LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 199
Chapter 199. The Bumpy Family And The Chase In The Dark Night
“Still, this camper is incredibly functional, isn’t it?”
Cherina, who had been staring at me as I started making a late-night meal to escape her cold gaze, spoke up.
I made a hearty portion for Hagg and Faf, while the other members got lighter meals.
Remaining funds: 3,906,414 yen.
“Ah. Vehicles have advanced so much that ideas like this have emerged.”
“Cooking in a carriage… It’s not impossible to imitate, depending on how you do it.”
“You just need to be careful with the fire, but wouldn’t the vehicle become too heavy for horses to pull?”
“There are livestock stronger than horses.”
“Ah, I see.”
Come to think of it, I’ve occasionally seen creatures that look like two-legged dinosaur children.
After serving everyone their late-night meal, we decided to share information while eating.
This also included organizing my own thoughts.
“…So, that’s why we were rebuilding the slum.”
“I see. A cure for the vessels. Still, to wipe out the slum in such a short time is impressive as always.”
“Akira-san is amazing!”
“I know. He overthrew a whole country, after all.”
“Eh!?”
“…Akira-sama? What’s this about?”
“I haven’t gone into details.”
“Eh? Eh!? What do you mean?”
“Well, let’s save that story for another time. Let’s get back to the main topic.”
“O-okay.”
She looked unconvinced, but she probably understood that the conversation needed to move forward.
She’s a smart girl.
“We don’t know if there’s a connection between Lalaila’s kidnapping and the vessels being taken, but it seems highly likely.”
“Please tell me more.”
“First, all the women who became vessels were taken by the same organization. And that organization didn’t sell them off somewhere but likely used them as sacrifices to trigger a Goblin Hazard.”
“That’s unforgivable.”
“Absolutely. The purpose is unclear, but it feels intentional. And now, Lalaila’s kidnapping. We don’t know much about the kidnapping organization, but according to the intermediary, it’s almost certain that Lalaila was sold to The Zebra that Rides the New Moon.”
“That’s the mafia from the East Slum, right?”
“Exactly. But I’m not sure why the Zebra would want Lalaila.”
“Just, ask, the Zebra.”
“…That’s true. But didn’t all the key members die?”
“Numbers, don’t match. Probably, somewhere else, in the forest.”
“I see.”
No idiot would bring all their members to a deal site.
Especially a dark organization.
“Alright, then let’s find the remaining members and get some answers.”
“Separately, it might be good to hear more from Dejion-sama.”
“Speaking of which, it seems they heard about us being here from Dejion.”
“Yes. We arrived in Sebites around noon today, secured a place to stay, and then went to greet Dejion-sama.”
“Before we met Dejion?”
“That’s right. At that time, Akira-san’s name came up.”
“…Why was I mentioned?”
“Well, I asked on a whim if he knew a merchant named Akira, and he said he did.”
“The world is small, but this is a bit much.”
“Rather, it’s more surprising that you became acquainted with Dejion-sama in such a short time.”
“It wasn’t a pleasant meeting, though.”
After all, we clashed with the guy who tried to hit on Lalaila.
“I’m more surprised that Cherina knew him.”
“I met him once when I accompanied my father on a business trip, so I went to greet him.”
“I see.”
“I asked about Akira-san’s whereabouts then and planned to head there tomorrow, but a messenger from Dejion-sama came at night.”
“Oh?”
“Dejion-sama must have been considerate. He told me that Lalaila had been kidnapped and that Akira-san had rushed off after her.”
“Is that so?”
“I followed immediately after… but cars are terrifyingly fast. I was a bit shocked.”
“If you’re riding a griffin, on a straight paved road, it’s about the same speed as a car, but on this world’s roads, griffin are way faster, right?”
“In terms of short bursts, yes. But griffin are animals, right? They need rest, food, and sleep.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
“This time, it was simply that we started late… but even so, I didn’t think we’d fail to catch up by the time we reached the forest.”
“Well… I was speeding.”
Driving full throttle on a dark road without streetlights might have been a bit reckless, now that I think about it.
“So, when should we go after the Zebra guys?”
“Now, immediately.”
“Right now?”
“If they notice something’s wrong, the bad guys will run. That’s normal.”
“Ah, right… got it. Have we rested enough? Cherina, can the griffin go?”
“For a while, yes.”
“Then, Cherina and I will take the sky, and you guys search by car. Hagg, don’t wreck it.”
“Hmph. My driving skills are no longer inferior to yours.”
Hagg’s improvement is indeed remarkable.
“Alright. Let’s move.”
I thought Cherina and I might have a chance to talk while flying through the dark night, but there was no such luxury.
We found a suspicious group in about ten minutes.
“They were this close!?”
I immediately jumped off the griffin and landed in front of the suspicious group.
“You’re with that damn elf!?”
As soon as they saw me, a bearded tough guy shouted. Uh, what was his name? One of the Zebra guys with a cucumber-like name.
This confirms the Zebra’s involvement.
“Hey. Was it Cucumber?”
“It’s Kyurais!”
“Ah. Dinner, was it?”
“I don’t get it! You! What are you doing here… no, I don’t get the situation, but you’re not leaving here alive!”
About thirty Zebra guys surrounded me.
Come to think of it, last time Yalarai handled them.
The difference this time is that they’re all armed and dripping with killing intent.
Ugh. Being used to killing people is gross.
“So, the Zebra gang is this much of an illegal organization?”
“…No more talking, you guys! Kill him for sure!”
At Kyurais’s command, everyone lunged at me. Swords, spears, a variety of weapons, but none of them are a match for me right now.
With a single swing of my drill, infused with a surge of energy, all their weapons shattered into pieces.
Not just breaking, but shattering. The sight of metal swords crumbling made everyone freeze.
“What the!?”
“Give up. I’ve been trained by that Yalarai… the elf. And as you can see, I’ve got a powerful weapon. You guys don’t stand a chance.”
“Guh…!”
They all pulled out backup knives or daggers, but sweat dripped from their faces, and none of them looked confident.
They must have realized the difference in strength.
“If you surrender, I won’t kill you.”
“Guh… ngh…”
“Ah, by the way, your buddies who went into the forest? They were wiped out by goblins.”
“What!?”
“Of course, the elf girl has been rescued. There’s no point in holding out.”
“Guh… is that… true?”
“Even if I tell you to believe me… oh, I can prove one thing right now.”
“What?”
I caught sight of the camper speeding towards us, guided by Cherina.
It screeched to a halt beside me, and Hagg jumped out to stand next to me.
Yalarai quickly climbed onto the roof of the car and aimed his rifle.
And then.
“No way…”
Lalaila stepped out of the car with a stern face.
“Starting to believe me now?”
“…Fine… do what you want.”
“Good. Then let’s have a little chat.”
As if resigning, Kyurais threw down his weapon and sat cross-legged on the ground.