kscans

Chapter 13 - Chapter 13

For my part, I was ready to challenge a Grade 2 dungeon immediately. But Todo-san said there was someone he wanted me to meet first, and I was taken to a certain place.

"Th, this place is..."

When I stepped out of the limousine, I was in front of a skyscraper. It was a building I had seen on TV. The Shinonome Zaibatsu headquarters.

"Lady Rena's father, Shinonome Nobutaka-sama, is waiting for you here."

Rena's father. That means he's one of the heads of Japan's four great zaibatsu. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was getting nervous. Normally, someone like me would never meet a person like him.

I wonder what he's like.

Guided by Todo-san, I went up to the top floor of the massive building.

"Please proceed to the room at the end of the hall."

After getting off the elevator, I was instructed to head to a room at the end of a long corridor. It seemed Todo-san would be waiting here.

A mysterious sense of tension was rising. I wonder... is this what it feels like to go and ask a father for his daughter's hand in marriage? I had no such intentions at all, though.

I opened the door at the end of the hall. Inside was a desk, and a sofa and table set, likely for guests. It was a very simple and spacious room with only those things. Behind the desk, there were no walls or window frames, just a solid pane of glass.

The man who had been looking down at the desk noticed me enter and looked my way.

Come to think of it, I forgot to knock. He's a very important person, I wonder if he'll be angry.

"Ah, thank you for coming. You must be Hayate-kun."

The man stood up and approached me.

"Yes. I'm Shizukuishi Hayate."

"I apologize for summoning you so suddenly. I am Shinonome Nobutaka. I would have preferred to come see you myself, but my position does not allow me to move around freely. Have you heard about Rena from Todo?"

So this was Rena's father. He seemed kinder than I had imagined.

"Yes. I have. I will do my best to rescue her as quickly as possible."

"I am truly grateful that you would do so. But you have only just finished clearing one dungeon. I would like you to sleep for a night and tackle the clear of this Grade 2 dungeon in peak condition."

I had expected him to say something like, 'My daughter has been kidnapped, so go rescue her at once. I'll pay you whatever it takes.' I was a little surprised to hear him express concern for my well-being.

"Um, is that alright with you?"

"Hayate-kun, you are about the same age as Rena. Just asking you to risk your life for a rescue is unthinkable in the first place. However... we were powerless to do anything."

The Shinonome Group, which also handles the development and manufacturing of weapons for the Self-Defense Forces, has maintained a private army, which was permitted with certain restrictions in Japan about ten years ago.

The Shinonome Zaibatsu's private army is said to be the strongest fighting force in Japan, second only to the Self-Defense Forces. They attempted to clear the Black Dungeon equipped with the latest weaponry, but they were unable to get past the 8th floor.

A separate unit tried to attack the Spring Dungeon from the outside and infiltrate from the top, but that also ended in failure.

"From the moment I learned my daughter was abducted by a being calling itself a Goddess, I did everything I could. I even asked for help from my rivals. Still, no matter what I tried, it was no use. In the midst of that, the state-of-the-art AI we use to decide our company's business strategy advised me to rely on you."

Shinonome-san showed me a video on his smartphone.

It was the same one Todo-san had shown me. The video of me defeating the Stone Dragon with a spinning slash from above.

"When I saw this, honestly, I thought it was superhuman. But dungeons have appeared in the world, and monsters roam within them. Materials that shouldn't exist in this world can be obtained from them. In that case, I suppose that eventually, much of humanity will adapt to this abnormal environment and become capable of doing the same things you do."

"I think that hypothesis is probably correct."

I was able to master the Manipulator quickly, which is why I cleared the Black Dungeon faster than anyone in the world. But other combat classes have equipment that assists with physical abilities too.

"Be that as it may, you are the only one who can do this at present. An AI predicted that you, Hayate-kun, who could move like this only a few hours after the dungeons appeared, would grow stronger quickly from now on. That is why I want you to let me rely on you."

Shinonome-san bowed his head deeply.

"P, please raise your head. I've played with Rena-san in the game before. I want to save her too, so..."

"Is that a strong enough reason for you to risk your life? You must have heard that if you receive a fatal wound in a dungeon, you will never regain consciousness."

"Yes. I've heard."

"And it's not as if you are in love with my daughter, is it? The SPs assigned to her have reported that it was more a case of Rena involving herself with you, Hayate-kun."

Ah, I see. So that's why Shinonome-san doesn't think I'm after his daughter. That's a relief.

If he thought I had ulterior motives, it would be harder to go save her.

In that case, maybe I should be honest about my own motives. That should put Shinonome-san more at ease.

"I love the four-sword style."

"...Hm? W, why are you bringing that up now?"

"The thrill of the speed when I defeat enemies with a flurry of strikes from four swords is exhilarating. The sense of versatility, being able to attack and defend at the same time. And the overwhelming number of attacks is the best. I believe the four-sword style is the strongest!"

"I, I see. I fully understand that you like the four-sword style. Now, please tell me how that relates to Rena."

Oops, I got a little too heated.

"I'm sorry. But until just a little while ago, I was in despair, thinking I might not be able to use my beloved four-sword style anymore."

"Ah, the matter of the Manipulator being discontinued. Actually, my daughter asked me if there was anything I could do. But the parent company that runs FWO is not a Japanese corporation, and it has no business dealings with the Shinonome Group whatsoever. I told her there was nothing I could do."

Could it be that Rena tried to do something for my sake?

...No, that's probably not it.

There must be another reason. I shouldn't get ahead of myself.

I'll continue my story.

"The ray of hope that appeared to me in my despair was the dungeons that appeared in this world. I don't care why the dungeons appeared, or about the existence of a Goddess. I just want to use the four-sword style. I want to get stronger and stronger equipment, and go on a rampage with four swords. That is my purpose for clearing dungeons."

"So, you're saying you'll save Rena along the way?"

"If I were to put it bluntly, yes. Even if I hadn't received any support from you, Shinonome-san, I would still challenge the dungeons. Since you are offering your support, I promise to ignore all the items I could otherwise collect along the way and head for Rena-san's rescue by the shortest possible route."

Did I overdo it? I might have gone too far in my attempt to show that I'm going to save Rena, but I'm not interested in her as a girl. As a father, he might be offended.

"I like it! We have a deal!!"

He forcefully extended his hand, and I instinctively shook it.

"If you had said it was because you had romantic feelings for my daughter, I would never have relied on you, Hayate-kun."

Shinonome-san showed me the video again.

It was a continuation of the video Todo-san had shown me.

[If you wish to reclaim Shinonome Rena, then clear the Spring Dungeon. I will be waiting.]

'Give my lady back!!'

The maid who was there shouted.

[One thing, I neglected to explain. The trophy, Shinonome Rena, will become the property of the one who first clears the Spring Dungeon.]

'...What.'

[The first clearer. In other words, if Rena's owner wishes it, her personality will be erased. Then, a personality of the owner's choosing can be implanted. Shinonome Rena is popular with many people, and she has good looks. There must be many men who would like to do as they please with Rena, wouldn't you say.]

'Th, that can't be...'

[If you wish to prevent that from happening, then those close to Shinonome Rena must do everything in their power to be the first to clear the Spring Dungeon. Note, this information will be broadcast to the entire world three days from now. Well then.]

With that, the video truly seemed to be over.

"I showed this to you because it is you, Hayate-kun. I want you to promise you will never speak of this to anyone else."

I felt a strong pressure from him, as if he was saying that if I were to post about this on social media, the Shinonome Group would use its full power to erase me from this world.

"I, I promise I will absolutely never speak of it."

"Very well. If you bring my daughter back safely, I will give you any reward you desire. Furthermore, I swear that the Shinonome Group will back you up with all its might so that you can continue to dominate with your four-sword style in the future."

"Understood. In that case, I will be the one to rescue Rena-san."

When the Grade 3 dungeon was released in FWO, it took even the fastest players a week to clear it. But that was because they had no information or support.

Now, I have the knowledge. I have support with funds and material gathering.

Before all those guys aiming for Rena can rush in, I'll clear the Spring Dungeon myself!