Episode 179: Rei's battle (Third Party Perspective)

"I'm home ~ ."

"Welcome back."

When Rei returns to a certain place, a woman is waiting for her in the room.

"Momoka, was today your day off? You shouldn't have been kicked out too, right?"

Rei can't believe that the woman would be there at a time when it isn't dark yet, so she instinctively asks.

Jougasaki Momoka is in the room. She is the manager of a store called Dungeon Adventure, which is located in a shopping mall in Toshima District and sells a wide range of products for explorers, and is the person who took notice of Fuhito when he came to the store.

She is also the owner of the apartment where Rei is staying.

"Yeah. I'm off today. It's a shift system, so we're raising our levels by taking turns. That being said, it's better for people with jobs like us to get a little exemption."

"You have it hard ..."

At Momoka's shop, they can't afford to lose explorers, so the employee explorers take turns raising their levels. However, due to the business dealing with explorers, the duties are lighter than those of ordinary explorers. However, it is not an exaggeration to say that they have almost no time off due to their work-life balance.

Today is one of those rare days off for Momoka.

Momoka is sloppy, sprawled on the sofa, watching TV while replying to Rei. She has an indescribable feeling as Momoka has a tired look on her face.

"Ah, well. It can't be helped when I chose this profession. Even so ... Rei seems to look quite refreshed."

Momoka is talking to Rei with her sleepy eyes on the TV, but she suddenly raises her head and stares at Rei for a while.

It's probably because of that. It is because she has become so youthful that it is impossible for it to be Rei. The two have known each other for a long time because they are childhood friends, but she is overflowing with freshness reminiscent of their High School days, and her skin is astonishingly radiant.

It would be the same for anyone who doesn't know who she is, and Rei's cuteness and youthfulness have risen more than she thinks.

"Y, yes, yeah. I have to lead a party as an explorer, but luckily I'm in a party of acquaintances, so it's easy. Besides, one of them gave me a ticket to a famous spa."

"Hmm!! Haa ... I envy you. I had to do a lot of things about the case, and I was out all the time, so I'm completely exhausted today."

Rei hesitantly replies, and Momoka turns from lying sideways to lying on her back and answers while stretching greatly.

"Y, yes. Don't push yourself too hard."

"What are you talking about. This is an unreasonable time, isn't it. I don't have that kind of talent, so I have to make sure and get ahold of him."

Just like before, Rei hesitates. On the other hand, Momoka clenches her fist with a serious look as if her laziness is a lie.

As for why Rei has been hesitant from earlier, it's because she hasn't told her that the party she is in is Fuhito's party.

In addition, the case she was talking about, is, after all, the matter of drawing Fuhito and the others into Dungeon Adventure.

Her guilt for being in a position to interfere with her attempt at acquiring Fuhito and the others while keeping the secret is reflected in her words and actions.

"That's true, but you should avoid hurting him. This is a piece of advice from me, who actually faced him. His power is too much for one organization ..."

"I know. I'll be careful."

The best warning Rei can give from her position. Momoka waves her hand and replies appropriately.

She can't say anything because if she steps further, she might get distracted by Momoka. However, she can't help wishing that if possible, she won't do anything that will hurt Fuhito's mood.

"Aside from that, can you bring me a drink?"

"Yes, yes, wait a minute."

Momoka, who has been tired lately and finds it difficult to move, asks Rei to fetch a drink from her refrigerator. Rei makes an exasperated expression as she heads for the refrigerator.

-Gogogogogogogogooo

However, the room shakes in the middle of doing so.

"This is ..."

"Earthquake?"

"No, this happens near a Stampede. There's one nearby."

Rei sees through it the moment it shakes.

A detection ability unique to Rei, who is a detection type explorer. That ability allows her to understand to some extent exactly where the Stampede happened.

"Where?"

"Probably one of the dungeons at Shinomiya Academy."

Rei answers Momoka's straightforward question.

"Isn't it okay then?"

"No, I don't think it's normal. I'll go have a look."

Momoka thinks that it would be fine with that school where there are a lot of explorers, but Rei feels that there is something that they haven't seen yet.

-Gogogogogogogogooo

As Rei is preparing, a second tremor occurs as if to confirm.

"This is bad."

"Yes, as expected, this is dangerous."

The two are in agreement, but Rei's bad feelings are another matter. It is her intuition that this disaster is not over yet.

"I'll head out to take a look right away."

"Okay. I'll try contacting the office as well."

"Roger."

Rei has a brief meeting with Momoka and leaves the house.

"Exchange."

She arms herself and goes outside and jumps out of the apartment building with dozens of floors. Normally, you would die from the shock while falling, but such common sense doesn't apply to explorers.

When she lands on the ground as it was, the ground caved in with a loud, heavy sound.

People around her are surprised, but Rei doesn't care and starts running. This place is about 20 minutes away from the school on foot, so no monsters have come this far yet. That's why she runs to the place where the monsters that have slipped into the city are.

"Ah, hello, it's Kurosaki, a Stampede has been triggered in two places at the same time."

-Gogogogogogogogooo

After picking up the phone and calling a friend in the Union, a tremor occurs again just as she says that.

"Oh, it's in three places at the same time. That's right. The place is Shinomiya Academy. Will you be dispatched immediately? Yes, yes, please. Alright next."

After telling them what they need to do, Rei hangs up the phone and makes another call.

"Hello, it's been a long time. I'm in Toshima District right now, but can you come to Shinomiya Academy? Yes, yes, I understand. I'm counting on you."

Rei hangs up the phone again. After several phone calls, she reaches the monsters.

"You guys!! Run away!!"

Rei cuts in between a group of High School students who are confronting monsters and the monsters.

"~~ !? Wh, who are you!?"

"It's fine. More importantly, don't fight if you don't have aptitude, you know? You'll die right away, you know?"

A High School boy screams in fear when Rei suddenly appears. Rei quickly realizes that the High School students aren't fit to be explorers, and while continuing to keep the monster in check, she turns around a little and threatens them.

"I, I understand!! Hey, everyone, let's go!!"

The group's leader-like person leaves without even thanking her.

"I'm your opponent."

"Bumobumo ..."

"Well, it'll be over soon."

"Bumoooooooooo."

Rei stands in front of a monster five times her height, and defeats it in a single blow as it tries to roar.

After that, she heads for the Academy while defeating monsters while anticipating them as much as possible.

On the way, she notices that a familiar sign is approaching and decides to meet up.

"Ahh."

"Ahh."

The sign is Amane. They notice each other, but involuntarily look at each other and let out a voice.