CH 246

Episode 246: Ah, Aniki!?

"Satou-kun, can you see the trap?"

In the end even Rei challenged the battle that she couldn't lose, and asks me after she is defeated by Amane.

It is all but an error margin between the two of them.

Any explorer should be able to find it. Everyone's unconscious proficiency should reach max soon. I think there's no doubt that they can grasp it's location by sharpening their Five Senses and Intuition.

"Oh, of course."

I don't understand the intention of the question, but I can see it for the time being, so I nod.

"Then, would it be okay if I ask you to tell me the movement, and guide us somewhere so that everyone can teleport together at the right time?"

"Got it."

Following Rei's instructions, I use my Five Senses and Intuition to find the transfer trap.

Even so, I'm sure anyone can detect the trap, so why are you having me do it. Well, it's Rei, so I guess she has some kind of idea, such as wanting to observe objectively by having me lead the way.

As I was told, I report to Rei in detail while confirming how the teleportation trap is moving between floors.

"Hmm, I see. It seems that the range for moving floors is fixed. But, I'd like to observe a little more. If I do that, I feel like I can understand the rules of movement to some extent.

Rei, who receives my report, figures out the movement range of the teleportation trap, probably as a result of thinking along with the movement of the trap she could see. In the future, in order to explore the rules of movement, she wants to see the movement of the transfer trap a little more.

"Let's observe the trap from here for a while."

"Understood."

For the time being, we move to the floor just before where the teleportation trap can move, then take out the camping equipment and decide to have everyone take a rest except for me and Rei.

Rei and I sit in chairs, facing the same direction, and spend our observation time earnestly.

However, Nanami and the others seem to have too much free time and go to defeat enemies.

You can't even use your smartphone inside the dungeon. They can't help but have free time. Next time, I'll try to bring manga, novels, board games, and portable game consoles.

I inadvertently forgot to prepare that part.

It would be embarrassing to forget DunCamp△'s philosophy of how to enjoy the dungeon in a comfortable and enjoyable way.

"Fufufu, it's similar to a part-time job for researching road traffic volume."

"I see?"

"Yeah, I can't tell you the details, but I've only done it once for some reason."

When the two of us are alone, Rei reminisces the old days and talks while remembering and laughing.

"Is that something like sitting on a chair by the side of the road and doing something?"

"Yeah, I just counted the number of cars and people that passed by."

Rei answers my question with a distant look.

"What's with that, it sounds like it's insanely boring."

"Yeah, it's outrageous. It was a complete fight against drowsiness."

I replied that I thought it was a boring job, but from hearing Rei's reply, it seems to be true.

"If it were me, I'd probably go to sleep. If I just did it in a lazy manner, I could do it somehow."

"That's not possible because the guards come occasionally."

Rei makes a vexed expression at my contemptuous words and shrugs her shoulders.

"Surely that's not the case."

"Well, I was sleeping."

"You did sleep!!"

Just when I start to be convinced, Rei says something completely opposite. I unintentionally make a tsukkomi.

"Fufuu. Yeah. I'm an explorer, so I can detect signs right away. I also stored traffic and weather data for the past few years, so if I used the average figures derived from that, I wasn't told anything in particular."

"What a waste of memory, or rather a waste of a brain ..."

What she did is ridiculously advanced, but I thought it was a wasteful use of her brain. For a while after that, we continue to observe the teleportation trap while chatting here and there.

"This should be enough for today."

"Enough for today?"

Rei's way of saying it is no different from saying that the Namioka Dungeon investigation will not end today, so I ask.

"Yeah, it may change depending on the day, so I think it would be better to check every day and record for about a week. Depending on the situation, it would be better to do it for a month, actually."

"I see. If so, will you be verifying it in the same timeframe as today?"

"If we do it in such detail, summer vacation will be over, so it's fine for now. Let's submit the report after a certain amount of speculation, and let the organization handle the rest."

"Roger."

Receiving Rei's suggestion, we decide to end the investigation at the Namioka Dungeon after watching the movement of the transfer trap for several hours.

"Onii-chan, I'm back ~ !!"

"I'm back."

"Nn."

Just as we finish our investigation, Nanami and the others, who had gone out for a game called hunting, return.

"Welcome back. We've finished our investigation, so we can leave."

"Hooray!! I want to see America as soon as possible!!"

"Well, it's not certain that we will go to the same place, so don't expect too much."

"Yes!!"

Nanami jumps for joy when I tell her that the investigation is over. When I got out of the dungeon I transferred to while looking for the missing person, I was actually quite moved, so I understood Nanami's feelings.

I am also looking forward to it because sightseeing is one of the purposes of this trip, not just research.

"Then, Satou-kun, can I ask it of you?"

"Understood."

We all hold hands and wait at the place where the transfer trap will come and jump into the trap.

"This place ... looks familiar."

When I look around, the scenery is completely the same as the dungeon I teleported to last time, so I think it's probably the same dungeon.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not completely sure yet, but the transfer destination is probably fixed."

I give an answer that I already understand to Rei who asks without saying it's definite.

"I wondered what to do if it was random, but that will make it much easier."

"That's right."

I nod my head in agreement with Rei, who takes a deep breath in response to my answer and shows a relieved expression.

"The stairs that lead to the entrance are over there."

"Okay. I'll take the lead."

"Roger."

Rei takes the lead and I act as rear guard, while Nanami, Shia, and Amane are sandwiched between us as we move forwards.

After a while, I realize that a familiar presence is approaching us.

"Local explorers are heading this way from the front."

"Roger."

I report to Rei just in case.

After a while, I see a party of explorers dressed in familiar equipment walking towards us. Their presence confirms that this is an American dungeon.

"Oh, cute Japanese. Wanna do something nice with us?"

"Hey, hey. Where did you come from, let's have some tea."

After a few tens of seconds, they come in front of us and start picking up the women.

Haa ... These guys are incorrigible ...

"Hey, you guys!!"

I can't stand watching anymore, so I step out before the men.

"Aah, we don't need any men, get lost!!"

"That's right. You're in the way!!"

Maybe they don't remember me, two people who look familiar spew out such abusive words towards me.

"Haa ... You guys really don't remember me?"

"Haa? A boy like you ..."

"That's right. A boy like you ..."

I let out a big sigh of disappointment and then glare at them, and the strong atmosphere of the two of them dissipates completely.

""Ah, Aniki!? Why are you here!?""

The two shout in unison.

It seems that they remember me.

But, I'm definitely not your Aniki!!