As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth’s Payback Lifestyle~ - Chapter 259

Chapter 259 – Reunion with a Nightmare

“This is good. Please tell Founder-sama as well, that she should run away at once.” (Aoyama)
I asked what Aoyama meant, and she explained that Founder-sama refused to escape alone and leave everyone else behind.

Apparently, Aoyama had brought Founder-sama here practically by force, but she refused to move since a while ago and they were now in a tough spot.

“I don’t want to abandon the followers. The people who have gathered here are my family.” (Sayuri)
I felt warmth in Founder-sama’s words. It was always like this. She never forced anyone to act.

Even when it came to hunting men, Founder-sama never said that it was their duty or responsibility. Of course, those who didn’t work couldn’t earn their meals, so as long as they lived here, they had to do some kind of work. But everyone seemed happy doing the work they wanted to do.

I felt that the order was like a family, with the head of the family being Founder-sama.

Founder-sama, in particular, always listened to everyone’s requests and stories, and she grieved whenever one of us got injured or died. She was truly a kind person.

That was why I thought that with a place like this, Riwa would also be able to live here peacefully.

Still, I understood Aoyama’s feelings, or rather, her wish to get Founder-sama out of here. She felt indebted to Founder-sama and wanted to protect her and the place of belonging that she had provided them.

At that moment, I heard men’s voices from the entrance of the church. It seemed that they had finally reached our position. At this rate, they would eventually find us here.

“Founder-sama, you cannot die here. As long as you are still alive, we can always start over again! Please endure it for now, so you can create another place for the followers who have been unfairly abused!” (Aoyama)
“Kanade-san… But I…” (Sayuri)
“Please, Sayuri-san!” (Aoyama)
When Aoyama called Founder-sama by her name, her expression was desperate. I could feel the definite bond between the two of them. It was just like the bond between me and Riwa.

“……Sayuri-san.” (Torimoto)
“Torimoto-san…?” (Sayuri)
“It’s natural for you to not want to abandon the followers. But you can’t disregard the feelings of the followers who risked their lives and stayed behind so you could escape. If you die here, you would only be wasting their lives.” (Torimoto)
He was right. If Founder-sama, whom everyone was risking their lives to protect, died here, then they would be putting their lives on the line for nothing.

“It is your duty to live on. Isn’t that right?” (Torimoto)
“………Are you saying that I should continue to bear the burden?” (Sayuri)
“This is the path that you have chosen from the moment that you decided to be the founder who brings all the followers together.” (Torimoto)

“…..I see.” (Sayuri)
Founder-sama finally relented, and Aoyama let out a sigh of relief. But there were still gunshots coming from the entrance of the church, and this wasn’t a situation where we could relax.

“Then everyone, please follow me, quickly!” (Aoyama)
Aoyama led the way, pushing down the corridor at the back entrance.

We entered a room on the right side of the corridor, which looked like a normal storage room. But Aoyama approached the shelf placed at the back of the room without any hesitation in her steps.

“Torimoto-sama, please lend me a hand.” (Aoyama)
It seemed that she wanted his help with pushing the shelf. Torimoto came forward and helped Aoyama move the shelf.

At the back of the shelf, there was an opening wide enough for one person to enter and a manhole deeper in.

Torimoto removed the cover of the manhole. There was a ladder leading down. I had never been in an underground waterway before, but this certainly was a hidden passageway.

Everyone descended one by one, with Torimoto being the last to follow. The passage was dimly lit by lights positioned periodically along the wall, so it wasn’t completely dark.

We moved quickly in fear of the people pursuing us from behind.

“So where does this waterway lead to?” (Shakuhara)
I suddenly found myself curious about this point, so I asked Aoyama.

“It leads to a canal on the west side of the church. Only the followers know about this path, so it should be safe.” (Aoyamia)
It was a relief to know that we would be able to escape safely.

After walking for a while, we arrived at a slight clearing. The sound of running water could be heard all around us. Pipes of all different sizes were passing through. Being surrounded by all the mechanical, inorganic materials made me feel like I was adventuring in an underground dungeon.

But at that very moment… We heard a gunshot.

Sparks kicked up at the ground next to Aoyama’s feet.

We all inadvertently stopped in our tracks, but—

“Hahah, this is great. Looks like the information was right.” (???)
The voice sounded amused, completely unfitting the situation.

Several men with guns appeared out of who knows where and surrounded us.

“Well, I guess this is checkmate, huh?” (???)
Everyone’s faces were tense as they glared in the direction of the voice.

But I was trembling for an entirely different reason.

…This voice…?!

It sounded too familiar. It was a voice that I never wanted to hear again.

The person whom that voice belonged to approached us. With every step he took, my chest felt tighter and tighter.

“Kei…chan?” (Riwa)
Noticing my abnormal condition, Riwa called out to me with concern in her voice.

When the figure finally appeared out of the darkness, I… no, Riwa and I were both speechless.

“….Oshikura…Ryoji…?” I muttered unconsciously. It was the name of the man I would never forget.