The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 131

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Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-One: Operation Hornet Nest Extermination Begins!

While I’m tightly hugging Gomamiso, who can’t stop cracking and swishing its tail due to its wild instincts being stimulated, Mr. Ed’s expression softens as he talks with Ms. Aria. Mr. Ed really loves her… And Ms. Aria treats him a bit differently from others too. It’s beautiful to see them getting along so well.

“Alright then, I’ll use magic to seal off the nest and prevent reinforcements from coming.”

“Mm. The hornets around… I’ll handle them… somehow… with my net!”

After exchanging looks and bumping fists with matching grins, Mr. Ed stands up.

Though he’s the smallest among our party’s men, Mr. Ed is still fairly tall by normal standards, and he’s completely exposed above the bushes.

Won’t the vigilant hornets notice him…!? Before I could stop him, the giant hornets had already spotted us.

All the hovering hornets around the nest turn their eerie compound eyes toward us, and threatening buzzing echoes through the area. That low clicking sound—is that their massive jaws that could probably bite through anything…?

Did we mess up our initial move!?

…But I needn’t have worried.

The hornets must have taken Mr. Ed’s hand movement as a declaration of war. As the swarm of giant insects rushed at him all at once, Ms. Aria’s thread, woven like a net, caught them and instantly dragged them to the ground. While the hornets continue showing aggression, clicking their jaws and extending their stingers even after being pinned to the bare earth, Mr. Ed raises his hand. He freezes the giant nest solid, including the countless entrances where reinforcements are about to emerge, along with the surrounding air. As if adding the finishing touch, Mr. Xenon goes around casting paralysis and sleep magic on the giant hornets writhing on the ground. Though he said he wasn’t sure if it would work, it seemed to be working perfectly. The affected hornets are convulsing in the net.

“Wow… that was so quick!”

“Hehe☆ This kind of thing is no big deal!”

“Let’s leave it like this for a while. We need to make sure we get all the hornets inside too.”

Mr. Ville glances at Mr. Ed, who’s puffing out his chest with a proud expression similar to Ms. Aria’s, then turns his gaze back to the frozen nest. Am I imagining the slightly exasperated look on his face?

But I agree that we should leave it like this for a bit.

…Oh, but…

“Is it okay to keep it frozen like this? Won’t it drain your magic power, Mr. Ed? Won’t you get tired?”

“Hmm… I’ve sectioned off the space, so it’s not really affected by outside temperature and stuff. Just maintaining it isn’t too bad?”

“Sectioned off the space…? I don’t really understand, but if it’s not affecting you, that’s what matters!”

…Yup. That was a bit too technical for an amateur like me! Maybe I should just give up trying to understand magic. I feel like I’m missing too many prerequisites and basic knowledge to get it. But well, I’m glad it won’t be a burden on Mr. Ed!

While I’m nodding to myself, lost in thought, Gomamiso suddenly starts struggling in my arms.

Huh… wait…! It was making cracking noises but was calm just a moment ago! What happened all of a sudden?

After breaking free from my arms, Gomamiso runs straight to the frozen nest and paws at the wall-like surface.

‘Hey! Hey! There’s a nice smell coming from inside here!’

“A nice smell!? Eh… I can’t smell anything…?”

As the kitten’s eyes sparkle and wings quiver, I sniff the air to check… but I only smell the usual forest scents, like earth and trees… I mean, it’s a pleasant smell, like forest bathing, but… hmm?

Just as a disconnect is forming between the excited Gomamiso and my confusion, Mr. Xenon, who has been dealing with the hornets, intervenes.

“Rin. I do sense an odd flow of magical power from inside the nest. Perhaps that’s what Gomamiso means by a ‘nice smell’…?”

“Flow of magical power… Come to think of it, Ms. Aria mentioned something similar!”

Ms. Aria only said it gave off a strange feeling, but she definitely sensed something off about this nest.

And Gomamiso did say these hornets smell and taste good… What could be in this nest…?

A mix of anxiety about the unknown, curiosity and a touch of fear swirls in my chest.

I have a feeling we’re about to get caught up in something troublesome again…

While feeling an inexplicable sense of urgency gnawing at the edge of my mind, I continue to stare at the massive nest that hasn’t yet begun to thaw.

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 130

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Chapter One Hundred and Thirty: Operation: Extermination of Ultra-Dangerous Creatures! We Found a Giant Hornet Nest Deep in the Forest!

Mr. Ville cast a cleaning spell on Gomamiso, and finally, our cuddle war ended in a truce. As I hold the contented Gomamiso, petting its back, we follow Ms. Aria to where the troublesome hornet nest is located…

…Yup, I can hear it. The buzzing of hornets! Aren’t hornets supposed to be sleeping in their nests at night!?

Following Ms. Aria’s silent hand signals for "quiet" and "stay low," I crouch down to hide in the surrounding bushes.

…Wow… what IS that…?

Those words nearly escaped my mouth when I first laid eyes on the nest.

How can I describe this… imagine several absolutely massive hornet nests fused together into something nightmarish and gigantic—does that make sense? There are dog-sized hornets buzzing around the nest! Several of them! The thrill and intensity are off the charts! This is the kind of thing that would shock Earth into tears!

…I remember reading in a book that the larger a body gets, the more heat it produces. Maybe they’re still active at night, despite the lower temperatures that should reduce their activity because they’re producing an insane amount of heat?

Plus, giant bats are flying around snatching up stray hornets to eat, so that’s probably got them in high-alert mode.

…Wait a minute…! Are we seriously planning to do something about this high-security hornets’ nest!?

“Um… do you think we can just charge in and handle this somehow…?”

“No… directly attacking that would be… challenging…”

When I whispered this question to Mr. Ville, he grimaced like I did and shook his head with a pained expression.

Of course! This is definitely the kind of situation that needs a proper strategy! So, what type of strategy should we use…?

“…Maybe you could catch the flying hornets with your threads, Ms. Aria?”

“Mm! Could make a net… with threads… But if reinforcements attack… might run out of thread… lots of complications…”

“Ahhh… right… there are plenty of backup hornets in the nest…!”

When I glanced at Ms. Aria, she puffed out her chest proudly, but the next moment her shoulders and eyebrows drooped.

No, no, no! I was the naive one for thinking this strategy would work just because you could catch one! Don’t get so discouraged…! It’s difficult to deal with an enemy when you don’t know how many reinforcements they might have! I’m sorry!

…But if she can handle the hornets outside, then we just need to deal with the ones inside the nest, right…?

Though insecticide probably wouldn’t work well inside the nest, and we don’t even have any here anyway…

Other effective methods… hmm? Oh, but I think there was a freezing type of insecticide, though it was for crawling insects, not flying ones. But I think we might be onto something here! Wouldn’t freezing them work!?

“What if we just freeze the whole nest? Insects become immobile when they get cold, right?”

“The whole nest? Something that big… no, wait, could it work?”

“With that size? No problem at all!”

When I glanced at Mr. Ville, his gaze shifted to Mr. Ed. Following his lead, I looked toward Mr. Ed, who had apparently been estimating the nest’s size, and he gave us a bright smile with a thumbs up.

Amazing how Mr. Ed can answer so quickly even with such a large target!

That said, there’s a chance some of the flying hornets could get through… So we decided to go in using a capture net made from Ms. Aria’s threads, along with Mr. Xenon’s backup support spells for sleep and paralysis, though he warned they might not work.

‘I too! I too will go swoosh-swoosh! I am a †noble† and †cruel† hunter! A true predator!’

“Preda… oh, predator! Well, I hear hornet larvae can be tasty… like how locusts are made into a braised dish… but could you maybe not eat them raw and wriggling?”

By the way, my job is to keep Gomamiso under control as it watches the flying hornets intently and makes little "kaka-kak" noises! Come on, don’t start cracking here! They’ll notice us!

I should add that our last line of defense is Mr. Ville with his great sword, though it doesn’t seem very maneuverable.

…Maybe I should have brought a frying pan…

These thoughts crossed my mind amid the low drone of hornet wings vibrating my eardrums and the irritating shrieks of giant bats as they flew around.

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 129

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Nine: About the Landmine Incident Caused by a Self-Proclaimed "Cute" One

The lair the village chief told us about was at a small hill a bit away from the village. Upon approaching, I understood why—there was indeed a cave mouth gaping open, seemingly leading underground. The size was just about right for Campy to fit through barely.

“There’s no doubt this cave serves as the entrance.”

Hiding in nearby bushes to observe, we can see large and small shadows coming and going. I thought the shadow we caught a glimpse of looked big from a distance, but up close, they’re even bigger. The wingspan is probably wider than Mr. Ville’s outstretched arms.

That grating "kee-kee" sound was definitely one of these bats’ cries. At first, I thought there were just a bunch of big bats, but I see there are smaller ones mixed in too. Well, “small” still means they’re about the size of a large umbrella.

“Hmm… Given the white tips on their wings, white spot in the center of their backs, red eyes, and flattened noses, these most closely resemble giant bats.”

“Do they normally get this big?”

“No, typically they’re only about the size of that smaller one there.”

Mr. Xenon looked up after observing the shadows for a while. A giant bat… certainly sounds like a big creature. But what he said next was quite shocking… He was pointing at one of the smaller shadows—about the size of a large umbrella.

Wait… hold on… I thought that one was pretty big already, but that’s the standard size!?

Then why have they grown even more enormous?

“…Hmm… Could it be gigantism from mutation?”

“Considering how many of them are affected, it might make more sense if they grew larger due to external factors.”

“I agree. There’s a range from normal size to ones that are starting to get big and ones that are already huge.”

Mr. Ed joined the conversation while pointing out several specimens. Now that he mentioned it, there were definitely shadows of various sizes flying around.

Hmm… having different size stages suggests it’s not mutation…

Mr. Xenon’s external factors theory makes more sense, but what factors? The first thing that comes to mind is maybe they found some super nutritious food and grew from eating it?

Wait, what do giant bats eat anyway?

“By the way, what’s a giant bat’s diet…?”

“They’re generally omnivorous, eating insects and fruits.”

“But to maintain those huge bodies, they’d need to eat a ton, right?”

While we are huddled in the bushes, speaking in hushed tones, there is a rustling sound behind. The two men instantly move to protect me and take combat stances, when something is tossed out with a dry rustling sound.

Between their legs, I caught glimpses of the large black and yellow striped abdomen and familiar light blue shoes beside it.

“…They’re probably eating those.”

“Is this… a mud hornet!? But this size…”

“Could it be that all the insects in this area have grown giant too!?”

As the two men relax their guard, I peek out from behind them to see Ms. Aria standing there. At her feet is a massive hornet, its wings, legs, thorax, and mandibles all bound up in thread. It is about the size of a shiba inu! However, the poor hornet, restrained by Ms. Aria’s thread and unable to fly, crawl, or bite, can only wiggle helplessly on the ground.

Judging by Mr. Xenon and Mr. Ed’s shocked expressions, this hornet must be abnormally large too.

This size will certainly fill those bats’ stomachs.

…Wait, if Mr. Ed’s theory is right, isn’t this a huge problem!?

Even if the bats are hunting some of them, having hornets and other carnivorous insects this size running around would be absolute chaos in every sense!

“It’s probably just these mud hornets. We searched the area but didn’t see any other giant insects.”

“…The nest… gives off… a strange feeling… maybe that’s… the cause?”

Mr. Ville explained that while the three of us were observing the bats, he and Ms. Aria found this hornet and followed it, discovering an enormous nest. A suspiciously large nest, giant hornets, and giant bats presumably eating them… At that moment, we all reached the same conclusion—the hornet nest must be the cause!

As we silently nod to each other and quietly stand up, Gomamiso sways its tail and pounces on the struggling hornet. Though still a kitten, it used its sharp claws to gouge at the abdomen near the stinger, then sank its fangs between the head and thorax to decapitate it.

Oof… I was thinking we shouldn’t leave it half-dead like that, but I didn’t expect Gomamiso to deliver the coup de grace.

The cat licks the bodily fluids splattered on its mouth and front paws with its bright red tongue, then narrows its eyes and opens its mouth wide. Combined with its bouncy voice, it seems to be laughing happily.

“Uh, wait… G-Gomamiso…?”

‘Hey… this… has such a yummy smell… and taste!’

…What do you mean by yummy smell and taste…?

As I puzzle over these mystifying words, I see Gomamiso finish grooming itself and try to rub its face against my legs.

“N-No! Don’t rub against me with that face and mouth that just licked insect fluids!”

‘Huh? What’s wrong with cute me wanting to snuggle?’

“Stay away, don’t come closer!! I think you’re cute but bugs are no good! Stop it!!”

Perhaps unhappy at being stopped, Gomamiso taps the ground with its front paws as I carefully keep my distance. I have many questions, but please don’t try to lick me with that mouth that just did things to a bug! First, clean that mouth of yours… then we can talk!

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 128

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Eight: Let’s Chase the Eerie Mystery of the Night

We politely decline the invitation to rest in the village and decide to hear the story outdoors. Since we’re heading out to investigate anyway, it’s more efficient for us to do it this way.

According to the village chief, who looked a bit worn out from the mysterious creature visits, this giant being started appearing recently… specifically, around the time the saint was summoned and high school girl and I came to this world. The creature apparently doesn’t attack villagers or livestock, it just flies around the night sky. However, the eerie sounds heard throughout the night and the constant fear of a potential attack have been steadily wearing down the villagers.

Well, that’s understandable. They must be exhausted from their daily work, unable to sleep soundly at night, and constantly on alert for a possible attack that may or may not come… It’s enough to chip away at anyone’s sanity and drive them straight to temporary or indefinite madness.

But what concerns the village chief the most is…

“We adults can still endure it. But the children are at their limit…”

“Ah… kids are pretty perceptive.”

“They must be sensing the adults’ anxiety and the unsettling atmosphere…”

The village chief lowered his eyebrows sadly, and at the end of his dropped hand stood a small girl who had appeared without us noticing. She looks about 5 years old. Her features somewhat resemble the village chief’s, so she’s probably his granddaughter.

Her small, chubby hands clutching the chief’s clothes, her puffy cheeks, and her large round eyes that seem about to overflow… She’s such a cute child who’ll surely grow up to be a beauty, but her poor complexion ruins that cuteness.

Oh my… poor thing, she’s really affected by this.

While the men are talking with the village chief, why don’t Ms. Aria and I keep this cutie company? What’s that? "Cutie" is an outdated term? Oh, don’t sweat the small stuff!

“Nice to meet you! I’m Rin, the cook of the Gourmands!”

“Mm. Same… here. I’m… Aria… of the Gourmands.”

“! I’m Meia from Sawashi Village! Are you big sisters adventurers too?”

When we crouched down in front of the girl and introduced ourselves, she smiled shyly and responded energetically.

…Oh, so this village is called Sawashi… I didn’t know that!

Still, while she’s a bit clumsy with her words, I didn’t expect to hear the word "adventurer" from such a small child. Well, even adults might find it difficult to say "adventurer", right? So of course kids might stumble over it. She probably learned the word "adventurer" from overhearing adults talking. She must have good ears. Maybe it’s the age where she wants to use words she’s learned, or perhaps she thinks that unfamiliar people coming to the village are adventurers… or maybe it’s both?

“Yes, we’re adventurers. I slash enemies, check for traps, and hunt meat and fish.”

“We’re adventurers indeed. I’m the one who cooks meals with what everyone hunts.”

“I see! My Papa and Mama go hunting and cook food too!”

To be honest, I’m still not sure if it’s okay to call the cook an adventurer, but I have explored dungeons and completed gathering quests, right? I was wondering how a child would react to someone who just cooks, but it seems Meia is totally fine with it! From her response, it sounds like both her parents hunt and cook the game, so maybe that made it easier for her to understand?

When I offer my hand to Meia, who is looking at us with sparkling eyes, she grasps it tightly with her small hand and swings our joined hands up and down.

For certain enthusiasts, this might feel like a divine encounter, like a fan service moment, perhaps?

‘I’m here too! I’m in charge of being cute!’

“Wow! A kitty! It’s so big!”

Just as the atmosphere became grand, Gomamiso suddenly popped its face out from near our feet. Meia laughed, repeating "big kitty" as she watched Gomamiso puff out its chest proudly. Gomamiso is still a kitten, but I guess to a child, a cat the size of a basketball seems big.

Before I know it, Meia’s pale face is brightening as she gently pets Gomamiso. Maybe she has regained some of her energy.

Gomamiso, this is quite the feat, even for you.

Meia’s hand, which has been softly petting Gomamiso’s head and under its chin, suddenly pauses.

Huh? Before I can wonder why, Meia looks up, her young eyes studying us intently as if appraising something. A thick veil of water covers the surface of her candy-like large eyes.

At that moment, the eerie screeching that has been so persistent suddenly ceases, and silence falls. The wind that has been passing through the trees now rushes between us.

“…Big sisters, will you defeat the scary thing?”

Whether carried by the wind or because the surface tension had reached its limit… tears spilled from Meia’s eyes.

Ahhh… Of course! That’s right! The village chief did say that the little ones were at their limit!

Meia must have been holding back a lot too!

“…Meia, scary things… don’t like…”

“Mm! That’s why… we came… to do something about it!”

“Absolutely! We’ll catch everything scary and turn it into a roast!”

Ms. Aria wiped the tears that were silently falling from Meia’s eyes and clenched her fist with determination, her eyes sharp. I followed suit, flexing my arm to show my muscles. Seeing us give a thumbs up, Meia’s crying face softened into a smile.

Gomamiso rubbing its head against her affectionately also seems to help ease the tension. Animal therapy is amazing!

As the three of us—Ms. Aria, Gomamiso, and I—are comforting Meia, I see Mr. Ville quickly approaching us. It seems the discussion with the village chief has ended.

“Rin, Aria. We’ve been told where the creature’s likely lair is. We’re heading out to investigate now. Are you ready?”

“We’re ready to go anytime!”

“Mm! Feeling motivated!”

‘Me too! I’m going too!’

Perhaps because there was a small child present, despite the aura of determination, his voice remained relatively gentle as he addressed us.

Meia, whose tears had completely dried, looks up at us in response to Mr. Ville’s mention of going on an investigation.

“We’ll definitely uncover the truth behind the shadow. You won’t have to be afraid at night anymore.”

“That’s right! We’ll be back in a jiffy after taking care of business!”

“Get some rest… and wait for us, okay?”

‘With me around, there’s nothing to worry about!’

Hands of various sizes took turns ruffling Meia’s hair.

Suddenly, I realize that the mysterious cries that have quieted down are once again shaking the night sky.

Well then, shall we set off on our nighttime adventure?

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 127

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Seven: You Hear an Eerie Sound Echoing In the Night Sky. You Must Roll a 1/1D3 SAN Check

The Camping Car cruises smoothly down the road, its engine humming in the moonlit night. While the car’s navigation system is incredibly advanced, it tends to prioritize safer, roundabout routes. Usually, that’s fine, but when we’re in a hurry like now, Mr. Ville gives directions for the shortest path, and I follow his instructions at the wheel.

We veered off the well-paved Highway onto bare ground, but it was firmly packed down and not too bumpy. The occasional cart ruts and livestock hoof prints suggested this road saw some local traffic. That said, it might get muddy after rain, but thankfully, we’ve had dry weather. All’s well that ends well, I suppose.

“It’s gotten pretty late. Will we be alright?”

“According to the report, the mysterious shadow becomes most active around this time until midnight.”

“Ah… so I guess you could say our timing is just right…”

Stroking Gomamiso, who had fallen asleep on his lap at some point, Mr. Ville waved the document in his other hand, indicating that we’d arrived at a good time for investigation.

Thanks to the moonlight and headlights, the road ahead is fairly well-lit for a night drive. As we head into the mountains, I keep an eye out for animals that might dart out from the sides or overhanging branches, while steering around occasional deep ruts in the road. Soon, flickering lights appear in the distance. It seems we are approaching our destination.

I park the Camping Car in a bushy area and get out with everyone. An unfamiliar screeching sound reached our ears—high-pitched, rough, and unpleasantly grating on the eardrums. Resisting the urge to cover my ears, I hold the sleepy and fussy Gomamiso as we head towards the village. Mr. Ed conjures a magical orb that floats around us, lighting our way like a lantern.

Despite the strange noise, I don’t feel particularly scared walking down the night road. The moonlight helps, and having such reliable party members with me is reassuring.

“There’s quite a large bonfire lit… Do they have night watchmen?”

“Yes, I can see figures near the village entrance. They seem to be on high alert, just as we were informed.”

“They… seem to be holding something like sticks.”

As we approach, the flickering lights turn out to be a sizeable bonfire. Mr. Ville and Ms. Aria, with their superior night vision, can apparently see the guards, but I cannot make them out yet. I can understand why the villagers wanted to keep things as bright as possible, whether or not the shadow feared the light. Better visibility is always comforting.

Finally, as we get close enough for even my eyes to see, I can make out two men holding pole-like objects standing at a gap in a simple fence.

“W-Who goes there?!”

“We’re not allowing entry to the village at night…”

A slightly frightened, tense voice refused us entry, and the “stick” turned out to be a simple spear, its blade pointed our way. Understandably, they are on edge with all the scary things happening, and now a group of strangers emerges from the darkness.

Mr. Ville seems to have anticipated this reaction. With practiced ease, he calls the floating light orb closer and takes out his guild card, holding it up for them to see.

“Sorry for startling you. We are the adventurer party ‘Gourmands,’ sent from the royal capital in response to your request to deal with the unidentified shadow.”

“Ah… a guild card… it’s genuine! I’ll go get the village chief!”

“We’re so sorry for the rude welcome! Everyone’s on edge because of that shadow…”

Realizing we were telling the truth, the guards visibly relaxed and lowered their spears. The younger-looking guard on the left ran deeper into the village, while the other bowed and moved the fence aside to let us in.

The village had some street lamps like those in the royal capital, but far fewer and dimmer. Perhaps the villagers found bonfires more practical than magical devices, with plenty of firewood readily available in the surroundings.

As we walk towards what seems to be the village center, I see the young man from earlier returning with another person.

“I apologize for the delayed welcome. We didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly…”

“No, we should apologize for coming so suddenly in the night without notice. We set out as soon as we received the report.”

The man who bowed to us seemed to be middle-aged, verging on elderly. His body still looked robust from years of labor, but his closely cropped hair was predominantly gray. As he shook hands with Mr. Ville during their greetings, I could see his hands were those of a hardworking man—slightly lean but still sturdy. His face, which seemed relieved to see us, broke into a smile that made his drooping eye corners fall even further, giving him a gentle impression. He looked every bit the quintessential village elder.

“So, your presence here means you’ve accepted our request?”

“Yes, we, the Gourmands, have taken on the task. We’d like to begin our investigation right away.”

Mr. Ville placed his other hand on the village chief’s, which was clasping his hand almost desperately, and nodded firmly.

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 126

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six: Let’s Go For a Night Drive!

By the time we raced through that secret underground passage-like alley and opened the door to the hideaway shop, night had fallen completely over the town. Lights glowed in the windows of houses, and both a full moon and crescent moon hung in the sky.

The sound of our hurried footsteps echoes through the stone-built streets, now empty of passersby. Mr. Ville leads the way, weaving through narrow back alleys and gaps between buildings as if he knows every inch of this place.

“So we’re heading straight to the site now, right?”

“Yes. According to the report, the problematic shadow becomes extremely active around midnight.”

“If we leave now, we should be able to reach the village in your Camping Car.”

As I sought confirmation from Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon walking ahead, slipping through narrow gaps between buildings, they answered without glancing back.

Even here in town with streetlights, it feels pretty dark. Smaller villages must be even darker. No wonder people are scared when something unknown is prowling around in that darkness…! I can understand why Mr. Ville is in such a hurry.

Carrying Gomamiso at this pace is getting a bit tough, so I decided to release the kitten at a suitable spot. Despite being unceremoniously dropped, it lands gracefully on the ground and starts running, using its whole body like a spring.

That fluid use of its body is truly feline. Wow… I had no idea Gomamiso had such athletic ability.

“I… never thought… you… could be… so agile… Gomamiso…!”

‘I’m awesome, you know! Totally wild, aren’t I?’

Gomamiso, who had been running alongside me with its tail and wings swaying, puffed out its chest and then bounded ahead to catch up with Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon at the front.

Impressive… So much energy…

In stark contrast to Gomamiso’s abundant vitality, I’m desperately moving my feet, trying not to stumble, my breathing ragged… How long have I been doing this cardio exercise somewhere between power walking and jogging? Before I knew it, my body had carried me to the outskirts of town… in front of the guard post set in the city walls.

I have no idea where or how I ran, but if you just keep moving your body, you’ll reach your destination. The power of unconscious action is amazing!

Fortunately, or perhaps inevitably… despite it being quite late by this world’s standards, the documents Mr. Ville’s brother had given us seemed to carry significant weight. The guard let us through the gate without any fuss.

The stone-built town had been beautiful, and I never felt cramped there, but standing here in the open field under an unobstructed starry sky made me realize that the town had its own kind of pressure.

As I take deep breaths to supply oxygen to my still-gasping brain, a sweet floral scent wafted from somewhere. Moonlight and the scent of flowers… How elegant and refined… Now, I just hope the smell of blood doesn’t mix with this air.

We moved quickly along the road, getting away from the lit guardhouse.

Even with the moonlight, as we put some distance, our figures should become quite hard to see… When the light from the gate we’d just exited became as small as a grain of rice, I materialized the Camping Car.

The artificial light sears my retina, but I’m sure it’s invisible to others.

The party members, including Gomamiso, go into the cabin. With Mr. Ville in the passenger seat as navigator, our night drive begins!

I climb into the driver’s seat and start the engine. A low rumble accompanied by slight vibrations comes through the seat. Just as I am about to check the rearview and side mirrors to start moving… something flitted across the edge of my vision.

Visible through the driver’s side window is a large shadow, blocking out the light of the full moon and crescent moon brilliantly illuminating the night sky.

“Mr. Ville! That! Could that be the thing we’re looking for…!?”

“Indeed… a giant shadow crossing the night sky…”

I hurriedly tapped Mr. Ville’s arm in the passenger seat to get his attention. The shadow smoothly changed course towards the village we were heading to and flew away.

There’s little doubt that the shadow is the target of our current request.

“For now, I’ll follow that shadow! It’s probably heading to that village…”

“Yes, please do! At this hour, we likely won’t have to worry about other travelers on the road.”

I shift gears and press down on the accelerator. With a light engine sound, the Camping Car starts down the road.

I don’t know if we’ll encounter demons or snakes ahead, but that Unidentified Flying Object (mysterious shadow) will surely show itself.

Well, not knowing what it really is makes it scary, but there's no choice but to go!”

Following Mr. Ville’s directions from the passenger seat, I turn the steering wheel left and right.

The moons still hung high in the sky.

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 125

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five: Do You Like Absurd Demands of a Beautiful Older Brother?

Mr. Ville snatches the paper from his smiling brother’s hand, his gaze fixed intently on the document. As his crimson eyes move back and forth across the paper, his expression seems to grow increasingly grim.

“Hey, wait… Don’t tell me there’s monster trouble here in the royal capital too…!?”

“Yes. Probably starting around the time of what you call the ‘saint summoning’.”

The older brother answered casually, still smiling, as Mr. Ville looked up from the paper and muttered.

Saint summoning.

…As I thought… that was the turning point after all…!

My skin prickled at those words, which should have been familiar… or rather, which had become all too familiar to me. I had expected it, but hearing it confirmed by someone else made it feel all too real and somehow terrifying.

Half of me felt, "So it really was that," while the other half wondered, "Why is the saint summoning the trigger?”

Still… if the monster incidents are happening here too, how widespread could this be?

I hope there aren’t any injured… or dead people…

“This is a matter that was just reported. There’s been no damage yet, but if we can respond quickly, that would be best, right?”

“…You weren’t planning on having us handle it from the start, were you?”

“Of course not! This is truly a coincidence. I was going to take it to the capital’s guild, but when I heard you all were coming, I thought it might be convenient.”

The older brother waved his hand nonchalantly, unfazed by Mr. Ville’s sharp, suspicious gaze.

At that moment, a display-like image appears in mid-air before me. If the large blue dot represents our current location, then the small red dot nearby must be the destination? From what I can see, it doesn’t seem too far, but… I think it might be getting dark soon.

Well, with Campy, it shouldn’t be a big problem.

Confirming that Mr. Ville had tucked the paper with the information into his pocket, the older brother deepens his smile and waves his gloved hand gently.

With that, everyone bows deeply once more and quietly leaves the room.

I follow, still holding Gomamiso…

As we exit into the hallway and close the door, I feel my shoulders lighten.

I must have been really tense.

“I… I was so nervous…! That atmosphere was scary, scary, scary, scary…!”

“Ah… well, I’m sorry about my brother…”

“He’s not a frightening person, but the aura he exudes is quite something.”

Mr. Ville patted my back sympathetically in response to my involuntary outburst.

Even the usually composed Mr. Xenon seemed to have been tense, his shoulders now relaxed in relief.

Well, yes… I don’t know exactly who the older brother is, but that aura of absolute authority was impressive. That kind of presence isn’t something you can acquire overnight…

The man who guided us earlier is leading the way down the hallway again.

Taking advantage of the slight distance, I quietly speak to Mr. Xenon beside me.

“By the way, what are we going to do now?”

“From what I read in that report, it seems a strange shadow has been spotted in a nearby village. We’re going to investigate that.”

“Strange shadow…?”

“Apparently, a large shadow has been seen flying over the village between evening and night. The request is to investigate… and if there’s any danger, to eliminate it.”

From what Mr. Xenon told me as we walked down the hallway, it sounded pretty scary for the villagers. Something unidentified flying around in a place with little lighting—that would be frightening. I can understand why they’d make a request like this…

Though the timing of when this report came in seems a bit calculated… let’s believe the older brother’s words that "there’s no ulterior motive.”

The hallway felt slightly shorter than when we came, and we were guided to what seemed to be the same small room as before. The man who had been leading us bowed gracefully and silently disappeared down the hallway.

Sure enough, opening the door revealed the same interior we had left earlier.

In front of the door leading to the underground passage, Mr. Ville bows his head slightly.

“…I’m sorry for involving you in this strange situation.”

“That’s my line, Mr. Ville. From what we’ve heard, it seems like the trigger was indeed ‘saint summoning’… I should be the one apologizing…”

I hurriedly waved my hands in front of the visibly dejected Mr. Ville.

Because! Aren’t I the one causing more trouble? If I hadn’t joined the party, he and everyone else wouldn’t have had to do anything…! Oh no… Am I really just causing them inconvenience with my presence…!?

“Now, now. You were the one caught up in this ‘saint summoning’, Rin! You don’t need to worry about it!”

“Mm! You… not bad!”

Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria gently placed their hands on my back as I bowed my head. I could feel the warmth of their comforting touch.

“If the ‘saint summoning’ was the trigger, we can probably expect similar monster incidents to occur in the future.”

“Considering that, it’s better for you to stay with us, Rin. We might be able to find some clues, right?”

Oh… everyone… everyone is so kind!

As Mr. Xenon and Mr. Ville patted my head with gentle smiles… and with the kindness of everyone in the Gourmands, I struggled to secretly wipe away the tears that welled up.

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 124

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Four: A Sudden Scramble

Mr. Ville slowly opens the faintly creaking door.

Beyond the thick honey-colored door, an interior surrounded by furnishings as refined as those in the hallway, if not more so, come into view. And at the far end of the room… the person who is likely the owner of this room is sitting there, but I cannot get a good look at what kind of person he is.

Everyone except Mr. Ville quietly bow their heads. I follow suit, bending at the waist while holding Gomamiso, who has become as docile as a "lamb," perhaps overwhelmed by the atmosphere… This posture is quite challenging for someone who once had a minor back sprain…! But I cannot be the only one with my head up while everyone else is bowing. I can read the room that much at least!

“Ah… please don’t be so formal. I’d like you to raise your heads. I’m grateful to you all for being with my brother.”

I felt like we had barely lowered our heads before we were told to raise them again, but maybe some time had passed… I think my sense of time was distorted by nerves. The same voice we heard through the door now spoke again, this time with a faint laugh.

The tense atmosphere relaxes, and from the faint rustling of clothes and the flow of air, I can tell that everyone has raised their heads. Not wanting to be left behind, I slowly raise my head too. Do I manage to avoid standing out by being the only one late?

The room that came into view again is not exactly opulent, but it has a calm atmosphere with royal blue as an accent color in various places. The furnishings and small items scattered around are probably of high quality, but I can’t really tell how valuable they are… I can tell they are well-crafted, though. And above all, beyond the reception table and sofas… The pressure emanating from the room’s owner sitting behind the imposing desk at the back of the room is… well, even to my amateur eyes, it is an extraordinary presence!

No, it’s not that Mr. Ville’s half-brother has a stern face or an imposing physique. This person, with long jet-black hair loosely tied back, has features more in line with Mr. Xenon’s. His face has the classic good looks of a handsome man, and he has a tall and well-proportioned physique. Moreover, he is smiling gently and softly… but there is something powerful about that smile.

“First… welcome back, Ville. There’s a lot I want to say, but let’s save that for later.”

“Ah… yeah… I’m… I’m home…”

“Really. We’ve been keeping tabs on your movements to some extent, but it seems things have gotten quite interesting.”

“Wha… since when…?!”

“I may not be as well-connected as Father, but my reach is fairly long too, Ville.”

The older brother smiled amiably, resting his elbows on the desk and placing his joined hands under his chin… a pose reminiscent of a certain commander with his mouth visible. Mr. Ville’s voice, facing him, was slightly… no, quite shaky. Whether from nervousness or awe towards his "big brother." Well, I suppose anyone would react that way if they found out they’d been under Big Brother’s surveillance without knowing.

…Ah, somehow… Mr. Ville’s back reminds me of my younger brother when we fight. He’d confront me, torn between "Sis is scary" and "Give me my snacks"…

As I gazed at the pitiful "little brother’s" back with sympathy, I suddenly met the red eyes behind the desk. They seemed slightly lighter in color compared to Mr. Ville’s, I think?

Those eyes, which had been softly smiling until now, narrowed especially gently, and then moved to look at everyone’s faces.

“Thank you so much for accompanying my mischievous little brother who suddenly ran away from home. It’s terrifying to think what reckless things he might have done without you all.”

“Hey, stop it! It’s hard for them to respond to that, whether with a yes or a no!”

“You say that, Ville, but I’ve been so worried that your recklessness might cause trouble for others…”

“Ah, geez! This is why I didn’t want to come back…!!!”

The older brother, maintaining his commander pose, looked our way and smiled.

Even the battle-hardened party members seem flustered, unsure of how to respond correctly to his words.

Naturally, I too was wondering how I should respond… and seeing his smile up close caused major damage to my heart! The smile of this handsome man, who could easily be called beautiful, had quite an impact even from across the desk…

As the older brother showed his composure, Mr. Ville held his head and let out an anguished cry.

Aaah… being played around like this by his older brother… I can see why he was reluctant to come. It’s kind of like… a son being teased in front of his visiting friends by his mom? The older brother’s teasing probably includes some element of punishment for Mr. Ville’s sudden departure, but it must be quite painful for the person being teased…

As I watched the brothers’ conversation that I couldn’t intervene in, the smile suddenly disappeared from the older brother’s face, who seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the exchange with his long-absent brother.

“Well, jokes aside. I’ve been receiving various… information on my end as well.”

“…I thought the information would be gathered here, but I see it’s really true.”

“Would you like the information we’ve collected, Ville?”

“Huh? No… uh, what? Of course, I want it! Why do you think I came all the way to the capital!?”

With a thud, a large stack of papers was placed on the desk. Before I could wonder where he had produced them from, several scrolls and what looked like bound documents were piled up on the desk.

This must be the various information gathered by the older brother.

Mr. Ville, taken aback by these unexpected words, hesitates for a moment before a sheet of paper is thrust in front of him.

…I can’t read it, but something is definitely written on it.

“I don’t mind handing over the information. But before that, there’s a little job I’d like you to take care of, okay?”

The older brother tilted his head slightly, looking at Mr. Ville with his red lips curved into a smile. The party leader let out a low growl from his throat, then took the paper as if in resignation.

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 123

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Three: Exciting & Heartwarming Reunion♪ No Surprises Here☆

The narrow staircase made of stone walls and steps exudes an atmosphere that screams "secret passage." Lantern-like lights hung at regular intervals, casting a soft light around and underfoot, which adds to the ambiance. A cool breeze occasionally caresses my cheeks, suggesting that air is finding its way in from somewhere. It seems like there is proper ventilation, so suffocation probably isn’t a concern.

After descending for a while, we finally reach level ground. However, it is dark ahead, and the passage seems to stretch on for quite some distance.

“Still, building an underground passage like this must have taken a considerable amount of time and manpower.”

“You think so? With earth magic to dig and short-range teleportation magic to place stones, it might not have been that much trouble.”

“Oh… Is that how it works?”

“Well, you know about this country’s history, right, Rin? Even races like elves, who are skilled in magic, were pushed here too.”

Since the space echoed easily, even a soft murmur seemed to carry. Mr. Ed, walking behind me as I looked around curiously, tapped the stone walls lightly as he answered.

Ah… magic. Magic, huh?

For someone like me, born and raised in a world where "magic" and "spells" were purely fictional, it’s incredibly mysterious. It’s something very familiar from stories and games… but always out of reach. To think that such mystical techniques are commonly used in everyday life in this world… I’m experiencing quite the culture shock. I guess that means the buildings above ground were probably mainly constructed using magic too.

“But you know, it doesn’t seem like there was no physical labor involved. There’s a limit to the number of people who can use large-scale magic, and the detailed decorations and fine-tuning were likely done by hand.”

“Ah, I see. So the broad strokes were done with magic, and the details were added by hand?”

“Even so, it must have been way faster than doing everything manually. If I’d lived back then, I bet I would’ve been roped into helping out in various ways.”

“Oh, I can imagine! I still can’t quite wrap my head around your magic, Mr. Ed! But I can tell it’s amazing…”

Mr. Ed smiles cheerfully as if it is no big deal, but I remember him effortlessly demonstrating the magic of various elements—fire, water, wind, lightning… He must be quite a formidable "magician"!

As we chat in low voices, the passage begins to slope upward. We seem to be heading back to the surface. Sure enough, the passage ends in a staircase, which we have no choice but to climb.

We ascend the gently spiraling stairs slowly, and then…

“W-Wow… amazing…”

I almost let out an exclamation at the sight before me, but remembering Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria’s earlier warning, I quickly covered my mouth.

Fluffy carpets, pillars with ornate carvings, and high-quality antique-looking furnishings scatter about… Even to my amateur eyes, it is clearly luxurious but arranged in a way that isn’t ostentatious. It is chic, with quality items… but displayed in a way that avoids looking nouveau riche. The sense of style is impressive. After walking through the dark passage and finally reaching the surface, to find myself standing in such an opulent gallery… it feels a bit unreal.

‘Hey, hey! I wanna walk too!’

“Shh! Gomamiso, shh! Be quiet, okay? Don’t squirm!”

I hugged Gomamiso tightly as it struggled in my arms, wanting to "explore," and whispered in its ear to stay quiet.

Please, show the same level of situational awareness you did earlier! We can’t afford to break any of these furnishings!

Thanks to the carpet absorbing the sound of our footsteps and rustling clothes, the gallery remains eerily silent despite our group of five people and one cat.

No one speaks as we move forward.

Whoa… what’s with this atmosphere?! I’m getting so tense!

Cold sweat trickles down my back from the tension. And then…

“It’s okay, Rin…”

“Oh, Ms. Aria…”

“I don’t think… anything bad will happen…”

Something cool and soft touched my tense arms holding Gomamiso. I managed to stop myself from jumping in surprise and shifted my gaze to see Ms. Aria with a gentle smile, linking her arm with mine. Though her skin was quite cold, the human touch was somehow reassuring. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. I smiled back at Ms. Aria as she squeezed my arm comfortingly, and we continued walking through the silent gallery.

After walking for what feels like ages… Mr. Ville stops in front of a door similar to the ones we had passed.

He bites his lip, clenches his fist to knock… then lets it fall limply. As he raises his fist again, determined to knock this time…

“The door is open. Come in, Ville.”

A calm, composed voice resonates from behind the honey-colored door, as if seeing his movements.

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The Forsaken Saintess and her Foodie Roadtrip in Another World, Chapter 122

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Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Two: An Upper Experience in an Uptown without Ups and Downs

Trying not to rush but still eating quickly, I finish the skewers and pick up Gomamiso, who is begging for more food. Sensing the somewhat tense atmosphere from my forceful embrace, Gomamiso becomes uncharacteristically quiet, as if its usual inability to read the room is a lie.

It pokes its head out of my arms and perches on my shoulder, ears and tail standing straight up as it looks around.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon, who had already left their seats, are paying the bill and heading out.

As I turn to follow, I feel a tug on my clothes. Looking down, I see Ms. Aria’s white hand gripping the edge of my outfit. While Mr. Ville is walking ahead, Ms. Aria follows at a slightly slower pace, not letting go of my clothes…

We end up in a formation with Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon in the lead, follow by me, Ms. Aria, and Mr. Ed at a slight distance.

“Rin, just stay with us behind Ville and bow your head like we’ll do, okay?”

“Mm. If you stay quiet, it’ll be fine…!”

“Uh, oh, okay…”

In a formation similar to our previous shopping trip, I found myself sandwiched between Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed as we made our way from the lively downtown towards the upscale residential area, the uptown.

The downtown area, now approaching dusk, is bustling with people hurrying home.

As we weaved through the crowd, Mr. Ed, wearing a seemingly friendly smile, whispered to me quietly. Ms. Aria also gave a faint smile and took my free hand.

…Huh… wait… what’s with this atmosphere!? It feels like we’re marching to our doom or something!

Huh? Aren’t we heading to where Mr. Ville’s family is?

Huh?

“Well, you’ll understand when we get there, yeah. They’re not bad people, but…”

“Mm. You should… keep holding Goma… too.”

“Wow… this feels like it’s becoming a really big deal…”

Noticing my obvious confusion, Mr. Ed added an explanation with a slight shrug.

At the same time, Ms. Aria, who had let go of my hand, gently lifted Gomamiso, who was still on alert on my shoulder, and handed it back to me. Judging from Ms. Aria’s serious gaze, there must be quite a reason for all this…

Unlike the crowded downtown, the uptown is already much quieter. I heard that at this time, many families send their housekeepers home and enjoy family time. That’s probably why more people are heading downtown than coming this way…

Amidst this, the lead group… I mean, Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon suddenly turn down a side street. I readjust Gomamiso in my arms, who is still looking around intently, and follow them.

The side street seems to be lined with what looks like small restaurants. High-end-looking establishments, illuminated by storefront lanterns and street lights, are lined up every few buildings.

The place Mr. Ville enters is a building at the very end of this row… or so it seems.

“Hmm… this… requires some courage to enter, doesn’t it?”

“It doesn’t look like… a shop, right?”

“Yes, it’s almost like a private residence…”

The building has the same imposing structure as the uptown residences we have passed, with a matching atmospheric wooden door. There is no sign, just a brass plate with what seems to be the shop’s name on the door… If the lead group hadn’t gone in, this is definitely the type of place I’d never approach, yup. If someone told me it was "someone’s house," I’d just say, "Yup, totally agree.”

“Oh, good. I was worried we lost you since you entered a bit late.”

“…Sorry… It seems I had less awareness of my surroundings than I thought.”

“It’s okay! I came along with Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria, so no worries!”

Still, steeling myself to enter, I found the inside to be more like a bar than a restaurant.

Aside from the chic counter, there are no tables, and the dimmed lighting gives off a vibe that screams "for classy adults!”

Just as I was about to be overwhelmed by the ambiance, Mr. Xenon and Mr. Ville noticed our late arrival. Mr. Xenon smiled softly as he spotted us, while Mr. Ville lowered his eyebrows and gave a small bow.

But considering Mr. Ville’s feelings, he is about to face the family he’d been so apprehensive about… It’s understandable that he’d lose awareness of his surroundings. Fortunately, or perhaps I should say thankfully, Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed were with me, so I didn’t get lost.

Thinking this, I clenched my fist and smiled, which seemed to relax Mr. Ville’s expression.

“…It seems everyone has arrived… Please, this way…”

Suddenly, a calm voice came from behind. Turning around hastily, I saw a man who appeared to be in his early old age standing behind the counter. I hadn’t noticed him arrive.

With black hair mixed with white neatly combed back, wearing a white shirt and black vest, he has the perfect "bartender" vibe. Judging from the scale-like features on the back of his hands and cheeks, he seems to be a lizardman type with strong human-like characteristics.

As I stare at him with interest, he smiles back at me and smoothly reaches for a bottle at the very end of the shelf. He tips it down… and the shelf section rotates, revealing what looks like stairs leading underground.

“Woah?”

“A-Are you alright, Rin? Come on, let’s go.”

“I’m fine…! I just didn’t expect such a mechanism…”

I inadvertently stepped back and almost lost my balance, but Mr. Ville’s palm stopped my back. I answered the concerned voice coming from above while regaining my composure.

The exterior was like a hideaway bar, but I never imagined the interior would have such an intricate mechanism…!

“Well then, please take care… Have a safe trip…”

Watched off by the quietly bowing bartender, I stepped into the even darker secret passage.

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