"Forget it. A few unexpected hiccups are normal. It's not a big problem."
Officer Shiratori comforted himself inwardly. "The road to success is always winding. Looking at it another way, it's precisely because there were unpleasant interruptions along the way that a wonderful date becomes all the more precious—Miwako must think so too."
Vermouth had no idea what Sato Miwako thought.
The Thousand-Faced Witch, currently acting as the driver, gripped the steering wheel and watched the road intently.
Although she had regretted getting behind the wheel almost as soon as she had yesterday, if someone tried to take the steering wheel from Vermouth now, she would be deeply uneasy. She had noticed Curacao's car with its slashed tires. And then there was Bourbon's horrifying experience...
Vermouth wished she could hold a microscope while driving and scan every inch of the road. She remained on high alert, unwilling to repeat the mistakes of her two colleagues.
As they drove on, the road gradually became muddy.
Vermouth frowned at the terrible conditions. "Did we take a wrong turn?"
"We didn't!" Suzuki Sonoko looked at the map. Though she did not understand it at all, her instincts told her they were on the right road. "The mountain villa we're going to advertises itself as being 'close to nature,' so mountain roads make sense—We'll stay one night at that Influencer Hotel ahead today, set out tomorrow morning, and walk another two or three hours. We should arrive then."
"I see." Vermouth could only grit her teeth and keep driving.
As the road worsened, the car began to jolt. Everyone who had fallen asleep from boredom was shaken awake.
Officer Sato rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. Suddenly, she spotted a billboard by the road and read it aloud. "'Shooting range'... It looks