The Explorers Of Higashishimo Town

The former community center in Higashishimo Town now served as City Hall. Yoshinori Mitarai, who occupied the mayor’s office on the top floor, summoned his nephew Yodai.

When Yodai entered the room, the mayor was speaking with an Explorer named Ryuzaki. Yodai grimaced unpleasantly at the sight of him. Ryuzaki was the leader of the Special Explorer Team. What made this team special was that its members were not only physically imposing but had also been selected exclusively from people with experience in martial arts such as karate and kendo.

He and Yodai, who also led a team of Explorers, were rivals. However, there was actually a considerable difference in their abilities.

The mayor turned toward Yodai and gave him an order.

“Go to the Beastman Zone and bring back fertilizer from the home improvement store.”

“Fertilizer? Does that mean I can use a vehicle?”

“It can’t be helped. But don’t waste any gasoline.”

Although Higashishimo Town had gasoline reserves, they were running low.

“Aren’t we getting another shipment from the government?”

“The gasoline shipment is expected next month.”

Supplies from the central government arrived once or twice a month. In Yaso City’s case, they were transported by rail, which was one of the reasons Higashishimo Town, with its railway station, had been chosen as the new location for City Hall.

Yodai summoned the Explorers trained by the city. Among them were Kusaka and Hibino, who had participated in the training trip to Shiki Island with him. While traveling from the old City Hall to Higashishimo Town, the two had defeated Bad Rats and leveled up.

They had since continued raising their levels under Yodai’s command and become capable Explorers.

“Leader, what did the mayor want?”

Kusaka asked. Yodai looked at him and sighed.

“He wants us to go to the home improvement store in the Beastman Zone and collect fertilizer…”

“The quickest route there is through the Grass Dragon Zone and into the Beastman Zone.”

Yodai headed toward the Beastman Zone with four Explorers. They traveled in a small truck. After crossing the railway bridge, which had escaped demolition, they entered the Grass Dragon Zone and proceeded northwest.

For some reason, vegetation in the Grass Dragon Zone had grown at an astonishing rate. The district was inhabited by dinosaurs resembling miniature Stegosauruses, creatures powerful enough to overturn a small car by ramming into it.

After traveling through the Grass Dragon Zone for about ten minutes, they encountered a Sword Saurus. It was a herbivorous dinosaur with sword-like fins along its back.

“What should we do?”

Kusaka, who was driving, asked Yodai for instructions.

“Can’t be helped. I’ll chase it away.”

Yodai climbed out of the truck and stepped in front of the Sword Saurus. He raised his right hand and pointed his index finger at the enormous lizard.

“Explosive Flame Strike!”

With that shout, Yodai unleashed the most powerful Flame Manipulation technique at his disposal. Hibino, who had also gotten out of the truck and was watching from behind, couldn’t help thinking that this wasn’t a fighting game.

An explosive fireball roughly the size of a softball shot forward, struck the Sword Saurus in the shoulder, and detonated. The blast reached even Hibino, making his clothes flap violently. The explosion had been remarkably powerful.

As the blast subsided, they saw the Sword Saurus lying on the ground. It struggled in agony for a short while before going still. Its corpse then transformed into a Heartstone.

“Impressive, as always.”

Kusaka, who had practically become Yodai’s personal flatterer, exclaimed in admiration. Hibino also offered praise, although he watched with an indifferent gaze.

Yodai picked up the Heartstone. It was to be handed over to the central government as payment for the supplies they received.

“Hmph. That was nothing.”

Yodai and his companions hurried toward the home improvement store.

Upon arriving, they headed to the agricultural supplies section on the first floor. They quickly located the fertilizer they needed. Yodai ordered the other Explorers to carry it to the truck, then began looking around the store.

When he reached the second floor, he sensed someone’s presence and immediately went on guard.

“Hmm? Those guys are from Higashikami Town.”

Yodai grinned and stepped into the section where fishing equipment was sold.

At that moment, Muto, the others, and I had gone up to the second floor of the home improvement store to look for fishing equipment.

Muto was the first to notice Yodai approaching.

“Tch. Here comes someone I’d rather not see.”

When I looked in his direction, I saw a familiar face. It was Yodai Mitarai, the very person responsible for abandoning me on the island.

“What are you people doing here?”

Yodai demanded arrogantly.

Muto stepped forward to answer on our behalf.

“We came to pick up some things we need. That’s all.”

“This home improvement store is operated by the Mitarai Group. You are not permitted to take merchandise without authorization.”

Muto’s face twisted in irritation.

“So you’ll let us take it if we pay? Fine, we’ll pay.”

Over the past six months, banknotes and coins had become worthless. Trade within the town was now conducted through barter.

“Are you making a fool of me?”

“No, I’m being perfectly serious.”

Yodai glared at Muto viciously, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him off the ground. Muto tried to pry Yodai’s hand away, but he was clearly being overpowered.

“Don’t get carried away.”

I grabbed the hand Yodai was using to threaten Muto. Yodai turned a fierce glare on me. We began testing our strength against each other. I appeared to be stronger than him. However, strength alone didn’t determine the outcome of a fight. If I ended up fighting this guy seriously, it would probably become a battle to the death.

“Who the hell are you?”

He seemed to have completely forgotten me. It had been six months, so perhaps that was understandable, but as the person he’d abandoned, I couldn’t forgive him.

“Have you forgotten? I’m the part-time cruiser worker you left behind on Shiki Island.”

Yodai released Muto’s collar and looked at me in surprise. He had finally remembered.

“You’re still alive?”

I let go of Yodai’s hand and confronted him.

“You’ve got some nerve, leaving me behind like that.”

“Hmph. Our lives were on the line too. It couldn’t be helped.”

If I’d been in Yodai’s position, I might also have withdrawn from the island temporarily. However, they could have circled around to the rocky shore and rescued me.

“You made it back alive, so what’s the problem? And let me remind you, I’m a member of the Mitarai family. Insult me any further, and I’ll make you regret it.”

Yodai told me he had plenty of companions downstairs and gave a fearless grin.

This bastard hadn’t offered even a single word of apology. I glanced around and saw that Muto and the others were watching us. My anger became impossible to conceal, and I moved to confront Yodai. Muto placed a hand on my shoulder to stop me.

“Let it go for now. He’s got a whole bunch of his people downstairs.”

I restrained myself and backed down, but Yodai looked at my face with an irritated expression.

“Fine. I’ll let it slide this time.”

With those words, Yodai headed down the stairs.

Muto glared at Yodai’s retreating figure before speaking to me.

“Kojiro, you knew Yodai?”

I sighed and explained what had happened on the island.

“That’s exactly the sort of thing the Mitarai family would do. Those bastards practically believe anyone who isn’t a Mitarai isn’t even human.”

I thought that was a terrible attitude for people who held managerial or other positions of responsibility to have… But if people like that were running Higashishimo Town, then perhaps I’d made the right decision not to go there.

I peered down the stairs and saw Yodai and his men carrying out fertilizer. Noticing them loading it onto a truck, I asked a question.

“So they still have fuel?”

“Higashishimo Town receives government supplies. Not that any of them ever make it over to us.”

It seemed terribly unfair. The government wasn’t sending supplies exclusively for the Mitarai family. Surely those supplies were intended for every surviving citizen.

Yodai and his men took every last bit of fertilizer.

“We messed up. We should’ve secured some fertilizer ourselves.”

“Yeah. There’s nobody in Higashikami Town thinking about things like that. Maybe that’s part of our problem.”

Higashikami Town had once had plenty of capable people. Unfortunately, most of them had been over sixty years old and had died from the poison.

“Why don’t you become the town leader and organize everyone, Muto-san?”

“Hey, don’t ask the impossible. I’m not that smart. What about you, Kojiro?”

I burst out laughing. I certainly wasn’t intelligent enough to boast about it. I’d only managed to get into university because my intuition had been right on the entrance exam, allowing me to scrape together just enough points to pass. When I explained that, Muto laughed too.

“You’re still better than me if you managed to get into university.”

“More importantly, did you get all the fishing equipment you needed?”

“Yeah. I’ve collected fishing rods, lines, tackle, reels, and carpentry tools.”

I had also obtained three fishing rods and the necessary equipment. Now I could go fishing in the sea.

We returned to the nursery school from the home improvement store. Elena and the children came out to welcome us.

“Welcome back. Looks like you managed to get the fishing equipment.”

“Yeah. I’ll catch some fish for you all to eat, so you’ve got something to look forward to.”

“Sea bream! Flounder! Tuna…!”

The children began clamoring excitedly. Hearing their enthusiastic requests, I gave a wry smile. Tuna might be asking a bit much…