Kamisama Shop de Cheat no Kaori

Chapter 155. The Bumpy Family And No-Life

There were two slum areas that the busty waitress at the beautiful Aquarian Pavilion mentioned.

I decided to head toward the newly established slum in the southwest.

“Why did you choose that one?”

“The southeast slum has been around forever, right? So, if new folks are going to settle anywhere, it’s gotta be the newer slum. If it’s not there, we’ll just move on.”

“Understood.”

“Looks like things are getting sketchy around here. Yaralai, keep watch from the roof and guide us toward passable routes.”

“Roger that.”

Yaralai smoothly climbed onto the roof through the passenger window, showing off impressive agility.

As soon as she was up, Hagg came over to sit in the passenger seat.

These two seem dead set on not being in the same space together.

“Still… something feels off.”

“Indeed.”

“Hey, Hagg. Are all slums usually like this?”

“It depends on the location… But for a city of this size, it’s bad. If the whole city looked like this, I’d understand, but for things to change so drastically just across an alley…”

The slum we were looking at was far worse than expected.

The clean streets turned into a scene of crumbling bricks, scattered animal bones, and gloomy-eyed residents wandering aimlessly.

Even though the area was supposed to be dry, random patches of mud were everywhere, spreading filth even further.

“Why’s it wet here?”

“From the smell, there must be a river nearby.

Though the stink of haigas is so strong, it’s hard to tell exactly where.”

“Charming.”

“Can’t be helped. It’s probably a geological issue.”

“If there’s moisture, why don’t they try farming?”

“Inside the city walls? Some people do, but this soil probably can’t grow anything useful. If you’re curious, ask the elves.”

“Nah, it doesn’t seem like it would solve anything fundamental.”

There’s a lot to be done.

But to heal the girls in the cabin, we need to clear this quest.

Even though it plays right into Merhes’ scheme, I genuinely want to help them.

And this quest… it’s all about saving the slums.

“Akira, explain the quest one more time. Everyone, listen up.”

“Got it.”

I carefully drove while pulling a letter from the container and reading it aloud.

Since it’s written in Japanese, reading it out loud is the only way to share it.

Quest 3

The slums in the independent city of Sevites are in dire straits.

The wealth gap is extreme, and the residents have no means to improve their situation.

By any means necessary, improve their living conditions.

Once you’ve earned the trust of the residents, distribute Merhes’ symbol to them.

If at least 100 people accept it, the surrogates’ treatment drug will be approved.

A bonus will be awarded for every additional 100 recipients.

Reward:

The surrogate treatment drug will be added to the SHOP.

Objective:

Gain the trust of Sevites’ slum residents and distribute Merhes’ symbol to at least 100 people. For every 100 additional people, you will receive one free dose of the drug.

After re-reading the quest, I realized how difficult it was.

How were we supposed to help people who wandered around with dead eyes regain their footing?

Even if we made money through the SHOP and handed out relief supplies,

that alone wouldn’t qualify as “improving their living conditions.”

“This is starting to feel like a hardcore Western RPG.”

“What now?”

“Never mind.”

No point in complaining.

Both the future of the slums and the girls’ recovery depend on us.

…Wait a minute.

This is a pretty massive undertaking, isn’t it?

I looked up at the sky in realization and lit one of my last cigarettes.

My life really is a crappy game. Damn it!

“Gimme one too.”

“No way! …Wait, what happened to your pipe?”

“Ran out of tobacco.”

“…Make it last.”

I handed Hagg a cigarette, and just then, Yaralai’s hand poked through the window.

I sighed and passed her the cigarette I was smoking.

When I reached for a fresh one, the pack was empty.

Frustrated, I crumpled the box and tossed it out the window (oops).

I made up my mind.

I’ll use the SHOP to make as much money as possible.

No cigarettes? No life!

…Okay, jokes aside, the mood was turning dangerous.

The residents’ stares were growing more suspicious.

It was the wariness that comes with living in a rough neighborhood.

Having lived in places like this before, I could sense it.

Gang members? Street thugs? Some strange folks were lurking around.

Thanks to Yaralai keeping an eye out from above, no one made any moves.

But if something sparked trouble, we’d be swarmed in an instant.

If they were beasts, we could just fight them off,

but these were ordinary citizens—just poor ones.

We couldn’t resort to violence.

…Honestly, this might be harder than fighting goblin hordes.

The buildings here were barely standing—more like shacks or makeshift shelters.

Our bright white camper crawling through the slum looked laughably out of place.

Before we knew it, we had reached the city wall near the riverbank.

In other words, a dead end.

The area was blackened, likely from a fire.

“If we clear this place, we’ll have some room to work… Let’s try talking to them.”

“Akira, you might be strong, but don’t get cocky.”

“You’re not coming?”

“I’ll only make them more nervous.”

“…Fair point.”

Bringing along a dwarf in full metal armor would definitely put them on edge.

This is on me, then.

I stepped out of the camper, wearing the ethnic clothes Tessa gave me after my dress shirt ripped.

“Akira-san!”

Just as my feet touched the scorched ground, I heard an unexpected voice.

“…Yutis?”

“Ah, it is you. I heard someone say a weird wagon had shown up.”

Yutis, looking as fit and healthy as ever, ran over from the shadow of a shack.

“Glad to see you. I was just about to start looking for you.”

“Were you searching for me?”

“Yeah. Sorry for dragging you into this mess.”

“Did you come all this way just for that?”

“Not just that.”

“Yutis-san!”

As we stood talking, Lalaila burst out of the camper and rushed toward Yutis, nearly tackling him.

“Yutis-san! I’m sorry! It’s my fault for being so selfish…”

“Please, raise your head. It’s only natural to help those who saved my life.

Besides, I would’ve brought it to you even without being asked.”

“But weren’t you planning to go somewhere?”

“No, as it turns out, those plans got canceled. Lucky, right?”

“I’m glad to hear that…”

“That’s really true?”

“Yes. After I reported the hazard incident, they decided it wasn’t safe to travel.”

“Ah, so you’re originally from this country.”

“I’m working here now.”

“Oh? What kind of work?”

“Just sewing, nothing special.”

“Wait, what?”

“Something strange about that?”

“…I’ve got an idea. I might need your help later. Will you still be in town?”

“Yes, I’ll be free in the evening.”

“Alright, I’ll come by then.”

“Understood.”

Lalaila gave me a puzzled look.

Sorry, but there’s still too much to figure out to explain everything right now.

Stop giving me that look.