Kamisama Shop de Cheat no Kaori

Chapter 152. The Bumpy Family And Immigration Control

As the sun completely set, the convoy veered off the road, busy with preparations for camping.

Since we didn’t need any special preparations for camping, we decided to press on as far as we could while the road was clear. That said, “clear” depended on the area, and there were still carriages rudely parked along the road.

By fully utilizing the capabilities of my modern vehicle, we somehow managed to weave our way through and reached a point where we could see the massive city walls by midnight.

By this point, nearly all the carriages were lined up for tomorrow’s gate opening, and I joined the back of the line with the camper van.

A guard on watch pointed his spear at us, startled by the headlights, but when I turned them off and waved with a smile, he cautiously lowered his spear. Though he still seemed wary, his diligence was admirable.

Glancing over at the passenger seat, I saw Hagg snoring away. Peeking through the cabin window, I noticed almost everyone else was asleep. Even Yaralai had dozed off, leaning against the wall.

The eleven women who had become vessels were crammed into the remaining space, sitting and sleeping bundled up. They couldn’t stretch their legs, but they’d have to endure it for a while.

“I think this might be the first time I’ve really felt the sting of being broke.”

“Heh heh heh… Now that’s a story I’m a bit curious about.”

“…You were awake?”

“Heh heh heh. If there’s anyone who can sleep through this one’s snoring, bring them to me.”

“True enough.”

Now, what could I possibly talk about with this mysterious, gold-eyed, reptilian-looking girl?

I’d already told her I came from another world, but I was doubtful she really understood.

“It’s a boring story. Since I was a kid, I was never blessed with good parents. I lived solely for money… But for some reason, being broke now feels worse than it did back then.”

“Heh heh heh… That’s because, back then, you only used money to survive. Now, it’s not just your money, is it?”

“…”

I turned to Faf in shock.

Two horns sprouted from her forehead.

Eyes slitted like a cat or a reptile.

Giant gauntlets and metal boots. And, somehow, she still wore what could barely be called a micro bikini, flaunting her healthy tan skin.

At first glance, she looked like just another member of a peculiar race. But with just one sentence, she had struck right to the heart of things. How could I not be surprised?

“So… it’s not just my money anymore… Then, whose is it?”

“Heh heh heh, it’s your family’s money, isn’t it?”

“…Family?”

I was speechless once again, staring at Faf.

“Heh heh heh. Have you fallen for me? If you like, we could sneak off into the bushes…”

“I’ll pass on that… But family, huh… I never thought about it that way.”

“Heh heh heh… Surely you’re not one of those fools who thinks family is only tied by blood?”

“I’ve never really thought about family at all.”

Faf chuckled at my response.

“…Let’s get some sleep. Oi! Hagg! It’s your turn!”

“Huh?!”

I woke Hagg by giving him a solid smack and then wrapped myself up in a blanket.

The night in the wilderness quickly grew cold once the engine was off.

◆

“What in the world is this…?”

That was the gatekeeper’s first remark. Oh, I could totally understand where he was coming from.

“As you can see, it’s an artifact carriage.”

I replied with a big smile, which only made the gatekeeper frown even more.

“An artifact, you say?”

Just past the city walls, there were checkpoints to the left and right, where carriages, carts, and people’s belongings were being inspected. I slid the camper van into an open space, and the gatekeeper, who also acted as the inspector, gave me a look that screamed, “Great, an oddball.”

And his first comment was the one I just mentioned.

“Yes, it was excavated from a country at the far west. We only recently figured out how to operate it, so I’ve started using it for business.”

“The far west, you say?”

“Yes, the country was called Pilates.”

“Ah… That truly is the westernmost point. I thought all the relics from there had long since been dug up…”

“The goddess of fortune smiled upon me.”

“Hmm. It’s bold of you to own an artifact as a commoner. You’re not a noble, are you? We’ll need to check the inside. What cargo are you carrying?”

“The people aboard… Well, I can’t say this too loudly, but they are the vessels of victims from the goblin hazard in the neighboring town of Hanshon.”

I put on my most sorrowful face, hoping to win some sympathy. I wasn’t lying either. The gatekeeper frowned again.

“…I’ll need to verify that.”

“Of course. Oh, the trade goods are in the cart hitched to the back of the carriage.”

“And what are they?”

“Buffalo jerky. Plenty of it.”

“Ah, one of Piratas’s few famous exports. But it’s rare to see it at this time of year.”

“It seems the herds were more numerous this year.”

“I see. Now, let’s take a look inside.”

“Yes.”

I stepped out and gently opened the cabin door.

“They’re in a very unstable mental state, so please look quietly.”

“I’ll just do my duty.”

Though he seemed slightly offended, he took a step inside and let out a low groan.

“This is…”

The sight of many women lying down, all mumbling incoherently with vacant eyes, must have looked like a nightmare.

“…Elves?”

“Hello,” one of them weakly greeted.

“Are you caring for them?”

“Yes, but everyone else helps too.”

“I see… Excuse me for a moment.”

The gatekeeper crouched down by one of the women, lifted her eyelid to check her pupil, took her pulse, and then stood up.

“They don’t seem to be acting… But this is quite an impressive setup.”

“Everything here is high-end, so please be careful.”

“I understand. But what does everything even do…?”

“There’s a lot we don’t fully understand either.”

“Artifacts indeed… Alright, let’s check the cart’s contents.”

“This way.”

I felt relieved that the cabin hadn’t been ransacked as I led the gatekeeper outside and to the cargo trailer. I unlocked it and showed him the contents, though he seemed more interested in the trailer’s design.

“This looks like it keeps the sand out well.”

“Yes, the quality of the goods is guaranteed.”

“Then I expect a fair entry tax… Hmm, is that the Veliero Trading Company’s seal?”

“You recognize it?”

“Of course. Who in this business wouldn’t know Veliero? It’s a monstrous company that supports an entire country in the far west. Without the constraints of a nation, who knows how far they could rise… This seems genuine.”

“Of course.”

“…I see. A merchant with ties to Veliero. That explains a lot.”

He glanced back and forth between the jerky and the camper van.

“If it were just the jerky, the tax would be 10%, but considering the vehicle and entry tax, let’s call it 20% of the jerky’s value. I assume you’ve got more hidden inside, anyway?”

“Well, aren’t you…”

“Heh. There’s no one less trustworthy than a merchant. You’re not smuggling anything illegal, are you?”

“Of course not.”

“One thing though—what will you do with the women?”

“I’ll take care of them for now and try to find their families. By the way, have you heard any rumors about missing persons?”

“No, nothing in particular, but if you’re concerned, you should visit the guard headquarters. They might help if you explain the situation.”

“That’s useful to know. I’ll head there as soon as things settle down.”

“…Just so you know, this country still holds strong prejudices against vessels. Be cautious.”

“Thank you.”

I bowed deeply.

Surprisingly, he seemed like a decent guy.

And so, we finally entered the city-state of Sevites.

It took long enough…

Remaining balance: 982 yen.

…Wait, that’s bad, isn’t it?