CH 40

Episode 040: People Believe What They Want to Believe (Third Party Perspective)

"Okay, it looks like everyone is here."

A strong man wearing a long white coat with short brown hair in an all-back style nodded while checking his surroundings.

This man's name is Inoue Danzou. One of the few S-rank explorers.

"From here, we will start investigating the Shushima Dungeon where the Dungeon Rebirth occurred. I have received information that Black Koblins will appear from the first level. It is likely that it is B, no, A-rank dungeon or higher. Therefore, I, an S-rank explorer was called in to investigate. This time everyone will follow my instructions. Are there any objections?"

There was no one there who disagreed with the words of Danzou, which were filled with a sense of greatness, as if each word was imbued with a sense of supremacy.

"Okay, then we'll start invading the dungeon right away. Scout Togari, I'm counting on you to lead us."

"I got it."

A-rank explorer suitable for reconnaissance, wearing a protector and light clothing, Togari Akitoshi. The Inoue Tatsu Survey Team steps into the dungeon.

"This is ... Certainly, the signs here feel more powerful than B-rank."

A magical explorer with an excellent detection system, Samejima Kanata, feels the magical power in the dungeon and mutters in light of her own experience.

The girl wears a witch-like robe, with clothes like a shirt one-piece underneath. Her age is in the early 20s. (TN:Google シャツワンピース if you want to see what a shirt one-piece looks like. Also, I'm confused, the way her name is written it's a male name, 鮫島奏多(さめじまかなた) but here it says it's a girl.)

"It certainly feels like a high-ranked dungeon with this tingling atmosphere."

Agreeing is A-rank explorer, Itogaki Shiki, who looks like a college student with smooth blond hair. He also is wearing a robe, with a shirt and straight trousers underneath. (TN:Also confused about this, 色 Iro(Surname, doesn't apply here)or Shiki(Female name) but it's a guy ...)

"Haa ~, how bothersome. But if there's Inoue-san, we aren't needed."

Saying that and scratching his head while walking around at the back is Ishibashi Takuya. The man has a faux mohawk hairstyle, and his ears and nose are pierced in a Punk Fashion that gives an end-of-the-century feeling.

"Don't say that. There's never been a case where an E-rank dungeon went up to a B-rank dungeon. It may be a case where it could be A-rank, or even S. Maybe I should have had all S-ranks, but this time it seems that only I was able to come. That's why you guys were called in."

Inoue responds to Ishibashi, who is feeling it's bothersome, and looks back at him and reprimands him.

"That's why I said. It won't be a case that you, the S-rank, can't deal with it."

"The Union can't fail. It can't be helped."

Ishibashi muttered with his hands behind his head as if he were sulking, but Itogaki replied with a bitter smile.

"Be careful, you guys, because you don't know what will happen."

"Yes."

After that, the investigation went smoothly.

It took them two days to find out that the 1st to 10th floors are mainly Black Kobolins, and B-rank monsters are active alone, or at most in a set of 3, it turned out that if you are a B-rank explorer, you can explore without any problems.

"Hey, as I said, we aren't needed."

"It's still just the 10th floor, don't let your guard down."

"Yeah, yeah."

Scout Togari calls out to Ishibashi who is becoming lazy. Ishibashi was completely distracted during the two-day investigation.

On the 3rd and 4th days, the survey team went from the 11th floor to the 20th floor. Beyond the 10th floor, B-rank monsters such as Black Kobolin and Black Wolf attacked in groups. The number is five to eight. Monsters who did not cooperate at all up to the 10th floor suddenly cooperate and launch attacks without a gap on this range of floors.

The difficulty jumps up to the extent that it is incomparable from the first floor to the tenth floor. B-rank explorer party, or a solo A-rank explorer. Without that level of power, it would be difficult to explore.

However, there are five people gathered here, including S-rank and A-rank. They passed through without any danger.

"Isn't this confirmed to be B-rank?"

"I don't know yet. It will be determined by what we see after the next floor."

"I'm getting tired of it myself."

"Still, we received it as a request. Do it properly until the end."

"Oh, it can't be helped."

Inoue tells Ishibashi, who still has no fragment of motivation. And as they finished speaking, as soon as they stepped on to the next floor, everyone's complexion changed.

"This is ... definitely, A-rank ..."

Samejima who detected it mutters with a mysterious look.

"It looks like it."

"Oh, it's getting a little fun!!"

"Let's be more careful from here!!"

The other A-ranked members were enthusiastic about Samejima's words.

On the 20th to 30th floors, there were many situations in which A-rank monsters follow the B-rank monsters and form a group. Still, they weren't the enemy of an S-rank and four A-ranks.

However, from the 31st floor, the B-rank monsters decreased, and A-rank monsters have begun to form groups and attack. As expected, even a five-person party that includes an S-rank will spend time on each battle.

The exploration speed slowed down, and the progress speed became about two floors a day. And five days later, they finally reached the 40th floor.

"Th-This is...!?"

"What is it?"

"There's no doubt about it. S-rank!?"

Samejima shows an unusual fear.

"Are you serious ..."

Ishibashi was also surprised and appalled, perhaps because it was unexpected.

"Probably this floor is the final floor. The powerful reaction is probably the magic of the dungeon boss. From here on, be more careful."

""Yes!!""

As expected, Ishibashi also started to focus, and replied like everyone else, and they proceeded to the 40th floor. At this point, a group of five to ten monsters consisting of only A-rank monsters attacked, so it wasn't until the next day that they arrived at the boss room.

"Togari, take a look."

"I got it."

Arriving at the small room in front of the dungeon boss, Togari goes to scout the appearance of the dungeon boss' room. The other members stay on the lookout in case a monster enters the small room.

"I'm back."

However, Togari returned after a few minutes.

"How was it?"

"That ... there is no trace of a monster in the boss room. Besides, there was a return magic circle in the room. It seems that someone has already traversed this dungeon."

""What did you say??""

Togari, who was confused and reported, was shocked by the faces that the others were showing, as if they were in a funny face championship. After a while, everyone settled down and they stepped into the dungeon boss' room to check the situation.

The members were all inside, but there was no sign of a boss coming out, and the return magic circle was certainly shining a suspicious light in the back. After investigating for a while, they could only conclude that the boss was defeated.

"I don't know who, but there is someone that has gone through this dungeon. However, it can be said that the threat level of this dungeon is high A-rank. Although the boss is also estimated S-rank, if an A-rank party of explorers fight, they can probably beat it."

"Well, I don't think there's any problem with that recognition."

Inoue gave his assessment, and everyone else was in agreement with him.

"Then, let's go home!!"

""Roger that!!""

After the investigation, they took the return magic circle one after another. Samejima was supposed to be the last one to take it, but she suddenly stopped and looked back.

"Oh? By the way, there is no boss in this dungeon right now. Still, the magical power of the S-rank dungeon boss was floating in that state. Then, what if the boss was actually here? Actually, is it higher than S-rank?"

When she imagined that, Samejima's shoulders shook, and she hugged her body.

"No, that shouldn't be the case ..."

She shook her head at the strange thoughts, and walked towards the return magic circle again, stepped on it, and left the dungeon.