000-020 · 011-ch10
Chapter 10: Reunion, and Then an Accident
Light covers my vision for an instant, then normal vision returns.
"Now then, what floor is this, I wonder?"
>>You can tell just by looking?
I stop walking for a moment and focus my attention on the conversation with the comment section. The viewers came all the way here, so it's only right to talk to them.
"No, well, I've been going between the 90th floor and the deepest layer all the time, so I know those, but I don't know the others at all. I don't even know the map."
>>You've been through it once, right?
"I think I've gone through most of it, anyway. I must have defeated all the boss monsters, at least."
>>That makes no sense.
"Hahahaha, well, you see, going from the deep layer to the next floor isn't physically connected like going from upper to middle layers, or from lower to deep layers. Same kind of thing happens a bunch of times between the deep layer and the 100th floor below. I went around beating the bosses trying to figure out how to go down, see?"
>>That's not what I meant, oh my god, I don't even know what to say anymore.
"Since it's just me right now, I might answer any questions you have?"
>>Eh, seriously!?
"Well, depends on the question. Things like how deep the deep layer is, or which direction to go beyond the deep layer—I'm not answering that, okay? For some people that's spoilers, right?"
>>Spoilers... wait, does it really become that?
"There's no one whose goal is exploring the dungeon itself? I'm pretty much like that."
>>Who knows. There might be in top guilds... oh, there was a video of an American explorer happily answering an interview.
"Ah, so overseas people are more advanced. Keep it up, Japan, yeah?"
>>But the top Americans are monsters, for real.
"You say that to me? Well, think of some questions. I'll answer them."
>>Eugh... what should I ask...
The viewer-kun starts agonizing, so I decide to keep walking in the meantime.
"Well, depending on where this is, I might not be able to get back down by today."
>>You're camping inside the dungeon?
"Is that the question?"
>>Nonono, that's not what I meant!
"Hahahaha, just kidding, just kidding. That's totally fine. I'll camp inside the dungeon. I'm human too, you know. Well, I can go about a week without sleeping, but I don't normally do that."
>>...Are you really human?
"If you say that, all explorers are suspicious, huh?"
In the middle of the conversation with the comment section, I notice a sound like someone fighting monsters. I thought the mana was thin, so it seems I've been transferred upward.
"Looks like I went upward. Sorry, but I'm stepping on the transfer magic circle again."
>>How did you know?
"I heard people's presence and fighting sounds. The mana was thin so I thought it was suspicious, but looks like I was right."
>>The stream isn't picking up any sound at all... just how sharp are your senses?
"Pretty sharp—I've got level-ups and skill bonuses too."
Saying that, this time I step on the transfer magic circle without stopping even once.
"Ehh, the mana is thin again."
>>You mean the mana in the air?
"Yeah, that's it."
I'm about to step out of the small room where the transfer magic circle is set up when immediately around the corner, a party of six explorers appears.
"Ah"
>>Ah
""""""Ah""""""
Me, still crouching as I had just ducked through a small hole.
And the six-person party including the familiar-faced girl showing themselves around the corner.
We both stare wide-eyed at each other, then I'm the first to start moving.
"Pardon me."
Nonchalantly crouching again, I try to go back into the hole like rewinding a video.
But right then, the other party restarts.
"Wait wait wait a moment! Just wait a moment!"
"Ah, please wait!"
Acting on reflex, the lightly-armed girl who speaks Kansai dialect, and the girl I had previously carried to the surface, Ms. Amamiya Kanata, both lunge at me.
I couldn't handle their momentum...
Rather, their physical abilities were just too different from mine.
As I stand up inside the small room having pulled my head back through, the two girls who grabbed me are dragged inside the room as if following me.
"Ah"
"Mr. John! We meet again! I wanted to thank you for before──"
My retort of "That's not the problem here" comes too late to put into words.
Because I had exited the room and Robo had spiritized, losing his physical form, the transfer magic circle's restart conditions were satisfied, so it activated again.
And.
This is my third time today.
This is their first time experiencing a transfer today.
You're not doing enough random number work!!!
After the light from the magic circle fades, an awkward silence descends on the room for a moment.
>>Um, are you okay?
"Does that look okay to you?"
"Who are you talking to?"
"My solo viewer-kun."
>>Phrasing! No one's hurt, so it looks okay.
"Idiot, I don't know what floor this is."
At my words, the Kansai dialect girl who apparently hadn't noticed goes "Ah," and lets out a small sound, while Ms. Amamiya's face turns pale.
"A-ah, um, Mr. John..."
"I'm going to take a look outside. You two stay there. If everyone goes out, it'll activate again."
I tell this to Ms. Amamiya and the Kansai dialect girl—judging by her voice, she's the one I heard speaking at the yakiniku restaurant before—and head toward the exit of the small room where the transfer trap is set up.
"W-wait a sec. Is it okay like that?"
"If you keep standing on it, it won't activate. If you get off, it will, so don't get off."
Leaving the two girls whose expressions show anxiety, I step outside the small room once. Robo... don't go to sleep since it's going to take a while, okay?
Immediately outside the small room, I see a moss-covered wall. Hanging from above, many vines dangle down. A bit away, an ape-type monster with a sharply pointed tail and plant leaves and stems growing from its skin is seen leaping around hanging from them.
"Ugh, I remember this. I remember this place."
>>The 90th to 100th floor?
"No, probably around the 30th or 40th floor. I remember the boss of this exact area being incredibly annoying to deal with."
I immediately dive back through the hole to return, and while I'm at it, use mana to write a magic circle at the room's entrance and set up a barrier to keep monsters out.
The two who had been holding their breath watching me work talk to me the moment I turn around.
"Um, Mr. John, long time no see. Thank you for before. So, that just now was..."
"Ah, yeah. The one just now was a transfer magic circle. The one under your feet is the same. It's a trap that transfers you to a random location's same magic circle inside the dungeon."
"Transfer... so that's why Kana-chan suddenly vanished from the upper layer too!"
At my explanation, the two look at each other.
>>Um, Dan-Sta's stream is in chaos... they're saying two members disappeared while streaming.
"Ah, you guys are streaming too?"
"Eh? ...Ah, this is bad! The camera didn't follow, did it? I have to switch the video to the smartphone..."
"You, if you understand the situation, could you explain? Both me and Kana-chan don't really understand it..."
"Umm... I got it! I'm so sorry, everyone! Both of us are safe! We got transferred, but..."
"I transfer. You guys come along. This is floor 40."
>>You're speaking in fragments.
(Well of course I am, idiot!) I think to myself as I search for a solution to this chaotic situation.
Option one: Ignore the two and return to my base in the dungeon's inner world. Merits: Easy. Demerits: The two almost certainly won't survive, and since there's a stream, it'll definitely cause a firestorm.
Option two: Send the two to the surface. Merits: None really. Demerits: Takes time.
Option three: Take both of them to the base. Merits: I can get back to base without wasting extra time. Demerits: I'll end up having to take care of the two, possibly indefinitely.
While the two confirm the situation with whoever is on the other end of the stream, I agonize for a few seconds and reach a conclusion.
"I'm leaving you behind."
"W-wait wait wait, what kind of scary thing are you saying!?"
"No, seriously... I was planning to go all the way to the bottom of the dungeon from now on, really."
"Ugh... that may be so, but..."
Give me a break, Clements.
That's what I said out loud, but. In the end, there's only one option I can take. They must have realized the situation while talking to the other side of the stream, because their faces are pale. I stop joking around and sigh.
"Mou, you guys really..."
Hearing my words, the two must have judged that I wasn't going to abandon them right away. They bow their heads energetically.
"I'm truly sorry. You saved us before, too, and now we've caused you trouble... I know it's presumptuous to ask again, but please, help us."
"I'm asking too... please, I'm begging you. If this is the 40th floor, that's far below the deep layer, so there are dangerous monsters, right? Me and Kana-chan alone can't survive. So, could you please send us to the surface? I'll do whatever I can to show my gratitude."
The two bow politely, looking earnest.
This is what I hate.
If I leave them behind, it'll definitely leave a bad aftertaste.
No matter how much I pretend to dislike people, that's how I end up feeling. Once I get involved, I get held back.
That's why people are difficult.