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TL: ALT
Chapter 163 – Return
Leaving the Okutama Lake Dungeon.
It is a space that used to be Okutama Lake, gutted like an ice cream shop container.
A giant dragon descends from the starry sky with a strong sense of intimidation.
“Kuhahahahahaha! I shot it perfectly! …and Oh?”
Kudave, who landed on the ground with a gust of wind, pulled his head close to me.
“I can feel him. What the hell happened, Yuto?”
The “him” Kudave is referring to must be Splefnir.
“It’s a long story…”
I give Kudave the same explanation I gave God.
“Oh! You overcame the test he gave you! As I expected from someone I trusted!”
Seeing my “partner” for the first time in a long time (four months, according to my subjective view), I even feel a sense of nostalgia.
“This is not a good time to stand around and talk. I’m sorry, but can we talk about the details later?”
“Umu. I’ve been a bit conspicuous by making the missiles and such disappear! Then you can ride with me.”
“I’ll do that.”
When it comes to stealth, the Karakuri UFO is better, but… I’m tired of this, so it doesn’t matter.
It would be bad enough to refuse Kudave’s invitation.
…If I say something like that, I’m sure he’ll get angry and say that carelessness is the enemy.
But practically speaking, it’s probably too late to go into hiding by riding the Karakuri UFO now.
Quite a few people have seen me take off on Kudave from Tengumine Shrine after the collapse of the Lake Okutama Dungeon.
Even Seiji Tozaki, a member of the Diet, knew about it.
The authorities in this country (I don’t know where exactly) must have already known about it.
In addition, Kudave destroyed one of the ballistic missiles that flew over us in space.
He must be being monitored by a reconnaissance satellite right now, and they must have found out that Kudave and I have been in contact.
If that was the case, I might as well use Kudave on my way back and keep the Karakuri UFO hidden.
I could make them think that the source of my power as an explorer is my ability to use the powerful summoned beast called Kudave.
What I really need to hide now is the power I’ve acquired in the job world.
I’m sorry, Kudave, but I’m going to use you as a smokescreen.
Well, I’m not the kind of person who usually cares about such things.
I avoided the Karakuri UFO partly because of the trauma of the last time.
Last time, I used a Karakuri UFO on my way back from the Okutama Lake Dungeon, and I blended into the job world as it flowed.
I got over the “ordeal” of Splefnir, so I don’t think it will be the same, but… I kind of didn’t like it.
Come to think of it…
Feeling mischievous, I ask Kudave.
“You know… you told me before. You and Splefnir are as different as a meteorite and the ocean, and you can’t say which is stronger than the other.”
“Hm? Oh, that’s right.”
“I think you’re exaggerating, don’t you? The other party can even manipulate causality and fate, you know? I don’t think Kudave is a match for him, no matter how strong you are.”
“W-w-what do you say, Yuto? I’m the strongest! I’m just… uh… incompatible with him!”
“Yes, yes, let’s put it that way.”
“I-it’s true, you know! I developed the Megiddo Flare so that one day I could blow a hole in the world!”
“Yes, it’s amazing to be able to blow a hole in the world itself. But is it enough to reach that supernatural being?”
“Ugh… Well, we’ll have to work on that in the future.”
Kudave, who was clearly annoyed, lowered his head and urged me to move on quickly.
“You’re not going too slow, are you? We’ll ride quickly to the shrine we just left.”
As soon as I got on, Kudave flapped his wings and soared into the air.
Kudave flies at a considerable speed.
I can’t even talk with this wind pressure.
“…You fooled me.”
“…Huh? Did you say something, Yuto?”
“No…”
Let’s have the compassion of a samurai and stop poking.
In just a few minutes, thanks to the full power of Kudave’s flight, we landed at the Tengumine Shrine.
The temple grounds were crowded with people of all kinds, even though it was late at night.
The people who seemed to be explorers braced themselves for the phantom dragon that suddenly landed in the middle of such a crowd.
I raised a hand to stop them,
“Kudave. Thank you for saving my life today.”
“Oh. You’ve been through a lot in just one day, haven’t you?”
“Indeed… I hope things are better now.”
“If you need me again, you can call me. I don’t think you’ll be in such dire straits now that you’ll need my help.”
“I’m glad to hear it, though.”
The collapse of the dungeon could not have been prevented without Kudave’s power.
I teased him earlier, but the Megiddo Breath that Kudave had developed for use against Splefnir also came in handy.
“Well, why don’t we test our strength against each other? I’m interested to see how much you can withstand me now.”
“Is it a condition that I win…?”
I smiled bitterly at the Phantom Dragon, who still considered himself the strongest.
“Well, I’ll think about it later. For now, I’d like to take it easy.”
“Hm. Sometimes, it’s important to rest your wings.”
“See you later.”
I dismissed Kudave.
The explorers around me gasped at the sight of the phantom dragon as it turned to light and disappeared.
I turned to one of them,
“Hey!”
“Y-yes?”
The explorer straightened his back and replied in polite language.
I thought I was talking to him in a normal way.
“Where is Serika… Serika Akenojo?”
“I-is she the representative of the Paladin Knights?”
“Is there anyone else?”
“N-no! I’m sorry!”
“You don’t have to be so formal. I’m just an explorer myself.”
In terms of my career, I must still be a beginner.
“N-no, I don’t think a normal explorer would have such an outrageous summoned beast with him… It was a pressure that even a bunch of A-ranked dungeon bosses couldn’t match.”
“There are many circumstances. Anyway…”
“Oh, I’m sorry… sorry. If it’s the Paladin Knights’ representative…”
The explorer turned around and was about to show the back of the district,
“――Yu-kun!”
A familiar holy knight appeared behind him.
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