Episode 119: An Aberrant Monster
Ishikawa continued, ignoring the surprised Rui.
“Tennoji said he heard it from someone at the Dungeon Association. It’s supposed to be confidential information that hasn’t been announced yet, but he seems to have connections there.”
“Yuma… in the ‘Black Dungeon’?”
“Apparently, he went to the lowest level with the president, Kanzaki, a researcher, and your childhood friend.”
“Three people!?”
Rui was shocked. The ‘Black Dungeon’ is said to be a Deep Dungeon with over 150 floors. To conquer a dungeon of that level, you’d expect dozens of high-ranking Seekers. The fact that they did it with only three people, two Seekers if you exclude the researcher, was unbelievable. Questions swirled in Rui’s mind.
“Amazing, isn’t it? Not only did they reach the Depths with so few people, but they also came back alive. Your childhood friend has accomplished something that even Tennoji and I haven’t!”
Rui fell silent. He was surprised when he heard that Yuma had become a Seeker. He knew it was a tough job and didn’t expect him to succeed so quickly. But Yuma was already ahead of him, in the deepest part of the labyrinth he had never reached.
“Rui, I highly value your talent, and you’ve certainly lived up to it. I thought no one your age could keep up with you, but it seems I was wrong.”
Ishikawa stood up and patted Rui on the shoulder.
“Don’t let your guard down, Rui. It looks like you’ve got a rival closing in from behind!”
With a cheerful laugh, Ishikawa returned to the Safety Zone lodging.
–A rival… he had never even considered it before. Rui looked up at the night sky, feeling strangely moved. The starry sky was so vast and real, it was hard to believe it was just an illusion.
◇◇◇
The next day, the Seekers had advanced to the 62nd floor to transport materials. The anomaly occurred on that floor.
“What? On a lower floor!?”
Ishikawa frowned at the report from his subordinate.
“Is something wrong?”
Rui asked, and Ishikawa replied with a serious expression, “Yes. It’s a report from the team that went to scout the 63rd floor. Abyssal Monsters are apparently coming up.”
“Abyssal Monsters!? We’re still near the entrance to the middle levels, aren’t we?”
Rui looked incredulous. The members of “Roar of the Raijuu,” who were walking at the rear of the group, all stopped and discussed what to do.
“What kind of monsters are coming up, specifically?”
When Tennoji asked, the Seeker who had come to report answered nervously, “W-well, as far as we can tell from the radio, there are several Hell Garm… and they say there are also higher-level Goblins.”
The faces of the members present clouded over. Even one Hell Garm was a troublesome monster. Several of them was even worse. Humanoid Goblins were also intelligent, so they could be difficult to deal with if they attacked in groups.
“Let’s halt our progress for now and check the situation below. I’ll also talk to the other Seeker Clans.”
Tennoji said, heading towards the leaders of the top-ranking Seeker Clans. The group stopped, and the leaders of the seven major and semi-major companies gathered to discuss what to do.
“We’ll go.”
The one who volunteered was Aizus’s No. 2 Clan, “Aqua Blade.” Clad in blue battle suits, each of them carried Magic Enchanted Armaments such as spears and axes. All of them were Water Magic users with extensive combat experience in the Red Dungeon. Everyone thought they were the most suitable.
When Tennoji called out, “Be careful,” Shirota James Oliver, the leader of Aqua Blade, showed his confidence, saying, “Who do you think you’re talking to!” A half-English, half-Japanese man, he was intelligent and handsome. With his long blond hair flowing, he looked like a model as he strode confidently. He was a particularly popular Seeker among women, and his skills were guaranteed. The other Seekers knew this, so no one complained. It was decided that the investigation of the lower levels would be carried out by the Seeker Clan led by Shirota, “Aqua Blade.”
◇◇◇
“What happened?”
Ishikawa asked Tennoji, who had returned after the discussion.
“It’s settled. Aizus’s ‘Aqua Blade’ will go down and check on the monsters.”
“They’re all Water Magic users, so they might be a good fit.”
Ishikawa nodded in agreement. Aqua Blade departed for the 63rd floor, and all the Seeker Clans were to stand by until they returned.
“There are two options we can take here,” Ishikawa said.
Tennoji responded, “Yeah, that’s right.” If the monsters below could be handled by them alone, they could defeat them with just the top-ranking Seekers and aim for the 100th floor. If there were too many monsters, they would call in the B-rank Seeker Clans waiting on the 50th floor to cooperate. It would take a little longer, but it would be much better than the operation failing. In any case, they couldn’t decide until Aqua Blade’s report came in. Tennoji and the others decided to conserve their strength and quietly wait for the report. And then–
“S-something terrible has happened!!”
About three hours later, a Seeker rushed in, flustered. He was the Seeker who had been in contact with the people on the lower floors.
“What’s wrong?”
Ishikawa, who had been discussing with the other Seeker Clans, called out.
“W-well… contact with Aqua Blade has suddenly been lost!”
“What?”
Ishikawa’s face twisted at the report. Aqua Blade was a top-ranking Seeker Clan, and since they all used Water Magic, they could be said to have the strongest fighting force in the Red Dungeon. It was hard to believe that the Seeker Clan had been defeated by monsters. The members of “Roar of the Raijuu,” including Tennoji, who had noticed the commotion, gathered around.
“What happened?”
Tennoji asked with a frown, and Ishikawa shook his head.
“I don’t know. Apparently, contact with Aqua Blade has been lost.”
“What did you say!?”
“It’s hard to believe they were killed. It might be equipment trouble, but…”
As Tennoji and the others were talking, the Seeker Clans from other companies began to gather. Unable to ignore the situation, the Clan leaders discussed it and decided that the members of “Roar of the Raijuu” and Ishikawa, a total of ten people, would go and check on the situation.
◇◇◇
Red Dungeon, 63rd floor–
They passed through the cave that served as the entrance and proceeded through the rugged rocky area. Standing on a hill with a good view a little further on, Tennoji and the others gasped at the sight that spread out before them. There, Seekers wearing blue battle suits were lying on the ground. They were members of Aqua Blade. Around them, several Hell Garm were prowling, their fiery breath crackling. Tennoji and the others crouched down and hid behind the rocks.
“No way, did Aqua Blade really lose to Hell Garm!? Unbelievable!”
Ishikawa clenched his fist and gnashed his teeth, while Tennoji calmly looked around.
“No… look at that!”
The gazes of the members shifted to a rocky area a little further away. There stood a humanoid monster with reddish-black skin and a height of over two meters. Its entire body was covered in bulging muscles, and flames were lit and burning on its shoulders and back. There was a person being lifted up by the throat by such a monster. His feet were floating in the air, and he was hanging limply.
“That’s– Shirota!?”
As Ishikawa said, it was Shirota, the leader of “Aqua Blade,” with a look of agony on his face. He seemed to have no strength left to resist. The reddish-black monster was lifting Shirota with one hand, showing the strength of its power.
“I’m going to save Shirota!”
As Tennoji took a step forward, Misaki Bluewell, a member of “Roar of the Raijuu,” grabbed Tennoji’s arm to stop him.
“Wait! That’s probably an Ogre!!”
Tennoji stopped abruptly, and tension ran through the other members as well.