Episode 116: Coming Out
Nighttime at the lodging facility where Yuma and the others were staying.
The three of them were gathered around a dining table in the living room. Chicken baguettes delivered from a nearby restaurant were lined up on the table, and Yuma was devouring an extra-large drumstick.
Next to him, Tanaka was nibbling on a small piece, while across the table, Kanzaki was chugging beer from a mug, his face already flushed red.
“Are you alright, President? You have work tomorrow, you know,” Tanaka said, concerned, but Kanzaki didn’t seem to care.
“I’m fine! We’re just staying on the surface anyway. There’s hardly any chance of us getting into a fierce battle.”
With that, he gulped down his beer. Yuma, who had been wondering about something, asked Kanzaki, who had just let out a satisfied sigh.
“President, even if that’s the case for us, are all the Elceed Seekers going to dive into the lower levels? Even rookies like Rui?”
“Rui? Ah, you mean that childhood friend of yours, the promising one?”
Kanzaki placed his mug on the table and wiped his mouth.
“I don’t think everyone’s going down there, but that rookie will probably go as far as the hundredth floor. If the rumors are true, his Mana Index is over 2000. If that’s the case, he’ll be a valuable asset.”
“Is that so?”
Yuma, who hadn’t heard about Rui’s recent progress, was surprised. He had heard that there were only a handful of people in the country with a Mana Index of 2000.
–He’s gotten that strong?
Seeing Yuma’s silence, Tanaka spoke up.
“Don’t worry, Yuma-kun. There will be plenty of top Seekers from around the country in the lower levels, including Tennoji-san. Even if strong Monsters appear, they’ll be able to handle it.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“More than that, we can’t let our guard down either. There’s always the possibility of Monsters appearing on the surface! Just the other day, I heard that a strong Monster escaped.”
“Really!? I didn’t hear about that!”
“That’s right. The details haven’t been made public, but it caused quite a stir. It’s a good thing the Monster died of exhaustion, or it would have been a disaster if it had gone to a populated city!”
Hearing that story, Yuma remembered the fire-breathing dog that had attacked him a few days ago.
“That’s right! Actually, I was attacked by a Monster-like dog the other day. Could it have been that escaped Monster…?”
“Eh? Really!?”
Tanaka’s eyes widened in surprise. Kanzaki, who had been listening, frowned and spoke up.
“You encountered a Monster? Where?”
“In Tokyo… near my house.”
“No way!”
Kanzaki and Tanaka said in unison.
“There’s no way it would go all the way from Ibaraki to there! You must have mistaken it for something else.”
Yuma, completely denied by Kanzaki, tried to argue, “Eh? But…”
“That’s just a large dog spitting saliva.”
“No, I’m sure it was different…”
“More importantly, we need to tell Tanaka-san about that!”
“About what?”
Yuma was confused, but Kanzaki said, “Idiot! The Metallization thing,” and Yuma remembered, “Ah!”
“You’re right, we need to tell him.”
“What, what’s this about?”
Tanaka chimed in, looking interested. Kanzaki cleared his throat and turned to Tanaka to begin explaining.
“Actually, when Yuma was exploring the Black Dungeon, Aisha made him drink a strange Demon Ore.”
“A strange Demon Ore?”
“Yeah, that’s right, isn’t it, Yuma!”
Suddenly addressed, Yuma hastily replied, “Eh? Yes, that’s right!”
“What kind of Demon Ore is it? It enhances your physical abilities, right?”
Tanaka asked cheerfully, and Yuma nodded as he stood up.
“Well, it’s easier to show you. I’ll show you.”
“Eh!? You’ll show me?”
Yuma glanced at Kanzaki, who nodded in agreement. Yuma took a slow breath and then tensed his entire body.
His hands and neck turned black, and even his face and hair transformed into steel.
Tanaka was dumbfounded by the transformation.
“Wh-wh-what is that!? What’s happening!?”
“I can turn my body into iron. Would you like to touch it?”
Yuma held out his hand, and Tanaka said, “R-really?” and cautiously reached out.
“Ah! It’s true… your skin is hard as a rock.”
Watching the surprised Tanaka, Kanzaki smiled proudly and said, “See! Isn’t it amazing?”
“I-incredible! I’ve never heard of a Demon Ore that causes such a transformation. This is a major discovery! If you announced this to the world, it would cause a sensation.”
Startled by those words, Kanzaki and Yuma panicked.
“W-well, Aisha said she would announce it herself later… it wouldn’t be right for us to announce it without her permission, would it?”
Tanaka frowned at Kanzaki’s statement, “Is that so?” Yuma also stammered, “Y-yes, that’s right! There’s a contractual relationship, right, President!”
“O-oh. That’s right! It would be a breach of confidentiality. Tanaka-san, please don’t tell anyone about this either.”
Tanaka looked perplexed, but then said,
“Well, if that’s the case… but it’s a shame. To make such an amazing discovery and not be able to talk about it.”
Seeing Tanaka’s disappointment, Kanzaki and Yuma breathed a sigh of relief. If the “Metallization” was made public, it could cause a stir in the Seeker community. They were already being watched by the Dungeon Association for clearing the Black Dungeon, so they wanted to avoid any unnecessary attention.
“Even if your body is made of iron, your physical defense must be high, but what about your resistance to magic? Can you withstand fire attacks?”
“Yes, I’m fine. When I’m in this form, my resistance to fire and other elements also increases…”
“That’s amazing! If Yuma-kun has such an ability, it seems like he’ll be able to manage even without Water Magic, President!”
“W-well, we’re planning to have Ishikawa prepare some Water Magic Gems to some extent, so we don’t have to worry about Yuma.”
“That’s right. I was a little worried, but it seems like we’ll be fine!”
Seeing Tanaka’s happy expression, Yuma felt relieved.
–Now, even if we’re attacked by Monsters, I can use “Metallization” in front of Tanaka-san. It might be surprising if I use “Metal Armor,” though.
Kanzaki, pleased that they had successfully come out, started drinking even more. Yuma and Tanaka gently chided him as the night quietly deepened.
◇◇◇
The next day, construction materials for the shelter were being brought into the dome where the Dungeon entrance was located, one after another.
Watching over it from outside the facility were the members of D-Minor, including Kanzaki.
Kanzaki was complaining about a headache from his hangover, so Yuma was worried.
“Are you alright, President? I told you not to drink too much…”
“Ouch, it never used to bother me when I was younger. Is it just old age?”
As they were talking, a man got out of one of the many Self-Defense Forces vehicles that had arrived. Yuma recognized the man.
“Yo, Ishikawa! I’ve been waiting for you.”
Kanzaki walked forward, holding his head, and stopped in front of Ishikawa. Ishikawa frowned as soon as he saw Kanzaki’s face.
“You reek of alcohol, Kanzaki! Do you even know this is work?”
“Yeah, I know. I just drank a little too much yesterday.”
Kanzaki scratched his head and grumbled annoyedly.
“Here, this is what I promised.”
Ishikawa took out a silver case from his pocket and handed it to Kanzaki.
“Oh, thanks! You’re a lifesaver.”
Kanzaki accepted the case with a broad smile and opened the lid.
Inside were several Water Magic Gems: Aquamarine and Iolite.