Episode 389: Three Supporters
Four days had passed since the discussion with Honda. Yuma had arrived at Chitose Base in Hokkaido.
He was sent there on a Self-Defense Forces aircraft.
“This is such thorough service. I’m grateful, but I feel a bit indebted.”
While muttering to himself, Yuma shouldered a large backpack and headed towards the hangar within the base as instructed. According to Honda, there should be Seekers here to support him…
After walking for a while, he saw three men and women waiting in front of a large building.
“Are you Mitaka-san?”
A young man called out to him, and Yuma replied, “Yes, I’m Mitaka.”
The two women also looked at him with tense expressions.
“We’ve been sent by Elceed Corporation to support Mitaka-san. I’m Akiyama. These two are Kitazawa and Oura. We’ve been in the White Dungeon many times, so please leave the guidance to us.”
Akiyama, who spoke clearly, was a sturdy man over 180 centimeters tall.
The woman called Kitazawa was a beautiful person with sharp eyes, about 160 centimeters tall. The woman called Oura was petite and cute.
All three of them were wearing matching down jackets. This must be the Elceed Corporation uniform.
Yuma, without much greeting, was led to the hangar.
There was a helicopter there. It belonged to the Air Self-Defense Force, and it seemed ready for departure.
Yuma said, “Please,” and decided to have them take off. The destination was, of course, the White Dungeon.
The helicopter was towed by a small vehicle and moved outside the hangar.
Yuma and the others got into the helicopter, sat down, and fastened their seatbelts. While waiting for the pilot to complete the safety checks, Yuma suddenly felt a gaze and turned his head.
He met eyes with Oura, who was sitting next to him.
Oura looked away, seemingly embarrassed, but she seemed somewhat nervous. Not only Oura, but Akiyama and Kitazawa, who were sitting in the back seats, were the same.
–Could it be that they’re afraid of me? Are there bad rumors going around? Or is my Magical Power leaking out…?
He thought about various things, but no answer came. Yuma turned his gaze forward.
–Anyway, I need to focus on the Dungeon Conquest for now.
The helicopter carrying Yuma and the others completed its safety checks and slowly ascended vertically.
The pilot pulled the lever and moved the aircraft towards its destination.
◇◇◇
“So, the White Dungeon is here.”
Yuma and the others set foot in a huge dome-shaped facility built in Daisetsuzan National Park. At the entrance, there were Self-Defense Forces personnel, but Akiyama showed them the Entrance Pass, and they were allowed to pass smoothly.
They walked down a long corridor and opened a large door.
Beyond this was probably the entrance to the White Dungeon. That’s what he thought, but what jumped into his eyes was an unexpected sight.
The ceiling of the large dome had collapsed, and the outer walls were also damaged.
Fragments of concrete were scattered on the floor, and the clear sky was clearly visible.
“This is…”
Akiyama, who was next to the dumbfounded Yuma, called out to him.
“Monsters from the middle layer came out. We couldn’t stop them… and this is the result.”
“Are they still coming out?”
Yuma asked with a stern expression. Instead of Akiyama, who looked troubled, Kitazawa opened her mouth.
“They come out periodically. But compared to the Red Dungeon, the number is negligible. However, in terms of danger, it’s the same as or even more dangerous than the Red Dungeon…”
Kitazawa looked at the huge Hole below with a serious expression.
Yuma also lowered his gaze in the same way and stared at the jet-black Hole. From the gaping vertical Hole, there was a sound like the whistling of wind.
Yuma gulped.
The Monsters in the White Dungeon are said to be the strongest among the six Dungeons. Yuma shifted his gaze to Akiyama, Kitazawa, and then Oura.
–It’s one thing if it’s just me, but I have to protect the lives of these three as well. I can’t let my guard down.
After that, they each received what was prepared at the facility and steadily proceeded with preparations to enter the Dungeon. Akiyama and the others put on protectors on their bodies, then shouldered large backpacks and stood up with a “Heave-ho!”
Although not as much as Akiyama, the two girls were also carrying large backpacks.
Food and necessary supplies must be inside.
“Um… should I carry some luggage too?”
Yuma thought it would be bad if he was the only one traveling light, but Kitazawa coldly replied, “No, this is our job,” and he could only say, “Oh, I see.”
–Certainly, they are just support. I’m the one who will actually fight in this Dungeon. It’s better to travel light.
Yuma convinced himself and decided to only take a small backpack and a Pickel.
“Well then, let’s go.”
Akiyama took the lead and descended the temporary ascending/descending stairs installed in the large Hole.
“We’ve been told by headquarters to take Mitaka-san to the lower levels as much as possible. We’ll proceed so as not to encounter Monsters, so please follow my instructions.”
“Understood.”
Following Akiyama’s instructions, they set foot on the first floor of the Dungeon.
“Wow, it’s bright.”
There was a blue sky and a space with white rocky areas. “Labyrinth Mirage.” Yuma felt nostalgic, thinking it had been a while since he had seen it.
Ignoring Yuma, who was immersed in sentimentality, Akiyama pointed west while looking at a map.
“There’s an entrance to the lower levels ahead. Let’s go from the left route. There are fewer Monsters that way.”
Yuma walked along the left rocky area as he was told. There was probably detailed data on where the Monsters were.
–As expected, it’s reassuring to have someone from Elceed Corporation with me. I might have gotten lost if I was alone.
While thinking about such things, there was a shadow flying from the sky.
It was a large white Bird.
“That’s a Monster called ‘Ikaruga’. Please leave it to me.”
Akiyama pulled out two survival knives from his waist. He seemed to be planning to intercept the Bird, but it looked difficult to fight with such a large backpack.
“It’s okay. I’ll do the fighting.”
“Eh?”
Yuma stepped in front of Akiyama and pointed his index finger at the sky.
What he released was White Fourth Tier Magic — “White Flash.” The hit Bird stopped moving for a moment, but immediately swelled up and exploded.
Akiyama and the others stared in stunned silence at the Monster that had fallen as pieces of flesh.
Yuma rubbed his finger and grinned.
“Yeah, if I adjust it, I can probably fire this magic… any number of times.”