Chapter 108
——Akagi Hideo's Perspective
The world is overflowing with cruelty.
My encounter with the Daily Mission was an encounter with cruelty itself.
It's always introducing me to new worlds.
And it always delivers trials beyond my imagination.
So basically, what am I trying to say?
Right now, I feel absolutely miserable. If possible, someone please kill me.
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★Daily Mission★
Let's keep at it every day, step by step!
'Steel Mentality: Finger Man Channel'
Start the Finger Man Channel 1/100
Consecutive days: Day 109
Steady Rank: Platinum Multiplier 10.0x
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If there is a god, please end this ordeal.
What the hell. Hey. What. Why is it 1/100?
Daily-kun, seriously, isn't this kind of unfair?
This goes way beyond just clearing dailies.
This might actually break the record for Worst Daily Mission.
For reference, the current worst is Power Week. The "Sudden!" type and Steel Mentality type are really bad. That's just the truth.
Well, if I may speak as a Daily Sommelier who has cleared many Daily Missions up to this point, it's almost certainly "set the Finger Man Channel on 100 people" as the goal. Runner-up: "start the channel 100 times." The fact that it currently says 1/100 is a tiny bit of mercy. Well, not that I feel saved at all though?
Calling it mercy is a misstatement. Let's just say it's a silver lining in misfortune.
The fact that the Daily Mission counter is 1/100 means I've learned both a bad and a good thing.
The good thing is, the "Finger Man Channel" doesn't actually require launching a channel on Dungeontube like you might imagine.
The bad thing is, obviously, the ordeal continues.
If I were in my right mind, I'd say this isn't kind at all—but I can understand it as mercy.
Because Daily-kun never gives me a trial that can't be completed.
That said, to complete them, I need to be prepared to devote my entire being.
While I was mentally writhing over Daily-kun's heinous challenge, Happy-san had collapsed at some point. Shimaenaga-san is fluffily nursing her. "Chi-chi (Translation: You're okay-chi. Don't be scared, it's not scary-chi)," she soothes her with overflowing kindness. Shimaenaga-san always liked Happy-san, after all.
"Wh-What is this... Wasn't I supposed to be dead...?"
The mysterious man from the Silver Dungeon who had revived in a daze finally spoke up.
Since his title is too long, let's just start calling him Naked Man.
"Naked Man, you died. And I brought you back to life (technically, it was Shimaenaga-san though)."
"W-What... brought... me back...?"
"That's right."
"That's impossible... That can't be real."
Indeed.
I guess the Revive-type skills always end up shocking people.
Apparently they're so heavily restricted under something like the Rome Treaty, so maybe it's only natural.
"You... you're not just an explorer... are you...?"
No, I'm just an explorer.
Hm, maybe not just "just."
"Hmm. If I had to label you, I'd say bourgeoisie... platinum... and factory manager, perhaps (cool voice)."
"......(I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.)"
"Ahem... I have some questions for you. You're going to answer them."
"Seems like you don't understand your position."
I tightly grab his finger.
I'm pretty sure I could easily destroy an arm like his. Bad kids get grabbed, okay? Let's keep squeezing.
"Ah, hahahaha, hahahahaha!"
"......What's so funny? I'll do the Grabby Uncle routine, you know?"
"You say I don't understand my position? Don't make me laugh, lapdog of the Dungeon Foundation. You don't even realize you're being sent into labyrinths blindly, like a canary, knowing nothing. You're all finished. Ever since the moment this tower manifested."
Nice.
He's talking much more clearly than when Gii-san was brainwashing him.
Hmm, in that case, maybe Gii-san's brainwashing-based interrogation isn't as foolproof as it seems. Maybe it's better to just ask directly when they're sane.
"I don't know how much you remember, but you died after being pierced by that silver root growing over there."
I point to the blood-soaked root.
It rises skyward like a thorn. The dripping blood speaks more eloquently than words of the blasphemous death that occurred just moments ago.
"I don't understand... If I died, there's no way I'd be alive. Ahh, but how beautiful. That is the pride of Metania's Authority. The thousand-year journey is nearing its end."
"Metania, huh. What is Metania? Like, the dungeon boss of Archon Dungeon or something?"
I ask, brimming with intimidation in my own way.
"Hahaha, ignorant and reckless, are we? It's laughable for a fool like you to even utter that name. Your only fate is to become a sacrifice, fuel to awaken the divine war machines."
"Divine war machines......"
So cool... (eternal chuunibyou)
"Those divine war machines—what exactly are they?"
"The silver arms of the machines sweep away darkness and forge a new age. Their radiant gaze scorches the horizon, and their spearheads engrave eras into the earth. They are deep monsters that could wipe out humanity from the surface! Don't get cocky just because you defeated a mere follower like me. Mythical monsters are not something humans can oppose."
Naked Man boasts proudly.
Hmm. Sounds pretty dangerous just hearing about them.
Mythical monsters, huh. They sound incredibly strong. And probably give loads of EXP.
"Huh? Wait a sec, divine war machines...?"
Spearheads, silver arms... this is sounding kinda familiar. Huh? Don't tell me—
"Hey, you."
"What is it, ignorant explorer? Have you accepted your fate?"
"No, I mean, could those divine war machines be... that thing?"
"?"
I pull Naked Man up by the arm and decide to show him the still-warm crater nearby.
"What are you doing? Let go, you lowly explorer...!"
He's noisy, so I hold him close and restrain him. It's not the kind of scene you want people seeing, but oh well.
We reach the crater's edge. I point to the center and show him the lifeless war machine.
"What is this hole... What are you trying to... (discovers the corpse)"
"That so-called 'divine war machine'—it's probably the metal monster, right?"
"......Hmph (Wait... don't tell me... the Apostle got taken out? Huh? No way, seriously?)"
Naked Man snorts with a composed air.
"Explorer, what is your name?"
"Finger Man."
"......Finger Man, you say? Then you must be that..."
Oh? Is my fame finally reaching even villains like this?
"The pervert who kept causing disturbances near the station shouting 'Power!' and bothering tons of people?"
I mean, he's not wrong but...!
Damn it, to be looked down upon by a man flaunting his nakedness...
I'll repay this humiliation threefold.
"I never thought the Dungeon Foundation had an explorer capable of defeating an Apostle. I see now—it's no wonder, given their massive scale. The mystic power of humans and the Ark combined is pushing close to the ancient gods."
Yeah, I have absolutely no idea what you're saying.
"Even an S-rank explorer, I thought I could snuff you out with ease. But you're more capable than I expected, lapdog of the Dungeon Foundation."
This guy... still acting like he's got the upper hand.
But I doubt those divine war machines can handle an S-rank.
I mean, come on—can you even imagine Shirokko losing to a divine war machine?
"Naked Man, I'm going to destroy the divine war machines. So tell me—where are they? Wandering this vast, dark dungeon blindly would be a pain."
"You're getting cocky, Finger Man... You're mistaken. What you defeated was the weakest among the Twenty-Four Metal War Machines!"
"Is that so...?"
"......Maybe."
You sure talked tough, considering the situation.
"Hmph, very well then. I'll grant your wish and take you to the Apostles."
Oh, so you can be reasonable.
"After all, you'll only fall into despair beyond this point, and sink into a gloomy death. (And now, while Finger Man is exhausted from fighting the Apostle... this is the perfect chance to eliminate such a threat. If he says he wants to die, there's no reason to let him escape.)"
I feel like he's plotting something, but hey, if he's taking us to the EXP, I'm in.
"Crowned in silver... only that can fulfill my dearest wish..."
"Hurry up and lead the way, Naked Man."
"Hmph. Soon, you won't be able to run that mouth of yours. You do not understand the depths of the Archon Dungeon. There's a reason the Dungeon Foundation accepted defeat and sealed it rather than conquer it.——This is not a world humans can meddle with."
"Enough talk—just take us already."
"...Tch, follow me. I'll make you regret this. You'll see everything is already too late."
"Shimaenaga-san, let's go. Happy, carry her on your back and bring her along. Don't drop her, okay?"
"Chee-chee-chee."
Alright then, shall we get going?
To the depths of the Archon Dungeon, or whatever they call it.