Vending Machine - 189 - Driven to a Corner

Chapter 189: Driven to a Corner

Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7583de/

Author: Hirukuma

Translated by Zzonkedd

Edited by Gumihou

“Well, what is it going to be? We can have it out here and now, but what’s the charm in that? How about a little chat first?”

“After that chat, will you surrender like a proper gentleman?”

“Don’t be silly, Hevoy.”

Leader Keryoil and Hevoy appeared to be exchanging cordial words. However, there was a tension simmering in the air between them. While no one had a weapon in hand, it was clear that everyone was poised to shift into battle mode at a moment’s notice.

While I do not deny Leader Keryoil and his party’s feelings for the child, it still did not give them the right to put others in danger. The odds of outsmarting the Ruler of the Netherworld seem like a massive gamble to be honest. Combat seems all but unavoidable at this point. Might as well try to dampen their fighting spirit a bit.

“Ra-mis”

“Re-ad“

Suddenly, all eyes were on me and Ramis, trusty Ramis immediately understood my intention and pulled out a notepad from her waist bag.

“Ahem! We took a survey from 100 people at Clearflow Lake Floor on what they thought of Leader Keryoil and his party’s actions!”

Everyone stared at Ramis, bewildered as she boldly made her announcement. This was actually a survey we had conducted earlier among my shoppers on the Clearflow Lake floor. We did it in anticipation of a day like this.

“Question one: What is your opinion about people who cooperate with the Ruler of Netherworld for the sake of their children? You are given three options: Acceptable, Unacceptable and Undecided.”

Some semblance of calm returned to the people around us after the shock of the absurdity of the situation. Leader Keryoil’s party looked genuinely interested in Ramis’s next words.

“’Acceptable‘, twelve people. ‘Unacceptable’, sixty people. ‘Undecided’, twenty-eight people.”

“So, it looked like the people were not overwhelmingly against us, eh?” Leader Keryoil was quick to pick this up. He actually sounded a little relieved. The other three looked solemn.

“Of those who had chosen ‘Acceptable’, the general consensus was ‘If it was my child, I may have done the same thing. As a parent, I can’t condemn others for something I could have done.”

Vice-Leader Felmina clenched her hand tightly against her chest. It looked like the opinions of other parents had struck her in the heart.

“For those who chose ‘Unacceptable’, the general view was ‘You should never endanger other people’s lives no matter what’, there were also those who said ‘I felt so disappointed when I heard this’.”

The twins, Red and White, sighed before shrugging their shoulders. It looked like they had already prepared themselves to be viewed as the bad guys.

“Question two: In your honest opinion, is Vice-Leader Felmina too good for Leader Keryoil?”

“Oi! What kind of question is that!?” Leader Keryoil roared.

“Oh, I’m quite interested to know.”

“Shut it, old man. This seems fun.”

“Hold him down proper, White!”

Leader Keryoil was being held down in a headlock by his two sons. Well, if he attacked them seriously, he could have easily broken out of their grasp. However, even though they were playing about like this, I could see the man’s sharp eyes.

Let’s shake him up a little more and see what happens.

“62 people chose ‘What a waste’, while 22 people decided on ‘Die!’. 16 people consider this a good match.”

“Oi, oi, aren’t those options too strange? Also, you were running around blabbing to everyone about our married status?”

“Looks like a lot of people believe that I should have searched for a more charming gentleman… without exception.”

Vice-Leader Felmina said with a sigh and a hand on her cheek.

“Come off it, Felmina. Weren’t you the one who chased after me in the first place?”

“Hm? What did you say?”

Behind them, the Red and White twins had doubled over in laughter. Well, it certainly doesn’t look like a hostile situation.

“Final question,” said Ramis. “If the party of four return and accept their punishment, would you consider forgiving them?”

Tension cracked through the relaxed air instantly.

Leader Keryoil and his family stood up straight, their eyes intent as they stared at Ramis.

“80 people choose ‘Forgive them’. 20 people chose, ‘Can’t forgive’.”

“Wait, wha-”

This bit of news clearly shocked all four of them, as they stared at us, their faces blanked with surprise.

In fact, if one were to think about this matter rationally, it was actually not an unexpected outcome. After all, although the Whimsical Fools party had gone over to the enemy’s ranks, they did not engage in any overtly hostile activities.

Not to mention, they were part of the team that resolved a lot of the issues.

Finally, I believe it was the open-hearted nature of the Clearflow Lake people that supported this kind of reaction. After all, they had accepted me, even though they only knew me as a sentient box-shaped magic tool.

As for those who answered ‘Can’t Forgive’, these were people who had lost family and friends to the tragedy. Therefore, it was hardly surprising for them to turn against people who joined the ‘enemy’.

“Well, that’s what everyone thought. There’s also this message: You really should have relied on other people a bit more. If you had talked to us, we would have helped you idiots. Come back right now and we’ll forgive you if you buy us drinks. It’s only natural for parents to wish for their child’s happiness, but you should also think about your child’s wishes. I’m going to train you all starting from scratch, so hurry home.”

The last message was from Grandma Yumite and Grandpa Shimerai. The old couple was more regretful than everyone else about not noticing the difficulties faced by Leader and his family. They regretted not being there to support them, forcing them into making a reckless decision.”

“Goodness, what a bunch of meddlesome people…” Leader Keryoil lowered the brim of his hat, concealing his eyes from us.

Well, I understood his meaning and said nothing.

“There’s also this message from Shirley,” said Ramis.

No, wait! Don’t read that out, Ramis-

“Ahem, it says here: Since you’ve run up a tab with us, be sure to come back and pay your debts. Also, we all look forward to your visit. So come back soon…”

Oh me, Leader Keryoil and the twins had suddenly frozen in place, sweat streaming down their faces.

“What. Is. The. Meaning. Of. This.”

Vice-Leader Felmina glared at them. Her wavy blue hair appeared to writhe like snakes. No way, that’s probably just my imagination.

“N-no, that is, well, these two insisted on seeing what the place is like, so I, very reluctantly, mind you, have no choice but to take them!”

“No way! Dad’s the one who bragged about being a regular there!”

“Yeah! You even made us promise not to tell mom!”

What followed was a disgraceful blame game where they all shouted accusations at each other, all claiming to be in the right. It all came to an abrupt stop when a murderous intent suddenly welled up behind them.

“So, while I have been doing my best to save every single coin, you have been indulging yourself, eh… the beer must have tasted especially good with a pretty young thing by your side.”

It did not feel like we could get in between them. Let’s just leave it to them to sort it out between themselves. My companions looked at each other uncertainly, unsure of what to make of this tense atmosphere.

It did not seem right to attack them like this.

“What are you all doing in front of the enemy?”

A cold voice cracked through the weird atmosphere, and before we knew it, a hail of ice suddenly came shooting out the forest. I quickly reverted to my regular vending machine form and deployed <Barrier>. Hyurumi, Mishael and Ramis already rushed to my side.

Hevoy and Shui took cover behind Pitee, who had planted one shield down and the other held over her head.

The shards of deadly ice bounced off the <Barrier> and shields.

Well, there’s no need to ask who the attacker was. Sulrim stepped out of the forest. This was expected. What we had not expected was the person whose hand she was holding on.

The person wore a coat in the same style as Sulrim’s, with a deep hood. From her height, they could be a child or a very short person.

Or perhaps not human at all.

We had underestimated the number of people we had to face. Thinking back, it was foolish of us to think that the Whimsical Fools party would remain the same, especially when they were actively recruiting.

“What an insufferable lot. Enough with the idle chatter. Don’t tell me you intend to betray him, him?”

“Don’t be absurd. We owe him a great debt… There’s no way we’d betray him. Enough with the games, then.”

Given what had been happening up till this point, we had some hope that Leader Keryoil might be persuaded to come back to our side. However, all members of the Whimsical Fools suddenly turned to us, weapons in hand.

However, there was something odd about the conversation. What is this ‘debt’ that they owe? Was it help to conquer the dungeon down to the lowest level?

No, it would be a stretch to call such a thing a ‘favour’. Conquering a dungeon is a cooperative endeavour. Help that was given along the way could hardly be considered a ‘debt’. So, what could it be?

“Apologies, I was momentarily overcome by nostalgia. If we had known this earlier, a different outcome may have been possible. However, there is no turning back for us now.”

“Sorry, we’re truly sorry.”

“Yu~up, it’s just too bad.”

“Well, guess it can’t be helped, eh?”

Vice-Leader Felmina bowed her head deeply while the twins scratched their heads awkwardly.

Sulrim’s appearances have changed the situation completely. Looks like it would be difficult to convince the Whimsical Fools. However, something still felt out of place. Sulrim was sneering at them as though they were her subordinates or worse, people who could go against her.

The team leaders were staring intently back at Sulrim, no, their focus were on the hooded figure holding Sulrim’s hand, the smiles on their faces… tender?

“Hey! This is all too strange! Surely there must be a way to save your son without having to work with the Ruler of the Netherworld!” Ramis yelled.

Leader averted his eyes while the others looked down.

What the… and what’s this unsettling feeling…

“Fufufufufu, ahahahahaha! A way to save the child, eh? That’s not needed anymore!” the woman laughed.

“Wh-what are you talking about?!”

What do you mean it’s not needed any more? That’s their sole wish, the only reason why they turned to the Ruler of the Netherworld.

Suddenly, it all clicked.

The debt, Sulrim’s appearance and their sudden lack of desire to save the child… all of it pointed to-

“Because that child is–“

Sulrim flung the deep hood back dramatically. The person she was holding hands with was Leader Keryoil’s child. The one who was supposed to be sleeping in that crystal coffin.

[Gumihou: Did some small fixes. Let’s not sweat the little stuff]

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