Chapter 27 – Raid: C-Class Dungeon
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Sitting at the window by myself, I was exposed to the pale, wintery sun. Currently, our class had its homeroom. Our classroom teacher stood on the teacher’s podium, talking to the class. Dates which were quickly approaching graduation time were noted on the blackboard. After having finished to brief us on various pieces of information, the teacher put down the paper she held.
“Good. The graduation ceremony is around the corner. Sensei would like you to enjoy the little time at high school you have left. That’s all! Bow!”
The class greeted its after-school time. My classmates all got up, their hands already holding their school bags, and quickly left the classroom.
Just when I was about to follow their example, “Ah, Kurase-kun, do you have a moment?”
My teacher called me before I could leave the classroom, which now only hosted her and me. I walked over to the teacher’s desk while carrying my own bag.
“Did you already decide what you’re going to do after graduation?”
“Yes, just as planned, I’m going to move to Tokyo while relying on my relatives over there.”
“Hmm, I see…feel free to contact me whenever something worries you, even after graduation, okay?”
“Yes.”
My teacher smiled gently at me who had smoothly lied as I don’t have any relatives in Tokyo. She had been my teacher for quite some time and so we knew each other well enough. Currently she was looking at me with curiosity written on her face.
“Kurase-kun, did something good happen to you recently?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I feel like you’re looking a lot more cheerful than before. …It’s the same face you had when you enrolled at this school, you see?”
“…You’re right. I’m enjoying my time right now. It’s funny for you to mention it since I’m going to meet someone after this.”
“Oh, is that so? Then I’m sorry for holding you back. Take care.”
After bowing at her, I left the classroom. Today I’ll head into a C-Class dungeon with Satoha. This prospect made me all squirrelly. My anticipation, excitement, and joy must have shown on my face.
｡ ₊°༺🫀༻°₊ ｡
After leaving school, I headed directly towards the station without going back home first. I entered a toilet, stored my schoolbag in my smartphone, and used the shortcut to change into plain clothes. Then I made a beeline for our meeting point in front of the station.
We had agreed to meet in front of a fairly famous stained glass front just beyond the ticket barrier of Sendai station. As I went downstairs, I immediately spotted her, who was wearing the same outfit as last time. I thought it’d be hard to find her because our meeting place was crowded with many people, but that was a needless worry.
Standing in front of the boldly-colored glass front, she noticed me and turned her head in my direction with her side hair swaying. This whole scene looked almost as if it was out of a picture.
“Hiro, did you rest up properly yesterday?”
“…Yeah, Satoha.”
“Okay, then let’s go.”
She whirled around and headed outside the station’s premises. She and I would clear a C-Class dungeon today. And even though we got to know each other just recently, I think we managed to reach a level of intimacy that didn’t reflect our short acquaintanceship. No, it looks like I should say that the nature of our future relationship has already been decided…
The next day after I cleared three D-Class dungeons near Sendai station and got subsequently scolded by her on the phone, I had another phone call with her. For two hours.
When I informed her about the two C-Class dungeons I discovered in front of Sendai station during that call, she offered to clear them together with me. Given how nasty the difference from E to D was, I asked her whether I’d be alright in a C-Class dungeon, but──
『I’m sure you will do just fine as someone who managed to beat me one way or the other. If something happens, it will be fine to rely on me』
I was told a very cool line there. As a man I was extremely reluctant for something like that to occur, but it meant that it was possible for it to become a dungeon clear where I’d be protected by her. That’d be pathetic.
I’ve grown stronger and got my equipment sorted, too. I should be alright…
Having thus far advanced at a brisk pace without a hint of hesitation, she suddenly stopped.
“Whoa…what’s wrong, Satoha?”
“I forgot to ask you about the precise location of the dungeons. Where are they?”
“Ah, over there. One is quite close. It’s smackdown in the middle of the pedestrian deck.”
It was right after you left through the western entrance. Many people were frequenting the location, so it might be a problem, if two people suddenly vanished. But, seeing how we were right in front of a station, the times for no one to be around were rather limited. I thought we’d visit sometime late at night and planned to go to the other C-Class dungeon for today.
“…Oh, you’re right. Now I see it as well. Let us go then.”
“Wait, there’s way too many pedestrians right now. It’d be bad if we were found out.”
“No, it’s okay.”
She turned around in my direction with her hair and skirt fluttering and offered me her right hand.
“Please take my hand.”
“Eh…? Why?”
Seeing her holding out her hand, my body drew back a bit. At the moment of us having such an exchange in front of a station, we already stood out quite a bit. Leaving myself aside, Satoha was clearly drawing eyes on herself.
Hey, you granny over there! Don’t look at me while grinning pleasantly.
“I’m going to use 『Invisibility』.”
“…Oh, I see.”
With the reason clarified, I could come to terms with it. So even the people, who come in contact with her, can have their presence erased and become invisible, huh?
I slowly grabbed her hand. She could wield a spear so powerfully, yet her snow-white hand was quite delicate and slender. I tore my eyes off it.
I felt like becoming invisible or entering a dungeon all of a sudden would stand out in the same way, but Satoha used her ability without any scruples in front of the crowd.
And at that moment, the granny, who had been staring our way until then, began to walk as if nothing had happened. Her ability went beyond a skill to simply become invisible. It seemed to be like literal magic that would mislead the people around her.
In reality, I was also unable to spot her presence while she was invisible.
Right now, us two were the only ones aware of each other. As if we were disconnected from the world altogether. While making a small amount of mana manifest, she turned her face in my direction.
“Okay, I will enter, so please wait while not letting go of my hand, Hiro.”
“Sure.”
Weaving our way through the stream of people so as to not run into anyone else, we arrived at the location of the vortex. A faint magic circle expanded at her feet, just for the world to be dyed in white again.
｡ ₊°༺🫀༻°₊ ｡
When I had opened my eyes in the previous forest-type dungeon, an azure sky had greeted me, just as I was used to it from my own world. But, this world’s sky was crimson. Pushing the shortcut key, my body was engulfed by a glossy, black layer, before it transformed into my combat gear set. Next, I took the katana out of my item list.
Dragon Eater’s joy, as I held him in my right hand, was no different from usual.
We stood in the middle of a garden that looked like a graveyard with its small stone towers standing together in a disorderly fashion. I took the smartphone from its holster and tried to open Dungeon Seekers. Satoha, on the other hand, dropped eight of the golden octahedrons, which she had used in the battle against me, from the hem of her outer garment. As soon as they landed ground, they changed their form and started to float.
A golden halberd. A western sword. A sharp greatspear. A huge hammer and spear.
The octahedrons, which had transformed into every single arm you’d find throughout all times and places, were guarding our vicinity while flying around us. Back during our fight, Satoha had used swords and shields. Seeing this now, I couldn’t fathom the depth of her true ability.
While believing that it’d be great if I could catch a glimpse of it at some point, I readied Dragon Eater and prepared myself to fight.
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