Chapter 104
Hello there.
I'm Akagi Hideo—Platinum member, bourgeoisie with over a billion in Total Assets, A-rank explorer, and factory manager of the EXP factory. Yes, that Hideo.
Just now, a man exploded right in front of me. What a filthy firework.
"Chee chee chee"
"Gii"
"What on earth is going on..."
Happy-san furrowed her brows, her face tense.
Following her gaze, I saw the root of a tree growing toward the sky.
The root is sprouting from inside the man's body. Hmm, it seems to split—one root stretches from the chest to the jaw, reaching for the heavens, and another jagged root juts downward from below the shoulder blades into the ground. From a medical standpoint, I'd say he's dead. Definitely instant death.
"Ah, uh... aah..."
Correction.
He's still breathing.
——BOOM!!
Happy-san fired. Turned the man into a brain-splattered boy. Rest in peace.
"Disgusting."
Apparently, it was disgusting.
"Happy-san, you're so kind."
"It's not like that."
"Chee chee chee (Translation: I know, chee. That's what they call a tsundere, chee. She finished off the villain who attacked her—she's a pretty good person, chee. I've changed my opinion, chee.)"
Looks like Shimaenaga-san has taken a liking to Happy-san.
As expected of Shimaenaga-san, who becomes a respectable person when it's not about EXP. Hm? Or was it the other way around? Becomes trash when it is about EXP? Well, either way, the overall rating remains "EXP trash."
Now the size of a basketball, Shimaenaga-san perched on Happy-san's head, flapping their wings fondly and rubbing scent into her hair. Is this marking?
"Finger Man, your bird is in the way."
Happy-san grabbed it firmly.
And casually flung it away.
Stop that, please be gentler. That's a bean pastry.
"What a grotesque way to die."
Happy-san approached the man and pointed at the silver root.
"He said something about a silver dungeon."
Hmm, now that she mentions it, the roots are silver too.
Incredible. Is she actually trying to deduce something from that tiny bit of information?
As expected from Happy-san. To be ranked 8th among A-ranks, she must have brains as well.
Meanwhile, I've already forgotten most of what that claw guy said.
By the way, these roots—since they're silver, does that make them metal?
If I eat them, will they give me EXP?
"Gii"
Gii-san gently stopped me. Too bad.
"I don't really know what's happening in this dungeon, but I feel like something bad is going on."
Yeah. I agree with that, Happy-san.
"It seems this place is different from the Salvation dungeon we were conquering. At some point, we wandered into something called the Silver Dungeon. Does that sound right? (I need to subtly align our understanding to keep up with Finger Man's brain...)"
"......That's what I was thinking too."
I see. As expected of Happy-san. You already figured that much out. Genius.
"That would make this a dungeon-in-dungeon situation."
Sounds a lot like Johnson & Johnson.
"In other words, a Double Dungeon."
"Double Dungeon... Sorry, but this is my first time hearing about those."
"Same here. (So even Finger Man has no experience with Double Dungeons...)"
Happy-san has a grim look on her face.
"If this is a Double Dungeon, then we're not obligated to conquer it. It hasn't even been investigated by the foundation... and clearly, it's not a normal dungeon. It's non-labyrinth type, which is usually seen in sealed Archon dungeons."
Double... Archon...?
So it's a Double Archon Dungeon? (No, it's not.)
"Finger Man, I don't want to die in a place like this. And you're not someone who should die here either. We're getting out of here. The Silver Dungeon is an unconquerable Archon Dungeon—staying here only increases the risk of unleashing a disaster on a global scale."
Hmm. At the very least, I understand now that this Silver Dungeon is extremely dangerous.
But you see, I... I can't just run away from here.
"Gii"
Gii-san's antennae are twitching.
Looks like the Black Swamp monster he sent out for scouting found a group of explorers.
I call out, "Happy-san," while pointing in the direction Gii-san indicated.
"If you go straight ahead, you'll find the explorers' camp."
"......(How do you even know that? Just how many super skills do you have...?)"
"The path is relatively safe right now. Please, go join them."
I quietly stand up.
"Aren't you coming?"
"I have something I need to do."
"(No way... Finger Man, are you trying to conquer the Silver Dungeon...?)"
Oh? Happy-san grabbed my hand. Her palm is super hard. But since it's the hand of a silver-haired beautiful girl, I'm very satisfied. I want her to hold it forever.
"Right now, you're full of yourself. I can tell. You're strong, aren't you? Probably a very capable person. But you don't understand."
"Happy-san..."
"This dungeon is a thousand times more dangerous than you imagine. No matter who you are, I can't believe anyone could take that thing on. (The silver monster, the dark one... This place is not meant for humans. If it really is an Archon Dungeon, then it all makes sense.)"
Happy-san's grip is getting stronger.
Hm? Something's coming?
"Happy-san, get down!"
"Eh?"
I cradle Happy-san's small head and step back a few paces.
A silver spear stabbed into the spot where Happy-san and I had just been. A massive shockwave followed. I need to make sure she doesn't get hurt.
Once everything settled, Happy-san looked up.
She was stunned, but after one glance at the spear embedded in the ground forming a crater, she understood. That's right, we were just almost killed.
"......(Finger Man, did he sense the attack beforehand? What kind of perception ability...?)"
"Clack clack"
That jaw-clicking sound...
Happy-san and I exchanged glances for a second, then smoothly turned our eyes toward the direction the spear came from.
It's here—EXP. Wait, I mean Metal.
"Clack clack (Translation: To dodge the battle spear Jubei's 'Overlord Erasure'? Not bad.)"
Metal walked briskly out from beyond the black mist.
A humanoid figure clad head to toe like a samurai, gripping a spear as tall as himself. His face still looked insect-like. Oh, and the spear embedded in the ground floated back to its owner. What an amazing feature. I want to install that in our bean pastry. You know, to quickly capture anyone trying to embezzle EXP.
"Finger Man, run..."
"Happy-san?"
she said in a trembling voice.
"If one of us has to die, it'll be me. I'll buy us a few seconds."
"......"
"It's frustrating, but Finger Man, you're someone who can do far, far more than I can. So please—live."
Happy-san... I see.
Happy-san was afraid of that thing.
It tore off her arm, left her in shambles, and she barely escaped with her life... and yet, she's willing to face it again to let her junior—me—get away.
Thank you.
"Clack clack"
A linear threat slicing through the air.
I instinctively caught it.
The supersonic spear hurled from 20 meters away carried a roaring wind, and the moment I caught it, it exploded. I held onto Happy-san tightly to keep her from being blown away. Perks of the job. The spear was chillingly cold—didn't feel of this world. Definitely Metal.
"Happy-san, I really do have something I need to do."
Tossing the spear aside, I calmly raised my right arm and took aim at the shaken Metal.
I'll make it so that Happy-san doesn't have to be afraid anymore.
————
——Trigger Happy's perspective
(I told him it's a fight we can't possibly win... so why...)
Trigger Happy couldn't understand.
The feelings of the young man standing before her, resisting despair.
She couldn't imagine what kind of resolve or will created that gaze, staring straight ahead through the gap in his sunglasses.
Was it a noble ideal dwelling within him?
Was it an unshakable conviction that kept his feet rooted, refusing to flee?
"Happy-san, please run. I'll take care of that."
Even though he had seen the eighth-ranked warrior lose her arm and be left utterly broken, this lowest-ranked man never wavered.
Trigger Happy trembled at the nobility of his soul.
In the tenderness woven into his words, she caught a glimpse of who he truly was.
(I see... so this is... to understand true terror and still stand tall before it—this must be what it means to be a hero...)
Trigger Happy softly leaned against Finger Man.
"Happy-san, you're not going to run?"
"...I don't want to."
"......I see. In that case, hold on tight—Excalibur."
Finger Man murmured with calm detachment, then let out a crisp finger snap.