ch201-ch220 · 220-ch220

Chapter 220: The Assassination Request

'Made it, somehow. This side is fine, right?'

Floor 24—it's already growing dark around us, and they've only just reached the 'Gate to Floor 25.'

Eh?

Why didn't I go home, you ask?

Night is the most dangerous time!!

First they'll have dinner on the Floor 24 side, it seems.

If monsters come, they move to Floor 25; if monsters come on Floor 25, they fall back to Floor 24—and repeat until dawn, apparently.

Adventuring is rough, huh.

Well, if they move to Floor 25 and settle in front of the gate, I can't follow anymore.

So I'll keep watching while they're on this side, why don't I.

'So you really are getting married? I hear you haven't even introduced him to Kuwashima-san—everyone's saying your fiancé doesn't actually exist!'

'Mmm-mmm-mmm. Who's saying that? Give me their name.'

'N-not me! It's Kuwashima-san, it's Kuwashima-san!'

She's kept it hidden so well that apparently there's a theory going around that I'm a figment of Kasumi-san's imagination.

Kuwashima-san is Kuwashima Miyuki, 'the Holy Maiden,' right?

At this rate, a meeting is the only answer.

Outside the dungeon should be fine, no?

'Well, setting up a meeting with Kuwashima would be quite the ordeal. Say, Akiyama-kun—once this is over, you'll be living in the headquarters building too? I hear it's rough over there.'

'Right, exactly! Even getting family in is a whole ordeal, they say. But I'm definitely coming to visit!'

'The scout' latches onto 'Hammer Ossan's' topic, clearly trying to change the subject.

'Watanabe-san, you've been inside, haven't you?'

'Yes, several times. The security is layered two and three deep—even with Miyuki with me, I was stopped again and again.'

Judging by the morning's conversation, once the 'pretty boy' makes Triple-Rank, they'll be joining the Adventurer's Association as staff.

If the headquarters-building residence comes up, maybe they're a holder of some rare special skill?

'Just between us—it looks like I'll be working in Chiba from now on.'

'Hey, hey—what if someone overhears?'

'Nobody's listening. Last people we passed on the way were on Floor 21, I think? No human presence since theeeen!'

Terribly sorry. I am listening.

'So you'll be Watanabe-san's colleague, then.'

'Is that so? The branch manager has said nothing to me.'

'No—not the branch; the plan is to work at the university hospital facility. Day-to-day there, I'd think, going to headquarters only when there's a request.'

The university hospital? Dr. Amamiya's place, then?

They're a 【Healer】, so a hospital makes sense—but wouldn't headquarters do?

I'd rather they didn't come all the way to Chiba.

'Even among the staff, hardly anyone besides us knows—today's business included. The chairman probably hasn't reported upward either. Maybe she means to use you as her own private asset. I'd bet even the Chiba branch manager doesn't know. Which would make you, Watanabe-san, the escort for emergencies, I wonder?'

'What is THAT! Unforgivable!'

'Calm down. If THAT actually happens tomorrow, the branch manager won't be able to avoid reporting it either... And since we know, we can just come check on you regularly.'

'Hammer Ossan' has gone completely soft on the 'pretty boy,' huh.

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︙

'No attack came, in the end.'

Correct.

Maybe thanks to me assassinating Forest Ogres all night long, none of them seem to have made it to Kasumi-san's party.

I am SO sleepy.

'No people around either—Chiba might be the easier one. Covert missions might be better run here from now on. At headquarters, whenever you camp you always end up sharing ground with some party or other...'

'Not being attacked was pure chance. The journey itself was hard enough, no? It only felt easy because Watanabe-san was there—and because the client could fight.'

'Then let's have you two come along again next time! That's the way.'

'True—when there's a client, we can just bench you.'

I just pray they don't let their guard down thinking the Chiba Dungeon has no night raids.

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︙

From Floor 25 on, Forest Ogre density climbs—even advancing looked like a struggle.

I helped out by dispatching the Forest Ogres trying to move on Kasumi-san's party from behind, all the way to Floor 29.

I watch all five enter the 'Gate to Floor 30,' then enter myself.

I entered about thirty seconds behind them, but even so, I'll be through faster.

I get to ignore every last Forest Ogre, after all.

From here on, there's nothing more I can do.

Floor 30 is the hardest stretch of all—but all I can do is trust Kasumi-san.

Take down only the Ogre King and—magic stone uncollected—push straight through to Floor 31.

Once on Floor 31, find a rock shadow to hide in and keep watch on the 'Gate to Floor 29.'

(Sleepy.)

I did pull an all-nighter, after all.

Kasumi-san's party plans to camp on Floor 14 tonight, so no more escorting needed past this point.

Somehow I'd become an escort without noticing, huh...

(Whoa—so bright.)

About ten minutes in, just as I was about to nod off, someone came out of the 'Gate to Floor 29.'

Another party?

Nobody came from behind, so they must have gone in ahead of us.

But only one person is coming out...

A girl.

Her presence is dazzling.

Far stronger light than even Shiraishi-san's.

Radiating an intense blue glow.

(Did she come through on her own?)

That's what I thought—until the rest came through right behind her.

Huh? It's 'the scout.'

'Yellow-Green-san' comes out too.

Then 'Hammer Ossan.'

Kasumi-san should be in the rearguard, so next would be the 'pretty boy'... but Kasumi-san came out first.

(Huh? Where's the 'pretty boy'?)

They're not coming out.

What's going on?

A cold sweat...

Could it be—? The thought flashes through me.

'I can't believe it. That it would actually come to THIS...'

'The scout' says...

Eh? No way?

So that's what this was all along?

'What are you talking about? That's what the request was from the very start.'

'Yellow-Green-san' shoots that down.

So it was the plan from the very beginning...

Meaning the 'pretty boy' stood a real chance of dying?

Mission failed...

And Kasumi-san? Is she all right?

'Was it really all right, doing it this way?'

Kasumi-san asks 'the mystery woman.'

Do they know each other?

I can't make sense of any of this anymore.

'Yes. I was prepared for it. Thank you for everything.'

The 'mystery woman' bows her head in thanks...

What is going on?

Someone just DIED?

'What do we do with this?'

Ah...

What 'Hammer Ossan' is holding is the shield the 'pretty boy' carried.

Which means this isn't a matter of them lagging behind. They're already...

'It's so heavy I can barely lift it. It's no longer needed. Let's leave it here—as a symbol of severing ties with the past, too.'

Severing ties with the past...

Don't tell me it was deliberate?

Thump... thump—I can hear my own heartbeat.

Could this have been an assassination request?

Did Kasumi-san know...?

'!?'

'The scout' looks this way.

I scramble to hide.

It's fine—【Presence Concealment】 is still up.

They must have just happened to glance this way...

'Is something the matter?'

'Hmnn? Maybe just my imagination? I thought someone was there...'

'Don't be absurd—this is beyond Floor 30, you know? No adventurer in Chiba can make it this far. It's just your imagination. Come on, if we don't hurry back we won't reach Floor 14 today.'

'Yellow-Green-san' urges them home.

Hurry?

Isn't that a little too quick about it?

The suspicion deepens.

I'd been lying low; once every presence had vanished, I peeked out from behind the rocks.

All that remained was the 'pretty boy's' shield...

I approach and pick it up.

"Heavy... huh."

It really is heavy.

Solidly built.

They were wielding a shield THIS heavy, freely...?

I didn't know them well, but I don't think they were a bad person.

Severing ties with the past...

A grudge, maybe?

Was that woman the client?

Why would Kasumi-san take a request like this?

I don't know.

I don't understand anything.

I have to hear it from Kasumi-san directly...

And I won't stand for being brushed off, either.

I'll take this shield home with me...

But if that's really what happened—what do I do then?