Chapter 80

We four quietly got into the car provided by the government and began our journey to the Ikoma Mountain Amusement Park.

After a while, police cars from the Kyoto Prefectural Police gathered and led the way.

The sirens were blaring.

We passed through intersections with red lights while being cautious.

We even entered the expressway in this state.

We were quite noticeable.

Tension, anxiety about what lay ahead, and the question of why we four were summoned dominated the atmosphere.

We had a discussion in the car and concluded that it was probably related to the dungeon at the former Kusatsu Amusement Park site, but deep down, I was denying it.

Dampun had repeatedly emphasized that he didn't want to cause any trouble for the government with the investigation. I couldn't imagine the government easily ignoring Dampun's request, which was more like a form of pressure.

We arrived at the Ikoma Mountain Amusement Park via the Shingakusei Skyline.

I had only ever climbed up to the Ikoma Mountain Amusement Park on foot or by cable car, so this was my first time coming by car.

However, the atmosphere at the Ikoma Mountain Amusement Park was quite serious.

The area was surrounded by curtains, and all helicopter movements in the airspace were prohibited. I didn't expect the place to have changed so much.

It looked like a Self-Defense Forces base.

We entered the amusement park's restaurant.

Naturally, it wasn't open for business, and various equipment had been brought in.

It was likely serving as the command center.

In the back, he was there.

A muscular man in his fifties, about the same build as Ushizou.

I felt like I had seen him somewhere before.

"I apologize for the sudden summons. I deeply appreciate your cooperation as civilians."

He stood up and bowed deeply.

"It's been a while, Oshino-san. And Milk too."

"It's been a while, Minister."

"It's been a while, Uesugi-san."

Minister? Uesugi?

...!?

I remembered! He's Uesugi, the Minister of Defense!

I understand why Hime and the Minister of Defense know each other.

When I defeated the monsters that overflowed from Mount Fuji, there was a lot of back-and-forth communication through King, and I worked on the cleanup with the Minister of Defense.

That's when they must have met.

But why Milk?

"Uesugi-san is like Papa, a disciple of Shingen-san."

Milk whispered to me.

So he's a fellow disciple of Ushizou.

I didn't know that Uesugi, the Minister of Defense, was a former skilled explorer.

"Sorry to be abrupt, but could you look at this document?"

The paper Uesugi, the Minister of Defense, handed us was a list of text.

The text included English, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and other languages from around the world.

Our names were written there, and I could barely read the English part, which seemed to be names.

Next to the names were country names.

But what was this document for?

"These are the names of people from around the world who have been designated by Dampul to infiltrate the Black Dungeons."

"---!?"

Designated by Dampul!?

"Dampul sent a communication to the government. From 1 PM tomorrow for 24 hours, only the people listed here will be allowed to enter the dungeons they created. If they can destroy the core on the 10th floor of the dungeon during that time, humanity wins. If not, humanity loses."

"What happens if we lose?"

"Monsters will appear outside the dungeon."

Is this what Miko said?

"However, he hinted that there might be some form of relief even if we fail."

"Um... Uncle. Were we chosen because Dampul noticed us during the investigation of the former Kusatsu Amusement Park dungeon?"

"No."

It wasn't Uesugi, the Minister of Defense, but Hime who denied it.

Hime had been staring at the document the whole time.

"This matter has nothing to do with the investigation of the former Kusatsu Amusement Park dungeon."

"Our opinion is largely the same as Oshino's."

What does that mean?

What did Hime realize?

"The members of this document. Party members range from one to four people. And among them, there is always one of my siblings."

Siblings—does that mean King's children!?

He has lovers all over the world, and they have even more children.

In other words, King's children are all over the world.

I looked at the list again.

Oshino Hime's name wasn't there.

Each country was unique.

It seems like one group per Black Dungeon.

"So, Dad—King Campbell, what did he say? Of course, you must have tried to contact him?"

"Yes. This list was shared with all UN member states as soon as we received the communication from Dampul. And as you said, the U.S. government realized that King Campbell's children were involved and tried to contact him first. But they couldn't reach him."

"Couldn't reach him?"

"There is a record of him entering the Manhattan dungeon. We tried to contact him through the broadcasting crystal, but it failed. There doesn't seem to be any interference with the communication. He probably hasn't activated the broadcasting crystal."

Even if he has the broadcasting crystal, if he doesn't activate it, he can't see the messages.

It's like having a smartphone in your bag with no vibration or ringtone.

In that case, you can't be reached.

"Japan does not have a conscription system. We cannot force you, as civilians, to face death. However, I still want to ask you. Please, enter the dungeon. We will do everything we can to ensure your safety. We will prepare substitute bracelets and the best equipment the government has. We will do whatever is possible. Please—"

Uesugi, the Minister of Defense, said this and bowed deeply to us.