CH 68

Now, it’s about time we start making our way to the city center. However, we won’t be walking there as that would be overly time consuming.



“Shall we use this as our means of transportation?”



I take “that” out from the Item Box.



“This is… a motorcycle?”



“Yes. With this, turning around won’t pose a difficulty and traveling would be faster.”



Although I have retrieved other cars and motorcycles, I took out the one without any punked tires and the least amount of damages. While this one isn’t in its perfect state, there shouldn’t be any problem in riding it. What? Stolen goods? Don’t even mention it at this point.



“But… will it be okay?”



“It’ll be fine.”



I understand what Ichinose-san is thinking. She is worrying about the possibility of monsters being attracted by the noise from the bike. But it’s okay. That won’t be a problem. I turn on the engine of the bike.



“Huh?”



As expected, Ichinose-san seems stunned. After all, the bike’s sound is surprisingly small.



“I also realized this just now. Apparently, the skill ‘Silent Operation’ works on things that I am in contact with as well.” I first noticed this when I previously cut the furniture with the knife which Aka was disguising as. At first, I believed that Aka’s abilities were just that good. However, as I continued to experiment, I realized that it was because of another skill. When I became a { Ninja }, I verified the usage of each skill, but I have completely overlooked this one. In part, it was difficult to notice this because “Item Box”, “Ninjutsu”, and “Throwing” are my main means of offense. By the way, it seems like the effect of the skill is somewhat weaker when I use it on another object compared to when I use it on myself. Just like now, the effect is limited to only lowering the volume by a significant amount. Nevertheless, there are a lot of merits to this. If I combine this with another skill, monsters will have a hard time spotting us and we will be able to conserve our stamina. Even if some monsters notice, if they’re relatively slow, we’ll be able to escape from them. At the very least, we’ll be able to shake off monsters at the level of shadow wolves. As there is a lot of gasoline, fuels will not pose a predicament.



“No, that’s not what I’m trying to say…”



“Oh, is this about my ability to drive? It’s all good in that aspect as well.”



With the SP that I gained through the recent level up, I acquired the skill “Riding”. The “Riding” skill seems to apply to driving, with its effects working on motorcycles as well. Even so, I can’t assemble them. Also, the points that I got my hands on through the level up have already been allotted. JP have been used to raise { Ninja } and { Shadow Master } to level 5. With SP, I got “Driving” and “Negotiation”. “Riding” has been raised to level 2, “Ninjutsu” to level 6, and “Odorless” and “Silent Operation” to level 5. Now, we should be all set against monsters that are either slow or have a great sense of smell… I think. Regarding the “Negotiation” skill… possibilities are wonderful things, aren’t they? I check the state of the bike again. Yeah… this should do. It should work.



“Aka, please split and mimic some helmets. Momo, you should enter the shadows.”



“Wan!”



“… Furu Furu.”



Now my face won’t be seen (TN: これで顔も見られない。I’m assuming that the author is talking about the protagonist’s face being covered by the helmet.) Momo is hiding in the shadows, so there isn’t anything to worry about as we move. I toss over the other helmet which Aka is mimicking as to Ichinose-san.



“Ichinose-san, let’s get going.”



“…”



However, Ichinose-san stands frozen with the helmet on her hands. What’s the problem?



“Oh, are you perhaps hesitant about sitting behind a male?”



If that’s the case, you would have to endure a bit… I’ll try my best not to be conscious of the occasional touches.



“No, it’s not that…”



Ichinose-san averts her eyes awkwardly as if it’s difficult to say it out loud.



“… I tend to throw up very quickly when I am on a vehicle…”



Is that so… I can’t really do much about that…



“I’m really sorry…”



Ichinose-san sincerely apologizes while bowing her head.



“No, there’s no need to apologize.”



Anyways, throwing up while forcefully riding is a bit… that. There’s also the danger of being tracked down because of the smell.



“… Furu Furu.”



Aka, who is disguised as a helmet on Ichinose-san’s hands, starts to shake. ‘If you put me on, it’ll be alright’, Aka seems to claim. Aka… are you thinking of absorbing everything that Ichinose-san pukes out?



“… Furu Furu.”



‘Yes’, replies Aka. Well, for Aka, they’re no different from food.



“Wan!”



Momo, who is hiding inside the shadows, produces a seatbelt using parts of the shadow. It’s as if she is trying to say that Ichinose-san will be fine if she is fixed in place. Do these two think of Ichinose-san as some sort of luggage that needs to be transported while moving to another house? No, I want to believe that they are doing this out of pure consideration for Ichinose-san.



“… Ichinose-san. Aka and Momo are willing to go to such lengths for you. Can you, perhaps, try a bit harder?” When I asked, Ichinose-san spits out a response after much consideration.



“……… Sure.”



Her reply was barely audible and extremely unreliable. Nevertheless, I have received her answer. Now, let’s leave (TN: It’s really about time that you do.). With Ichinose-san fixed in place behind me, we started to head towards the city center. Afterwards, Ichinose-san successfully gained the skill “Motion Sickness Tolerance” due to her severe motion sickness. All in all, it was a profit. Furthermore, everything that she threw up was absorbed by Aka. It is such a reliable slime. After around ten minutes or so, we arrive at the center of the city. I can’t feel any human presence, so I stop the bike at an inconspicuous location.



“We should get off around here.”



“….. Yes.”



Even with her helmet on, I can see that her face is blue. While shaking heavily, she comes off the bike. Even so, it is impressive that she is still holding her gun firmly. After confirming that Ichinose-san has come off, I store the bike in the Item Box.



“So where are we going first?”



“Yeah… let us first walk around and gather supplies from supermarkets and convenient stores. Also, I remember that there is a high school nearby. We can gather information there.” While hiding, of course. With the occupations and skills that Ichinose-san and I posses, we can take action even within buildings. Rather, for Ichinose-san, she can only display her true prowess inside buildings.



“High school…”



“Yeah, it’s where I attended. How about Ichinose-s…. Ah.”



I realize that I misspoke only after I have said it. She was a Hiki Komori. And she’s said that she dropped out in the middle of high school. I’m sure that it isn’t something that she wants to remember.



“You don’t have to worry about me. I also attended that school before. Despite only having unpleasant memories…” Suddenly, Ichinose-san’s face is covered by a shadow.



“High school huh… I’m sure that the school is in tatters after being sabotaged by monsters. Rather, that will make me relieved. That kind of place deserves to be destroyed. Destroy, destroy, be destroyed. I hate schools. I loathe them. I also despise my classmates who didn’t extend a helping hand. They should be killed along with the school! Fufufufufu, ahahahahahahaha!” “C, calm down Ichinose-san!”



Ichinose-san returns to normal when I shake her shoulders.



“Huh…? Sorry. Something strange within me was switched on again…”



“Ah, no. It’s fine.”



Well, to be honest, it totally isn’t fine. As I thought, this girl, she’s sick somewhere. Her thoughts are so dark.



“Uh, if it’s inconvenient on your part, do you want to look for another place?”



We don’t have to purposely stimulate her traumatic memories by heading there. To begin with, the only reason I decided on that place is because of its proximity.



“It’s fine.”



Unexpectedly, Ichinose-san turns down by suggestion.



“Even so —”



“It’s fine.”



“Ah, okay.”



I was completely cut off.



“And… there was one.”



“Huh?”



“There was one person I was close friends with. I hope that person isn’t dead yet…”



“Is that so…”



A close friend huh. I didn’t have one though. In that regards, I’m slightly jealous.



“It would be great if that person is also alive, wouldn’t it.”



“… Yes.”



She replies sincerely while smiling and turning her head away. In this manner, we decided to move towards school while gathering supplies.