Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Do You Believe in God?
We returned from the Floor 7 attack and held a victory party.
Thanks to Kaorulko's efforts, information about the dangers of Floor 7 was quickly presented to news sites and top guilds.
As expected, she is a capable woman.
By the next day, the danger of Floor 7 had become a topic among adventurers, and it should have been sufficiently disseminated.
After the victory party, I didn't play with the Princess either; I organized the data I had taken.
I immediately handed the data over to Quadrifoglio for video production outsourcing.
She who is editing the video is in a position to see the Floor 7 footage first.
Knowing this, she came to get the data immediately.
She was quite excited, but she won't make any mistakes, I hope.
After handing over the data, I had forgotten to say something, so I sent her a message.
"Although there are men other than me in the video, please cut them all out. Also, cut out all the parts where the black wiggly things appear."
Tetsuo has portrait rights too.
He isn't an adventurer anyway.
"I am viewing it now! It's amazing! Is this dungeon Floor 7!"
"Yes, that's right."
"The man Niwa-san mentioned seems to be cutting open the wall..."
"Cut that part too. Starting from the already opened spot is fine, right?"
"I understand... ah, um... there are some black wiggly things..."
"As I said just now, cut those parts too."
"I understand... amazing! Too amazing!"
From the text, you can tell she is excited.
Also, please cut out the parts where Sana appears.
Iroha is fine.
Her editing progressed at a rapid pace, and by night, all the videos were complete.
Since I received them on the net, I checked them immediately.
The videos were uploaded, so I sent them to the Princess and the others.
Then, I should probably send them to Iroha as well.
I checked them too, and Tetsuo's appearance seems to be fine.
After a while, I confirmed with the Princess and the others.
"Is there no problem?"
"It's fine." "There is no problem."
Since Kaorulko's Breast-Curtain Dress equipment is now known to everyone, she seems to have already given up.
A message saying "no problem" also came from Iroha.
"Alright, let's publish it -- click."
"Darling! It's done!?"
"Yes."
"Yay!"
The Princess flew over and hugged me, so we rolled off the sofa and lay on the floor.
It seems we are going straight into an unlimited one-on-one match like this.
Yesterday was postponed, after all.
Well, it can't be helped.
-- The day after uploading the video.
After staying up all night in a competition between the Princess and Kaorulko, I woke up using potions as an energy drink substitute.
I immediately checked the video's comment section.
"Oh, wow, the counter is spinning wildly."
In just one night, it's heading for 1 million views.
Probably since it's daytime overseas, there are many accesses from overseas.
Comments are piled up like a mountain.
"Amazing! Wait, isn't this impossible for humans? lol"
"You'd die normally with this..."
"Unbelievable! This is no longer in the realm of humanity."
"Protection doesn't seem to work either."
"How do you dodge in such a narrow passage?"
"Impossible game lol"
"If they say it's dangerous, only top guilds and top rankers can manage it no matter what lol"
"It's already in the realm of non-humans."
They call me a non-human, which is quite a thing to say -- well, I admit I have already transcended humanity.
And the fact that I and those around me have become so accustomed to it is terrifying.
I wonder if there are people who watch this video and think, "Amazing! I want to become a top ranker too!"
In the afternoon, Dungeon News came for an interview.
I left the response to the Princess and Kaorulko.
Being interviewed in a hotel room while wearing adventurer gear is quite surreal, but it can't be helped.
The woman from Dungeon News seems to want to interview me too, but I refuse.
I'm not very interested.
Thinking it would be bad to interrupt the interview, I went out into the hallway and bumped into Tetsuo.
"Yo, Daisuke."
She was with the woman who is the Department Head or Section Chief of the Emblem Squad again.
She isn't coming every day, is she?
Maybe she feels guilty being seen by me; she looks shy.
Even through her suit, you can tell her chest is huge, and with her shy pose, it's the square of eroticism.
"You're not here in the middle of work, are you?"
"Since I wasn't there, I applied for leave and it seems like a combined session."
"About that Initiation thing you mentioned, does the black pattern really grow?"
"It grows, it grows -- it's real. Hey, show her."
"Y-yes."
She opened the valley of her chest, and a magnificent geometric black pattern appeared.
When I saw it before, it shouldn't have been this big.
As he said, if you undergo that Initiation, the black pattern called Holy Engraving grows.
"In another world, there is no level up, so this is how you level up, is it?"
"For now, our god is like that."
It seems unknown how other gods do it.
When he stroked the woman's pattern, her plump legs began to tremble.
It seems to feel good.
"Do you do that to men too?"
"No, I might have mentioned it before, but touching men has the same effect of growing the Holy Engraving, but it causes severe pain."
"Men are at a disadvantage..."
"I think our god prefers women, don't you?"
"That's right."
"The women used as vessels are all big-breasted too..."
"Isn't it that those closer to their original form are better suited as vessels?"
The fact that the Harpy's color turned black fits that theory too.
"I see -- such things might exist..."
While we were talking, the woman looked like she was about to collapse.
It would be bad to interrupt his evangelism -- yes, I had something to tell her.
"You are a high-ranking person in the Emblem Squad, right?"
"W-well, yes..."
"Did you hear from him that the source of the Emblem Squad's power comes from a god named Izal?"
"I heard. That is why I can receive power from Tetsuo-sama, the Apostle of God."
Tetsuo-sama, huh.
Well, since she is also a believer, it can be said that showing respect to the Apostle of God is natural, though...
"Until now, the Emblem Squad has been securing humans who can use magic outside of dungeons, right?"
"Yes."
"From now on, many Izal believers will increase, so that necessity will disappear."
"I-is that so?"
She looked at Tetsuo, and he nodded silently.
An expression of anxiety appeared on the woman's face.
She might be worried that if such people increase, the Emblem Squad might be disbanded.
Just as ordinary humans have police, I don't think the Emblem Squad will disappear.
There is a possibility that criminals will appear among Izal's believers.
A public organization to suppress them is necessary.
Perhaps it might be reorganized into an even larger organization.
If the opponent is an Apostle of Izal, Tetsuo could suppress them in one shot, but he said he will return to his own world.
"I think the number of humans who can use magic outside of dungeons will increase, but I don't think the Emblem Squad will disappear."
"I-is that so..."
"If Tetsuo is gone, the Emblem Squad holding powerful Holy Engravings will inevitably be necessary, right?"
"Hehehe, before I disappear, you should become the strongest among Izal's believers."
That way, no matter what criminals appear, they can be suppressed.
The woman nodded as well.
After that, she should raise a successor as a leader.
Without Tetsuo, it will be difficult to easily strengthen the Holy Engravings, though.
I parted ways with Tetsuo and the others and decided to stay at the cafe on the first floor until the Princess and the others finished their interviews.
------◇◇◇------
-- Some time after we returned from the dungeon, attacks on Floor 7 by various guilds began, but it seems they are being forced to struggle.
One reason is, of course, the supply issue.
Without an Item Box like mine, it is necessary to transport large amounts of supplies to each floor and stockpile them at camps.
There will likely be adventurers needed to guard the stored supplies.
Only a few top guilds can reach the deep layers, but there are many adventurers in the shallow layers.
Leaving them unattended is dangerous, and there are monsters that sneak into safe zones like Harpies to plunder luggage.
Parties that started conquering Floor 7 are repeating advances and retreats because they cannot defeat powerful monsters.
In short, their levels are insufficient.
Like in an RPG, you have to defeat many monsters you can somehow beat to gain experience points, level up, and then clear it.
Since the experience value isn't displayed on the status screen, it's dubious whether it really exists -- but probably, it must exist.
It will take time, but there is no choice but to conquer it steadily.
As each guild struggles, nasty remarks like "Did the Cherry Princess's party really clear it?" can be heard.
That is obvious at a glance if you watch the video I uploaded to the site, and Kaorulko has even published the map.
That is nothing more than a mere complaint.
For now, it seems there are no casualties, but I hope they attack with safety first without forcing themselves.
If you say it's their profession, then so be it, but it is still painful when acquaintances disappear.
What concerns me is the movement of the Labyrinth Cult --.
Since we repelled them, they haven't shown their faces.
Could it be that the injuries from that time were fatal...?
I don't want to say I'm happy when people die, but they are definitely targeting our lives.
Since there are adventurers who have actually fallen into their hands, it can't be helped.
They often say -- only those who are prepared to be killed themselves can kill.
And -- the ability of the golden bow we picked up in the dungeon has become slightly clear.
Plucking the string plays music...
"What the hell! This damn game!"
I thought, but this music seems to induce sleepiness.
Is it like the Lullaby from some PRG?
It doesn't seem to have any use at all.
-- A few days later, a single video was published on my site.
The ones appearing are not me, but Sana and Kaorulko.
The location is not the dungeon, but a less popular seaside area.
"Light! [Light]"
The two of them cast magic by the seaside.
This is possible because their magic comes from Izal, not from the dungeon.
After the magic ended, Kaorulko stepped forward.
"Just like this, you can use magic even without a dungeon."
She explained that if she becomes a believer of Izal, she can be given power even without a dungeon.
In short, it is a recruitment video for the Izal Religion, but I decided to publish it on my video site with many viewers.
Publishing such a video might invite criticism, but there is also useful information for Japan.
"That is not all!"
Kaorulko took a step closer to the camera.
"Now! Amazingly! If you become a believer, you can get the knowledge to extract magic power from magic stones infused with magic!"
"Here."
I handed her a large magic stone infused with magic.
Since I infused the magic, it is packed full inside and glowing blue.
Kaorulko gripped the magic stone and concentrated her spirit.
As if breaking the silence around her, pale blue particles of light floated up.
One by one, these particles danced into the air, and eventually became countless, surrounding her.
"Tear apart the enemies who harm us -- Chain Lightning! [Chain Lightning]"
The pale blue lightning released from in front of her rushed into the sky accompanied by a sharp sound.
The lightning was not a single beam but repeated countless branches, running through space like a spider's web.
The chain of lightning tore the air instantly, leaving a smell of burning metal around.
The flash ran at a speed the eye could not catch, leaving trails of light in the air.
Well, normally it would be impossible to use such a huge magic in a place far from the dungeon.
As if to boast of the power she obtained, she cast the Chain Lightning magic one more time.
"How is it?! If you can extract magic power from magic stones, you can fire huge magic like this repeatedly! Haa haa..."
Kaorulko's face turned red, and she seemed excited.
If you can extract magic power from magic stones, you might be able to cast even more magic, but it feels a bit dangerous.
It might be a sign of magic sickness, like when she collapsed before.
"Wait, wait, you'd better stop around here."
"Y-yes -- just like this, if you become a believer of the god Izal, you have a chance to get wonderful power!"
The video ended here -- it seems to have turned into a suspicious recruitment video.
There are many writings in the comment section, but confusion is visible.
"What is this? A religious recruitment video? lol"
"Fake video?"
"This is Empress, right?"
"Probably..."
"But I've seen a video where magic can be used even away from the dungeon."
"Is it true you can extract magic stored in magic stones? If it's true, that's amazing?"
"That's right, you just need to store magic when you have time."
"If it's true, it's a revolution."
Those who don't believe and those who say it's amazing if it's true are about half and half.
There are many comments in foreign languages, but it seems there is a rejection reaction.
Most are negative opinions.
Many comments declare it as a scam or fake.
Perhaps it might not be compatible religiously.
Immediately, Yuuki, the leader of the top guild centered on magic, came rushing to the hotel.
He wasn't wearing mage equipment, but slacks and a patterned shirt -- some normal attire.
He must have come in a hurry.
"Empress! I-is this true?!"
"Of course, it is true."
"Even that you can extract magic from magic stones?!"
"Yes."
"Uuuu..."
It seems he finds it hard to believe too, so let's all go out for a bit.
The Princess is with us, but the destination is the very edge of the Special District.
Everyone is in casual clothes, so they don't look like adventurers.
It is not a place visited often, but there are no transportation facilities within the Special District, so moving is troublesome.
Coming this far, I learned that prices for rooms and such are cheap.
That must be because moving is difficult, so it's cheap.
Since everyone's purpose is the dungeon, the area around the dungeon is the most expensive.
People who paid high prices without knowing anything at first gradually flow to the outskirts of the Special District.
Since rooms are cheap, if you hunt monsters moderately in the shallow layers, you can live.
There are many such people.
I take out a bicycle from my Item Box.
Empress sits behind the Princess's bicycle, and Yuuki sits behind mine.
Since it is crowded with people, we can't go fast, but it is faster than walking.
If it were me and the Princess, we could move along the roofs of buildings, so it might be faster.
Well, it's a source of trouble, so it's better not to do it except in emergencies.
Pedaling the bicycle, we reached the outskirts of the Special District.
Far from the lively center, the scenery along the road gradually changed.
Nowadays, buildings are hardly seen; low-rise buildings with rusted tin roofs are scattered.
Every house has its windows closed, quiet.
The paved road is cracked in places, and grass peeks out from the gaps.
To live in this place requires the resolve to choose silence even at the cost of convenience.
It was the outskirts of the Special District, far from convenience.
"It should be fine here."
"Empress said that magic can be used here too, right?"
"How about you, Yuuki? Can't you use it here?"
"Probably not."
Before hearing Yuuki's words, Kaorulko began to concentrate.
Soon, blue light of magic began to dance.
"Light! [Light]"
Bright magical light appeared in front of her.
"Is it really true?!"
Words that rarely come out of him have appeared, showing his surprise.
He really opened his eyes wide and is trembling.
"It is really, truly true."
"Then, is it true you can extract magic from magic stones too?!"
"That is also true."
"What should I do?!"
Yuuki lunged at me.
"You watched her video, right?"
"I watched it!"
"Now, if you become a believer of the god Izal, you can be taught."
"That's it!"
"Huh? Which one?"
"That a god like that really exists?!"
"Well, since dungeons where physical laws are bent can be made, it wouldn't be strange for a god beyond human wisdom to exist, right?"
"I don't think the existence of dungeons and the existence of gods are equal..."
"Well, anyway, pray to the god, and if you become a believer, a black pattern will appear on your body, so you'll know."
Naturally, he is half-believing, half-doubting.
"First of all, why did the topic of a god's existence come up?"
Regarding that, Kaorulko spoke.
"There is someone called an Apostle of God, and I spoke with that person."
"Is that all?"
"And -- I actually met the god inside the dungeon..."
"To a god?!"
He was frozen with an expression of suspicion and doubt.
Well, it is natural, of course.
"No, I really talked with the god. Right, Princess?"
"Well, it's doubtful if that is truly an existence called a god, but it was certainly a supernatural existence."
Such a person will never become a believer.
"Uumu..."
Hearing the Cherry Princess's words, he finally began to think seriously.
"Since the opponent is a god, you must pray seriously or they won't listen."
Since he pursues unknown magic technology this much, he might do that much.
"I am also interested in being able to use magic outside the dungeon, but the method of extracting magic from magic stones is the deciding factor."
"I also decided based on that."
Kaorulko was smiling.
"Phew... I understand. Thank you for everything."
He bowed his head.
Whether he truly becomes a believer of Izal depends on him, but -- he will probably become one.
That much, there is an irresistible charm for a mage.
"You are also bad (wara),"
Even the god said that, and thinking about it, it might be true.
We returned to the hotel in the Special District where the sun was beginning to tilt.
-- After Kaorulko's video was uploaded, and some time passed -- comments on the net saying magic can be used even away from the dungeon increased.
Some people made videos of it and published them, and people who were initially half-believing, half-doubting seem to have started thinking seriously.
If you become a believer of Izal, you might be able to use magic even if you are not an adventurer.
It must have seemed attractive.
Adventurers -- the fact that a method to use magic stones was found is probably the biggest factor.
If you can use magic stored in magic stones, it will be a huge advantage in dungeon conquest.
Having reserve magic when necessary is significant.
Following the trend in Japan, believers of Izal began to appear overseas too.
As expected of a god -- power reaches not just Japan, but the entire globe.
Speaking of which, dungeons are like that too.
Physical laws are bent on a global scale.
Believers of Izal have begun to appear overseas, but they might be persecuted as heretics.
Well, they aren't as tolerant of other gods as Japan is...
I pray that it won't turn into a terrible situation.
Gradually, people who can use magic outside the dungeon are increasing, and government officials are getting restless.
It is highly likely that the Emblem Squad needs to be strengthened to suppress them.
Changing society is like that.
Public servants must work hard there.
The top of the new organization will naturally be that woman Tetsuo was dealing with -- that will be the case.
Her choice was not wrong.
-- The day after meeting Yuuki.
I visited the old man who buys things, but it seems it is unknown whether demons will sell.
Dragons are fantasy monsters everyone knows and are popular, but demons, well...
Naturally, they are not popular overseas either.
Magic stones have become about 2 million yen each, but after experiencing such a death-defying situation, that price is a bit sad.
If there are some effects in the fine horns I got, the price might rise eventually, but at this moment, they have no value.
Since it's no use just making fertilizer for the Item Box, I gave them to the sensei who is researching monsters.
She jumped up in joy, so this is the best.
Maybe eating them would be super delicious -- something like that might happen.
Or maybe, like bear gallbladder, the internal organs have amazing effects.
On such a day -- we began preparations to conquer the new Floor 8.