Side: Yuki (Kazuya Torino)

"I'm off!"

I waved to everyone gathered at the dungeon entrance.

"Take care, Onii-san. Use this opportunity to see the continent well. I'm sure it will be useful in many ways."

"Leave the dungeon work to us. I'll do my best so we don't have to rely on your help too much, Yuki-san."

"If you find any delicious-looking alcohol, please keep me in mind."

"Please be careful. Even if that body is a proxy, I'm still worried."

"If you do exactly as I told you, you won't have any trouble with adventurers!"

"...Take care. Be safe."

"Onii-chan, I... I wanted to go with youuuuu!!"

"Nii-sama, find a weapon shop or an armor shop! Something that can serve as a reference for smithing!"

"...Leave your main body to me. I'll take good care of your... physical needs. It's fine if it feels good, right?"

Oh no. Labyris is going to devour my real body.

"Labyris. When I get back, I'll make things right, so please endure until then."

I took Labyris's hand and projected an image of a wedding hall, imagining her in a wedding dress. Then, I sent a blurred mental image of our wedding night.

"...!? Leave it to me. I'll handle things here properly."

Good, persuasion successful.

For the record, my main body is currently asleep in a futon. Since its metabolism is normal, when it needs to eat or use the bathroom, it switches to an "auto-mode"—which sounds weird, but it basically operates based on the Doppelganger's original personality.

That said, because the Doppelganger has been possessed by me for so long, its personality has become quite similar to mine. It feels like having a half-brother.

"Rurua-sama, I've summarized the documents for the treatment facility. I'm sorry I couldn't help until the end. But if I can return to Rithea, I'm sure..."

"Yes, take care as well, Elju-sama. I'll be fine. I believe we will meet again."

"I pray that your wish is fulfilled, Rurua-sama."

Rurua was also exchanging farewells with Elju and the others.

"Ah, Uncle Mobu and the rest of you, don't push yourselves too hard! You promised to play with me and Filia-chan, so you better come back... Have a safe trip!"

Aslin called out to Mobu's group, who had been somewhat forgotten in the shuffle. They looked surprised for a moment, but quickly broke into smiles.

"Yeah, I keep my promises! I'll bring back plenty of souvenirs!"

"...A place to return to, huh?"

"Then we definitely have to fulfill that promise."

They called back to Aslin. This farewell was dragging on, though. I figured I should give one final sign-off.

"Alright, let's say it one more time. Ready... go!"

" " " We're off!! " " "

" " " Take care!!! " " "

And so, the Hero set out on a journey.

...Well, actually a Dungeon Master. Specifically, a Doppelganger.

But when I think of a first departure, I only have the image of a Hero.

Man, I'm getting excited! I can feel my tension rising. Even if it's a fake body, it's my first time outside! Outside in an isekai!

...Well, thirty minutes later, I was already bored of the unchanging scenery.

Still, this continent is quite different from Japan. You don't see plains stretching to the horizon like this back home. There are forests nearby, but the mountains are so far off they just look like a blue haze.

"For now, we need to head to a nearby village or town to get some horses, or this is going to take a month."

Mobu spoke to me as I stood there, looking composed but bored.

"Ah, don't worry about that. I'll pull a vehicle out of my Item Box."

"Wait, you can't put living things in an Item Box, right?"

"It's not a living thing."

I was tired of walking, so the timing was perfect. I felt like mimicking a certain blue cat-type world-conquering robot. I pulled an item out based on that image.

"Ta-da! Better than a Hummer. The strongest commercial vehicle in history, capable of surviving a C4 blast. The Marauder!"

I saw it on the internet recently; it costs about $500,000.

Bulletproof glass, obviously. Thick armor. Two spare tires included. Plus, specialized run-flat tires. It can literally crush an average passenger car! It's perfect for off-roading—the ideal tool for this wild continent.

But isn't it expensive? No, no, it's only 30,000 DP. By the way, I spent about 50,000 DP on leveling up my Doppelganger. You might be thinking, "Hey, didn't you only have a bit over 500,000 DP?" Look, false reporting is a necessary part of life. Besides, I spent it before everyone arrived, so it's fine!

"Alright, let's hop in, let's hop in!"

I tried to sound like a country bumpkin for some reason.

"Is this... a vehicle?"

Exactly the reaction I expected.

"Yep. Hey Mobu, try slashing the glass with your sword at full power."

"Huh? It'll break."

"Just do it. That's the only way you'll understand how useful this thing is. Raiya, Kurse—you guys try your spears and magic too."

"Me too?"

"Magic is probably going too far."

"No, if your attacks can break it, there's no point in riding it. So give it everything you've got. Rurua, you want a go?"

"No, I'll pass."

10 minutes later.

"W-What is this glass?! It... it won't break... forget breaking, I can't even leave a scratch!"

"What are these weird wheels made of? My thrusts won't go through..."

"It survived an Explosion...? Impossible..."

All three of them were out of breath.

Yes, I've used magic to buff it, but the fact that they couldn't even chip the paint is terrifying. Magic is scary. And so is the Marauder.

"Alright, looks like the durability is fine. Everyone, pile in!"

I climbed into the driver's seat.

...Wait. If I think about it, I'm the only one who can drive this, aren't I? Dammit, I can't relax in the passenger seat!

"...Hey, go to the back. That's where you get in, right?"

"...No, there are three doors."

When people have no concept of cars, a lot of things don't get through.

I explained while opening the two side doors and the rear.

"Throw your luggage in the back. Put it somewhere it won't get in the way of your seats."

"Is it like a carriage?"

Mobu muttered as he climbed into the back seat. Well, calling it an evolved carriage probably isn't wrong.

"Ah, Kurse, come to the passenger seat. I need a navigator."

"Understood."

Kurse climbed into the passenger seat.

"...What is this chair? ...It's way too comfortable."

Of course it is. Don't compare it to a wooden carriage.

"Still, Yuki. Can this lump of iron actually move? And if it does, will it be fast?"

"Just watch."

I started the engine. By the way, the ignition isn't a key; it's fingerprint and mana authentication. High-tech meets magical security!

"So, are the doors closed? I'm locking them."

It would be a problem if someone opened a door suddenly. I locked them from my console.

"...So these weird indentations act as the lock."

Rurua observed the automatic locks clicking into place.

"Don't open them. We're moving now."

I gave the warning and stepped on the gas. The vehicle began to move slowly. Good, there truly seems to be no damage to the engine or the body.

"Whoa. It moved, but at this speed..."

Mobu voiced his dissatisfaction.

"Alright, I'm speeding up."

I accelerated from 10 km/h to about 40 km/h. Any faster on this uneven ground and we might roll over.

"Wha—so fast!?"

"Incredible."

"...At this rate, it might not even take a week."

Driving alone is boring, so I turned on some music.

I played the theme from Top Gun, "Danger Zone". Personally, I think it's perfect for driving.

"What is this sound!?"

"Just music. I played it because I was bored."

"What do you mean 'played it'? Are you the one performing?"

"As if. It's an application of things like 'Call.' It has a function to record and play back sounds."

"Haaa, how luxurious."

Hey, without this, I'd die of boredom on a long-distance drive.

I continued driving leisurely for a while. Our current speed was 70 km/h. At this rate, we could cross into another province in about an hour, right? I love that there are no traffic laws. It's a bit bumpy since it's off-road, though.

"So, Kurse. Which village or town should we stop at? We'll get out before we get too close, obviously. We're about to stir up trouble; we don't want to do anything that draws unnecessary attention."

"...True. At this speed, if we keep going straight, there's a small city. Kiris City. It's near the border between Roshure and the Holy Kingdom of Rithea. We'll need to go on foot to cross the checkpoint and enter Rithea."

"What's needed to cross the checkpoint?"

"Basically, money. There shouldn't be anything else troublesome... However, by schedule, it should take four days to reach Kiris even by fast horse. And yet, with this... we'll probably arrive today..."

Kurse said this with a look of exasperation, watching the scenery fly by.

"Hey, Yuki. Don't you need to let this thing rest?" Mobu called out from the back seat.

"Don't need to. Its top speed is much higher than this. Plus, this isn't a living thing, so it doesn't need a break. If anything, it getting cold is more of a problem."

"Seriously? That's insanely convenient."

"You guys just eat and drink as you like. It's past noon."

"Alright, we'll help ourselves then."

Mobu reached back and pulled out a plastic bottle.

"Hey, don't you dare drink alcohol."

"Idiot, Raiya! Quiet down!"

That bastard. He hid booze in a plastic bottle.

"Seriously, don't drink. Monsters might show up, you know?"

"Yeah, this is a major highway. Strong monsters are cleared out, but bandits and weak monsters still appear. Mobu-san, please stop for now. Yuki is... still a novice, technically."

"A novice? Since when?"

"Well, it is my first time outside."

"Hah, I'm gonna drink and sleep."

Right. My appearance is that of a sweet 15-year-old boy. In the plan Mobu and the others discussed, I was rescued by them and, admiring their strength, decided to follow them. Rurua is set as my older sister, also following Mobu's group. She's already in disguise.

"Nee-chan, give me some tea."

"...Hah!? N-Nee... You mean me?! That feels so weird..."

"Tea, please."

"Y-Yes. Here you go."

A bottle of tea was handed over from behind. I expertly opened the cap and drank while driving one-handed.

"You're quite skillful."

"You could do it too, Kurse, if you got used to it."

We passed a few carriages and people who were shocked by us, but since I'll hide the car in the Item Box soon, I felt bad that no one would believe their stories later.

Rest in peace, their credibility.

After about three hours of this leisurely isekai driving safari tour, Kurse noticed something.

"10 o'clock. At the edge of the forest... there's a group of about 5 or 6 Trolls."

Kurse had actually learned what "o'clock" directions meant from watching the Goblin training. Impressive. Looking in that direction...

"Oh, those are definitely Trolls. Three-meter class... there's even a five-meter one. Big ones."

Mobu also confirmed the Trolls.

"What should we do? We could just ignore them."

"We're on a journey in a hurry. That said, thanks to this Marauder, our speed is extraordinary. Either way is fine, isn't it?"

"A five-meter class... it would take Mobu, Raiya, and me about an hour to subjugate them. Well, with a Saint and a Dungeon Master here, it probably wouldn't take that long."

I stopped the Marauder for a quick conference, but the consensus was "whatever."

"KYAAAAAH! Stay away! Don't come any closer!"

A girl's voice echoed from the group of Trolls.

"...Wait, did you see a person?"

"No."

"......Wait, I see someone small. A child... but something's weird about them?"

"...!? Yuki, I suggest we help. That's a Fairy!"

"Eh!? A Fairy?! Why are they showing themselves in a place like this!?"

For now, I revved the engine and slammed the accelerator. Given the distance, reaching 60 km/h should be enough.

"Everyone, put on your seatbelts! We're crushing the Trolls in one go!"

"Huh!?"

"You're not getting out to fight!?"

"...No way."

Mobu and the others turned pale.

"I mean, against biological masses of that size? A car at speed will flatten them."

The Trolls looked like fat guys with clubs—similar to the ones in Dragon Quest. Still, one was five meters tall. And unlike a hunk of iron or a four-wheeled vehicle, it was bipedal. I aimed for the legs and performed a Marauder Tackle. Behold the power of a hunk of iron at 60 km/h!

"Someone, pleaaaase!!"

Looking closely, the Fairy girl was holding someone else. I honked the horn to draw the Trolls' attention toward us and away from them. The leader Troll became the first creature in this world to die in a car accident.

"Eh?"

From her perspective, it must have looked like a Troll being sent flying by a strange object that came from the side.

A human body... or rather, a Troll body, actually bends into a V-shape. I didn't feel much of an impact... Magic shock absorption is amazing. This could probably mitigate the shock from mortars or tank shells. I'll think about that later.

The Troll was covered in blood, weakened enough that I didn't even need to run it over again. I hit all the remaining Trolls too. Sorry. Is this what it feels like to hit a person? Total time taken: 5 minutes.

I'm not the one at fault for accidentally shouting "STRIKE!!" It really did look like bowling.

One of them timed it well enough to hit the Marauder with its club, but it just bounced off. It's basically an armored vehicle; it's impossible to break it with biological strength, right?

To finish up, I carefully crushed the heads of the lying Trolls. Extermination complete.

"I... I have witnessed a terrible absurdity."

"...Are you planning to lay siege to a castle with this thing?"

"What would it even take to stop this?"

"......Um, please don't drive this in the capital of Rithea, okay? Please?"

Most of the passengers were grumbling, but I ignored them. I drove the car right up to the Fairy girl.

"Hii...!? No, d-don't come any closer!?"

She was holding another person who seemed to be unconscious, shielding them and backing away. Well, to her, we're a mysterious object that just flattened and slaughtered a group of Trolls. For now, I got out of the car and called out to them.

"We have no hostile intent. If you can't trust us, we'll leave immediately. If you'll allow it, we'd like to provide treatment... what do you say?"

I spoke in a businesslike tone. I don't have time to be a hero who stops to take care of every stray cat and dog. That said, based on Mobu's conversation, they're a rare race, so I thought it would be good if I could bring them over to our side.

"Ah, eh? A human?"

She was confused, but I didn't need to wait for her to calm down. In fact, this was an opportunity. While she's confused, if I act before she can organize her thoughts...

"Sorry. We don't have time to answer questions one by one. If you come with us, we'll treat you. If not, sorry, but we'll have to leave you behind."

"E-Eh?"

"I see. I pray that good fortune finds you on your path. Well then..."

I turned my back to her. Yes, if I do this, unless something is very wrong...

"W-Wait! I'll go! I'll go with you! Please save my companion!"

Psychologically, this is the inevitable result.

In her mental state, we are mysterious monsters that defeated the Trolls in an instant. Then, I get out and show goodwill by offering to treat them. Even if a human coming out of a monster offers treatment, her judgment is overloaded. And then, I set a time limit by saying we have no time.

The information she has is: "Defeated Trolls," "Resulted in being saved," "Mysterious," "Will provide treatment," "Will leave if unwanted," and "No time."

If she were to judge these points as "good" or "evil":

* Defeated the trolls → Good

* Was saved as a result → Good

* Unknown → Deliberately Evil

* Offers treatment → Obviously Good

* Won't harm if she refuses → Ambiguous (could be Good or Evil)

* No time → Evil for her, but she can't judge, so Neutral.

The verdict: 4 "Good," and 2 or 3 "Evil." If she has even a modicum of rational judgment, she has no choice but to reach out.

Conversely, if she didn't reach out, I would have to assume their village or something similar was nearby. If she didn't react at all or just denied everything, she'd only be a hindrance on my journey, so I wouldn't need her. Even if they are a rare race, I have no intention of being friendly with those who won't cooperate.

With those thoughts in mind, I picked them up and handed them to Rurua, who was staring blankly in the back seat.

"I'll leave the treatment to you. Now, where is the part needed for proof of subjugating Trolls? Let's take it quickly and move on."

I kicked Mobu and the others into gear to collect the loot, and we set off for our destination again.

"What on earth is going on!?"

The Fairy girl, who was receiving treatment in the back seat, screamed. Well, I guess this turned into a good way to kill time.