――Just after Tsukasa and the others entered Dungeon No. 2.
Ryudo Hinata, along with Hitomi Iwakiri and three attendants, stood before Takaoomi Renjou, the instructor.
“To think you could even control a teacher from the academy like this… I almost want you to teach me that skill.”
“It’s a skill used by the people under the Hinata family. Renjou-sensei, Tsukasa Fujiwara and his group did enter the dungeon, right?”
“Yes… just a short while ago, they went in. The transfer phase should shift in a few minutes.”
Despite being information he normally shouldn’t divulge, Renjou-sensei revealed it to Ryudo and his group.
“With that special pendant, you can make anyone obey you except the headmaster, right?”
“You can’t order things related to someone’s dignity or life. But for entering restricted areas like this, it’s useful… Now then, let’s go before the phase shift occurs.”
“I’ll take the lead. I’ve been assigned as your bodyguard, after all.”
“I value your skills, but it annoys me that the old man thinks you’re stronger than me.”
“…We could fight here, but now’s not the time. Please don’t be too reckless.”
Ryudo gave a faint smile in response to Iwakiri’s sarcasm and began descending the stairs leading to the dungeon.
――On their way down, they heard “the same voice.”
“――Uninvited ones. Reach that land and face punishment.”
“What was that… is someone there? Was it Tsukasa’s group who went in ahead… No, that’s not it…”
No one responded to Ryudo’s question. The transfer had already begun――and then.
“…This place… is this really Dungeon No. 2?”
The walls emitted a dull red glow and pulsed. What was supposed to be the first floor of a simple cave-like Dungeon No. 2 looked entirely different.
“T-This… a transfer accident…!”
“Shh… That can’t be. This is supposed to be Dungeon No. 2, and at Level 5, it should be relatively safe.”
“…Everyone, please keep quiet. Let’s hear Lord Ryudo’s thoughts on the matter.”
At Iwakiri’s command, the attendants fell silent. Ryudo, surveying the area, turned back――with a pleased smile on his face.
“So that’s how it is… Tsukasa Fujiwara, it seems he needs to be brought under the Hinata family as well.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying that his actions are related to us being transferred here?”
“That’s the only conclusion. He somehow knows when the transfer phase is abnormal. He’s been using that to enter unexplored areas of the dungeon and reaping the rewards. That monster he killed, Kaito—that was also a result of an unexplored area’s bounty.”
“…It’s too early to say for sure. But if we transferred here after following them into the dungeon, that means they should be nearby. What should we do?”
“Yet, there’s no trace of them around. It’s just speculation, but Tsukasa likely has the ability to enter unexplored areas but can’t control ‘where’ the transfer takes him. But that works to our advantage.”
Ryudo spoke passionately as if giving a speech, and his words roused the three frightened attendants, bringing back their energy.
“As expected of Lord Ryudo… You see through everything.”
“Indeed, following Lord Ryudo was never a mistake. I always believed that!”
“Ah yes, the Hinata family’s abilities are terrifying.”
Iwakiri shrugged, looking at the attendants in disbelief, and then whispered into Ryudo’s ear.
“Well, that ability doesn’t work on people who are stronger than you, though.”
“Hmph… If you know that, then make sure I don’t surpass you.”
“Oh my, how scary~. But I really am expecting great things from you. After all, it’s no fun not riding the winning horse.”
“…Wait. There’s something over there…”
In the crimson, pulsating cave, what appeared from the darkness was――a purple slime creature.
“A Balun… No, that’s odd. There should only be green ones in this dungeon…”
“――Lord Ryudo!”
Iwakiri moved swiftly, pushing Ryudo out of the way as an invisible force passed by where they had been standing and crashed into the rock wall ahead.
Lying on the ground, Ryudo watched the spiral-shaped gouge in the rock wall, cold sweat running down his forehead. But soon, the sharp light returned to his eyes.
“Scatter! You can’t see that attack, but if it hits, you’re dead!”
“Yes, sir!”
“That purple Balun… It looks similar to the one Tsukasa Fujiwara fought in the video. To think we’d run into it here.”
“Why is such a monster roaming around… Is this what the unexplored area is like…? Perfect!”
Ryudo stood up and drew the saber from his waist. Iwakiri also unsheathed a long Japanese sword.
“Don’t approach it. Support me from here!”
“Yes, sir! ‘Thunder Shot!’”
“‘Quick Strafe!’”
“‘Wind Demon Shuriken!’”
The three attendants launched their attacks――but the space around the purple Balun distorted, causing all of the attacks to disappear.
“Uwooooah!”
Ryudo charged in, unleashing a slash, leaving a trail in the air with his magically enhanced blade. But that too was blocked by the spatial distortion.
“――‘Hayate Slash’!”
Iwakiri, who had been closing in from behind Ryudo, struck with a slash immediately afterward――this one connected, sending the creature’s liquid body splattering.
Approaching the still-moving Balun, Iwakiri stomped on it hard, then sheathed her sword and turned around.
“The Balun’s defense skill can’t be used continuously. You noticed that well.”
“…Skills tend to have limitations. If it hadn’t worked, we’d have been the ones reduced to rags.”
“You say that, but you never had any doubts… Still, for such a strong monster, there’s no reward for defeating it.”
As Iwakiri moved to check the creature again, she noticed something strange.
――She realized it too late.
A “stagnation” suddenly appeared on the ground, and a hand emerged, grabbing Iwakiri’s leg.
“What… no… no way… you… damn you…!”
Iwakiri was dragged into the ground. Even Ryudo and his group, experienced dungeon explorers, found the sight so bizarre they were left speechless.
After Iwakiri vanished, an eerie silence followed.
“Iwakiri…”
“W-Wahh…! Iwakiri-san…!”
“Lord Ryudo, this place is dangerous! We should use the ‘Scroll’ right away… Kyaa!”
Ryudo slapped the attendant who had tried to use the escape scroll, picked up the fallen scroll, and glared at the three.
“…Are you telling me to abandon Iwakiri? This is an opportunity… We’ve already taken down one of the monsters Tsukasa defeated. That means we can handle another one too.”
“But, but…”
“The rewards waiting ahead are immense… Follow me, and I’ll give you all generous rewards. I might even make you my direct subordinates when I become the head.”
At Ryudo’s words, one of the attendants swallowed hard.
None of them realized at that moment.
From the instant they stepped into this pulsating red abyss, they had begun to lose their sanity.
