“President, I did it!”
“Oh! You managed to do it properly.”
Kanzaki and Yuma were delighted that they could activate “Water Magic” without any problems, but Tanaka, standing next to them, widened his eyes in surprise.
“W-Wait a minute! This is outside the Dungeon. Why can you use magic?”
Kanzaki and Yuma froze, realizing, “Ah!”
“W-Well, you know! It seems like Mana is overflowing from the Dungeon. So there’s Mana around here too!”
When Kanzaki answered falteringly, Tanaka nodded in agreement, “Oh, that’s right.”
Seeing that, the two breathed a sigh of relief.
“Yuma, the ‘Water Magical Power’ you just used is stored in the [Water Vein Club]. It won’t be wasted, so don’t worry.”
“Is that so…”
Even with the Magic Gem absorbed, his Mana Index was only around 300. If he used it carelessly, it would disappear in an instant.
It was a relief that Magical Power would remain in the club.
As Yuma was still gazing at the glowing [Magic Enchanted Armament], a loud voice was heard from the other side.
“Companies waiting on the ground, please come this way! We will hand out the schedule-related materials.”
Several Self-Defense Forces personnel were calling out to the gathered people. It seemed that the Self-Defense Forces were in charge of the operation command on the ground.
Yuma and the others moved towards the dome along with the Seekers from other companies.
◇◇◇
Inside the facility—a large room with the Dungeon entrance. Rui was lined up as a member of the “Roar of the Raijuu.”
The Bulkhead Door that had been broken by Monsters had already been repaired.
–Still, there are amazing people gathered here.
Rui looked around with a nervous expression. Lined up there were some of the top-class Seekers in the country.
Aizus Corporation’s number two Clan, “Aqua Blade,” Farmel’s strongest Clan, “Rosario,” Kagurazaka Pharmaceuticals’ large-scale Clan, “Ashura,” and other Clans from companies considered to be semi-major were lined up.
Crossing in front of such an impressive lineup, Elceed Corporation’s Honda climbed onto the prepared platform.
“Thank you for waiting. Now that the Seeker Clans from each company are assembled, we will now depart. The materials to be transported have already been unloaded on the first floor of the Dungeon, and the Seekers protecting them are also waiting on the first floor.”
Rui straightened his posture. Combining the Seekers in this place and on the first floor, there were probably over a hundred people.
And on the ground, there were over five hundred Self-Defense Forces personnel and Seekers.
Rui had never heard of such a large-scale operation. More than anything, he felt a sense of responsibility for being able to play a part in it.
“The security up to the 50th floor is entrusted to B-rank companies. A-rank companies will be responsible for the security after that, so please conserve your Magical Power. Once you arrive at the 100th floor, there will be many things to do, such as securing a supply route to the ground and setting up a simple ‘Safety Zone.’ However, given the situation, speed is also necessary.”
Even though it was something they knew, it was a considerably difficult mission. All the assembled Seekers stared at Honda with tense expressions.
Looking over those faces, Honda’s lips curved into a smile.
“Well, I may have stirred up some anxiety, but everyone gathered here is a top-notch Seeker, and I have no doubt that you will achieve the work goals. I believe that everyone will return safely!”
As Honda’s speech ended, the leaders of each Clan gave instructions, and they descended to the first floor of the Dungeon.
The joint operation by the large-scale Seeker Clans had finally begun.
◇◇◇
The twelfth floor of the Red Dungeon. While being cautious of their surroundings, the group advanced through the scorching earth.
At the head was a small material transport vehicle, modified for Dungeon travel, rattling its caterpillar tracks as it moved along.
It was the same speed as a human’s pace, but it was helpful to be able to transport heavy materials all at once.
Mid-Tier Company Seekers were sticking close to the transport vehicle for protection, and behind them, higher-ranking Seekers were walking in formation.
Since it was still a shallow floor, strong Monsters had not appeared, but even so, many Monsters that they did not usually see caught their eye.
It seemed that Monsters from deeper floors were coming up.
B-rank Seekers were defeating Monsters one after another, securing the path for the material transport vehicle.
“Was that an acquaintance you were talking to earlier?”
Tennoji, who was walking at the rear of the group, called out to Ishikawa, who was walking next to him.
“Hmm? Ah, that’s right. Just an old friend.”
“I see… There was a young one too. About the same age as Rui.”
“Ah, that’s a new employee there. What’s wrong? Are you curious?”
“No…”
Tennoji put his hand on his chin, making a gesture as if he was thinking about something.
“That young one seems to be talented. I think his Mana Index is high too.”
Tennoji was told that by Ishikawa, but he shook his head.
“I didn’t particularly feel any Mana, but there was a strange sense of discomfort.”
“Discomfort?”
Ishikawa asked back, but Tennoji seemed unable to explain it well.
“…No, it’s nothing. It must be my imagination. Forget about it.”
“Is that so? Well, I don’t know much about the young employees, but I’ve been working with the president for a long time. His Mana Index isn’t high, but he’s a talented man.”
“If Ishikawa says so, he must be quite something. By the way, what’s the company called?”
“Ah, it’s a small company called D-Minor.”
“D-Minor!? Then, those guys are…”
Ishikawa frowned at Tennoji’s surprised face.
“What, do you know them?”
“No… Actually–“
◇◇◇
The group reached the 50th floor in one day and spent the night at the accommodation facility called the “Safety Zone” there.
Seekers were taking turns guarding the materials placed outside the facility.
The sun had set, and it was gradually getting dark. Here and there, people were adding twigs and firewood to make bonfires for light.
The higher-ranking Seeker group, “Roar of the Raijuu,” did not need to stand guard, but Rui went outside alone and sat down on a nearby rock.
He looked at the bonfire he had started himself, gazing at the flickering flames.
“It’s strange. Even though it’s inside the Dungeon, there’s night.”
Turning around at the sudden voice, he saw Ishikawa standing there.
“Ishikawa-san…”
“Can’t you sleep?”
“Yes, I’m too nervous.”
Ishikawa sat down next to Rui, watching the bonfire crackling in front of them.
“You’ve stayed overnight in the Dungeon in the ‘Green Dungeon’ before, right? It’s not much different.”
Rui smiled and shook his head.
“It’s not the same. The strength of the Monsters is different between the ‘Green Dungeon’ and the ‘Red Dungeon,’ and more than anything, this is an emergency.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Ishikawa picked up a fallen dead branch at his feet and tossed it into the fire.
For a moment, the fire grew larger, but it soon returned to its original size. The two of them were watching the fire, but after a while, Ishikawa opened his mouth.
“Are you good friends with the friend you were talking to in front of the dome?”
“…Yuma-san? Yes, we’re childhood friends, so we’re good friends. We’ve been playing together since we were kids.”
“I see… Actually, I heard an interesting story earlier.”
“An interesting story?”
“I heard it from Tennoji. You know that the Yokohama Dungeon was captured, right?”
“Of course. The ‘Black Dungeon,’ right? It caused quite a stir.”
Rui didn’t understand what Ishikawa was trying to say. But he was shocked by the next words.
“That ‘Black Dungeon.’ It was captured by D-Minor, the company where your childhood friend works.”
“Eh!?”