I Reincarnated Into a Vending Machine Chapter 98

Jidou Hanbaiki ni Umarekawatta ore wa Meikyuu o Samayou
Author: Hiru k.u.ma
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"Ramis, Hyurumi, Mishael, and Hakkon. I apologize for sending you all out into a situation where we don't know about the other side's circ.u.mstances, but this is an extremely important task. But, without me needing to say it, the most important thing is your lives. If you think it's dangerous, you must first guarantee your body's safety. This might be a truly painful task. But I believe that if it's you, then you'll return safely."

In the Hunter's a.s.sociation Hall, President Bear is firing off an encouragement speech towards us.
President Bear seems to believe that actually, he should be taking on such a dangerous task himself, but in the aftermath of this disaster, there's no way he can leave Clear Lake Stream Level.

"Un, it's fine President. Everyone's here, so we won't die!"

"Even at the cost of my body, I will protect them."

"Looks like I'll be able to connect to here somehow, so be expectin' reinforcements."

"Le ave it to us."

With these members, even if we fall into trouble, looks like we'll survive somehow.
If President Bear's a.s.sumption is correct, it looks like the danger level for the Starting Level is low.
It's said that the Dungeon is a huge source of income for the City. It brings in a lot hunters, and it secures a flow of goods between the outside and the interior of the dungeon.
They can't afford to lose it all, and it's also inevitable for the City to be annihilated by an outflowing of monsters from the Dungeon. There can't be an idiot who would just ignore this.
In addition, according to the information the commander we had captured gave us, it seems like each level has a single subordinate of the Ruler of the Netherworld dispatched to it, so if we break the skull ring that's in bad taste they have, the monsters would escape their control.

It's more than worth it just by conveying this information on site. We were reminded that we shouldn't continue on and push ourselves too much.
The most important goal is to gather information on the Starting Level.
The next is reinforcing their fighting forces and replenis.h.i.+ng their lacking supplies. Also repairing the transfer circle.
Returning the transfer circle to normal, in the situation where it seems we can't retain the Starting Level, then we were told to lead everyone to evacuate to the Clear Stream Level.
With the words of the citizens worrying about our safety backing us, we advanced down the corridor connected to the transfer circle.
I could see the strain of nerves on everyone's faces, but it also doesn't seem like they're too worked up.

"First we need to confirm everyone's safe, ne."
(Ramis)

"That's right. Depending on the situation, it's possible we'll be entering straight into battle, so please be careful."
(Mishael)

"In that case, you're up, Hakkon. We're trustin' you."
(Hyurumi)

"Le ave it to me."

I still have a wealth of points. I can lightly use the for several hours.
If they stay close, I'll show them that I can protect everyone.

"Then we're off. Prepare yself."

Bending over, Hyurumi touched the transfer circle and a bright light flooded up from beneath us, and everyone was blinded by light and closed their eyes.
When the usual floating sensation disappeared, the light also disappeared at the same time, and I used to be safe. I'm taking into the account the possibility that we'll be attacked right away.
What appeared before our eyes when the light disappeared was the interior of the room the Starting Level's transfer circle was left in. The fact that the walls and ceiling are still in good condition probably means that the monsters haven't invaded this far, right?

"There are many footprints, but these aren't monsters but humans."

Like Mishael said, the people here thought to use the transfer circle to escape exactly like Clear Stream Level, and people's footprints cover the floor.
So this means that the transfer circle doesn't work, as expected.

"First off, let's leave here and investigate the community's situation."
(Mishael)

"Okay. Please wait a bit. I made a special carrying rack made for Hakkon's use, so I'll attach it now, okay, it's perfect."

So far Ramis has been using a wooden rack to place me on, but Hyurumi is attaching another rack-like thing that sandwiches me against her back on the other side; it looks like a metal seat.

"Heaveho. The stability ain't bad. Ramis, I'll be adding to what ya have to carry, but do ya mind?"

"I can carry more. Make sure I can't throw you off, okay?"

"I made measures for that, so don't worry and move as ya like."

Hyurumi securely fastened the belt that crosses in front of her chest. So it's the same as a seatbelt?
In other words, Ramis isn't just carrying me, she's also carrying Hyurumi sitting in the seat she'd attached. From a third-party's perspective, this is probably a really surreal spectacle.
Ah-, Mishael is making a wry grin while trying not to say anything.
But thanks to that, Hyurumi is within range of , and the ease of protecting her has greatly increased. It's much safer than it looks.

Mishael carefully went to open the door while trying not to make any noise.
As light came in through the gap, the noise of strife came through at the same time.
Angry yells and and screams we couldn't understand. There's some distance so I can't completely hear them, but one side are humans and the side are … unmistakably monsters.

"It seems someone's fighting. Let's hurry!"

Judging that the time for caution was over, Mishael threw open the door and leapt out. I personally think that a strong sense of justice is wonderful, but he's completely forgotten our first goal.
Even though gathering our information is the most vital matter.

"Let's hurry too!"

Well, my partner is even more so than Mishael, though.
After she leapt out, I observed my surroundings while swaying on Ramis' back.
The Starting Level have much more splendid buildings than that of the Clear Stream Level, but there are many buildings that have been damaged.
That said, the damage isn't to the extent of Clear Stream Level's, and it feels like they would be livable with a little bit of repair.
I don't see any corpses of humans or monsters and there aren't any weapons or armor rolling around, so although it seems rough, I don't think it's been destroyed.

"It feels like they were attacked once, but they were able to push them back…"

"See ms like it."

I think so as well, so I respond accordingly.
The direction from which the voices are resonating from is the only entrance connecting the community to the dungeon, and when Ramis immediately ran there with all her might, logs and timber had been bound together as a barricade and piled up there.
The hunters are stabbing spears in the cracks of the barricade, furiously defending by driving the monsters back.
The commanding leader is someone we know well, the Fools of Whimsy Brigade's Leader Keryoil.

"Stab and stab them with the spear! Say something immediately when you're tired. Switch with the next guy."

Judging just by his voice, he doesn't seem weary, but just seeing how dirty his clothes are and his slightly worn out face, you can't say he's had it easy even if your mouth was going to spilt.

"Leader! Reinforcements are here-!"

"Oooooh, it's Ramis and … ain't that Hakkon-!? You've finally come, we've been wanting you to, G.o.ddammit-!"

Eh, why did Leader Keryoil raise a yell, beaming a face full of smiles that I've never seen before while slapping my body heartily. It's a reception that's so over the top it makes me uneasy.

"Leave the greetings for later; sorry, but can we have you put out a ton of food and drink first?"

That's one of our goals, so I have no reason to refuse. It seems like they're exhausted, so I lined up sports drinks and food that can be quickly eaten and easily provided for in large quant.i.ties, lik canned oden and bread, as well as other canned foods.

"Oi, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, food's here!"

In response to Leader Keryoil's yell, people leapt out one after another from the nearby buildings and the back alleys.
This number of people is roughly forty, or fifty? They have worn out clothes and bloodshot eyes. Aiming for the food and drink I'd left in front of me, they came rus.h.i.+ng in all at once with all their might.
It's the sight of a real zombie horror film.

"It' food, food-!"

"How many days since we last ate real food?"

"W,water, someone, give me water-"

Have they not been eating decent meals?
This won't be nearly enough, then. I'll leave the thinking for later; right now I should only concentrate of taking food out as fast as I can.
My Dexterity is at maximum, and I poured our food and beverages with a force that doesn't give any time to pause, lining them up swiftly with .
In order to avoid a riot, the other members of the Fools of Whimsy Brigade had every person lined up and handed out a set amount of food.

"There's enough food! There's no need to hurry-!"

It looks like the words of Leader Keryoil, who's shouting rather than persuading, have sunk in, and everyone is lining up in rows.
There are people with dissatisfied expressions, but they understand the Fools of Whimsy Brigade's strength, and they reluctantly follow their orders.

"You've seriously saved us, Hakkon. We rationed everything to the extremes, but we were near our limits. Honestly, I was actually at the point of thinking about whether we should take the worst option. I'm severely in Hakkon-sama's debt."
(idiom: can't sleep with my feet pointing towards Hakkon: extreme appreciation)

I'm stuck on the words 'the worst option,' but I feel like it would be better not to pursue it.

"Le a der."

"Oh, what's up Hakkon?"

"St a ir s."

"Stairs? Aah, you mean the stairs connecting to the surface… ooooh-! What the, we're just casually talking. You're able to talk now!"

"Ye ah."

Approaching with his eyes wide, Leader Keryoil's face is in front of me. It's rare; he seems seriously surprised. Oh yeah, I parted from them before I could talk, huh?

"Hakkon's explanation will be for later. Right now we have to put priority on confirming the situation. In the first place, why ain't you got food? Ya can come and go to the surface from here, right?"

Hyurumi cut in between me and Leader Keryoil.
They did mention that there was a large stairway connecting to the surface, after all.

"O,oh. That's right. I'm curious, but we'll postpone Hakkon for later. About that, that big door, we couldn't budge it a bit. We couldn't run, and our supplies were cut off. We were able to drive off the enemies somehow, all the way out of the community, but if our food ran out, there ain't anything we can do."

So they barely made it here, huh? Looks like selecting me among the first team was correct.
It seems like it would be better for both sides to give detailed explanations and provide information later. Once handing out food to the starving people is over, I'll have to let Shui, who's staring fixedly at me while drooling, eat until her stomach's full.
To this gluttonous girl, this situation is probably worse for her than any other person. If I don't feed her something quick, I feel like my own body is in danger from getting chewed on.
A,alright, I have to immediately distribute food among everyone!