Dungeon Game Chapter 34

-34- Trouble 2

The expected situation was rolling in a very bad direction.

When the distance gradually closed, even they would catch sight of us. Certainly, changing their speed to intentionally meet with us was unexpected.

Even if we open the distance, we gave up when we noticed that their movement was chaning in response to ours. Apparently, they seem to have business with us.

I caught sight of a s.h.i.+ning white light from the distance. Since we are visible that means they also see us, and discovering us through their sights only made their pace a little faster.

Guided by the light from the flashlight that Maizuru holds in her hand, they appeared.

It was really strange. There are some shallow cuts seen here and there on the exposed parts of their skin and there are also cuts even in some parts of their clothes. Their dirtiness stands out like they rolled over the ground and got the impression of someone worn-out and defeated for some reason. However, that only applies to the four of them.

Only Maizuru Yuuko is completely uninjured without even one scratch. Unlike the four who are in low spirits and exhausted, she is showing a calm expression and smiling. It seemed as if she is making fun of me, so I thought it was an unpleasant smile.

「Yah-ho, Hibarin and Fus.h.i.+min. And also Heidi, h.e.l.lo, what a coincidence meeting inside the dungeon, right?」

It was really forced. Probably, she knows that we have noticed it and said that.

「h.e.l.lo, Maizuru-san. Are you on the way on your return from the dungeon?」

「That's right, Fus.h.i.+min. We had already stayed overnight as it was the original plan, but…」

Saying that, Maizuru turned around and looked at the four people behind. The corners of her lips rose as if to a sneer and irritation seemed to dye her pupils.

「Fus.h.i.+min, you guys are planning to explore the depths of the dungeon from here on, right?」

「Yes, it's just like that.」

「Fus.h.i.+min, can't I also come with you?」

「「「「Hah!?」」」」

Because of the crazy proposal of the girl, a wild voice leaks out not only from me but from her other party members too. What on earth is this girl thinking?

「Wait, what are you saying, Yuuko?」

「You can't be serious. Haven't we decided to return from the dungeon?」

「That's right, Maizuru-san. Stop telling jokes like that.」

Maizuru didn't say anything to her companions. One after another, she is bathed in words from them telling her that it's ridiculous.

During that, only Minami stayed silent. If you look closely, he is carrying a lot of luggage alone. I can't resist pitying him when I think about how he continued being a gofer who was even dragged into a strange situation like this.

Visibly scheming something, Maizuru, who usually opens her mouth whenever she wants, thoroughly listened to the words that fly from the three. I wanted to ask for her true motive regarding her earlier proposal, but there was no chance to cut into the conversation. They probably finally got tired of talking, choosing the moment the three catch their breaths all together, Maizuru started to talk.

「Annoying. I knew that it's unreasonable to put the luggage together so leave it. I decided to accompany Hibarin's group, okay? Well, isn't it fine if you guys go back just by yourselves? I didn't tell anyone to follow anyway, idiots.」

「「Yuuko!?」」

「Tenri and Sachi have done nothing, haven't they? Miyazu was excited when we were at the entrance but he's obviously scared of the monsters. It's only me and Minami who are useful among these members. Just be aware of yourselves that you're just getting in the way.」

「Y, you say that I'm scared. Do you want to say that I'm even useless than Minami?」

「That's what Yuuko-chan said though? Was it not only your head that was bad but even your ears? I'm so sorry. Aah, your face is bad too, right?」

She blatantly looks down and makes fun of him.

Miyazu trembled because of Maizuru's att.i.tude. His anger that made his face red was about to explode.

What is interesting is that Kizugawa and Funai are casting their faces down and are in low spirits. I don't know why those two acted like that.

Minami opened his eyes wide and made a surprised expression. He probably did not expect that he would be given a high evaluation.

「With that, please take care of me from now on, Hibarin.」

「Hah?」

「Nh? Fus.h.i.+min, let's talk privately over there for a moment.」

Maizuru, who probably sensed the failure in negotiation because of my reaction, called Hiiragi-san and started a conversation in a slightly distant spot.

The two gentle-looking girls hang their heads in shame right before my eyes, while the boy with a bad att.i.tude is smoking in anger. Only the miserable errand boy is watching the progress of the situation calmly.

When my shoulder was tapped and I looked over, Heidi turned her head with a face that seems to be thinking about something. The place pointed out by her eyes is away from the four and on the direction opposite to where Hiiragi-san is.

I walk and followed behind Heidi. When we are away for quite a distance, Heidi spoke while lowering her voice.

「I still haven't said it, but the one remaining person that I have my eyes on is Yuuko.」

「And so?」

「Since she's the one requesting for it, you should draw her into our party.」

Heidi simply said to add Maizuru Yuuko as a member to measure the increase in our fighting potential.

Maizuru is someone who cleared the tutorial. Perhaps one of the people who discovered and visited As.h.i.+a's store earlier than me. If I add her as a member as Heidi told me to, she might learn the MS sense and operation.

a.s.suming she is is skilled, there's also a possibility that she knows something that I do not. Whether it's a give or take, I can say that it will be beneficial.

However, I want to avoid forming a party with Maizuru to capture the dungeon. It's because I hate her emotionally and, theoretically, there is a danger of her bringing discord.

Actually, she speaks of leaving the party that she was a member of and wants to go together with us. Moreover, it is not while we are inside the dungeon, but inside. She is too selfish, I cannot help but think that taking her in is like planting a bomb with its safety removed inside myself.

「I object. There's no way Maizuru-san is trustworthy.」

「I also definitely think that there's a problem with her character. But isn't it a plus if you look at it on the side of profit?」

It seems to be going along that, right?」

「Right. What will you do if Hiiragi agrees? If she also objects, I will follow.」

「All right. Let's leave it to Hiiragi-san's decision.」

Ending our conversation, I and Heidi turn back and return to our previous spot. We spent quite some time, but the conversation between Hiragi-san and Maizuru was still going on.

◆

After their conversation finally ended, Hiiragi-san and Maizuru came back.

As soon as Maizuru returned, she brought her face closer to cling and snuggle next to me.

「Fus.h.i.+min agreed so treat me well from now on, Hibarin. …Let's talk together for a moment, okay?」

She whispered a seductive voice close to my ear. Violating my ears just like a poison, I was really disgusted by how my brain is polluted.

With a detestable laughing face, the wicked woman turned her gaze towards Miyazu. Lured in, I also s.h.i.+ft my focus to him.

In that place was a man facing us with an expression as if he is watching something unbelievable.

「Yuuko-chan has decided to join Hibarin's party. With that, good luck to the four of you, bye-bye.」

While hugging my arm, Maizuru said her parting words as she waved her hand to make fun of them. Only three people could accept her insincere att.i.tude.

I thought that the difference was surely in the degree of attachment.

「Y, you're f.u.c.king kidding me. You're going out with Hiiragi, and even Yuuko? Mukou, what are you planning, b.a.s.t.a.r.d!?」

Miyazu Taito is on friendly terms with Seika's group and is a slighty bad student. I know that he had confessed and been turned down by Hiiragi-san in middle school. I also knew that he had been interested in Maizuru since entering high school.

He and I are not friends, and we are not close at all. He is just one of my cla.s.smates who were in the same school since middle school. Miyazu was someone insignificant to me like the other people.

He is naturally endowed with strength and a sc.u.m who bullies the weak. Since he made Minami a gofer, he also thinks that I am person lower than him.

For him, Maizuru was a flower on a high peak and should be also a strong person. That was why Miyazu didn't erupt in anger even though he was made fun of by Maizuru. I guess he had been really scared. The proof that can be a.s.sumed from that is clear if you look closely between the Maizuru who is uninjured and Miyazu who has a lot of wounds. They looked like the strong and the weak.

Because of the acc.u.mulated dissatisfaction inside him, his anger and jealousy exploded resulting in me being despised.

「Eeh, Miyazu was interested in me? Disgusting. Despite being weaker than Hibarin, you're trying to look cool and exposing your stupidity, aren't you?」

「Haah!? Are you saying that I'm inferior to Mukou? Don't joke around.」

Maizuru laughed aloud. Without hiding that she's looking down on him, she is watching him with eyes that seem to be looking at something funny.

Fuel is thrown to the fire inside him and it burns bigger. She sticks closer and acts as if she has feelings for me.

「Then, do you want to bet?」

「Bet?」

Hearing the word bet, Miyazu looked at Maizuru with a look of suspicion.

「That's right. You will be fighting against Hibarin. If you think that you're stronger than Hibarin then it's natural for you to accept it, right?」

Receiving her provocation, Miyazu just slightly calmed down. Looking at Maizuru's confidence, the naturally cowardly spirit made his confidence waver. He looked at me to probe.

「If you win against Hibarin, you can do anything you want to me.」

Maizuru pours desire into Miyazu's anxious mind. He weighed the risk and a vulgar l.u.s.t floated in his eyes.

「But if you lose, how about giving all the points you have right now?」

Maizuru's demands might have not reached his ears anymore. l.u.s.t showed on his face and he smiled.

Without hearing my opinions, it had been decided that I will be fighting against Miyazu. Driven and agitated by jealousy before his eyes, the coward man simply drowns in desire and gets excited. As I have a certain feeling that he would start striking on his own even if I refuse, my path of retreat had been cut off.

「Hibarin, do your best. Well, you're motivated even without my encouragement, right? After all, you hate that guy, don't you? You want to beat him up, right? I created a chance for you to do so.」

The evil woman giggled. She exposed a fragment of the ugly truth hidden inside my heart as she hummed her instigation.