Chapter 9: Anomaly
———Dungeon Exam Day 5, Evening
"Phew... The outside world sure feels good after a while!"
When we returned to the city of Arahan for resupply, other students who had returned from the dungeon were also visible.
Among them was Gon, but he looked different than usual.
"What's wrong, Gon? Did you eat something bad?"
When I called out to the depressed Gon, he looked down.
"Mars, huh... Carl and Tian got injured... We can't dive until they recover."
"I got carried away and went too far forward... Then a Goblin Mage's 《Fire》 came flying... Tian covered me, but the enemy focused on me... and when Carl covered Tian, our formation collapsed..."
Regret dominated Gon's heart, and hot tears melted into the ground.
What should I say? What were the upperclassman accompanying them and the staff who should have been nearby doing?
Seeing Gon's tears, my emotions were greatly shaken too.
"Oi, Mars, That's not something you should worry about."
Cyrus placed his hand on my shoulder and continued.
"Me neither. I don't want to see students get hurt. But you know, this is the pain they have to experience now. There were probably plenty of people around who could help. However, if we help right there, they won't gain experience. So, the basic rule is we don't interfere unless they're about to sustain severe injuries. How are Carl and Tian's conditions?"
"Yes... They should fully recover by tomorrow, but we were told to watch them for another day just in case."
I'm glad the injuries weren't as severe as I thought.
"Will scars remain on the two of them?"
"Carl might have a small scar on his arm... Tian only has bruises, so no scars should remain."
When Gon answered my question...
"A man's scar is a medal! Look at my arm! Each of these scars is proof I saved a comrade! Do your best so you can save them next time! Don't lose heart!"
Cyrus slapped the curled-up Gon's back hard.
"Yes! Thank you very much!"
Though he looked in pain, Gon's spine straightened as spirit was injected into him.
"Alright! I'm going to check on the other brats, so you guys rest your bodies quickly too!"
There were quite a few students looking down like Gon, and Cyrus called out to all of them, slapping their backs.
Watching this, Gon asked me.
"You guys aren't injured, right, Mars? Why did you return?"
"Ah Mainly to resupply the food. I'm acting with just the teacher, so we don't have a porter. But from tomorrow, Cyrus-sensei will carry the food, so we plan to go to the third layer."
Over yesterday, the day before, and the day before that—three days—Cyrus confirmed that I could fight alone even on the second layer. He cautiously observed my battles, saying that even if one is strong one-on-one, some are weak one-against-many. Especially since vanguards often get overwhelmed by the enemies in front of them and lose focus. Cyrus has a point.
"As expected. I'm looking forward to seeing how deep you can go, Mars. But don't push yourself too hard."
"You too, Gon. Don't brood too much, just like Cyrus-sensei said."
Praying for each other's success, I rested my body in a bed for the first time in a while.
———Dungeon Exam Day 6, Early Morning
When I woke up and headed to the inn lobby, teachers were gathered, keeping a distance from the students. Among them was Cyrus, wearing a grave expression.
"Good morning. Did something happen?"
"Is it already that time...? Go over there for a bit."
Cyrus shooed me away rudely. After waiting for several tens of minutes, Cyrus finished talking with the staff and came over to me.
"Alright, let's go. I'll carry the luggage today, so we aim for the third layer."
His words lacked their usual vigor.
"Did something happen?"
I asked while heading to the dungeon, but...
"Shut up! Just think about yourself!"
He barked at me.
I only know that something bad happened. What are the teachers hiding? Holding doubts, I entered the dungeon.
———
"Did something good happen to you? Your sword seems awfully light today."
Cyrus, sensing a change in my swordsmanship, asked.
I feel bad for Cyrus who seems to be harboring some worry, but it seems my emotions have transferred to my sword.
Why am I so cheerful? Because I'll be able to see Clarice and the others soon!
I haven't met Clarice and the others even once since the first day.
Partly because our diving routes were different, but I heard they arrived at the third layer early on and have been operating with that as their base. There was no way I, wandering around the first and second layers, could have met them.
"That's not true, Just as usual, right?"
If Cyrus finds out, I don't know what he'll say.
"...Is that so... Then fine."
He still seems different from usual.
"You've been strange since morning, you know? Did something happen?"
Prepared to be yelled at, I asked again.
"...Ah... No, it's nothing. We're diving at this pace."
Cyrus fell into deep thought.
It was the day after we reached the third layer that I understood the reason.
———
———Dungeon Exam Day 7
"I can see a white light!"
When I reported seeing the light of the Safe Zone, Cyrus ran toward it without replying.
I chased after Cyrus and entered the Safe Zone, where one staff member and an upperclassman were running around in confusion, and the air was filled with the sense that the first-year students were battered and exhausted.
"Oi! Explain the situation!"
Cyrus suddenly shouted, and the staff member stood before him.
"Then let me explain from the beginning! The day before yesterday, we received a report from the injured Lorenz-san that some party members of 【Flower Lotus】 and 【Sickle Weasel】 have gone missing!"
Gone missing!?
Suppressing the urge to demand what that meant, I listened to the staff member's words.
"We immediately had the teachers here head to the scene, and we've been searching the third layer thoroughly with the remaining upperclassmen and A-Class students, but currently, they haven't been found!"
Are the students here battered because they've been running around the dungeon?
"There should be a party formed only of teachers on the fourth layer, right!?"
"Yes! It seems the teachers are searching too, but there are many Threat Level D monsters on the fourth layer! Even for the teachers, it's difficult to move freely..."
They could probably defeat a group of Threat Level D monsters, but a series of battles might be tough.
"Who... Who went missing!?"
Please, not Clarice and Ellie! I shook the staff member's shoulder with a pleading feeling.
"We don't know the details, but two males and two females are gone..."
Damn it! Two females means there's a high probability that Clarice, Ellie, or Misha are included!
I can't just stand here!
As I tried to head to the fourth layer immediately, Cyrus grabbed my arm with all his strength.
"Let go! We have to go quickly!"
When I tried to shake off Cyrus's arm...
"Do you know the geography of the third and fourth layers!?"
Kuh! Cyrus is right. It's natural for him to stop me.
However, I have to go even if I have to force my way... even if I get expelled... But then, unexpected words came from Cyrus.
"Relax! I'll take you with me! Oi! Tell me where 【Flower Lotus】 and the others are!"
Allowing me to accompany him, Cyrus asked the staff member for the location.
"I heard they dove from the south stairs and proceeded east from there, but...? Cyrus-sensei? That child is E-Class, right? Bringing him here is already unconventional, but the fourth layer is..."
"Shut up! Don't order me around! If it's a problem, I'll fly anywhere again later! Let's go! Mars!"
This time Cyrus pulled the hand he was holding and ran out of the Safe Zone.
"Thank you very much! I won't forget this favor!"
"Say thanks after everyone is saved! Anyway, hurry!"
We stayed in the third layer's Safe Zone for less than ten minutes.
"Oi! Think about pacing!"
Cyrus yelled at me, but there was no way I could think about that.
Running continuously from the Safe Zone, we finally reached the stairs to the fourth layer.
Immediately annihilating the enemies in the room, I tried to head east...
"Not that way! To go east, you have to make a big detour from the west! Don't waste stamina! Run behind me!"
The more I panic, the more I spin my wheels. I understand it in my head, but I can't suppress it. Deploying 《Sylphid》, I overtook Cyrus running in front.
I cut down every monster appearing before me in a single stroke. Ignoring monsters far away in the room, I ran the shortest path to Clarice and the others.
I feel like I had been running for nearly an hour after descending to the fourth layer.
Finally, I saw several figures standing in the passage.
Clarice and the others!? My heart beat faster, but standing there were three teachers, including Sasha.
"Mars!? And even Cyrus!?"
Sasha looked at me and Cyrus chasing behind, eyes wide.
"Sasha-sensei!? What happened?"
"Yes, We were heading to 【Flower Lotus】, but we were too impatient and left our wounds untreated, so..."
Except for Sasha, the other two teachers didn't have major wounds but had quite a few small injuries.
Even small wounds are dangerous if neglected; they can widen, or pain can prevent gripping a weapon properly. That's why the iron rule is not to engage in the next battle until even small wounds are healed, but they probably didn't have that luxury. That shows how panicked Sasha and the others were.
"...Haa... haa... You bastard... You're reckless... How much stamina do you have..."
Cyrus breathed heavily, sweat dripping from his chin.
The reason I wasn't very tired... partly because I ran marathons every day without fail, but mostly because I had deployed 《Sylphid》.
"Could it be that you guys are heading to 【Flower Lotus】 too!? If so, take us with you!"
"Ah... Can you guys walk?"
When Cyrus asked the injured teachers...
"Yes, Pain just shoots through when swinging swords or spears..."
The staff answered with apologetic expressions.
"Then, I'll take care of you guys, so Mars, hurry to 【Flower Lotus】 with Sasha! Just defeat the enemies on the way as much as possible! Protecting injured people while fighting is tough even for me."
Cyrus gave instructions while walking slowly around to catch his breath.
"Understood! Then Sasha-sensei! Let's hurry!"
Taking Sasha's hand, we aimed for 【Flower Lotus】 who should be on this floor.
We ran through the rooms while I deployed 《Sylphid》.
Annihilating enemies in the room as Cyrus told me. Taking down distant monsters with 《Wind Cutter》 too.
If Cyrus were accompanying me, I might have hesitated to use 《Wind Cutter》, but running with me is Sasha. One of the few people who knows I'm a Wind Mage.
So I can use Wind Magic unsparingly.
A little over ten minutes after separating from Cyrus.
Running through the passage, I saw a monster chained near the entrance of a room.
That monster is tied up to prevent respawning. Which means someone must be inside or near that room!
Please! Be there! Kicking the ground with a pleading thought, I felt an indescribable sensation.
What is this sensation... Is this... Clarice?
Reaching just before the room with hope and anxiety in my chest, Clarice suddenly appeared from the room. Behind her were Ellie and Misha.
"""Mars!"""
"Clarice! Ellie! Misha! Why!?"
"I just felt like Mars came nearby! Ellie noticed it too, and we just decided to check the passage!"
Clarice jumped into my chest. Ellie and Misha followed her.
So the presence I felt earlier was Clarice!
"Misha! Thank goodness..."
Sasha arrived a little late and collapsed on the spot, relieved to see Misha safe.
"Mom!"
Seeing that, Misha ran to her immediately.
I'm glad, Clarice and the others are safe. My heart was full of that thought.
Maybe that's why.
Why I didn't question that indescribable sensation————
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