Chapter 74

The location is a room near the deepest part of the 89th floor.

Although this large octagonal hall has four entrances, in fact, there is another passage entrance between two of the entrances, leading to a hidden room. The passage entrance is cleverly disguised, and the hidden room is about five tatami mats in size.

This is where Hikari and the others casually rest on the ground. However, everyone's expression is equally gloomy, and everywhere you look, people are bowing their heads, looking heavy-hearted. Perhaps due to their numerous injuries, many have twisted features and look extremely painful.

Hikari, who usually boosts everyone's morale with his natural charisma, is also suffering from severe fatigue due to the side effects of [Limit Break], leaning against the wall with his mouth tightly shut, not uttering a word.

Moreover, at such a time, the class's atmosphere maker, who can usually ignore the mood and liven up the scene, is now pale, her face contorted with pain, and her breathing is irregular as she sleeps. This is probably one of the reasons why everyone cannot lift their heads.

Rin's lower body from the knees down is still petrified, and Kaori continues to treat her. The wound that pierced her thigh has already healed. All that remains is to remove the petrification. However, her luck was really bad; the tentacle attack she suffered caused her to lose a lot of blood (Note: This sentence sounds a bit different when translated...), and it seems that important blood vessels were damaged. If it weren't for Kaori, the treatment might not have been in time.

To be honest, even Kaori cannot replenish the large amount of blood Rin has lost. The most she can do is have Rin drink a blood-boosting potion from another world. Therefore, they cannot return until Rin's condition improves. She needs to rest now.

To completely heal Rin, Kaori has not treated anyone else yet. Of course, the statues of Saito and Kondo, who are completely petrified like works of art, remain unchanged. Apart from a few complaints from a small number of people, the members understand that once Rin's treatment is complete, it will be their turn (Saito and Kondo) to be treated. However, it might just be that they don't have the energy to complain.

The temporary dark space is filled with a heavy atmosphere. Shizukana, pinching her furrowed brow, shakes her head, thinking about how to boost everyone's morale. Shizukana is usually a quiet type and is not good at easing the mood like Rin. However, due to the side effects of [Limit Break] and the impact of the defeat, Hikari is temporarily useless. Her kind and caring nature makes her think that she must do something. She is truly a hardworking person.

Shizukana, both physically and mentally, is already near her limit. Even shaking her head is becoming increasingly difficult. She might as well ignore the atmosphere and make a desperate attempt to perform. Just as she is thinking this, a conversation between Nomura and Tsujimoto Ayako comes from the depths of the temporary passage.

"Phew, I finally got used to the method of disguise. Using such delicate magic that I've never used before is really tiring... I'm at my limit."

"To make it look indistinguishable from the wall... That's a different level of skill... No wonder, you had to construct the magic array from scratch. Good job."

"Thanks. To completely remove the petrification, your hands must have been close to breaking. Good job."

From their conversation, it is clear that the person who created this space and disguised the entrance to look like a wall is Nomura Kenta, the [Earth Mage].

Although [Earth Mage] is a class with high affinity for earth magic, earth magic is basically a direct manipulation of the ground. It is impossible to perform delicate operations like [Synthesis], such as processing and shaping. For example, making the ground explode, shooting rock fragments from underground, forming spear-like protrusions from soil and launching them, or manipulating sand, are all things earth magic can do. At higher levels, it can even cause petrification or create golems (though they lack autonomous abilities). However, it cannot separate or combine various minerals to create items.

Therefore, while it is possible to use a carried magic array to crudely create a large hole in the wall, making the entrance look like the surrounding wall is completely outside Nomura's expertise. He had to construct another magic array from scratch.

On the other hand, Tsujimoto Ayako accompanied Nomura to treat his petrification.

"Thanks, Nomura. This will buy us some more time."

"… I hope so. We've come this far, we can only pray we aren't discovered before we recover. As for Kousuke… we can only pray for him too."

"… Kousuke will be fine. His ability to blend in is unmatched by anyone."

"No, Kousuke. That… just saying it sounds sad, don't say it…"

Because the safety of their hiding place has improved, the heavy atmosphere has slightly eased. Shizukana's tense cheeks relaxed, and this is all thanks to Nomura.

In contrast, Nomura, with a bitter smile, looks into the distance, praying for the return of another close friend.

Yes, one of their companions is currently not here. That is Endo Kousuke, who has the class [Assassin] and is a good friend of Nomura Kenta and Nagayama Shogo. He is not particularly gloomy or inarticulate, nor is he forgotten (Note: This means Kousuke is really not there, not that he is present but ignored). He is an ordinary high school boy who can communicate normally with anyone, but for some reason, he is [unnoticeable]. When people realize it, they all lose track of him, asking, "Ah? Where did he go?" If they deliberately search for him, they are often startled to find him right beside them, a skill he performs unconsciously. Of course, this is in Japan.

Despite his apparent reluctance, this event has allowed him to use his skills more than anyone else. Endo is the only one who can leave the group to inform Merudo and the others about the situation. If it were a normal situation, even a summoned hero with special abilities would be committing suicide to solo the 80th floor. (Note: Hajime is not a normal hero...) Hikari and his group could only advance with a team of 15 people.

However, if it is the man who can boast of being the "world's most unnoticeable," Endo, by fully utilizing stealth skills, it is possible to avoid detection by monsters and reach the 70th floor where Merudo and his group are located. This is why Hikari and the others sent Endo.

When they parted, Endo's eyes were slightly teary… It must be because he left his companions behind and retreated alone. It is definitely not because everyone said, "Your presence is so low that even sensitive monsters can't detect you! Your ability to blend in is unmatched by anyone, and you can break through without monsters noticing!"

Hikari and the others should have retreated to a higher floor, but they lack the strength to do so. Their injured companions, three of whom cannot fight, and Hikari, who is weakened, cannot possibly break through the 80th floor.

Of course, they did not expect Merudo and his group to come to their rescue. Including Merudo, there are six people with the strength to establish a base on the 70th floor. With them at the center, and the help of slightly weaker knights and high-level adventurers from the guild, they can probably reach the late 70s while maintaining a safe boundary, but not beyond that.

If they reach their limit, Hikari and his group will still have to break through the 80th floor on their own. In other words, Endo's solo mission is not to seek help but to inform them of their current situation and the information about the monsters led by the demon race.

Indeed, the Church of Light's Istar told Hikari and his group that the demon race can command many monsters and that they do not use brainwashing or other known methods, but retain clear wills (Note: Shimizu cried). However, they did not mention such powerful monsters. What is most surprising is not the individual strength but the sheer number.

In fact, the monsters led by the demon race can easily annihilate the 90th floor of the [Orkus Great Labyrinth], which no one has ever reached, and can even suppress Hikari and his group, who are special. If they can do this, it is not surprising that the human race would be wiped out sooner.

In other words, Istar's information was not wrong at the time, but the conclusion is that the monsters led by the demon race have been [strengthened]. Not only in numbers but also in individual strength. This information must be conveyed accurately, and Hikari and his group have judged this to be necessary.

"Shizukana, please take care of the petrification of Kondo and Saito. It will take too long if I do it. In exchange, I will treat the others."

"Okay, I understand. Don't overdo it, Ayako."

"It's fine, really. If I were more capable, Shizukana's burden would be lighter..."

While Nomura and the others were talking, Ayako, who was gulping down a magic recovery potion, said these words to Kaori, who was continuously treating Rin. Although both are [Healers], Ayako can use far fewer skills than Kaori. On the surface, she pretends not to care, but in reality, she is filled with shame for her own inadequacy and guilt for always burdening Kaori (with most of the healing).

Although Kaori smiles and says, "That's not true," Ayako has already gone to treat the other companions. Thanks to her treatment, the expressions of the companions are no longer so gloomy. Nomura looks at Ayako with an indescribable expression but does not speak to avoid hindering her treatment.

"... It's already like this. If you have something to say, say it."

"... Shut up."

Nagayama, with an expression of seeing something interesting, says this to Nomura, who only turns his face away with a sulky attitude.

After several hours, Hikari and the others took turns to rest a little, gradually healing their physical and mental wounds.

～～～～～～～～

On the other hand, Endo Kousuke, who retreated alone to inform the demon race's