Episode 14: International Dungeon Research Organization
It was a cave lit by pale blue light.
The rugged rock surface spread out, covering an area about the size of six tennis courts. I’d heard that some Dungeons had their own light sources and were as bright as day, but this place wasn’t quite that bright.
Still, what lifted my spirits was the presence of people.
Families, couples smiling happily, groups of friends, and students. The scene was like a tourist spot. Few people were here alone like Yuma (he). Everyone had a weapon and was walking around, looking around.
“Everyone’s looking for Monsters.”
Yuma (he) also tried to find Monsters, but he worried if any would be left with so many people around. But—
“Oh!”
There was something in the shadow of the rocks. He quietly went around it, and there was a Blue Slime, its translucent body trembling.
“So this is a normal Slime.”
Its movements were slow and sluggish, not comparable to a Metal Slime. Yuma (he) squatted down and swung his hammer down on the Slime’s head. The Slime, hit by the impact, stopped moving as if frozen. When Yuma (he) swung the hammer again, it burst and disappeared with a pop.
“So weak! Are Slimes this weak?!”
I deal with Metal Slimes every day, and they’re a hundred times stronger than this. And yet, just like them, I don’t get any Mana at all… Yuma (he) lamented in his heart, but he shook off the thought, realizing there was no point in dwelling on it, and checked to see if a Magic Gem had dropped.
“Still nothing…”
They say the weaker the Monster, the lower the drop rate. But hunting strong Monsters is too risky, so it’s hard to say which is better. After that, Yuma (he) walked around every corner of the Dungeon’s first floor, defeating six Slimes.
“I didn’t get a single Magic Gem… well, can’t be helped.”
Just as Yuma (he) was about to head home, he heard a child’s voice from a short distance away.
“I did it! A blue Magic Gem!!”
Turning around, he saw a child who had come with his family raising his hand and rejoicing.
“Good for you, Masashi! It’s about 0.2 carats of Aquamarine. I think it’ll sell for about two thousand yen.”
“I don’t want to sell it! I want to use magic. I’m definitely going to use it myself!”
“But you can only use magic inside the Dungeon. Is that okay with you?”
“It’s fine! I’ll go to the Dungeon every day.”
“I see, I see, I understand.”
So said the father, patting the child’s head.
You can’t use magic no matter how many Slimes you defeat… Thinking that, Yuma (he) left the Dungeon.
◇◇◇
Jerusalem, the largest city in Israel—
Here lies the United Nations’ agency, the ‘International Dungeon Research Organization,’ commonly known as (IDR).
Jerusalem has the world’s largest and deepest Dungeon, and researchers from various countries had gathered there. Among them was Ethan Noble (he), an Australian physicist and authority on Dungeon research. Still in his thirties, with long silver hair and large round glasses, he was known by those around him as an eccentric researcher, but he was an excellent scholar who first discovered ‘Mana.’
“Judging from this report, it seems certain.”
Ethan (he), in a room in the facility, muttered as he lowered his gaze. On the table were reports from laboratories in various countries, placed haphazardly.
Hearing Ethan’s (he) words, Clark, his assistant next to him, frowned.
“Then, is it as we thought…”
“Yes, Mana is leaking from the Dungeon to the surface. And the amount seems to be increasing over time.”
“If that’s the case, won’t that be terrible?!”
Ignoring the flustered Clark, Ethan (he) lifted his teacup and sipped his coffee with an ‘as expected’ expression.
“Well, probably. The reason Monsters can’t come out of the Dungeon is because there’s no Mana on the surface. If Mana keeps leaking out like this, Monsters will eventually come out.”
“How can you be so calm!”
Clark, frowning and looking dissatisfied, turned to Ethan (he), who was calmly talking while sipping his coffee.
“Come now, even if Monsters come out, it’ll only be weak ones from the lower levels. I don’t think there will be any immediate damage.”
“So, so it’s okay then?”
Clark, the assistant, was older than Ethan (he), but he respected Ethan (he), who was said to be an authority on Dungeon research at a young age. If he said it was okay, then it must be, he thought with relief…
“However, there are also reports that the Mana concentration in the lower levels is gradually increasing. If that’s true, Monsters from the deeper levels will eventually come up.”
“Oh no!”
“Now, now, calm down, Clark. It’s not confirmed, and the increase in concentration is minimal. I don’t think there will be any problems for the time being.”
“I, I see. If that’s the case, that’s good…”
Seeing Clark sigh in relief, Ethan (he) smiled mischievously.
“That said, there’s another problem for the time being.”
“Eh? Another problem?”
“The fact that Mana is overflowing outside the Dungeon means—”
Putting the finished teacup back on the saucer, Ethan (he) showed a serious look.
“Magic can be used on the surface.”