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Chapter 18 Invitation to the hideout
We pass through the narrow alleys of the castle town. I followed Niña’s back as she walked swiftly through the maze like streets to the right and to the left.
Well, it’s a familiar sight in the game. I’d passed through it before to get Nina to join me. The scenery around the area gradually changed from small and neat to shabby and dirty, and gradually there were more and more gruff-looking people hanging out on the street.
“Hmm, that’s pretty ballsy. Anta.”
“Well, what?”
“Well, you know, most of the guys in the centre of the castle town who wander in here look frightened and hurry off. Aren’t you scared, Gustav? This place is already a slum.”
“Well, if you ask me if I’m scared or not, I’d say I’m cared.”
“Huh, I’ve never heard ‘scared’ with so little feeling.”
Well, that’s true. I’ve already learned about it in the game, so it’s not really that bad. And, as you’d expect, I’m not at the level of losing to the ruffians around here anymore.
“You’re sure to get tangled up easily, so be careful, okay?”
“Eh? Why?”
“Well, you’re kind of spaced out, you’re walking around aimlessly, you’re covered in skins, and you’re wearing equipment that looks so expensive. It’s like a chicken trying to get an interview at a fried chicken shop.”
“Oh, the ‘duck comes with green onion on its back’ saying is in our world too!!.”.
But I see. So that’s why Nina targeted me and stole my money. But have I been that careless? I wonder if living in a peaceful country like Japan makes people less conscious of crime prevention.
“Anyway, if you don’t want to look like an idiot, be careful. Come on, our hideout is just around the corner.”
We walked through a somewhat dusty, flies flying slum, and at the end of an alleyway was a huge pile of illegally dumped rubbish. It was just like in the game. As I recall, Nina and her friends had dug through this rubbish heap to create a living space where they could shelter from the wind and rain.
“But it’s really impressive to see it in person. Now, where is the entrance?”
“Oh, surprise. Why did you think this was where we were staying?”
“Uh, well, that’s just how it looked somehow 
”
“And you don’t seem upset. Sometimes the guardians come to patrol the area, but even they just look at this rubbish heap with disgust and pretend not to see it.”
“Well, is that so?”
“Yes, that’s right. But you’re different
 You 
”
“Huh?”
She looks at me feverishly, as if there were strong emotions in her eyes.
Is it possible that she suspects something, or something? When I think about it, I think my reaction was unnatural. For me, it’s a bit of a fun situation to see the scenery I saw in the game right in front of me! It’s a situation that makes me happy, but if you’ve lived in this world from the beginning and are seeing this situation for the first time, it’s natural for you to be a bit upset at the sight of a pile of rubbish.
I’m just a weird guy, aren’t I? Or, to make matters worse, if you think about it, don’t I actually look like someone who’s been stalking Nina behind her back?
The more I think about it, the more I feel like a stalker. Maybe she suspects you of being a stalker..?
“Well, you know, I am. ..”
“—”
Ah, I’m getting an even hotter gaze from Nina. Oh, no. This is definitely the look of a suspected stalker, probably. I have to make some excuses.
“No, well, what the hell. You see, this rubbish heap is the other side of the seemingly glamorous castle town. As a guardian of the castle town, I think it’s a bad idea to turn a blind eye to this kind of truth.”
“Heh. 
”
“I also admire the tact of using places like this to protect children. This is a gentle wisdom to survive in this often hard and painful world with children who cannot yet live on their own. I can’t just turn a blind eye to that. 

”
The only route to take here is to accept the reality that unfolds in front of us! So I tried to reason with her. Well. What do you think?
“Oh, gentle wisdom! You’re a weird one after all, Gustav 
”
Nina turned away again with a shrug.
Ah, I’ve been labeled a weirdo. That means I’m a complete stranger, me.
Nina’s face is bright red. She must be angry that her stalker, me, had tricked her. It was then that I was wondering what on earth to do.!
“No! Let go of me!”
Suddenly, from the center of the rubbish heap came the cries of a little girl. Me and Nina looked at each other and then immediately started running. Apparently, now is not the time to talk about stalkers.
And up the rubbish heap we go.
“Oh, I’ve been waiting for you, you’re Kirahime, The Shining Princess of Ash Alley 
?”
Waiting there was the Hero Ark, the man we had seen in the throne room just recently, holding the collar of a little girl.