c1-c20 · 020-ch20

Shinjuku, Deep Layer

Episode 20: Dungeon Sisters with Negomin and Uncle

"...! Bomb Boost!"

I explode the ground beneath my feet to accelerate through the air, reaching the ceiling faster than the other three. Then I position myself to catch them as they fall from below.

"Kyan!"

"Gueh!"

"Aboh!"

Alright, caught them nicely.

I caught them in order—Mayoi-san, Negomin-san, then Kyuu-san—and they all let out some pretty unique screams.

But... this is a pretty bad situation.

I look around, but the star-filled sky that was here moments ago is gone, and all I see are simple earthen walls.

"S-Shibasaki-san, where is this?"

"Yes, floor 31... the deep layer."

The deep layer, floor 31—the Desert Ruins. Multiple massive pillars that could be mistaken for artificial structures connect earth and sky, creating an alien landscape like a patchwork painting.

I look up at the ground below. A large hole has opened where we should have been standing, but most of it is already being repaired by the dungeon's power.

It doesn't seem like I can fly back up to floor 30 with all three of them right now.

The ground separating floors occasionally collapses due to various factors—this is called a "collapse."

Shinjuku Dungeon is a tower-type dungeon, where going up means higher floors with stronger enemies and more powerful magic tools appearing. In other words, while collapsing and falling to a lower floor can happen, ending up on a higher floor doesn't.

However, floor 31 of the deep layer has a phenomenon called "ascension drop" caused by fluctuating mana flows. It's simply gravity reversing at a specific location, but unfortunately, it seems we got caught in one at the same time as a collapse and fell into the deep layer.

Negomin-san is looking at me worriedly, but the Dungeon Sisters are panicking upon hearing this is the deep layer.

"Eh, this is the deep layer!? That's bad, bad, bad, bad!"

"Onee-chan, bag, life cord!"

"Ah, right, I did bring it. Farewell, little sister!"

"Wait, no, stop!"

My intervention was a step too late, and Mayoi-san pulled out her life cord and undid the knot. However, Mayoi-san didn't vanish from before my eyes.

"Huh, Onee-chan, you're still here."

"I'm right here."

"...It failed after all."

"Eh, Shibasaki-san, does that mean life cords don't work in the deep layer!?"

A surprised Negomin-san presses in on me. Looking closely, she's clutching a life cord in her hand. Good, it didn't go to waste.

"It's not that they don't work... but life cords are fairly delicate magic tools, so in the deep layer and beyond, they can fail to activate depending on the surrounding mana fluctuations."

"I see, so that's why..."

According to the creator, making them any more powerful would be too much for the user's body to handle. As long as the ascension drop is occurring, it probably won't work while we're here. Which means...

I speak into my incam.

"Maika-chan, can you hear me?"

'...-san, right now... noi...'

Just as I thought—communication devices are down too. And this is a high-grade one with good resistance... this is why I can't really trust two-way communication tools.

"So I'm going to be stranded here?! Stuck living here forever?! Kyuu~! It's okay, Onee-chan is here~!!"

"The little sister might not want that."

"What should we do, Shibasaki-san?! Is there some penalty for B-ranks accidentally entering the deep layer?!"

"First of all, everyone, let's calm down. Here, deep breaths."

I soothe the three who are losing their composure. In the deep layer, losing your head can be fatal, so getting them to calm down is the top priority.

They take deep breaths, one after another. I was thinking I might have to punch them to calm them down if they were still panicking, but all three are explorers—they quickly regain their composure.

"Everyone seems calm now. Then please listen to what I have to say. First, being in the deep layer doesn't mean you'll die immediately. To put it simply, it's just a stronger version of the middle layer's harsh environments, so as long as you take proper measures, you'll be fine."

"Strong uncle..."

"And the rule about B-ranks being prohibited from entering the deep layer exists to protect lives. Since we didn't enter intentionally, there's no penalty, Negomin-san."

"R-right. Sorry Shibasaki-san, I kind of panicked."

Negomin-san said that apologetically. It was essentially an unexpected accident, so she really doesn't need to worry about it.

I take a breath and continue explaining.

"There are places in the deep layer where mana is stable. For now, let's head there, and once we arrive, we can return using life cords. I brought plenty of spares for situations like this."

"Uncle next to Negomin... amazing, so reliable!"

"Haha, thank you, Kyuu-san."

After finishing my explanation, I do a quick check of our surroundings. From what I can see, there are only small flying-type monsters. Even if we're attacked, we should be able to win with our current group.

"Then let's get going."

"Let's go, everyone! Or rather, 'Dungeon Sisters with Negomin and Uncle'!"

"Ugh, Onee-chan, that's lame. Since Negomin is here, it should be 'Dungeon Sisters Negomin, with Uncle on the Side'."

"You two... you seriously have no sense. That kind of thing needs to be catchier and simpler. 'Shi-Nego Labyrinth Squad'—that's the right answer."

"Our element is barely in there at all!"

"Whatever, let's just go."

I'm glad the incam is disconnected right now. Maika-chan would definitely jump on this bad bandwagon. But still, to be this relaxed on their first time in the deep layer... all three of them have real potential as explorers.

I look up at the ground again.

"First, let's get out of this ascension drop space... um, this area where gravity is reversed."

"But how do we do that?"

"If you go to the boundary of the space, gravity naturally returns to normal. Just go straight and you'll be there soon."

"Hey strong uncle, isn't that basically like jumping off a cliff?"

"Yes, exactly."

"...That's quite a drop to the ground."

Kyuu-san is estimating the distance to the ground and gasps. What is there to be afraid of? Not dying until you die is common sense in this industry, isn't it?

"It's fine. It's basically like bungee jumping without a cord. With an explorer's durability... at B-rank level, at worst you'd just end up with fractures in both legs."

"Hyuu..."

"That's not fine at all! Negomin, help!"

"Give up. Survival and fear are equivalent exchange."

I wonder why Negomin-san is looking off into the distance with that expression. But there's no point dwelling on it, so let's move forward.

"Oh, I found the boundary. Once we pass through here, we can return to the ground. Come on, just jump right through."

"W-well... um..."

"Little sister, no desire to go first?"

"In times like this, it's seniority by age. Onee-chan, you go."

"Then I'll carry all three of you, and we'll go together. That's probably safer anyway."

"Huh?"

I securely grab all three so they won't separate in midair and carry them on my back.

"We're going to jump! Hold on tight!"

"Egyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!"