Chapter 79

"A curse!?

Do you mean that Ayame is under a curse like the one on Ushizou-san?

When the Evil Ogre attacked her?

Evil... it seems like the kind of thing that would use a curse.

But Ayame didn't seem particularly sick or weak until she collapsed today, right?"

"Are you sure about this?"

"No, this is definitely a snake's curse."

Mikoto stated firmly.

"The one cursed isn't this one, but likely one of her ancestors. Snakes are known for their tenacity and are said to haunt for seven generations. Also, look at her reaction... she seems to know about it."

"Is that so?"

Ayame nodded.

"Grandma was also cursed. But Grandma had high spiritual power from birth and managed to overcome the curse on her own. So, Mom was completely fine, and I thought the snakes had given up, but it seems I was cursed—Grandma taught me how to dispel the snake's curse, but because I had a younger sister..."

"If the curse on this one is lifted, the curse will definitely transfer to the sister. And once a curse is lifted, it's difficult to lift it again using the same method... You must have taken the curse upon yourself to protect your sister, and then layered another curse to suppress it—truly reckless."

"Another curse?"

"A rat's curse. It's a weak curse among curses. However, it can seal a snake. In the Chinese zodiac, the snake represents the south, and the rat represents the north. Ideally, a boar's curse, which is the opposite of the snake, would be better for sealing, but since the boar's curse is powerful, a rat's curse was used instead. Thanks to this, the curse's progression was at least halted."

It's like administering two poisons simultaneously to counteract each other's effects.

I can understand why Mikoto thinks it's reckless.

So, Ayame was seeking the Holy Maiden's Elixir not for some vague reason as a top explorer, but to lift her own curse.

When I heard that Ayame was seeking the Holy Maiden's Elixir, I asked her:

"Is it because someone in your family is seriously ill?"

"N-no, that's not it! Everyone in my family is fine!"

Everyone in her family is fine.

But Ayame herself was not included.

I should have been more concerned about Ayame back then.

"The effect of the rat's curse was weakened by the Silkworm Guardian, allowing the snake's curse to manifest."

"Can't you do something about it? You're a god, right?"

"In the faith of Inari, the snake is the main deity, Uka no Mitama. The power of foxes doesn't work on snakes."

This is terrible...

Ayame is looking down, having given up.

I thought it would work.

Then, Mikoto smiled.

"That's the original story, but you are fortunate. The fox deity later became known as the White Fox King Bodhisattva and gained power surpassing that of the snake. Moreover, the snake is a water deity. The people of this land, fearing floods, placed the earth deity, the fox, above the snake to overcome the water disasters. Therefore, I am a professional at sealing snakes—though I can't kill them, I can apply a strong seal."

"Really!?"

"Yes, a strong seal. The curse won't be passed on to your descendants."

"Thank you, Lady Mikoto."

Ayame thanked Mikoto with tears in her eyes.

"Good, good, now you can relax and have lots of children."

Is there no sense of delicacy?

Choose your words, fox.

"However, this is just a seal. If a method to lift the curse is found, it can be cured. It's a troublesome curse, but the Holy Maiden's Elixir should be able to cure it."

You know about the Holy Maiden's Elixir too.

It wouldn't be so easy to obtain if it were that simple, especially with Ushizou-san's curse still an issue.

A ceremony is needed, so Ayame and Mikoto went to the inner room. I've never been in there, where Danpon is resting.

I'm left with Danpon.

"So, what happens if we don't destroy the dungeon?"

"Monsters will appear in the surrounding area."

"How much time do we have?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure. At most, ten years. At the earliest, it could happen immediately."

"Immediately... Are you serious?"

But I can't dive into the dungeon right now.

I need to increase my time in the PD and get stronger.

"But it's lucky that the girl from earlier can dive with us."

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm thinking if it's right to involve Ayame..."

Having Ayame with us would make things easier.

Her support magic would increase our agility and reduce the chance of being hit by enemies.

But is it right to drag her into danger when she's just been freed from the fear of the curse?

"Either way, it's not possible right away."

If I rush into the Black Dungeon and fail, it's over.

At least if Milk or Hime were with me.

"Marriage..."

If we get married, we can enter the PD together.

We're all eighteen—of age to marry.

For healing and support, Milk is the best, but her defense is low.

If Milk is targeted, she'll be in danger without Hime to draw the enemy's attention.

So, relying on healing potions and going with Hime might be better—

But that's not right.

No matter who I go with, I can't ask them to marry me just to save Japan.

Besides, I...

"Mr. Ichino, I'm back."

Ayame returned.

Her face was bright, as if a burden had been lifted.

I could tell it went well without asking.

"Shall we go—"

"Wait, what about the earlier conversation? It seemed important."

"Yeah, it's not something that needs to be done immediately. Let's think about it after we return to Osaka."

At least give me a year.

If I level up, it should be possible.

I retrieve my phone from outside the dungeon.

"Mr. Ichino, why did you leave your phone there?"

"I can't bring my phone into the dungeon—wait, didn't you leave your phone behind?"

If the Waist Pouch skill is used, can you bring things into the dungeon that are normally not allowed?

If misused, what would happen?

Hmm, I can't think of many practical uses.

I'll think of something eventually.

"Taiga, where has Ayame been? It's serious!"

"Serious? What happened?"

"There's an emergency call from the government. Something strange is happening at the Kōmagaoka Upper Park D."

Could this be the anomaly Mikoto mentioned?

If so, the mysterious masked hero was called.

"Is that so? Let's go then. Ayame, I know you want to go to the tourist site, but go home with Milk."

"No, the call was for all four of us. Oshino Hime, Ichino Taiga, Azuma Ayame, and Makino Milk. All four of us."

...?

The government shouldn't know I'm the masked hero.

Even if they did, they could just call the masked hero without specifically naming me.

And Ayame and Milk shouldn't be necessary.

What's the real reason?