arc3 · 154-ch154

Chapter 154: Queens

(End this in one strike... huh?)

I'd tried to flip the katana's cutting-specialist nature on its head, seizing the initiative with my fastest thrust — but by the time I moved, Michael was already gone.

(Left!?)

With no basis whatsoever, I killed my thrust mid-motion and leapt right.

"Oh? Dodging that — you've got some skill!"

That baseless hunch was right, and I dodged Michael's opening strike by sheer luck. But when I turned left to counter, he was already gone from view.

"And... there's the end."

Before I knew it, he'd circled around behind me, and a dagger was resting against my neck.

"That's the match! Michael-san wins!"

Professor Togo declared it grandly. Cheers rose around us. Damn... that stings, no two ways about it. I never thought I'd win, but I didn't expect to be completely outclassed. Getting my level up had me carried away, but turns out my own combat ability is still way down there.

I returned to the center of the training floor and bowed to Michael, doing my best to keep the frustration off my face.

"Hey, you. You're still far out of my league, but your movement wasn't bad. What's your Job? Some kind of Swordsman?"

Unexpectedly, Michael complimented my movement. I'm no combat-job holder, but my physical abilities have risen with my level — that must be it.

"Um, my Job is... I don't have one."

Whew, close. I almost said my Job out loud. Soramine Sota is officially unawakened, after all.

"No way. If you're not a combat type, then your movements were near level thirty. No Job, no way you move like that."

I'm amazed. He's pegged my level pretty accurately. High-rank explorers can really tell that kind of thing? I nearly let my admiration show.

"Really, I don't have a Job..."

It's a stretch, but I can't come clean here. I'll ride this lie all the way through.

"Well, either way. But you know, you're a handsome one with real promise. What do they call you?"

"Ah — Soramine Sota."

I'd rather not stand out, but a fake name would give me away fast, so I gave up and told him my real one. I just hope he forgets all about me right away.

Michael nodded, satisfied, then — at Professor Togo's urging — began advising the students as they resumed training. Watching him, I was overcome with a nameless sense of unease.

side Queens

A suite in a luxury Japanese hotel. The four members of Queens, dispatched to Japan by the British Explorer Association, had gathered.

Their leader is James Robert Austin. A powerhouse ranked third in the world. His Job is Knight — one-handed sword and shield, superb in both offense and defense, able to fight with perfect balance. His companions call him Jim, and he is one of only a handful of S-rank explorers in the entire world.

Their official purpose for being dispatched was explorer-to-explorer exchange, but their real objective was gathering information on SS — the name on everyone's lips lately. The Association had ordered them to, at minimum, identify SS; ideally, to bring him home with them.

"I paid a call on the Dungeon Agency myself, yet came away with nothing of use. This Arihara fellow is a rather crafty one. I'm certain he's concealing something, but he never once showed his hand."

The others frowned at Jim's report. With Jim ranked third in the world, they'd expected him to bring back something.

"And you, Elsie? How did it go on your end?"

A woman answered Jim's question. Elizabeth Rose Taylor — Elsie to her companions — a graceful lady with the Priest Job. Priests use magic much like a Healer Mage's, but they also learn holy magic for breaking curses and striking down the undead.

"I paid a visit to the Dungeon Association myself, and I'm afraid there was nothing of note there either. Rather than hiding something, they truly gave the impression of simply not knowing."

At Elsie's report, the others' expressions grew grimmer still.

"Hmm. Then, Vivvi — your side?"

Next called upon was Olivia Ann Margaret — a cheerful woman with the Archer Job, whose weapon of choice is the longbow.

"Well, I made the rounds of the nearby dungeons, but sadly nothing much came of it."

Most explorers knew of SS. Plenty had seen the drones he flew. But not a single person held information that could lead to his identity.

"This is information control, unmistakably — the Dungeon Agency's doing. So Japan had already realized what he's worth, hm?"

When SS's existence was first confirmed in Britain, the government sprang into action at once, asking their compatriots in Japan to gather intelligence. His identity remained unknown, but with every report of his exploits arriving from Japan, the British government's desire to have him — no matter the cost — only grew.

Other nations were much the same, quietly sending spies into Japan to sniff out his identity. But thanks to Arihara's quick thinking, information was carefully managed, and none of the spies ever got close to the truth.

"That leaves you, Mikey. How did it go with the facilities that might be connected to SS?"

"Let's see now — Yamamoto Electronics almost certainly knows something, but their security was way too tight. Couldn't learn a thing. I did try tracing the drones' flight paths, though. All I could confirm was that they launch from either the Dungeon Agency or Yamamoto Electronics."

"I see. I'd expected an easier job — but Japan has no small number of skilled players of its own."

Having heard everyone's reports, Jim rested his chin on his hand and thought. Of course, if they flexed their power and acted directly, they could obtain far more valuable information. But that would make an enemy of Japan — and above all, the other overseas players wouldn't sit still for it.

Officially, this was a goodwill exchange between Britain and Japan, so they couldn't move too conspicuously. Tomorrow's agenda: exchange with Japan's number one party, Kokushi Musou.

From what they'd heard, Kokushi Musou had dived into dungeons alongside SS's drones many times. Unless they got something out of this party, the mission would end in failure. Or so they thought...

"Oh, come to think of it — met an interesting one today. A student at the university where they train explorers. Good-looking, AND he moved better than any student has a right to."

As if remembering, Mikey tossed out this extra tidbit, but Jim barely reacted. Vivvi, on the other hand, started fidgeting at the word "good-looking."

"What's interesting about that? It's a school for training explorers. Finding someone awakened to a combat Job there would hardly be strange."

Jim answered with that and moved to end the topic — until Mikey's next words stopped him cold.

"But get this — he says he's unawakened. Despite clearly NOT moving like a Jobless man. And that movement style, I've seen it before. It was just like a Smith back home who leveled himself up to 30 so he could gather his own materials."

Jim turned it over in his mind. What if the way he controls those drones is a skill? What if that student gains EXP and levels up without ever diving into a dungeon?

"That student bears watching. So, Mikey — did you get his name?"

"Of course. The name's Soramine Sota."

"Soramine?"

At that name, he recalled one of the British Explorer Association executives — the man who had ordered their team to investigate Japan.

"Ian Soramine Louis... The same family name as his."

At Jim's murmur, the four of them exchanged meaningful looks.