Episode 144: Ethan’s Doubts
While running, Yuma took out his phone and called Kanzaki.
“President! Did you see the news!? It’s a disaster!!”
Unlike the flustered Yuma, Kanzaki replied with perfect composure.
“Yeah, you’ve become quite famous, haven’t you?”
“What are you talking so calmly about! I’m being treated like a monster and hunted by the government!”
To Yuma’s indignation, Kanzaki soothed, “Now, now.”
“It’s certainly a problem, but as long as you don’t ‘Metallize’ or manifest ‘Metal Armor,’ they won’t be able to find you.”
“That… might be true, but…”
What he was saying was true, but that didn’t alleviate his anxiety.
“Well, it’s understandable that you’re worried. I’ll consult with Aisha once, so you should try to live your life as usual. And don’t ‘Metallize’ under any circumstances!”
“Understood.”
Yuma hung up the phone and let out a deep sigh.
He never thought it would come to this. Anyway, he should go home and calm down for now. Yuma walked home with heavy steps.
◇◇◇
At the International Dungeon Research Organization in Israel, an emergency meeting was being held. The agenda was more serious than ever, and the researchers who attended all wore grim expressions.
“This is the ‘Duke of Blue’ confirmed in India. The image is unclear, but it’s a humanoid Monster with a reptilian appearance.”
The conference room was filled with a heavy atmosphere. The researcher operating the projector calmly displayed the next image.
“This is an Insectoid Monster believed to be the ‘Duke of Green’ that appeared from the ‘Green Dungeon’ in Brazil. We only have footage from a distance, so this image is also not clear.”
Groans could be heard. The issue being discussed at this meeting was the simultaneous and widespread rampages of Monsters around the world. Many of them had crawled out onto the surface.
Of particular concern was the fact that even Unique Monsters had appeared and left the Dungeons.
There were four of them. Three Dukes and one Lord.
“Next are the Duke and Lord that appeared in Japan.”
This time, a clear video was displayed on a large screen installed in the conference room. A humanoid Monster with horns and fangs. Its entire body was red, and flames spewed from its back and shoulders.
“Oh, so that’s the ‘Duke of Red’… It looks just like the Ogres in the ‘White Dungeon’.”
It was James, a scientist from America, who raised his voice in surprise.
He glared bitterly at the video, glaring at the “Red Ogre” fighting the Japanese Seekers. It swung its powerful fists, and the flames it spewed melted the ground and buildings.
Even when wounded, it healed in the blink of an eye.
“A Duke with such high combat capabilities has appeared… It’s troublesome, but it’s dead, right? A stroke of good luck.”
Everyone nodded at James’ words, but Maya Berger, the senior researcher who chaired the meeting, closed her eyes and shook her head.
“No, the problem is the entity that defeated this Duke. Please show the next video.”
The researcher displaying the video data on the computer replied, “Yes,” clicked on another folder, and displayed the saved data.
What was shown was a Black Monster.
It punched away the Duke of Red and launched a fierce attack with incredible speed. The Duke tried to counterattack, but the scorching flames it unleashed had no effect on the Black Monster.
“This is… the Black Lord…”
Overwhelming strength and brutality. The Japanese Seekers attacked with ‘Water,’ ‘Lightning,’ and ‘Fire’ magic, but it didn’t seem to have any effect at all.
“This Black Lord is said to have fled after defeating the Duke, and its whereabouts are still unknown. Currently, the most dangerous is this Lord.”
At Maya’s words, the researchers closed their mouths, and silence spread.
In the midst of such a tense atmosphere, one researcher spoke up.
“That Monster… is it really a Lord?”
All eyes turned to the researcher who had spoken. Maya frowned.
“What do you mean? Ethan.”
Ethan Noble, who had been addressed, smiled and looked at the “Black Monster” in the video.
“I understand that it’s strong, but isn’t it a little premature to conclude that it’s a Lord?”
“Elceed, a company in Japan, used a device to measure the Monster’s Mana Index. The result was a Mana Index of over 10,000, so it’s reasonable to think of it as a Lord.”
“How reliable is that Mana Measurement Device?”
“It’s a prototype, but subsequent experiments have shown that it gives fairly accurate readings. I think we can trust it.”
Even though Maya stated that definitively, Ethan didn’t seem convinced.
“Over 10,000 means that the exact value hasn’t been measured, right?”
“Is it necessary to measure values higher than that? Ethan, what exactly are you questioning!”
To Maya, who spoke in a strong tone, Ethan replied with a nonchalant attitude.
“The Orpheus Tablet.”
“Huh?”
“When the three Dukes appeared on the surface, there was a clear change in the Stone Tablet. We recorded the Ore faintly glowing. However, there was no change in the Ore representing the Lord. Don’t you think that’s strange?”
At that opinion, Maya shook her head.
“Ethan… I understand your concerns, but not everything about the Orpheus Tablet has been elucidated. Even if it didn’t predict the appearance of the Black Lord, we can’t say it’s different based on that alone.”
“Yes, you’re absolutely right. I’m not saying it’s definitely not a Lord either.”
Maya sighed at Ethan, who raised both hands and shrugged.
“Well then, while gathering information from each country, we will make responding to the ‘Black Lord’ that appeared in Japan our top priority. We must also consider sending an international Seeker Clan to Japan.”
“In that case, how about asking England? That country’s top-ranked Seeker Clan has finished a large-scale subjugation and should be free now.”
It was Nikias, a physicist from Greece, who said that. He was a relatively new member who had become a chief researcher, and he was knowledgeable about international organizations.
“That’s right. Let’s pick out the Seeker Clans that can be sent to Japan, including the one from England.”
With Maya’s words, the emergency meeting ended, and Ethan left the conference room. Clark was waiting outside with an anxious expression.
“How was it? It was about the Unique Monsters, right?”
“More or less.”
The two of them walked down the stairs and along the long corridor to return to their laboratory.
“Ethan… do you still have doubts about the Lord that appeared this time?”
“Yeah, I do. The Orpheus Tablet has never failed to react when a Unique Monster has appeared before.”
“But it’s not absolute, is it? The sample size is too small.”
“That’s true, but…”
Ethan stopped and raised his gaze.
“That Lord… I have a feeling it’s too strong.”