ch401-ch420 · 414-ch414

Chapter 414: Red Means Ambition

"Then let's have that information exchange."

Back to the meeting room again.

I'd have liked to deepen our rapport in the dungeon a little more, though.

Since Mia-san balked at that dungeon, we decided the surface was better—at least nobody could overhear us there.

"Confirming the problem points, too."

"Right. All six of you—Shiraishi-san included—are Quadruple—no, you've broken through Floor 40 and hold upper-rank sub-jobs. Am I right about that?"

"Me and Shiraishi-san are only a little past Level 30, though."

Mia-san adds.

"Haruki being the highest level is the real surprise. So he's stronger than 'Her Majesty the Spear King'......"

"Kasumi-san had her Association work, you see...... The three of us could level up every day after school before dark, but Kasumi-san only had weekends, so that's the difference."

"During exams he wasn't even studying—climbing the Floor 40 cliff all by himself."

Aikawa offers unnecessary information.

"Ah-hah-hah. Still, what's at the top of the Floor 40 cliff does interest me. Do take me there someday. Though the only ones who can level up after school should be adventurers with no star to their name. In a sense, that's very high-schooler of you, but......"

We have told them, simply, that using 【Gate】 eliminates travel time and makes leveling easy.

We have NOT told them about the golem and Magic Parfait Operations, of course.

"Leveling gets easier for us too, from now on."

"Well, we're busy ourselves. We have to travel the whole country conquering the new dungeons' Floor 40s. Our own leveling comes after that. You'll have university as well, but might we have your cooperation here too? The thing is, Asuka has nightmares whenever she sleeps in a dungeon, so expeditions are a difficult proposition for us right now."

They only learned about us today, after all.

Were they originally planning to conquer it with four?

No—come to think of it, we were four as well......

With 'Sword Saint-chan' with us, we'll manage somehow?

"In that case, Kaito-san, naturally, and the support members as well would have to sit out, I take it?"

"Guess that's how it goes. The others aside—what do I even tell Kaito......"

I do feel bad, but I can't talk about my skill.

"Well, if we call it 'Floor 50 countermeasures,' that explanation alone should cover us for a few outings. For the remaining few, we may have to have them accompany us without Haruki-kun's special skill."

Ohh, the new dungeon!

We haven't filed any applications or entries, but if it's helping 'Blue Ocean,' can we get in?

"There's one problem, though. Kasumi-san aside, these kids have almost no experience camping in a dungeon, you know? Floor 40 would take a week, right? Walking into an unknown boss room in that state—I don't think it's possible."

Rude. We've done it three times, you know?

But an overnight stay, huh......

The support members can only come as far as Floor 29, maybe, but Kaito-san and Mami-tan are Triple-Ranks too, right?

Leaving those two behind and falling back to the warehouse with just us would be difficult.

If there's a night raid and the tents are empty, that's bad news.

Which means I'd have to sleep inside the dungeon too......

"I will accompany you on that front. I'm leaving the Association at the end of this month, so my hands will be free. Up to Floor 40, I won't be a burden."

"No, that won't do. If Kasumi-san goes, I go too."

Floor 39 is fine, but Floor 40 is not.

A boss like a Cockatrice—something with no counter whatsoever—could show up.

If I go and things turn bad, I escape via 'Gate.' If I can't do that, I can't let Kasumi-san go.

But having said all that, my hand trembles.

The cause is the same as the 'Queen's.'

I'm scared of having the dream......

"Let's leave this topic for today. I'll send our schedule later, so please give it some thought on your end. Next—I'd like to discuss how you all will be handled. Personally, I'd like to welcome every one of you in as new members of 'Blue Ocean.' What do you say?"

Whether he sensed it or not, Ao-san cuts the topic short and moves to the next item.

"I'll pass. I'll take requests, but being exclusive is a bit much for me. I'm useless deep in a dungeon, so count me out."

Mia-san declines, huh......

Her shop did just open, after all.

I do want someone to resupply the warehouse when we sneak back, so honestly, this works out better for me.

"Setting us aside, how to handle Haruki-san is the real issue. For my part, I'd rather keep him off the public stage as much as possible. This time too, we're only asking for your cooperation because Haruki-san is the only one who can save you—under normal circumstances......"

"Ah, about that—I have a plan. For now, announce that Aikawa alone is joining 'Blue Ocean,' and that Kasumi-san is 'in negotiations,' something like that. Please."

I cut off Kasumi-san and lay out the plan.

"Eh? What about me?"

"Soushi and I will tag along as Kasumi-san's and Aikawa's managers—or errand boys, something in that vein."

"What's with that? How uncool. I mean, Haruki aside, why me too?"

"Relax. I've got a cool role prepared for you too."

Fufufu.

Look forward to it.

"Wait, is it really okay for ME to join 'Blue Ocean'? Haru-kun's going to Floor 50, right?"

"There are escorts for up to Floor 49. We just go in as those escorts, no?"

"And then we swap places, huh. I see. I promise Natsuki-san and the others will help break Floor 50 once they're ready too. Somehow, a weight's been lifted. When Chiharu lost, I thought it would end up with your side leading and us merely helping you break Floor 50."

Well, that's not quite it.

But leading should be the heavier responsibility, so 'a weight lifted' doesn't fit either, does it?

This person's goal really is humanity's first Floor 50 clear—and being its leader, isn't it.

He wants his name carved into history, huh......

Because he's a scout-type, the presence color I see through 【Presence Detection】 reads as a faint pink—but in truth, his is probably a deeper red than Hayashi-san's.

Red means ambitious, I suppose?

He may end up competing with Hayashi-san for the Association chairmanship someday.

He doesn't feel like a bad person.

As long as he's an ally, he's someone you can trust.

"If Haruki-san is satisfied with that, I have nothing to add."

It's not that I don't want the honor—I do have a plan for after this......

It wasn't just us giving information—we got some from their side too.

First, the matter of 'Sword Saint-chan's' dream.

Apparently, 'Sword Saint-chan' sleeps in her armor, hugging her sword.

Doing so makes new equipment appear in the dream, it seems.

THAT'S why she was trying to carry me off into the dream earlier.

The reason I was always in a school uniform with a rental spear is that I wasn't properly equipped.

But today's events might advance the dream.

Next time I sleep, maybe I'll get the full-party dream?

'Sword Saint-chan,' wanting to try it right away, is something else.

I don't think I can sleep until 'Sword Saint-chan' has broken through inside the dream, though.

Should I just accept that a dream is a dream and sleep?

After this I have to go buy the White Day return gifts—I tell myself so.

Maybe I should just have Ao-san bake me cookies or something?

That'll do for everyone's return gifts except Kasumi-san's.

And it lets me gauge the enemy's strength, too.

︙

︙

That same day, Aikawa apparently went to HQ and filmed a promotion video announcing her 'Blue Ocean' membership.

Released the next day, the video shot to #1 on the rankings, debate erupted over who Aikawa was and how strong an adventurer she was—it even made the TV news.

But the day after that, it promptly surrendered the #1 spot.

The title: 'Ninja Blue Shadow VS Ninja Summer Shadow.'

The thumbnail: the words 'Sword Saint Defeat' and 'Blue Ocean Dissolution Crisis,' an image of 'Sword Saint-chan' down on her knees, and a ninja-like shadow.

......The content is, in fact, a cooking showdown.