After visiting the store that Aizawa-san recomnded and purchasing a seven-figure magic stone cara, I felt in unusually high spirits as I headed to school. Recently, there haven't been any high-priority missions, so as a student with an EX rank, I've had more ti to attend school. I wonder if the receptionist lady at the association is sohow handling things for .
I should bring her a gift soti.
"Good morning, Tsukasa-kun!"
"Good morning, Asakawa-san."
"...You're in a good mood."
Asakawa-san seed surprised, but it wasn't really a big deal.
It's been a long ti since I've started sothing new, and it reminded of the excitent I felt when I first beca an explorer. I need to help Asakawa-san while also testing out my streaming equipnt.
"Hey."
"Huh?"
As I sat down, thinking about the days ahead, suddenly the handso guy ca over. I don't think I've done anything today to warrant this, but why is he glaring at ?
"I told you to stay after school yesterday, didn't I?"
"Well, shouldn't you be saying that to Asakawa-san instead?"
"What!?"
Suddenly, he grabbed by the collar. It feels like his violent tendencies are increasing day by day. It's almost like he's been influenced by so kind of monster.
The other classmates seed shocked that he grabbed so suddenly, but most of them averted their eyes, likely out of fear of the handso guy.
"Make sure you stay after school today. I'm going to crush you."
"I-I understand."
"You'd better. If you try to run, I'll hunt you down and kill you!"
"V-Violence isn't good!"
Asakawa-san stepped in between us. While I personally appreciate her help, it might be a bad move considering the situation. The handso guy clearly has a thing for Asakawa-san and can't stand the idea of so introverted nobody like getting close to her. Right now, he's ignoring Asakawa-san's words and is just glaring at , grinding his teeth.
"I won't let you get away with this."
"Wait, Kurihara-kun!"
"It's okay, Asakawa-san."
Well, it'll all work out sohow.
After classes ended, I was called to the teacher's office. Asakawa-san had already left with a quick "See you tomorrow."
"It's almost ti for the final exams, so I've gathered summaries and key points from the lessons you missed."
"I'm really sorry. Thank you so much."
"Don't worry about it. After all, you're a busy explorer!"
The teacher seed oddly fixated on emphasizing how busy I was as an explorer. I wonder if they just don't like students who don't attend school regularly. Well, from a horoom teacher's perspective, there's no reason to like it. Honestly, considering all this, I wish I had just transferred to a correspondence school.
Feeling tired after being lectured for about 30 minutes, I decided to head ho, only to find a ssage on my work phone in my locker.
[You didn't answer your phone, so I assu you're in class. Please return the call as soon as possible.]
The ssage was sent a little while ago, so if I call back now, they should still pick up. Without hesitation, I dialed the number.
"Hello?"
"Hello. What's going on?"
"Sorry to call during class."
"That's okay."
As always, the familiar woman answered, but co to think of it, I've never actually called her by na. I've always just referred to her as "the lady," and I never thought it was necessary. But since I might be bothering her more often once I start streaming, maybe I should start using her na.
"There's a magical anomaly detected in the upper levels of Shibuya Dungeon."
"...What's the scale?"
" 9."
Devices installed in the dungeon can detect fluctuations in the dungeon's magical energy, and when these readings deviate significantly, it's called a magical anomaly. The readings range from 0 in normal conditions, with a maximum of 10 or a minimum of -10 in extre cases.
Several issues can arise from a magical anomaly, but when the reading is high, it usually signals the appearance of monsters far stronger than those appropriate for that floor. An anomaly of 9 ans a situation that requires multiple S-rank explorers or even an EX rank, indicating the potential ergence of a high-level monster from the deeper levels in the upper floors.
If such a creature appeared in the upper levels, it would be a massacre.
"Have evacuation orders been issued?"
"They're being frantically carried out as we speak."
"What about the other EX ranks?"
"Jinguji Kaede and Aizawa Ryosuke are both in Sapporo right now, so..."
"No need to continue. I assu she's unreachable as usual."
"You know her well."
The last one is a total free spirit, so I figured as much. A few months ago, she suddenly announced, "I'm off to study abroad in the U.S.!" and left Japan without a word since.
"I'm heading there imdiately."
"Thank you, Tsukasa-kun. I'm really sorry to rely on you so much, but..."
"It's fine. Leave it to , Shinano-san."
After abruptly ending the call, I dashed out of school. My classmates stared as I ran, but I didn't have ti to worry about that. I vaguely rember having so after-school plans, but the mission takes priority.
I arrived at Shibuya Dungeon as fast as I could, without even changing clothes, and saw that the branch chief's usual laid-back deanor was nowhere to be seen.
"Glad you could make it."
"What's the situation?"
"There's still only the anomaly, but no physical manifestations yet. So explorers in the middle floors haven't returned, and there are still those in the upper floors who haven't made it back either."
Even though they're being contacted, it's not always possible to return imdiately from a dungeon. If they're being attacked by monsters or are surrounded, it's not like they can just drop everything and leave. Even when trying to evacuate smoothly, the monsters don't care about our circumstances and could easily attack.
It wasn't exactly the fastest I've ever moved, given that I had to wait until after school, deal with so ti in the staff room, and then take the train, but at least the monsters hadn't appeared yet.
As I was thinking about all this, another ssage ca through on my personal phone.
[There's an evacuation order in Shibuya Dungeon, right?]
"...No way."
A bad feeling crept over as I read Asakawa-san's ssage. I quickly activated her stream from my smartwatch, and sure enough, the words "Live Streaming" were displayed on the screen.
"Soone stuck in the middle floors is streaming during an evacuation?"
The branch chief, too, looked at my device with a grim expression. I had seen Asakawa-san dash out of the classroom as soon as school ended, but how did I not foresee this happening?
It can't be helped. I'll have to go save her, along with the other explorers who haven't evacuated yet.
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