Surviving in a World Teeming with Monsters with the Useless Skill 【Everyday Items Master】! I Was Just Hunting Wild Animals with a Crowbar, So Why Is Everyone Screaming It's an S-Rank Monster? - 97

Chapter 97: Lurking in the Shadows

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Our large vehicle came to a stop at a spot some distance from Kagerou’ base.

“That square building over there, that’s the one.”

Looking in the direction the Bloody Guy pointed, I saw a large, square building just as he said. Was it originally a factory or something? It had that kind of industrial look to it. Thuggish-looking raiders were stationed on both sides of the gate, probably acting as guards.

“Doesn’t look like there are any SS-ranks around.”

When Shachimaru said that, the Bloody Guy nodded.

“SS-ranks are usually hidden with magic. They show up only when the Wolf King calls them, or under specific conditions.”

“So that’s how you got done in too, huh?”

“Yes. Late at night, the SS-ranked guards are tighter. My unit got discovered, and everyone but me…”

“I hear ya. We’ll recover your guys properly after we take them out. Hang in there for now.”

“I understand, Aniki.”

Shachimaru seemed to have a deep bond with each member of the Ferocious Shark Gang. Even though they showed me respect and admiration, it was clear Shachimaru had a natural leader’s presence. He knew exactly how to handle his subordinates. Meanwhile, I glanced at Ui.

“Hey~ if we’re gonna move, can we move already~? I’m bored~!”

“Shut up, Inaba!”

“Inaba…You should learn to settle down a little, yeah?”

“I hate lectures! Tacchan, guard me!”

“Me?”

Even though Ui was clearly attached to me, she gave off an air of not caring one bit about the others—maybe selfish, or just the type that flew on her own wavelength. I’d heard she was isolated even within the Ferocious Shark Gang, but more than that, she seemed to dislike them altogether.

The Ferocious Shark Gang was Shachimaru’s group. Like me, maybe Ui was always an outsider. Maybe she tried to get in and got rejected—so now she hated them back. Well, not that it really mattered.

“Shachimaru, what’s the plan? They can’t see the car from that building, but whether we’re going in guns blazing or sneaking in, staying here is still a risk.”

“…You’re right, Aniki. Just like you said. Hey, move the car. We’ll hide it in that ruined building a bit further out.”

“Got it. I’ve already picked the spot. Heading there now.”

Shachimaru gave instructions to the Bloody Guy, then turned to me.

“Aniki, who do you want for the infiltration team? We sneak in first, find the vault, then come back to extract it.”

“Right. Then it’s me, Ui, and you. Everyone else, stay hidden in the car.”

“Understood. Hey, you guys heard that? Do as Aniki says.”

Using the radio he’d somehow gotten a hold of, Shachimaru issued commands. Both the Bloody Guy and the rest of the convoy answered promptly.

 “Got it”

“Roger that.”

We got out of the car at the ruins. Then Ui spoke up.

“Okay, I’m gonna zip us right onto the rooftop of the house near Kagerou’ base~!”

Vunnnn—a deep, distorted hum. A ripple in space and sudden black-out. Our view shifted instantly to the rooftop of a building near the gate.

“Alright… Let’s get this started.”

“Aniki, which way are you going?”

“I’ll take the right. Shachimaru, you handle the left.”

“Roger that.”

I pulled a kitchen knife from my pocket, and Shachimaru opened the cap of a plastic bottle.

“Let’s sync it up—ready, set… GO!”

On my signal, both Shachimaru and I jumped from the rooftop at the same time. I leapt down at the gate guard on the right, while Shachimaru did the same on the left, inverting his water bottle mid-jump.

【Deadly Kitchen Knife】

【Water Blade】

We eliminated both gate guards simultaneously.

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After watching her beloved Onii-sama and the others enter Kagerou’ base, Luna peeked out from her hiding spot.

“Hehehehe~! Onii-sama and the rest didn’t notice me at all!”

Giggling to herself, Luna strolled along the road. The road was rough and littered with rubble. She nearly tripped at one point, but kept walking until she reached the gate.

“Now begins Onii-sama’s sneaking mission! He’s so sharp, if I look at him with too much intention, he might notice. I have to be careful.”

With firm resolve, Luna slipped through a gap in the gate. The Trump Soldiers had been left behind with the car, following Onii-sama’s example. Not only because a large group would stand out more—but also because the Trump Soldiers were noisy.

“Really, when naming someone, you have to understand them first and pick something fitting. The third one just goes ‘Trump!’ and nothing else.”

Muttering to herself, Luna toddled along.

“It’s so big…!” 

The building was tall and looked sturdy. Luna looked up slightly and murmured before stepping through the front door Onii-sama had opened. Inside was stark and sterile, with a wide entrance hall and a long hallway splitting into two directions.

Luna twisted her lips into a frown.

“What should I do…? I don’t know which way Onii-sama went.”

Already, signs of a sneaking mission failure were emerging. What to do?

“…No! I’ll change my perspective. I’m Onii-sama’s independent unit! It’s perfectly fine if I go down a different path!”

And so, she casually chose the left hallway. Then—ping!—Luna got an idea.

“That’s it! Since I’m walking around anyway, let’s set up a surprise that will make Onii-sama happy!”

Happily humming to herself, Luna conjured heart-shaped playing cards in her hand and began sticking them to the walls one by one.

Walk, stick. Stick, walk. As she wandered around, suddenly, some thuggish men came out through a nearby door.

“Yeah, so the boss just starts blasting that guy with a minigun, right? Man, blood went flying everywhere!”

“Gyahahaha! That’s rough. …Huh?”

The two men spotted Luna.

“What the hell, a kid?”

“Did one of the goods escape? But they wouldn’t dress them like this before packing them up.”

“They’re supposed to be sedated pre-packaging anyway. So who the hell is this?”

They spoke as if Luna wasn’t even human. They stepped closer. Luna reminded herself—this was Kagerou’ base. Everyone here was the enemy. Which meant removing enemies would be something that would make Onii-sama happy. With a gentle smile, Luna spoke.

“【Are you there, Mad Hatter?】”

“I’m right here, Princess.”

From Luna’s shadow, the Mad Hatter slithered out.

“-!? What the hell is that thing? Some kinda weird-ass… goblin?”

“Yo, this goblin just talked! Is it a demon!?”

Dressed in a gentleman’s suit, with a hidden-blade cane and a top hat—an elegant goblin—the Mad Hatter appeared. His sudden appearance shocked the two men. They raised their weapons, eyes full of caution.

“So? Princess, what do you want me to do?”

“Everyone here except Onii-sama and his group is the enemy! So if you meet anyone besides them—deal with them!”

“Got it. That’s right up my alley. I ain’t as good as Aniki, but still—”

Chak—the Mad Hatter drew his blade from inside the cane.

“These days, I haven’t lost to a human even once.”

A single slash. Mad Hatter dashed behind the men, leaving only silence in his wake. After flicking the blood off his blade, he sheathed it calmly. Then he spoke.

“Heh. That guy didn’t even realize he’d been cut.”

“Mad Hatter?”

“Since you went to the trouble of calling me out, Princess, I’ll take the lead. This way.”

“Thank you, Mad Hatter!”

Luna cheerfully followed after him. And of course, she didn’t forget to keep sticking playing cards to the walls as she walked. A few seconds later, the Mad Hatter muttered.

“Oh, looks like they finally noticed. Seriously, these clowns are so slow.”

Behind them, the sound of a fountain of blood splashing echoed. Luna didn’t even turn around—she simply kept walking forward.

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