Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Evidence (4)
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Today, like any other day, I was just going about my normal routine when suddenly I found myself scrambling up the mountain.
"Hah! The air sure is fresh!"
The reason was simple.
[Takuya-kun, Kumoto wants to meet me at his office today, so it looks like we can't get together.]
It was because Kumoto had made his move all of a sudden.
Why climb a mountain if Kumoto's on the move?
The answer was straightforward. The spot Kumoto had prepped to break in Haru was right here on this mountain.
I kept climbing with those thoughts in mind for a little while.
"Phew. Man, he set this thing up in a ridiculously high spot."
I'd finally reached the place Kumoto had prepared.
I couldn't help but whistle at the sight of the pretty sizable warehouse tucked away in a remote mountain valley no car could reach.
'No wonder no one hears her screaming her lungs out from a spot like this.'
Remembering how loud it had been even without cranking the in-game voice to full blast, I marveled at Kumoto's thoroughness.
Gazing at this desolate area that didn't even seem to have any wild animals around, I waited for Kumoto to show up.
And in the meantime, I made a call.
[Huff! Huff! H-hello?]
"Bro, get here quick! It's an emergency!"
[O-okay... huff...]
The guy on the other end was Hiro, the protagonist of this game—and the star of the perfect stage Kumoto had unwittingly set up for him.
After chewing out Hiro for his heavy breathing as he climbed the mountain, I turned my gaze to the empty warehouse.
'Alright, now to figure out how to swoop in for the rescue. Go big or keep it subtle?'
Late afternoon, as the sun began to dip below the horizon.
A burly middle-aged man was trudging up the mountain, lugging a massive sack over his shoulder.
That man's name was Kumoto.
"Huff! Huff! Damn high school girl weighs a ton."
Right now, he was playing the part of a kidnapper snatching a schoolgirl.
Maybe it was the heavy load, or maybe because he hadn't worked out in ages—despite his solid build, he was panting hard as he pushed up the slope.
'Gotta quit smoking next time.'
He mulled over the same resolution he'd made dozens of times before and kept climbing.
Before long, amid the thick brush covering the mountain, he spotted a path that looked faintly man-made.
'Almost there!'
Catching sight of it, Kumoto hurried along the trail with a grin.
Now that he'd come this far, the warehouse was just around the corner.
With that in mind, he picked up the pace, summited the final stretch, and reached the warehouse he'd prepared.
He glanced around to make sure the coast was clear, then swiftly unlocked the door and slipped inside.
The warehouse interior looked the part, but it wasn't the real deal.
Kumoto gently set the sack containing Haru down on the mattress and opened the hidden entrance.
"Cough! Cough! Whew. Should probably clean up a bit next time."
Muttering to himself, he descended the stairs that yawned open beneath the floor.
Down at the bottom, what greeted him was...
"Heh heh. This place never gets old."
A room packed to the brim with every sex toy imaginable.
Courtesy of the pervert chairman's tastes, it was stocked not just with tools of all kinds, but gels and cosplay outfits too—a top-notch setup.
'I was shocked when I first laid eyes on it.'
But after a few sessions, nowhere else came close.
Kumoto smirked in satisfaction at the array of toys and unzipped the sack.
Inside, Haru lay peacefully asleep, her breathing soft and steady.
At the sight of her, Kumoto flashed a sleazy grin, pulled her out, and secured her to the X-frame restraint.
Her school uniform still on, of course.
Nothing beat starting things off in uniform.
He admired his handiwork with a pleased smile, his eyes lingering on her perky breasts before he licked his lips.
'She won't wake up for a bit anyway. Might as well have some fun.'
With that thought, Kumoto reached out and grabbed her breast.
Or tried to.
-Bang bang bang!
Not before a massive racket erupted from upstairs.
'What the hell is that?!'
Startled by the sudden noise, Kumoto wondered if a bear had wandered in. Tearing his eyes away from Haru's chest, he crept back up the stairs.
What he found there was...
"What the fuck."
"Kumooooootooo!!!"
A kid sighing and clutching his head, and another glaring at him with pure rage.
Kumoto froze for a split second, but he pieced it together fast.
They weren't here out of curiosity, which left only one possibility...
"So it was you punks."
They knew his secret.
That realization melted away all his prior worries, twisting his smile into something sinister.
The furious kid—no, Hiro—couldn't contain himself anymore. He bellowed and charged at Kumoto.
"You piece of trash!"
Kumoto just sneered at the onrushing Hiro, balled his fist tight,
and swung it right at the boy.
-Crack!
Hiro took the punch dead-on, spun through the air twice, and slammed into the floor. The other kid watching on recoiled in terror...
"Hah... what a worthless idiot."
Or not.
The kid just let out a deep sigh and eyed the crumpled Hiro with pitying disdain.
'Not even scared after seeing that?'
Kumoto sensed something off in the kid's unnatural calm, but the boy's next move was even weirder.
He fished out some strange liquid from his pocket, splashed it on the downed Hiro, and turned away like he didn't give a damn.
Watching him, Kumoto grinned with intrigue and stepped fully into the room.
Looked like it was time for a real "talk" with this kid.
Shit had hit the fan.
The plan was to link up with Hiro first, then slip inside once Kumoto emerged again. But my rescue rating tanked hard and fast, so I rushed into the building. That's when Hiro fucked around and touched something he shouldn't, setting off the noise.
Okay, fine up to there. But this moron spots Kumoto and loses it, charging straight at him.
The reason for the sudden lunge was obvious.
'Damn it, should've never shown him those photos...'
He must've snapped after seeing Kumoto's handiwork, overcome with dread and fury that Haru might already be going through hell.
Guess showing him what Kumoto did wasn't the move.
Truth was, I had no choice but to flash those pics.
Kumoto sprung his trap too quick, and nothing could've dragged Hiro out here faster than that bait.
'And c'mon, who could've predicted he'd go berserk on sight?'
"Hey, kid. What's got you thinking so hard?"
Inwardly grumbling, I stared down the hulking PE teacher—no, the villain—looming in front of me at around 190cm tall.
'Okay, now what to do about this guy...'
Running wasn't on the table.
With Hiro already down for the count, bolting would be suicide.
If I ditched now, who'd stop Kumoto from turning Hiro into paste? And not in any "nice" way.
Worse, if Hiro ended up crippled, my rescue rating would crater beyond repair.
'Damn, knew I should've held off on calling Hiro.'
Regretting my screw-up, I weighed my options.
Only one left.
"Heh heh. Wanna throw down?"
"Eh, got no other plays."
Fight and win. That was it.
Time to dust off some old memories.
The basement.
-Bang!
Haru snapped awake at the deafening crash, bound as she was.
"Uh... um... what... what the hell is this...?"
Startled by the noise, she realized her predicament and freaked out.
'Why am I here...? I remember drinking the tea Kumoto gave me...'
Yeah. Kumoto had called her to his office for "counseling," served her tea, and she'd drunk it...
As Haru pieced her memories together...
[Gaaahhh!!!]
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the building.
[You goddamn bastard!!]
Not just a scream, either.
-Smack!
-Thud!
The vicious sounds of someone getting pummeled rang out.
'W-what's going on?!'
Trembling in terror at the brutal symphony, Haru waited it out.
How much time passed?
'D-did it stop?'
At last, the beatings and screams faded.
Haru exhaled in relief at the silence, but it was short-lived.
-Step.
-Step.
Now the source of that violence was coming her way.
Haru went limp, faking sleep at the approaching footsteps.
'H-he won't do anything too crazy, right?'
Whoever it was, they didn't seem the type to turn that brutality on her.
How long she lay there, eyes squeezed shut?
"What the hell, so many sex toys."
The man's voice boomed in the sealed space. Haru's tension cracked at how familiar it sounded.
'No way... Takuya-kun?'
The guy closing in on her now—could it be that kid she'd warmed up to just days ago?
It sounded insane.
"Ow, tch, that shit hurts."
But the voice right nearby? Undeniably Takuya's.