Volume 4 Chapter 35 The Running Red Tail and Preparing the Magic Bullet
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Signs of the Stampede in the west.
Tifi’s words fall, and silence descends upon the room.
I just remembered…
Tifi’s hometown was a town in the west of the kingdom.
”Tell me more.”
”Sure. There have been reports of monsters acting abnormally in the ‘Shadow Forest’ to the west of the kingdom. Monsters that usually stay farther away are showing up near human settlements, and the numbers of animals that should be there are decreasing.”
”Is that a sign?”
”Yes. The Guild isn’t certain yet, but they’ve sent an investigation team. They’re also warning local adventurers to be on alert.”
On the surface, Tifi seems calm, but her eyes tremble with unease.
”If a Stampede actually happens, what would be the impact on Tifi’s hometown?”
”There’s a distance between the forest and the town, and other villages and towns in between. I don’t think there would be direct damage, unless the scale is huge.”
I see.
No direct harm, but there could be indirect effects, right?
Like an influx of refugees, shortages of supplies, or changes in public order due to an increase in soldiers or adventurers.
And if the scale is large enough, there’s a chance we could be directly affected too.
Could monsters even reach Tifi’s hometown?
We can’t just leave it be.
A disaster of monsters swarming in──The Stampede.
What can we even do?
To be honest, I don’t know.
But we can’t just sit here, twiddling our thumbs.
I want to protect Tifi’s precious hometown and family.
”Maybe there’s something we can do. Let’s head out right away.”
”Is that okay? What about the dungeon exploration?”
”We can put that off. Dungeons aren’t going anywhere.”
”Thank you, very much.”
Tifi’s voice trembles.
”Don’t worry about it. I was thinking I needed to properly greet the priest anyway.”
She grew up in an orphanage attached to the church.
The priest who took care of her since she was young was like a parent, a father figure.
Since she’s married now, she thought it was only right to pay him a visit too.
It’s the perfect opportunity, really.
”Heh, yes, that’s right. It’s a bit embarrassing, but…”
At last, Tifi flashes a rare smile.
”Ms. Tifi’s family is here, after all. Naturally.”
”Her hometown? I’d love to see it someday!”
”Why not? Helping others is what matters.”
Words from Lifia, Kéa, and Yomi.
”Thanks, everyone.”
Tifi clenched her lips tight, fighting back the tears, then looked around at everyone with a trembling gaze.
It’s my wife’s family.
Going to protect them──it’s her husband’s duty, after all.
And now, the real problem: how to get there.
”How much time do you think we’ve got?”
”If the stampede really starts, it could be in 2 weeks. Maybe a month at most.”
”I see. So, how will I get there?”
Never been good with carriages.
They make me sick.
The last time I visited this Dungeon City, I got so drunk I hardly made it back.
I really don’t want to rely on carriages if I can help it.
Though, right now, that doesn’t matter much.
”If we took a carriage from here, it’ll take about a week to reach ‘Saoriba’ town, and about 2 weeks more to get to the ‘Shadow Forest’.”
”No margin for error.”
”Yeah…”
My ‘Love Hotel’ skill can warp us directly──if only I had the card key.
It’s only accessible if the person holding the key goes there.
Which means, since the ‘Shadow Forest’──the source of the stampede──and Tifi’s hometown ‘Saoriba’ aren’t registered as warp points, we’ll have to actually travel by horse or cart.
”Hey, can I ask something?”
Kéa interjected smoothly.
”What is it?”
”If you’re in a hurry, I can run there myself.”
Kéa said confidently, stepping forward.
Run there?
”Right now, I could outrun any horse!”
That’s it!
I don’t have to go myself.
If Kéa runs ahead and then opens the ‘Love Hotel’ door at the scene, we can warp straight to the spot.
That’d cut down the time drastically.
And we can just rest inside the ‘Love Hotel’ on the way.
No need to stop at inns or towns.
Kéa’s superhuman speed and the power of my ‘Love Hotel’──it’s the perfect combo.
”Alright. So, starting tomorrow morning, I’ll be counting on you.”
Tifi gripped Kéa’s hand tightly.
”Please, Kéa-Kéa!”
”Leave it to me!”
Kéa answered, chest puffed with pride.
That smile was reassuring.
* * *
The next morning, Kéa set off from Dungeon City.
She carried no bags, just her twin swords strapped at her waist──a free-spirited silhouette.
Displaying the External Information menu showed Kéa’s figure in all its glory.
With her red ponytail dancing in the wind, she raced through the town streets, a stunning girl in bikini armor.
Passerby travelers and adventurers froze in disbelief as she zipped past.
Everyone was captivated, turning their heads, dazed by what had just flown by.
”W-What was that!? Was that a person?!”
”It was a girl?! At that speed and dressed like that, which adventurer is she?!”
Those voices seemed to carry even through the visuals.
Kéa kept running,
her legs never slowing.
Her gaze fixed firmly ahead.
Kéa would run while the sun shone, resting in a Love Hotel at night.
Even Kéa would be exhausted from running all day; fatigue was inevitable.
She’d make sure to treat herself well at night.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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