c41-c60 · 047-ch47

Chapter 47: The Ambusher

The day after receiving the request from Rindou-san, I found myself on the 31st floor of Shinjuku Dungeon. Even in the stuffy, humid forest of Plute Jungle, I didn't feel any discomfort thanks to my usual work clothes. The borrowed outfit was nice too, but I really do prefer what I'm used to wearing.

['Hey, is it really okay for me to do this instead of Sanada-san?']

Maika-chan's sleepy voice came through the incam I was wearing. She must have her own things to do, so I'm grateful she agreed to handle the navigation today like always.

"Sanada-san has other things I need her to handle. So I'm counting on you today too."

['Huh. So, why'd we suddenly come to the 31st floor?']

"Well, we've got almost no clues to go on right now. The only information we have is that the attack happened on the 31st floor. So first, I want to find yesterday's perpetrator."

['I get that, but is that attacker really going to come back? They might not come here anymore, you know?']

"That might be true, but doing bad things is like staying up late. It's not the kind of thing you can just stop even if you want to."

Humans are creatures that conveniently interpret their own futures. People who commit crimes and don't get caught end up believing the convenient delusion that they won't get caught next time either. And that mindset doesn't change until they're actually apprehended.

"Maika-chan, you're always telling me to go to bed early, but you've been staying up until around 2 AM lately, haven't you?"

['Ehh, no no no, I'm a model citizen who goes to bed early and wakes up early~...']

"I could tell you've been looking sleepy even though it's daytime these past few days. It's fine since it's spring break, but we need to get you back on schedule before high school starts."

As we talked, I pushed through the thick undergrowth. Before long, we reached the spot where yesterday's distress signal had been transmitted. As expected, there were no traces of collapsed pillars there—just trees and grass growing haphazardly.

Well, there's nothing here. No sign that anyone was attacked while I was away either. If this is how it is, I guess I'll stake out the area nearby until the next victim appears.

['But still, even if that person does something bad again, they might not necessarily do it on the 31st floor, right? They might do it on a higher floor or something.']

"That's surprisingly not the case. The fact that the perpetrator targeted B-ranks was intentional."

['Is that so? If they're targeting B-ranks, wouldn't the people in the middle layers be better?']

"To be more precise, it's B-ranks who entered the deep layer. Without exception, they're all violators, which means they're people who'd find it difficult to report being victimized."

['I see, so they're easy targets, huh?']

"Exactly. Plus, in the deep layer, it's harder to escape using a Life Cord when you're attacked."

In fact, the explorer who was attacked yesterday had apparently been carrying a Life Cord that failed to activate. If they could've returned immediately, they probably wouldn't have suffered such severe injuries.

['Sigh~ Why do B-ranks go to the deep layer anyway? They should just wait until they become A-ranks.']

"Well, that's true... but passing the A-rank exam is really tough. If you don't consider the danger, the materials you can get in the deep layer are worth more money than the ones from the middle layer."

['So that's how it is... Ah, Shibasaki-san. I'm getting a reaction from an explorer approaching this way.']

"Roger that."

"DIE, SHIBASAKI!!!"

I smoothly dodged an attack that suddenly came at me from my blind spot. The one who missed their attack went rolling momentum into the bushes.

You shouldn't shout so loud when making a surprise attack. But well, this is convenient—having the clue come to me.

Standing up from the bushes, that someone brushed off the leaves and tree branches clinging to their black robe and stood before me.

"What's your name?"

"I am Dark Chaos. You dodged well, Shibasaki Ichiro. You've certainly gotten full of yourself after defeating that weakling Stained Hawk."

Who is this person?

"No, not your explorer name. Tell me your real name."

"But Shibasaki Ichiro, I'm the one who's going to kill you. Unlike you, I'm someone from the other side!"

This guy doesn't seem interested in talking. His eyes are bloodshot too—he's pretty dangerous.

The man calling himself Dark Chaos pointed the exposed tip of his sword at me and charged once again.

...?

"I'll show you the difference between someone who's crossed the line!!"

"..."

I dodged that attack easily too. This time, Dark Chaos slammed into a large tree.

...What's going on? This person is way too weak.

"Don't just dodge, you piece of trash! Damn it, one more time!"

"Hmm, the sword he's carrying seems like just an ordinary one too..."

I examined the sword I'd snatched when we passed each other, but I didn't feel anything particularly unusual about it.

...? What's really going on here?

"Huh? Don't steal my sword, you bastard! Give it back, you piece of trash!"

This guy is being unreasonable when he was the one who attacked me.

Besides, this level of weakness... this is B-rank... no, probably even low C-rank.

Could someone like that possibly attack a B-rank who infiltrated the deep layer, even if they were a violator? Maybe someone else did it... but this guy came to the deep layer alone and is attacking me right now.

...No, I'll think about the questions after I get information. Since he came to make contact, I'll just capture him quickly and make him tell me everything he knows.

Just as I thought that and raised the sword I'd taken, Dark Chaos grinned fearlessly for some reason.

"...Shibasaki Ichiro, do you still think you're not going to die? Your overconfidence has reached the point of ridiculousness."

And then, Dark Chaos covered his mouth with his robe and muttered something quietly.

What's this, an incantation?

As I stood on guard, Maika-chan's frantic voice came through the incam.

['Shibasaki-san! Monster reactions from the surroundings!! This is...!']

At the same time as that voice, a shadow I knew all too well emerged from deep within the trees.

A massive red body trampling through the dense forest, bulging muscles that easily snap trees in two, and growing from its head were its signature two horns.

It was, without a doubt——

['It's a Blood Ogre from the 40th floor!']

"...So that's how you're doing it."