According to Tsuzuri-san, the dungeon this time had ten floors in total, with no monster houses. Up to the 9th floor had already been explored and mapped out.
「Since no monsters appeared up to the 9th floor in the last expedition, we’ll be moving straight through to the 9th floor this time.」
As Tsuzuri-san explained, one of the explorers raised a hand.
「What should we do if monsters show up along the way?」
「You’re free to defeat them. However, in that case, we’ll give you a camera, so please take pictures and report what appeared on which floor.」
「Understood.」
Another explorer raised a hand.
「Weren’t there safe areas at the entrance to the 4th floor and just before entering the 9th? Are we resting there?」
「I was just about to explain that. This time, we’ll be setting up a temporary rest area in the safe zones. Natsukaze-san will be handling support, so I’d like her to help carry supplies. We could use one more person to assist.」
「If that’s the case, I’ll volunteer. I’m a woman too, and I’m fairly strong.」
「Then I’ll leave it to you.」
「For the front line, I’d like Kaminagi-kun’s party to take the lead. Middle guard will be the other explorers, and the Kagura group will take the rear.」
「「「「Understood.」」」」
「And… the team leader will be Ootori-san.」
「Got it. Then let’s all regroup in one hour and begin the investigation. Thank you for your cooperation.」
At Ootori-san’s signal, everyone dispersed.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
An hour later, a total of 56 people, including the explorers joining at this stage, had gathered for this investigation.
「I’m counting on you, Yuuki-san.」
「Right. Leave it to me.」
「Yuuki-san! Do your best!」
「Thanks, Tomoe-chan. I’m counting on you to secure the entrance and provide rear support.」
「Okay!」
◇ First Floor ◇
As we entered the dungeon and I cast detection magic, I could truly sense no monster magic power.
「How is it, Yuuki?」
「Yeah, just as reported, no sign of monsters…」
We descended through the eerily quiet floor.
◇ Fourth Floor ◇
Just like the first through third floors, I cast detection magic and checked the surroundings.
「No enemies here either…」
「It’s creepy… not running into anything for this long…」
「Yeah. We’re just about to enter a safe area. Let’s stay alert and have everyone else stay on guard too.」
「Understood! I’ll go relay that to the people behind us!」
「Onii-chan, look at this.」
It was likely something left behind by a previous exploration team, charred firewood and remnants of a used stove remained.
「Probably left by the group that came last time.」
「It’s pretty messy…」
「Yeah… let’s clean up a bit…」
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
◇ Fourth Floor, Safe Area◇
While we were cleaning up the messy safe area, the rest of the group arrived. Maybe because they were Japanese, a few of them even started helping out once they saw us cleaning.
(Those people over there must be from another country… I should probably warn everyone just in case.)
Once the cleanup was done, soup and a simple meal from the supplies were distributed to everyone.
「Alright, everyone, gather around.」
I called out to them while they were eating.
「I don’t think there’s anything to worry about, but I’ll share this just in case. According to Tsuzuri-san, it looks like some foreign agents may have infiltrated the group. A few people were acting suspicious, rude during the cleanup and meal, so stay alert, okay?」
「Got it.」
「Understood.」
「Okaaay～」
◇ Agent’s POV ◇
「Tch… They’re moving too slow.」
「Don’t say that. Japanese are meticulous. Rushing will only make things worse.」
「Seriously… This country is comfortable to live in, but there’s always so much hassle.」
「Yeah, well, once we’re back home, we’ll be living it up. Just bear with it for now.」
「Whatever. I just want to hurry up and go back.」
「By the way, did you meet with the one who arranged this?」
「Yeah, I did. I didn’t give him that item, so there’s no issue. He keeps nagging about it though.」
「Can’t be helped. The guy’s a rich kid.」
「Ain’t that the truth…」
◇ Seventh Floor ◇
「Still no enemies up to this point…」
After a long stretch with nothing, I finally detected something, two kobolds, which I quickly defeated and sheathed my sword. This is a mid-level dungeon, and yet this? Just kobolds in the lower-middle floors? It’s beyond strange.
「Alright, I’ll take a photo then, this is the seventh floor, so… Okay, done.」
Touka snapped a picture and sent the info to Tsuzuri-san.
「Now then… detection magic, 」
I expanded the search range, but picked up nothing else at all.
「Looks like there’s no one else on this floor… let’s keep moving.」
◇ Eighth Floor ◇
「Detection… yeah, there’s something. They’re all gathered in one spot. But only a few of them…」
Checking against the map, I saw that they were gathered in an area that wasn’t accessible from the eighth floor.
「We need to talk with Ootori-san about this…」
「I’ll go get her.」
「Thanks～」
Before long, Ootori-san arrived. After comparing notes about the monsters’ location, we decided to go down to the ninth floor and circle around from there to check it out.
「In any case, let’s head to the safe area first. We’ll rest there, then go to the ninth floor and proceed from there.」
「Understood. I’ll lead the way.」
◇ Eighth Floor, Safe Area◇
Everyone’s exhaustion was starting to show. Probably from the tension.
「We’ll rest here for about two hours! Take some time to relax!」
At Ootori-san’s call, people began sitting down and resting one after another.
「Yuuki, good work…」
「Thanks, Hikari.」
「Just rest for now, okay…?」
「Yeah… I’ll rest a little…」
As soon as I closed my eyes, the tension I’d been holding onto released, and I fell asleep.
All around me, the other explorers were silently thinking,
((((((Lucky bastard, damn it!!!))))))
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