When I went to the Adventurers' Guild, the town of Warbear, on the thirteenth level of the Narukami dungeon, was the topic of conversation. Tesshin was in the waiting room, so I asked him for more details.

I don't know the details, but I heard that Mr. Nagase found a way down to the thirteenth layer, and when he got to the thirteenth layer, he found a rather large town of War Bear.

"The city of War Bear, or maybe I should go see it."

　When I said that, Tesshin stopped me.

Wait a minute, that town of War Bear is off-limits to potential research subjects."

"Don't tell me, if you are the subject of a study, you can't pass through the thirteenth layer?"

'No, just don't go into town. If you're a living wizard, why don't you just fly?"

　I nodded in agreement. The entrance to the thirteenth layer is located a little higher than the town of War Bear, from where you can look down on the town.

　Nagase apparently did not enter the city, but he used binoculars to examine it in detail.

Dr. Grimm, the branch manager would like you to come to his room.

　Maria, the receptionist, raised her voice. I nodded and raised my hand toward Tesshin to signal him, then headed for the branch manager's office.

　When I entered the branch manager's office, I found Branch Manager Kondo with a difficult look on his face.

Is something wrong?"

'No, there was no problem. Did you hear about the city of War Bear that Mr. Nagase discovered?"

Yes, Tesshin told me.

The Adventurers' Guild has decided to investigate the city of War Bear, and we would like you to act as an escort for our investigators."

I said, "Wait a minute. Better to ask an adventurer with a team than me, solo."

　The branch manager looks reluctant.

One of the investigators was apparently someone who was not physically strong."

Isn't that an error in selection?"

He's a leading authority on cross-cultural dungeon research."

　According to the branch manager, there are three investigators: one man in his forties, one woman in her late twenties, and a photographer who takes pictures of the city.

　I know why the branch manager is asking me to do this. He wants to take me to the tenth layer at once by the transfer gate.

Why not Goto-san?"

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I can't get in touch with them because they are on an expedition. As for the transfer gate key, I will sign a confidentiality agreement, please."

　Since I am indebted to Branch Director Kondo, I decided to accept the job. As a reward, I receive three scrolls from among the scrolls kept in each branch, which are considered to be life magic.

　What is clearly identified as living magic is a scroll of D-particle secondary mutation characteristics, so there may be more characteristics.

But it will be hard to do it alone. Shall I ask one of you to help me?"

　The branch manager offered, but I declined.

No, I'll ask one of my disciples."

'Yes, they were. Four of your disciples were C-levels."

　I'm going to ask Alisa to help me. With this, three investigators will be escorted by me, Elmore, and Alisa. I think we will be able to protect them well enough.

　After leaving the Adventurer's Guild, I contacted Alisa and asked for her help. She readily agreed, which made me a little happy.

This is the second time you've been on an escort mission."

　Metis reminded me of the time when I escorted the dungeon photographer. This was when the Narukami dungeon was born and exploration began to take place.

　Three days after I was asked to go on an escort mission, I headed to the Narukami dungeon with Arisa. In front of the dungeon house, Branch Manager Kondo and three investigators were waiting for us.

　They greeted each other and introduced themselves. The man in his forties was named Professor Morimoto, the woman in her twenties was named Lecturer Sakaue, and the cameraman was named Iguchi. Professor Morimoto and Lecturer Sakagami seemed to be working at a university in Kyoto.

Mr. Grimm, please take good care of him.

　I nodded my head when the Kondo branch manager told me.

I'll take care of it."

　We went into the dungeon.

Is this beautiful young lady an adventurer, too?"

　Professor Morimoto confirmed this. It seems that Alisa did not fit the image of an adventurer.

Yes, I am. This is still a very capable person who has defeated Firedrake and Blue Ogre."

　When I say this, Alisa giggles. I look at her,

It was kind of funny when Dr. Grimm called me a powerhouse."

　Arisa laughs again as she says this.

　We headed for the transporter room. When we got inside and saw the transfer gate, the investigators rolled their eyes in amazement.

I will be the first to go to the tenth layer, so please proceed in order."

　I arrived at the transporter room on the tenth layer and waited for the investigators to arrive. Professor Morimoto, Lecturer Sakaue, and Iguchi appeared in turn, and finally Arisa came out of the transporter gate.

　We leave the transporter room and take the stairs to the tenth floor. The tenth floor is home to running slugs and alligator flies. Professor Morimoto and the others, who had seen the slug meadow, were interested to see a group of running slugs in the distance.

Professor, is there a boss in that herd?"

A flock has to have a boss. Otherwise, there is no control.

　I had never thought about a running slug herd having a boss. I wonder if there is a change in the herd if the boss is defeated first?

　I get out my hover vehicle and get the professors on it. Alisa is the last to get on, and she starts to fly the hover vehicle. The speed increases and I see a group of running slugs ahead of us.

We're going to get blocked up ahead."

　Alisa shouted. I stepped on the brake pedal and felt the brakes, which utilized the granting magic created by Amane, work and slow down the speed, and then I brought the control stick down.

　The hover vehicle turned sideways and began to turn to the left, flying like a drifting vehicle. I tried to go around it from the left to avoid the herd, but a lone running slug jumped in front of the hoverbeakle.

　I press the "smash button" and smash the hover vehicle into the running slug. Lecturer Sakagami lets out a high-pitched scream, and Professor Morimoto and Iguchi scream.

　The running slug that hit them was repelled and flew through the air. The professors were kyotoed because the impact was not what they had expected.

Why didn't I feel the impact?"

It's magic. This hover vehicle has a magic that absorbs the impact and sends it back."

　I explain, and the professors look impressed.

　After breaking through the slug meadow and descending to the twelfth level, we rode hover vehicles to the foot of the mountain where there was a cave leading down to the thirteenth level.

I'm not strong enough to climb these mountains."

　Professor Morimoto looked up at the mountain and whimpered. Thinking it would be troublesome, he activated the "Wing" and produced a stretcher to be bundled into the D-particle wing. He decided to use this stretcher to carry the professors.

　I carried the professor, thinking that the branch manager must have asked me to do this kind of thing. Arisa also used "Wing" to carry the Sakagami lecturer. Iguchi also carried him to the cave and proceeded to the thirteenth layer.

　When we finally arrived at the thirteenth layer, we saw the city of War Bear for the first time.

It's bigger than I expected."

　I raised my voice and Alisa nodded as she stood alongside me, looking down on the city.

Yes."

　Professor Morimoto was about to go down toward the town, snorting. I hurried to stop him.