Chapter 82
A Dungeon in a Remote Area
"So long, everyone...! Stay alive, and let's drink tea at my shop again!"
"For now, farewell... We shall certainly meet again here...!"
"We're regrouping at lunchtime, though."
Riko-senpai and Rosso-san climbed back into the car we'd ridden in earlier, making an unnecessarily emotional departure of it.
Exploring a dungeon wasn't simply a matter of bringing in a large group. Unless we were a properly trained military or Self-Defense Force unit, amateurs like us risked friendly fire.
Besides, with thirteen dungeons in the area, we'd never finish if we tackled them one at a time. We decided to split up and thin out the monsters in places we could handle without difficulty.
So we headed for the dungeons in two parties: Riko-senpai and Rosso-san in one, and Miyu-san, Tatsumin-san, and me in the other.
'Then follow me, gao~'
"Yes."
Tatsumin-san began to plod along. It was impressive that she could remain so unfazed in that outfit beneath the strong sunlight.
Even if ability users were sturdy, heat was still heat. Their tolerance limit was merely somewhat higher than that of non-ability users.
...Wait. Come to think of it, she did have 'that ability.'
It wasn't a good idea to spend much mana before exploring, but at a glance, Tatsumin-san's mana pool hadn't changed much. She seemed to be regulating it well.
Actually, this woman had more mana than I did. Calling the difference a full size would be an exaggeration, but it was close.
So the number of times one visited dungeons really did make a difference in spiritual rank.
After walking for about ten minutes, we saw the 'Containment Facility' surrounded by rice paddies.
The building, covered in bare concrete, stood out starkly against the lush natural scenery.
Once we passed through the automatic doors, a refreshing, air-conditioned space greeted us. I felt as though breathing had become easier too.
Who would have thought air would seem fresher indoors than out in nature? Summer really was terrifying.
The receptionist glanced at us. He gave Miyu-san a double take, but didn't seem concerned by Tatsumin-san's appearance. Apparently he'd gotten used to it.
'Then I'll get ready, gao~'
"Ah, okay."
At her prompting, I headed for the changing room.
On the way, the inside of the police box within the facility entered the corner of my vision.
A police officer was slumped over his desk. I stopped briefly, wondering if something had happened, but then saw that he had merely turned his face to the side and was fiddling with his smartphone without lifting his head.
Apparently he was just slacking off. I sighed in relief and entered the changing room.
...Was that really something to be relieved about?
Well, I'd choose to think positively and take it as proof that things were peaceful around here.
I changed quickly, shouldered my backpack, and left the changing room. As usual, Miyu-san was already waiting.
I called out to her, then went to the restroom just in case. When I returned, Tatsumin-san was just coming out.
Wearing a mascot pajama suit.
Her head was covered by a smaller headpiece than the one I'd seen on the way here, and she was wearing fluffy gloves covering her hands and wrists.
What is this... What even is this?
"Uhhh..."
'What's wrong, gao~? Are you feeling unwell or something, gao?'
"Um... Are you going into the dungeon dressed like that?"
Even if there was no dress code, this was surely taking things too far.
I glanced toward the receptionist, wondering if he would scold her, but the receptionist was merely staring vacantly into space. His eyelids looked awfully heavy.
Is this containment facility seriously okay?
'It's to make carrying me easier if my "Spirit Armor" is dispelled, gao~. I've already prepared for that, gao~.'
Saying that, Tatsumin-san turned around.
Two things resembling shoulder straps were attached to her back.
'If anything happens, grab these or carry me on your back, gao~.'
"Even if you say that..."
'It's okay, gao. Riko-chan and Mei-chan, who tested it out, said I'm surprisingly easy to carry, gao~.'
Apparently they had actually tested whether she could be carried. For all her quirks, Riko-senpai was serious about that sort of thing, so I could probably trust them.
Now that she mentioned it, the outfit was one piece, and it did have parts that could serve as handles, so... maybe it would work?
After hesitating for a moment, I glanced at Miyu-san. She silently waited for our conversation to end. Apparently she had no objections.
In that case, there was no need for me to keep arguing... right?
"Understood. Sorry for sticking my nose in where it wasn't needed."
'It's okay, gao~. If anything bothers you inside the dungeon, tell me about it, gao~.'
"...Yes. I'll take you up on that."
I switched gears.
In any case, we were about to enter a dungeon. And this was not a place where we could afford to let our guard down.
I glanced at the bamboo-sword bag slung over Miyu-san's shoulder. Needless to say, it contained neither a bamboo sword nor a wooden one.
It was also meant to test 'that.' I needed to steel myself.
I took one deep breath, and the three of us headed for the reception desk.
The sleepy receptionist attended to us with a slightly flustered air. Since he kept glancing at Miyu-san, I finally put myself between them.
Not that I was in any position to criticize anyone about manners, of course.
After passing through reception, we reached the gate.
As usual, I deployed my 'Spirit Armor' and checked my breastplate, forehead guard, and staff.
As I returned the staff to the holster at my lower back, I turned my gaze toward Tatsumin-san.
Her 'Spirit Armor' was a heavy suit of armor. It resembled cavalry armor—or rather, the armor worn in jousting—not infantry equipment.
Her frog-mouth helm had no movable neck section. The breastplate and pauldrons were large and thick. Unlike jousting armor, both shoulders were built heavily, and the hook for bracing a lance at the side had been removed.
On top of that, all four limbs were clad in extremely sturdy-looking armor, making it clearly heavy. It even gave the impression that she had been padded out by her armor.
It was hardly equipment an infantryman would wear. Yet she stood there without a care, carrying a large round shield in her left hand.
It was roughly 1.5 meters in diameter and about three centimeters thick.
She carried no weapon, only a shield. It was a 'Spirit Armor' with an astonishingly extreme focus on defense.
That was only in terms of close-quarters combat, however. Riko-senpai had already told me Tatsumin-san wasn't limited to that.
Looking closely at the helmet, I saw that the section where a 'human mouth' would be was shaped like a closed dragon's mouth, rather than a slit resembling a frog's mouth.
I see... So that's where it comes from.
Tatsumin-san seemed to be looking us over as well. Since she couldn't move her neck, she shifted her gaze by turning her entire body.
And then—
'...What the hell is that sexy bodysuit!?'
She shouted that when she saw Miyu-san's 'Spirit Armor.'
Ah, so this is how she really talks.
I came to that conclusion while desperately trying not to let Miyu-san enter my field of vision.
'Ahem, ahem! ...I misspoke, gao. That's not an outfit suitable for children's education, Miyu-chan.'
"Is it? Riko-senpai and the others said the same thing, but I don't think I'm showing much skin."
'No, it's your figure, gao... Wait. Tatsumin isn't supposed to point that out. That's not my characterization...!'
Tatsumin-san shook her head, making her armor clank.
She seemed to be wrestling with some kind of inner conflict...
'I-I-is everyone ready, gao? Th-then! We'll begin exploring the dungeon together, gao!'
"Ah, yes."
"Understood."
'...I-I'll do my best, gao...!'
I felt a little sorry.
I switched on the lantern-shaped LED hanging from my sword belt and stood before the gate.
However, Tatsumin-san was leading this time. When she lumbered forward, I grabbed her shoulder. In armor this rugged, I didn't feel at all hesitant about touching her.
On my right, Miyu-san also grabbed Tatsumin-san's shoulder. Since Tatsumin-san couldn't turn around to confirm it, I called out to her.
"I've got your shoulder."
"So do I."
'All right! Let's go, gao!'
...Was I supposed to say 'gao' too?
While I was preoccupied with that out-of-place question, her toes touched the gate. At that instant, that sensation of being sucked in assailed me.
Immediately afterward, I felt the rough touch of rock through my boots.
Heat far beyond the outdoor temperature greeted us.
I let go of Tatsumin-san's armor—which felt 'cold' even through my gauntlet—and slowly drew my sword.
The light revealed hard, reddish-brown ground. The walls and ceiling, not just the floor beneath our feet, were made of the same rock.
In this cave-type dungeon, the only light source was the artificial lighting we had brought in.
At the edge of my vision, I saw Miyu-san readying her weapon as well.
It was a rifle-shaped staff. Some parts used metal and reinforced plastic, and with the whole thing painted black, it looked like a real gun.
Of course, the end of the barrel was painted orange, and a marble was attached to the muzzle.
She switched on the light mounted beneath the muzzle and aimed its strong beam ahead.
'Kota-kun and I will watch our surroundings, gao. Miyu-chan, please check our current location, gao~.'
"Understood."
"Yes!"
I left the front to Tatsumin-san and focused my attention behind us. Meanwhile, Miyu-san swept the walls with her blacklight.
"I've found a Self-Defense Force marking. 'G-4.'"
'Got it, gao. Then let's move forward for now, gao. Don't worry, I know this area's layout by heart, gao~.'
"Yes. We're counting on you."
'Gao gao~. But everyone, be careful as you go, gao~.'
"Understood."
Her speech was bizarre, but Tatsumin-san really was reliable.
We began exploring, the sound of her armor echoing through the cave.