Chapter 55

2021/11/27 Revised based on feedback from the comments section

Added details about why Aizaka relied on Mido and how she intended to legally enter a dungeon with high-level monsters during the conversation.

"Earlier, I was really rude, I'm truly sorry."

At a fast-food restaurant a little away from Kuritsu Middle School, Aizaka bowed deeply to me, who had calmed down, and apologized. Her expression was so regretful that it made me think this was what a pained look was supposed to be. She seemed to be filled with self-reproach and shame.

"Mr. Yamagata... no, Mr. Kōhei and Ms. Yūko. In my haste, I became someone I should be ashamed of. Now, I deeply despise myself."

"Oh, no, well, it's in the past. If you can apologize like this, it's fine, right, big brother?"

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry too much about it."

Yūko, who gets angry at rudeness but forgives when someone sincerely apologizes, was actually quite flustered by the serious apology. Calm down, you did the right thing this time.

For my part, I wasn't really that bothered to begin with, so it's no big deal. Besides, I have no intention of nitpicking with someone who has come to apologize properly.

The siblings accepted the apology, forgave her, and then the conversation began. It started with the reason why Aizaka, through Yūko, had turned to me to rely on Kanna.

It was a heavy story.

"I want to avenge my master."

"Master...? An explorer?"

"Yes. Mochizuki Yū, a D-rank but a fine explorer. I've been under his care since my training days."

Perhaps she even had a bit of admiration for him as a person, not just as an explorer. She spoke with a far-off look in her eyes.

Three days ago, her master, Mochizuki, went missing while exploring a dungeon. He had gone into a dungeon that had appeared in the forest of a neighboring town with several E-rank explorers. He was likely acting as their guide. According to Aizaka, he was a very kind and considerate person. But this time, his kindness backfired.

"In the second-to-last room of that E-rank dungeon, there was a B-rank equivalent monster, which shouldn't have been there."

"An E-rank dungeon... with a B-rank monster!?"

"Yes. A Lich, an undead-type monster."

An E-rank dungeon with a B-rank equivalent monster is a serious matter. It's almost like a deadly trap. And a Lich? I've heard about them from Kanna before; they're pretty dangerous. How did such a thing end up there...

"According to the guild's subsequent investigation, it seems there used to be a B-rank dungeon nearby. It was long since cleared and no longer exists."

"Could it be that a survivor from that dungeon moved to another one?"

"This phenomenon is called 'Exile' in this area. It's quite a rare occurrence."

What's rare about it? A rare occurrence that isn't something to be happy about is more like a bad draw.

Yūko, who isn't an explorer, also paled. It's a chilling story, no matter how you look at it, to think that a much higher-level monster than what should be there was waiting.

However, if this much information has been gathered, it means that at least one of the explorers Mochizuki led must have survived.

When I asked about this, Aizaka's face twisted in pain.

"Earlier, I mentioned that Mochizuki was a kind and considerate person. He would have tried to buy time alone to let the E-rank explorers escape."

"...And that time-buying effort paid off, and the true nature of that E-rank dungeon was revealed by the escaping explorers."

"I want to avenge him."

After explaining the situation, Aizaka bowed again, not in apology but in plea. She probably wanted to kill the Lich that likely killed Mochizuki with her own hands. Revenge and... closure, and a sense of duty. It's a fitting desire for a disciple who wants to honor their master.

"The investigation was completed just recently. No one has started exploring yet, but it's only a matter of time. I need to get Mr. Mido's help and start the exploration soon."

"Are you planning to join a high-rank explorer party to participate in the Lich hunt... I heard you don't have the strength to fight. You're so bad at sports that you can't even get proper combat skills."

"Embarrassingly, I was thinking of transferring to a desk job soon. But I believe I can contribute as a supporter. I don't need to be the one to deliver the final blow; I just want to witness the moment it's destroyed."

"That's why you wanted Kanna's help, right?"

After hearing the story, I hummed thoughtfully.

This is a very troublesome matter. Emotionally, I sympathize with Aizaka, but as an explorer, I have to consider the risks. What she's asking is essentially for Kanna to lead E-rank explorers to defeat a B-rank monster. She's asking Kanna to take on a creature that has already killed other explorers, while carrying a liability.

This is no joke. What if the one who goes to avenge the mummy becomes the mummy?

Avenge your master is a noble sentiment, but... to put it bluntly, it's never a good reason to endanger someone else's life.

"...Aizaka. Your resolve is admirable, but it's far too dangerous. Think about it carefully, not just as Mochizuki's disciple, but as an explorer."

"Th-that..."

"Even if you get help from Kanna or other A-rank or B-rank explorers for your revenge, there's no guarantee that they won't be the ones to buy you time to escape."

"......!!"

Maybe it was a low blow to bring up her master, but that's the reality. If the situation is the same, the same outcome could happen. Does she truly understand this and still make this proposal?

...She probably doesn't. Poor thing, her face has turned pale.

Realizing what she had said, the intelligent Aizaka was now lost in shock, her head hanging low.

This post is to make up for the one I couldn't post at 9 PM yesterday.

Thank you for your support.

Please bookmark and rate if you like it.