Episode 121: Why did Yusha come to the dungeon?

"Luun luun♪ Lurara larara♪"

Leading the way, Ayame hums happily as we head back.

Thanks to her《Soul Eye》skill, Ayame can freely walk around even inside the "dungeon," but I’m relying on Haku’s《Light Magic》.

"Ayame-chan, don’t go wandering off ahead—don’t get lost now."

「だいじょーぶだいじょーぶ」

気がつけばいなくなる彩葉ちゃんに声をかけつつ、慎重に歩を進めます。

”魔物”はもう狩り尽くしたとは言え、何が起こるかわかりませんからね。

もうそろそろ、”ラット・キング”を仕留めたあたりかな、と思い始めたあたりでしょうか。

「うひょおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおお！」

I could hear Ayame-chan letting out a strange, monkey-like cry, as if she'd just been given her favorite banana.

"Ho, ho ho ho ho, it's real!"

After briefly locking eyes with Hakusama, I suddenly dashed forward.

"Ayame-chan, someone...!"

Did you just say someone was there? I cut off her words mid-sentence.

"Please, sign it for me!"

Ayame-chan bowed her head.

Before her stood a slender woman.

I couldn't make out their face due to the darkness, but they appeared to be of average height and looked about twenty years old.

The woman looked slightly embarrassed,

Hmm? Could it be a fan girl?

And gently strokes his own cheek.

It seems more like an atmosphere of struggle.

But still, this was someone who walked into the dungeon with complete ease—no room for complacency.

"Are you...?"

And.

At that moment, the light of the magic illuminated the woman's face.

"Aah! A, a, a, a, aah!"

She was so startled she nearly fell backward.

"Is it really you, Amatamitsune-san?! H-haha, really you?!"

"Fufufu. What's the point in hiding it... I'm the real deal."

The woman smiled warmly.

A professional smile.

A true professional's smile.

There's no doubt about it. She's none other than Amata Mitsune—the actress who used to be frequently seen on television before the world turned out this way.

"Um, um, wait!"

Saya-chan bounced up and down, making her presence known.

"I'm a huge fan of 'Super Hero Blade'! I've been working so hard to become just like Akane, the heroine...!"

This was the first time she'd ever felt so windblown.

Incidentally, 'Super Hero Blade' was a tokusatsu hero series that aired on weeknights.

I've never watched it myself, but I remember it was quite popular, known as a hero show that adults could enjoy too.

Miss Mitsuune played the heroine who fought alongside 'Blade,' wasn't it?

She appeared frequently on variety shows, so she left a strong impression.

"Akane from 'Blade' was such a perfect role—she's one of my favorites too."

Saying that, Mitsune pulled out a black magic pen and neatly signed her name on a notebook.

"Yay!"

Caiye bounced with excitement, quickly tucking the signed notebook into her pocket.

As for me, I didn’t have a suitable piece of paper, so I asked,

"Could you write it on this jersey instead?"

"Really?"

"Sure thing. I've got a few extras on hand. Since we're at it,"

The pen zips back and forth across her back.

"Still, what brings you to the dungeon?"

"Leveling up. I just cleared the Shinjuku dungeon recently, so I figured I'd come over here next."

"So you're leveling up...?"

"Yeah. I'm a 'player' too."

A sudden spark lit up inside my chest.

It felt like I was standing shoulder to shoulder with someone who had something different from ordinary people.

That was the feeling I had.

But then,

as I suddenly looked up and met Hana's gaze right there in front of me, that feeling vanished like mist in the wind.

She was openly displaying hostility—clear as day just from one glance.

"Yes, got it♪"

After finishing her signature, Mitsune gave me a friendly pat on the back.

As if cutting in, Ayaka suddenly stepped in,

"I absolutely love the story where Akane-chan fights in place of 'Blade'!"

"Yeah, back then, the actor playing 'Blade' suddenly fell ill with a cold. We had to change the script on short notice."

"S-so, a behind-the-scenes detail like that!"

While dealing with Ayaka's excited reaction, I immediately turned to Hakka-san, leaning in close.

"Hey, Hanakou, what's with that face? You look just like a yandere girlfriend whose lover's been stolen."

She squints her eyes and lets out a small sigh.

"...Sir." She activated her 'Skill Evaluation' on him.

I tilted my head slightly and followed those words.

And the first information that came rushing into my mind was,

――Job: Hero

"Huh?"

An instinctive, utterly absurd cry escapes them.

(Unfortunately, there's no other choice.)

(Both the "Hero" and the "Demon King" possess a unique skill called "Undying.")

(In order to save the world, it's necessary to eliminate both of them...)

The words of Hakujo echoed in my mind.

"Wha... what the hell...? Wha... wha... wha...?"

I was genuinely taken aback.

Just as shocked as when I failed four job interviews in a row... no, maybe even more so.

Next, I checked Mitsu ne's skill.

Level: 99

Skills: [Swordsmanship (Hero Rank)] [Natural Healing (Strong)] [Skin Reinforcement] [Bone Reinforcement] [Hunger Resistance (Strong)] [Fire Magic I・II・III・IV・V] [Water Magic I・II・III・IV・V] [Thunder Magic I・II・III・IV・V] [Light Magic I・II・III] [Healing Magic I・II・III・IV・V] [Undead I] [Fate] [? Divine Blessing] [Justice of the?] [Unknown] [Do not look] [Do as you please] [Human] [Skills] [Do not pry] [Mystery] [Mystery] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?]

At the same time.

Zo zo zo zo zo zo zo... like this.

Something like noise interfering with my thoughts began eroding my mind.

"――!?!"

"T-this... is...?!"

In an instant, both my expression and Haku's froze.

《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》《不明》

"——Ghk!?!"

It was like listening to a CD with the volume cranked all the way up by accident.

An overwhelming flood of information slammed into my mind, scrambling my thoughts beyond what I'd expected.

As if possessed by a terrible delusion, the word "Unknown" wouldn't leave my mind.

To my knowledge, this was the first time the Skill Assessment had ever behaved like this.

Suddenly, Mitsuune, who was chatting with Saya-chan, turned toward me.

Hey! You can't just go snooping into someone's private life like that!

And gently scold them.

...It seems they noticed our Skill Assessment.

There's no doubt she used some skill to interfere with it.

S-sorry...

The moment I started to say it.

"――Nebula"

Next to me, Hakka activated her skill.

It was… perhaps, her own instinctive reaction.

Regardless of form, she would never forgive anything that attacked her.

After that, my body moved almost automatically.

Hakka’s right arm snapped upward, swinging a dazzling whip of light—

I instantly stepped into the path of the attack and braced myself with my entire body, intercepting the Nebula's whip.

"——gah!!"

The light whip tore through my skin, its force amplified by the damage reduction from my Defense skill.

A rare wound.

In an instant, I sustained an injury so severe it felt like I'd become unfit for marriage, rolling across the ground.

"——what?!"

"——huh?"

"——wah! What's going on?!"

Each voice came from a different direction.

As for me, I watched a significant amount of fresh blood slowly spreading across the "dungeon" floor.

Well, injuries can be dealt with eventually, but what's worse is that my glasses shattered from the impact.

This is a real problem.

I'm quite nearsighted, with a bit of astigmatism on top of it, so without my glasses, I can barely see anything around me.

"Idiot! 'Sensei,' what are you doing!?"

The shout came from the hazy silhouette of Hakka.

Next to act was Mitsu ne.

In her hand, which had appeared empty, was now something as tall as she was... a stick? No, wait—it was a sword. Anyway, she was definitely gripping something weapon-like.

"...Wha...what? Huh?"

The dazed voice belonged to Sayo.

It wasn't surprising. She was the only one left behind in this situation.

As for me, I remained crouched on the floor like a caterpillar, desperately trying to think.

...I just had to find a way to smoothly get out of this mess.

That was all I was focusing on.

Then, in an instant.

Swoosh.

The shadow seemed to materialize before my eyes, taking on a tangible form.

A peculiar humanoid emerged from the shadows, clad head to toe in pitch-black armor.

I couldn’t see their face...

This wasn’t due to poor eyesight.

Their entire body, from toes to head, was completely encased in dark armor.

"………………Hmph"

The man stood firmly in front, shielding the "Hero," snorting disdainfully.

"Damn it, the 'Dark Knight'... of all times, now?!"

Just as Hakka-san had once mentioned, the "Dark Knight" — acting just like a "player" should.

I couldn't help but acknowledge that the situation had spiraled further into chaos, even as I desperately tried to hold onto consciousness.

There was Sutami Kōon.

A renowned actor.

In fact, it was this very person who was the "Hero" we had been searching for.

The "Hero" was someone who had to be eliminated.

But for now, we had no choice but to avoid conflict.

That was already complicated enough.

"Wha... what are you? You...?"

We weren't the only ones stunned.

Even "Hero" Mitsuken seemed to be meeting the "Dark Knight" for the first time.

"Um... what's going on? Are you gonna help me out?"

She spoke to the "Dark Knight" standing beside her.

"…………………………"

"Say something, please..."

"…………Hmph"

Apparently, the "Dark Knight" was quite the quiet type.

As if proving his words through action, he stepped forward a pace.

Facing Hakka-san.

Holding two swords, poised for battle.

It seemed clear that dual-wielding was his fighting style.

"Umm... I don't really get it, but maybe I just had good karma lately?"

Meanwhile, Mitsune maintained the same upbeat demeanor she always displayed on TV.

"……………………………Hmph"

The "Hero" and the "Dark Knight" stood side by side.

"Such a reckless kid who suddenly attacks—big sis needs to teach them a lesson!"

……gug.

This is bad.

If we keep going like this……

"Mo, ……momo-san. It's not right to fight…."

But Hakuha wasn't looking at her.

"……Still, the 'Immortality' skill was only at level I. ……This might be a chance. Or perhaps I could even be killed…"

Yes, whispering quietly to herself.

So? I suppose I should ask—what was the elf girl's motive for attacking me?

Hakka speaks up in response.

I'm going to kill you—just for that!

"Oops. Sorry, but if that's the case, then we'll just have to fight....You see, I'm the one who's supposed to save the world, so I can't afford to die here like this."

And so, the killing began.