Chapter 29

After being thoroughly interrogated, I left Yuki's room.

I pleaded with her not to ask any questions, and somehow managed to avoid talking about the interworld transfer.

When asked if I had been doing something strange, or if it was related to women or criminal activities during the blank period before the pandemic, I firmly denied it. Although she didn't seem convinced, she reluctantly backed off.

Whether the interworld transfer counts as something strange, the companions in the hero party as women-related, or the numerous killings I committed there as criminal activities, is a matter of individual perspective.

Regarding what I had been doing since the pandemic began, I mixed in some fabricated stories, saying that I couldn't send emails due to the situation. My conscience hurt from lying, but I had to accept that this was unavoidable. Of course, I also told a modified version of how I met Kaede while out gathering food. I was severely scolded for leaving a young girl behind, but Yuki seemed to understand after hearing my explanation.

Whether this place is safe or not.

From what Yuki told me, this police station and city hall were not originally designated as shelters. After receiving information about the collapse of designated shelters following the pandemic, Mr. Oda took the lead and started spreading information online to establish new shelters.

Food gathering is done when the timing is right, and although the food supply is not as abundant as before, it is still distributed to everyone.

Another concern was whether women were being treated unfairly, but apparently, that is not the case. Each evacuee is assigned a job, and women are spending their time relatively safely inside the buildings.

On the other hand, male evacuees sometimes have to do more dangerous jobs, but the truly risky task of going outside to gather food is done only by the police officers. It seems that the police officers have not been injured, and the food gathering has been going smoothly. Additionally, there have been no significant troubles since Yuki took refuge here.

If that's the case, bringing Kaede here shouldn't be a problem.

At my words, Yuki furrowed her brow, saying, "So, senpai, you're planning to go outside again, huh?" She sighed, saying that this was unavoidable.

I then went down the stairs from the residential area on the third floor and approached a nearby female police officer to ask for Mr. Oda's location. She guided me to the room where he was.

Knock knock

"Come in."

A slightly lackluster response came back. When I entered the room, Mr. Oda was working on a map on his desk.

"Mr. Yanagi, what brings you here?"

"I have something to discuss, or rather, something to apologize for first."

Mr. Oda stood up, looking puzzled, and moved to the sofa in front of the desk, gesturing for me to sit opposite him.

"I came to see if this shelter is really safe. Not just safe, but... how should I put it..."

Mr. Oda silently watched me struggle for words.

"...I have a girl I'm protecting in another place. I want to know if it's okay to bring her here, if it's safe. To put it bluntly, I came to scout the place. I'm sorry."

Unable to think of a way to soften my words, I just said them as they were.

"I heard from Yuki. This is a well-organized community. That's why I want to bring the girl here. Of course, I won't ask for any help. If bringing her here increases the food supply and causes problems, I can leave."

Mr. Oda listened to me in silence. After a moment of contemplation, he looked up and spoke.

"I see, Yuki said that. If one of the early evacuees says that, it means we've done a good job."

Mr. Oda gave me a somewhat sad smile. I wondered why he looked that way. From what Yuki told me, I think this shelter is doing well. Perhaps it's a matter of perspective, but we haven't sacrificed any of our own, and the evacuees are indeed being protected.

"Mr. Yanagi, if you really don't need our help, I have no objections to you bringing the girl here. We will take full responsibility for her safety once you bring her. You can stay here as well. But..."

Mr. Oda started to say something but then swallowed his words.

"...No, anyway, if that's the case, we're planning to go out for food gathering tomorrow. You can go with us then. What do you think?"

"I'll do that. Thank you, I'm very grateful."

I accepted Mr. Oda's proposal and decided to participate in the strategy meeting that would take place afterward.

Still, what was Mr. Oda about to say? His sad eyes lingered in my mind, refusing to leave.