"—I see. So it really was you who healed me, Hinata-san! Thank you so much!!"
I knew I could count on you, Hinata-san!
I sat on the edge of the bed next to Hinata-san, thanking her after listening to her story. She gave a bashful, embarrassed smile.
"Hehe, you’re very welcome. But I’m just glad you’re better. If Extra Heal hadn't worked, there wouldn't have been anything more I could have done."
I’m seriously glad I’m cured...!
But Extra Heal, huh... In terms of HP recovery, it’s not actually that impressive. Or rather, it’s a spell I usually wouldn't have much reason to use.
After all, Hinata-san’s High Heal restores 300 HP for a cost of 5 MP. Extra Heal restores 900 HP for 15 MP. Given our current HP pools, Extra Heal is overkill, and its cost-performance is identical to High Heal. For everyday maintenance, High Heal provides more than enough recovery.
However, its physical restorative effects far exceed those of High Heal.
High Heal is an excellent spell that can mend deep lacerations or fractures, but it can’t regenerate internal organs that have been turned into a slurry.
But from now on, I can rest easy even if my guts get scrambled, because we have Extra Heal!
As expected of Hinata-san, she’s so reliable!
"Wait, if that’s the case, then why are we at the Headshot Yakuza’s house?"
If he didn't swoop in like a hero to save our lives in a moment of crisis, then why are we here?
I tilted my head in confusion, more puzzled than ever.
"Ah, u-um... right. I guess I should tell you the rest then?"
Hinata-san looked strangely awkward as she began to recount the rest of the story.
●◯●
"Phew, thank goodness... He’s properly healed...!"
Looking at Takeo’s wound-free body, Mashiro breathed a long sigh of relief.
"That’s amazing, Hinata-san... That’s the first time I’ve ever seen Extra Heal in person."
"Yeah, to think you could even fix a wound like that..."
"It’s insane."
"Indeed."
Teruya and the others voiced their admiration for Mashiro’s healing magic.
However, Mayuri pushed the conversation forward, as if to change a subject she found distasteful.
"Hey, hey! What are you guys loafing around for? This place still isn't safe, so let's pull out of here already!"
"Mayuri... well, you have a point."
"True, it might be safer to head back to the surface quickly. Too many irregular things have happened today."
"Aaah, but things are going to be such a pain even after we get back to the surface. How are we even going to explain what happened with Oishi and the others?"
"Indeed."
With that, Teruya and the others stood up to prepare for their return.
"I’ll go retrieve the drones~"
Ren Asuha headed from the boss room back toward the passage.
"I’ll check if there are any drop items, just in case."
Kurando Tamaki began searching for items.
"Hinata-san, I’ll carry Takeo-kun on my back."
"Ah, sorry. Ikegami-san, could you do that for me?"
"Yeah, leave it to me....Motosuke, could you carry my pack?"
"Got it."
Teruya handed his backpack to Motosuke so he could carry Takeo.
And then—Mayuri, who had been watching them with her arms crossed in a haughty manner—
"—!? Watch out, you guys!"
She suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Huh!?"
"What is it!?"
"Eh!? What’s wrong!?"
While shouting in confusion, everyone on the scene immediately entered a state of high alert.
Mayuri’s gaze was directed—past Takeo, who was lying on the ground.
Naturally, there was nothing and no one there.
But in the next instant, without a sound and without the slightest omen—a woman was suddenly standing there.
She wore a maid outfit that looked entirely out of place in a dungeon, her silver hair was gathered in a chignon, and her eyes were a piercing sky-blue. She possessed a perfect, doll-like beauty.
The woman who had appeared out of nowhere glanced at Mayuri with an amused expression.
"My, my... the Title of Barrier Master? I see. You seem quite excellent when it comes to spatial awareness."
"M-Mito-san...?"
Mashiro called out the name of the woman who had appeared.
"Mi—!?"
"For real!?"
With just those words, Teruya and the others realized who the person before them was—or rather, looking closely, they remembered her face from media reports.
The beautiful explorer known as the partner of Japan’s top explorer, the Headshot Yakuza—Mito.
Even for Mayuri’s party, who had already cleared Floor 12, she was a being far beyond their reach.
Confronted with such a legend, Teruya and the others froze. Their minds swirled with questions: How did she appear so suddenly? Were they just subjected to Appraisal? Was Hinata-san an acquaintance?
Meanwhile, Mito paid them no mind and looked down at Takeo, who was lying on the ground.
"Haa..."
She let out a weary sigh.
"To think he would actually release the Seal himself... I believe I told him that he would be subjected to disposal if the Seal was ever broken..."
"!? W-Wait, Mito-san!"
At Mito’s ominous word "disposal," Mashiro hurriedly spoke up.
However, Mito told Mashiro, "It’s all right."
"From the looks of it, Equanimity is functioning normally. There shouldn't be any issues....Well, he does need to be cautioned, so I’ll be taking Takeo Samejima with me for now... Hinata-san, will you come along as well?"
"Ah, if that’s the case... yes, I understand."
Realizing that Mito had no intention of killing Takeo, Mashiro nodded.
But there was one person here who couldn't stay silent.
"!? You! Where do you think you’re taking Leveling Junkie Bro-kun!?"
"Hey, idiot, stop it!"
"Mayuri, shut up!"
Terrified by her disrespectful behavior toward an overwhelmingly powerful individual, Teruya and the others tried to stop Mayuri. But it was too late.
Mayuri activated her magic and trapped Mito inside a barrier.
"Oh?"
"I’ll protect Leveling Junkie Bro-kun!"
"My, my."
"Just because you’re a Top Explorer doesn't mean you can just do whatever you wh-whaaaaa..."
"Mayuri!?"
A moment later, just as Mito seemed to vanish from inside the barrier, she reappeared behind Mayuri in an instant.
Immediately, the strength drained from Mayuri’s entire body, and she began to collapse—only for Mito to catch her from behind and slowly lay her on the ground.
"What did you do to Mayuri...?"
Teruya asked while remaining on guard. Mito answered with a smile.
"Do not worry. She was being quite noisy, so I simply put her to sleep with magic. It is not harmful to her body."
"I see..."
"By the way, I have a proposal for all of you."
"A proposal...?"
At Mito’s sudden words, Teruya listened, still very much on his guard.
Mito gave a meaningful "Ufufu" laugh.
"It is nothing major. It concerns the explanation of circumstances to the Association. How about you all coordinate your stories for this one?"
"...What do you mean? Or rather, do you know what happened here?"
"No, no, I do not know much."
"............"
Teruya was convinced that she knew everything. He sensed that they were being monitored somehow, though he didn't know the method.
(I’m curious about the method and the reason for the monitoring... but even if I ask, she probably won't answer.)
Teruya judged that he shouldn't needlessly provoke someone overwhelmingly stronger than himself.
"...What do you want us to do?"
Mito answered fluently.
"The death of a Special Crisis Case Explorer is something the Association will want to investigate in detail. Fortunately, however, this incident was not filmed or broadcast from the middle onward. Therefore, I would like you to report that after communications were cut, you were attacked by a large number of Metal Slimes. Despite everyone engaging in combat, Kaname Oishi’s party was unable to withstand the assault and was wiped out. Oh, that’s right—as for the reason the communications were cut, it would be less of a hassle to report that the Metal Slimes destroyed the drones, don't you think?"
"...What is the reason for falsifying the report?"
"It is for your sake, you know? Kaname Oishi and his group attacking you for the Metal Slime drops, or Oishi turning into a monster and attacking you... It would be easy to explain if there was video evidence, but I imagine it would be difficult to explain with only a verbal account, would it not? In fact, if you give a poor explanation, you might end up being suspected yourselves."
"............"
Certainly so, Teruya thought as he nodded inwardly.
In this incident, the part where Oishi and his group attacked them was one thing, but the latter half—where Oishi was absorbed by a Metal Slime—was far too absurd to explain. Even if they told the truth, it was doubtful whether they would be believed without evidence.
Furthermore, Oishi and his group were highly regarded by the Association. They were thought to be sincere and serious explorers. Even if they claimed that such people had suddenly attempted robbery and murder, it wasn't likely to be believed so easily.
In that case, it was better to fudge the truth as Mito suggested. Even so, the fact that only Oishi’s party was wiped out might lead to suspicion... but there was no evidence whatsoever. At worst, they would merely be suspected.
It was better to obscure the details than to explain everything with foolish honesty.
"—I understand. It’s convenient for us as well, so that’s how we’ll explain it. And... about not being able to retrieve Oishi’s body?"
"You can simply explain that the main body of the Metal Slime absorbed it. It is a Special Variant, after all. It would not be strange for it to have that level of ability."
"I see... Got it."
The main body of the Metal Slime... In short, they could explain it as being attacked by a swarm of Metaslas, meeting up with Takeo who was fighting the Metakin, and then fighting together.
Understanding this, Teruya nodded. With this, the discussion was over for the time being.
—Just then,
"Everyone, I found the drones! They were blown pretty far by the blast, so I had a really hard time finding them! And I picked up Hinata-san’s drone too while I was at—Mayuri!? What happened!? Eh!? I mean, who are you!?"
Ren returned to the boss room clutching two drones, only to be shocked by the sight of the unconscious Mayuri, and then shocked again to see Mito standing beside her.
Mito turned toward Ren. Seeing her face, Ren also seemed to realize who she was.
"Mi—!? M-M-M-Mito-san!!?"
Why was a Top Explorer like her here? As Ren’s face filled with such questions, Mito didn't answer, simply pointing her right hand toward him.
Immediately afterward.
Crr-crunch-snap!
The two drones Ren was holding spontaneously collapsed, as if crushed by the hand of an invisible giant.
"Uwahhhhh!!?"
Ren hurriedly threw the drones away. Then, as he tried to back away, he tripped and fell on his rear.
Ren looked up at Mito, who was pointing her palm toward him, with a face full of terror. He realized that the one who had just destroyed the drones was Mito, using magic or something similar.
"Ah, a-a-a-p-please stop... d-don't kill me...!"
Mito turned her gaze back from the pleading Ren to Teruya and nodded.
"Now the evidence is taken care of. Well then, we shall take our leave. Hinata-san, let us go."
"H-Ha, yes..."
With that, Mito approached Takeo, who was lying on the ground.
Teruya called out to her back.
"...Are you taking Takeo-kun and Hinata-san?"
"Yes, that’s right."
"...What about the Association?"
"You may report that I suddenly arrived and took them away, just as I did. I will also report to the Association through Obito-sama’s coordinator later, so do not worry."
"...I see. Understood."
Then Mito stood beside Takeo, told Hinata as she approached, "Let’s go," and activated her magic.
Teleportation.
Takeo and the others vanished from the Floor 10 boss room of the Minato Ward Dungeon without a trace.
●◯●
"—So, that’s what happened. Oh, and I contacted Urara-san by phone yesterday to let her know."
"I see....Didn't she ask how we got back without going through a Dungeon Gate?"
"No, she didn't....Urara-san gave off an aura like she really wanted to ask, but I think she was probably told by her superiors not to."
I see... Seriously, what kind of connection is there between Mito-san and the Association that she can put pressure on a coordinator who isn't even hers?
Well, it feels like Mito-san could even threaten the chairman of the Japan Explorer Association with violence... but I’ll try not to think about it. It’s kind of scary.
Anyway.
Now I’ve finished hearing the story from Hinata-san about how we ended up at the Headshot Yakuza’s house.
The only thing left is the reason Mito-san went out of her way to teleport us back, which must be...
"The reason Mito-san brought me to the Headshot Yakuza’s house was to keep an eye on me and see if I’d go on a rampage under the influence of Pleasure Killer, right?"
When I asked to confirm, Hinata-san shook her head.
"No, that’s not it."
What!? It’s not!!?
"Eh? Th-then why...?"
"Like I said, apparently it’s to give Takeo-kun a cautioning."
That kind of caution!?
I heard that Mito-san said "he needs to be cautioned," but she meant it in the sense of a scolding!?
I trembled with fear.
Being cautioned by Mito-san... what’s going to happen to me? I’m not going to die, am I?
"Oh, also, Obito-sama wants to—I mean, it seems like he has something to talk to us about."
"The Headshot Yakuza does?"
Snap! My posture straightened instantly.
Until just a moment ago, I was thinking about whether I could escape from here, but if the Headshot Yakuza is calling, that’s a different story.
I have to go.
"Understood. Hinata-san, let's go."
I stood up to head to the Headshot Yakuza’s side, and that’s when I noticed.
"Wait? Come to think of it, my clothes have changed..."
It was the same as last time, but these aren't the clothes I was wearing when we were exploring the dungeon. It’s a slightly oversized sweatshirt set.
Could this be the Headshot Yakuza’s pajamas? Sniff, sniff. It smells nice.
Getting more curious, I checked the underwear I was currently wearing....They aren't mine!! There's no way these are the Headshot Yakuza’s underpants, surely?
But last time, I was too busy apologizing to Hinata-san to even care, so who changed my clothes?
Could it be the Headshot Yakuza?...Blush.
Let me try asking.
"Hinata-san, who changed my clothes...?"
"............"
Hinata-san’s face was beet red.
Ah, yeah... So Hinata-san was the one who changed me.
"Sorry for the trouble, Hinata-san."
"N-No, it’s fine! Don't worry about it! I—I tried not to look as much as possible while wiping your body and changing you. Besides... i-it was cute..."
"!?!!?"
What exactly was cute!?
Could it be my "me"!? Did she witness my "me"!?
Well, I don’t really mind that, but as a man, I can't stand being told it was cute, Hinata-san!
This is a major problem concerning a man’s dignity!
"I-I can't let it slide that you called it cute, Hinata-san! You’d better not underestimate me...! When I’m serious... I’m incredible, you know!?"
"............"
With even her ears turning bright red, Hinata-san pitter-pattered toward the room’s door.
Though I hadn't intended it that way, I wondered if my last comment was sexual harassment... Just as I was about to apologize, Hinata-san opened the door, looked back at me, and said:
"I-It’s okay! I already know all about that too!"
Click.
With that, Hinata-san went out into the hallway.
"............"
Why do you know!?
What did you do to me, Hinata-sannnnnn!!?