Crown of the Wonderland ⑥
When I returned to the campfire, everyone was sitting or leaning back as they pleased.
Liv-san and Bid-san were casually maintaining their weapons.
Ax-san and Hoss-san were playing the board game ‘Shield Board’.
It’s a classic board game. It’s called Shield Board because you play it on a shield.
The ruleset the two were playing was called ‘King Road’.
Ax-san looked like he was losing.
Well, I guess they wouldn’t play ‘Krum’, huh.
That one has too much gambling involved; wasn’t it banned during explorations?
Come to think of it, Ax-san… I feel like he hasn’t been talking to the women.
Hoss-san is acting strange too. Rell-san is the same as always.
Rell-san was near the entrance, looking outside.
He’s acting normally, but somehow, everyone feels distant.
Maybe it’s because there are so many women?
Ah, right, the Fang of Thunder weren’t used to interacting with the opposite sex, so they were bad at it.
I’d completely forgotten since they acted normally around Mineha-san.
Let’s see, the women are…
Luminous-san. Ms. Pachira. Liv-san. Bid-san. Mineha-san.
And probably Megadia-san, who I assume is here. That’s six people.
And the men are, uh, let’s see, me. Ax-san. Rell-san. Hoss-san.
Alexander-san counts as one of us too, I suppose. Five people.
Only a one-person difference, huh.
Then, at Luminous-san’s command, everyone except Rell-san gathered around the campfire.
Rell-san was the gatekeeper.
“Well then, let us talk. First, Ax-san.”
“O-Oh… Us first? Well, fine by me. We were originally—”
Ax-san began his explanation.
Hoss-san also spoke, and since Rell-san wasn’t here, I added supplementary details.
“So that’s how it is, huh.”
“…Hmph, a Land Catfish, you say.”
“Yes, but is there something wrong with that?”
Lupinus-san’s way of speaking irked me slightly.
“When you ask if there’s something wrong, y’know…”
“Hmm. Indeed.”
What’s this? It feels unpleasant.
Is it because it’s a Monster? It is a Monster, but even Monsters can become adventurers.
It’s strange that they can, but… what is this? The mood has turned weird.
“…Nn. Earthquake… Related to this…”
“Next, it is our turn.”
Ms. Pachira began explaining the events up until now.
The Dungeon Anomaly Subjugation Team had been progressing smoothly through the levels.
Since the investigation team had already located the floor with the anomaly, the path there hadn’t been too difficult.
Above all, there were two Tier II adventurers present.
Agaro of the [Ruinblade]. Megadia the [Black Glutton]. They were overwhelming.
That’s why Ms. Pachira and the others thought the anomaly subjugation would end quickly.
And finally, the Anomaly Subjugation Team confronted the dungeon anomaly.
On that floor, there was a half-destroyed colosseum.
A desolate arena devoid of spectators.
In its center stood a giant Land Catfish and The Fool.
The Fool. A humanoid Monster resembling a jester. Apparently, it’s Undead.
It wore a black and white jester costume and a red and blue four-pronged hat.
It had a painted mask smiling in ecstasy.
Yes, it was Crown.
It sat with its legs crossed on a throne so gaudy it looked cheap.
When Crown saw Ms. Pachira and the others, it laughed absurdly.
And apparently, Megadia-san snapped first.
As she charged forward, intending to defeat it, the giant Land Catfish roared.
Then, with a snap of its fingers, Crown summoned giant Mimics to the four corners of the arena.
There were three giant Mimics.
Mimic Panic Box. Mimic Strange Box.
Mimic Monster Box.
It seems that Black Box wasn’t there.
“We and Megadia each took on a giant Mimic. Agaro went for Crown. We each challenged our respective foes.”
“Ahhh man. That time was, like, super! Ugh! It was tough!”
“In the first place, they’re just nasty. Those Mimics.”
“N-Nasty?”
Ax-san reacted to Lupinus-san’s words.
Bid grinned unpleasantly.
“…Well, yeah. An enemy of women, yeah.”
“It certainly was vile.”
“What kind of Mimics were they?”
I couldn’t help but ask. Liv-san answered.
“Nn… Lots of tentacles… The kind that come out…”
“Ah, ahh, that kind…”
I understood instantly. A box that sprouts all sorts of tentacles.
Yeah, the women wouldn’t like that at all.
“Nn… Also… Crouton. Got stabbed in the stomach by a tentacle… Almost died…”
“I healed him with my special stuff, didn’t I?”
Could that ‘special stuff’ be that small vial? Did she use the Elixir there?
Crouton… he was a member of Zan Brave, wasn’t he? One of the people left behind.
Bid-san frowned suspiciously.
“Was that really a High Potion?”
“Nn… True…”
“Now that you mention it, yes.”
“I told you when I healed him, didn’t I? That it was a special kind of High Potion. What is wrong with you lot? Any further inquiries require an information fee. Also, Bid, I’ll be billing you for Crouton’s treatment.”
Ms. Pachira said irritably.
“It’s nothing. Anyway, let’s continue the story.”
“Nn… Continue…”
“I merely thought it seemed plausible when it was mentioned. I have no connection to it.”
The others quickly backed down.
I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
“Honestly. So, we somehow managed to defeat the giant Mimics. All that remained was Crown and the giant Land Catfish. While we were fighting, the giant Land Catfish caused an earthquake. The next thing we knew, we were on a different floor. It was the same phenomenon that happened to Woff and the others.”
“That giant Land Catfish has the Relic [Earthquake] and the Relic [Teleport], huh.”
“It was troublesome.”
A giant Land Catfish.
Indeed, even in my past life’s memories, there were legends of large catfish causing earthquakes.
I never thought it would be the same in another world.
No, wait, Land Catfish are giant salamanders, so maybe it’s different.
A giant salamander… like that mafia boss from that super famous sci-fi work?
“When we returned, The Fool had multiplied. The giant Land Catfish had been riddled with holes by Megadia, and immediately after, there was another earthquake. When we came to, we were here.”
“When that giant Land Catfish was defeated, it triggered the Relic [Earthquake], you mean.”
“Talk about a parting shot!”
“Bid. That’s not a word a girl should use.”
“S-Sorry… So, the leader, Crouton, and Romomo, who were near the giant Land Catfish… And Mr. Agaro didn’t get teleported, right?”
“So four people were left behind over there. Judging by the members, we probably don’t need to worry.”
That was a relief. Still, it didn’t mean they were safe.
I recalled lyrics from my past life: ‘Going is easy, returning is scary.’
That was from ‘Toryanse,’ wasn’t it?
“Right, the Hishimochi skewers are grilled. Everyone, eat up.”
Hoss-san distributed the Hishimochi skewers.
They were made by mixing ‘hishi’ nuts and popped beans, kneading them into dumplings, and grilling them.
These were also in the Temple District’s Storage Cellar.
The Hishimochi had a simple taste. It seemed like it would go well with sweet sauce or salt.
“Now then, I would like to discuss what we should do from here.”
“Nn… From Liv… Regarding Crown… Its… Relic… is called… 【Vanish】… apparently. It can create… transparent spheres… if hit… that part… is erased… Nn. Relic…”
A murmur went through the group at Liv-san’s information.
“So that’s what the invisible juggling was?”
“You can’t see it, and if it hits you, you’re out… What a horrible Relic.”
“That certainly sends a chill down one’s spine.”
“Nn… But Liv’s Taygete could block it…”
“Means we can deal with it, right?”
“Liv. Where did you obtain this information?”
“Nn… That… the boy…”
Everyone’s gaze focused on me.
“Uh, um, well…”
“Woff-kun?”
“You…”
“Nn…”
“What is going on? Child. Why do you know this?”
“Th-That’s, well, my Relic, [Danger Detection], lets me see the enemy Crown’s Relic.”
I decided to go along with Liv-san’s misunderstanding.
“[Danger Detection]… Come to think of it, Liv mentioned that.”
“What kinda Relic is that?”
“Nn… Understands enemies… Relic.”
“Handy, huh!”
“Hmm. Indeed, if that’s the case, then one could perceive even unseen things.”
“Y-Yes.”
“I understand. However, how do you know the name of the enemy’s Relic, 【Vanish】? Child.”
“That’s…”
“—Woff is The Witch’s apprentice.”
Ax-san stated. The murmuring intensified.
“Apprentice to That Witch, you say?”
That Witch.
“Nn… That Witch… Various things… Makes perfect sense.”
That Witch. What do you mean, ‘various things’?
“Well, I’ll be. That Witch’s… Hmm.”
That Witch. Why does Ms. Pachira look so displeased?
“Woff-kun. Is ‘The Witch’ That Witch!?”
That Witch. Yes. That Witch.
“Y-Yes. That Witch…”
What’s with this chain reaction of ‘That Witch‘? Damn That Witch.
Lupinus-san let out a deep sigh.
“I understand. We have learned valuable information about the enemy. Child. We thank you.”
“N-No, I just…”
Swept up in the moment, I ended up telling a lie.
“Does anyone else have anything they wish to do?”
“We should search, after all.”
“What about the giant Mimics?”
“Nn… That too… is there.”
“That’s right.”
“Hey, uh… Megadia-san. Is she really in this Innermost Area?”
Ax-san asked abruptly.
“What do you mean?”
“She might have been left behind like the other four, y’know.”
“That is impossible. At that time, Megadia was delivering a roundhouse kick to one of The Fool.”
“I see. Wait, a roundhouse kick?”
While wearing a gothic lolita outfit?
“Also, it’s concerning that Alexander hasn’t come back yet.”
“Ah, we need to look for him.”
“Alexander-san… He went off for our sake and hasn’t returned.”
He hasn’t come back yet, but I’m sure he’s okay.
After all, he’s a former Tier I Seeker.
“That’s a Land Catfish… right?”
Bid-san?
Lupinus-san spoke without reservation.
“Excuse my rudeness, but this monster named Alexander. Can he truly be trusted?”
“Hey! That’s genuinely rude. He may be a monster, but he’s a former Tier I Seeker.”
Ax-san got angry. He glared at Lupinus-san.
Ah, this is bad. Lupinus-san crossed her arms and continued.
“What is it? My suspicion is perfectly natural.”
“Are you thinking he’s one of them just because he’s also a Land Catfish?”
That was something everyone must have considered, even briefly, given the giant Land Catfish and Alexander both being Land Catfish.
The thought had crossed my mind too. But this was bad.
Ax-san and Lupinus-san. They were probably like oil and water.
And if this confrontation continued, the unity we’d just formed would crumble.
Now wasn’t the time for this.
Just then, Hoss-san struck the ground with the butt end of his halberd.
Thud! A heavy sound echoed. Everyone turned around.
“Ax. Lupinus didn’t go that far. Everyone calm down now.”
“Hoss-san.”
“———Understood.”
“…Yeah. Sorry.”
Lupinus-san and Ax-san moved apart.
“I merely… suspected because they look similar.”
“Mm… Lupinus. Let’s trust him.”
At Liv-san’s words, Lupinus-san sighed and looked at me.
Wh-why?
“Child. What are your thoughts?”
“Me? Um, why?”
“You’ve met him before too, haven’t you, child?”
“I don’t think Alexander-san is an enemy in the slightest.”
“And why is that?”
Why? Simply put, Alexander-san… owes me one.
Setting that aside, though.
“I certainly understand the concern. Despite the difference in size, they are the same kind of monster. It’s natural to harbor suspicion, even if it’s just a coincidence.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Woff…”
“However, I think it’s strange to act or react as if there’s a definite connection based solely on that.”
“…That is…”
“By the way, without Alexander-san, we cannot escape from here.”
“Child. What do you mean by that?”
“Have you forgotten? Alexander-san is the only one who possesses a Return Transfer Array and can set it up.”
“That’s right.”
“That’s true too. According ta Ax’s group, there’s a high chance we’re trapped here.”
“Escape… I hadn’t thought about that.”
“Mm… Important… Liv forgot too…”
“Indeed.”
“That’s the situation. I understand the concerns, but we don’t have time for that right now. Besides, while it’s fine to harbor suspicions, this isn’t the place to resolve them. If you have complaints, please meet him yourself and discuss it directly, one-on-one——Is that acceptable, Lupinus-san?”
“…Child… You’re quite something, aren’t you?”
Lupinus-san said, looking vexed.
I didn’t want to think about it. I really didn’t want to think about it, but—Lupinus-san.
It felt like she was trying to turn her suspicion into a condemnation right here and now.
I got the feeling she believed any action could be justified if she gained enough support.
That’s impossible. It can’t be justified.
At the very least, I felt irritated by this whole affair.
If she was going to say things like that, then what about me, who possesses the same Relic as Crown?
Naturally, I couldn’t say that aloud. But this was troublesome.
I had actually considered revealing that I also possessed the Relic [Vanish].
Given the situation, I should have shared any information I could.
But with the way things were going, I might end up being treated like a monster too.
Still, had these people really forgotten about escaping?
I felt a pang of anxiety.
Of course, there was that earthquake from the giant Land Catfish’s final tremor.
It was unclear how that had affected this Dungeon.
According to Alexander-san’s theory, if the Dungeon was trying to revert to its original state, there might be an exit.
However, confirming that… would have to wait.
“Also, this is more of a question, but… are Land Catfish Dungeon monsters?”
Before that, were Land Catfish even monsters? I seemed to recall they were also considered animals.
“It doesn’t matter. If they pose a threat, our job is to subjugate them.”
Everyone nodded at Lupinus-san’s words. That much was true.
After that, it was decided that we would search for Megadia-san while simultaneously dealing with the Mimics.
There was some disagreement here, but finding Alexander-san was prioritized.
“Eh… What is… this crowd?”
All eyes turned towards the sudden voice.
Mineha-san flew over, looking bewildered.
She flinched when she became the center of attention, looking nervous.
Then, spotting me, she flew straight over and perched on my shoulder.
Face bright red, she glared at me, demanding an explanation.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
With this group, maybe we could manage somehow.
“Sorry to interrupt while you’re all worked up, but we have guests.”
The person Rell-san guided over was… no way.
“We finally made it. Ahh, I’m so tired.”
“Good grief, what a day this has been.”
A bewitching beautiful girl with purple eyes, a hime haircut, and wearing a tattered gothic lolita dress.
She was taller than even Ax-san.
And, unmistakably, a Japanese Giant Salamander holding a kiseru.
“Alexander-san!?”
“The Land Catfish!”
“Megadia-san!”
“It’s Alexander!”
“Well now.”
“It’s a miracle!”
“Mm… Good, good.”
It was the one person and one creature we were just about to search for.