Chapter 87: Rescue Request

Even with the key in hand, I didn’t have the nerve to linger in that room. After checking a few noteworthy items, I headed back down to the guild’s first floor.

I was also worried about Senka-san, who had rushed off in such a hurry. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I found her and Chizuru-san clad in what looked like adventuring gear.

"Ayane, where are those two going?" I asked.

"It’s an A-rank dungeon," Ayane replied. "A capture team from another guild was decimated, and a rescue request just came in. A few people from Valsia are heading out now to help. I’m going, too."

"In that case... should I go as well? I am technically a member of this guild."

"I don't know..." Ayane looked at me with a conflicted expression. "It would be reassuring, but are you sure you’re up for it?"

Since she knew my "circumstances," she was likely trying to keep me from getting too involved with the other guild members. But if lives were on the line, I couldn’t just sit back and ignore it.

Besides, I might not know my way around yet, but if I use the power of my companions, we can move faster than any vehicle in this city.

"Senka-san, let me help," I said, stepping forward.

"What? But... Reima-kun, this is guild business."

"I’m a member here, aren't I? Then I should do my part. Besides, I have a Summoned Beast perfectly suited for transporting a group."

Senka-san hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Understood. Time is of the essence. We’ll take all the help we can get."

"Got it. [Summon]—Berg Fernir."

A large eagle materialized in the hall. His silver wings shimmered, and he seemed delighted to be called out after so long. However, he was naturally shy around strangers; the moment he saw the crowd, he scurried behind my back to hide.

"Um, are you sure about this, Reima-kun?" Senka-san asked, looking skeptical. "He’s big for an eagle, and he’s certainly cute, but he doesn't look like he can carry all of us."

"This is just his travel size. He’s massive in his true form. He’s incredibly fast, too—probably our best bet for getting there in time."

I figured showing them would be faster than explaining. I led the group outside and sent a mental command to Berg. He responded immediately, swelling until he was roughly fifteen meters long. To prove it was safe, I hopped onto his back first and beckoned the others to follow.

"Whoa, he’s huge... and he looks incredibly powerful," someone muttered.

"Where did you get a beast like this? You're a life-saver, Reima," Ayane said.

The four of them, Ayane included, climbed aboard without further complaint. They clearly trusted the "old me." Once I had the location and directions, I gave Berg the signal. My clever companion took to the skies and beat his wings toward our destination.

"Damn! This is fast! It’s like being on a jet!"

"He’s an eagle at heart, so speed is his specialty. And thanks to his abilities, it’s actually safer than a plane."

According to the original texts, his name meant "The One Who Stills the Wind." He could shield his passengers from the effects of high-speed air currents. It made the flight effortless; we felt no wind resistance, and his soft feathers provided a secure grip.

Berg had joined me early in my journey. He had always been my most precious companion for travel. Flying through the clouds with him brought back a wave of fond, distant memories.

"We’re over Akihabara. We’ll be landing shortly."

The request had come from a dungeon in Akihabara. Apparently, one survivor had managed to escape via teleportation and alerted the Dungeon Agency, who then contacted Valsia. I didn't fully understand how the guild system worked in this world yet, but I gathered that a guild boasting an S-Rank adventurer like Ayane and a master like Senka-san was a top-tier choice for high-stakes rescues.

"Thanks, Reima-kun. We’ve arrived. We’re heading in immediately—is everyone ready?"

We landed in front of a cave-type dungeon that looked like a jagged wound in the earth. I knew these places didn't disappear even after being cleared; monsters just kept spawning indefinitely. An A-rank dungeon like this was bound to be a nightmare.

Considering it had already wiped out one professional team, we needed all the firepower we could get.

"Thanks, Berg. I’ll make it up to you later. Return for now."

Berg didn't speak—he rarely took human form—but he gave a single, solemn nod before vanishing back into the [Soul World]. After he was gone, I asked Senka-san for a quick briefing. She mentioned the dungeon interior was cramped.

"Let me take the lead," I suggested.

"Wait, Reima-kun, aren't you a Summoner? You should stay in the back."

"No. I’m going to ride Sol—the wolf—and rush ahead. We don't know how long those people have been trapped. Every second counts."

"You’re right... but can I ride with you? If they’ve been decimated, I need to be at the front to provide healing."

"I think he'll allow it. But if we’re going to hurry, I’m going to have to get a little aggressive. Is that okay?"

"You aren't going to overstrain yourself, are you? Knowing your personality, I’ll stop you if you’re being reckless."

Her reaction confirms it again. The 'original' Reima was definitely a loose cannon. I’d gathered as much from the diary, but the fact that she was still this worried even after I’d "lost my memory" said everything.

"I’ll be fine. I’m not going to do anything stupid. Here goes. [Trial Summon]—Sol Skoll, Luna Managarm... and Balor Shamrock."

Sol appeared as usual, but beside him stood a woman. She had waist-length pink hair and black goat horns. She wore a revealing white outfit that vaguely resembled a nun's habit, and her eyes were covered by a tattered, reddish-black bandage. She looked slightly startled to be summoned.

I remembered her personality well—graceful, refined, and always composed. Although she was a "demon" in the original texts, she treated everyone with an equal, dispassionate distance. I figured she would be a reliable asset for a cooperative mission.

"Hey, Reima... are you sure about Balor? This feels like a bad idea," Sol muttered, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his fur.

I didn't understand why he sounded so nervous. I didn't have much time to wonder, either.

"Eh?"

By the time the word left my lips, Balor was already inches from my face. She moved with terrifying silence. Slowly, she parted her lips.

"Finally... you have finally summoned me, my Lord."

Her voice was like a silver bell—faint, yet vibrating with a lifetime of suppressed emotion. She was clearly overjoyed by our reunion. I opened my mouth to say something—anything—to acknowledge her, but she beat me to it.

"Ah... ahahaha! It’s really you! The real Master Reima! You’re the one I saw in my dreams—the one we thought of constantly, the one who never dies no matter how many times we trace your silhouette in our minds! This is for work, isn't it? I won't fail. I won't make a single mistake. Oh, how I’ve longed for this moment... Yes, yes... since you’ve called me, that means I should just kill everyone, right? Leave it to me. I shall curse, slaughter, and haunt every last one of your enemies until nothing remains!"

She traced the contour of my face with a finger, a deep, unsettling smile spreading across her lips. She spoke in a frantic rush, as if purging everything she’d held inside. The bandages over her eyes began to soak through with red tears. Her mana—thick with her dark authority—began to leak into the air, threatening to lash out at everything nearby.

Recognizing the danger of her power spiraling out of control, I acted quickly to calm her down.

"Listen, Balor. We’re short on time. I need your help."

"Ah... fufu. You’re calling my name again. My name... Yes, I understand. I, your humble Balor Shamrock, live only to obey your command."

"Good. I'm counting on you. Sol, can you carry us?"

"I mean, I can," Sol grumbled, "but you’d better grant me some resistance first. Balor’s 'Gaze' is a bit much to handle."

"Right, good point. Senka-san, Sol is going to shift into his wolf form. Please get on. He’s fast, so you’ll need to hold onto me."

Sol grew large enough to accommodate three riders. I climbed on and waited for Senka-san to settle behind me, while Balor took her position at the very front of our formation.

"Reima-kun..." Senka-san looked at the pink-haired demon with wide eyes. "We don't have time for a full explanation, so I’ll ask later. But I can trust her, right?"

"Yes. When it comes to fighting multiple enemies at once, there’s no one better than Balor."

With that, we charged into the fray. The other three followed behind on Luna’s back as we began our descent into the dungeon.