Chapter-07 · EP-099

Chapter 7: Individuality

Episode 99: Rainy JGSDF Base

Night at the JGSDF Tama Base.

The lights in the training building were off, and only the sound of rain beating down on the grounds echoed quietly.

In a corner of the hangar, gray dungeon exploration armored vehicles were lined up in neat rows, the ceiling fluorescent lights faintly illuminating their metal surfaces.

A man removed the hood of his wet raincoat as he entered the building.

His name was Tatsunori Susa. Thirty years old. A First Lieutenant in the Exploration Unit. His in-dungeon combat rank was A, making him a top-level explorer in Japan, in name and reality.

As he passed the reception desk, a communications operator stood up.

"First Lieutenant Susa, the Intelligence Division Chief is waiting for you."

"Understood."

He opened the heavy soundproof door. Inside, a middle-aged man was looking at a tablet device.

Lieutenant Colonel Sanada, the Intelligence Division Chief. Susa's superior.

And there was another person in the corner of the room. A young woman with short hair stood at rigid attention.

"Sorry for the late hour, Susa."

"It's my duty."

Susa saluted Sanada while glancing at the other person.

"It's been a while, First Lieutenant Susa."

"Been a while, Yumi."

Sergeant Second Class Yumi Kushinada relaxed her expression slightly and nodded.

She was a graduate of Tokyo Dungeon Academy and a user of Ice Magic. Susa had worked with her on a previous mission.

Sanada operated the tablet, projecting an image onto the large monitor in the room.

It showed photos of Tokyo Dungeon Academy and the faces of several students.

"Recently, there have been multiple sightings of high-rank potion transactions within Tokyo Dungeon Academy."

"High-rank… Rank 3?"

"Yes. Origin unknown. There's no record in the distribution channels."

Susa frowned.

"Do you mean high-rank potions dropped in the academy dungeon? That's ridiculous. I'm sure that dungeon only goes up to the 10th floor, doesn't it?"

Normally, it was said that Rank 1 potions dropped from slimes on the 1st floor, Rank 2 potions from Poison Slimes on the 11th floor, and Rank 3 potions from Quicksilver Slimes on the 21st floor.

There was no way that Rank 3 potions, let alone in large numbers, would appear in the Tokyo Dungeon Academy dungeon, which was said to only go up to the 10th floor.

"If it were only that, it would still be okay. The problem is what comes next."

Sanada switched the image with his fingertip.

What appeared was the crest of the Kujo Duke family and an aerial photo of a factory under construction.

"We've learned that the Duke Kujo family's daughter, currently enrolled in the Dungeon Academy, is involved in this matter. And when we followed her, we discovered that the Duke Kujo family suddenly started building a factory to produce antidote."

"That's abrupt, but it might have nothing to do with the high-rank potion issue, right?"

"There's no evidence. But the timing is too coincidental."

The influence of the Kujo name came to Susa's mind.

One of the eight Duke families in Japan, the highest rank of nobility, with the greatest power among them.

Duke Kujo was also a member of the House of Peers and the head of a foundation that owned several companies.

He was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

"What exactly is happening?"

"I don't know. But when it comes to high-rank potions, they've become very difficult to obtain recently, with prices skyrocketing."

Susa immediately recalled a recent dungeon exploration.

The Fuji Jukai Dungeon – his first challenge in a year to the 43rd-floor boss.

They had split into four teams to fight in shifts, but the battle was a war of attrition, consuming many high-rank potions.

Unable to gauge the damage dealt to the floor boss and with their own exhaustion mounting, they withdrew before any casualties occurred.

It was frustrating. They would need to level up and replenish their items before the next challenge.

Given this situation, the Self-Defense Forces were also desperate for high-rank potions.

"…So you want me to investigate?"

To find the source of the high-rank potions and obtain them.

"Yes. This is an unofficial mission. We'll send Sergeant Second Class Kushinada to the academy as a temporary instructor. As an alumna, she's familiar with the academy. Once she's assigned, join her and conduct the investigation."

"An undercover investigation, then."

"That's right."

Sanada switched the image. Next, the face of a single boy appeared.

Black hair, a reserved expression. But even from the photo, there was something about him that felt extraordinary.

"And… this boy may be the central figure."

"Who is he?"

"Shirou Ichinose, Class 1-D. Since enrollment, he has achieved multiple exploration successes. And he is behind all the incidents. As if he can manipulate coincidences."

Sanada gently placed the tablet on the desk.

"Proceed carefully. The Duke's family and the academy are involved. Don't make enemies; try to get close to them. If necessary, we'll provide backup from headquarters."

"Understood."

Susa saluted and, together with Yumi, turned on his heel.

Once in the hallway, Yumi sighed softly.

"First Lieutenant Susa. This looks troublesome again."

"Yeah. But it's your alma mater. I'll leave the guiding to you."

"Yes. Leave it to me."

Yumi nodded with a serious expression.

Susa looked out the window at the faint lights of Tokyo in the distance and muttered quietly.

"A fifteen-year-old boy… doing something that could move the nation?"

Outside, the rain grew heavier.

A thunderclap tearing through the sky drowned out his words.

Susa and Yumi walked down the base hallway, surrounded by the sound of rain.

"Well, at least it won't be boring."

"That's just like you, First Lieutenant Susa."

Yumi smiled wryly.

Their shadows disappeared into the dim depths of the hallway.