“Ah, finally out!”
Having emerged from the Dungeon, Yuma sat cross-legged on the floor, gazing up at the sky. The facility’s ceiling had collapsed, allowing the blue sky to burst into view.
Although there were no “mirages” to mislead him on the way back, it still took a considerable amount of time.
“Thank you for your hard work, Mitaka-san. I’ll report to Elceed Corporation, so please excuse me for a moment.”
Akiyama bowed and hurried towards the exit.
Yuma, lacking the energy to move, listlessly gazed around. Oura approached him, speaking.
“Um, I haven’t really had a chance to ask, but Mitaka-san, how are you so strong?”
“Huh?”
The petite Oura looked up at him with moist eyes. Yuma, at a loss for an answer, scratched his cheek.
“Hmm, well, I’ve fought in quite a few places… I guess that’s why I got stronger.”
“Mitaka-san isn’t a Seeker from Elceed Corporation, right? Which organization do you belong to?”
“I work for a company called D-Minor.”
“D-Minor?”
The cute Oura furrowed her brow. Well, it’s no wonder she doesn’t know it.
Hearing their conversation, Kitazawa chimed in.
“That’s not a major company, is it? Why didn’t you join a major one?”
“No, it’s not that I didn’t join, it’s that I couldn’t. I applied to every company, but I kept getting rejected.”
“Eh!? No way! There’s no way other companies would let you go when you’re so strong!”
Kitazawa’s eyes widened, and Oura nodded in agreement.
“Tell me about it… Well, I don’t have any complaints about the company I’m working for now, though.”
Yuma chuckled wryly. Kitazawa and Oura exchanged confused glances.
After a while, Akiyama returned and shared some unexpected news.
“Eh? The Red Dungeon was cleared?”
“Yes, the exploration team returned the other day. It seems they were faster than Mitaka-san, but they were a Seeker Clan of over 100 people. Mitaka-san was practically alone, so this is much more amazing!”
Akiyama said with a beaming smile, but Yuma didn’t care which was better.
“I see, Rui and the others succeeded. It’s only natural with their skills.”
Yuma clapped his hands and said, “Alright, let’s go home,” and stood up. Akiyama replied, “Yes, let’s,” and the four of them left the facility.
They boarded the helicopter prepared by the Self-Defense Forces and left the Hokkaido Dungeon, where they had stayed for over two weeks.
◇◇◇
The next day—Yuma was in Tokyo.
He had come to report the clearing of the White Dungeon to Honda (she/her) of Elceed Corporation.
Akiyama probably already told her the details, but since she had cooperated, it was only right to tell her himself.
When Yuma showed up at Elceed’s headquarters building, he saw a familiar woman in the first-floor entrance. It was the career woman he had met before. She was still wearing a sharp suit, her hair neatly up, and had a crisp expression.
She looked like she could really get things done. Thinking so, Yuma followed the woman onto the elevator.
They got off on an upper floor and were led to a room at the back of the floor.
Honda (she/her) wasn’t in the room he was led to.
“Oh! It’s Yuma!”
“Ah, it really is.”
Akito and Rui turned around and called out. Yuma’s eyes widened, and he smiled at them.
“Rui, Akito! Long time no see.”
“It’s only been about two weeks. I heard you cleared the Hokkaido Dungeon all by yourself.”
“I wasn’t alone. I had help from Elceed employees. You guys cleared the Red Dungeon, right? You did it!”
Akito grinned and boasted, “Well, yeah.”
“That’s because I was there. I took care of all the strong Monsters!”
Rui, who was next to him, smiled wryly.
“It was quite a struggle. The Lord of the Labyrinth was strong, after all.”
“Why are you saying unnecessary things, Rui? It wasn’t a struggle at all!”
Rui placated Akito with a “yes, yes” and turned his gaze to Yuma.
“How about you? You went into the Dungeon to master White Magic, right? Did it go well?”
“Well, that’s…”
Yuma was at a loss for words. He was indeed able to use the magic of the fifth stratum. But it wasn’t the Resurrection Magic he was looking for.
It was a terrifying magic that could massacre many enemies.
That was all he had managed to learn.
“So, it didn’t go well.”
Rui seemed disappointed, but his expression quickly brightened.
“But you haven’t given up yet, right?”
“Of course not! I’ll definitely get there. No matter how impossible it seems, I’ll master Resurrection Magic.”
As Yuma declared powerfully, the door to the room opened. Honda (she/her), the general manager, came in, saying, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Well, please have a seat.”
Honda (she/her) sat down on the sofa, and Yuma and the others sat opposite her. Honda (she/her) thanked the three of them for their hard work and gave them the Highest Praise.
“Thanks to you, we were able to destroy the White and Red Dungeons. This will greatly suppress the occurrence of Monsters. I’m truly grateful.”
Yuma felt embarrassed by Honda’s words.
“No, I’m grateful that you sent Seekers to help us. Thank you very much.”
“Why are you thanking each other? It’s disgusting. But Honda-san, you have to thank me. I worked my butt off.”
“That goes for everyone.”
Rui retorted, and Akito countered with, “What’s wrong with that?” The room was filled with a warm atmosphere. But Yuma and the others didn’t know.
At this time, armies of angels were pouring out of White Dungeons all over the world.