Smoke is billowing out of a specific path and seems to be filling up the room we're in. Whatever had lit the flame that was producing this smoke had done so very recently.
"I get a nagging feeling that our friends are going to be down the path the smoke is coming from." I said.
"Y-Yeah. Judging by how today has gone so far, I doubt my luck can get any worse."
I swallowed my fear and edged closer to the tunnel entrance where smoke was billowing out of. Coming from the entrance of the tunnel, I think I can hear the faint noise of screaming.
"D-Do you hear that?"
"The sound of the screams or of you gulping too loudly?"
"The first one!"
"Oh, that makes sense."
Is this girl as socially incapable as I am? I get the feeling she would have also been a hikikomori in j.a.pan just as I was.
"Stay close and stay low. You don't want to inhale that smoke."
"Understood. I'll follow you."
With that, we began to descend deeper into the tunnel. We have now crouched down to half of our height so our movement is now much slower.
As we descended deeper in, we came across a fork in the path.
"Which way now?"
"I don't know!"
"Do you want me to do that finger thing again?"
"I don't think that will help this time! Also don't say it like that, it makes it sound weird!"
"Well what else do you call it?"
"I don't know! Just don't call it the finger thing!"
"You're so particular! Jeez, this is why-"
"HEY CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?"
We both jumped when we heard a female voice shout out from one of the tunnels.
"Kany?" Erana said before she ran past me and into the tunnel to the right.
"H-Hey, wait for me!" I shouted out as I followed.
Inside of the room we entered, items like robes, clothing, and other various objects were scattered about on the ground. In the back part of the room there is a wooden holding cage with a single occupant.
"Hey wait a minute…" I muttered.
I went towards one of the piles of clothing and found Tael's purple wizard robe and hat. This means that he's already been through here. More importantly, Tael has been stripped. This might be bad.
I placed Tael's robes into my rucksack and walked over to the cell.
"Erana! You came to save me! I'm so proud of you!"
"Kany, you're okay! Thank goodness!"
These two are having a heartfelt reunion as I am standing here awkwardly. I'm not sure what to do.
"How did you get down here Erana? Did you sneak inside?"
"I tried to but I got captured! This man right here saved me though! I have him to thank!"
"Oh? Why is there some guy wandering around on his own in a goblin cave at this time of the day?"
"Hey I'm right here."
We all stood around awkwardly for a moment. I approached the wooden holding cell where the girl is locked inside of.
Wait… I know this girl. This is the thief that got me sent to jail!
"Shoes on the other foot now, isn't it?" I said smugly.
"What do you mean, Onii-san? Do I know you from somewhere?"
"Eh? Kenji-san, do you know Kany?"
"I've never met this guy before."
"Are you sure? Are my eyes not 'l.u.s.tful' enough for you now?"
"Ghg!" She snapped back. It seems like she just realized who I am.
"Ehehehe! Well you see… I um…"
"You know I went to jail for what you did?"
"Eh? Kenji-san went to jail? Wait, what did Kany do?"
"Shhh. Eransan, stay out of this for a moment."
"Eh? What's going on?" Erana fluttered her head from me to Kany and back to me multiple times. It seems like she has no idea about who this Kany person really is.
"W-Well Onii-san, I gotta say I'm impressed! Most people can't track me down twice!" She proclaimed with her hands on her hips. Her proud stature p.i.s.ses me off.
"Apologize."
"Eh?"
"Do you have any idea what I went through because of you?"
Kany is now sweating profusely. Erana looks incredibly uncomfortable.
"I-I'm sorry I… got you sent to jail…"
"And why did you get me sent to jail?"
"I-I'm sorry for robbing your store…"
"*Gasp!* Kany, you wouldn't!"
"Ehehehe! Sorry! I needed money and I had no idea what to do!" she said while rubbing the back of her head and winking.
"What else do you have to apologize for?"
"I'm sorry I said you planned to molest me."
"EH?" Erana seems to have hit her limit. "What's going on? Why are you bullying her? What happened between you two? Wait… *Gasp!* Don't tell me you two used to date?"
"No that's wrong!" x2
"Huh? Then what happened?"
"Look, it's a long story. I'll tell you when we're not in a cave surrounded by man eating monsters."
"You're one to talk!"
"Shut up, I didn't ask you!"
"Pleh!" Kany stuck her tongue out at me.
"Tell you what. I'll get you out of here if you do two things for me. First: when I let you out you need to help me get my friend as well. It's only fair."
"...Fine. I'll do that."
"Second: You must apologize to me once again while in a dogeza."
"Eh? No way Onii-san!"
"Well I guess you'll just have to accept your fate then!" I said as I turned around and began to walk away.
"W-wait! Okay! I'll… I'll apologize…"
I immediately turned around and began to rub my hands together. This is going to be wonderful. Birthday wishes really do come true.
Kany reluctantly got into a dogeza and began to apologize. "I apologize for stealing from your store, calling you a molester with lewd eyes, and getting you sent to jail. I won't do it again."
"Ahh… Wonderful! Alright, I'll let you out." I said as I pulled out my adamant.i.te dagger and walked towards the padlock.
"How do you plan on opening this?"
"I'll use the dagger as a lever. This thing is made of adamant.i.te so it's probably tougher than any lock these guys will have."
I placed the dagger between the padlock and the door and began to use my bodyweight as a lever.
"Hnnng!" I struggled. I can hear the noise of the metal from the lock buckling. Just a little more!
"Need some help, Onii-san?"
"Nah, nah. I'm fine, really! Hnnng!"
"Do you… need a minute?"
This lock isn't budging anymore. I've been trying to break this open for at least a minute now. How do I break this lock…? Wait, I know what to do!
"K-Kany, I want you to rush the door with your body weight. This lock is broken enough to where a good lurch should break it! It's physics!"
"alright."
Despite her obvious look of disappointment with me, Kany walked to the back of her cell and charged the door with her shoulder forward. When she made contact with the door, the lock busted and the door flew open. Kany is now free!
"That actually worked! Wow! Good job Onii-san, to think I was doubting you!"
"Wow, Kenji-san! Good job!"
"Ehehehe! You're too kind! I know I'm great and all but I didn't think I'd need two pretty ladies to tell me I'm great!"
Kany went over to a pile of a.s.sorted objects and picked out a dagger. She placed the dagger on her belt and ensured that it was secure.
"Alright, let's get out of here Erana."
"Eh? Hey wait a minute! What about our deal?"
"I broke myself out of there just now. Didn't you see? Sorry Onii-san but our deal is null and void."
"Kany…"
"Come on Erana! Don't get all soft now! You saw how this guy is!"
"Y-Yeah I saw but… he did save me and also volunteered to help save you too..."
"Yeah come on! We had a deal!"
Erana and I both looked at Kany with puppy dog eyes. After a moment of squirming, Kany finally buckled under our dual guilt trip.
"Grrr… Fine! But this is only because you saved Erana!"
"Alright! Let's go!"
With this, I temporarily added Kany the rogue to the party.
