[Should I cut the stream?]
[It's easier to locate you if you keep it on, so please leave it running.]
[If possible, could you gather any explorers nearby?]
[Got it!]
As I rode on the back of my summoned Kirin, I checked the list of explorers currently inside Shibuya Dungeon. Most of the explorers who haven't evacuated yet seem to be in the middle floors, which ans they might encounter the cause of the magical anomaly.
Asakawa-san's stream continued, but I ignored it for now since I was using it to keep track of her current location. Based on the data, there doesn't seem to be any explorers in Shibuya Dungeon right now who are more capable than Asakawa-san. So, the plan is for her to assist the explorers from below, while I take care of things from above. That way, we can finish this quickly.
I spotted so explorers battling monsters in the upper floors, so I summoned Raijū and scattered the monsters. The explorers, surprised, turned their attention to .
"Are you all okay?"
"Hey, that was my kill!"
"A full evacuation order has been issued for the entire Shibuya Dungeon."
"What!?"
Looks like they didn't know. Well, if their phones were off, they wouldn't have received the alert.
Under normal circumstances, stealing another explorer's kill would be considered bad manners, but this is an ergency, so it can't be helped. First, I need to get these four—two n and two won—out of here. However, telling them to return to the upper floors when there's a magical anomaly detected there would be more dangerous.
"Follow . It's too dangerous to return to the upper floors with a magical anomaly detected there."
"W-Where are we going?"
"We're heading to the middle floors. There should be other explorers who haven't managed to escape yet."
Judging by their appearance, these explorers are still unfamiliar with the upper floors, so they might feel uneasy about heading to the middle floors. But there's no ti to worry about that.
"'Gozu' and 'zu,' protect these people."
With Gozu and zu, who could even overwhelm a Frost Wyvern, these explorers should be safe. I'll keep moving forward and clearing the path, just to be sure.
'Please remain calm. An evacuation order has been issued for Shibuya Dungeon.'
: Asagao-chan is helping with the evacuation.
: But isn't the middle floor dangerous?
: The problem seems to be in the upper floors.
: The middle floors might actually be safer.
'Right now, an explorer I know is working on resolving the situation, so please stay together and move carefully!'
: I wonder who this "explorer" is.
: Have they ever collaborated before?
: Nope.
: Probably just a real-life acquaintance.
Asakawa-san seems to be guiding people well, using the stream to help with the evacuation.
I gathered more explorers in the upper floors and had Gozu and zu protect them as we moved into the middle floors.
Within a few minutes, we had gathered all the explorers left behind in the upper and middle floors. All that's left is to et up with Asakawa-san, escort everyone to the upper floors, and our mission will be complete.
"Oh, Tsukasa-kun!"
"...Looks like we've got everyone?"
At the highest level of the middle floors, the 21st floor, I t up with Asakawa-san and confird that all the people she had gathered matched the nas on the list. Ti to head back to the upper floors.
: Is that Kisaragi-kun again?
: So, he's the "acquaintance"?
: Yay, Kisaragi-kun, are you watching?
"...Annoying."
Oops, my true feelings slipped out. This is why netizens are... their jokes can be too much. I don't dislike the banter itself, but it gets annoying when you're the one being teased.
"Uh, should I cut the stream?"
"Yes, please. We don't need to track your location anymore..."
Since we've gathered everyone, there's no need for to monitor Asakawa-san's stream anymore. Once we escort these people back to the upper floors, I'll be the only one left in Shibuya Dungeon.
Just as I was thinking that, a loud crash echoed, and the stairs leading to the upper floors were smashed to pieces.
"...What should we do?"
"Stay back."
Everyone was stunned by the destruction of the only way back, but I had already sensed the murderous intent coming from the upper floor. It seems the monster in question appeared at the worst possible mont. Destroying the stairs imdiately upon arrival... I have to admit, that's clever.
Erging from the dust cloud, glowing red eyes pierced through the gloom. It was a skeletal knight clad in an elaborate, military-like armor, dragging a heavily ornanted greatsword. It looked like an even stronger version of the skeleton Asakawa-san had nearly been killed by in the lower floors.
"I've never seen this monster before."
"I-Is it going to be okay?"
Oh, right. Asakawa-san has special eyesight that allows her to see magical energy. She must be shivering at the sight of the malevolent magic radiating from that skeleton. As for , the presence of such a strong enemy made smile for the first ti in a while.
"'Hashihi.'"
I summoned the yokai Hashihi, a figure from Kyoto folklore. I recreated her as a shikigami with my own interpretation: the goddess who protects bridges.
Hashihi doesn't have exceptional combat abilities, but she can create a powerful barrier that prevents anyone from crossing a designated point. This is an ability I gave her during her creation.
"Don't let anyone pass behind ."
Simultaneously, the skeleton knight, moving with a speed unimaginable for its heavy armor, charged towards us. The greatsword it had been dragging was now raised, poised to strike, ready to tear through the forested area of the middle floors. But I'm not weak enough to be hit by a re fast attack.
"'Ōmukade.'"
I summoned Ōmukade, a giant centipede even larger than the skeleton knight, which stood about two ters tall. But the centipede was easily deflected by sheer brute force. Even though Ōmukade's charge could crush monsters in the lower floors, it looks like this opponent is strong enough to resist it.
"Saying that a skeleton has brute strength might sound strange, but that's so serious power... In that case, I'll counter with my own bones."
A direct power struggle might not be in my favor, but I didn't spend all my ti in the corner of the classroom reading books on myths and yokai for nothing. Shikigami techniques are a wonderful form of magic, boasting infinite variations if mastered.
"'Gashadokuro.'"
The yokai Gashadokuro, said to be born from the spirits of the dead, appeared as a giant skeleton, just like the one before . However, my Gashadokuro grows larger the more magic I pour into it. It's the opposite of when I summoned Raijū as a small figure, but this technique is surprisingly tricky.
"Crush it!"
Gashadokuro, now over ten ters tall, responded to my command by slamming its massive hand down onto the dungeon floor.
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