Episode 146: A Humble Task
The day after the government announced the existence of “Black Armor,” Kanzaki and Yuma came to Aisha’s laboratory in Ota Ward, Tokyo, to discuss their next steps.
“You really made a splash, didn’t you?”
“Don’t talk like it’s someone else’s problem. You’re involved too!”
In a dimly lit factory room, Aisha toyed with a puzzle ring, laughing.
Not long ago, Aisha had lost her spirit and was sprawled out on her futon, but now she was wearing her lab coat again, sitting in front of her computer.
Yuma was relieved that she had recovered, but Kanzaki was irritated by Aisha’s sarcastic attitude.
“Yuma is now being hunted throughout Japan. Isn’t there anything you can do?”
“Anything I can do… why are you asking me that?”
Aisha put the puzzle ring on the desk, swiveled her chair with a squeak, and looked back at Kanzaki, who was glaring down at her.
“You used to be at a government research institute, right? Can’t you use those connections to say that Yuma isn’t a monster!?”
Hearing that, Aisha chuckled. When Kanzaki shouted, “What’s so funny!” she stopped laughing and shook her head.
“Unfortunately, I have a terrible reputation with the government and research institutions. No one will listen to what I say, and it might make things even more suspicious.”
Kanzaki and Yuma exchanged glances. They were strangely convinced that this was likely the case.
“In the first place, why did you do something so conspicuous? Metallization… or rather, ‘Black Armor’ now, I suppose. You should have known that rampaging around like that would cause a commotion, right?”
“I had no choice!”
Kanzaki replied curtly, but Yuma lowered his head apologetically, saying, “I’m sorry. It’s my fault…”
“Well, what’s done is done. The problem is what to do from now on.”
Aisha leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, and closed her eyes.
“Is there any good solution!?”
Kanzaki asked eagerly, but Aisha remained silent for a while, thinking. After a moment, she opened her mouth.
“The only option is to stay quiet and not use Metallization. If you don’t turn into that Black Armor form, you probably won’t be found.”
“I thought of that too. The problem is Yuma’s Mana! If a high-ranking Seeker notices the Mana overflowing from his body, won’t he be discovered!?”
At Kanzaki’s words, Aisha’s lips curved into a slight smile.
“Nonsense… It’s true that some high-ranking Seekers can sense Mana. But their monster detection ability is quite low compared to actual monsters. I doubt they could accurately recognize Yuma-kun’s abnormal Mana. They would probably only feel a slight discomfort.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s more important not to take any conspicuous actions. I heard that the government is calling in high-ranking Seekers from overseas. England and Germany for sure. Other countries might send people too.”
“From overseas… how do you know that!?”
“I worked in a government agency for a long time. Even if I’m disliked, I still have some acquaintances who will provide me with information.”
Aisha raised both hands in a playful gesture and shrugged, causing Kanzaki to grimace. If that was true, the situation was even more serious.
“Anyway, we have to endure until the overseas Seekers leave. They can’t stay in Japan forever, after all.”
With that, Aisha turned away as if the conversation was over and picked up the puzzle ring on the desk.
She didn’t seem to want to say anything more.
Yuma and Kanzaki left the factory and headed for their car.
They had held a faint hope that Aisha might be able to do something, but it seemed impossible after all.
Yuma sighed and got into the car.
“Well, it can’t be helped. From now on, don’t use your Metallization ability. As Aisha said, it looks like we have no choice but to stay quiet.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
The two of them, dejected, decided to return to the company in Chiba.
◇◇◇
The next two weeks were spent doing humble work.
They entered the Blue Dungeon, where the entry restrictions had been lifted, with Tanaka and Maika, and diligently collected Magic Gems.
It seemed that Mana was gradually leaking from this Blue Dungeon as well, and general public entry was prohibited, with only professional Seekers now allowed inside.
“Even so, Blue Magic Gems are hard to come by, aren’t they?”
Yuma grumbled as he defeated a Slime, and Maika, who was exploring with him, laughed and replied, “It can’t be helped.”
“The Blue Dungeon originally only allowed access to the lower levels, and the monsters that appear are weak.”
Yuma replied, “Yes, you’re right,” to Maika’s cheerful words.
The weaker the monsters, the lower the drop rate of Magic Gems. Yuma and the others were professionals, so they could enter deeper levels than the average person, but even so, the 20th floor was the limit.
The Magic Gems they could obtain were few in number and had low Mana Indexes.
They continued their subjugation until evening that day, but decided to return because they were tired. They had obtained about twelve Magic Gems.
“We’re back~”
When Maika and Yuma returned to the company, Kanzaki was spreading out a newspaper at his desk, smoking a cigarette.
“Oh, welcome back.”
Maika looked around the office and asked Kanzaki, “Huh? Where’s Tanaka-san?”
“He’s gone to Niigata right now.”
“Niigata?”
“I told you before, we need to increase the number of Dungeons we can enter.”
“Ah, that’s why Niigata… They have a Green Dungeon there, don’t they?”
While putting his luggage in the locker, Yuma listened to their conversation. The Red Dungeon was still off-limits, so they couldn’t enter it yet.
The Blue Dungeon didn’t bring in much money.
Therefore, Kanzaki was trying to increase the number of Dungeons that D-Minor could explore.
However, since entering a Dungeon required permission, Tanaka had traveled to Niigata for various procedures.
“Japan has a total of five Dungeons, right?”
Maika answered Yuma’s question.
“That’s right. The Red Dungeon in Ibaraki, the White Dungeon in Hokkaido, the Blue Dungeon in Tokyo, the Green Dungeon in Fukuoka, and another Green Dungeon in Niigata. In addition to that, there was the Black Dungeon in Kanagawa, but it’s gone now.”
Maika said regretfully, but it was Yuma himself who had destroyed the Black Dungeon.
For a Seeker company, Dungeons were their bread and butter. Yuma felt bad for Maika and couldn’t help but avert his eyes.
“Well, Niigata is a bit far, but we have no choice. Once we get permission, let’s all go on an expedition together. Right, Yuma-kun!”
“Ah, yes… that’s right.”
Yuma gave a dry smile, wondering if there was any good food to eat as he thought about sightseeing in Niigata.