Chapter 87: Racing Through the Yokohama Dungeon
“Iyada――I’m heading there right now. Wait for me.”
“…Ko-chan, I…”
《Ko-chan!》
《Tama-chan too!》
《Tama-chan, she’s scared…》
《Grabbing Ko-chan’s clothes…》
《And she’s wearing the “NK♡” helmet, seriously?》
《Don’t tell me she’s prepared to die…?》
《No way… The meaning of that helmet isn’t something you talk about before you die.》
When I looked at the stream screen, Iyada, holding a spear, was looking this way.
『So you’ve come. Do you remember my demand? Come here without using 【Spatial Transfer】.』
“Yeah――I’ll do as you say. So, don’t lay a hand on those people.”
『I understand. My wish is to speak with you directly. As long as I can do that, I have no interest in these guys.』
“Let’s go.”
Otama-chan and I raced through the Yokohama Dungeon.
《Fast!》
《As expected!》
《Is Otama-chan slower than usual?》
《She’s plenty fast.》
《She probably can’t perform at her usual level under these circumstances.》
《Zombie incoming!》
“――Summer Rain Blade!”
Swish!!
《A water slash!》
《One hit!》
《Strong, but…》
《He doesn’t seem to be in his usual form.》
《Can he really manage this…?》
《Ko-chan, please…!》
The 2nd floor, 3rd floor, 4th floor…
We rapidly cleared through the red-brick dungeon.
Along the way, Otama-chan barely spoke.
Just as we’d planned beforehand.
『Haha, Natsume, hurry up. I wouldn’t mind killing one of them on a whim, you know.』
“Stop it. I’m coming right away.”
While running, I watched the split-screen stream footage.
Iyada was visible on the other side.
The mastermind didn’t show himself.
He’s certainly a cautious one.
If I were alone, there was a chance I’d be neutralized in an instant.
――But there are four of us.
《Team Secret Base》 is a party.
Even when we’re apart, we’re connected.
With four of us――we won’t lose.
We’ll overcome any trap.
We run.
We run at high speed.
The 9th floor, 10th floor, 11th floor…
When monsters appeared, I didn’t let Otama-chan fight; I cut them down in a single blow.
Otama-chan’s 【Swordsmanship】 and 【Water User】 skills were used against zombies on the lower floors, showing them to Iyada.
We made sure to impress the culprit.
Therefore――the preparations are complete.
And then, we reached the final room of the 13th floor.
『Hahaha, impressive, Natsume. To think you’d make it this far in under 20 minutes. You’ve researched the route well. Such a strong sense of justice… Were you thinking the hostages would be killed if you dawdled?』
“…Don’t lay a hand on those people.”
『I know. To me, these guys are just worthless trash. I have no intention of pointlessly killing them and angering you. What I want is to have a good, long talk with you.』
《That’s definitely a lie!》
《There’s some kind of trap!》
《Ko-chan, what are you going to do!?》
《Tama-chan looks like she’s about to cry… She’s looking down…》
《Can you win?》
『There’s no trap. Now, I’m looking forward to our talk…』
After defeating the werewolf, we proceeded through the 14th floor.
Then, we came upon a room partitioned by a door.
I stopped for a moment and looked at the stream screen.
And then…
『Stop right there. I am beyond that door.』
《Ko-chan!!》
《Finally…》
《I’m worried about the hostages, but I’m also worried about Ko-chan and Tama-chan…》
《Will it somehow work out?》
《Ko-chan… If it’s Ko-chan, he’ll manage somehow…!》
《If only he had the speed he used when he defeated the Penguin-san Team’s boss…!》
《He has to secure the culprit in an instant!》
《The moment he opens the door is crucial!》
『I repeat, what I want is to talk. Weapons are unnecessary for a talk. Now, both of you, drop your weapons. If you don’t comply, I’ll kill this woman.』
Iyada pointed his spear at the woman who had shaken hands with me.
《That’s just a threat!》
《That’s not something someone who wants to talk would demand!》
《Ko-chan, what will you do…?》
《You should ignore him and charge in!!!》
“…”
Clang…
Otama-chan and I placed our weapons on the ground.
《Ko-chan, Tama-chan!》
《No, don’t!!》
《There’s definitely a trap!!!》
《It’s okay if one hostage dies, just charge in with your weapons!!》
《It’s the trolley problem! I won’t blame you, Ko-chan, even if you abandon one of them!!》
《Ko-chan, what are you going to do after dropping your weapons?》
『Ah, I forgot to mention. Show the room with the drone. Show me there are no bugs out.』
“…Understood.”
I operated the drone and showed the area around Otama-chan and me.
《No rhinoceros beetles or stag beetles.》
《No Imomushi or anything.》
《They’re really unarmed.》
《Can they do it? Can they really?》
《Ko-chan, what are you going to do!?》
《Is there anything Tama-chan can do!?》
《Aaaaaaah, I’m too worried, I can’t watch!》
『Alright, seems there’s no problem. Now, come inside. The woman first, then Natsume. Slowly, don’t rush…!』
“…Otama-chan.”
Otama-chan nodded once and walked forward.
Then, she opened the door.
Creeeeak…
Clack, clack…
She slowly walked into the room.
I followed Otama-chan into the room.
There, Iyada stood holding a spear――
“Hey, Natsume. Stop right there. About our talk…”
“――【Mystic Eyes】 activate. 《Binding Seal》.”
(Ah…)
Thump!!!!
Just as a chilling sensation ran through my body, I found I couldn’t move even a fingertip.
(What is this…?)
《What’s wrong with both of them?》
《Why aren’t they moving?》
《Huh, when did that masked man get there…!?》
《Who is he?》
《Why can he move? Don’t tell me he’s an accomplice!!》
Is Otama-chan in the same state as me?
As I was thinking that, a man wearing a white mask walked in front of us.
Clack, clack…
He wore a sword in a black scabbard at his waist.
There were no openings in his stance or demeanor.
I could tell from his aura.
This guy is stronger than the First Penguins.
“Kukuku… Can’t move, can you? You were hit by my skill from a blind spot. The preparations were finished before you even sat at the table. That’s the work of a first-class professional.”
“Who… are you?”
“Hm…? Natsume, you have enough resistance to talk…? Then, I’d better hurry. Hey, Iyada.”
“Yes.”
“――Stab yourself in the stomach with the spear and commit suicide. And before you die, return the rope to me. Don’t get any filthy blood on it.”
“Yes.”
Then, Iyada turned the tip of his spear towards himself and thrust it in with a sickening squelch.
“Ga…”
《Hiee!》
《Why!?》
《Brainwashing?》
《What’s that rope under his neck warmer?》
《A brainwashing magic item?》
《It’s the Rope of Subservience!!! They said one was found in Japan a long time ago!!》
《Is he going to discard Iyada and brainwash Ko-chan!?》
“Gu, Gaa… I will return… the rope…”
Thud!
After handing the rope to the masked man, Iyada pulled the spear from his stomach and collapsed onto the floor.
A pool of blood spread out.
He wouldn’t last long like this.
(Iyada――)
“Kukuku… Hahahahaha!! This is my victory!! My era is coming!!! I will become the king of the underworld!!!”
The masked man laughed, convinced of his victory.
All alone.
The other Explorers were still down.
Ah, now I was sure.
This guy is alone.
If he’s a lone culprit――
“Now, Natsume. You are my partner. Let’s steal the world together. For now, let’s get out of here.”
The man took the rope in his hand and approached me.
《This is bad!》
《Ko-chan’s going to be brainwashed!》
《Tama-chan! Can’t you move!??》
“N-no…”
“Ku… Woman. This will be the last time you and Natsume meet. If you have enough strength left to speak, say your farewells. Hahahaha…!”
“That’s not right… Don’t take Ko-chan away… Because, Ko-chan and I have been together since we were little, and we finally became a party…”
“Hmph… A farewell address turning into a whimper… Too bad for you, Natsume. But that doesn’t matter either. Your will is going to disappear soon anyway…”
“Stop it… Ko-chan is precious to me… My dream is to be with Ko-chan… U-uuu…”
《Tama-chan…》
《Hang in there!》
《Can’t you do something!!?》
《Ko-chan!!!》
“O-Otama-chan…”
“My dream is, to be all lovey-dovey kissy-kissy with Ko-chan, have three kids, two boys and a girl who…”
“Wha…!?”
At that moment, the masked man placed his hand on Otama-chan’s chin and lifted her face.
“――Who are you?”
In that instant, I sent a message through the red 【Thread Telephone】 into the rift in space.
『Otama-chan, can you hear me? The enemy is alone! Just as Shi-chan predicted, a man who uses 【Mystic Eyes】!! If he enters your line of sight, your movements will be restricted, so position yourself diagonally from him!!』
『Roger that, Ko-chan!!』
Shaku shaku shaku shaku…!
To the man, Manamin-san says.
“Keke, I’m Tamaki, y’know… I replicated her using the 【Transformation Craving】 skill, drawing from our many years together… Though, after getting hit by your 【Mystic Eyes】, the skill was sealed, you see. Right now, it’s just a simple imitation.”
“Hey, Manamin-san! I’m not like that at all!! Summer Rain Blade!!!”
“Wha—…”
ZBAASH!!!
Otama-chan’s water blade slashed the man’s mask, then hit the wall of the Yokohama Dungeon and burst.
The moment I was out of the man’s line of sight, I could move my body again.
It seemed to be the same for Manamin-san too.
“【Dress Change】 into 【Dark Magic】 Black Veil!!”
A black fog spread, restricting our vision.
“Tch…!”
Tap!
I heard the sound of the man putting distance between us.
‘Ko-chan, the culprit fled towards the wall! Is the share coming through?’
‘Yeah, no problem! I’ll go this way!!’
Sharing visual information via 【Thread Telephone】, we began to corner the culprit.
For a skill named 【Thread Telephone】, being able to share vision too makes it an amazing skill.
In the darkness, Manamin-san, or rather, Hermit-sama, says.
“It seems this gamble has been our victory so far. A surprise attack using a combo of the 【Rental】 skill and 《Wormhole》. We may have bombed out on the Dungeon Hote lottery, but we won’t lose here!”