Chapter 76

I'll do my best today too! ('ω')

The day after returning from the first dungeon exploration.

I was called to a corner of the command post where Maniera was stationed.

"Well, this is quite a strange situation..."

Maniera puffed on her pipe, exhaling smoke along with a sigh.

I, enveloped in the smoke, pondered what to do.

After we returned, we immediately reported to Maniera, who was stationed at the command post, and Viscount Bordman, the local director of the Royal Academy of Sciences.

However, there were discrepancies between our report and what they had seen in the live stream.

First, we all agreed that the underground waterway led to a mysterious city.

The battle with the chained man in the underground waterway was recorded in the live stream, as was our journey to the nest and Marina's dungeon food broadcast.

However, the suspicious old man—Rogue—was not in the live stream.

I watched the recorded video, but the entire conversation seemed like a one-man show, with no trace of it in the record.

The Academy's view is that we might have fallen into some kind of illusionary state when we climbed the stairs.

Indeed, that possibility cannot be ruled out.

Even I, who was actually involved, have some doubts about whether the old man Rogue really existed.

"Anyway, we'll discuss what to do about the request here. Stay at this camp until we decide whether to complete it or continue it."

"Yes, thank you. By the way, what about her?"

"Regarding that girl, we are currently inquiring with Dunna and the nearby villages. Please wait a little longer."

Just before leaving the twilight capital 'Glad See-Im,' Marina found a small girl.

Even after regaining consciousness, there are still many unknowns about her.

She hasn't spoken a word, so we don't know why she was in 'Glad See-Im.'

In general, it's not allowed to capture living creatures from the dungeon.

The fact that she could enter and exit the dungeon alive means she is not a monster.

Our view is that she is likely a civilian who somehow wandered into the dungeon.

"Understood. We'll have her stay in our cottage for a while."

"Sure, I'll leave it to you. We'll arrange to move her to the city as soon as possible."

There is a medical facility in this camp, but the girl wouldn't leave Marina.

I thought it would be wrong to forcibly separate them, so I offered to take care of her in the cottage provided for 'Clover.'

Marina has taken a liking to her, and I don't want to cause any more stress to the girl, who seems to have lost her voice due to the fear she experienced in the dungeon.

"Then, I'll return to the cottage."

"Hey, boy."

"Yes?"

Maniera stopped me as I was about to leave the cottage.

"What do you think that place is?"

"I'm not sure yet. I've summarized my speculations in the records, but..."

"I don't want to hear a stiff, general theory. What do you think?"

Well, in this aspect, he's just like Benwood.

Why does he want my subjective opinion as an adventurer?

"It's because you're part of Saga's family."

Maniera grinned, as if reading my thoughts from my expression.

Let me correct that—she's worse than Benwood.

"Consider it just a wild guess."

"Sure. Intuition is important for adventurers."

"...I think it's another world."

I searched for the most appropriate word to express my thoughts.

"Another world?"

"Yes. I feel the same or even a stronger sense of wrongness as in the 'Colorless Darkness.' It feels like we've crossed the edge of the world."

"From your tone, it seems you've already figured out what the 'Colorless Darkness' was?"

"I'm still in the realm of speculation."

Maniera exhaled smoke quietly and looked at me.

"I think your speculation is probably correct. You really do resemble Saga... I wonder if you're not his illegitimate child?"

"I've thought that would be nice too."

Maniera, who had been joking, suddenly became serious at my words.

"In fact, I still think that might be the case. That's why I'm counting on your intuition and senses. This dungeon, the 'Twilight Capital Glad See-Im,' which appeared after the anomalies in various places, is sure to be a big deal."

Maniera, with the experienced and intuitive gaze of a seasoned adventurer, looked at me.

"Anyway, I intend to give you and your team 'Clover' a job. I'm counting on you, boy."

"Don't have too high expectations."

Despite my words, I am drawn to this 'Twilight Capital Glad See-Im.' We'll discuss it with the team, of course.

"See you later."

I bowed and left the command post cottage.

The inside was heated by magical devices, but it was quite cold outside. It's much better than Finis, though, since we're closer to the south.

...Come to think of it, 'Glad See-Im' wasn't cold either.

It must be a place isolated from this world.

I jogged to the adventurer's cottage at the edge of the camp—effectively, our 'Clover' team's exclusive use.

Something white, bird-shaped, flew past me in the blue sky.

"Huh?"

It was a letter bird.

Since the head of the Dunna Adventurer's Guild was with us just now, it must be from Benwood, right?

No, that's odd.

It's sent to individuals, so if it's for 'Clover,' it should fly directly to me, the party leader.

So, who is it for?

I hurried to the cottage, puzzled, and saw Rain coming out of the door.

The letter bird, which had been circling above the cottage, gently landed and turned into a letter in front of Rain.

A letter for Rain? That's unusual.

"Ah, Yuke."

"A letter bird with a letter is unusual."

"Yeah. Who's it from?"

Rain turned the envelope over to see the sender.

Her face quickly turned pale.

How was it? ('ω')

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