kscans

Chapter 223 - A Fated Connection Revealed

Most of the B-Rank adventurers were an eccentric bunch, but perhaps many of them were serious at their core. Or maybe it was because of the three figures glaring at them from the back seats, which had become their regular spots. In any case, the briefing proceeded in an orderly fashion.

"As you can see, promotion to A-Rank comes with a variety of benefits—"

To summarize the distributed materials and Director Akasaka's words, the merits of becoming an A-Rank adventurer were as follows:

After reaching the age of 65, upon application, one can receive a welfare pension equivalent to that of an average national public servant for that year.

When using public transportation such as trains and buses for adventurer-related travel, a portion of the cost will be covered by the state upon submission of an adventurer's license and the necessary documents.

If injured during adventurer duties, the state will pay for 30% of treatment and hospitalization costs, separate from existing insurance.

For monthly adventurer activities, if one ventures into C-Rank to A-Rank dungeons three or more times in a single month and culls a total of 60 or more monsters, a supplementary reward of 500,000 yen will be provided upon application.

That was the gist of it.

Personally, it seemed like an incredible deal. Was it really okay to be treated this well?

However, after looking at the detailed figures, Erina-san's eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. Something might be off.

Just as I thought that, a question from another participant made me realize why she was frowning.

"Hey, you got a minute, Akasaka-san?"

"Yes. What is it?"

The one who raised his hand and stood up was a shirtless dwarven man with butterfly wings on his back. According to him, these rewards seemed pretty cheap compared to the Self-Defense Force's ammunition consumption and personnel costs in high-rank dungeons.

He immediately began negotiating, demanding the supplementary reward be increased fivefold—no, tenfold. Director Akasaka responded to him with a smile.

...To be honest, I completely lost track of what they were saying midway through.

A flurry of foreign jargon flew back and forth between the two, and I couldn't understand even half of it. I wish they'd at least stick to Japanese.

...No, my bad. Even in Japanese, the terminology was so specialized it was all Greek to me.

I wish they would dumb it down to a level an average high school boy could understand. Glancing around discreetly, I saw that many others seemed to be just as lost as I was.

Erina-san wore her usual smile, so she probably understood. Mia-san had a difficult expression and was breaking out in a cold sweat, so she was likely on the verge of either keeping up or falling behind.

Among the others, the Stars and Stripes Boomerang Man and the old man in the loincloth seemed remarkably calm. Other than them, maybe the SM-style master-and-servant duo and the person in the white mask. Those were the only ones who looked like they knew what was going on.

...I see. So I have less knowledge of the real world than those people.

I could almost cry.

Just as tears started welling up in the corners of my eyes, the two of them finally seemed to reach an agreement. The Butterfly Dwarf sat down, satisfied, while Director Akasaka smiled quietly.

From what I caught of the end, though, all he said was, "We will consider it positively." Is that really enough? I have no idea.

I'm sure Aira-san is sporting a slightly annoying, smug look on the other end of our telepathic link, so I'll just ask her for a summary later.

And so, we heard about the merits, but it's only natural that rights come bundled with responsibilities.

The various restrictions that would come with a promotion to A-Rank were as follows:

Accept a culling request from one's registered municipality or prefecture at least twice every three months, eliminating a total of 40 or more monsters. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of 300,000 yen paid to the resident municipality.

In the event of a monster stampede, one must act in accordance with directives from the municipality and prefecture. However, if one's own survival is at risk, a retreat is permissible at one's own discretion. When retreating, the official in charge of the relevant district must be notified.

If no adventurer activity is recognized for a period of one year or more, and there is no unavoidable reason for this, one will be demoted to B-Rank.

That about covered it.

Frankly, the restrictions were lighter than I'd expected. I thought we'd be formally placed under the command of the SDF or the police, but it seems that won't be the case.

I breathed a sigh of relief, but I still hadn't given my 'answer' yet.

I attended this briefing today so I'd be prepared to make any choice. I need to think more seriously about my future.

But after the verbal sparring match between Director Akasaka and the Butterfly Dwarf, my brain wasn't working properly.

I'm resistant to physical fatigue, but those kinds of mind-bending conversations are just too much for me.

The string of complicated talk had left the air in the room feeling a bit stale. Sensing this, Director Akasaka announced we would take a ten-minute break.

As he left the room, the adventurers began to murmur amongst themselves.

Following their example, I immediately turned to Erina-san and the others.

"Um... honestly, what do you think? I don't feel like I understood even half of that."

"Basically, it was a ninja village dick-measuring contest!"

"Sorry, could you use human words, please?"

"Ninjas are the universal language of humanity, you know?"

What world's humanity is she talking about?

...Now that the existence of parallel worlds has been proven, I'm scared I might actually find one if I looked.

'If you ask me, the benefits are slim for most B-Rank adventurers. Of course, the demerits are slim, too. Also, that dwarf is likely a plant. Be careful.'

"What? But they were practically throwing verbal punches at each other."

'It was too obvious. Nine times out of ten, it was just a staged performance. The goal was to have him speak up before the other adventurers could voice their complaints, then spew a bunch of useless jargon to make everyone think, 'Wow, what an amazing negotiation!''

"Seriously?"

"As expected of my sister. I felt something was off, but..."

'Hmph. That kind of wordplay, one step short of a scam, is my specialty! I hone it every day and night against Grandma!'

"You're on a massive losing streak, aren't you?"

"As expected of my sister. You can always count on her for a punchline."

'I don't think an Awakened Person needs a day off from drinking...'

"By the way, I help out sometimes too! It looks like fun! A bit of family bonding, you know!"

"I see."

That poor professor... I should buy her some relaxing aromatherapy oils as a souvenir from Tokyo.

'Well, there's no proof about that matter, and it's a fact that Japan is broke. You can't get blood from a stone. More importantly, the drop items from A-Rank dungeons are the greatest merit. You can consider everything else trivial.'

"I guess..."

Personally, I'm more concerned about the pension... If I graduate and get a normal job, can I get this on top of that...?

Thinking that, I looked down at the documents again and saw some tiny text: 'However, for those with long lifespans due to elven, dwarven, or other lineage, or due to skills, judgment will be based on physical age.'

So... so cheap...! I mean, I have no idea how my skills will affect that, but still...!

"But, what do you all think I should do? I mean, I haven't even decided if I'll continue being an adventurer, and I know I shouldn't decide something like this based solely on others' opinions... but, you know, just for reference."

'You're really hedging your bets there. Don't worry, I won't look down on you for such a small SOS. I'll just gloat about it with a smug face later.'

"Don-doko-doko-doko, do-yaaa, do-yaaa...!"

"So... annoying."

'Anyway, about my opinion... To be honest, I don't think the obligations will change much for you guys, will they?'

"You think so?"

'Yup. First, the culling requests from the prefecture or city. The unpopular, high-rank dungeons are usually handled by the SDF. I'm looking at Erina-kun's documents through the mirror right now, and it seems that won't change.'

I noticed Erina-san had placed a mirror on the desk, hidden behind the document she was holding. When did she do that...?

'Therefore, you'll probably be assigned places you can clear with one hand tied behind your back. If you get a dungeon that's too much of a pain, just solve it with money. You all go to dungeons frequently anyway. Just pay the penalty out of your supplementary rewards. The city will just hire another adventurer with that money.'

"...If there are performance reviews or something, that would probably have a huge impact."

'If they were going to penalize you for something like that, they wouldn't have proposed this 'A-Rank adventurer' thing in the first place.'

"That's true."

'And in the event of a stampede. This will also be business as usual for you guys, given your personalities. If it's an opponent you can safely demolish, you'll help people. If it seems impossible, you'll run.'

I gave a small nod at Aira-san's words.

If it were a superior opponent, that would be one thing, but if I can help people with a reasonable degree of safety, I want to. I wouldn't be able to sleep well otherwise.

'And the third one is also a non-issue for you guys. To begin with, there probably isn't a single adventurer called to this place who doesn't go to dungeons frequently. All of these restrictions are, I have to say, pretty lax.'

"I see..."

'But.'

Just as I nodded at her words, a hard voice echoed in my ear.

'That's what makes it so unsettling. If these are the only obligations, why did they suddenly bring up this 'A-Rank adventurer' thing now?'

"Is it... because of the SDF's manpower shortage?"

'Of course, that's likely part of it. But it's the timing. The timing is strange, Kyouta-kun. Between the official introduction of B-Rank adventurers and this briefing, a huge incident occurred. And you were all present for it, weren't you?'

"...Yeah."

There's no way I could forget. It's the reason I'm hesitating like this, standing at a crossroads.

'The 'White Dragon and Red Dragon.' That's connected to this sudden introduction. And the 'SDF's Otherworld Dispatch,' too. The briefing is still going, right? In that case, you should assume the second half is the main event.'

"Right."

"But hey, senpai,"

Erina-san asked in her usual elusive, laid-back manner.

"Do you honestly think the SDF dispatch is possible? That rebellion in China... they managed to prove Japanese organizations weren't involved, but internationally, we're hanging on by a thread, right? And we're still geographical neighbors, no matter what."

The rebellion in China that Erina-san mentioned still hasn't been resolved.

Half of the key figures from the previous regime are missing. The other half... well, let's just say 'the square turned red.'

Those who claimed to be remnants of `Turohorse` were proven to have no connection to that organization by Director Akasaka's pet trio. However, they were still Awakened Persons.

The perception of Awakened Persons as a danger is growing by the day overseas. I hear there are daily debates in the UN about placing them under strict control as a countermeasure against terrorism and military use.

It seems a lot of different agendas are at play, and no clear conclusion has been reached yet. But with the incident in the Middle East, the situation probably isn't trending in a good direction.

Up to this point, the Japanese government has been heavily indebted to foreign countries for their help with dungeon-related damage. When it comes down to it, they won't be able to take a strong stance.

I guess that part is up to Yamashita-san...

Really, I don't know when the `Walkers` got so big. I even hear he's been summoned to the UN. I've really gotten myself involved with someone incredible.

Who knows, maybe in a hundred years, if Yamashita-san becomes the star of a historical drama, our names might show up, too. For about ten seconds.

But I digress. I need to bring my thoughts back to the matter at hand.

"The number of SDF members who can enter dungeons is limited, and I think organizing units will be a huge strain."

"Well, that's... yeah."

I managed to stop myself from saying what I was about to blurt out.

The number of SDF personnel who can enter dungeons and fight might be about to increase.

I remembered the project the professor brought me the other day, the one that would put the SDF, the Dungeon Agency, and the `Alchemy Enthusiasts Club` in our debt.

That basic golem theory. Could it be that its application is... for wearing?

Due to the NDA in our contract, I can't say a word, not even to them. Having stopped speaking so unnaturally, Erina-san and Mia-san were now staring at me.

"What's up, Kyouta-chan?"

"Uh... it's nothing."

"...Okay!"

"Understood."

Erina-san beamed a wide smile, and Mia-san nodded deeply.

...I'm really bad at lying, I realize.

'Well, let's leave leaky Kyouta-kun over there aside.'

"Who are you calling leaky?"

"Sister. Please don't say anything lewd right now."

"What did you say?"

'Oh my, is my sister this far gone...? Ahem! Uh, right. Anyway, a really intense discussion is coming up after the break. Be on your guard.'

"Got it. Thanks for everything."

'Don't mention it. We're friends, aren't we? My friend!'

"...Uh, yeah, sure."

'I won't let you escape. The moment you stop being my friend, I'll be back to having zero friends. Since Erina-kun and Mia are in the family category, I must avoid the risk of becoming a loner...!'

"Right."

'Next time, I'll send you an ASMR file to reconfirm that we're friends, so listen to it every night before you sleep, okay?♡'

"That sounds like a hypnosis file. Or brainwashing."

"Is it an erotic one...!?"

"Shut up, Disappointment Number Two."

"I am not a disappointment."

'I wasn't calling you Number One, you know?'

"Right, right, you're a ninja."

Just as we were having this idiotic conversation, the break seemed to be over.

Director Akasaka returned, accompanied by someone who looked like a subordinate, and they began placing parchment and pens on each participant's desk.

"Now, we will continue the briefing... but before we proceed, I must ask you to promise not to speak of what you are about to hear to anyone."

The parchment placed before me was inscribed with numerous magical restrictions.

It contained a considerable amount of mana. Even a B-Rank adventurer would not escape unscathed if they were to suffer the curse contained within.

Just one of these sheets must have cost a fortune. That's how important the topic at hand must be.

"I must also ask that you turn off any communication devices you have brought with you. This, of course, includes magical tools as well."

For a brief moment, his eyes glanced in my direction. Of course, he knows about the earring.

...I have no choice.

"Aira-san. Talk to you later."

'Right. If a split-second decision is needed, rely on Erina-kun.'

"I will."

I removed the earring and put it in my pocket. I could feel her mana receding from the mirror's surface.

"If you are unwilling to sign this contract, please consider the briefing concluded and feel free to leave. The information regarding whether or not you will become an A-Rank adventurer has already been covered. If you have any further questions, please ask them at a later date."

His powerful gaze caused another stir in the room.

Then, after about two people had left...

"We will now collect the contracts."

Only those who had signed remained.

"...Now then, allow me to continue."

With that, Director Akasaka nodded to his subordinate, and the room went dark.

A screen descended, and he stood beside it.

"What I am about to discuss... concerns a request I would like to make of you after you have become A-Rank adventurers."

And what was projected onto the screen was—

"A white... dragon...!!"

Who let those words slip? Or perhaps, several people had murmured it at nearly the same time.

It was a profile shot of a white dragon, taken from a distance. With its eyes closed and its head lowered within a chalk-white building, the sight was almost fantastical.

But for me, it was a scene that sent a cold sweat running down my back.

Next, the screen changed to show a red dragon. This one appeared to be inside a massive building adorned in black and gold. This dragon, too, had its head down and its eyes closed.

"These are the dragons that appeared after breaking through the dungeon's outer wall, filmed by the Self-Defense Force."

As my eyes widened, the explanation continued.

"To get straight to the point, we want you to fight and subjugate the white dragon we just showed you."

His words sent a ripple of commotion through the room.

"The Self-Defense Force will handle the red dragon. However, considering the matter of the 'Otherworld Dispatch,' our forces alone are insufficient. That said, there are circumstances that prevent us from simply leaving this dragon be."

Then, the screen changed again.

Projected was a passageway where the floor, walls, and ceiling were all pure white. Here and there stood pillars inlaid with blue and gold, their majesty palpable even through the screen.

But the scale was off. A striped pole fixed with a tripod in the image was labeled '2 meters.' Considering that, the height and width of this passage had to be nearly ten meters.

Other images showed草原-like scenery and white cityscapes, all of which were enormous.

"That dragon... a monster designated 'Guivre,' is an extremely dangerous entity."

Guivre... I think there was a dragon with that name in the Arthurian legends.

"These two dragons are... what you would call environment-invasion-type-monsters that 'rewrite' the very land they occupy."

"Environment... invasion-type...?"

The Stars and Stripes Boomerang Man in front of me muttered, sweat beading on his back.

"They rewrite even the land's leylines, transforming it into a state suitable for themselves. The experts have suggested they were likely created by the Atlantis Empire to establish bridgeheads in enemy territory."

It was an outrageous story, but when I recalled the sight of it seizing control of the dungeon, I had no choice but to nod.

This white space being projected was likely the result of Holophagus's dungeon being completely taken over. Not just the scenery, but the very size of the place was clearly different.

"If these dragons were to come outside, the damage would be immeasurable. And... while this information is not yet confirmed, they may very well connect a large number of 'other gates' to Japan."

Director Akasaka's words caused an even greater stir than before.

It was common knowledge that dungeons were gradually increasing in number. For the Director of the Dungeon Agency to say such a thing... it meant...

"We cannot let these two dragons run loose. If we do not defeat them, there will be no future for Japan... no, for the world."

The Guivre would invade enemy territory, convert it into its own, and from there connect to other dungeons—places like the Labyrinth of the Spartoi—to send in its forces all at once.

Perhaps such tactics were employed in the Atlantis Empire.

This was beyond just a nuisance.

"We in the government have a way to stop more dungeon gates from connecting to Japan. To do so, we must travel to the ruins of the Atlantis Empire."

Following that bombshell, no one could even speak.

I, too, swallowed unconsciously. Stop more dungeons from appearing in Japan? Really? A way to do that exists?

Did the government figure out the mechanism behind the gate appearances? How?

"After various calculations, we have concluded that we will not make it in time unless we deal with all of these issues concurrently."

Director Akasaka's gaze slowly swept over the adventurers in the room.

"After your promotion to A-Rank, we ask that you all work to improve your strength in dungeons throughout the country. Regarding anything that occurs during that process, we will turn a blind eye with all our might."

On that day, this briefing was concluded with those words of his... with this 'request.'

"Please... conquer this dungeon and slay the dragon that slumbers in its depths."

As we stared at Director Akasaka, who was bowing deeply...

Every single one of us was stunned into silence.