Episode 147: Large Retail Store
Narita Airport. British Airways Flight 38 arrived in the afternoon.
A large Caucasian man appeared on the boarding bridge attached to the aircraft. The man turned and called out to his companions behind him.
“It’s my first time in Japan! Charlotte! Let’s go grab some food first. Sushi, soba, yakitori, something like that, eh?”
The blonde woman called Charlotte sighed and looked ahead.
“Michael, we didn’t come here for sightseeing! Don’t forget our purpose.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re as stiff as ever.”
Michael shrugged and laughed.
“Let’s quickly defeat the ‘Black Armor’ and then enjoy some leisurely sightseeing.”
Several burly men and women followed Charlotte and Michael across the bridge towards the airport terminal building.
They were the strongest Seeker Clan in England, the “Ophanims”—
“Don’t cause any trouble, Michael.”
Leader “Charlotte Baker,” Mana Index 6200
“Come on, I’m not a kid, Charlotte! Have a little more faith in me.”
Vice-Leader “Michael Ward,” Mana Index 5700
A total of twelve Seekers had been summoned to the Japanese government to subjugate the “Black Armor.”
And on this day, top-tier Seeker Clans from Germany and Italy were also arriving. The encirclement of the Black Armor was being constructed quietly, but surely.
◇◇◇
Hokkaido, “White Dungeon,” Floor 102.
“Uooooooo!”
Rui’s flaming Katana slashed through a white humanoid monster. The monster was engulfed in flames and soon turned to sand.
“Haa… haa… I did it.”
Rui wiped away sweat while panting, and sheathed his Flame Heat Katana.
“What’s wrong, Rui? You’re already worn out, and we haven’t even reached the Depths yet? We still have a long way to go.”
Tennoji looked at Rui with a “good grief” expression.
“You’re right… I’m sorry.”
Tennoji, Rui, Taizen, and Misaki Bluewell had come to the White Dungeon from “Roar of the Raijuu.”
“Tennoji, we’re also reaching our limits with these consecutive battles. Isn’t the Edinburgh Tree supposed to be around here?”
Misaki asked, looking tired. Taizen also started grumbling, “Yeah, this is tough. Tennoji’s the only one with any energy left!”
The Edinburgh Tree was a Great Tree that grew naturally in the White Dungeon and had the characteristic of repelling Monsters. Seekers used the area around the tree as a “Safety Zone.” However, the deeper one went into the Dungeon, the fewer trees there were.
To head to the Depths of the White Dungeon, it was important to accurately grasp the location of the trees and reach them quickly.
“The Edinburgh Tree is ahead. I remember the locations of the trees accurately up to the 150th floor, so don’t worry.”
Taizen replied to Tennoji, who said proudly, with a disgruntled look, “Oh, is that so.”
Tennoji chuckled and turned to Rui.
“How’s the new Flame Heat Katana? It’s the same ‘Type-3’ as before, but the Magic Gem used is different, so the usability should be different.”
“That’s right. It feels a little different, but I’m getting used to it.”
“I see.”
Tennoji’s and Taizen’s Magic Enchanted Armaments had also been newly refurbished. Since they hadn’t fully adjusted to their bodies yet, the three were fighting while making adjustments.
“I really wanted to let you use the ‘Scorching Blade Type-0,’ but it seems like it will take a while to complete.”
“Yes, I’ll focus on raising my Mana for now!”
Tennoji’s face lit up at Rui’s strong words.
“Certainly, the main purpose of this expedition is to raise Rui’s Mana, but if we defeat the Abyssal Monsters, we can also raise our Mana. Rui, we’re all trying to get stronger on this expedition, not just you.”
“Yes.”
Rui nodded, and Taizen and Misaki, who were behind him, smiled as if to say, “Of course.”
After that, the four spent two hours and reached the Edinburgh Tree deep within the floor.
◇◇◇
Yuma, having finished his day’s work, returned home from the office, took out his smartphone, and opened the LINE chat room.
“Oh! There’s a reply from Kaede.”
He immediately checked the message. Recently, he had been contacting Kaede frequently, so he had casually invited her to go somewhere sometime…
“What? It’s about Rui.”
According to Kaede, Rui seemed busy and wasn’t in Tokyo.
“What’s he doing? Oh well.”
Yuma sent a message to Kaede, and after exchanging a few messages, they decided to go out together on their next day off.
“It’s just like accompanying her for shopping, but…”
He turned off his smartphone, placed it on the desk, and lay down on the bed. He had to close the distance with Kaede as much as possible while Rui was away.
Thinking such wicked things, Yuma fell asleep.
And on the weekend, Saturday—
“Wow, this is amazing, after all.”
Kaede’s eyes widened as she looked around. Today, they had come to a large warehouse-style store in Machida, Tokyo.
It wasn’t an ordinary store. What was placed there wasn’t daily necessities or home appliances, but Dungeon-related products. Yuma and Kaede had come together to a store for Seekers and the Messiah.
“This is my first time here. I’ve heard rumors about it, though.”
“Don’t you ever buy things to use in the Dungeon yourself?”
Kaede, who had been looking at the product shelves, turned to look at Yuma.
Kaede, wearing a blue striped shirt dress and a bucket hat, looked unexpectedly cute, and Yuma couldn’t help but look away.
“The company provides everything I use. I’m just using what they give me.”
“Heeh~”
Yuma frowned at Kaede, who smiled teasingly.
“What?”
“It’s just that you never talk about your company, Yuma.”
“U… well, maybe that’s true.”
They looked around the store’s products while having such a conversation. On the first floor, tools mainly used by Seekers were available, and on the second floor, there was equipment for companies.
And what Kaede wanted to see was on the third floor.
The white walls and floor, and the bright interior, had several jewelry showcases placed, and serious-looking clerks in suits greeted them.
“Wow, this is amazing.”
“Really… it’s beautiful, isn’t it.”
The two let out sighs of admiration. What was placed there were colorful jewels.
They were the various Magic Gems needed for Seekers and the Messiah to use magic.