Chapter 7: The Rumors of S-Rank Explorer, Minase Karen

“R-Really…!? It’s really them…!”

I quickly ran down to the first floor, hiding behind a shadowed corner as I gazed at Shion and Kanade.

On my way here, I had casually swatted away the monsters I encountered. Honestly, I think I defeated them faster than ever before.

Seeing Shion and Kanade on a livestream is awe-inspiring enough, but the real deal? It’s on another level. It makes you doubt they’re even human.

They practically radiate an aura. Combined with the divine atmosphere of the dungeon, they look like actual angels.

The two were in the middle of taking down an Archangel, collecting the mana crystal it dropped.

Man, their teamwork earlier was electrifying. The way they precisely targeted the weak points and moved without a wasted step—it was absolutely flawless.

In contrast, I struggled a bit at first, but they? They took it down effortlessly. They’re just built differently.

“…Huh?”

That’s when I felt the presence of two more Archangels approaching. It seemed they noticed me and were heading this way.

“…This is bad.”

Shion and Kanade also sensed the incoming danger.

Shion quickly gave orders, and the two sprinted toward the dungeon’s exit. When it comes to Archangels, if two appear at the same time, taking them down becomes exceedingly difficult. As expected of Shion—an excellent decision.

“I’ll hold them off here!”

But just as they were about to reach the exit, Shion stopped in her tracks. Judging they wouldn’t make it in time, she intended to act as a decoy.

That’s a terrible call. The Archangel’s lightning is impossible to dodge, and its destructive power is immense. A normal human wouldn’t survive such an attack.

Before I even had time to think, my body was already moving.

This must be what they mean when they say your body moves on instinct.

I leapt out from the shadows and intercepted the Archangel’s attack, deflecting it with ease.

“What do you think you’re doing to Shion, you punks!?”

With a quick flick of my wrist, I hurled my dagger.

The blade spun through the air in a controlled arc like a boomerang, striking the Archangel’s weak point with pinpoint accuracy.

Both Archangels, struck at their vulnerabilities, dissolved into silent particles of light and vanished.

Phew. That was close.

Even for someone like Shion, that attack was too dangerous. I’m glad I made it in time.

“…Huh?”

Turning around, I found Shion and Kanade staring at me with their mouths agape.

Oh, right. My current outfit was… a black tracksuit and a mysterious mask. Yep, I looked like a total creep.

“…………”

Alright. Time to make a run for it.

I might’ve been caught on their livestream, but if I leave now, I might still save face… maybe (?)

Once I made up my mind, I acted swiftly.

Like the wind, I silently and gracefully left the scene.

…Oh, I forgot my knife. Well, whatever.

◇

――

【In Black Tracksuit】 Thread to Discuss the Mysterious Person Who Helped Luna Stars 【With the Super Lame Mask】 Part 12

1. Anonymous
  I’ve started the thread for now. Here’s a summary of what we know:
  A person wearing a black tracksuit and a mysterious mask appeared in the “Garden of the Gods,” where Luna Stars were exploring, and instantly defeated two monsters.
  According to the stream archive analysis team, a “mysterious object moving at super high speed” defeated the monsters using unknown powers. The authenticity is uncertain.
  From the footage, it’s speculated that the monsters were defeated using two knives that were found on the ground afterward.

1. Anonymous
  Thanks for starting the thread.
  Any new information?

1. Anonymous
  Any updates on that blog?

1. Anonymous
  An article was updated yesterday, but it doesn’t seem particularly different from usual.

1. Anonymous
  By the way, why is the owner of that blog diving into the “Garden of the Gods”? LOL
  No matter how you look at it, it’s a dangerous dungeon.

1. Anonymous
  Don’t you know how bad it is to leave dungeons unattended?
  That’s why dungeon explorers are given special treatment.
  Recently, we’ve developed technology to stream from inside dungeons and share information, but it’s still dangerous.

1. Anonymous
  Explorers sure are something. Even if it’s become safer, it’s not like there’s no danger. I’m maxed out just guarding my own home.

1. Anonymous
  But thanks to them, we can live safely.
  Besides, I hear top-level explorers make a lot of money.

1. Anonymous
  Rumor has it that Masaru Niiyama’s annual income is 200 million yen.

1. Anonymous
  That’s all for someone like Masaru? Doesn’t seem worth the life-threatening risk.

1. Anonymous
  This mysterious person is probably Masaru anyway.
  Clearly way too strong, LOL.

1. Anonymous
  But Masaru gave up exploring the “Garden of the Gods” in the past, so that’s unlikely.

1. Anonymous
  Well, he’s probably gotten stronger since then. Are you stupid? The blog owner is probably Masaru too, LOL.

1. Anonymous
  But Masaru criticized that blog, didn’t he?

1. Anonymous
  Isn’t that because, as Masaru said, it’s dangerous? He’s telling people not to attempt it recklessly.

1. Anonymous
  Then why did he write the blog?

1. Anonymous
  Maybe he didn’t expect to be found out?

1. Anonymous
  If it’s not Masaru… could it be Karen Minase?

1. Anonymous
  But Karen-chan was supposedly in France at that time.

1. Anonymous
  Karen Minase (born April 12, 20XX) is a half-French, half-Japanese internationally renowned dungeon explorer. She is the world’s only SS-rank explorer.
  Karen was born to a French father and a Japanese mother and grew up in Japan. She has a twin sister. From a young age, she had a strong interest in adventure and exploration, and under her parents’ influence, she learned multiple languages.
  She is active not only as an explorer but also as a model. She is sponsored mainly by dungeon development companies and appears in many commercials.
  Although her base of operations is in France, she is an extremely popular explorer in Japan as well.
  On a side note, she is an extreme anime otaku. Apparently, she has a particular love for ninjas.

1. Anonymous
  Thanks, Wikipedia contributor.

1. Anonymous
  If it’s Karen, then it would be a “Kimashita Tower” development.

1. Anonymous
  I support the theory that the blog is leaking information heard from Masaru to claim credit. The mysterious person is definitely Masaru.

1. Anonymous
  Ah, that makes sense. It’s possible.

1. Anonymous
  If it’s someone from the Dungeon Management Association, they might have heard from Masaru.

1. Anonymous
  If that’s the case, they’re a total jerk.

1. Anonymous
  So that’s why Masaru denied it. The content isn’t false, but Masaru didn’t write the blog. He even issued a statement to prevent careless explorers attracted by the information from going to the “Garden of the Gods”…