While Erana was healing my wounds, I inspected my broadsword and found a chip in it where I blocked the attack from the goblin. It's not like I have the luxury of going to a smith right now, so I have to bear with it.
Smoke is billowing out of a specific path and seems to be filling up the room we're in. Whatever had lit the flame that was producing this smoke must have done so very recently.
"I get a nagging feeling that our friends are going to be down the path the smoke is coming from." I muttered as I slowly rose to my feet.
"Yeah..." Erana stepped towards the path the smoke was coming from. "Judging by how today has gone so far... I doubt my luck can get any worse." She chuckled.
I swallowed my fear and edged closer to the tunnel entrance. As I listened as best I could, I think I heard the faint noise of someone screaming.
I quickly turned towards Erana. "D-Do you hear that?"
"The sound of the screams or of you gulping too loudly?"
"T-The first one!" I was amazed that she was even able to ask that question.
"Oh, that makes sense." She muttered as she turned to look back towards the path.
Is this girl as socially incapable as I am? I get the feeling she would have also been a hikikomori in Japan just as I was.
I began to walk down the path. "Stay close and stay low." I whispered. "You don't want to inhale that smoke. We don't know what it could be laced with, or if it is even really smoke to begin with"
"Understood." She nodded. "I'll follow you."
With that, we began to descend deeper into the tunnel. Since we were crouching, our movement was heavily impeded.
As we slowly moved forward, we came across a fork in the road.
"Which way now?" Erana poked at my shoulder and asked.
I looked at each available path. They're both just holes that lead off into the distance. The smoke has billowed too much, so I can't tell what way it's coming from now.
"I don't know!" I threw my hands up in frustration.
"Should I try to do that finger thing again?" Erana looked me in the eyes as she held her pointer finger to her mouth.
"I don't think that will help this time! Also don't say it like that, it makes it sound weird!" I waved my hand.
"Well... What else would you have me call it?"
"I-I don't know! Just don't call it the 'finger thing!'"
"I just don't see why it matters! It's just me putting my finger in-"
"HEY CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?" A scream echoed.
We both jumped when we heard a female voice shout out from one of the tunnels.
"Kany?" Erana muttered before she ran past me and into the tunnel to the right.
"H-Hey, wait for me!" I shouted out as I followed.
Inside of the room we entered, items like robes, clothing, and other various objects were scattered about on the ground. In the back part of the room, a wooden holding cage with a single occupant sat as it was bolted to the ground.
"Hey wait a minute…" I muttered.
I went towards one of the piles of clothing and found Tael's purple wizard robe and hat. This means that he's already been through here. More importantly, Tael has been stripped. This might be bad.
I placed Tael's robes and hat into my rucksack before I walked over to the cell.
"Erana! You came to save me! I'm so proud of you!" The girl inside the cage hopped onto the bars and smiled.
"Kany, you're okay! Thank goodness!" Erana seemed visibly relieved. She released all of the tension in her shoulders as she slowly walked towards the cage.
These two are having a heartfelt reunion as I am standing here awkwardly. Should I say something? ...No, probably not. That would probably be really awkward if I'm going to be honest.
"How did you get down here Erana?" The girl inside the cage dropped down from the bars. "Did you sneak inside?"
"I tried to, but I got captured!" She turned and pointed towards me. "This man right here saved me though! I have him to thank!"
"Oh?" The girl in the cage crossed her arms and looked at me with suspicion. "Why is there some guy wandering around on his own in a goblin cave at this time of the day?"
"Hey I'm right here."
We all stood around awkwardly for a moment. I approached the wooden holding cell where the girl is locked inside of and took a look at its prisoner.
Wait… I know this girl. Her blonde hair, skinny body, somewhat childish features, and even the voice!
"Shoes on the other foot now, isn't it?" I declared as I crossed my arms and looked down upon her.
The girl looked confused. "What do you mean, Onii-san? Do I know you from somewhere?"
Erana looked towards me and tilted her head. "Eh? Kenji-san, do you know Kany?"
Kany shrugged and looked towards Erana. "I've never met this guy before."
"Are you sure?" I leaned forward. "Are my eyes not 'lustful' enough for you now?"
"Ghg!" She snapped back. It seems like she just realized who I am.
"Ehehehe!" She looked away and began to scratch at the back of her head. "Well you see… I um…"
"You know I went to jail for what you did?"
"Eh? Kenji-san went to jail? Wait, what did Kany do?" Erana shifted her gaze from myself to Kany quickly.
I held my finger up to Erana's mouth. "Shhh. Erana-san, stay out of this for a moment."
"Eh? What's going on?" Erana fluttered her head from me to Kany and back to me multiple times. It seems like she has no idea about who this Kany person really is.
"W-Well Onii-san, I gotta say I'm impressed!" Kany closed her eyes. "Most people can't track me down twice!" She proclaimed with her hands on her hips. Her proud stature pisses me off.
"Apologize."
"Eh?" Her stance immediately broke.
"Do you have any idea what I went through because of you?" I leaned forward. Even I could feel the intensity I was giving off.
Kany is now sweating profusely. Erana looks incredibly uncomfortable.
Kany immediately began to shrink as she looked towards the ground. "I-I'm sorry I… got you sent to jail…"
"And...? Why did you get me sent to jail?"
She shrank more and began twiddling with here fingers. "I-I'm sorry for robbing your store…"
Erana let out a loud gasp. "Kany, you wouldn't!"
"Ehehehe!" Kany closed her eyes, stuck out her tongue, and faced Erana. "Sorry! I needed money and I had no idea what to do!" She used the most innocent voice she could muster.
"What else do you have to apologize for?"
She immediately opened her eyes in sudden realization before she turned to me and held her hands together, as if in prayer. "I'm sorry I said you planned to molest me."
"EH?" Erana seems to have hit her limit. "What's going on? Why are you bullying her? What happened between you two? Wait…" Erana covered her mouth and gasped. "Don't tell me you two used to date?"
"No that's wrong!" We both shouted in unison. Our voices echoed throughout the room.
"Huh?" She looked disappointed. "Then what happened?"
"Look, it's a long story." I waved my hand to dismiss the topic. "I'll tell you when we're not in a cave surrounded by man eating monsters."
"You're one to talk!" Kany shouted out from behind the bars.
"Shut up!" I stomped my foot. "I didn't ask you!"
"Pleh!" Kany stuck her tongue out at me.
I never imagined that the person Erana wanted to find would be her. If it were entirely up to me, I would probably toy around with the idea of leaving her in the cage. Watching her squirm would be delectable.
...However, right now I don't exactly have many options.
It's possible that this Kany girl could help me, just as Erana has. Judging by how Erana can't fight, Kany most definitely can. This must mean that if I get her help, she can help me find Tael.
"...Tell you what. I'll get you out of here if you do two things for me." I held up a finger. "First: When I let you out you need to help me get my friend as well. It's only fair."
She looked to the side and weighed her options. "...Fine. I'll do that."
I held up a second finger. "Second: You must apologize to me once again while in a dogeza."
"Eh?" She stepped back. "No way Onii-san!" Kany shook her head violently.
"Well I guess you'll just have to accept your fate then!" I shrugged as I turned around and began to walk away.
"W-Wait! Okay! I'll…" She looked towards the ground. Her white face slowly turned red in embarrassment. "I'll apologize…"
I immediately turned around and began to rub my hands together. This is going to be wonderful. Birthday wishes really do come true.
Kany reluctantly got into a dogeza and began to apologize. "I apologize for stealing from your store, calling you a molester with lewd eyes, and getting you sent to jail. I won't do it again."
"Ahh… Wonderful! Alright, I'll let you out." I said as I pulled out my adamantite dagger and walked towards the padlock.
"How do you plan on opening this?" Kany slowly backed away.
"I'll use the dagger as a lever. This thing is made of adamantite so it's probably tougher than any lock these guys will have."
I placed the dagger between the padlock and the door as I began to use my bodyweight as a lever.
"Hnnng!" I struggled. I can hear the noise of the metal from the lock buckling. Just a little more!
"...Need some help, Onii-san?" Kany was sitting on the floor of the cell. She absentmindedly was tracing her finger along the ground.
"No, no. I'm fine, really!" I began pulling once more. "Hnnng!"
"Do you… need a minute?" Erana took a step back from me.
This lock isn't budging anymore. I've been trying to break this open for at least a minute now. How do I break this it…? Wait, I know what to do!
"K-Kany..." I sheathed my dagger and held my hands together. "I want you to rush the door with your body weight. This lock is broken enough to where a good lurch should break it!" I held up my finger. "I-It's physics!"
She looked me up and down as she squinted at me. "Alright."
Despite her obvious look of disappointment with me, Kany walked to the back of her cell and charged the door with her shoulder forward. When she made contact with the door, the lock busted and the door flew open. Kany is now free!
"That actually worked!" She dusted herself off. "Wow! Good job Onii-san, to think I was doubting you!"
"Wow, Kenji-san!" Erana ran up to me. "Good job!"
"Ehehehe!" I began to look around as I scratched the back of my head. "You're too kind! I know I'm great and all, but I didn't think I'd need two pretty ladies to tell me I'm great!"
Kany went over to a pile of assorted objects and picked out a dagger. She equipped herself with her newfound weapon before she nodded.
"Alright. Let's get out of here Erana." Kany began to walk towards the entrance.
"Eh? Hey wait a minute!" I reached out to Kany. "What about our deal?"
Kany shrugged. "I broke myself out of there just now. Didn't you see?" She slipped away from me. "Sorry Onii-san, but our deal is null and void."
"Kany…" Erana muttered.
"Come on Erana!" She stamped her foot. "Don't get all soft now! You saw how this guy is!"
"Y-Yeah I saw, but… he did save me and also volunteered to help save you too..." Erana looked downwards.
"Yeah come on! We had a deal!" I clapped my hands as I stood beside Erana.
Erana and I both looked at Kany with puppy dog eyes. After a moment of squirming, Kany finally buckled under our dual guilt trip.
"Guh…" She looked between Erana and myself as she squirmed. "...Fine! But this is only because you saved Erana!"
"Alright! Let's go!" I hopped up in victrory.
With this, I temporarily added Kany the rogue to the party.