Chapter 189

189 – The Additional Investigators are a Black Sorcerer And…?

At the time I returned to my hometown, I temporarily gave the ring back to her Highness.

I did this because Milla works as the Vampire Queen of the third stratum.

No matter how good the Monsters in the Demon King Castle are, as more and more Clear videos appear in the world, it becomes easier to see how they can be Cleared. Of course, this only works if they are good enough, but there are many excellent Adventurers.

The third stratum is seen as the first wall of the Demon King Castle.

Because most of those that break through the second stratum are annihilated in the third stratum.

It would be very troubling if the Floor Boss of the third stratum was taken out.

But Milla has decided that she will follow me no matter what.

This is where the ring comes in.

The ring that can summon Contracts can actually retain the information of the last three owners.

Yes, this means that her Highness can use it too. She can call Contracts. Honestly, this shouldn’t even need to be mentioned because it belonged to her to begin with.

In addition, Milla is also a Contract of her Highness’s.

…Now that I think about it, she was the one who explained the order of Contracts to me in detail on the day I received the ring.

For some reason, she said in quite a panic “I am so sorry for telling you that you were my first when I was actually already experienced! I didn’t mean to lie to you…!” and apologized. This was about forming Contracts with the ring.

Milla was my first Contract, but she had already formed a Contract before with her Highness.

Hearing that, I just said “Oh, sure.” and accepted it.

Anyway, by temporarily returning the ring, we have established that she can summon us when a Floor Boss is required.

The next morning.

「Well then, shall we go?」

「O-oh, yes…!」

Milla was nervous.

For some reason, she had been practicing her greeting, mumbling “I apologize for coming to you empty-handed… but there just wasn’t enough time… I could only purchase a gift en route…”, and she hadn’t been able to calm down since last night.

We are to accompany the additional investigation team prepared by Fellow, so we didn’t have much prepared.

Those we are traveling with have prepared the necessities of travel, so Milla and I only carried luggage packed with clothes. I also decided to bring along my sword cane.

With this tool that compresses and purifies the Magical Energy that I flow into it, I can increase my magics’ effectiveness even though the incantation time will be longer.

「I’ll carry your bags.」

「My my… ufufu, then I shall take you up on that offer.」

I do not think of Milla as helpless and powerless. She is a Vampire, after all, which means her physical strength is well over my own.

Even so, it felt like something I should do.

Like when seeing a close friend carrying heavy luggage, it… just feels right to do.

Perhaps she thought the same, she relaxed a little and smiled.

When I held on to it, it was profoundly heavy.

「…It feels like there are more things in here than just clothes.」

「Indeed, all the essentials.」

…Well, I suppose there’s that too.

They say that they have prepared all the essentials, but there are things that you, yourself, prefer using or have things done, as well as many other… things that I don’t fully understand.

We left the apartment.

First off, I went to meet with Cashew and explained that I was going.

Her lonely-looking face was like a dagger to my heart, but she was still only eight years old, so there is no way that I can bring her along for a long journey such as this.

I’m sure her family is worried as well. The Elementary Level – Beginner’s Dungeon was in a nearby town and it was also Demon King Castle business, so it was fine, although I’m sure they were still a little worried. But this time is a personal trip back home.

I am also involved with a job with the Original Dungeon, but it has nothing to do with the Demon King Castle.

For now, Cashew will be her Highness’s temporary secretary and her salary will continue to be paid.

When I recall her gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, squeezing out a “H-have a pleasant journey…”, I swear on my heart of hearts to return as soon as possible.

「By the way, if I’m not mistaken, does Lem know the person who recommended you?」

「My previous party was pretty famous, so I’ve met quite a few people through that.」

Whenever we reached a new town, we usually greet that town’s most influential person.

As to which company it might be… try as I may, I honestly don’t remember a lot of them.

「So then, how about any woman you might know who is the type to rush to the scene herself?」

Milla, who is walking beside me, is all smiles, but her words were flat.

「Why a woman?」

「Call it intuition.」

「Intuition, huh?」

I think about it.

「Hmm… Ah, I think she’s that type of woman. Y’know, the one in the Raid Battle-」

While we were talking, our consciousness was drawn to something.

Just around the corner should be the gate that is serving as our rendezvous spot.

As we turned the corner, we stopped.

A crowd of people had formed.

There were quite a few people gathered in a spot that wouldn’t get in the way of people going in and out of that gate.

「Are you really doing this?」

Milla asks again.

「I’m fine, how about you, Milla?」

「Pay me no mind. Carmilla is the Floor Boss of a different stratum, and the one next to you is Milla.」

Milla tilts her neck slightly and smiles.

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At that instant, my heart skipped a beat at that captivating smile.

「How bittersweet.」

A Wizard appeared in front of us.

The flow of Magical Energy was too spontaneous, so I didn’t notice her approaching us with Wind Magic until she was nearby.

Instinctively, I cast Confusion, but it was Resisted, almost as if she knew it was coming.

「Wow, great reaction. I have no objections to such instantaneity, output, and Magical Energy manipulation.」

It was a suggestively dressed beauty.

You can see her voluptuous chest and nubile waist at a glance, with her attire that sticks tightly to her body shape.

She wore a pointy hat large enough to hide her face.

On the curved tip of her old staff was a red gemstone that fit into it.

「…」

Milla was surprised by her sudden appearance.

「Long time no see, Lem. It seems you have improved greatly since the last time we met. Isn’t that so?」

「Ahaha… It certainly has been a long time, Merlin.」

The Wizard of Foresight Merlin of the world’s 2nd ranked party.

All the members of the 2nd ranked party are known as irregular people.

Merlin is famous for being a Wizard who can use magic that is on par with Four Great Spirits contractors.

In a fight where they only used magic, she could go toe-to-toe with Aerial or Fenix.

She glances over at Milla.

「Well, well… it seems you have been blessed with a wonderful mate, Lem.」

「Lem, she is a good person. I can feel it.」

Despite Milla being fundamentally a prudent person, she tends to become lenient and judges a person as good when they have fulfilled a very specific condition.

「Fufufu, and she’s quite an interesting one as well. I do wish for us to be formally introduced, but let us go over there first. Actually, they’re about to do the unveiling.」

The Hero Show, the Tag Tournament, the Raid Battle.

Also, although his buy-out failed, the new games are still ongoing in the Dungeons’ Magical Energy space that he rents.

Today, with two large signs that read “Famous Adventurers participating in the Clear of an Original Dungeon!” and “Investigators will be chosen regardless of race!” he plans to garner the public’s attention.

The 2nd ranked party is no doubt famous, and I used to be a part of the 4th ranked party. With how I won the Tag Tournament after I withdrew from my party, it’s easy to attract the public’s attention.

And in my case, it involves my hometown. The tale of a young man rushing to save his hometown… is not only easy to understand but easy to empathize with.

「Fufufu, that man, Fellow was it? He is rather shady but his way of doing things is most interesting. As a Wizard, I’ve always wanted to have a nice, long chat with you. I look forward to it during our journey.」

「Right, I look forward to working with you.」

「It appears you were just in time. Your turn is coming up soon.」

The center of the crowd began with the camera. I could see the TV crew as well as the journalists in the crowd.

The general public must have wondered what was going on when they saw them and gathered around.

「Will you go? Or will you stay hidden? Don’t force yourself.」

If I tell them that I don’t want to show my face here, they will help me go to my hometown secretly.

「…No, I don’t mind.」

The trouble with Fellows’ approach is that he is not the only one who benefits from it.

By involving famous Adventurers, it is important that the existence of Original Dungeons spreads to the public. If things like how dangerous they can be becomes common knowledge, it will aid them the next time this occurs. It might reduce the number of people who get caught up in it unwittingly.

It’s not a bad idea to do it in a grand way in the first place, considering that we’re trying to show off to the government. Rather than reporting “We did our best!” it can be “An achievement the world will recognize!” and be judged better that way.

One of the goals this time is also to show off to the government that the Black Sorcerer Lem, who can use the power of a Majin’s horn, can contribute to the country.

「Well said! How about you, Miss Vampire?」

「Of course.」

「Splendid.」

Gently, I began to float. Not just me, but Milla too.

Along with Merlin, we approached that place.

Each member of the 2nd ranked party was already assembled there.

Seemingly acting as the presenter, the figure of the 3rd ranked party member, the Thousand Form Summoner Margret, could be seen.

That’s right, she is the daughter of a large corporation, an Adventurer, and a collector of Magic Tools.

She is most likely the person who recommended me.

When Margret leaves to do her job, the other members help out and some focus on their training.

I can see the figures of other people there, and not all of them were Normals, there were Demi-Human’s too.

「Oh my, it appears the final participant has arrived. The sudden appearance of the Original Dungeon near his dear hometown. The man who is standing up to save the hearts of each and every resident of his hometown who are growing anxious every day, the Black Sorcerer Lem.」

I landed gently.

All eyes and lenses were on me.

「And to his side is the lovely Vampire Milla, who will also be participating. Of course, it is impossible to challenge the likes of the Original Dungeon with beauty alone. Her abilities will be of great help to us.」

…This is where I have to say something.

I think about it a little, and open my mouth…

「It’s been a long time since I’ve been back home, and I have to admit that I would have liked to step on the grounds of my hometown for better reasons if I could. On top of not knowing what is happening with the Original Dungeon, the time until it naturally disappears is not fixed at all. In order to ensure the safety of the surrounding area, all of our investigators will work to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.」

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「Does this mean that you will be traversing the Dungeon?」

The sound of a male reporter asked.

In such a time, one must not waver.

「If the need arises.」

Thus, began my rather abnormal homecoming.