Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: The Speech
We finally made it back to the surface.
It was evening. In the plaza filled with many adventurers and residents of the Special District, we displayed the dragon's tail we had slain in the dungeon and jumped onto it.
There, we decided to deliver a speech and expose the truth.
Sana was among the audience, and I was surprised.
I wanted to talk with her about various things, but now was not the time for that.
If I didn't hurry with the exposure, the number of victims might increase.
I decided to let the Princess give the first speech.
She is the top ranker among adventurers and a super celebrity.
If she speaks, everyone will listen.
The Princess took a breath and then opened her mouth with strength.
"We have just barely returned from the depths of a dungeon where such monster-like beasts exist!"
The Princess stood on the dragon's tail and looked around at the people.
She wore bikini armor, yet her posture was full of dignity, and her elegant appearance was truly that of a princess.
Orange light illuminated her, as if she were receiving a blessing from heaven.
Her voice held a quiet dignity and immediately captured the hearts of the people.
Every time her words echoed, everyone in the plaza listened intently.
"Deep layers of the dungeon?! Amazing!"
"But! We did not reach the depths by our own will!"
At that moment, I also joined the speech.
"Everyone! Listen to me! Haven't you heard stories recently about high-level adventurers and children inside the dungeons going missing?!"
"Now that you mention it... I heard Cherry Princess and Empress went missing too."
"There were other famous adventurers..."
"Yeah, I saw it on the net."
As the crowd murmured in agreement, the Princess continued.
"That is correct! We were magically transported to the deep recesses of the dungeon by the Labyrinth Cult! Probably, the adventurers who went missing were caught up in the same thing!"
"The Labyrinth Cult?! The Labyrinth Cult?! Those guys?!"
The audience began to stir all at once.
"A woman from the Labyrinth Cult used magic like Teleporters or Dungeon Walk to move freely within the dungeon, sending adventurers into the deep layers!"
"Teleporters?! Is there such magic?! For real?!"
Just like the adventurers we encountered inside the dungeon, no one would believe me if I started saying such things.
"Did any adventurers go missing besides us return?!"
"Murmur... murmur..."
The onlookers exchanged glances.
It seems we were the only ones who returned safely.
Naturally, the faces of the Princess and Kaorulko darkened.
I continued the explanation.
"That's not all! A man who seemed to be the leader of the guild 'Dancing Darkness' colluded with the Labyrinth Cult and kidnapped children inside the dungeon. I witnessed that scene and was thrown into the deep layers of the dungeon!"
"Dancing Darkness?! Those guys?! Indeed, we haven't heard good things about them..."
I suppose it's unreasonable to expect you to believe me here.
"Wait a minute!"
"I won't let that slide!"
Men wearing black armor, who had been listening, stepped forward.
I recognized some faces.
These are the guys who bothered me before.
These guys are members of "Dancing Darkness".
"Again, it's you guys..."
"Oh! You're that old man from before!"
"You lowlifes probably don't know anything, but I think the upper echelons of your guild are involved in this matter."
"Involved? That's just your old man's opinion!"
"No! There is clear evidence that the guild 'Dancing Darkness' is involved with the Labyrinth Cult!"
"W-what?!"
"I recorded it on video, so I'll upload it to my site immediately. Wash your neck and wait."
"Grrr..."
The men were drawing their weapons.
"Interesting! Are you going to fight me and Empress?"
Kaorulko took a weapon out of her Item Box and handed it to the Princess.
"Huh?!"
"Guh!"
The men's faces turned pale in an instant.
That's natural.
There is no way these lowlifes could match the top rankers of high-level adventurers.
"O-remember this!"
How many times has that line been said?
I wish you would stop already.
The people fell silent, listening carefully to every word the Princess spoke.
After putting away her weapon, the Princess gazed at the audience with sincere eyes and continued speaking.
"Adventurers! You must not forgive the Labyrinth Cult! That is nothing but pure malice against adventurers!"
Her words were filled with passion and sincerity, and they were deeply engraved in the hearts of the people.
As the speech continued, the hearts of the people united, resonating with her words.
Soon, as the end approached, she concluded with an even stronger voice.
"Stand up together! Protect the dungeon, the children inside it, and the adventurers! I will fight alongside everyone!"
At that moment, the entire plaza was enveloped in applause and cheers.
As expected of the Princess.
This must be the charisma one is born with.
I couldn't do it like that.
Personally... because of the Harpy incident, I thought maybe coexistence with monsters isn't possible~...
But that might be my special ability after all.
I don't intend to criticize the Labyrinth Cult's doctrines, but dragging others into it is unacceptable.
The adventurers who haven't returned are likely victims.
For now, I got off the dragon's tail.
Many people gathered around the tail, touching the scales like plates.
"Hey, hey, looking is fine, but don't peel them off and take them."
While warning the onlookers, the buyer's old man arrived.
"Brother! For now, can you put this away somewhere? We can't agree among ourselves."
"I see... well, this is probably the first time you've handled something like this."
"That's right. It will probably be extremely expensive, so I think we'll bid jointly..."
"Just so you know, the body is also in the Item Box."
"Eh?!"
The old man was taken aback.
"Yes, but since I used Depleted Uranium Rounds when slaying it, the meat of the body might be ruined."
"D-Depleted Uranium Rounds?! Why would you use such a thing..."
"Preparation prevents worry... something like this might happen... that's the kind of thing. In fact, it was useful."
If the meat can't be eaten, the purchase price might be lower, but for now, I value my life.
I don't even know if I can win even if I throw everything I have at it.
I didn't have time to worry about money calculations.
For now, I stored the tail in the Item Box.
"Ahhh~"
"We were taking photos!"
Even if you say that.
Our situation takes priority.
While talking to the buyer's old man, Sana came over nearby.
"Thanks for the photo."
"More importantly! Daisuke-san! Explain yourself!"
"Ah~ no~ um~ that..."
"Darling, this isn't the time to pay attention to such women? There are countless things to do."
"W-what do you mean by Darling?! When did this happen?!"
Rarely, Sana was emotional.
I need to explain various things to her and Kirara, but...
"Um... as I mentioned in the speech just now... we were thrown into the deep layers of the dungeon."
"I heard that!"
"So we fought together to return, and while fighting strong enemies, we clicked."
"And that's how I became Darling."
The Princess hugged me as if showing me off to Sana.
"W-why does it become like that?!"
Eh? Sana looks strange.
Her eyes are wet, and her face is red.
Could it be... I should stop such an old man.
Anyway, how far apart do you think we are?
"Why? This is strange... do you not know who I am?"
"I know! You are the top ranker, Cherry Princess!"
"If so, that makes things quick. A man stronger than me and suitable for me has appeared... it is natural for this to happen, isn't it?"
Saying that, she kissed me.
"Groan groan groan~!"
Naturally, there were many people around, and they were filming us... no, the Princess and Kaorulko.
If I did such a thing here, it was obvious I would become the center of attention.
"A man for Cherry Princess?! Who is that old man?! Shock!"
What I heard was mainly insults directed at me.
Well, it can't be helped, I suppose.
"W-wait, Princess."
I pulled her away from her lips that were sucking on me.
"Daisuke-san, you idiot!"
"W-wait!"
Sana ran off, and I tried to chase her, but I was grabbed by the Princess.
"Darling, there are countless things to do."
"Ugh."
Indeed, she is right.
What happens if I chase her?
An old man and such a young girl.
Just like the dragon's corpse, I must edit and upload the video that serves as evidence of this incident.
According to the Princess, she plans to gather the heads of major guilds for a meeting.
While we were making a scene, Kaorulko had arranged it.
We must share information about this matter with each guild and devise countermeasures.
As expected of a top ranker, she has connections with other major guilds.
I certainly couldn't do it alone.
After all, I am a beginner who just became an adventurer.
Even though I am such a beginner, if I start dating the Princess, I will likely dive into the dungeon with her.
I intended to make a little money and retire quickly to return to my hometown, but why did it turn out this way?
"It can't be helped, I'll ask Kirara."
From now on, dungeon attacks with the Princess and others will begin, and I won't be able to dive into the dungeon with Sana and the others.
Regarding the Labyrinth Cult, if attacks on deeper layers begin, the danger will increase even more.
I can't take her to such a place.
Sana has a younger sister and a grandfather.
The level required to head to such a death trap is not something she has yet.
I think I will switch to transferring the leadership of the Forty-Niner guild to Kirara and providing financial assistance.
I wrote that down and sent a message to Kirara's account.
According to Kaorulko, there are quite a few places where guilds provide funds to prepare a second team.
Beginners probably start with the second or third team to level up.
In our guild, I was doing that all by myself.
Kirara replied immediately.
'Are you kidding me!'
Well, her anger is understandable...
"I said I didn't intend to keep the guild for long..."
'That's not what I'm saying!'
"I can't go back now, and I will provide financial assistance. I'm counting on you."
'Die!'
That's a bit too harsh.
Well, it can't be helped...
Even if Kirara refuses, Sana has reached a certain level, so she can earn money in the shallow layers.
The dungeons with them were fun, but the serious clearing will begin from now on.
"Come on! Darling, let's go!"
She pulled my hand.
"Wait a minute, brother! Wait!"
I was stopped by the buyer's old man.
"If you decide how to handle the purchase, send me a message. Since I have an Item Box, I can take it anywhere."
"T-thank you. I really have no experience with this kind of thing. But! I don't want to waste such a big opportunity."
"I think the meat is ruined, but don't forget the dragon's body."
"I understand!"
"Oh! I forgot! Also, I slayed monsters like Griffons and monsters with human faces like lions..."
"G-griffon?! Was there such a monster?!"
"Yes, shall I show you a little?"
The buyer would be troubled if he didn't know what was available.
There is supposed to be a guild meeting, but it should take some time to gather...
I took out the monsters I had slain from the Item Box.
"Ooooooh!"
The people swarmed around the corpses of the monsters I brought out.
"Is this... really a griffon?!"
"So it is a griffon? I felt like there was something called Hippo or something similar..."
"It's Hippogriff. Since the body of a Hippogriff is said to be a horse, this one is a Griffon."
"So that's it... and what about this monster with an old man's face?"
A lion's body with an old man's face and a scorpion-like tail.
"This is..."
The buyer's old man also seems unsure.
"Isn't that a Manticore?!"
A voice came from the murmuring crowd.
"Hah... a Manticore... I think I've heard of that."
"So this is a Manticore... Princess, I know its true identity."
"Oh? I've heard the name."
The old man seems to have seen it for the first time.
Well, the Princess and Kaorulko also seem to have never seen it.
I didn't know such monsters either.
"This one is either a Cockatrice or a Basilisk."
"Do you know? R-rh cough cough"
"I saw it in foreign dungeon materials."
"For now, these three are the big catches."
"I-I understand... for now, please store them."
The old man was taking photos.
He will probably use them as materials for the meeting.
With such big items, it is almost impossible to handle them individually.
Even if we dismember the dragon, we will need a dedicated facility somewhere.
It will spoil quickly unless it is a huge low-temperature warehouse.
There must be no one with experience dismembering such giant creatures.
Everything is a first for us.
If we are not careful, it might be written in textbooks.
"First in human history... The day the dragon was defeated in the dungeon..."
It will be written like that.
Has the day finally come for a country bumpkin old man to be etched into history?
The Princess pulled my hand, and we left the plaza.
When I looked back, everyone was following us in a line.
They might be wondering where we are going.
"Princess, where are we going?"
"To our headquarters."
"The guild headquarters?"
"Over there!"
She pointed to a huge hotel towering before her eyes.
This is the place where the Princess and I stayed before and took off from the heliport.
Now that I think about it, I heard this place is run by the Princess's family...
"Is that hotel run by the Princess's family?"
"Yes."
"So you are using the hotel as your home... I'm envious."
"It is normal for me."
Since you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth.
I am envious, but in a dungeon where strength is everything, family influence doesn't work.
Her position as a top ranker is likely the result of her efforts.
"Will Kaorulko always be with us?"
"Yes, since we were young. If I didn't have the aptitude for being an adventurer, it would have ended there..."
"But since I did, I decided to stick with you until the end..."
"That is how it is."
She smiled bitterly.
"Even Kaorulko like that must have enjoyed it, didn't she?"
"It was quite fun before she started doing dangerous things. It was like a game."
Well, once you become a ranker, you will dive deeper and deeper and fight strong enemies.
If that happens, the danger level will inevitably increase.
When they realized we were heading to the hotel, the number of onlookers following us began to decrease.
Even if they followed, they couldn't enter the hotel.
The three of us entered the hotel, and the employees who saw us flew over.
"Miss! You were missing in the dungeon..."
"Are you safe?!"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"T-that person... Niwa-sama, were you acquainted with the Miss?"
Since I had visited here several times, they seemed to remember me.
Well, I did use the rooftop heliport at the country's request.
"Haha, just a little in the dungeon..."
"Was Darling also a guest here?"
"I just borrowed the rooftop heliport."
"Heliport?!"
"It was for a job from the country."
"Hah..."
We were about to leave the spot, but a man who seemed to be the manager of this hotel, wearing a fancy suit, ran over.
His complexion was quite bad.
"M-miss! Are you safe?!"
"Manager, I just returned."
Indeed, he seemed to be the manager.
"The president and chairman of the headquarters have been calling me like