Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Being Flung Away
Days continued, shuttling back and forth between the Nuclear Power Plant Ruins and the unprepared dungeon, repeatedly disposing of treated water.
To call it "disposing," we were just throwing it into the dungeon.
Storing the giant tanks filled with treated water inside the Item Box and discarding them into the dungeon.
That was all.
Writing it out makes it sound simple, but this is only possible because I have a cheat like the Item Box.
Since I could get a huge amount of money this way, was life on easy mode?
――While I was celebrating like that, I got caught up in trouble.
A certain country sent in a special forces unit, and they fought against the Self-Defense Forces guarding me.
Since they knew my target was me, I had Hareyama-san and the workers move away.
The enemy, armed with firearms, was defeated using my Item Box.
Tools can become powerful weapons depending on how you use them.
As a result of the battle, there were injured people, but no casualties.
Near the dungeon gate, there were the charred remains of heavy machinery and cars.
Several wagons, presumably the ones the enemy rode in, were left abandoned.
Probably stolen vehicles.
After things settled down, I spent one night at the lodging facility at the Nuclear Power Plant Ruins, but in the morning, a message came from the Special District.
The sender was Kirara, but it seemed "Ren had disappeared from the inn."
What on earth happened?
I panicked at the message, but I couldn't return easily from here.
Even if I drove back, it would take time, and I'd have to take a boat to cross to the Special District.
If that's the case, it would be better to arrange a helicopter as soon as possible.
I took out my smartphone and contacted Hareyama-san.
"I have an urgent matter in the Special District and want to return immediately. Is there anything you can do?"
『Understood, but it will take about an hour to prepare a helicopter』
As expected, I can't go right away.
Even driving back would take over an hour, and there's the boat issue, so even if it takes some time, the helicopter is faster.
"Thank you very much."
『Understood』
According to her, work will be suspended for a while.
Well, it happened yesterday and today.
We'll need to stay on alert, and we need to gather information.
I hope we can get information from that prisoner...
Even if we protest to that country, they'll say "We didn't do that" or "It's a false accusation."
Well, they won't admit it 100%.
If they had a military operation in Japan and lost, their pride would be crushed.
Especially since it's a country that values face above all else.
Still, if the information gets through to them, they'll start suspecting which warlord acted rashly.
We could use that to shake them down, or they might hesitate out of fear of failure.
Face is important, after all.
While preparing and waiting for the helicopter, I received a call.
I headed for the heliport.
Hareyama-san was there too.
"Hareyama-san, it seems work is paused until things calm down, so we won't be able to meet for a while."
"Y-yes... It was very enjoyable working with Niwa-san..."
"Hahaha, thank you."
"Um... is one of your companions missing?"
"It seems so. She's a girl, so I'm worried."
"Eh?! She's a girl?"
"Yes, she just became an adventurer..."
"..."
I have no idea what happened at all.
According to Kirara, she was gone when she woke up in the morning.
The helicopter arrived, so I jumped on.
"Well then, Hareyama-san. Thank you for everything. I look forward to your next work contact."
"Yes! Be careful."
As the helicopter lifted off, it flew over the Kanto Plain and towards the sky above Tokyo Bay.
At first, everyone was going "Aerial shots! Awesome!" and squealing, but I never thought this would happen.
I ended up stepping on the soil of the Special District again, admiring hotel ladies' buttocks along the way, and returning to the inn.
"I'm home!"
Inside the room, Sana and Kirara were there with serious expressions.
In this situation, there's no time to dive into the dungeon.
Mio seemed to have gone to school.
"Daisuke-san!"
"Ren has disappeared?"
"Yes, when I woke up in the morning, she wasn't in the room..."
Since the door was locked, it doesn't seem like someone kidnapped her.
"Did she say anything?"
"Um... actually..."
Kirara seemed to have a hunch.
"Did something happen?"
"Didn't we talk about this before? Since meeting the Labyrinth Cult in the dungeon, she's been acting strange..."
"So then -- did she go to meet them?"
"I don't know... but there's nothing else."
"Ugh, this is troublesome..."
I can't believe I could have a proper conversation with those kinds of people.
"I'm sorry..."
Kirara looked dejected.
"It's not your fault."
"But..."
"Alright... I'll dive into the dungeon myself."
"We'll go too!"
Sana stood up, but Ren probably went to...
"The place she went to is where I saw that naked woman before, right? Probably not there?"
"Ah!"
She must have thought she could meet that woman if she went there.
"If it's that place, Sana and Kirara would be in danger. I'll go solo after all."
"Y-yes..."
Sana quietly stepped back.
She must realize her level isn't high enough.
"But, but, the internet says many people have gone missing on that floor."
Kirara showed me an article on her smartphone.
There had been such talk for a while.
There were also stories of high-level adventurers getting caught up in it.
It seems the top-ranking pair in bikini armor have also gone missing.
If even the top rankers are missing, they'd hesitate to send out a search team.
Most of them aren't hardcore players, just adventurers earning their daily bread.
They wouldn't want to get caught up in that.
No preparation needed.
All my equipment is inside my Item Box.
Besides, it still contains debris from the nuclear power plant.
With this opportunity, I want to find a place to throw it away and empty the box.
If there's a place to throw it away, it would be the deep layers -- but is there a good place?
I left the room and headed for the dungeon.
With this situation, those two probably can't bring themselves to dive into the dungeon.
They seemed to have been earning well recently, so they shouldn't worry about funds.
I also contacted Hareyama-san.
"Thank you for your continued support. I'm going to dive into the dungeon now, but there might be trouble. In that case, please let me take a break from work -- sending."
A reply came immediately.
『Are you okay?!』
"I don't know. A companion has gone missing, so I'm going to the dungeon to search."
『Probably -- due to this commotion, work will likely be suspended for a while... so I think you'll be fine...』
"Thank you."
I should give her Kirara's contact info just in case.
Once inside the dungeon, communication will be impossible.
『Be careful!』
"Thank you."
Well, let's go -- but before that...
I'll gather information about the dungeon.
Maybe the map of that deep layer has been released.
If it was just discovered, it won't be released, but if the treasure chests are all taken or it loses value, it gets released.
That way, they get information fees.
Searching for maps, I found a new one released.
It seems a lot of progress has been made from that hall where I fought the Minotaur.
Ahead of the progress, there's a place that looks like a throne.
I have no clue, but I'll aim for that first.
I gathered my spirit and passed through the automatic ticket gate.
Entering the dungeon, I took out my bicycle.
My destination is the entrance to the deep layers on the 2nd floor.
Moving through the darkness, I arrived at the entrance to the deep layers where lights were on, but no one was there.
The small hut and signboard were exactly as before.
Trouble seems to be happening here, but it doesn't seem to be restricted.
After all, adventurers are responsible for everything themselves.
Whatever happens, the authorities probably won't care.
Opening the door and peering into the darkness with narrowed eyes, a creepy sound leaked out from within.
It was like a faint noise brushing past my ears, creeping in from the distant darkness.
That sound sometimes sounded like a deep breath, or like something moving slowly in the distance.
It felt as if something lurking in the darkness was quietly beckoning.
"Alright!"
Gathering my spirit again, I started descending the corridor.
There was nothing on the corridor, and I didn't meet any adventurers.
Even though trouble is happening, only hardcore clearing teams or weirdos would come to such a place on purpose.
I emerged in the lower floor hall I had visited before -- the scaffolding stairs were still there.
I squinted, but no one was in the dark hall, and I couldn't see any lights indicating adventurers were active.
Maybe it's big that even the top rankers have gone missing.
Normally, I wouldn't come to a place like this either, but I'm worried about Ren.
Checking the map, I started moving down into a wide space.
I approached a straight corridor.
Since the map didn't say anything, there probably aren't any traps.
If that's the case, I'm relieved -- but then, something came from the back.
"Bumoohhh!"
A giant body of a muscle-bound macho man with a bull's head -- the appearance of Minosan, whom I faced before.
"Sorry, I can't deal with you properly -- Summon!"
I took out a rock from my Item Box.
Rocks rained down one after another from above the monster.
No matter how powerful the monster, it can't withstand physical attacks.
Minosan was pinned under the rocks and couldn't move.
A human would be crushed to death, but as expected of a monster.
It was still alive and full of fight.
"Oh, right!"
When I fought the special forces unit from that country, I got a knife that looked like a drop item by pickpocketing.
Let's try it on the monster...
I took out the knife from my Item Box and stabbed it into the Minotaur's body.
"Bumooh!"
Gradually, the monster's body began to melt and crumble.
Wow, so this is what happens.
Inorganic objects and plants are fine, but a decaying animal body is terrible.
The smell is terrible too.
Thinking again.
I see -- that's why they had a weapon with this effect and launched a suicide attack on us...
Indeed, we might have been wiped out if our healing couldn't keep up.
Can this be cured with a potion?
This is bad.
This is powerful, but if I use this, the monster becomes unsellable.
It's strictly for emergencies.
"Bumo! Bumo!"
The Minotaur seemed to be suffering as its body crumbled.
No matter that it's a monster, it's a bit pitiful.
I put it out of its misery.
"Namu~"
Taking out my sword, I cut off the rotting parts.
Probably, this will stop it from spreading further.
So if attacked by this weapon, you have to heal immediately or cut it off on the spot.
I stored the rocks and the monster's corpse in my Item Box.
I also stored the decaying weapon.
This is too dangerous to use.
If my arm was gone, would it grow back if I had an Elixir?
Thinking about what it would be like when I became one-armed, I headed deeper.
In the darkness, I encountered a Minotaur again.
If I can get Minosan without diving too deep, it might be a good hunting ground for a decent profit.
Normally, it's a monster from the 6th floor, so only high-level adventurers can hunt it.
Defeating the monster -- I felt like I saw light at the end of the pitch-black corridor.
I started walking in that direction.
Gradually, the light grew larger, and light shone into the corridor.
"What is this? Magic light?"
I jumped into the light.
Suddenly, I found myself in a spacious area.
A hall -- no, the map said throne.
High ceiling, stone floor -- in front, there was indeed something that looked like a tall throne.
Whose chair is this? Or is it a tomoson (useless object)?
Looking around, I noticed someone in front of the throne.
Several adults and children -- children in such a place?
One was a woman from the Labyrinth Cult I had met before, wearing a black robe and naked.
The other -- she was wearing armor, so probably an adventurer.
Why in such a place?
Is there an adventurer inside the Labyrinth Cult?
Or is there a collaborator among the adventurers?
I thought I should leave evidence of this place and started recording video.
I approached them and spoke.
"You're the Labyrinth Cult woman, right? Do you know a girl named Ren?"
"...She is doing well with her mother..."
Knowing Ren's name means she really came here?
"Let's have Ren returned."
"She came to the cult of her own will, so I refuse."
With that said, I had no justification to forcibly take her back.
If Ren was kidnapped and held captive, it would be different, but she came here of her own will.
"...I understand, but what about those children?"
Counting them, there were five -- some were crying.
"Help! Mister!" "Waaaaah! I want to go home!"
Speaking of which, there was talk of children inside the dungeon going missing.
Could the Labyrinth Cult be involved?
"Hey! Isn't this kidnapping?"
"Shut up! None of your business!"
A man standing next to the naked woman shouted.
A young man with spiky hair wearing fantasy armor that looked like a drop item.
"If it's kidnapping, it's my business? The children are actually asking for help, and I can make a private arrest?"
"Tch!"
The man clicked his tongue.
"There was talk of children inside the dungeon disappearing, right? If this comes to light, the cult will probably face some punishment?"
"..."
The woman silently smiled, but it was creepy.
It also looked like a confident expression.
I won't be caught -- or perhaps, she is an existence beyond human understanding, so that doesn't matter?
I took out the Rebar Mace from my Item Box.
"Item Box?! Are you the old man who's been bothering us lately?!"
"Bothering?"
"Us" must mean the guild.
If it's a guild dispute, there's only one place.
"That's right, Gora!"
"Oh, so is it the Dancing Darkness guild? Are you the leader there?"
"An old man trying to act cool."
"You're the one acting cool, aren't you?"
"Shut up!"
So Dancing Darkness is working with the Labyrinth Cult?
And they're involved in the missing children too.
"Well, since there's a grudge, I'll knock you down and return the children?"
"Hahaha! Try it!"
The man had a confident expression.
He might be confident in his level, but even top rankers are around level 40, right?
By any calculation, I'm higher, and I leveled up even more recently.
Or maybe there are people hiding their levels like me?
I could escape here, use the evidence I'm recording now, and corner the Dancing Darkness guild, but there are crying children right in front of me.
It's a bit creepy, but I can't back down here.
"Speaking of which -- I heard you have Kirara's BBA there?"
The enemy suddenly mentioned Kirara's name.
"What of it?!"
"She's a BBA, but her body is nice, so we all pampered her, hahaha!"
"Damn it!"
"Hahaha!"
She was a pitiful woman too... I'll stop teasing her.
I took a stance with my weapon and approached, and the man grinned.
I suddenly stopped and prepared to attack.
"...*&^@"
I hadn't noticed, but the woman was chanting something? -- Magic?
As I tried to switch to a long-range weapon, my vision suddenly turned white.
"Blinding?!"
The next moment -- everything in front of my eyes was pitch black.
The room, the throne, the woman, the children, none of them existed.
A space with nothing? I could tell the ground was rock in a gray landscape -- but looking up.
The ceiling seemed quite high, so I couldn't see well.
I could see even in the darkness, but in a place with absolutely no light, the resolution was extremely low.
By any calculation, it seemed different from where I was just now.
"This is -- could it be a teleportation trap?"
That woman might be able to use teleportation magic.
That's impressive in itself, but she's completely abusing it.
She must be flinging high-level adventurers she encounters everywhere.
That must be the cause of the recent increase in missing adventurers.
And those children -- the guild working with the Labyrinth Cult is a huge problem.
I'm sorry to the children, but saving them in this state is impossible.
I have to somehow return to the surface and expose this.
The Dancing Darkness man might play dumb, but I have video evidence.
Well, assuming I can return...
"Phew..."
Where is this?
Not just the location, but I'm glad I didn't end up in "Inside the Stone."
If this was just another place in the dungeon, I might manage, but if I was transported to a completely different dimension, I can't return.
"Ugh..."
For now, I want a place to calm down.
I walked around in the darkness for a while.
If I was teleported, there might be previous visitors at the destination.
If I meet them, I should cooperate to escape this situation.
I won't rest until I return to the surface, beat that man up, and destroy the guild.
After walking for a while, two rock pillars came into view.
When I got there, I sat down.
"Haa~"
I took out a canned coffee from my Item Box and drank it.
If it's food, there's plenty in my Item Box, so a war of attrition should be fine, but where are the others?
My stomach was also empty, so I decided to eat a meal.
I took out a curry pot and ate curry.
Gray curry without light was tasteless.
"Right."
I can create light using the Item Box bug.
Thinking that, I realized I had left the camera on.
It's a waste of battery and memory.
Well, I had walked for about 10 minutes.
Putting away the camera, I used the Item Box bug to turn on a light.
It worked well, brightly illuminating the ground.
Now I can eat my meal properly.
I was eating curry when I felt vibrations traveling through the ground.
"Huh?! What is it?"
This is no ordinary thing.
I hurriedly put the curry into my Item Box, stored the light, and turned it off.
Being near the rock pillars, the vibrations seemed to be getting closer.
This is the footstep of a large creature.
Hiding behind the rocks and focusing my eyes in the direction of the footsteps -- in the gray landscape, I saw the dark shadows of four giant legs.
Those shadows melted into the darkness, and the four legs were firmly rooted in the ground, their presence overwhelming.
Every time the shadow swayed, scales were visible, creating an illusion that a three-dimensional existence appeared in the darkness.
A big lizard -- no, a dragon bracing its four legs.
Did it smell the curry I was eating? Or did it come towards the light?
Normal creatures should have degenerated eyes in such a pitch-black world, but that's not the case.
They are creatures that spawned here, so they are unrelated to biological evolution.
"If something like that is here, I can't casually eat or use light."
Even if I defeat it, I don't know how many are living there, and my supplies are limited.
I must avoid unnecessary battles.
I hid behind the rocks and held my breath.
If I put myself inside my Item Box, it would be a perfect hideout, but...
No, if time passes super slowly inside, would I become Urashima Taro?
Thinking about trivial things, I waited patiently for the giant enemy to disappear.
They shouldn't be able to see me, but I heard that lizards and snakes can detect infrared.
Maybe they are looking at me with that?
The dragon circled around the rocks, couldn't find me, and disappeared into the darkness.
"Phew"
I took a deep breath.
If something like that is here, the others who were flung here might have a hard time.
Without the Item Box, food would run out quickly.
No, if I can take down monsters or dragons, I could eat meat...
I can use magic for fire, but if it's a party that can't use magic, or a solo player -- it's a complete bust.
Damn it.
What should I do at all?
Anyway -- should I look for survivors?
Holding my breath, I checked the surroundings and started moving slowly.