Volume 1 Chapter 18 Goblin Extermination by the Love Hotel Man
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”There he is, the old driver guy!”
The boy looked at me and said that.
That made me realize something.
They were the high school students who were on the bus I was driving.
They were passengers who were summoned to this other world with me.
The 5 people in front of me were from that class.
But, our situations are very different.
I was kicked out of the royal castle, labeled as “useless.”
But they, they should be welcomed as heroes.
They get honored in the castle, with strong equipment and support, so why are they at the adventurer’s guild?
And they’re looking for me.
A bad feeling starts to rise in my heart.
What do they want with me, after I was kicked out?
”Hiiragi and the others are bugging us to check out your skills, old man.”
One of the boys came up to me and said it with a bad mood.
”What kind of skill is ‘Love Hotel’? If it’s useful, we might let you help us.”
I see, they thought my skill ‘Love Hotel’ might be useful, so they came all the way here to find me.
The people in the royal castle threw me away, but these boys saw some use in the word ‘Love Hotel’.
”Um, well…”
”Spit it out already.”
Should I tell them the truth?
No, I shouldn’t.
”If you go to a Love Hotel, like a place for couples, your body ability increases.”
”……That’s it?”
The boys looked like they were disappointed.
”The rest is, that.”
When I added that, the boys frowned and took a step back.
”Useless.”
”Ewww, typical Love Hotel Man.”
”Gwahahaha!”
They laughed in a vulgar way, like they were disappointed.
Their looks were full of contempt and mockery, like they were stabbing me.
”I told you. Just because his skill is Love Hotel, doesn’t mean he can make buildings.”
”Really, Hiiragi worries too much. This was a waste of time.”
”Well, it wasn’t bad, we got to do some sightseeing.”
”Well then, Miss. Let’s have tea next time. I’ll tell you about my great deeds.”
He spoke to Tifi in a light tone, and they quickly left the guild.
Without even glancing at me.
They lose interest if it’s not useful to them.
Just like the people in the royal castle.
It was smart to hide the true power of my skills.
I don’t want to be used by those kinds of people.
”I’ll let you help,” huh?
Don’t make me laugh.
”Ah, um, I’m sorry for the trouble,” I said.
Feeling the gazes of the adventurers watching from a distance, I walked to the reception to apologize to Tifi.
I always stand out here.
This time, I’m not happy about it.
”N-no, it was no problem.”
Tifi looked a bit flustered.
I hoped she wasn’t too shocked by my earlier “Love Hotel guy” comment.
She glanced at my leather armor, smiled a little, and spoke.
”You got your armor ready.”
It seemed she was trying not to mention the earlier commotion.
I appreciated her kindness.
”Yes, I found some really good stuff.”
”So you’re going to hunt?”
”Yes, I’m thinking of trying to hunt goblins.”
Tifi’s expression darkened for a moment, and after a slight pause, she quietly continued.
”I can’t stop you, so I won’t say more… but please be careful.”
”Yes, thank you.”
Receiving her worried gaze, I left the guild.
I thought while walking.
About my earlier interaction with those boys.
Did they even consider that my skill might be the “ability to create Love Hotels”?
If I made buildings the size of Love Hotels all over town, it would be a big deal.
Since that big event didn’t happen, they probably believed my words easily.
My actual skill is the “ability to enter rooms in a subspace.”
It’s much more plain than they imagined.
I see, for me, a Love Hotel is “the room I enter.”
For them, the underage kids, it’s “a building they see from outside.”
There was a difference in our images.
Thanks to their preconceptions, they didn’t ask me many questions.
That was a relief.
This time, I managed to get by.
But, in the future, there’s still a chance I could get caught.
If I get caught, they will threaten and use me.
They had skills for fighting.
I could never win in a fight.
I might end up living a life with no freedom, just providing room service and amenities.
I have to get stronger.
To protect my life with Lifia, where we can be close and playful.
* * *
I leave the town and head to the forest where goblins live.
After walking for a while, I enter a Love Hotel to take a break when I get tired.
It’s a comfortable journey.
However, as I go further, the surroundings get darker.
The trees are thick, and the branches twist together like living things, blocking my view.
Even though it’s daytime, the forest is strangely dark.
Looking up, I see a little sunlight coming through the leaves, but the light is blocked by mist, spreading out and fading away.
As I walk on the pathless path, the damp cold clings to my skin, seeping into my heart with anxiety.
This forest has a strange air, cut off from the outside world.
The goblins living in the forest aren’t really a big problem.
The forest isn’t in human territory.
But if I leave the goblins alone, they will multiply and overflow from the forest.
Then they will start attacking human settlements.
It’s the adventurer’s job to get rid of them before that happens and prevent damage.
”Master”
Lifia, who was walking behind me, called out to me softly.
”There! Diagonally right in front, a goblin-like monster is a little ahead.”
”I want to ambush it. Do you know the direction it’s going?”
”Yes. If it’s over there, it should come closer from that way.”
We hide in the bushes at the spot Lifia pointed out and wait to ambush.
Holding my breath and watching the surroundings, I soon hear faint footsteps rustling through the grass.
It’s coming!
From the dim light appeared a little green goblin with an ugly face.
He was short, but there was a dangerous vibe around him.
The goblin looked around with sharp eyes, walking as if searching for something.
Is he looking for prey?
He wasn’t holding any weapons.
I tightened my grip on my weapon.
I signaled Lifia with my eyes.
Lifia nodded silently and responded.
She began to murmur something softly.
She must be casting a spell.
Then she quietly took out a small bottle.
Inside the bottle was a red powder.
When Lifia lightly shook the bottle, the powder flew into the air with the wind, drifting like smoke toward the goblin.
As the red powder swirled in front of the goblin’s face, he frowned as if sensing something strange.
”Gi?”
The goblin was suspiciously watching the red smoke, but the next moment, he suddenly screamed.
”Gya gya!? Giiiii!”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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