The well-Balanced Yamamoto-san Gets Caught up in a Death Game

Chapter 57

I’ve reached the hidden passage entrance.

It looks like an ordinary cliff, but Tatsu messaged me saying there’s an internal switch that makes the rock face rumble open when pressed.

However, it seems it can’t be opened from the outside.

I’ve tried various things, but it won’t budge at all.

You know, pushing it, pulling it sideways, even trying to yank it… When I applied too much force, it started creaking, so I hastily let go.

It’s not like I want to break the secret door, right?

I just want to have a little chat with Maris.

So, I’m just waiting patiently in front of the secret door, but…

How long am I supposed to wait here?

I’m starting to think that if Maris doesn’t come out, I’ll be left waiting forever…

I don’t want to be left hanging until nightfall, you know?

Oh, that’s right!

Tatsu mentioned something like, “Lily often uses this hidden passage.”

If I ask Lily, I might be able to figure out the approximate travel time from the arena to this exit.

If I know that, I can estimate how long I should wait.

So, let’s quickly give Lily a friend call—

…Huh?

Lily’s name has turned gray.

What does that mean…?

Anyway, I tried to select Lily’s name and make a friend call again, but—

▶The selected friend is currently unable to respond.

…is what I got in return.

Hmm.

“I wonder what’s going on? Did something happen?”

What does the gray status even mean in the first place?

This friend call isn’t a real phone, so it’s not like there’s no signal or anything like that.

In other words, if the other person isn’t answering the friend call, it means they’re in a state where they can’t answer…

So, what kind of state prevents them from answering a friend call? As I was pondering this—

WHOOSH—

A fire suddenly broke out in the middle of town?

“Um, a fire in town…?”

This has never happened before, so it feels incredibly out of place.

No, more than out of place…

“I have a bad feeling about this…”

I’m overcome with the urge to go to where the fire broke out right away, but the Maris issue is important too, right?

But we’re not even sure if Maris will come out…

Lily is inexplicably unreachable, and now there’s a mysterious fire in town…

I don’t know if this is related to Lily, but…

“This definitely isn’t a normal situation, right?”

Should I check out the anomaly in town?

Or should I wait for Maris, who may or may not come?

But if something happened to Lily while I was waiting for Maris…

Then again, that fire might not have anything to do with Lily…

…………

Argh, enough!

Alright, I’ve decided!

“If it turns out to be nothing, I’ll make Lily treat me to sweets!”

With mixed feelings, I dash towards the town where the fire has broken out.

■□■

The fire died down quickly.

Maybe it wasn’t a fire to begin with?

Perhaps someone just cast [Fire Magic] in the middle of town.

If it turns out to be something like the result of a duel where someone used magic, I’ll be so disappointed.

It would feel like such a waste of my tension and time.

Speaking of which, between this and the Maris situation, I feel like I’m always a step behind.

It’s like I’m being tossed around by each new development.

Ahhh, I wish I had the wisdom to analyze situations and take the initiative!

I have [Thought Acceleration], but that doesn’t make me any smarter!

[Prediction] is a skill for reading an opponent’s next move by observing their muscle movements, so it’s not suitable for seeing the big picture!

I want a skill that would help me analyze this situation, put things together, or come up with ideas to handle it! Or maybe what I need is just raw intelligence? But that’s a real-life skill! I don’t have anything like that, okay!?

“I guess it’s around here?”

I land on the roof of a building partially blackened by soot, using [Jet Stream] to fly there.

It seems the fire started in a maze-like back alley…

Squinting into the dim alley, I can see something dirty and white lying on the ground.

And—

“Lily!”

I quickly jump down into the alley.

Then, a clanking sound as I step on something—

Huh? I look around and see various items scattered about.

Did I step on a potion bottle?

Why are there so many items scattered around here?

As I hurriedly look around—

“CogTwo…”

There lies CogTwo, destroyed beyond recognition…

The reality of the carefully crafted equipment being destroyed.

For a moment, my thoughts almost come to a halt at this fact, but now’s not the time for that.

I approach Lily to check her condition.

“She’s breathing. But…”

There’s a small pool of blood where Lily had fallen, and a thin cut on her neck.

Does this mean someone cut her?

But who?

No, healing comes first right now!

“[Heal Light]!”

This closed the wound, but why is Lily collapsed here in the first place?

And what’s with all these scattered items…?

“Ugh, guh…”

I hear a voice and hastily turn around.

The white lump huddled in the alley.

It’s trying to move, shaking slightly.

Wait, is this… a person!?

No way, this white thing is Take!

What the heck is going on!? I don’t understand at all!

“Ah! Geez, Take’s in worse condition! [Heal Light]! [Heal Light]!”

His pure white fur is stained with blood.

I don’t know what happened, but he seems to have taken more damage than Lily.

For now, I’ll heal him twice!

“You… are…”

“Unlike Lily, it seems I can talk with you, Take. Well, I’ll ask Lily what happened when she wakes up too… But can you tell me what happened, Take?”

“Lily… won’t wake up…”

Huh?

“Lily—…”

He seems to have lost consciousness, as he’s stopped moving…

Eeeh…

I wish he hadn’t passed out at such an intriguing point and finished what he was saying…

Anyway, I can’t just stand around in the alley forever, so after collecting the items, I hoist Lily and Take onto my shoulders and head back to Umi no Mozukutei—

■□■

“—Lily!”

Thwack.

“Ah, sorry.”

“…………”

Take suddenly grabbed my hand as soon as he woke up, and I reflexively chopped him on the top of his head.

Take, who had been lying in bed, seems to be in more pain from my counterattack than expected, as he’s holding his head and writhing.

Maybe he needs another [Heal Light]?

By the way, it’s already the middle of the night now.

The dining area of Umi no Mozukutei has already closed for the day.

Today’s sales were excellent again, and Mungaga was running around until just now to secure ingredients for tomorrow’s business.

As for me, after bringing Lily and Take back to Umi no Mozukutei, I borrowed an empty room from Mungaga and have been diligently nursing the two of them.

I feel bad for Bure and Misaki, but they left with smiles, saying they didn’t mind at all. Yeah, the effect of slipping them a bit extra in their wages was huge.

By the way, I asked them both to work tomorrow too.

Mungaga has agreed to this as well.

He looked like he wanted to say something to Misaki, who keeps taking only Set A orders, but they’re both quite capable despite everything.

So, I’ve been taking care of Take and Lily until now…

It was well after nightfall when Take finally regained consciousness.

Honestly, I have no idea how things ended up like this, so I’d like Take to explain everything in order.

Oh, speaking of explanations, I just remembered.

I should contact Tatsu and let him know I want to discuss the Maris situation and Lily’s condition.

I’ll quickly send him a map of Umi no Mozukutei and a message asking him to come here.

Now then, shall we ask Take about what happened?

“So? I’d like you to explain various things, but why were you collapsed and battered in that place? And what do you mean by Lily won’t wake up?”

“That’s…”

Take shifts his gaze to Lily, who’s still asleep in a nearby bed, then gradually begins to speak.

“It was pure coincidence that I spotted Lily. And you might not believe this, but I was trying to change because of what you said—”