arc3 · 046-ch46

Episode 46: Unsettling Presence

The attack unleashed from above by Naganuma slashed deeply into a Curtain Frog, and the Curtain Frog turned into a large cloud of smoke as it was absorbed into Parks.

"Haa, I'm tired"

"You're letting your guard down too fast, Tobuki. Check the surroundings immediately."

"Ah, sorry, sorry."

Tobuki, warned by Fujimori, looked around restlessly. In the dungeon, continuing to fight for a long time often attracts other monsters, leading to consecutive battles. Although their levels had risen so they could defeat enemies without spending much time, the Madness Serpent Mimics and Curtain Frogs they fought this time had high stamina and durability, making them monsters that dragged out battles.

To be suddenly ambushed by a Madness Serpent Mimic camouflaged in the grass on the ground just after defeating the enemy in front of them—that would be no laughing matter.

"No remaining enemies. Let's take a short break."

Ryonan, the leader, called out. They finally eased their tension. Even though it was called a break, they were still inside the dungeon, so they couldn't completely relax.

"Dammit, it really didn't drop, huh? How about you guys? Did 'Proof of Devotion' drop?"

Komiya asked everyone while checking his storage, looking frustrated. 'Proof of Devotion' is an accessory that rarely drops from Curtain Frogs, a bracelet that raises stamina and defense. In Parks, since Ryonan, the leader, had dropped it once, no one else had dropped it since.

"I got nothing."

"Me too, just magic stones."

"Ah, I got serum."

Fujimori and Naganuma had zero battle results. It seems Tobuki had dropped 'Mimicry Serum', a drop item from the Madness Serpent Mimic.

"I got 'Curtain Frog Bone'. How about you, Ryonan?"

"Me too, just magic stones. Even though I was aiming for it."

"If you drop it again, it's war. War."

It seems that apart from magic stones, two items dropped. It's not uncommon for nothing but magic stones to drop, so it's not that bad of a result. The magic stones that drop are micro magic stones and are cheap, but since they drop in most cases from monsters in District 3, Floor 1, who are close to level 40, even dust accumulates into a mountain. It's just right for high school students earning pocket money.

"It's about that time, so maybe one more time?"

"Yeah. Let's explore while heading back.

"Curtain Frogs, come to me! Please give me that bracelet too!"

Komiya seems to like the design of the Curtain Frog bracelet, and looks like he wants it by any means necessary. The members who knew this united in the thought that they would fight the Curtain Frogs at the end even if it got a bit late today.

"Alright, then let's go look for Curtain Frogs for Komiya's sake."

"Oh! Thanks everyone!"

"Aha! It's the last one, you know."

"Ah! Of course, with that... hm? Wait a minute. Did you hear something?"

When Komiya won the right to challenge the Curtain Frogs last, it seems he heard something.

"Come to think of it, I might hear something too. Is someone fighting?"

Kamiyuzuki also heard it and agreed with Komiya. In the dungeon, anomalies must be dealt with immediately, or it will lead to irreparable consequences.

"There shouldn't be any other parties exploring this area of District 3.

"Did someone change their route? Either way, the sound is coming from over there, so let's at least take a look.

"Yeah. If they look like they're in danger, we'll help them.

District 3 is basically an area only explored by Explorer High students. Although there are occasionally wild explorers like Suzuka, basically only Explorer High students explore it. The people fighting would be classmates they know well, so they decided to go take a look.

Since the terrain of District 3 is undulating hilly land, the view from the top of the hills is good, but visibility is poor elsewhere. The sound was coming from the other side of an embankment about that high, so the six of them jogged over there.

The sound that gradually became audible was a loud sound for just a battle.

Bad feeling. Everyone thought. Should we turn back here, they thought.

But their feet didn't stop. The feet that were jogging at first, on the contrary, gradually increased their speed. By the time they reached the top of the hill, they were almost sprinting at full strength.

"Oi... what is this"

I don't know whose voice that was. It might be me, it might not be. But everyone wanted to say the same thing.

On the other side of the hill, one party was being attacked by monsters.

They're not fighting. They're being attacked. The number of monsters exceeds 10. It's not a number that one party can handle.

"Consecutive battles... no, is it a monster train?"

Ryonan uttered those words. Previously, Ryonan and the others had a group of Green-Yellow Wolves in District 2 merge and nearly become a monster train.

At that time, judging that they couldn't escape from the speed of the Green-Yellow Wolves, they steeled themselves to stand their ground to prevent it from becoming a monster train. As a result, they suffered serious injuries, but it didn't end in a fatal incident.

But the party before them was different. They were clearly running away. They weren't pulling back while maintaining their formation. They were just running around relying on their agility enhanced by status.

For now, there are only just over 10 monsters. But with that, many times that number of monsters will probably gather soon.

"Oi, isn't that Tachikawa?"

"It really is. Machida is there too. No mistake.

The explorers running around in confusion were students of Hachioji Explorer High, a party called Urban. Although inferior to Parks, Urban is one of the parties with actual ability.

"What do we do? Help them, that?"

Fujimori asked Ryonan. Ryonan, who usually decides immediately, didn't return an answer right away.

His expression was grim. Naturally. Even though there are only just over 10 of them, they've never fought that many monsters at once. Although the six of them have grown to level 40, the level cap of District 3 on Floor 1, District 3 monsters aren't lower level. If they help, the risk is too great.

For now, there are only just over 10 monsters, but if they fight, the surrounding monsters might also join and the number might increase.

They can still turn back now. But if they do that, they're abandoning Urban. To put it more strongly, they're letting their classmates who go to the same school die.

If they help, their companions might die; if they abandon them, their classmates will die.

Now, Ryonan was forced to make that choice.

"Either way, we don't have time. Making the decision is your role.

Fujimori asked Ryonan again. Ryonan, the leader of Parks.

"W-wait, wait, Fujimori. Let's not just have Ryonan decide, let's all talk about it.

"No, that's no good. This is something the party leader decides. If there's a good opinion, you should say it, but the decision should be made by Ryonan.

Kamiyuzuki tried to reach out, but Fujimori cut him off. Fujimori is also the sub-leader of Parks. If something happens to Ryonan, the next one to make the judgment would be himself.

That's why he thinks every day about what he should do as a leader, and he's come this far discussing it with Ryonan.

It sounds cold, but Fujimori's words are correct. The dungeon is a place filled with danger where you might die one second later. You can't discuss with the whole party every time something happens. If there's time, it's fine, but in cases like this that require urgency, it's impossible.

And being forced to make such a choice will happen many times in the future if they continue as explorers. This was something necessary for Ryonan to grow as a leader.

"Oi oi, isn't Fujimori being a bit harsh?"

"No, Fujimori is right. I'll decide. I'll give the answer now. Wait a little.

Naganuma tried to admonish him, but Ryonan himself stopped it. Fujimori is voluntarily taking on the unpleasant role. The other members understand that too. But even though they understand, they voice it out loud. Everyone is not calm.

(What do I do. Which choice should I make?)

Ryonan's brain went into full rotation. This might be the most he's used his brain since that day he fought desperately with the Green-Yellow Wolves.

Tachikawa and the other Urban members don't have very good behavior. They've often clashed with Parks, who are more excellent than them.

But even so, they're still classmates. He's never once thought he wanted them to die.

(Do I want to help Tachikawa and the others... no, that's not it. This isn't that kind of story.

Whether the explorer before their eyes is Urban or an unknown explorer, there's no difference there. It's a story of whether to help a life that might be saved before their eyes, using the lives of their companions as collateral.

Once in District 2 exploration, Parks was almost wiped out. It was just that a third-rank explorer party that happened to be passing by had an explorer who could use recovery magic, so they survived.

With his own judgment alone, his companions might have died. The terror and regret of that time still appear in his dreams.

The helplessness of being unable to do anything while his companions were being eaten by Green-Yellow Wolves. That terrifying sensation of his companions growing colder and colder in his arms. The exhausted faces of his parents when he woke up in the hospital bed.

He's never forgotten it even once. And now, he stood in the same position as that time.

The choice to help might become a repeat of that time. If they had been fighting goblins instead of Green-Yellow Wolves at that time, they might still be aiming to be first-rank explorers. They might have explored smoothly and even defeated Fresh Green Great Wolf, the area boss of District 2. They might have been able to follow in the footsteps of Kagika Rurei.

(I... with my judgment, I deprived them of their future.

That was still tormenting Ryonan. He destroyed the future of his talented companions. He took away the opportunity to become heroes. How much he regretted being able to go back to that time.

But even so, Ryonan decided. Following his heart.

"I'm sorry, you guys. I'm going to help Urban. entrust your lives to me once again.

Certainly, Parks gave up on becoming heroes. The dream of becoming explorers who defeat powerful area bosses, explore uncharted territories of floors 6 and 7, obtain rare items and bathe in praise alone—they gave up. They decided to do solid and honest exploration.

But they didn't quit being explorers.

Just one crisis. If they were scared and ran away from that, they wouldn't be standing here now. If they're going to continue as explorers in the future, if they can't overcome this level of crisis, what can they become?

"Ah, of course. Making the decision is your job as the leader. Carrying out that decision is our job as the members.

"You said something cool. But I agree with Fujimori's words.

"Yeah. Let's go help them for a bit.

No one voiced any objection to Ryonan's judgment. How much Ryonan has agonized and continued as a leader since that incident in District 2, the members understand painfully well. That's why if Ryonan decided it, they only had to do their best so that Ryonan could think that this judgment was good for them.

"Alright, if we're helping, let's go quickly. Like this, we'll die before we can help.

"Ah, yeah.... Tachikaaaawaaaaa!! It's over here!! Come over here!!!!

Ryonan roared. Whether his voice was heard or not, Urban's course changed toward Parks.

"Sphere Moon Snake: 3, Nut Bombarrel Chipmunk: 6, Beginning Frog: 3, Curtain Frog: 2, total 14.

"Luckily there are no Madness Serpent Mimics. It's an interception battle. We'll intercept in a half-moon shape.

Madness Serpent Mimics charge in to pry open defenses, making them quite troublesome monsters. If it's just one Madness Serpent Mimic, they can seal it, but if a Madness Serpent Mimic is mixed in with many monsters like this time, there's a fear that the formation will collapse from that alone.

Ryonan decided to help, but if there were 3 or more Madness Serpent Mimics in the monster pack, he probably would have given up. That's just how troublesome those monsters are that are incomprehensible as living beings.

While going down the hill, they hurriedly arranged their formation before the monsters arrived. At the front were Ryonan and Fujimori holding large kite shields side by side, and behind them diagonally were Komiya and Naganuma, who were agile and holding round shields, positioned. Guarding the front gaps and the rear were Tobuki and Kamiyuzuki, who held spears in the center.

"Don't go too deep! Devote yourselves to defense. We'll whittle them down little by little!!"

Just as Ryonan issued his last instruction, Tachikawa and the others of Urban rolled backward through Parks' gap. What came next was the collision of the monsters. The first to arrive was the Sphere Moon Snake that rolled over.

"Guh!! Next is a Curtain Frog coming!! Stay sharp, Fujimori!!"

"Ah!!!"

They succeeded in deflecting the collision of the low-level Sphere Moon Snake without breaking their posture, but the next monster comes immediately. What's approaching is a Curtain Frog. Two Curtain Frogs, level 33 and 38, charged without killing their speed.

"Grrrrroooooooaaaaaaarr!!!!"

With the Curtain Frogs' body slams, even Ryonan and Fujimori, who were superior in level, were blown far backward. But they didn't let go of their shields, let alone break their posture. They were blown backward by the tremendous impact, but they weren't broken.

Like weaving through the gaps between monsters, Nut Bombarrel Chipmunks fired seeds, but from behind, Tobuki and Kamiyuzuki deflected the seeds with skillful spear handling. It was the first time they'd held spears since entering high school, but with daily training and spear skills, they could handle the seeds approaching at high speed.

"Oraaa!!"

At the Beginning Frogs approaching from the side, Komiya and Naganuma struck back instead. The Beginning Frog is the weakest monster in District 3, and even the 3 Beginning Frogs attacking are only around level 20.

They don't go deep to avoid leaving holes in the formation, but they want to finish them off quickly and reduce the numbers.

Parks somehow managed to endure the impact of the monsters, but they don't have any leeway. For now, they're evenly matched, but if other monsters gather, the balance will easily be broken. The explorer side was still at a disadvantage.

"Urban!! Anyone who can move, join in!! We're short-handed!!"

Ryonan shouted, but Urban's members seemed to be in a state of confusion, holding their heads and crouching without moving. If Urban joined in, this side would become superior. They were running at full strength, so they shouldn't be unable to move due to injuries.

Ryonan and the other Parks members called out several times, but Urban just crouched and didn't move.

"Fujimori!!"

"Leave it to me!"

Judging that nothing would be resolved, Ryonan shield bashed to create an opening matching the Curtain Frog's attack, left the position to Fujimori, and headed toward Urban who was lying down in the back.

"Oi!! Are you listening!? If you can move, join in!!"

He grabbed Tachikawa's chest nearby and lifted him up, but his eyes weren't focused and he was just trembling as if afraid of something.

(What? Confusion... no, panic?)

Madness Serpent Mimics can sometimes inflict the status abnormality called panic. When there's a level difference or when the heart is weak, fighting a Madness Serpent Mimic can cause it to manifest, but none of the Parks members have manifested it. They sometimes feel fear or disgust at the Madness Serpent Mimic's abnormality, but not to the extent of manifesting "panic."

"tch, what a pain.

Ryonan slapped Tachikawa's cheek with all his might, and made him face the Parks members who were still fighting.

"Look!! We're stopping the monsters!! It's alright now!! Wake up quickly!!"

"...R-Ryonan?"

Perhaps having regained his sanity, life returned to Tachikawa's face.

"I'll hear about what happened later. Quickly wake up your companions and join in.

Leaving Urban to Tachikawa, Ryonan tried to return. But Tachikawa grabbed Ryonan as if to stop him from returning.

"N-no! He... they're coming!!"

"What do you mean. What do you mean, 'they'? ...Hm? Come to think of it, you're a six-person party, right? What happened to one person?"

Ryonan looked around, but there were only 5 people rolling including Tachikawa. Urban was supposed to be a six-person party like Parks.

(The number of people is insufficient. Did they leave them behind? No, more than that, something is nagging at me. What?)

Looking down at Tachikawa, who is afraid of something.

(What is he afraid of?... No, wait. Why is he affected by "panic"!?)

Ryonan immediately looked around. But there were no Madness Serpent Mimics scattering panic anywhere.

"Oi!! What happened to the Madness Serpent Mimics!? Did you defeat them!?"

"They came! It's already over! We can't escape!!"

Looking at the empty line of sight of Tachikawa, he could see dust rising. It was still far away. It was a place far separated. But even with that much distance, he could understand what it was.

"You're kidding me..."

What was raising dust and coming toward them was a pack of Madness Serpent Mimics.