Chapter 199

“Ooooh… Oooohhh…”

“Guuoo… uuu… uooohhh…!”

Ahh! Gross! Two huge warriors hugging me at the same time!

…Well, I won’t actually say that out loud! I did make them worry!

Gark and Araza, to everyone’s surprise, were hugging me while crying.

“Well done, well done… you came back! You really came back safely…!”

“Because of me! Because I invited you…! I’m so glad you’re really safe…!”

“Big guys, don’t cry! Let go, let go!”

“Uh… sorry… I got carried away… I see… you really did return safely.”

Araza wiped his eyes with his hand as he spoke, truly moved.

Then—

“See! I told you! Shizuma would definitely come back! My bell must have worked properly!”

“Yeah, probably slipped from your hand while you were asleep.”

“I see… so such a tool really exists…”

“It’s disposable, though. And there aren’t many left. But I think it was the best choice.”

Before I could say anything, Melt spoke confidently.

“Ah, that reminds me. Shizuma, all the accessories I borrowed from you have been collected. Gark, bring them here.”

“Understood! I’m really glad Shizuma returned… If we had returned only the accessories to the brigade… it could have led to an all-out war. I was secretly consulting with other factions about this.”

“Eh! You were doing that!?”

“Well, of course… If we alone returned after sacrificing a guest officer from the brigade, and only returned the accessories, there was no way it could be settled easily. In fact… it’s reached the Queen’s ears. Ideally, we’d like you to go to the castle for an audience as soon as possible.”

“That’s right. To formally report the dungeon’s clearance and be recognized, we’ll need the Dungeon Core you possess. We don’t need to submit it, but we should show it properly and confirm your safety… Soon, the country will probably hold an official apology session for the brigade.”

“Wow… then we really need to head to the castle immediately.”

“Yes. So, suddenly, could you come with us, the representatives, to the castle?”

That makes sense—considering the brigade is taking an important position in the country.

If someone sent from the brigade, recognized by the nation and part of a clan led by the 13 Knights, were to die… normally, the country itself would need to issue an apology.

“Shizuma, come here.”

“Hm? What is it?”

This time, I was called over by Rivana, who was slightly away next to Melt.

The next moment, she suddenly hugged me, slightly shorter than me—or perhaps slightly shorter than Melt. Pressing the top of her head into my solar plexus, she held me tightly.

“I’m so glad you’re safe. Really, I’m glad.”

“I… I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“Muu… Rivana-chan, no, pressing on Shizuma’s solar plexus ‘ugh’… let go.”

“…Got it.”

It was indeed a little painful—a critical hit to my weak point.

“Shizuma, we were really, really worried. Melt was also really worried. Melt… I’m glad. You’ve recovered, really glad.”

“Rivana-chan… yeah, thank you for worrying about me. Hug.”

“Hug.”

Ah, she hugged me right after saying a rare long sentence.

They really are close… maybe they’re around the same age?

“Shizuma, here are the accessories you lent me. I’m returning them.”

“Thank you. I also have the Core, so shall we head for the audience now?”

“Yes… Master, what do you think?”

“We should go. Rivana, is it alright to head to the castle now?”

“That’s fine. Melt, will you come?”

“Can I go?”

“Of course. Melt was also one of the key contributors to this dungeon challenge. Moreover, she was one of the guest officers sent from the brigade.”

Right, just like I was a guest officer, Melt was also treated as dispatched from the brigade.

Thus, the main members of the exploration team headed to the royal castle, traveling in the Killcrawler carriage.

I should also check later if the number of people able to use “Order Summon” has increased with the Dungeon Core.

When the carriage reached the royal castle, the gatekeeper only checked Gark, the driver. The back where we were sitting was not inspected.

It seemed a little careless, but I realized that it meant both the Killcrawler clan and Gark himself were highly trusted.

“In reality, we never assume that someone in my clan might be threatened to smuggle a suspicious person into the castle. If that were the case, we’d rather take our own lives. That’s the level of resolve we operate with.”

“Oh, was it showing on my face?”

“You looked puzzled. Well, inside the castle, there’s Director Kress and Lady Kokuri. It’d be impossible to interfere anyway.”

“By the way… there was a traitor in the Royal Guard once, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. You know well. At that time, Director Kress, then vice-captain, subdued them, and the former captain resigned to take responsibility. If he were still here, the castle’s defenses would have been even stronger.”

“Something like that happened…?”

I somehow felt like I knew who that former captain was… someone with a hidden melancholy, unsure where to wield their overwhelming power…

The interior of the royal castle hadn’t changed noticeably since the last time I saw it, and there was no sign that any major incident had occurred.

However, I guessed that in reality, emissaries from the Empire and requests for audiences from other countries were probably arriving one after another, creating a rather busy situation.

We were then guided not to the audience hall, but to the conference room on the top floor.

It was a room I had visited before, during the pre-war period, as Silent and Same.

The members of Killcrawler entered first, and finally, Melt and I stepped inside.

But at that moment, a sudden loud voice froze me in place, and the next instant—

“Shizuma!!!!!! Shizma, you! You’re safe!!!”

“Whoa!”

Suddenly, Director Kress rushed over, hugging me with such force that it felt like a body slam despite his hard armor.

Me… today is just full of this kind of thing, isn’t it… and the armor actually hurts.

“You’re safe…! Yesterday, I received a report from Lord Araza’s clan… and it said, ‘Shizuma was sacrificed’… I was… I was at a loss wondering what would become of this country… of me…!”

“Shizuma… you are indeed safe.”

“Ah, Your Majesty. It’s been a while.”

I freed myself from Kress’s embrace and knelt before the Queen in the seat of honor.

“Good. I am truly relieved by your safety. I see… you are indeed unharmed.”

“Yes. I apologize for causing you such worry and distress.”

“Do not trouble yourself. My concern was only the worry of a ruler still weak in governance. I fretted over how to apologize to the members of the brigade for your loss—such was my pitifully anxious thought. Please forgive me.”

“Please… do not belittle yourself, Your Majesty.”

“Hehe… you are perceptive, indeed. Ah, I understand. I shall stop belittling myself.”

It seemed that she truly believed my sacrifice would bring the brigade’s displeasure, just like when she had heard the false report that Silent had died.

“Your Majesty. This report is not only to inform you of Shizuma’s return but also to officially report the successful completion of the dungeon. Since he has brought back the Dungeon Core, we wanted to inform you and arranged this meeting.”

“Indeed… Is this true, Shizuma?”

“Yes. Here is the Dungeon Core.”

I took out the core of the “Death Sea that Erodes the Earth” and brought it closer so the Queen could see it clearly.

“Oh… indeed, this is unmistakably a Dungeon Core. Kokuri, please appraise it just to be sure.”

“Yes. Shizuma, may I borrow it for a moment? I will return it carefully, so don’t worry.”

“Of course, please.”

Even Kokuri, who had been quietly standing aside, smiled gently as she spoke to me.

“Hmm… there’s no mistake. This is indeed a Dungeon Core, Shizuma. I will return it to you.”

I received the core. Now… I suppose they will ask what I plan to do with it.

At least, I do not intend to offer it as a tribute this time, nor to release it back into this continent. First, I need to verify the Order Summon.

“Shizuma, what do you intend to do with that Dungeon Core?”

“Yes. We plan to manage it within the brigade. This was already communicated from Silent to Killcrawler, so I cannot overturn it on my own, and I doubt Rue would intend to either.”

“I see. Understood. Many factions desire the Dungeon Core. The news that Killcrawler completed the dungeon must have already spread. Therefore, those believed to possess the core could have been targeted… but I doubt anyone would dare target this clan. Besides, today we came here by carriage. Most people will assume the Dungeon Core has already been offered to our nation.”

“I see… that was your intention. So, I may keep this core with me?”

“Of course. Same is away from Lindblum again, isn’t he? If you meet him, please give my regards. And, of course, to Lord Rue in the brigade’s main force.”

“Yes, of course. I am truly grateful for your concern and consideration, Your Majesty.”

Thus, we formally reported the successful completion of the dungeon and left the castle without incident.

“The two of you live, if I recall, on the way to the South Gate. I’ll escort you to your doorstep.”

“Thank you very much, Araza-san.”

“Shizuma, you’re welcome to visit anytime. We’ll be staying in this city for a while, continuing to challenge the Lindblum lairs. It’s a very rewarding dungeon.”

“Indeed. It’s likely a dungeon that goes on infinitely. Those who can reliably explore to a certain depth can serve as valuable national resources. We’ll use this opportunity to train newcomers and, eventually, challenge the countless unexplored dungeons in the Empire.”

“Exactly. Someday, we’ll head to the Empire too. We won’t fall behind the ‘Superior.’”

“Hehe, indeed.”

Hm, a word I’m hearing for the first time. It seems to be either a person’s name or the name of an organization.

“Shizuma, Shizuma! I know about the Superior! It’s the name of a knight from mythology! Long ago, there was a very strong knight who tried to intervene in the conflict between Lindblum, the Blue Dragon, and Gordion, the strong-armed giant, even though he was human! But, if I remember correctly, he wasn’t taken seriously, right?”

“Hehe, you really know your stuff, Melt. Indeed, ‘Superior’ is a name taken from mythology, but what Rivana is talking about is an explorer clan called ‘Superior.’ Their clan master is also one of the Thirteen Knights, just like me. Quite an interesting character.”

“So they crossed to another continent despite feeling competitive. They ran away.”

“Hey now… they just prevented unnecessary quarrels among the members ahead of time.”

“Araza takes things too positively.”

“Hahaha… so such a clan exists, huh.”

They seem to be somewhat of a rival with a bit of a history.

I see… so some of the Thirteen Knights from this country have already gone on expeditions to the Empire.

Now that I think about it, even though there are the Thirteen Knights, the ones I actually know are… let’s see, six of them, right?

Wait, is Kokuri-san also one of the Thirteen Knights? If so, that makes seven?

In any case, I only know about half of them so far.

“We’ve arrived. Shizuma-kun, Melt-kun. As Rivana mentioned earlier, we’ll be staying in this city for a while. If you have any business, don’t hesitate to visit the clan house. You’re already our companions, so there’s no need for formality.”

“Yes, thank you, Araza-san.”

“Yeah, we’ll visit again! Next time, when Araza-san comes over, I’ll make fried river shrimp for you. We raise lots of shrimp in the garden of my house!”

“Oh…! That sounds like an experience I’d definitely like to partake in.”

“Haha, yes. Please feel free to visit anytime.”

After parting with Araza-san, whose expression had briefly brightened at the mention of shrimp, we returned home safely.

Now… first, I need to lock the house properly and check the surroundings through the sunroom windows.

“Melt, I’m going to run some experiments, so if anyone comes, don’t unlock the door right away.”

“Hm? Experiments? Ah, you’re using the Dungeon Core, right? Got it!”

Alright… first, I’ll start verifying things related to Order Summon.

If all goes well, we’ll be able to summon two people at the same time…