Aira-san nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. I believed you would say as much."

And then, she stood up.

"Then—Invisible Ninjas, move out!!"

She swung her arm with an exaggerated gesture, like a commander in a robot anime.

Hey, where are you looking? Look over here.

"My motivation just plummeted spectacularly."

"What!?"

"Why, Kyō-chan!? That was the most hype moment!"

"That's right! What was there to be dissatisfied with!"

"Everything."

"Um... by any chance, are we leaving right now?"

"No? We’ll leave after we’ve properly prepared and arranged a schedule."

"This is a mess..."

By the way, after this, a debate arose about "Wait, aren't you coming, Aira-san?" and whether or not to bring the disappointing university student who was fully intending to stay behind, but I'll omit the details.

＊　　　　＊　　　　　＊

It was Saturday. As the car rattled over potholes in the road from time to time, I gazed out the window.

A peaceful rural landscape. Weeds grew here and there in the rice paddies, and what was likely an orchard still had its green leaves swaying in the wind.

"Honestly... why do I have to be the one driving?"

"There, there. I’ll drive on the way back."

"We’re counting on you."

"We are!"

From the driver's seat, Aira-san pouted.

Ahead of her was a light pickup truck leading the way. Yamadera-san and his daughter were inside, guiding us.

We took a train to this town, rented a car at a shop near the station, and after about thirty minutes of driving, the houses and fields grew sparse as we entered the mountains.

We continued along a winding road littered with fallen leaves for another thirty minutes or so. The car stopped at a place with a small torii gate and a shrine.

Since Yamadera-san and his daughter got out, we did too. I lightly stretched my back and then walked over to him.

"Sorry about this, everyone. The monster sighting was a little deeper in from here. I manage this shrine, so feel free to use it as a temporary base. Oh, but don't go inside the shrine itself, okay?"

"Okay... um, a monk managing a shrine, what's that about...?"

"Kahahaha! If you worry about little things like that, you won't survive in the countryside."

Is that really a little thing?

Well, I don't know much about religion, and I think the local temple had a torii gate too. Probably not worth thinking about too deeply.

"But you know, I know I asked you to search for the gate, but please be careful, okay? If you think it's dangerous, retreat immediately."

"Thank you for your concern. We are professionals, so we will manage the risks properly. Please rest assured and await good news."

With his bushy white eyebrows furrowed, Mia-san replied to Yamadera-san with a business smile.

Wow, Mia-san is being normal... well. She's usually normal most of the time. It's just that the impression she gives when she's not is so strong.

"Well, you are that Arisugawa-kun's granddaughters. I trust you. By the way, Yagawa-kun. A moment of your time?"

"Yes?"

Yamadera-san beckoned me over, and I moved a little away from the others.

He seemed to want to whisper something, so I bent down slightly.

"Between you and me, which one of them is your type?"

"Are you a middle schooler?"

The content was so far from what I expected.

"My heart is forever young. More importantly, are you dating any of them? Still single?"

"I’m not dating anyone. They’re all my friends and work colleagues."

"...A gay relationship?"

"That’s not it. I’ll pluck your beard out."

"Well, as long as that’s the case. But still. Being surrounded by such curvy beauties, you must have some pent-up feelings, right?"

"W-Well..."

"No need to be shy. I, who have taught at a university, can guarantee it. It’s a natural thing for a living creature."

"I-I see."

...Why am I being sexually harassed by an old man on a mountain in the countryside on my day off?

"That’s why, look. When this job is over, I’ll give you a little something extra, separate from the reward."

With that, Yamadera-san offered me a pink business card.

"With my introduction, they won’t ask your age. Go there and become a man...!"

"W-Wait, you can’t... I’m a minor! A place like that is..."

"Hohoho. You say that, but your hand is being quite honest."

"Huh!?"

Before I knew it, my fingers were firmly gripping the offered business card.

Impossible, is this some new kind of magic attack!?

"It’s fine, Yagawa-kun. Everyone gets into a little mischief like this...!"

"I-Is that so..."

"It is, it is. It's not something to be proud of, so it's done secretly. Usually, it might be through a parent or a senior at work, but it's case by case. This is also a token of my gratitude for you taking on this job."

"B-But...!"

"Releasing your sexual desires is for the good of those around you, you know? You have to keep it under control before your brain gets dominated by your lower half and you make a mistake. This is for their sake too...!"

"For Erina-san and the others' sake..."

"Going to this place is not a mistake...! Go and become a man, Yagawa Kyouta...!"

"Lecherous Monk (Yamadera-san)...!"

"While you’re at it, just sign this sperm donation form."

"So that was your goal after all."

Swoosh. The lecherous monk produced a clipboard and a document clipped to it from his black robes.

This old man still hadn't given up...!

"I can do my research. You can relieve your sexual tension. Isn't it a great deal? Don’t worry, I've already spoken to the girl. I'll pay her, so no one loses out. Yes, this is where everyone becomes happy—"

"With all due respect."

"Hiee."

"Hoge!?"

I let out a small shriek, and Yamadera-san, who must have seen ‘her’ over my shoulder, let out a loud one.

I turned around as stiffly as a broken tin doll, and there stood a smiling Erina-san, dressed in a dark green sweater, jeans, boots, and a dark brown jacket.

It wasn't her usual cheerful smile; she was in her 'proper lady' mode. Her long blonde hair, which was flowing down her back today instead of in her usual pigtails, seemed to sway despite the lack of wind.

"Yamadera-sensei. Kyouta-kun is a minor. I believe introducing him to such an establishment is a bit premature."

"N-Now, please listen, Rinzaki-chan. Biologically, a man has needs that build up—"

"Yes. I understand that, of course. However, I have seen on the news from time to time that minors who frequent such establishments can end up ruining their lives. I want to avoid such a thing happening to a dear companion. Is this line of thinking wrong?"

"B-But, this is a perfectly safe establishment—"

"That establishment may indeed be safe. We also trust you, Yamadera-sensei. However, considering his age, if he strays from the path even once, there is a possibility that he could tumble down the slippery slope and become completely immersed. He might start frequenting places other than the one you introduced, and from there..."

Her eyes narrowed into a gentle arc.

"You can't take responsibility, can you? Yamadera-sensei."

She pierced Yamadera-san with a gaze as cold as ice.

"...Yeees."

The lecherous monk nodded meekly, completely averting his eyes.

He smoothly retracted the business card from before and tucked it away into his robes, along with the clipboard.

"Ah. Yagawa-kun properly refused this offer. I was just being pushy, so please don't blame him."

"Of course. I—we—believe in him."

I vigorously nodded my head up and down at Erina-san, who was smiling brightly at me.

Had I stimulated the self-proclaimed ninja's sense of justice, or were there instructions from the professor?

The current Erina-san was very scary...!

"My apologies, Yagawa-kun."

"N-No..."

"Well, everyone do your best! That's all I wanted to say! I did!"

Yamadera-san slapped my butt with force.

In that moment, I felt something being slipped into my pocket.

This, this monk...!

"Well, I shall take my leave now. Farewell!"

The lecherous monk hurried into the car his daughter was driving and left. Through the glass, I thought I saw his beard being pulled with great force, but it must have been my imagination.

As I was seeing their car off, Erina-san suddenly slapped my butt.

I flinched, my back straightening.

"Come on, don't be so down, Kyō-chan! You can go to places like that when you're twenty if you still don't have a girlfriend, okay!"

"Y-Yessir."

"When this job is over, let's have a party with me, Paisen, Senpai, Shī-chan, and Ā-chan with snacks and juice!"

"Yessir."

"Alright, let's do this!!"

"Yessir...!"

I feel like the piece of paper that was put in my back pocket is gone now.

But I didn't have the courage to mention it...! I'm sorry, you rotten lecherous monk. The professor is probably going to call you furiously later, but you brought this upon yourself, so rest in peace...!

...Huh. Speaking of which, what were Aira-san and Mia-san doing?

"Uwoooooh! This is why I hate mountains! There are too many damn mosquitoes for late September, you idiots!!"

"Nee-san! Calm down! A high-level Awakened Person's skin can't be pierced by a mosquito's needle, and it won't even itch!"

"Even so! Bugs! I hate them! Begoneeeeee!!"

"Hey, you're spraying too much bug spray! Calm down!"

Well, that's them alright.

To think the day would come when I'd feel relieved at the sight of Aira-san being disappointing.

The disappointing university student, wielding bug spray cans in both hands with a face a beautiful woman should never make, strangely warmed my heart. I felt my frozen liver thawing out.

By the way, we're about to start work. What are we supposed to do with this atmosphere?

Is there any way to get into a serious mood from here...? There has to be, right?