Episode 30

About an hour of driving. Once we got off the highway, the scenery gradually started to take on a rural feel. At first, there were still a fair number of buildings. But as we drove further, the vast green fields and farm roads became more noticeable. Along with the change in scenery, the surrounding quietness grew deeper.

As we continued a little further, the area became almost entirely farmland. A tranquil atmosphere hung in the air. There were a few small shopping streets and some old rural houses scattered here and there. They created a calm countryside view far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.

“So, this is Shizuho City…..”

In the game world, I had only seen Shizuho City while it was being rebuilt. Now, standing here in person, the quiet atmosphere really soaked into my heart.

……This place is going to collapse next month. I have some thoughts about that. But even so, I don’t intend to interfere.

The car moved slowly, and we finally arrived at our lodging—a place that would serve as the Lucifer Union’s base. The place had the look of an old-fashioned traditional inn, full of charm. Trees were planted in the garden, and the grand wooden entrance stood impressively.

……There’s a really cool, large motorcycle parked here—could that be Lucifer’s hobby?

“This is one of the bases of the Lucifer Union.”

Lucifer is a character who has a deep interest in Japanese culture and prefers these kinds of traditional Japanese houses. She’s also into otaku hobbies, though she keeps that hidden. If you raise her affection level, you can catch a glimpse of it.

As we parked the car and headed toward the entrance, we were greeted by a woman who looked like an elderly lady. She wore a gentle smile. And with slow, calm movements, she bowed to us.

“Welcome. You must be tired after such a long journey. My name is Takasaki Yoshiko. I take care of the housekeeping and cleaning here. I look forward to serving you.”

“Thank you.”

Yoshiko-san gave us a kind gaze, like that of a grandmother looking at her grandchildren. Her demeanor naturally made us smile. We bowed in return.

“Now then, let me give you a quick tour. Please follow me,” 

Martha said so and we entered the house. After switching from our shoes to slippers at the entrance, we walked through the hallway.

Although the exterior looked old, the interior seemed to have been renovated. It was surprisingly modern. The traditional Japanese atmosphere was well-preserved. But everything was clean and fresh. The room we were shown was quite spacious, and the scent of the tatami mats evoked a sense of nostalgia.

In one corner of the room, there were old hanging scrolls and tea utensils on display, adding a refined touch.

“This is a nice place. It seems like we can do our remote classes and Union work here in peace.”

“Yeah… Tatami feels so good,” 

Seraph said with a satisfied smile, while Luminous rubbed her cheek against the tatami.

Even though there’s no setting that demons particularly like Japanese things, Luminous seems to have a fondness for traditional Japanese culture.

Since Seraph and Luminous won’t be accompanying me to the dungeon, they’ll be spending a lot of time here. As long as there’s no problem, that’s all that matters.

After we finished unpacking our things, Kirisaki called out to me.

“Takigawa. It’s time for the dungeon.”

“……I didn’t schedule any dungeon time, though.”

“It’s in my travel itinerary. We need to head out soon.”

What a completely self-centered person…

That said, we came to Shizuho City to take on the dungeon. As much as I’d like to relax a bit more, staying here too long wouldn’t be wise either. With a time limit hanging over us, we need to dive into the dungeon and get stronger as soon as possible.

“Alright, we’re heading to the dungeon.”

“Understood. …We don’t have all the members yet, so you’ll be acting alone more often. Please be careful.”

“Well, Kirisaki’s with me, so it should be fine, right?”

Though honestly, I’m more worried about Kirisaki being the one who might attack me the most…

I thought that to myself but didn’t want to worry anyone unnecessarily. So I left the room with Kirisaki and Martha in silence.

As Martha took her seat in the driver’s seat, she asked, 

“Shall we head to the Shizuho Dungeon?”

“…Before that, I’d like to prepare my equipment. Could you drop me off near the street close to the Shizuho Dungeon?”

“Understood.”

The equipment available in Shizuho City remains excellent, both before and after its collapse. According to the game’s settings, whether you gear up here or in Tenma City, it doesn’t make much of a difference. Ultimately, if you’re serious about getting the best final gear, you’ll need to aim for drop items anyway. So there’s no need to worry too much about the details.

After about a 20-minute drive, we arrived at our destination. Martha, who had driven us here, showed no signs of fatigue. She sat upright and looked in my direction.

“I’ll be waiting nearby. So if you need anything, just contact me.”

“Got it.”

After exchanging contact information with Martha, we parted ways and headed onto the street. This area of Shizuho City had a number of stores lined up—weapon shops and stores related to dungeons. The lack of crowds probably reflects the low number of Soul Binders in the city.

“You can find just about anything you need here. It’s a good place to visit before tackling a dungeon.”

“I see.”

As I nodded in response to Kirisaki’s explanation, I noticed the eyes of the people around us focusing on her.

“Oh, Kirisaki-chan! Long time no see!”

“Mr. Sato. It’s been a while.”

“Kirisaki-chan, you’re back!”

“Yeah, I came back to fight Takigawa in the dungeon.”

That’s not the reason……

Original Author’s Comment:

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