Episode 458 Black Fog

Now, how do we identify the attackers?"

It would be best to do some diligent research."

That takes time. I'd like to settle things faster."

What happened to the blood?"

The blood we took was type O."

Do you know the blood types of Mr. Sheringham and Mr. Fudo?"

I'm sure Branch Chief Kondo will find out."

　I borrowed a phone from the dungeon house and asked the branch manager to check their blood types. The results show that Sheringham's blood type is O.

Don't you know what your blood type is, Mr. Fudo?"

　Fudo, who has not moved his base of operations to Shibusashi City, apparently does not know because the Adventurers' Guild in Shibusashi City does not have a copy of his performance report. This report is a kind of resume for adventurers, containing personal information, and the Adventurers' Guild at the new location is required to receive it when the adventurers' base of operations is moved.

'Then we have no choice but to set a trap.

A trap?　What kind of trap are you trying to set?"

We are going to give them one more chance to raid us."

　Metis explained in detail. After hearing his explanation, I agreed to be trapped.

　That day, a rumor spread through the Adventurers' Guild that I was going to the second level of the Narukami dungeon tomorrow afternoon to hunt goblins. My and Arisa's goblin hunts had become well-known, so the word spread like it was going to happen again.

　The next day, in the afternoon, I dove into the Narukami dungeon and at the entrance of one level, I brought out Hakuro, a reconnaissance-type shadow puppet, from the shadows.

As we discussed, I'll have Haklo watch for adventurers entering the dungeon."

　I synchronize my consciousness with Hakuro's Sorcery Eye. Then, the scene that Hakuro sees was sent to my mind.

　In this state, I was confused by the overlap between the scene I was seeing with my own eyes and the one sent to me by Hakuro. I closed my eyes. Then, only the scene that Hakuro is seeing remains.

'Dr. Grimm, are you all right?'

The D-particle sensor knows the terrain, so that's not a problem."

　With Elmore and Tamegoro protecting me, I proceeded through the first layer. By the way, Tamegoro is fully recovered.

　Fifteen minutes after we entered the dungeon, two adventurers entered the dungeon. They were Fudo and Sheringham.

　I confirm the scene, and my face becomes surprised.

What's wrong?"

The ones coming after us are Fudo and Xavier."

'Xavier?　Oh, Sheringham, yes.'

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　We lead them to the goblin town on the second level. Sheringham seems to be good at the art of tracking, finding the slightest trace of us and making sure we are followed.

But I never thought you'd really fall for it."

'Didn't you think you'd be caught in a trap?'

He said, "I'm a class A and B adventurer. I thought you'd be more cautious."

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　The two adventurers were discussing how to kill their target.

Those two shadow puppets are in the way.

　Sheringham said steadfastly.

'Yes, but this time I'm going to use 'Final Nova' so I'll be able to finish him off.'

　Final Nova" was a magic that burned a circular area fifty meters in diameter with flames as hot as 2,000 degrees Celsius.

"I was ordered by Mister Luberti to get the Scroll of Knowledge, but does he still have it?"

'There's no indication that he put it up for auction, so he either still has it or he used it.

If he used it, that would be terrible."

At that point, we'll just go back and retrieve the magical weapons and equipment the Grimms have."

A magical equipment of a class-A adventurer. Must be worth a fortune."

　When they arrived at the goblin town, the goblins had been wiped out.

I'll use the Bracelet of Concealment to get close to them and finish them off with Final Nova. If I fail to kill the shadow puppet, please take care of it.

　Fudo targets Grimm, Sheringham takes care of shadow puppets

program

It seems that the

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　The "Final Nova" was activated toward the three shadows that were retrieving the goblin's magic stone. Pale flames engulfed the three shadows and set them ablaze.

　The tremendous heat reached Fudo, who released "Final Nova" and seared his skin with a chill. Fudo smiled coldly as he retreated.

Even though we say "Class A," the wizards of life are fragile.

both

No."

　When Fudo said so, the D-particle guided missile I released hit Fudo's leg. With that blow, the right leg of Fudo was obliterated from the shin down.

　Fudo fell to the ground and suffered from algae scratching in pain. Fudo, while suffering, produces an intermediate level healing magic potion and drinks it. Then he looks at me as I approach.

Yes, you're alive?"

　I cowered my shoulders. Fudo was using a "bracelet of concealment," but it seems that when using powerful magic, the magic power inevitably leaks out. Once discovered, the effect of the "bracelets of concealment" would disappear.

It was an illusion created by the magic of the 'star picture. Too bad."

Fuck."

　Fudo was about to activate his magic. I quickly activated "Thunder Bowl" and gave Fudo an electric shock. This cancelled Fudo's magic.

What did you want from me?"

'...... I just didn't like you.'

　Hearing this, I let out a sigh. I was impressed at how he could endure the pain, even though this wound must have caused him considerable pain. At that moment, the battle between Sheringham and the Shadow Puppets had begun.

　Against Sheringham, an offensive magic user, Elmore and Tamegoro challenged him in high-speed combat. With a movement that increased his quickness to about three times his usual speed, Elmore approached Sheringham and punched him in the stomach.

　Sheringham tried to escape, but he couldn't because of his speed. All he could do was try to activate some magic. That magic also went unactivated due to the pain of being hit.

　Tamegoro mows down Sheringham's legs as if to clear them. Sheringham falls to the ground, tries to jump up, and is stepped on in the chest by Elmore's foot.

　Sheringham should have released his magic before Elmore and the others approached. Sheringham, who was punched and kicked by Tamegoro and the others every time he tried to fight back, began to suffer right after he gave up.

　When Elmore saw this, he sensed some danger and signaled Tamegoro to run away. The moment Elmore and Tamegoro moved away from the vicinity of Sheringham, Sheringham disappeared in a kind of black fog.

'Sheringham has disappeared in a black mist. Be careful.

　When Metis' voice echoed in my head, Fudo took out his thunder hammer "Mjolnir" and tried to throw it at me. I kicked his hand up and Mjolnir was thrown out.

　At that moment, the immobility begins to suffer. I activated the "catapult" and threw the body backwards. Immediately after that, Fudo's body begins to be enveloped in a black fog. The suffering Fudo spits out blood from his mouth and tries to escape from the fog, but he is enveloped and disappears.

What was that?"

　I muttered bitterly. Elmore and Tamegoro returned. On the way, Tamegoro retrieved the thunder hammer "Mjolnir. It was a mythical magical weapon. It was more powerful than Tamegoro's magnihammer.

What is that black fog?"

I don't know. I'll go back and ask the branch manager."

　We went back to the surface and headed for the Adventurer's Guild. When we met Branch Chief Kondo, we told him what had happened in the dungeon.

'Immovable, you were one of the attackers. ...... This is going to be a big deal.'

　Kondo, the branch manager, was headstrong.

Does the branch manager know anything about the black fog?"

　Kondo, the branch manager, gets a serious look on his face and says he doesn't even want to put it into words.

Sacrifice

gift

I heard that when the seed is planted in a human being, when he or she feels a certain emotion, a black fog is generated from the seed and the dungeon swallows it. I have heard that if the seed is planted in a human being, when he or she feels certain emotions, a black mist will be generated from the seed and he or she will be swallowed into the dungeon.

　What emotion did Fudo feel? Was it "despair"?

　As the branch manager predicted, when I reported this to the upper management of the Adventurers' Guild, all hell broke loose. I was interviewed repeatedly and explained the situation.

　Fortunately, Geronta had taken pictures of the fight between me and the immobilizer with his camera, and when I submitted the pictures, the upper management of the Adventurers' Guild had no choice but to believe me.