The light inside the Cocoon appeared to have weakened slightly, but it seemed to be maintained without any problems.
โHmโฆ Blue?โ
โAre you referring to the Joker who sided with us, Blue?โ
โYeah, its eyes were glowing blue. Itโs stopped movingโฆ right?โ
The glow in its eyes had vanished, and there were no signs of movementโwas it alright to just leave it like this?
(โฆIf itโs in this inactive state, could I Compress it? Not that I have any particular use for it after taking it backโฆ but maybe studying it could reveal something?)
Next to Futaba-san, who was still asleep, the presumed Dungeonโs Avatar showed no signs of waking up. I removed my jacket and draped it over her, but explaining her presence when we return will be quite a hassle.
โMaster, what have you decided?โ
โโฆThis doll youโve been using as your external bodyโwould it be okay if we take it with us?โ
When I asked, it wasnโt the human-looking figure that reacted, but the cocoon. The light grew slightly brighter and then dimmed again. It wasnโt Morse code or anything like that, so I couldnโt understand the meaning, but it didnโt seem like a refusal either.
โWhy are you suddenly using formal language, Master? Is it because the Dungeon-san is such a charming lady that youโre holding back?โ
โItโs our first meeting, so I thought I should be politeโฆ Cipher, you sure hit some sharp points.โ
โโฆNow that I look closely after saying it myself, she really is beautiful. Though sheโs not an elf, her ears arenโt pointed.โ
Cipherโs camera lens whirred with curiosityโfilming her with just a jacket draped over her would be problematic, so Iโll have to make sure to delete the footage later.
Returning to the matter at hand, I raised my hand over Blue and attempted Compression. It worked without issue, and a chip materialized in my hand.
Chip Content: [Unidentified] Masked Doll
Chip Content: [Unidentified] Broken Scythe
โโฆThereโs been too much happening that we canโt reveal to the outside world. Cipher, about this footageโฆโ
โYes, Master. I will only compile the parts youโve authorized.โ
โThanks, that would help. Well then, letโs get goingโฆ up you go.โ
โHnghโฆโ
Carrying both of them at the same time meant hoisting one over each shoulder. Though the two unconscious figures stirred slightly, it was a relief that they werenโt completely unresponsive.
โโฆIs it alright to bring them along?โ
I directed the question towards the cocoon. The response was the same as before. I couldnโt figure out why it wasnโt communicating, but there was nothing more I could ask now.
Retracing our steps, I used the Flight orb. After a while, we made it back to the tenth floor.
โFujiwara-kunโฆ and Futaba-san, and Cipher tooโฆโ
โFutabaโฆ thank goodnessโฆ Tsukasa-kun, Iโll repay this kindness with everything I haveโฆ ahโฆโ
Nanami-san and Senior Haruka greeted us. However, they soon noticed the unfamiliar figure I was carrying and gave me puzzled looks.
โThis person was someone we encountered deep in the dungeon. Iโll explain more laterโฆ Cipherโs battery is low, please connect to the main unit.โ
Nanami-san took Cipherโs unit and connected it to the main device. The four who had collapsed were regaining consciousness, but none of them were in a condition to talk just yetโexcept for a person named Iwakiri.
โโฆWhy did you save us? Given that weโd entered a dungeon with entry restrictions, you had no obligation toโฆโ
โLetโs save the complicated explanations for later. Since the Scroll of Exit doesnโt work on this floor, weโll need to find another way to escape. Can you move?โ
โโฆMy clothesโฆโ
Iwakiri, who had been on guard against me like a hedgehog, gradually flushed and spoke in a faint voice.
โโฆSo Ryuudou Hinata was possessed by a monster called a Blood Lurker?โ
โI donโt know if thatโs its name, but it was a grotesque mass of flesh with tentacle-like appendages. As soon as I stepped onto a magic circle over there, it appeared. It felt like Iโd fallen into a pit of despair.โ
Iwakiri spoke with self-deprecation, but as she recalled the terror, she averted her gaze and hugged herself.
โโฆItโs over for us. Once this comes to light, weโll be punishedโฆ expelled from the academyโฆโ
โThere should have been teachers at the dungeonโs entrance. I still have questionsโwhy were you able to get in despite that? And what kind of family is the Hinata family? I have a lot to ask.โ
The other three looked at me anxiously, as if their lives were now in my hands. But I had no intention of taking advantage of them.
โIf I remain ignorant about the Hinata family, weโll end up one step behind again. Kaito, is there anyone else from the Hinata family at the academy besides Ryuudou? And what about the other Noble Houses? You can tell me whatever you know, whenever you feel comfortable.โ
โโฆEven if I had the chance, Fujiwara-kun, I might have attacked you. Iโm the kind of person who could do such a thing without hesitation. You shouldnโt trust meโฆโ
โThere may be risks, but if Iโm attacked, Iโll simply fight back.โ
โโฆ!โ
Iwakiri gasped. She was likely quite skilled, but as long as we were both students, I had no intention of losing easily.
Though Iโm not a combat specialist, Iโve proven in past expeditions that with the right preparation, I can fight adequately.
โโฆIt seems Iโve lost. Defeated without even fighting.โ
โIwakiri-san, for you to admit thatโฆ Ryuudou mustโve really shaken you.โ
โI underestimated him because I thought he was weaker than me. Iโll return to my roots and train againโฆ Fujiwara-kun, I want to be like you. Someone who can always win, no matter the adversityโฆโ
โIwakiri-sanโฆ in loveโฆ?โ
โThe infamous Iwakiri, with such a soft expressionโฆโ
โHey, you two. I can hear you. Sighโฆ Iโve never felt like this before. To think it would be so exhilarating to acknowledge someone as my superiorโฆโ
It seemed Iwakiri-san might become an ally, but her gaze was so intense that it made me uneasy.
โโฆNghโฆ Sisโฆ?โ
โFutaba, good morningโฆ are you alright?โ
โโฆIโฆ just now, I felt like I wasโฆ someone elseโฆ kyaahโฆ!โ
โYour clothes are goneโฆ sorry, I can lend you a bra at leastโฆโ
โNo, no, I couldnโt possibly take something so important to you, Nanami-sanโฆ Iโll borrow Sisโs jacket instead.โ
โIf we encounter monsters on the way backโฆ half of our group being almost naked will make for an interesting battle.โ
โBeep beep. Master, what is your exploration plan?โ
โWellโฆโ
If the girl who seemed to be the Dungeonโs Avatar woke up, she might be able to tell us where the teleportation circle was locatedโor so I thought.
โFujiwara-san, I think I might know. I might be able to find the teleportation circle to escape.โ
Having once merged with the dungeonโs consciousness, Futaba-san retained the memory of the escape route and guided us to the teleportation circle.
No monsters attacked us along the wayโperhaps because we had the dungeonโs avatar with us.
About an hour later, we reached the magic circle and successfully escaped from the dungeon.