The Boy Who Fell to the Lowest Level of the Dungeon, Becoming the Strongest and Returns to the Surface After 10 Years~He Just Wants to Live a Quiet Life, but His Childhood Friends Who Have Risen to Prominence Won’t Leave Him Alone~ - Chapter 23: The Exploration Continues Until They Get Home

“El! Everyone!”

As Elta and the others reminisce about the past, a tense voice can be heard.

Jura was on guard, keeping watch over the surroundings.

That expression can’t hide the impatience.

“Hey, I need you to come here…!”

“Huh?”

Seeing Jura in a different state than usual, Elta and the others hurriedly stood up.

And so, guided by Jura, they proceed deeper into the interior.

“Look at that.”

Leading the way, Jura and the others quickly hid behind the objects.

This entire area is already the innermost part of the “Royal Capital’s First Dungeon.”

It seems that Jura found something of interest there.

“Is that a monster?”

At the place Jura pointed to, there were the remains of a monster.

However, Elta felt no particular discomfort as he tilted his head.

“What’s wrong with that? It seems like it’s being defeated.”

“Yeah. But it’s not trapped in the dungeon…”

“Oh, that’s true…!”

When a monster is defeated, it usually drops materials and gets absorbed into the dungeon.

This is the principle of the dungeon, and it will not be overturned.

However, the monster in front of Elta and the others is not like that.

What on earth does this refer to?

Jura shares her thoughts with a slightly bitter expression.

“In other words, they weren’t completely defeated; they were left alive… their abilities were just taken away.”

“Jura-nee, how could you…!”

The one who reacted strongly was Celia.

Having mastered all fields of study, she must have understood how abnormal the situation was.

“Speaking of which…”

At the same time, Leone remembers what Jura had muttered at the base.

“It seems that even more terrifying technologies are being researched.”

The expression that briefly appeared at that moment matches Jura’s expression now.

In response, Jura nodded and continued.

“The rumors were true after all…”

“What do you mean?”

“This is probably the result of an experiment. To be specific──”

Jura puts it into words with a displeased expression.

“Experiment to fuse humans and monsters.”

“””…!”””

“I don’t even want to imagine what they’ll do. But if they succeed, a being will be born who possesses both human intelligence and the physical abilities of a monster.”

Humans and monsters, the biggest difference is the “intelligence gap.”

Humans may be inferior to monsters in physical and special abilities, but they can make up for it by being resourceful and devising strategies.

With that difference, humans have turned the tables on physical abilities and are hunting down monsters.

However, if one can wield the abilities of a monster while retaining human intelligence, the story changes.

While magic armor is a similar technology, it’s different in that the ability resides within the body itself.

Additionally, Elta found that act somewhat unpleasant.

“If we’re going to defeat them, we have to do it, or else they’ll end up like that…”

“Elta is right.”

They don’t intend to interfere with the rule of survival of the fittest, but there is a certain respect that comes with being the victor.

Jura’s magical armor is made from materials obtained after the hunt and is crafted with at least a minimum level of respect.

However, the monster that Elta and the others are seeing is just trembling, and it can’t do anything beyond that.

Elta couldn’t quite put it into words, but he somehow disliked it.

“Rest in peace.”

“…Hmm.”

When Elta defeated it, the monster seemed to fall asleep in gratitude.

Then, he said it out loud with a hint of sadness.

“Who on earth would do something like this…”

Jura answered that.

“The cult ‘Scar.’ They might be on the move.”

──The Cult Scar.

It is said to lurk somewhere, a “dark organization.”

The purpose is unclear, but it is said that they engage in activities that cannot be openly discussed on a regular basis.

Of course, that includes research and weapon development as well.

In response, Elta asked one more question.

“Why does Jura know so much?”

“…I’ve been invited too, alright!”

“Huh, Jura!?”

“I think I was recruited because I was already researching magical armor back then. But since it was a suspicious organization, I turned them down. I haven’t had any involvement with them since.”

It seemed that everyone, except for Elta, was seeing it for the first time, and they all widened their eyes.

However, after taking a deep breath, Jura returns to her usual expression.

“Well, it’s just that it might be like that.”

“Jura-nee…”

“Big sister will look into this matter.”

However, those around also reacted to it.

Jura’s expression, which seemed normal, was actually a facade.

“I’ll give the knight order a try, too.”

“I’ll also look into it through the academy’s information network.”

“I-I will also help Leone-san as part of the student council!”

She doesn’t intend to let Jura carry it all by herself.

And, of course, Elta is nodding, too.

“Jura-nee, I’ll try to do something too. You can always count on me.”

“Everyone… you’re all so reliable, it’s making this big sister a bit troubled.”

It seems the matter has been settled.

Then Jura turned around and looked back.

“It’s a good time, so let’s call it a day.”

“That’s right.”

Following ahead of Jura, Elta and the others continue on.

In the shadow of the cult “Scar”, remnants of a mysterious experiment.

In the end, they found something suspicious, but it seems Elta and the others were able to enjoy their outing.

“Everyone, the exploration continues until we get home.”

“””Yay!”””

And so, leading the way was the eldest, Jura, and their return was no different from their time at the orphanage until the very end.

“It’s outside!”

The first to emerge from the dungeon, Elta stretched his arms wide.

The dungeon also had a mild climate, but now it seems he has completely gotten used to the environment of the royal capital.

After that, he turned around to face Jura and the others, who were coming out a bit late.

“Thank you, everyone! There might have been some issues, but today was fun!”

“””…!”””

In contrast, the girls opened their eyes wide all at once.

The slight blush on their cheeks seemed to indicate that they were thinking the same thing.

“I wish I could go out with El and the others again.”

“Elta and everyone together!”

“Big sister is always okay.”

“I’ll follow you too, big brother!”

Elta adds to that.

“But next time, I want to come with six people! Including ‘Callum’!”

“””…!”””

“Huh?”

However, the girls’ reactions suddenly become dull.

Then, Celia stepped forward.

“El-kun, about the continuation of the story in the dungeon…”

“Oh, by the way. Do you know where Callum is?”

After lunch, they talked about this once.

However, it coincided perfectly with Jura calling, and it was interrupted.

Celia begins to tell the rest of the story.

“Callum is… missing.”

“Huh?”

“You know that ‘Mother’ has passed away, right?”

“Y-yeah.”

The “Mother” refers to the head of the orphanage where Elta and the others were raised.

There is no blood relation, but they call them that with feelings of having raised them.

Upon learning of that person’s passing, Elta immediately went to visit the grave after returning to the surface.

“Right after that, Callum also disappeared.”

“Such a thing…!”

However, to Callum, their Mother was like a real mother…

Since Callum, the biological child, was raised together with Elta and the others in the orphanage, they are childhood friends.

“We searched desperately, too, but he just wouldn’t show up.”

“Callum…”

Due to this fact, it seems that Celia and the others had dark expressions.

However, Elta nodded and showed his usual bright expression.

“But Callum is definitely alive!”

“El-kun…!”

“Because I was alive!”

“Hmph, that’s right.”

For that, both Celia and the girls behind her smiled.

It seems everyone thinks Callum is alive, too.

“Alright, now that it’s decided, I have to say it bluntly! Where have we been until now?”

“Hahaha, that’s certainly true!”

Elta was also close friends with Celia and the others, but with Callum, he was the only male friend.

It seems that they often fought and often laughed together.

Then, Elta raised his fist once more.

“Then, everyone, thank you again! Now that we’ve found Callum, let’s all go somewhere together next time!”

“””Umm!”””

Thus, they concluded their day out, which was the reward for their victory.

They promise to get together again, everyone.

“…Hmm?”

Only Elta seemed to sense a familiar presence from afar for a moment.

“Hah, you notice that now?”

At the exact same moment, a boy descends from the tree.

To quickly escape from Elta’s gaze, which turned back for a moment.

However, the boy is wearing a smirk.

(I was startled just now, but as always, you’re too carefree, my nostalgic comrades. We’ve already started moving, just so you know.)

And then, the boy leaves behind his words.

“You’ll probably meet me soon without even having to look.”

Then, he vanished without a sound.

That situation doesn’t seem like it could be achieved by human power alone.

“See you later, Elta.”