arc2 · 122-ch122

Chapter 122: In a Room at the Dungeon Agency

"I hear the Prime Minister watched the previous livestream—how did you find it?"

After the SS drone had departed, the Dungeon Association President asked with a look of keen interest.

"It was magnificent, I say. A charming quartet of young ladies mowing down vicious monsters left and right..."

"Ah, no, that's not exactly what I was asking about..."

The Prime Minister, who had risen to his feet and was acting out Hyakka Ryouran's exploits with gestures and all, sat back down in his chair looking somewhat disappointed.

"Indeed. There would be much to take note of, wouldn't there. After all, one can observe the state of a dungeon in real time. If we were to give instructions, I imagine we could instantly bring up whatever we wished to see."

The Prime Minister's explanation stirred not only the Association President but also the foremost dungeon researcher and the university professor.

"I can scarcely wait to see it."

"Indeed."

The elderly researcher seconded the university professor's murmur.

"Well then, let's connect the feed."

When Dungeon Agency staff member Arihara operated the computer, Kokushi Musou appeared on the large screen, standing in a Transfer Stone room.

"Kokushi Musou really did take on the job for us, didn't they."

The Association President voiced his admiration.

"Yes. Normally they would turn down requests of this nature, but this time the one doing the filming was SS-sama, so they accepted."

At Arihara's explanation, murmurs of "I see" arose from all around. As expected of the heads of their respective organizations, they had evidently gathered solid information about SS.

"So this is the thirty-first floor, is it. Hmm, as one would expect, the mana concentration is incomparably higher than the shallower floors."

Truly befitting a dungeon researcher. He had discerned the difference in mana concentration at a single glance.

"The wall density appears high as well. Might we have the walls shown to us later?"

The university professor's eyes had been drawn to the dungeon walls. Perhaps because opportunities to observe floors this deep were so rare, everyone except the Prime Minister drew closer to the screen, staring with eyes wide as saucers.

"A Dead Wizard right off the bat!? That's an A-rank monster!? To think we can see it this clearly!"

The Association President seemed more interested in monster ecology, if anything. That made sense—he worked day in and day out to reduce explorer mortality rates even slightly, so it was only natural for him to want to learn about monster behavior.

"Dark Lance!? That's a rare spell."

The moment the battle began, the Association President's commentary began as well.

"Ho, they used a re-summonable drone as a decoy, did they. Quite resourceful."

It seemed the professor approved of the strategy of using Hayate as bait to make the enemy use its magic. On the large screen, the members of Kokushi Musou could be seen charging in the moment the Dead Wizard cast its spell.

"Whoa!?"

"There!"

"I see."

"Impressive."

Entranced by the fierce battle between Kokushi Musou and the Dead Wizard, the old men forgot their original purpose and watched, completely absorbed.

"Hwaaaaaah, I forgot to breathe."

The Association President exhaled deeply, as if suddenly remembering to. That prompted the other members to stir as well.

"Superb footage, indeed."

"Indeed."

Both the university professor and the leading authority seemed thoroughly satisfied with the battle they had just witnessed. Even as they loosened up their stiffened bodies, they never took their eyes off the screen.

"SS-san, the way you keep growing at such an incredible pace—it's just not fair."

On the screen appeared Kannami-san's face, her lips pressed tightly together in a look of slight frustration.

"Hooooh."

"Haaaah."

"Uhoooh."

It had enough destructive power to make the old men groan involuntarily.

"That's not good for the heart."

The destructive power was so immense that it nearly stopped the heart of the oldest researcher among them, the elderly gentleman.

"And yet, to think the thirty-first floor can be conquered this smoothly."

"That is because SS-sama is supporting Kokushi Musou, Japan's number one party."

Arihara answered the Association President's question with confidence. Kokushi Musou's highest reached point was the thirty-second floor. This was not a floor that should normally be clearable so smoothly. Arihara was utterly convinced that what made it possible was, without question, SS's support.

Of course, no one felt that more keenly than the members of Kokushi Musou themselves.

Kokushi Musou had been advancing steadily, but when they reached the room at the end of the corridor, Nishikyo Soraku, who was at the vanguard, came to a stop. Apparently, inside the room were two pairs of Possession Phantom and Wonder Armor combos.

"A Possession Phantom and Wonder Armor combo!? This will be valuable footage! Please, by all means, make sure to capture the moment the Possession Phantom possesses on camera!"

The appearance of a rare monster once again sent the Association President into a state of excitement. But the moment a Possession Phantom possessed its target—few had ever witnessed it, let alone captured it on video. With the possibility of seeing such a precious moment, even the members besides the Association President watched with bated breath.

Kokushi Musou's strategy meeting concluded, and at last, the moment arrived.

"O-oh, oh!? The Possession Phantom is seeping into the Wonder Armor's body, just like soaking in..."

Listening to the researcher's commentary, the distinguished gentlemen watched the breathless battle with their eyes sparkling like children.

"Despite such ferocity, the walls—the walls aren't breaking."

Even in the midst of this intense battle, the professor seemed unable to stop worrying about the dungeon walls.

"Nn, there!"

"Watch out!? Be careful!"

"O-oh, are they all right?"

"Hang in there, Kokushi Musou!"

In the battle against the Possessed Wonder Armor, everyone was on the edge of their seats, enjoying the fight.

"Whoa! They did it!"

"That was magnificent!"

"Just as Arihara-kun said, this is a victory for the Kokushi Musou and SS combination! Gahahahaha!"

After rejoicing for a while, the professor put in a request to SS.

"SS-kun, could you show us the drop items? Also, I'd like to take a look at the walls in that room—would that be possible?"

Receiving those instructions, SS's camera first showed the drop items, then panned around the room, capturing the walls.

"Just as I thought. The walls in places where strong monsters dwell seem to be sturdier than elsewhere."

Dungeon walls were also made of mana. The professor had hypothesized that the walls of deeper floors, where mana was more concentrated, would be harder than those of shallower floors. Not only was this confirmed correct, but he had also managed to notice that when a powerful individual was nearby, the walls in that area grew even harder.

Thanks to this discovery, in dungeons like this Tokyo Mouse Park where monsters tend to stay in fixed locations, it became possible to gauge a monster's strength to some degree just by looking at the walls.

"By the way, Prime Minister. There wouldn't happen to be any risk of someone as exceptional as SS-dono being poached by foreign countries, would there?"

The Association President suddenly directed harsh words at the Prime Minister.

"Wh-what exactly do you mean by that?"

"I'm sure you're aware, Prime Minister, but lately, overseas explorers and their affiliates have been flocking to Japan in droves. No matter how you look at it, every single one of them is attempting to make contact with this SS-dono."

"Th-that is..."

"His skill is one of a kind and utterly irreplaceable. Every explorer party that has worked with him has achieved rapid growth without exception. The discovery the professor just made will be one that shakes the world. It was also he who prevented the Alteration with minimal casualties. Naturally, I trust the government has been making every effort to offer him the finest treatment and ensure he remains in Japan."

The Prime Minister found himself at a loss for words at the Association President's pointed remarks. Because, as it happened, the government had been systematically ignoring every single one of Arihara's proposals, never having considered the matter to be of any great importance.

"W-we did just recently grant him the same privileges as explorers."

"Recently? Prime Minister, that's far too late. It's a wonder SS-dono hasn't gone elsewhere. It must be that the people around him are exceptionally capable and have managed to keep him in Japan."

The Association President said this, stealing a glance at Arihara.

"Even at our university, his popularity knows no bounds, I tell you. If he were to be poached by a foreign country, there would be no end to the explorers who'd chase after him."

The professor also provided supporting fire for the Association President.

"You lot had better improve SS-dono's treatment starting right now and do whatever it takes to keep him in Japan."

Having been put on notice even by the foremost authority on dungeon research, the Prime Minister shrank back more dejectedly than anyone had ever seen him.

(I'm glad I quietly filled them in on the situation beforehand.)

In the midst of all this, Arihara alone was nodding with satisfaction in his heart.