Chapter 0061 Sera
-x-X-x-
"Then, I'll set off in search of some breakfast."
Ryo said and stood up.
"Hmm? You should just eat here … now that you mentioned it, no one is eating …"
Abel looked around puzzled.
Although the number of people sitting in the seats was sparse, it was a strange sight for a dining room, as all of them were only drinking water.
"This morning, the research team requisitioned all the food in this cafeteria."
"Wha …"
As expected, Abel, Rihya, Rin, and Warren, who's always silent anyway, were at a loss for words.
And to the surprise of Ryo, Natalie was also stunned.
"I-I thought that the court magic group brought their own cooks and food … so I didn't know that was the case …"
Even though she understood that it was not her responsibility, she still seemed apologetic.
"But if this spreads within the guild, it's going to be pretty hard for the research team to hire adventurers. After all, adventurers place a lot of focus on emotions and sentiments."
"Yes, a grudge over food is terrifying."
Abel calmly pointed it out and Rin relayed a truth that was the same in this world as well.
Either way, it had nothing to do with Ryo, who decided not to approach the dungeon.
"Abel, if the dungeon is going to be unsealed today, I'm guessing today's hunting is canceled?"
Rihya confirmed with Abel.
"That's right. I think Guilmas will probably gather the main parties and give an explanation after this. Given that, we should at least be in the city so that we can be contacted. As a B-rank party, we'll definitely be called."
"We and the White Brigade. After that, there should be about 20 C-rank parties staying here."
"Oh, by the way, Sera is back."
Rin commented as she remembered.
"Oh, Sera of the Wind? She's been at the royal capital this whole time due to a request."
Ryo had lost the timing to leave the restaurant while standing, but he made a decision then.
"Then, I'll be off."
"O-oh. You should be able to get breakfast at the Golden Wave Pavilion."
"Yes, I intended to do that but …"
"Erm, I'm sorry …"
Natalie, who realized that she had taken away Ryo's opportunity to eat breakfast, turned red and bowed her head.
"It's okay, you seemed like you were in a hurry, so it couldn't be helped. See you."
That said, Ryo left the guild and set out for the Golden Wave Pavilion in search of breakfast.
"Ryo-san went to Golden Wave Pavilion for breakfast … but I made him bring me here …"
Even after Ryo went out, Natalie still commented apologetically.
"Don't worry. Ryo wouldn't mind that."
Abel laughed.
"Oh right, Natalie, I want to ask you as a Schwarzkopf, the experts of Water-Attribute Magic, is there a Water-Attribute Magic that creates an ice wall high in the air and away from the caster?"
"Eh? No, as far as I know, there is no such magic."
"I see … I knew it."
Natalie answered Rin's question without any hesitation, although she was confused.
"What Rin, so you were still mulling over that?"
"It's natural! Every Magician would fixate on it!"
Rin replied with a threatening attitude to Abel who said it teasingly.
"Does that mean there is a Magician capable of creating an ice wall away from themselves?"
Natalie asked gingerly.
"Yes, but I haven't seen it."
"Who then?"
"The leader here saw it."
"Yeah, I'm the leader here."
Abel raised one hand and bowed his head a little.
"Such a thing … I don't think that's possible … Abel-san, are you sure?"
"I guess you're right when you say any Magician would fixate on it … even Natalie has taken an interest."
Abel smiled wryly.
"Ah, so-sorry. But if that's true, I definitely want to see it … Where did you see it?"
"In the middle of a trip …"
"Ah … then I guess I can't see it anymore."
Natalie was visibly depressed. If he just saw it during his trip, it could have just been a mistake too …
"No … Oh right … Natalie, for this topic, could you keep it to just this table? Don't even tell your family. If you can promise that, I'll tell you more …"
"Eh … o-of course. I won't tell anyone. I'm okay even if you want to put it in contract magic!"
"No, there's no need to go that far."
After that, Abel thought a little. He was choosing his words.
"He created an ice wall in the air and dropped it to crush a golem. That Magician was Ryo, who was just here a while ago."
When Natalie heard it, her eyes grew astonishingly wide and couldn't be closed for a while.
"Ryo is extraordinary. I'll say this to Rihya, Rin, and Warren too. Never make Ryo your enemy. Even if the four of us ganged up, we would be killed instantly. If he turns hostile, give up obediently. That way, he at least won't take your life. Listen closely, I'm serious about this. This is a command as party leader."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Warren nodded.
"Abel-san … is it that extraordinary? … Ryo-san's ability …"
Natalie looked at Abel with a serious expression.
"Natalie. If you ever encounter a situation that you need someone to help you and we aren't there at the time, you can rely on Ryo. He'll either be in Room 10 of the dormitory here or the library. If it comes to that, never deceive him. He would see through your lie. He'll kill you if he finds out you lied. Tell him everything seriously, honestly, and seek his cooperation. He's a nice guy, so he's more likely to help that way."
An hour after Ryo left for breakfast at Golden Wave Pavilion, the Guild Master sent out a call to convene.
For all D-rank and above party leaders in the City of Rune.
Of course, there was no particular problem if they chose to ignore it.
However, usually, no adventurer would ignore a call to convene from the Guild Master.
Of course, that's assuming the call to 『convene』 reaches the person …
For example, a man who is a D-rank adventurer and a Water-Attribute Magician on the main street from Golden Wave Pavilion on his way to the North Library.
Ryo arrived at the North Library after 10 o'clock.
However, there was no one at the entrance.
The South Library always had three or more librarians collecting admission fees …
In this North Library, there was a piece of paper … 'I'm away from my seat. Please wait a moment."
Someone would apparently be coming back.
About fifteen minutes later, a young man with a monocle came back and said.
"Sorry I made you wait."
Ryo paid the admission fee, hung the black admission card for adventurers on his neck, and went into the large reading room.
The large reading room of the South Library was a vast space about the size of the Tokyo Dome, but the North Library was different.
Ryo had the impression that it was an old European university library.
The bookshelves were quite tall and there was a built-in mobile ladder to assist with picking books from high places.
Ryo took a liking to it at the first glance.
The overwhelming scale of the vast South Library was pleasant, but the atmosphere of this North Library, where you could get a sense of unity with a huge number of books, was exceptional.
At first, Ryo's eyes drank in the atmosphere of the large reading room itself, but suddenly he couldn't take his eyes off one point.
A soft light spilled through the tall windows.
Illuminating a woman.
The air around her was shining and he couldn't look away.
Platinum blonde hair, sheer white skin, upturned nose, well-shaped lips … the slightly pointed ears that would otherwise be most noticeable … but the most striking were her large green eyes.
A scene that was too unrealistic.
As if it was a wide painting.
Ryo couldn't tell how long he stared at her.
The woman suddenly looked up and looked towards Ryo.
After looking at him for a while, she opened her eyes wide and showed a surprised expression.
That was when Ryo finally returned to himself.
He realized that he had been looking at the woman all that time.
The woman stood up and walked towards Ryo.
"Hello. You're an adventurer too. I'm Sera, nice to meet you."
Having said that, she extended her hand.
"Yes, I'm Ryo, an adventurer."
Ryo replied and shook hands.
Meanwhile, the woman, Sera, was looking at Ryo … but her gaze was on Ryo's robe, not Ryo's face.
After looking at the robe for a while, she finally looked Ryo's face and smiled delicately.
"At the moment, all the librarians in this library have been called by the academic research team and aren't here, so if you have a book you're looking for, I can help you. I know most of the book locations."
"Oh, that's why there was no one at the entrance …"
"I believe there should be a young man wearing a monocle? He's not a librarian but a child sent from the castle just for management, so he won't know where the books are."
Sarah pursed her lips tightly and tilted her head, feeling sorry.
(It would be a bit too much to ask Sera about Akuma … Honestly, I don't know what kind of reaction she'll give so let's not ask that today.)
"Well, I'm looking for books about alchemy. For intermediate level … my proficiency is probably insufficient at the moment … but although not immediately, I want to see something related to moving golems with alchemy as the final goal."
Sera seemed surprised at this and opened her big eyes even wider.
"Golem! That's a grand ambition … Well~, there aren't any alchemy books directly about golems … but there must be some books that could lead to it. Come with me."
For the next few hours, they searched through all the alchemy-related books that could lead to golems.
Although it was quite a few books, it was a very comfortable time for Ryo.
Ryo originally loved reading since he was on Earth.
However, since coming to 『Phi』 and living in the forest of Rondo, the only things that could be called 『books』 were the 『Monster Encyclopedia Beginner's Edition』 and 『Plant Encyclopedia Beginner's Edition』.
Though while he was living in the Rondo Forest, he didn't have any problems with it and didn't have a desire for books.
After arriving in the City of Rune and spending time surrounded by books at the South Library, the literary addict background lost in Ryo was revived.
For Ryo, the size of the North Library, the huge number of books, and the quiet space … all of which were pleasant.
What's more, now a beautiful woman was also helping out.
It was a really happy time.
-x-X-x-
While Ryo was having an enjoyable time at the North Library, the lecture room on the third floor of the Adventurer's Guild was in turmoil.
"I'm not convinced! Why must we let them push us around!?"
"What honor do they have to hire us after robbing us of our food?"
"Isn't the dungeon after the Great Tidal Bore connected to another world? I don't want to go to such a place."
"The country's intention? We are not slaves to the country!"
"They can enter on their own. It's none of our business."
"But honestly, I'm grateful for the money coming in …"
The last opinion was a really faint, quiet voice … and he couldn't voice it to the end because he was glared at by the adventurers around him.
The tumultuous discussion place had instead turned into a place for the adventurers to express their dissatisfaction.
The research team's requisition of food in the morning from the guild cafeteria was known to most adventurers. Such information spread swiftly.
With that information, 90% of the people were in a state of 『Anti-investigation team』.
Even Hugh, who called for the gathering as Guild Master, painfully understood the adventurers' feelings.
Moreover, he understood that he would not receive a favorable reply if he asked them to cooperate with the dungeon investigation of the investigation team that robbed them of food.
However, being in his position, he must tell them what had been decided.
"I understand everyone's feelings. Yes, I tru~ly understand it. So, helping the research team will just be a request. If you don't agree with the request contents, you don't have to accept it. Isn't that the major premise as an adventurer?"
To be honest, Hugh was still opposed to letting his precious adventurers dive into the dungeons during this period.
Moreover, they would be diving together with the idiotic scholars.
They are the ones who assert that the investigation is more important than the lives of their peers, and in some cases, their own.
To be honest, he thought it was best if they left with nothing after a month.
"Needless to say, adventurers are responsible for their own lives. Do not promise anything as long as you and the party's lives are at stake."
Many adventurers nodded when they heard that.
"But I will say this now. I will not allow adventurers to treat the ones who accept the request as traitors. Am I clear!?"
It was obvious that the adventurers who received the request would be talked about badly by the adventurers who refused the request.
That was why Hugh stressed that point.
And a voice came up that would make that point doubly sure.
"Guilmas, I have something to say to everyone, is that okay?"
It was Abel who raised his hand.
"Abel? Okay."
"We, Crimson Sword, will dive into the dungeon as escort for the Court Magic Group."
The adventurers buzzed as they understood the meaning of that claim.
"It is at the request of an old friend so there is no option to decline. Even though the Court Magic Group mainly came to conduct an investigation, they still hold the greatest combat force in the investigation team. They are those who appear on battlefields after all. That's why I believe they will probably descend the dungeon the quickest. We will send information to the guild whenever possible, so please make use of it effectively. That's all."
(As expected of Abel. With this, the people who accept the request would not be talked badly of.)
Hugh was impressed with Abel's disclosure of information at the right time.
He also knew that the information coming from the Crimson Sword would be very useful in the future.
"The dungeon will be unsealed at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning. Information will be posted on the guild bulletin board at any time, so please read it yourself. That's all. Dismissed."
Hugh, who returned to the Guild Master's office, called for the receptionist Nina.
"Nina, tomorrow I'll explain to the E and F-rank guys. Arrange for them to come to the lecture room at 9 o'clock."
"Yes, understood. Will you be permitting the E and F-rank to dive into the dungeon?"
"No, that's not it. I'm just going to remind them that they should only consider it after a month has passed."
That evening, Ryo was sitting on the sofa at the guild reception.
It was about time for the three from Room 10 to return from the abandoned mine in the village of Rusei, west of Rune.
It would take them an estimate of half a day to travel one way, half a day to dig up magic copper ore, and half a day to return.
A woman called out to Ryo. It was the receptionist Nina.
"Ryo-san. Niles and his group are coming back today, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
Even though it was a request that did not go through the guild, Nina knew their return schedule.
"Tomorrow, at 9 o'clock, the Guild Master will explain about the dungeon to the E and F-rank parties, so could you tell them to come to the lecture room at that time?"
"Okay. I'll let them know."
Ryo nodded. But it didn't end there.
"Ryo-san didn't participate in today's discussion, right?"
"Discussion?"
"Yes, there was an explanation about the dungeon to the D-rank and above party leaders today …"
"I'm sorry, I didn't know …"
He felt like he was being scolded.
"It's okay, cases like these happen once in a while. Ryo-san is a D-rank, but it hasn't been so long since you registered as an adventurer so I think you can attend the talk tomorrow with Niles and his group."
"Okay. I will attend too."
"Thank you."
Then Nina smiled and returned to the reception.
It wasn't long before the three from Room 10 returned to the guild in exhaustion.
"Niles, Etho, Amon, Welcome back."
The three were exhausted, but they were filled with a sense of accomplishment.
"Ryo, we did it!"
Niles exclaimed and was about to collapse, but Ryo didn't allow it.
"Niles, the expedition lasts until you return to your room."
He said and led the three to Room 10.
Upon arriving at the room, the three literally fell into bed.
Etho and Amon are in a state where they could not speak a word after they arrived.
For the time being, Ryo poured refreshing water in three cups and handed it to them.
And he waited slowly for the three to drink.
"Phew, that's delicious. Alright, Etho and Amon are too tired to talk, so I'll report."
Then Niles took out two fist-sized magic copper ores from his bag.
"These are the requested items, magic copper ores. We were lucky enough to get two fist-sized ones."
"Oh, this is amazing!"
Ryo took turns looking at the two and confirmed that they were magic copper ores.
"That's why as for the reward … I was wondering if you could add something a little extra because there are two … of course, as roommates and fellow adventurers, I don't want to ask for too much …"
"Of course. You guys worked harder than expected and achieved better results than expected, so there should be additional rewards. Well, taking into account various expenses, how about these two for 900,000 Florin? Each person will get 300,000 Florin."
"3-300,000 per person … 30 gold coins …"
Niles voiced it out in surprise while the other two were so tired that they couldn't make a sound but still sported looks of surprise.
"No? As expected, any higher …"
"No, of course, it's ok. It's ok, right, Etho and Amon."
Etho and Amon nodded many times to Niles' question.
"Good, negotiations have been concluded. After this, I will go to the guild and transfer 300,000 Florin from my account to each of your accounts, so please check. Thank you very much for your hard work."
Then Ryo stood up and bowed properly to the three.
At such times, it was important to be courteous even while you are close.
"No, you gave us the chance to make money … so we should be the ones who are grateful."
Niles also bowed back. While seated. He didn't have the physical strength to stand up.
"Oh yeah, I have something to tell the three of you."
Ryo said as if he just remembered when the three finally recovered from exhaustion a little and were able to sit up from the bed.
"The dungeon will be unsealed from tomorrow."
"What!?"
That would be surprising.
After all, there was an announcement before they left that it would be closed for at least a month.
It had only been two days since then but now it was going to be unsealed …
"However, this is a measure for the academic research team who came from the royal capital to investigate the Great Tidal Bore to enter the dungeon, and basically only adventurers hired by the research team can enter to escort them. And this is for D-rank and above parties."
"Academic research team … so such a group came over …"
Etho muttered when he was finally able to make a sound.
"If it is for D-rank and above, it's not for us."
"It can't be helped, isn't it?"
Niles was disappointed and Amon found it unavoidable.
"And it seemed that there was an explanation for the D-rank and above parties today, but for the E-rank and F-rank parties, there will be an explanation at 9 o'clock tomorrow, so I was told to pass the message to you all to be present in the lecture room then. I didn't know there was a meeting today, so I was told to join tomorrow too."
Ryo said with a bitter smile.
"Didn't attend … what was Ryo doing? …"
"I was researching in the library all that time."
Ryo smiled, thinking of the time he spent in the library.
"Somehow, that feels so refined …"
"This is the difference between D-rank and F-rank …"
Niles and Amon said while sounding a little tired.
Etho sniggered while watching these three people.
That was the usual Room 10.
-x-X-x-
Seven o'clock the day after Niles and others from Room 10 returned.
At the entrance to the dungeon, Abel and the Crimson Sword, along with ten Court Magic Group members who would serve as the advance party, were gathered.
The guild branch office at the entrance to the dungeon remained as it was when it was destroyed during the Great Tidal Bore.
The inspector general from the royal capital was still investigating it so repairs had not started.
Originally, the dungeon was scheduled to be closed for a month, so there would be no problem with that, but the situation changed as the blockade was lifted for the investigation team.
For the time being, a temporary tent was set up as a temporary guild branch office …
"Okay, shall we enter?"
At Abel's command, the Crimson Sword and the ten Magicians of the Court Magic Group nodded.
"But let's investigate first. Rin, do your thing."
"All right~. Gather the heartbeat and existence of life and bring them to me
The previous time, during the Great Tidal Bore, Abel had a bad feeling before opening the door.
That was why he asked Rin to cast the Wind-Attribute Magic
The adventurers were ready to intercept because they were able to detect the abnormalities of the Great Tidal Bore early on.
This time, he didn't have a bad feeling, but he wanted to proceed with extreme caution.
After all, they were diving into the unknown, a dungeon after a Great Tidal Bore.
"Yep, there is no reaction of creatures until to the first-floor hall!"
"Okay, open the door."
At that signal, the guild personnel unsealed the dungeon and opened the door.
Fourteen people went down the hundred steps with Abel in front.
As Rin said, there was nothing in the first-floor hall.
Rin's
For example, if she searched up to the fifth floor of the dungeon, her limit was three times at most.
Moreover, there was a need to preserve magical power in case something went wrong.
So it couldn't be used so many times.
"Okay, let's examine the first floor precisely. As we discussed yesterday, we will at most go down to the third floor today. Explore slowly and surely."
"Yes."
The ten members of the Court Magic Group replied together.
While Abel and his group were exploring the dungeon, the four members of Room 10, including Ryo, came to the lecture room on the third floor of the guild.
Continuing from yesterday, today the Guild Master would explain to the E-rank and F-rank parties.
At the same time as the 9 o'clock bell, Hugh, the guild master of the City of Rune, entered the lecture room.
"Good morning. Thank you for gathering. I will explain the current situation at once."
Hugh announced that the investigation team had entered the dungeon and began the investigation.
And that it was under the support of the country.
They plan to hire adventurers as guards.
Do not slander the ones who take up the request as they are hired through a formal request.
Up to that point, it was the same as the explanation for yesterday's D-rank parties and above.
"However, I wish that E-rank and F-rank parties avoid taking up the request as guards to enter the dungeon as much as possible. The reason is that we do not know what will happen in the dungeon after the Great Tidal Bore."
Hugh paused for a moment there.
He wanted to see the reactions and facial expressions of the adventurers, but … there seemed to be no adventurers who were particularly dissatisfied.
"With Abel and the Crimson Sword as the first wave and other adventurers diving in, information should surface one by one. They will be posted on the bulletin board in the guild from time to time, so please take a look at each one. Also, rather than serve as dungeon guards, they might hire you all for ground support. These will be mediated by the guild as usual. For example, the White Brigade is undertaking the role of guards to escort food from neighboring towns. Don't worry because there will be many jobs like that."
(I see. I was wondering why I didn't see them, so the White Brigade is out of town?)
Phelps, the leader of the White Brigade, left a strong impression in Ryo's heart.
However, Ryo did not know that the five Knights of the Kingdom, who were berated by Phelps, had disappeared and their inspectors were desperately looking for them.
If he knew … he might think that they were 'erased'.
After a few questions and answers, no one seemed to raise their hands, so Ryo decided to ask a question.
"Master, I have a question about the Great Tidal Bore."
"Ryo? What is it?"
"I would like to know whether the magic stones of the monsters defeated during the Great Tidal Bore, especially the magic stones from the Goblin King and Generals, were dark or lightly colored."
Most adventurers tilted their heads when they heard Ryo's question.
Or looked at each other and shook their heads.
They couldn't understand the meaning of the question.
However, only the person who was asked was different.
"Oh, that's it, that's how it should be. Ryo, you're spot on. Those arrogant research team members … that should be the first question to ask!"
Hugh was excited all on his own.
"But since arriving, not a single one of them came to check it!"
At that point, Hugh realized that the other adventurers didn't understand the intent of Ryo's question.
"Ah, right, this is outside the scope that was taught to beginners. Well, as an adventurer, it's better to know."
Hugh said and began to explain.
"The magic stones of monsters are colored according to the attributes of the monster. Wind is green, Earth is yellow, and so on. However, the colors also have shades of 『light』 and 『dark』. The magic stones of monsters that have lived for a long time and gained a lot of experience will be dark."
At that point, Hugh paused and looked to see if the listeners understood what he said.
"So, this leads back to what Ryo asked earlier. Was the color of the magic stones of the monsters that were defeated during the Great Tidal Bore dark or light? If it was dark, it would have meant that the monsters had lived in the dungeon for a long time. If it was light … that would imply trouble. It would mean that the monsters did not come up from the lower floors of the dungeon but were monsters that 'spawned' recently. And, all magic stones from the monsters defeated during this Great Tidal Bore were 『light』 in color."
Hugh waited for a while until the meaning of his words permeated everyone.
"In other words, those King and Generals weren't ones who lived a long time in the lower dungeon, but recently 'occurred'. We do not know if the dungeon spawned them … but at the very least, they didn't exist until recently."
There was complete silence.
"Sure, there is a theory that the dungeon produces monsters inside it. But even then, if that number of monsters were generated only recently … where did that energy come from? I think that is the answer to look for."
Ryo once thought about it when he was in the Rondo Forest.
Where did the magically generated water come from?
At that time, he thought of Einstein's 'E=mc2'.
The formula showed that it was possible to generate energy from matter.
But at the same time, it was also a formula that made it possible to generate matter from energy.
If the dungeon produces monsters as matter, what provides the 'enormous energy' that makes it possible?
If the Great Tidal Bore is a phenomenon that produces a large number of monsters, where does that enormous amount of energy that makes it possible come from?
(The more I think about it, the less I understand. There is only one solution in such a case! Don't think about it!)
"Well, that's why … the answer to that is that the King and Generals' magic stones were light in color."
After finishing the explanation in the lecture room, they were dismissed.
Hugh returned to his office and was drinking tea.
"Hmm. I hope one month passes without any problems …"
Even though he said those words, Hugh felt that something would go wrong … it would definitely happen.
He had given up on that point long ago.
"Even so, Ryo has a good eye. Isn't he far more suitable for investigation than the investigative team who didn't come to confirm? As expected of someone Abel has eyes on."
In a place that Ryo didn't know, Ryo's evaluation went up before he knew it.
Ryo questioned the shades of the magic stones because he was listening to Abel on his journey from the Rondo Forest.
The magic stone of a monster that had lived for a long time and gained a lot of experience would be dark.
"If the magic stone was dark, it wouldn't be difficult, because it's likely that they came up from the lower floors, the unexplored area below the 39th floor. But the color was light. Over 30,000 monsters were created just recently … is that possible … but that's the only possibility."
Hugh messed his hair after thinking to that point.
"I don't know! I don't know and I don't care! It's not my job to think about it!"
That reminded him of today's schedule.
"I have to report to Margrave after this? Maybe, I should consult Neville at the same time? In case of emergency, I hope the Knights would be able to act."
Neville was Neville Black, the commander of the Margrave Knights of Rune.
He was the man who spearheaded the northern wall at the time of the Great Tidal Bore and was a very good man in Hugh's eyes.
He was an excellent man, but he was also a man who liked alcohol very much, so …
"I will need alcohol as a gift … should I use the treasured 30-year-old single malt? I guess I have to use it during such times."
Of course, since it was their job, they would work as professionals even without having to bring gifts.
He knew that.
However, that was the 『reasoning』 half of human beings.
By taking into account the other half that is 『emotion』, there would be a much greater chance of success.
If he could get him on his side with a bottle of alcohol, that would be considered a cheap price to pay.
If it was modern Earth, that might be considered a bribe, but on Phi, there was no problem.
Moreover, this was the 『frontier』.
It was not a bribe but lubricating oil to keep things running smoothly.
These little things that help keep relationships well could be historical events that can change the course of important developments.
Hugh knew that.
-x-X-x-
Ryo was curious about something.
It was the relationship between the Great Tidal Bore and the Akuma.
Two days before the Great Tidal Bore reached the surface, a solar eclipse occurred in the City of Rune and Ryo fought with the Akuma Leonor in a place that seemed to be a subspace.
Leonor called it the 『Corridor』.
These two events were too much of a coincidence.
He didn't know if the Akuma caused the Great Tidal Bore.
Maybe she came knowing that the Great Tidal Bore would occur.
Or perhaps the 『Solar eclipse』 was more relevant compared to the Akuma.
Of course, he didn't know if that was the case.
It was natural that he didn't know, but … he was curious.
(I wonder if I can look it up in the library …)
He thought about that while having lunch at the guild cafeteria.
Of course, not alone, but as four people from Room 10.
"Ryo-san, you seem to be thinking about something …"
"Are you thinking about alchemy using the magic copper ore …"
"A-at this point, I can't return the money anymore. Even if it's Ryo, I can't!"
Amon, Etho, and Niles said in that order, but … Niles, the oldest at 20-years-old, was the most … pitiful.
"I won't ask you to do that."
Ryo shook his head with a bitter smile.
Niles had an overtly relieved expression.
Ryo suddenly noticed a gold chain coming out of Niles's tunic pocket.
"Niles, what's in your pocket …"
"O-oh, well this is required as an adventurer."
He replied and took out a pocket watch.
Clocks already existed in this world.
A big clock was installed on the tower of the square and the bell rang every three hours.
Many citizens relied on it, but a good proportion of adventurers had pocket watches.
That was because it would not good to be late for an interview with the client or a meeting.
In any world, no matter what kind of work, a person who could not be on time would be rated badly.
The clocks measure time by using something that moved at a constant speed, such as a water clock or an hourglass.
They were not complicated in nature.
The only problem was that it would be troublesome when you try to make it a portable size and with a portable mechanism.
On Earth, the issue was cleared by the invention of a 'spring'.
That happened in the 16th century.
However, on 『Phi』, there was something not present on Earth.
That would be magic and alchemy.
In particular, the mechanism of using alchemy to keep track of time at regular intervals was not difficult.
With such technology, it was not so difficult to create a portable watch.
Still, each pocket watch costs more than 10,000 Florin.
For ordinary citizens, 10,000 Florin was by no means a cheap price.
If a person lived a very thrifty lifestyle … that was an amount that might be sufficient for about half a month.
But that's assuming they are not an adventurer that struck it rich … although Niles didn't strike it rich, he did purchase one.
Probably using the 300,000 Florin paid by Ryo.
Of course, 10,000 Florin was the cheapest model and there were also fully mechanical pocket watches that do not use magic or alchemy at all.
Those cost an eye-opening amount of at least millions of Florin.
Furthermore, at the upper end, there were pocket watches that cost more than 100 million with functions such as perpetual calendar, minute repeater, tourbillon, split seconds, equation of time display, and self-winding watches … there may be a watch-making genius like Breguet in this world.
"Is that a pocket watch? Niles will not be late anymore."
"No, I've never been late …"
At that moment, the receptionist Nina came over there.
"I'm sorry to bother you during your meal, Niles-san, Etho-san."
"Y-yes! Wh-wh-wh-what is it!?"
Niles' tension was raise to the max … or could be said to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown after he was called by Nina, who he had a crush on.
(At first, when I was guided to the dormitory, I don't recall he was so stiff … Niles's longing for Nina is progressing intensely.)
Ryo's thoughts were terrible.
"Niles-san and Etho-san have become E-rank adventurers due to your achievements during the Great Tidal Bore the other day. Congratulations."
She said with a sweet smile.
"E-E-rank …"
"Woohoo! Thank you very much."
"Congratulations, Niles-san, Etho-san."
"Congratulations to the both of you!"
Niles words were stuck in his throat, Etho expressed his joy ordinarily, and Amon and Ryo congratulated them.
"Therefore, we will have to update your guild cards, so please come to the reception later. At that time, you will be able to register your party, so please decide the party name when you register."
Then, Nina went back to the guild reception.
"Party name?"
Ryo asked Etho.
That was because Niles, of course, was still frozen and wasn't of use.
"Yeah. From E-rank, we can register as a party. Until now, all three of us were F-rank, so we weren't registered, but if there is even one E-rank, the party will be considered an E-rank party. And beginning from E-rank parties, it is possible to register the party name with the guild. Well, it is meant to be a graduation rite for beginners."
Etho replied with a smile. And fell into thought of what name would be good.
"I-I have to do my best to become E-rank too."
Of course, Amon also participated in the Great Tidal Bore, so his evaluation should have risen, but since he had just registered as an adventurer, it may take a little more time to move up to E-rank.
(Amon is in a party with Niles and Etho. In the future, Amon will be able to receive requests for E-rank, so he would rise to E-rank soon.)
Ryo wasn't worried at all.
In the afternoon, the three from Room 10 were training at the guild outdoor training ground.
Because they were gathered in the lecture room in the morning, the timing wasn't right to accept requests now.
There were quite a few E-rank and F-rank adventurers in a similar situation, and the training ground was more packed than usual.
Of course, Ryo was not there.
He split up with the three and went to the North Library.
In the morning, he was thinking of performing alchemy using the magic copper ore that the three of them collected, but he was really concerned about the timing of the Great Tidal Bore, the Akuma, and the solar eclipse.
The receptionist at the North Library was a different person than when he came yesterday.
After paying 2,000 Florin and hanging the adventurer's black admission card around his neck, Ryo entered the large reading room.
The seat where the elf Sera was sitting and reading a book yesterday … was empty.
Ryo was a little disappointed.
Of course, he didn't come to see Sera, but everyone liked to interact with beautiful individuals.
And Sera's image when reading a book was definitely beautiful.
Looking around the large reading room, there was no one other than Ryo.
That was when Ryo realized.
(There isn't a librarian and I don't have Sera who helped look for books with me yesterday … How can I look up past records of solar eclipses and Great Tidal Bores …?)
Yeah, he didn't consider that aspect at all.
Moreover, he realized it too late since he had paid the 2000 Florin.
When he was considering how to look for information, he heard a voice from behind.
"Hmm? Ryo. We met yesterday."
The goddess of salvation appeared.
When Ryo turned around, there stood a beautiful woman, as though a goddess from heaven.
Elven adventurer Sera.
"Sera-san!"
Probably because Ryo's words were mixed with joy.
Sera was surprised.
"Wh-What's wrong?"
Thereafter, Ryo explained his circumstance.
Including the fact that he forgot that there was no librarian and came to the North Library.
Including how he was feeling a little hopeless.
Sera laughed softly when she heard that. It was a library after all. She kept her voice down.
"I'll be glad to help. Records of past solar eclipses and records of Great Tidal Bores?"
There Sera meaningfully emphasized the solar eclipse and Great Tidal Bore.
"Ryo thinks that the solar eclipse and the tidal bore are related."
Ryo was astonished to hear that.
(Sera-san is sharp. Too sharp.)
"There certainly was a major solar eclipse about two days before the monsters appeared in the Great Tidal Bore this time."
The major solar eclipse probably referred to a total solar eclipse.
"In fact, in the case of Rune's dungeon, my conclusion is that there is a high possibility that the solar eclipse and the Great Tidal Bores are related."
Sera replied easily.
Ryo was surprised and couldn't follow up with more questions.
"To be exact, there was always a solar eclipse before a Great Tidal Bore. However, they were not major solar eclipses like this time, but partial solar eclipses."
Depending on the location, a total solar eclipse or an annular eclipse, in which most of the sun was hidden by the moon, occurred once every few decades.
However, in the case of partial solar eclipses, they occurred once every few years, up to once in two years at its shortest.
With that frequency, it was possible that the solar eclipse and the Great Tidal Bore would overlap by chance.
"Why did you conclude that they were related …?"
"That, of course, is because I looked it up before."
Sera's burst into a smile. A very destructive smile.
(Wow, beautiful …)
"But I'm curious why Ryo would focus on the relationship between the two."
"Oh, no, I somehow thought of it …"
As expected, he couldn't say that he fought an Akuma …
Maybe as an elf, she would have some information on Akuma … but he still didn't want to reveal that incident to anyone else.
"Hmm …"
Ryo didn't have much experience of being stared at by a pretty woman.
"Se-Sera, do you know the reason for the darkness of the color of a magic stone?"
He desperately changed the topic to try to distract her.
"Well, I'll tag along with your change in topic."
Sera said with a smile.
"Of course I know. The magic stones of monsters that lived for a long time are darker in color."
"What was the color of the magic stones from the monster of the Great Tidal Bore this time …?"
"Perhaps … they were lightly-colored?"
"Yes. They were light. Why …"
Sera replied, nodding.
"You want to know why I know they were light? That's because I've seen records that the magic stones of the monsters that were subdued in the past Great Tidal Bores were also lightly colored. Moreover, since it is recorded on parchment, most librarians don't even know it. Do you want to see Ryo?"
"Yes, by all means!"
"Then let's go. Follow me."
Then, Sera started leading the way.
-x-X-x-
On the third day after the dungeon blockade was lifted, Abel's Crimson Sword and the investigation team of the Court Magic Group had reached the seventh layer of the dungeon.
There had been no problems so far.
Conversely, the issue would be that they did not encounter any monsters.
The first to third floors were home to wolf-type monsters, and the fourth and fifth floors were home to the goblins that caused the Great Tidal Bore this time.
Abel and his colleagues thought that if they dived to the fourth and fifth floors, they could get some clues.
But there were no clues.
And there were no monsters.
"But … it is unexpected that we would find absolutely nothing."
Next to Abel was Arthur Verasis, the advisor to the Court Magic Group.
Advisor Arthur was an adventurer when he was young.
He took it as a matter of course to take command from the forefront when diving into the dungeon.
The investigation team of the Court Magic Group had 100 people in total.
Half of them were on the surface, as the team to analyze the information that would be sent up, and the other half were the teams that dived into the dungeon to collect information.
All fifty people had been collecting information since diving into the dungeon yesterday, but … almost nothing had come out of it so far.
"There must be something somewhere, because the magic stones were lightly colored."
Abel commented.
That was the information that Abel heard yesterday.
After returning from the dungeon and finishing his report to the guild, a shadow approached Abel from behind.
And he whispered.
"Abel, the watchword is, 'The magic stones were lightly colored'."
The Water-Attribute Magician whispered.
"Huh?"
"The watchword is the magic stones were lightly colored. Please repeat after me. Yes, the magic stones were lightly colored."
"… The magic stones were lightly colored."
Ryo told him and Abel repeated without understanding.
"Yes. The magic stones were lightly colored."
"The magic stones were lightly colored."
After hearing Abel repeat after him, Ryo left, as if satisfied.
After that, it was natural that Abel went to Guild Master Hugh to check the color intensity of the magic stones taken from the monsters of the Great Tidal Bore.
That was how he finally understood.
The monsters were not the ones that lived on the lower floors.
They were something that spawned recently.
"Given the large number of goblins, we should consider that they spawned somewhere in the upper floors up to the 15th floor."
Below the 16th floor, the section called the middle layer for convenience had incomparably more powerful monsters than the upper layer.
He didn't think goblins could break through the layer hierarchy … but … that said, the violence in numbers could be horrifying.
It was certain that the possibility that they came from the middle layer and below could not be completely ruled out.
"Among them, the floors where goblins originally exist are the fourth and fifth floors, and the tenth and 11th floors."
"Yeah. There was nothing on the fourth and fifth floors. There were no monsters, no traps, nothing. And the only trace found so far …"
"Yup. There are traces of a large concentration of magical power a few days ago … on a floor a little further below. That's it."
"A little further below … the goblin layer after the tenth floor … given the timing, it may be related to the Great Tidal Bore …"
Abel looked at the magic tool that the investigation team member had in his hand as he spoke.
If Ryo saw it, the first thing that would come to mind would be a metal detector.
"In any case, that magic tool is amazing. It can detect residual magic power from a few days ago."
"Yup. The information that it picks up here will be sent to a magic tool on the surface and analyzed there. Some claim that Alchemy copied the concept of
"Alchemy..."
"Why? Are you interested in alchemy, Abel?"
Advisor Arthur looked at Abel with a look that he didn't think Abel would be interested in it.
"No, no. I don't, but a friend seems to be very interested."
"Abel's friend. Now that is surprising."
Advisor Arthur seemed to be truly surprised.
"What? I have friends."
"Yeah … well, maybe it's a good thing that you became an adventurer."
The fourth day after the dungeon seal was lifted.
The Crimson Sword and the Court Magic Group investigation team were investigating the eighth and ninth floors.
And tomorrow, they planned to investigate the tenth floor, which they believed would be where the answers laid.
As Abel and his group were investigating the ninth floor, the research team from the Kingdom Central University passed them by.
Among them, they could see the figure of President Clive Staples.
"Those guys from the Kingdom Central University are advancing really fast."
When the investigation team of the Court Magic Group reached each floor, they spread throughout the level and searched for traces of the Great Tidal Bore.
Therefore, the speed of their investigation was by no means fast.
However, even after taking that into account, the speed of the research team from the Kingdom Central University was abnormal.
It was as if they felt that there was nothing on this floor to investigate … as if it was already decided …
Rihya, who was next to him, answered Abel's question.
"The Kingdom Central University seems to think that the monster of this Great Tidal Bore came from something that lives below the 38th floor."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I asked a former colleague in the research team yesterday, so I'm sure."
Rihya replied and smiled.
"A colleague … from the time you were at the royal capital sacred temple? But is it okay to talk about such secrets?"
"It's okay. Priests can pull favors from everywhere."
There weren't many good Magicians in itself.
Among them, the recovery personnel who can be said to be absolutely necessary for each party, the priests who can use light magic, were in a state where the demand always exceeded the supply.
"And the guards for the Kingdom Central University, we've never seen them before?"
"Yeah, they are not adventurers from this city."
Abel also noticed it.
The Kingdom Central University research team had a total of more than 350 people.
Among them were adventurers hired as guards and luggage carriers, but in addition to that, they also hired adventurers from the City of Rune.
However, none of the adventurers from the city were among the group that went down.
"They seem to be adventurers brought from the royal capital. Most of the adventurers they hired from Rune seem to be D-rank adventurers, and basically they were given work to secure contact with the surface and secure food for the entire research team."
"I feel that it's a waste of resources, but … the adventurers from the royal capital wouldn't be familiar with the dungeon. Well, the adventurers of the City of Rune can make money without being placed in strange dangerous locations so I guess it's all right?"
Abel shrugged and said.
Depending on how you think about it, it could be said to be a request that was not rewarding but less dangerous.
There weren't many adventurers who liked to dive into the dungeon after the Great Tidal Bore, where they didn't know what will happen.
"Abel, Clive's group moved through swiftly. Do you think they would rush into the tenth floor at that rate?"
After checking up on his men, Advisor Arthur returned to Abel and complained.
"Rihya says that they assume that the monsters came from below the 38th floor, so they will likely enter the tenth floor with the same momentum as before."
"What …"
As expected, even Advisor Arthur was stunned.
However, he was a veteran rich with experience. He immediately switched his thoughts.
"Well, then Clive would become our canary in the mine."
He said and grinned.
The research team, which was owned by the president of the Kingdom Central University, Clive Staples, looked contemptuously at the Crimson Sword and the Court Magic Group investigating the ninth floor as they prepared to step into the tenth floor.
"Clive-sama, this tenth floor will be the floor of the goblins."
"It doesn't matter. Those monsters came even further below. Let's advance quickly."
Clive disregarded the secretary's report.
(I will solve the mystery of the Great Tidal Bore and become the next Academic President by any means.)
The Academic President was a position that could be said to be at the top of the academic governance in the kingdom.
Like the Treasury Lord in finance and the Military Lord in military affairs, it was one of the top positions that play a central role in the nation, having the authority to allocate the national budget to each academic field.
He had laid the groundwork well.
All that was left was to accumulate research achievements that others could not point out any flaws.
With that in mind, he was certain that he would obtain the Academic President chair if he made a big announcement about the cause of this Great Tidal Bore.
It was for that reason that he came all the way from the royal capital to such a remote area.
"But the stamina of many people, including those in research positions …"
"Mmm … I don't believe it's not necessary to train your body just because you're an academic. But it can't be helped. Today, we'll limit the march to this tenth floor. Inform those at the back that we will be camping on the tenth floor."
The research team from the Kingdom Central University intended to camp in the dungeon until they reached the 38th floor without returning to the surface.
For that purpose, they invested abundant resources for camp equipment such as tents, food, and sentry substitutes.
The next day.
The day before, the Crimson Sword and the investigation team of the Court Magic Group completed the investigation up to the ninth floor and were about to search the tenth floor, which could be said to be the start of the true investigation.
"It seems that the Kingdom Central University research team did enter the tenth floor yesterday."
"Yeah. But there were no reports that a problem occurred … I wonder if there's nothing on the tenth floor too?"
Abel and Advisor Arthur stepped onto the tenth floor while talking.
"Well, it doesn't change what we must do. I'll detect for any residual magical power."
"I look around for traps on the tenth floor."
Advisor Arthur and Abel split up.
When exploring a dungeon below a certain floor, a profession is definitely required for a party.
That would be the Scout that looks for traps.
In the case of the dungeon in the City of Rune, traps were known to exist from the tenth floor and below.
In other words, when diving beyond the tenth floor, a Scout was needed.
However, the Crimson Sword had no Scout.
Abel the swordsman, Rihya the priest, Warren the shield-bearer, and Rin the Magician.
Only the four of them.
However, the Crimson Sword had explored beyond the 30th floor.
So how did they deal with traps at that time?
Abel discovered the traps and, in some cases, disarmed them.
Abel said that he didn't have a choice since their party didn't have a Scout but it must be said that he had to be extremely dexterous to do that.
Of course, not all traps could be cleared because he was not a professional Scout.
Therefore, even when exploring the dungeon as a party, they fundamentally avoided traps.
That said, Abel himself thought that his skill at disarming traps had dulled because he had only accepted requests on the surface for the past two years.
Why were there traps in the dungeon?
Although not finalized as a theory, the mainstream idea was,
"For some reason, the dungeon was creating traps."
There was a minor theory that a dungeon monster was creating the traps, but lately, that theory had almost been eliminated.
In any case, there were many poisons and pitfalls in Rune's dungeon that it was even said that Scouts were essential when exploring beyond the tenth floor.
(I recall there were traps that spray poison on the tenth floor but … there are none at all.)
Abel was walking around the tenth floor with his party.
"There are no traps, no monsters …"
Rin spoke with her head tilted.
"It seems that the research team from the Kingdom Central University did not encounter any monsters too, so I wonder if the following 11th floor would be where we find our answers?"
Rihya seemed to have gathered information from her colleague from the Kingdom Central University yesterday as well.
"Have they moved to the 11th floor?"
"Yes. They descended in the morning."
While eating the portable food prepared by the Court Magic Group, the four patrolled around the tenth floor.
"I hope it continues like this with nothing happening …"
Abel muttered.
-x-X-x-
At that time, about 1,000 members of the Kingdom Central University investigation team had reached the end of the 11th floor and were in front of the stairs down to the 12th floor.
The investigation team from the Kingdom Central University was led by President Clive who thought that the cause of the Great Tidal Bore were monsters from beyond the 38th floor.
He rushed through the 11th floor and did not conduct a full-scale investigation.
However, in front of that staircase, they found something that could not be ignored.
"Is this connected to another space as feared?"
"Yes. That's no doubt. But we can't find out where it connects to …"
A researcher from the Faculty of Magic answered President Clive's question.
"Okay. This may be related to the Great Tidal Bore outbreak. I will call it the 『Gate』 for convenience. Please install the equipment and thoroughly examine this 『Gate』."
Following the instructions from President Clive, the equipment that they brought were unloaded and installed.
What Clive named the 『Gate』 was … a black entrance that formed on the wall of the dungeon.
It had a height of about 5 meters and a width of about 4 meters.
The entrance was pitch-black and there was no way to see what was inside.
Researchers from the Faculty of Magic investigated using some spells and magic tools and discovered that it was connected to another space.
There had been no record of such existence in the Central Nations.
In that case, it was very likely that this 『Gate』 was related to the Great Tidal Bore.
Although it was different from the initial expectation of the Kingdom Central University investigation team including President Clive, Clive was by no means incompetent.
As their predictions were wrong, this 11th floor was involved in the outbreak of the Great Tidal Bore instead.
And the core of that was this 『Gate』.
He was willing to accept that given the facts.
(It isn't what I expected, but it's great that we rushed ahead. It would be a huge advantage to start investigating this before the other investigation teams.)
While President Clive was satisfied that he was able to take the lead, the equipment and researchers continued to filter in from behind.
The catastrophe happened suddenly.
And for a ridiculous reason.
The whole process was captured by President Clive at the edge of his field of vision.
In exhaustion, one of two luggage carriers carrying heavy equipment slipped.
When he tried to support his body by bracing against the wall so that he wouldn't fall … the 'wall' he chose was the 『Gate』…
In text, that was it.
That was it, but … the resulting phenomenon that happened was intense.
In an instant, Clive and his investigation team from the Kingdom Central University disappeared from the scene.
All the humans on the 11th floor disappeared.
And the effect wasn't limited to the 11th floor, even the humans on the tenth floor disappeared in the same manner.
At that time, the Crimson Sword and the investigation team from the Court Magic Group were on the tenth floor.
The Great Tidal Bore Academic research team was composed of three organizations.
An investigation team from the Kingdom Central University led by President Clive.
An investigation team from the Court Magic Group led by Advisor Arthur.
And an investigation team from the Magic University led by Chief Professor Christopher Bratt.
The investigation team from the Magic University did not take any quick action compared to the other two teams.
In fact, none of the members of the investigation team had even dived into the dungeon.
Nevertheless, Professor Christopher had gathered a lot of information on the Great Tidal Bore.
He had established a spy network within both the Kingdom Central University and the Court Magic Group investigation teams.
In the first place, the most motivated member of this Academic research team was Clive, the president of Kingdom Central University.
Of course, that was to secure the position of Academic President of the Kingdom.
Both the Magic University and the Court Magic Group understood that.
And it wasn't a problem for them.
If Clive wanted to take the position of Academic President, he was welcome to.
However, since President Clive appeared as the head of the investigation team for the Kingdom Central University, both the Magic University and the Court Magic Group had to send a person with a comparable position to lead their investigation teams.
They had a headache thinking of who to put up.
If they sent out a person with little power … it was obvious that they would be made use of by President Clive.
It wouldn't matter if they were pushed around, but it would be unbearable if they were to be used as a shield during the battle with monsters and consequently lose their life.
No matter how you look at it, considering that the personnel from the Magic University and the Court Magic Group have more experience in combat than the personnel from the Kingdom Central University, they would definitely be used in that manner …
To avoid that, the two camps were tormented.
And a conclusion was made.
The Court Magic Group placed their top advisor Arthur, who was well-known for his achievements and experience as a Magician. Even President Clive could not treat Arthur lightly.
He was a heavyweight in the country.
On the other hand, the Magic University sent out someone who was as scheming as President Clive … Chief Professor Christopher, a person broad-minded enough to associate with various types of people and was said to be the closest to the next president of the Magic University.
Since Professor Christopher was sent out with such an intention, his foremost instruction was not to lose human resources.
But if possible, it would be even more excellent if he made some research results on the Great Tidal Bore.
In Christopher's mind, the goals were divided to that extent.
Regarding the method of collecting information, purchasing it through illegal channels from the other two camps that entered was certain to have the least likely chance for loss of human resources.
For those who provided information, he presented conditions that young researchers would desire desperately, such as transfer to their Magic University later or preparing a laboratory for them.
Of course, he was not going to break those promises.
He was recruiting members properly and had already done so before.
Professor Christopher was a man broad-minded enough to accept people of all shades, and although he was not particular about how proper the process was, he was a man who kept his promises.
Also, as for power struggles on campus, he was a man who did not tolerate hostile intent, but he did not demand anything from researchers who were purely devoted to research.
Research funds were also distributed based on research content and achievements, so he was very popular with researchers.
That was the reason why he was regarded as the next president without doing anything excessive.
Under the direction of Professor Christopher, the investigation team from the Magic University was finally about to dive into the dungeon.
The reason for diving at this timing was, of course, because the information on the 『Gate』 discovered by the investigation team from the Kingdom Central University had surfaced.
(Let the investigation itself be done by the Kingdom Central University and we just need to be nearby. It would be troublesome if others commented on why does the Magic University, which had been on the surface all this time, know such details.)
Professor Christopher laughed so slightly that no one noticed it.
The investigation team from Magic University exceeded 1,000 members.
However, only about 50 university-related people entered the dungeon.
The rest were about 100 C-rank adventurers hired in the City of Rune.
These 100 adventurers were almost all the C-rank adventurers currently present in the City of Rune.
The Kingdom Central University could only hire D-rank adventurers because the investigation team from the Magic University hired all the C-rank adventurers first.
Professor Christopher also knew that the D-rank adventurers hired by the Kingdom Central University were stationed from the dungeon entrance to the 11th floor, securing a transportation route for goods.
In other words, they could travel from the dungeon entrance to the tenth floor without risk.
The Magic University was based on making the least effort to accomplish matters.
"Well then, let's dive."
The incident happened when the investigation team from the Magic University, led by Professor Christopher, was finally about to dive into the dungeon.
The D-rank adventurers in front of them disappeared in an instant.
"What...?"
"Th-they disappeared …"
"What happened?"
The humans in the dungeon had disappeared.
Whether it was the adventurers near the entrance or a little further down the stairs, in an instant …
"Everyone retreat. Get away from the dungeon."
Professor Christopher's command, which was by no means loud, and their movements by no means quick, the investigation team from the Magic University drew back from the dungeon.
(This … it seems like something happened again …)
Professor Christopher sighed and then looked up at the sky.
"It has become a troublesome investigation …"
His muttered words didn't reach anyone's ears.
Several large tents were set up around the entrance to the dungeon inside the double wall.
Some of them replaced the Adventurer's Guild branch office, which was destroyed during the Great Tidal Bore.
A tent that was significantly larger than the one used for the branch office housed the analysis team of the Court Magic Group.
There were analytical magic tools that collected and analyzed the information sent from the residual magic power detector magic tool in the dungeon, and the tent was packed with many researchers.
Within the tent was Natalie, the Water-Attribute Magician who delivered a letter from Ilarion to Abel.
Although she joined the investigation team as a Magician associated with the Court Magic Group, Natalie, who was still a minor, often assisted in the analysis … and was mainly tasked to write the data read aloud on paper.
On this day as well, the incident occurred while she was performing that task.
"Eh?"
It was not a loud voice.
However, Natalie heard it because she was listening intently for data that would be read aloud.
"The detector has disappeared …"
The term 『Detector』 used in that tent referred to the 『Residual magic detector』 that the team diving in the dungeon used.
Using the Wind-Attribute magic
That detector disappeared?
"The response disappeared for an instant … The 40th floor? Eh? Why in such a place … Eh, the response disappeared again."
At that moment, they heard a conspicuous voice spread out from outside the tent.
If they recalled correctly, the investigation team from the Magic University should be trying to dive into the dungeon at that moment …
"Hurry up and let the guild know."
That voice was the voice of Professor Christopher of the Magic University.
While giving instructions, the owner of that voice approached the tent where Natalie was.
Then, he opened the entrance and came in and said.
"I'm Christopher from the Magic University. Who is currently responsible here?"
"Yes, I am."
Roche, the man who was looking for the response from the detector since just now, raised his hand.
"Okay. I ask this as an executive of the research team and as one who has been delegated full authority by His Majesty the King. Did something go wrong in the dungeon earlier?"
"We-well …"
As expected, it was very difficult to answer.
Certainly, they were dispatched as one 『Academic research team』, but the investigation was clearly conducted separately by their organization of origin.
Even though he was an executive of the research team, they weren't sure if it would be okay to answer his command?
"I understand your position. First, I'll relay the information I have. Just minutes ago, people within the dungeon disappeared."
"Eh!?"
Roche's eyes were wide with astonishment.
The detector he was looking at also disappeared.
It was more likely that something happened to the people who used it than to think that only the detector had disappeared.
"With that expression, I can confirm that the disappearance was detected here as well."
"Yes …"
At this point, they could no longer afford to hide the information.
Roche also felt that something had happened in the dungeon.
"Was the Court Magic Group team on the tenth floor?"
Professor Christopher's question was just a confirmation. His spy network reported that the Court Magic Group team was on the tenth floor and the Kingdom Central University team was on the 11th floor.
"My Magic University was also involved in the production of the detector used by the Court Magic Group. That's why I also understand the function …"
He pressured them that there was no need to hide it and to answer honestly.
"It should send information all the time using Wind-Attribute Magic. Including location information. Did you get any reaction after the disappearance?"
"There was a response for an instant, but … it disappeared immediately and now we're disconnected."
"An instant? Where was the response from at that time?"
"The display was the 40th floor …"
"40th …"
As expected, Professor Christopher was stunned too.
Adventurers of the past had only reached the 38th floor.
Of course, that didn't mean that it was absolutely impossible to reach the 39th floor and below.
It was not impossible, but … in the first place, below the 30th floor, it was difficult to traverse even for a B-rank party.
The adventurers in the hands of Professor Christopher were 100 C-class adventurers … The disappearance of the Court Magic Group meant that the B-rank party 『Crimson Sword』 that accompanied him had also disappeared.
In that case, these 100 C-rank adventurers were currently the most powerful force in the City of Rune … but even then, it was unclear whether it was possible for them to reliably reach the 40th floor.
"For the time being, I have sent a messenger to the Adventurer's Guild. The Guild Master will come here soon, so please report what we discussed here to him as well."
"Yes, I understand."
Roche replied weakly.
Everyone there, including Professor Christopher, was overwhelmed by despair as to what to do next.
No, there was only one person who raised their face and started to move.
Natalie Schwarzkopf was the only person who left the tent and ran south on the main street.
-x-X-x-
The door was violently opened without knocking.
"Master, there's trouble."
The receptionist Nina had flown into the room.
When guild personnel, including Nina, entered the Guild Master's office without knocking, it signified that a really urgent and very troublesome matter had happened.
"Report."
However, it was important to calm down precisely during such situations.
That applied for both the Guild Master Hugh and the messenger.
Hugh urged her to continue with a slow and calm voice.
Nina took a deep breath and then reported.
"Something went wrong in the dungeon and the investigation teams have disappeared. Professor Christopher of the Magic University wants Guild Master to come to the dungeon entrance immediately."
"The investigation teams have disappeared …?"
Hugh was stunned for a moment at the unexpected report.
"I'll go right away. The staff will be on standby here. Have only the liaison personnel head to the dungeon branch office. Don't let the adventurers who are still in the guild know. If you have to say something, just tell them I will explain it later."
Then Hugh put on his cloak and left the office.
(What does he mean by they've disappeared, disappeared?. What the hell is … no, more importantly, Abel and his party should be inside too … after all … shit, the last time it was the sea now it's in the dungeon that he goes missing? … I hope we find them soon … I don't want to report that he went missing again …)
Hugh's heart was disturbed as he headed for the dungeon on a guild liaison horse.
Hugh's heart was still disturbed when he arrived at the tent of the guild branch office at the entrance to the dungeon.
However, after going through hundreds of battles, he had a technique to forcibly calm his mind.
After taking a deep breath and calming down, he entered the tent.
Inside the tent was Professor Christopher of the Magic University, Deputy Director of Research of the Court Magic Group, and a professor from the Kingdom Central University.
They were probably the highest-ranked person that could be contacted in each investigation team.
"Professor Christopher, please tell me the details."
Hugh first urged Professor Christopher to explain.
Professor Christopher's explanation was brief.
All the people in the dungeon disappeared at the same time.
Some disappeared in front of their eyes.
About 1,000 people from the Kingdom Central University, including President Clive, were on the 11th floor, and about fifty people from the Court Magic Group, including Advisor Arthur and the Crimson Sword, were on the tenth floor.
Also, the adventurers hired in the City of Rune were stationed from the entrance to the 11th floor to secure supply routes, but it seemed that they also disappeared.
However, to be exact, it was not known what happened to the people on the 11th floor.
It was confirmed that the members of the Court Magic Group on the tenth floor disappeared through the response from the magic tools they were using.
And that there was a response from that magic tool from the 40th floor for an instant.
"40th floor …"
Even Hugh had no choice but to be surprised at that.
Hugh also understood that the 100 C-rank adventurers there were almost the full force remaining in the City of Rune.
With that in mind, the 40th floor was a place that 『usually』 could never be reached.
Yes, usually.
"I heard reports that there were no monsters from the first floor to the tenth floor, but is that true?"
Yes, if there were no monsters below the 12th floor due to the influence of the Great Tidal Bore … it was not impossible to reach the 40th floor.
Maps of the 30th floor and below no longer remained in the Adventurer's guild, so it would take time to find the stairs leading to the lower floors, but he felt that it could be done using human wave tactics.
"Yes, that's true, so it is certainly possible that there are no monsters below the 12th floor."
Yes, it was a 『possibility』.
It may not be. However, there was a possibility.
"But the problem is that we have no idea why they disappeared. And the same thing might happen again, no, it is more likely that it will happen again. We don't know if the ones who were transported to the destination are even alive. I'm sorry, but in such an uncertain situation I can't command my subordinates to enter."
Professor Christopher said.
Hugh expected that he would say so.
If Hugh was in the same position, he would have made the same decision.
"Yes, I understand. I don't have the right to command people from Magic University. So what I want is to cancel the contract for the C-rank adventurers in this City of Rune that the Magic University hired."
"Well, that can't be helped. My Magic College will kindly cancel the contract with them."
"Thanks for the help."
With that said, Hugh bowed.
Abel didn't know what had happened.
At one moment, he felt a sensation of floating and was immediately struck by the feeling of being placed on the ground.
The next moment, the scenery in front of him had changed.
It was an endless meadow.
He was a little relieved to see that Rihya, Rin, and Warren were on his left and right.
In addition, he saw Arthur and the Royal Court Magic Group investigation team nearby.
"Rihya, Rin, Warren, are you okay?"
"Yes."
"Yeah."
Warren nodded.
"Arthur, are you okay on that side?"
Abel called out to Advisor Arthur, who was a short distance away.
"Yeah. It seems that the members of the Court Magic Group were also transported in the same manner."
Arthur looked around and replied.
"Transported?"
"It felt the same as the transfer I experienced in a dungeon in the Western Nations a long time ago. I don't know if we're on another floor in the dungeon or somewhere else … but I believe we were forcibly transported."
Arthur explained as he approached Abel.
Alongside him, the members of the surrounding Court Magic Group also naturally gathered.
In some hands were the residual magic detectors.
"Is the detector working properly?"
"Yes, it's working. I think it's probably sending information about this location to the analytical magic tools on the surface …"
"Then help might be coming!"
Rin exclaimed happily.
"Well … I wonder about that …"
Advisor Arthur looked skeptical.
"Is there something you're concerned about?"
"Yeah. This space. Rihya, does this space resemble something?"
When asked, the priest Rihya thought while looking up at the sky.
After thinking for a while, she thought of it.
"It is similar to a Sanctuary …"
Sanctuary is an 『Absolute defense』, said to be God's Miracle, that can only be used by higher-ranking priests.
Its defense has a tremendous effect that blocks all magical attacks and all physical attacks and is exactly what the name of God's Miracle deserves.
However, the fact that this location resembled a Sanctuary …
"In other words, we are trapped in some sort of barrier."
"That is very likely."
Rihya answered Abel's question.
"But it's so huge that we can't even tell where the boundaries of the barrier are."
At least, even Abel understood that they seemed to be trapped in a troublesome place.
For the time being, they had to investigate the surrounding situation.
"Rin, sorry but use
"All right~. Gather the heartbeat and existence of life and bring them to me,
The light of her Probe spread through the air.
"There are many reactions of creatures over there, at a distance of about 500 meters. About a thousand humans? And about fifty other creatures that I have never encountered before."
"A thousand humans …"
"Well, the most probable explanation would be that Clive and his team had also been transported too."
Advisor Arthur replied to Abel's mutter.
"It seems that the canary got caught and we didn't have time to escape. Sheesh … Well, I think we should head over there for the time being …"
"Well, there is no other way."
Thus, the Crimson Sword and the Court Magic Group investigation team began to walk in the direction where the Kingdom Central University investigation team was believed to have been transported to.