Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
His girlfriend is Suella Hendelberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Role: Warrior
It might be rare to be woken up in the middle of the night for work, even if you sometimes work late.
Only professions like the police, fire department, or hospital doctors would experience such a thing.
Jobs involving life and death would inherently carry urgency, so such situations are understandable.
Unfortunately, the job I was assigned was important, but it didn’t involve being woken up in the middle of the night like that.
Why am I talking about this now?
Because I’m experiencing it right now.
Recently, I had become accustomed to this dim nighttime, but a guest has arrived at my lodging, which is suspiciously being watched.
A faint presence above me wakes me from a light slumber.
“What do you want?”
Scratching my head, I sit on the bed, ready to reach for the Ore Tree at any moment, and call out to the ceiling.
“It’s an emergency.”
“Huh?”
They probably let me sense their presence on purpose. Otherwise, someone from the underworld wouldn’t respond so casually.
The muffled voice coming from the ceiling is likely speaking through a cloth or something to disguise their gender and age.
“An Undead got ahold of troublesome information.”
“…You mean you have zombies or ghosts as subordinates?”
It’s not just because I’m groggy from just waking up.
When I heard “Undead,” the first person that came to mind was Instructor Fushio.
A skull that talks, laughs, casts magic, and possesses emotions.
It wouldn’t be strange for the underworld guild to have a zombie or two, or even a ghost.
Though, trying to infiltrate the church with such a selection would likely result in their immediate demise.
“Understand it as a codename. And I told you it’s an emergency. If you keep interfering, you’ll have to gather the information yourself.”
“Alright, so what is it?”
“A forbidden magic-infused Magic Tool is being used by a Hero. Because of it, several Heroes are being replaced by residents of our world.”
“What are you saying?”
If that’s true, it’s a grave situation.
“Are you sure?”
“It’s a possibility, but the Master says the probability is quite high.”
The voice that came out of me was surprisingly clear for someone just woken up.
The master of the attic, naturally responding, also became more serious.
“Can you tell me the details?”
“I’m not permitted to speak of them from my position. However, I’ll send a messenger to the dining hall downstairs in the morning.”
“Understood. Is there anything else?”
“Ah, the Hero who was cooperating with you this time has been captured.”
“What?”
“Considering they were with the Undead until the end, the possibility is quite high.”
“…I see. Anything else?”
“That’s all. If there’s anything else, I’ll contact you later.”
They arrive suddenly and leave just as suddenly.
I stare at the ceiling where their presence has disappeared for a while, then slowly lower my gaze.
All I can see is a white wall illuminated by the dim light.
It’s not that I want to see it; I can’t concentrate on my thoughts when looking up.
My mind, jolted awake by the news, is already thinking about the next steps.
The replacement of Heroes and Amelia’s capture.
The content of the information could cause our plans to completely crumble.
“Was it a mistake to try and handle this peacefully?”
I had anticipated the other party resorting to forceful measures.
However, that was in terms of military power, such as mobilizing soldiers.
“Did I also get too complacent with my work?”
My pursuit of the best outcome, advising Heroes leisurely and aiming for everyone to return home, led to this.
I regret not being more swift and assertive.
“Tch.”
I click my tongue and shake my head, pushing away any lingering regrets.
There’s no use dwelling on that now.
Reflection can come later.
The priority now is to deal with the current situation.
“Think… The situation has worsened. While there’s no direct damage to me, my plans have been affected.”
What’s visibly apparent is that the other side has no intention of returning the students.
Negotiation, or rather, attempting to bring them to the table through discussion, was successful, but it also means the other party can buy time.
“It looks like I’ll have to change the plan.”
I knew from the start that this wouldn’t be resolved in a day or two, but if it’s going to take significantly longer than anticipated, a schedule change is unavoidable.
I still have options.
I must choose the best among them and execute it.
“In that case…”
I stand up from the bed and slightly open the wooden door.
I peek out inconspicuously, searching for any signs of being watched.
There’s one lookout in the building across the way.
This could be my chance.
I’m in a corner room, and I’ve already made arrangements so no one else is staying in the adjacent room.
There’s no need to worry about eavesdropping like in Japan.
The magic wards were also set up when I checked in.
To prepare, I take out a small Magic Stone from my bag and channel magic into it.
A small gray mouse is born in my palm.
The mouse doesn’t try to escape my palm; it just looks at me, waiting.
“…Deliver this to Memoria.”
I place the mouse on the desk and pick up a pen beside it.
In a few minutes, I write a concise message on a specially made small piece of paper and drip my blood onto it.
The paper instantly transforms.
It’s a red berry, common in this world, indistinguishable from the real thing.
I bring it to the mouse’s mouth, and after confirming it swallowed it whole without chewing, I remove a floorboard from the corner of the room.
The mouse slithers in and disappears beneath the floor.
“That takes care of contacting Memoria. Next…”
There’s a lot to do before morning.
I take out several Magic Stones and send them to different destinations to relay messages.
I change from my pajamas to a suit and shave.
Once I’m presentable, it will soon be dawn.
The conclusion has to be reached swiftly.
“Time for some breakfast, I guess.”
Heading to the designated dining hall, I’m exasperated by the thought of a breakfast I can predict will have no taste.
Side end
Side Amelia
My body aches.
That was the first sensation I felt in my hazy consciousness.
My entire body feels like it’s suffering from muscle pain, and the desire to sink back into dull consciousness is stronger than the urge to move even a fingertip.
“Ann-tsu!?”
But the memory before losing consciousness, the sight of Ann being stabbed with a sword, makes me instinctively cry out, and my body sits up.
Furthermore, the pain of forcing my aching body to move sends a jolt through me, and I retreat back into the futumi, curling up like a ball to wait for the pain to subside.
“Where is this?”
Thanks to that, my sleepiness is completely gone.
Blinking a few times to clear my vision, I look at my surroundings, which aren’t my usual lodging room.
There are no windows.
It’s a brick wall with an iron door. I thought it was a room for confinement.
And that’s probably what it is.
Looking down at my feet, I see a chain on my left leg, secured to a stake with a clink.
It’s clear I’m not being treated as a Hero.
“…”
Amidst the rapidly unfolding events, the only thing I understood was that if things continued like this, nothing good would come of it.
That much was clear.
The word “escape” comes to mind, and I look around for any possibilities.
There’s one door as an exit, and besides that, there’s the bed where I’m sitting, a blanket, a lamp dimly illuminating the room, a lidded bucket that I don’t want to imagine the use of, and a small hole that looks like a ventilation shaft, just big enough for a mouse to pass through.
I consider escaping through it, but there are limits to how thin I can get even if I’m slender.
I thought about channeling magic to increase my strength and breaking down the door, but it looked so sturdy that I feared my bones would break first, so I gave up.
I want to escape by digging a hole like in the movies, but I have no tools to dig with, and the perimeter is entirely paved with bricks, so there’s no place to dig.
And I can’t even move unless I deal with this leg chain.
I try using magic to increase my strength and pull, but I feel a release of energy that doesn’t usually happen, and I can’t exert as much power as usual.
Naturally, the chain shows no sign of coming loose.
If escape by my own means is difficult, I approach the door to call for help, but then I think that making a fuss here might just bring the captors, so I give up.
After much deliberation, the conclusion I reached was the harsh reality that there’s nothing I can do.
“…Is Ann okay?”
Now that my sleepiness is gone, I feel like it was a waste.
I said it myself, but after what happened.
I know I have to give up on her.
Still, I cling to hope, repeating “no, that can’t be” and “yes, it can” until I’m exhausted.
I regret not just staying asleep and curl up on the bed, burying my face in my knees.
“Worrying about yourself after being confined, instead of others? Interesting, girl.”
“Who!?”
“Who? Well, that’s what I’d like to know. I’ve been listening because the chains have been noisy lately, and then I heard your voice. And now I’m bored. So I thought I’d strike up a conversation. And if we can have a conversation, I’d like to introduce myself, but unfortunately, I don’t know who I am. So, how should I answer your question?”
I never expected a reply when I muttered to myself.
I look around, but there’s no one else in the room.
I thought someone might be behind the door, but this voice doesn’t feel like it’s coming through my ears at all.
Could it be a ghost? While I’m thinking this, the voice seems to ponder and then solve its problem.
“Then, girl, will you decide my name for me?”
“Huh?”
No, it seems like they’ve passed the problem on rather than solved it.
Isn’t that a terrible idea, not a good one?
It’s the first time I’ve been asked to name someone.
“Ummm?”
“Don’t worry about it, just choose something.”
I’m not hesitating, I’m confused…
“Then, Mike.”
“Hmm, so from now on, I am Mike. Nice to meet you, girl, I am Mike.”
“Is that okay?”
Still, being able to decide so easily must be due to their composure. Perhaps people’s minds get organized after a good night’s sleep.
But even though I gave myself a name, I wonder if this kind of self-introduction is appropriate. The voice’s owner is definitely suspicious.
But then…
“So, girl, what’s your name?”
“Hmm, then you can decide mine too?”
It seems I’m lonelier in this space than I thought.
I’ve decided to talk to this mysterious voice, but just in case, I won’t reveal my name.
“Then, you are girl.”
“Ummm, I’d like a cuter name.”
“Hmm, I don’t know what’s cute, even if you tell me to pick a cute name.”
“Hmm, then Ami is fine. My friends used to call me that!”
“Understood, then Ami.”
“What?”
“Where is this place?”
“That’s what I want to know.”
What is this person(?) asking me, who is clearly trapped? I’m starting to wonder if this is an auditory hallucination and I hit my head when I lost consciousness.
“Ah, sorry. It’s dark, I can’t see anything, and my body won’t move. The only thing I could do was this telepathic call, and you were the only one I could reach. There seemed to be a few other people, but they were all unconscious.”
“Are there people near me besides myself?”
“It’s not accurate to say ‘there are,’ but I can sense them. You are one of them.”
“Ah, right, you can’t see, can you?”
“Ah, and it feels like I’m inside something, so I can’t move around either.”
“We’re the same, aren’t we?”
“Hmm, what I sense is that you’re captured. And if that’s the case… Oh, indeed, my current situation could be called being captured.”
“You just realized that now!?”
“Ah, because I have no memory of ever being captured.”
“It’s only natural since you have no memories!”
“Oh!! That’s right!”
This isn’t a hallucination.
If it were a hallucination, having such a silly hallucination and conversing would be too sad.
“I see. If I weren’t captured, I would have tried to get help.”
“Hmm, from Ami’s words, I gather you want to get out?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, hmm. This must be fate. Very well, it looks fun, so I’ll help you escape.”
“Really!?”
“Ah, I don’t know what I can do, but I, myself, will lend you my hand!”
“Then, let’s think about it together!”
“It would be best to start by figuring out our current location. Once we open the door, we’ll be in enemy territory. We need to confirm an escape route before we’re pursued.”
“Understood!”
“I’m saying this myself, but can we really do it?”
“Of course?”
The fact that they suggest a plan even while acknowledging uncertainty makes them seem reliable.
I said the same thing to Ann recently, but I can easily accomplish things like this.
I press my ear to the wall, gather magic at my fingertips, and knock gently.
“Ho ho, you seem to have an interesting skill.”
“Can you tell?”
“Hmm, it’s a detection using magic waves. Indeed, with this, figuring out an escape route shouldn’t be a problem.”
That might be true.
I store memories within my own brain, but I can retain a vivid picture to some extent.
Perhaps that’s why.
“Huh? This place…”
“Do you recognize it? Well, perhaps you’ve heard it? Do you have any recollection?”
“Yes, I know this place.”
The map I explored with Ann aligns perfectly, and it’s like starting from where we left off.
Now, all that’s left is to fill in the missing pieces.
“Ho ho, that’s a good start. So, have you figured out the escape route?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
This room is located slightly off the path taken by the fake Classmates.
I’ve also clearly grasped the route connecting to it.
“Then, let’s go back to the beginning. The next problem is how to escape. What is the problem?”
“Um, a sturdy chain and door.”
“Hmm, hmm. To add to that, the door has a magic diffusion spell, and the chain has a function to drain excess magic into the ground. It’s probably a measure to prevent Heroes from using their immense magic, but honestly, they’ve only prepared this much.”
I don’t think most people would consider this “enough.”
If what this voice, Mike, is saying is true, then magic won’t work on that door.
If I try to use a lot of magic, this chain will drain it like an electrical ground, preventing any reversal.
As a result, I’ll end up being powerless here.
But what bothers me more is how he understood all of that without even seeing it.
Judging from our conversation so far, there must be some distance between him and me, and even though I’m confined and wearing the chain, I only noticed it when he mentioned it.
I wonder what kind of person this voice belongs to?
Despite feeling something unfathomable, I have no choice but to rely on this voice to escape.
“Then, let’s try a change of perspective.”
“Huh?”
“The door disperses magic, the chain drains it. Conversely, the door only disperses magic, it doesn’t negate it. The chain drains magic, but it doesn’t prevent backflow. Hmm, hmm. Then, let me confer upon you a technique.”
He has amnesia and doesn’t know who he is, yet he possesses vast knowledge.
“From now on, I will draw abundant magic essence from the end of the chain and fill this room to break the door. Specifically, let’s flood this room with magic and prevent it from dispersing, then blow up the door. What, I’ll support you, so you can get ready in three minutes.”
However, his way of thinking is quite extraordinary.
I’m unsure if I can really trust him.
But…
“My mom always said, ‘Fortune favors the brave!’ Mike, please!”
“You seem to have a formidable mother, Ami. Understood. Then, to not waste that resolve, first…”
Hesitation and regret are for later.
I’ll give it my all!
“Please memorize this spell formula.”
“Study?”
“Oh, are you dissatisfied?”
“N-No, I’ll do it!”
This has nothing to do with my resolve!
Amelia Miyagawa, 16 years old
Occupation: High School Student
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Role: Hero
Today’s Word
“Let’s do what we can!”
This concludes this section.
In the next installment, we’ll focus on escape, and if possible, create a thrilling development like that of a certain phantom thief.
We ask for your continued support of this work.
