Kamisama Shop de Cheat no Kaori

Chapter 156. The Bumpy Family And The Children’s Wishes

We safely reunited with Eutis in the slums. Lalaila quickly began asking Eutis about the situation.

“More importantly, Eutis, what about the three families…?”

“Yes, they’re all living here… Ah, those kids over there are from the families.”

When I looked, a boy and girl, around high school age, were peeking at us. Compared to others, their clothes were a bit nicer, so I spotted them right away.

When Eutis beckoned them over, the two approached cautiously.

“Eutis, who are these guys?”

“Giro, don’t call them ‘these guys.’ They’re very important people.”

“Really?”

“Yes! They took down an unbelievable number of goblin threats!”

“For real?!”

The boy, Giro, who had been wary until now, suddenly brightened.

“Hey, old man, are you strong?!”

“Giro! Akira is not an old man!”

“Akira’s not an old man!”

For some reason, they both said that in unison. No, 28 is definitely old enough to be considered an old man.

“I don’t mind being called old, but I have a name—Akira. So, call me that.”

“Got it, old man!”

He didn’t get it at all. Oh well.

Eutis and Lalaila looked oddly tense, but I ignored it and kept the conversation going.

“You… you’re with the vigilante corps?”

“Yeah, I’m the son of Rapha. And this is Clary, daughter of Baritone.”

“Hello…”

The girl, who looked a bit older than Giro, bowed timidly.

Do I look scary or something?

“Lalaila, you’re up.”

Slightly deflated, I let her take over the conversation—it seemed like her time to shine.

“Um, do Horn’s kids live here?”

“Horn doesn’t have any children. He only just got married. Viola’s been crying ever since…”

“…”

That silence stung my heart.

“Did all of you come here together?”

“Yeah. Mayor Messara kicked us out! I’m so angry! Hey, old man, you’re strong, right? Can’t you take that guy down?! No, just train me instead! I’ll make sure…”

Giro showed fierce determination, and Clary bit her lip, looking up at me. They seemed to share the same feelings.

“I get what you’re feeling.”

“Really?! Then you’ll—”

“I’m also pretty mad at them, so I’m planning to give them a little payback.”

“Yeah!”

“Hey, Giro, Clary—what do you think that guy, Doddle, would hate the most?”

““Huh?””

Both looked up at the same time.

“Well… getting beaten up, right?”

Clary nodded at Giro’s words.

“Yeah, most people wouldn’t like that. But people like Doddle—if they heal, they just get mad or forget. They don’t suffer or regret their actions.”

“Then… what should we do?”

“I’ve got the perfect plan to make him suffer.”

“Old man—no, Akira-bro, what’s the plan?”

That was fast—now I’m “brother.” Even Yalala and Hag leaned in to listen from the car, and at some point, even Faf was standing next to me. Not that he mattered much.

“The best punishment for guys like him is losing all their money.”

“…That’s it?”

“It might be hard for you kids to understand now, but people who’ve always had money—who solve everything with it—don’t know how to live without it. They can’t handle that kind of misery. It’ll ruin their lives.”

I’ve seen plenty like that—corporate execs from rival companies. Man, those places were terrifying…

“Really…?”

“Will the mayor reflect on his actions?”

“Probably not. Sorry, but that’s not gonna happen. The best I can do is make him suffer enough to regret ever being born.”

“…”

After a brief silence, the two exchanged determined nods.

“That’s good enough! Please, avenge my father!”

“We’re begging you!”

I placed my hands on their heads as they pleaded with me.

“Alright. Leave it to me. But promise me one thing.”

“What? I’ll do anything!”

“Me too!”

“Once we’re done with this, forget all about Doddle. That’s the deal.”

“Huh?”

“But…”

“If you can’t accept that, then this ends here.”

I locked eyes with them. Giro looked like he wanted to argue but clenched his teeth and swallowed his words.

“Fine… But you have to promise you’ll do it.”

“Yeah. You’ve got my word.”

And so, I made a promise to the kids to exact their revenge. Their determination seemed to fill me with strength—I could feel how serious they were.

“Here, take this.”

I handed them two Märhes symbols.

“What are these?”

“They’re like good-luck charms. Throw them away if you don’t want them.”

“No way! We’ll treasure them!”

“Alright. I’ll need your help with a few things, but first, I’ve got to prepare. Wait for me until then.”

“Yeah! Got it, Akira-bro!”

“Yep!”

“By the way—do you know if there’s someone here who acts as a leader?”

The two glanced at each other.

“Not really… Most people here just showed up recently.”

“But if anyone fits that role, it’s probably Depas.”

“Ah, Depas. Not sure if he’s a leader, but we can take you to him.”

“Lead the way.”

With Giro’s guidance, we arrived at one of the shacks. A thin man in his fifties emerged—clearly malnourished.

“…Who are you?”

“I’m Akira, a merchant.”

“What does a merchant want? As you can see, we don’t even have a single copper coin.”

“I’m not here to sell anything. I just need some information. Who owns that burnt-out area over there?”

“Nobody. There’s no owner around these parts.”

“So, is it okay if we stay there for a while?”

“I don’t care. But watch your back.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

Back at the camper, I got Hag and Yalala to help clean up the burned area. Luckily, there wasn’t much left to clear.

“The charred ground is still a problem, though.”

“Just dig up the dirt, lad.”

“Good idea. I’ll grab a shovel.”

I visualized the tool in my mind.

—Purchase approved. New items added to the SHOP.—

I checked the list to see what was available.

—Three-Fold Entrenching Tool = 2,980 yen—

Why, though?

I bought it anyway, and it turned out to be the same OD-colored folding shovel used by the JSDF. Seriously, why?

Remaining balance: 440,541 yen.

I swung the shovel with precision, leveling the ground with ease.

“Wow! That’s amazing, Akira-nii!”

I flattened the area amid the kids’ cheers, parked the camper, and spread the side awning.

“That thing’s always so handy.”

“Convenient, right?”

“Indeed. So, what’s next?”

“Doddle can wait. First, we need to fix up this slum.”

“I’ll help too.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”

And that’s how we secured our base of operations in this country.