“……About the automaton, the Doll, did the homeroom teacher explain it to you?”
Just as I was about to descend the stairs with the Cypher, the teacher called out to me.
“I haven’t really received an explanation, but it seems like it listens to commands.”
“I see…… It seems like Iga no has been a bit lax this new year. The Doll can convert the miasma inside the labyrinth into energy, so it won’t completely stop functioning. However, it does require magical power for attacks. Can you use magic?”
“No, not at the moment…”
“I see. Then you’ll only be able to use regular ammo, but you can charge magical bullets by touching this loading port. There are various types of ammo, but… well, you won’t be able to use special ammo this time.”
“Got it. Thank you, Renjou-sensei.”
“…… You’re unusually pure-hearted for these times. Do your best even if you’re alone.”
It seems the teacher was concerned because I was going solo.
“Master, I am here, so we are two.”
“…… This Doll is a later model. When I was a student, they could only say simple words, but times have changed.”
Leaving Renjou-sensei, who was reminiscing about the past, behind, I entered the dungeon. As I descended the stairs, my vision was enveloped in true darkness, and then I found myself in a spacious cavern, unmistakably a labyrinth.
“Well then, let’s proceed with the proposed plan…… Ah, Fujwara-kun is still here.”
“You’re so slow. Knight-sama has already decided on the strategy, so just follow that.”
“I was talking with the teacher for a bit. What’s the plan?”
“Geez, sorry for being late……!”
“Alright, alright, since we’re not getting anywhere, Kayama-kun, you stay put.”
Kayama, who had a rough appearance and carried an axe, was being pacified by Nagakura, while Inosato, with a crossbow, was clicking his tongue. They might have been acquaintances from before, or perhaps these three just happened to get along well.
“As you can see, this place is a large cavern with multiple paths going in different directions. The difficulty of the labyrinth isn’t high from the start, so it’s more efficient to split up rather than move together.”
Hinata’s reasoning was sound. Although everything he said wasn’t necessarily true, given the assumptions involved.
(…… Hinata has already taken control of the class. He also seems very confident about conquering the dungeon……)
“Since Fujwara-kun agrees, let’s start the operation. Everyone, let’s meet safely outside.”
“Knight-sama, can we follow another group?”
“Sure, that’s fine. But if a large number of people concentrate on one direction, it might be inefficient. Let’s keep the groups to a maximum of two per direction.”
The group that proposed following Hinata was the girls’ group who lost in rock-paper-scissors and couldn’t team up with Hinata. In other words, Nanami-san would also be accompanying them.
“Himari and five girls together with Hinata-kun, he really is amazing……”
“Nanami-san got taken along. It’s just an accident, right?”
“Well, it is an accident. Anyone can see that this is the flow.”
(…… Is that so?)
Nanami-san glanced back and looked at me, showing a fork in the path in the same direction.
“If you go that way, the others won’t come back, you know? Looks like the consequences of getting cocky are catching up.”
I had expected Kayama to provoke me. I had also roughly guessed what he would say――but.
“…… What’s with that look…”
“This direction splits further ahead. I’m planning to take a different route from Hinata-kun’s group.”
“I-I see…”
“Eh, what’s wrong, Kayama-kun? Why are you scared of the luggage carrier?”
“I-I’m not scared. Damn it…… Monsters or whatever, come out. I’ll smash them.”
Other groups also started moving, but as per Hinata’s instructions, no more than two groups would head in any single direction. The coordination was so tight that even when Hinata’s attention wasn’t on them, they followed his orders.
(Well, in my case, I’m solo anyway…… As expected, no other groups are coming this way.)
“Master, command please.”
“Alright, let’s go. Can we proceed smoothly in this terrain?”
“I have ‘Levitation’ as a trait. No problem, no issue.”
The vocabulary of the creator might be reflected in this――in my current state of anxiety, the Cypher’s response was a relief.
