第３２５堀：バカと天才と変態×３＝？ (Part1)
**Dungeon 325: Idiots, Geniuses, and Perverts ×3 = ?**
**Side: Comet**
"Whoa!! Amazing!! Incredible!! This is just insane!!"
I was beyond excited!
Even though we were in the middle of an emergency, I couldn't suppress the pounding in my chest, and I found myself shouting. I mean, how could I not? Spread out before my eyes was a mountain of instruments, tools, and weapons—things whose structures and functions were completely beyond my comprehension. As a researcher, could there be anything more heart-pounding than this?!
What’s more, every single one of them was packed with highly advanced magic formulas. They were high-performance items that deserved the title of "super."
"Comet, calm yourself! There are things that take priority over your curiosity right now."
"I know, I know, but—whoa!! What is that?! What is that thing?!"
"…Well, I’m in the mood to scream myself, so I understand how you feel, Lady Comet."
"Even you, Taizo-dono..."
Anyway, after our discussion, we had immediately come to the Weed laboratory where the magic swords were being stored, in order to investigate the ones we weren't involved with. But the place was incredible. It was so advanced that it was beyond imagination; it was no wonder we hadn't been able to win against them.
"Still, it’s amazing that you’re in a position to have the country hand over magic swords to you," I said to Yuki-kun, who was walking in the lead.
"It’s nothing special. They didn't hand them over; they don't even know I have the Item Box skill. I just recovered half of the magic swords that were left in bulk. The unit that stormed the place just thinks half of them were real to begin with."
"Ah, I see."
Right, I suppose people with skills like that are rare in this era. Magic really has declined quite a bit. It feels like if we don't work hard at this laboratory, we’re going to be in trouble.
"Recovering them all at once was just good luck. It’s hard to say if Hifie and the other support are being intercepted by other countries' investigations, so we’ll likely be on the back foot."
True. In Enaria’s case, it was just a coincidence that we found them because we were putting effort into the investigation through Yuki-kun’s connections and our own. Other countries are likely investigating the same way, but the number of people they can mobilize is limited, and it’s difficult to get the jump on an opponent who is operating in the shadows.
"And, it’s this way."
With that, Yuki-kun placed his hand on a strange square pillar in front of a door, and it opened.
…What kind of mechanism is that? Looking closely, I could see some kind of magical structure. …I’ve seen it before. It was the personal identification via mana that I had applied to the Betu-sword. I see, so it can be used to protect secrets like this. But there was also a structure that read the palm, which was different from mana. I wonder what the point of that is?
"Look, I know you’re interested, but save it for later. Right now, the priority is to investigate the differences and origins of the magic swords as quickly as possible."
"Ah, right. Sorry."
Scolded by Hifie, I came back to my senses and followed behind. And then, I was even more surprised inside.
"Welcome to the Weed Magic Technology Development Laboratory."
There, I saw a member of the Fairy race, which was said to have gone extinct in my continent. Even Hifie was too stunned to speak.
"I am in charge of weapon development here. My name is Narjia."
The small, doll-like girl bowed her head.
"Ah, how polite of you. My name is Taizo Motome."
"Yes. I am aware. You are the wise man who came from the country of Yuki-san and Taiki-san."
"Haha, what a grand introduction. Ahem, I am prepared to work my fingers to the bone to live up to your expectations."
"I look forward to the time we can talk."
"Me too."
For some reason, Taizo-san wasn't particularly surprised and was talking to the Fairy. …Ah, Taizo-san was summoned here, so he doesn't know her rarity value.
"Now, the two of you seem frozen, but are Fairies rare in the New Continent?"
"S-sorry. It’s been a long time since they were said to have gone extinct on our continent."
"Yeah. It’s my first time seeing one, too. I only knew about them from literature."
"I see. The mana depletion over there seems truly serious. Tomorrow it could be us. Could I ask for your cooperation as well?"
"Yes, of course. Though, I must protect my country on my continent. This corpse-girl here will be going to the laboratory, so please take care of her."
"Who are you calling a corpse-girl?! I’m Comet. And this is the useless goddess, Hifie. I’m the developer of the Betu-sword—no, the Holy Sword and the magic swords—and Yuki-kun’s predecessor."
"Fufu, you two get along well. I look forward to working with you."
Narjia-san seems like a good person. I think I’ll get along with her much better than Hifie. Those eyes are the eyes of a developer, a researcher, a craftsman. Because, just by looking at each other, a smile naturally spilled out. She’ll probably become an eternal friend to me.
"Narjia-san. So, where is that idiot?"
Once we finished our greetings, Yuki-kun spoke to Narjia-san. That idiot? Is there someone else? Come to think of it, Narjia-san said she was in charge of weapon development, right? That means there’s a separate director for this laboratory.
"Yes, I believe he will be here soon."
The moment Narjia-san answered, the door behind us opened, and a lanky, pale man walked in.
"A zombie?"
"Please don't lump people in with corpses like yourself without permission. Well, you seem to be a high-ranking Lich, though."
Oh, he saw through my identity easily. The mana oozing from his body is considerable, too. Is this person the director? Honestly, appraisal is meaningless against Yuki-kun and his group, so you have to measure them by instinct. It seems Yuki-kun’s group had already set up barriers against appraisal, so the one I appraised when we met was a dummy.
Well, considering I was hiding things, I did a double-check, but he prevented that with a simple method: "If you check twice, just hide it three times and they won't find it." It’s the logic of, "If someone is going to take your clothes off, just wear many layers." Usually, people only hide their status twice, so they assume they’ve seen through it.
Well, Yuki-kun’s group uses interference that makes the appraised status loop according to a certain rule, so their true status cannot be determined by skills like appraisal. You can't tell which one is real.
"Hey, you're late."
"It can't be helped. You keep piling work on me... You’re a harsh taskmaster."
"This is a replenishment of personnel. Be happy."
"Sigh, I hope so. People like Narjia-san are just craftsman-idiots who only care about weapon development..."
"Did you say something, Zagis-san?"
*Clack, clatter, click...*
With that, Narjia-san suddenly pulled about ten things that looked like guns out of thin air and pointed them at the man named Zagis from behind.
"I said nothing at all. However, there are more new models, aren't there? Judging by the shape, are these miniguns or grenade types?"
"Yes. They are designed to fire mana as if it were a cartridge, so as long as you have even a little mana, they are excellent tools that only require the bullets."
"In that case, they’re just junk if you don't have mana."
"Of course, you can load them with cartridges, too, you know."
*Clack.*
"Are you reloading?"
"Since you seem to have complaints about what I’ve made, I thought it would be best to demonstrate."
"That is pointed at me, isn't it?"
"I think a practical experience will help you understand better."
Yeah. For now, if those giant firearms go off, the damage is going to reach us, too.