Evil Avalon
The Road Train, a vehicle reserved for the upper classes.
As it traveled with Black Butlers surrounding it at the front and rear, it attracted the attention of everyone passing along the way. However, after riding it for several hours, even those curious stares gradually became something we got used to.
The cheerful Tenma-san was happily chatting away, surrounded by Majima-kun and Akagi-kun. As for me, an introvert, I found it difficult to join the conversation. In fact, I couldn't help feeling that I was being somewhat ignored. So I'd moved to the cargo car at the back, stretched out, and was staring at the ceiling all by myself.
But I hadn't lost yet. This dungeon dive would last three days and two nights. We had an even longer dive planned after this, so there was still plenty of time. Even if I failed to get along with everyone on the first day, I could easily make up for it later. Besides, if I put in a little effort, getting a laugh out of everyone would be a piece of cake—
"—Hey, what kind of power-leveling are you planning to do for Akagi and the others?"
When I turned my head, I saw Kuga-san, the dark-skinned girl wearing her favorite cat-eared hood, lying in the cargo car just like me. She'd spoken up quietly.
That's right. I wasn't the only introvert here.
But what was this about? Was she gathering information? At school, she always looked listless and slept through her classes, yet she was diligent when it came to espionage. That was rather disappointing. Couldn't she slack off a little when nobody was watching? I wanted to make that sarcastic remark, but since I was supposed to be unaware of Kuga-san's true identity, I kept quiet.
In any case, this was a good opportunity. There was something I wanted to ask her.
"You'll find out what I'm planning once we get there. More importantly, though, Tenma-san called you her 'best friend.' What do you think about that, Kuga-san?"
"……"
Kuga-san pondered my question for a while, her eyes as listless as ever.
This girl's background was extremely complicated and troublesome.
In Kuga-san's home country, America, there was a special unit that made full use of the country's classified dungeon research and subjected its members to intensive adventurer training from early childhood. Actually, it went back even further than childhood. In DunEx, there was even a setting in which the genes of famous adventurers were combined, or clones were created.
Kuga-san had been placed in such a unit before she was even old enough to understand the world. While her fellow trainees dropped one after another under the inhumane training regimen, she desperately struggled to survive. She had eventually been sent to an adventurer high school in Japan as an operative.
That said, organizations that resorted to inhumane methods weren't particularly rare in this world, nor was America the only country guilty of it. Since adventurers, rather than conventional weapons, formed the backbone of military power, perhaps every country felt it had no choice but to resort to such methods. Still, to someone from my original world, it was nothing but depressing.
Having been raised by such an organization, Kuga-san in DunEx had undergone thorough ideological conditioning, turning her into an emotionless and cold-hearted girl. However, as she fought alongside Akagi-kun, she gradually changed, eventually becoming a super heroine willing to sacrifice even herself for the sake of others.
But...
At present, not a single one of this dark-skinned girl's heroine events had progressed. In DunEx, she wouldn't have trusted anyone or associated with anyone under these circumstances. Yet, for some reason, the Kuga-san of this world spent time with Tenma-san and was even called her "best friend."
What had caused this change? I wanted to probe her a little and find out how she felt about it.
The girl in the cat-eared hood answered quietly, her eyes still looking weary.
"……Tenma gives me delicious food, and she's a sparkling young lady who lives in a completely different world from mine. I'm... interested in her way of life."
"Right."
"……So I think I might be willing to protect her a little."
Was this a good sign?
In DunEx, it had taken numerous heroine events just to warm Kuga-san's thoroughly frozen heart by the slightest amount. But it seemed the energy radiating from Tenma-san was far more powerful than I'd imagined.
Excellent. At this rate, the difficulty of clearing Kuga-san's heroine events might be considerably lower than expected. She always wore such a sour expression, but perhaps the day when I could see her blushing affectionately wasn't too far away—
"Ow! What was that for?"
"That look on your face... annoyed me. More importantly, we've almost reached the tenth floor."
Just as I was secretly grinning to myself, she suddenly brought down a chop on me.
I quietly protested that violence was unacceptable, but when I looked around, I realized there were suddenly more people walking beside the vehicle. It seemed we'd arrived at the entrance to the tenth floor.
"So this is the tenth floor. That was fast! The Road Train really is something!"
"The monsters along the way were taken out in no time, too. The Black Butler unit really lives up to its reputation."
Majima-kun landed with a somersault worthy of a gymnast, while Akagi-kun agreed, impressed by the Black Butlers' combat abilities.
We'd made it from the seventh floor to the tenth so quickly thanks to this vehicle and the Black Butlers. From here, the hunting ground on the eleventh floor should be just around the corner.
Our leader, Tenma-san, gracefully stepped down with a butler holding her hand and immediately began giving instructions.
"All right, we're taking a thirty-minute bathroom break! It's fine to leave your luggage in the vehicle."
"Thank you. Then we'll take you up on that offer."
Kaworu, who'd been stretching, also bowed to Tenma-san and the butlers who had escorted us before getting off the vehicle.
Compared to how she'd looked before boarding the Road Train, her expression seemed considerably softer. Perhaps Tenma-san's friendly attitude toward ordinary people had helped everyone relax.
As I watched Kaworu with a fond smile, she suddenly straightened her softened expression and came over to me.
What was it?
"……Tenma-sama seemed very interested in you, Souta. Tell me later what happened between you two."
"Huh...? Okay."
After saying that, she walked away with Pink-chan, who'd been looking around restlessly.
She seemed curious about my relationship with Tenma-san. Well, if a childhood friend she'd known for years suddenly started hanging around with a noblewoman, it was only natural she'd want to know what was going on.
While I considered how to explain things without causing any trouble, Tenma-san, who'd been talking with the butlers, quietly approached me as well. She seemed to be walking cautiously, as if on guard. However, since she was wearing a helmet, I couldn't read her expression.
"Narumi-kun, Kotone-chan. Be careful of the group in the center of the plaza."
"……I've seen that emblem before. The one with the kunai drawn on it."
The large plaza at the entrance to the tenth floor would normally be occupied by adventurers pitching tents or spreading out ground sheets to claim a spot. At the moment, however, a group of several hundred people who appeared to belong to the same faction had taken over the area.
Three flags were flying in the center of their encampment. One of them was the problem: a flag bearing ten kunai arranged in a circle, all pointing toward the center.
Kuga-san informed me that it was the emblem of the large-scale dungeon-clearing clan Ten Rakshasas.
In other words, that group belonged to Ten Rakshasas, most likely one of its subordinate clans. Ordinary adventurers had been pushed into the corners of the plaza, but once that flag was raised, they had little choice but to give way.
I'd previously fought members of one of Ten Rakshasas' subordinate clans on the twenty-fifth floor over the maid. Some of those people might be among this group.
Just to be safe, it would be wise for Tenma-san, Kuga-san, and the Black Butlers to stay away from them.
Tenma-san immediately announced that she'd change into a slimmer suit of armor to disguise herself. One of the butlers began covering the inside of the vehicle with cloth, declaring, "Don't even think about peeking!"
But why was it that being told not to look only made me want to look?
As I pondered that curious aspect of human psychology, a nearby butler grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me away.
Left standing around with nothing to do, I decided I might as well use the bathroom. I wandered off, looking around the plaza as I went, when I spotted someone dressed rather strangely among the group that had occupied the area.
That was—
"Goddammit!"
"Why the hell do we have to do this...? Hm? Who the hell are you?"
Two women, one with golden hair and the other with silver hair, both neatly cut to shoulder length, were wearing bunny-ear headbands and bunny suits while walking around handing out beer.
Whenever an adventurer tried to sexually harass them, they kicked him without the slightest hesitation. Their quick tempers were immediately apparent.
They looked familiar somehow, but who were they?
As I watched them closely, trying to remember, our eyes met despite the considerable distance between us. I hurriedly looked away, but it was already too late.
They came marching toward me, glaring menacingly.
"Hey, fatty! Quit looking at us with those lecherous eyes!"
"If you've got nothing better to do, give us a hand, will ya? Huh?"
The golden- and silver-haired bunnies cornered me from either side, scowling as they tried to drag me into their work. For some reason, they wanted me to help with serving drinks.
When I politely declined, they made an unreasonable suggestion.
"We've got spare bunny suits, so don't worry about that!"
As I desperately tried to think of a way to change the subject, I finally remembered.
Weren't these the bunny-eared pair who'd been defeated by Kano and Chi-chan in the arena? I was pretty sure they'd called themselves Rabbit Moon.
They seemed rather worked up, so I'd better calm them down first.
"Um, are you perhaps the famous Rabbit Moon? I happened to see you at the arena the other day, and I thought you were really cool. I've become a fan."
"……Huh? Seriously? You're a fan of ours?"
"You're a fatty, but at least you've got good taste! Good taste, at least!"
The golden- and silver-haired bunnies draped their arms over my shoulders and began patting my chin and the fat around my belly.
For an idol unit, they were incredibly rough around the edges. They'd immediately fallen for my flattery, and their change of mood was so sudden that their earlier irritation seemed like a lie.
This gullibility might come in handy.
I'd take a step closer and gather some information. First, I'd ask about the bunny-eared pair themselves and their relationship with the group occupying the plaza. Did everyone there belong to Rabbit Moon?
"Rabbit Moon's members are me, Nonoka, and this golden-haired girl, Tsukuyo. It's just the two of us. Those adventurers gathered over there belong to our parent clan, Lionel Sanders."
Nonoka, the silver-haired bunny, cheerfully explained.
About a year ago, she and Tsukuyo had left their parent clan to establish a new clan called Rabbit Moon. They'd been fighting in the arena as an idol unit to raise their new clan's profile.
They'd steadily racked up victories and built their reputation. Their natural cuteness had also earned them popularity online, and they'd managed to attract an unusually large fanbase for B-rank arena fighters.
However...
They'd encountered some wicked, utterly ruthless people and suffered a defeat. Today, as punishment for that loss, their boss had forced them to serve drinks while dressed as bunnies.
Tsukuyo stomped her feet in frustration as she explained.
Wicked and ruthless people, huh...?
That was certainly one way to describe them.
Kano and Chi-chan had started online flame wars with Rabbit Moon day after day on social media. Once the pair took the bait, they'd lost half the fans they'd spent a year gathering in a single night. On top of that, they'd been forced to agree to "do one thing the winner asks."
It really was devilish behavior.
I silently apologized on behalf of my younger sister and Chi-chan for the brutal attack they'd launched, then continued asking questions as though I knew nothing.
First, there was this clan called Lionel Sanders. Given that it had raised a flag bearing ten kunai, it was undoubtedly a subordinate clan of Ten Rakshasas.
If it was Rabbit Moon's parent clan, did that mean Lionel Sanders was a second-tier organization under Ten Rakshasas?
When I asked, they explained that there was another clan between them.
"At the top, of course, is Japan's strongest and largest clan, Ten Rakshasas. The second-tier organizations are clans governed by Jōyōraku-sama, one of the Rakshasas. Lionel Sanders is below that—a third-tier organization led by our boss, the Beast King."
To summarize, Ten Rakshasas' organizational structure was as follows:
First-tier organization: Ten Rakshasas
Clan Leader: Kaede TakamuraSecond-tier organization: Unknown
Clan Leader: Rakshasa JōyōrakuThird-tier organization: Lionel Sanders
Clan Leader: Beast KingFourth-tier organization: Rabbit Moon
Members: Nonoka and Tsukuyo only
Ten Rakshasas currently had eight second-tier organizations, each led by a Rakshasa executive who served as its clan leader.
There were around thirty third-tier organizations, including Lionel Sanders. The fourth-tier organizations were too numerous to count. Altogether, as far as anyone knew, more than twenty thousand adventurers belonged to the organization.
Twenty thousand, huh...? In a sense, that's practically a nation.
Even Colors, led by Kotaro Tasato, had only about two thousand members, including its subordinate clans. Ten Rakshasas had ten times that number.
There was no other organization in Japan, aside from the national military, capable of mobilizing that many adventurers.
Still, I had no intention of picking a fight with Ten Rakshasas' main force, so I'd put its sheer size aside for now.
The person I'd be fighting in the arena was this so-called Beast King. Since he was the clan leader of Lionel Sanders, I now knew his position. Apparently, the Beast King was also a direct subordinate of a Rakshasa named Jōyōraku.
In other words, defeating the Beast King might give me a chance to draw out one of the Rakshasas.
I had no intention of making contact with Takamura, the top leader, nor did I plan to fight one of the Rakshasas. A battle against someone at that level would require me to unleash everything I had, and even then, I might still lose.
On top of that, these people wielded power and military strength comparable to those of the great nobles. The risks of opposing them were simply too high.
I could only afford to go as far as the level below them.
The decision regarding the maid's fate should be something that one Rakshasa could settle on their own authority. Whatever happened, the next battle would undoubtedly be the key.
I looked toward the center of the plaza and saw a huge chair resembling a throne. A man wearing a fluffy lion hood was sprawled across it.
Was he the Beast King?
He wore round sunglasses, making his expression difficult to read, but he had the air of a powerful individual.
It was a good thing I'd stopped my younger sister and Chi-chan from fighting him.
Judging by the materials and types of armor worn by the people surrounding him, they all seemed to be at least level twenty.
It was astonishing that an organization with so much fighting power was still only a third-tier group under Ten Rakshasas.
But why had they deployed such a large force on the relatively shallow tenth floor?
"Obviously, we're looking for a Gate. Somewhere around here—ngh!"
"(Nonoka! That's clan-confidential information!)"
Tsukuyo hurriedly clamped a hand over Nonoka's mouth, stopping her just as she'd become talkative.
I see. They'd gathered so many people to search for a Gate.
As far as I knew, the Gate around here was the one leading to the old woman's shop. If that place were discovered, the existence of the demon Furfuru would also come to light.
That could turn into quite a major news story...
"By the way, when you say that information is confidential, are you acting on the basis of already having obtained reliable information—"
"Hey! You said you were our fan, but you've been asking nothing but unrelated questions! Are you a spy or something?!"
Tsukuyo grew suspicious and glared at me threateningly.
I'd pushed a little too far.
Still, learning about the Beast King's position alone was worthwhile.
It was about time to leave.
The two women pressed in from either side, demanding that I ask more about them, so I decided to retreat.
"Oh, right! I'm supposed to meet up with my companions. I'm sorry, but I'll have to—"
"—Wait. Are your companions the people on that Road Train?"
"Seriously? You're riding in that thing? You're not a noble, are you?"
When I looked over, Tenma-san had finished changing into her slimmer suit of armor and was waving at me from atop the Road Train.
She still gleamed with a dazzling silver brilliance. Combined with the vehicle, she was impossible to miss.
The moment the bunny-eared pair spotted the vehicle, their eyes lit up.
"Hey, let us ride it too!"
Apparently, the two had admired Road Trains since childhood and had even been saving up money for the day they'd finally get to ride one.
I wondered whether they really wanted to ride it that badly, but the rental fee alone amounted to several million yen for just one day. It was far too expensive for ordinary people to rent even for a special occasion.
If they could ride it for free, I could understand why they'd get a little pushy.
However, our destination was the eleventh floor, and we planned to leave this floor soon. I tried pointing out that they still had a Gate to search for, but they wouldn't let go of me. They kept patting my chin and insisting:
"Who cares about something that trivial?!"
"Just hurry up and let us ride!"
Unsure what to do, I consulted Tenma-san.
"If they're your acquaintances, Narumi-kun, then of course they can come! But only as far as the eleventh floor."
"Whoa! Why are there bunnies in a dungeon...? Ow!"
Tenma-san was generous enough to accept their unreasonable request without hesitation.
Majima-kun had just returned from the bathroom. He was surprised by Tsukuyo and Nonoka's outfits, but he also seemed quite interested. However, he'd stared a little too closely at their cleavage and had been punched by Tsukuyo.
The area around the vehicle grew noisy. Kaworu returned with Pink-chan and asked what was going on, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Um, who are these people...?"
"Well, this guy said he was our fan, so we figured we'd make an exception!"
"Yeah! Fan service is part of an idol's job, right?"
Before I could answer, the bunny-eared pair started blowing kisses and spreading their own version of events.
Well, I had said I was their fan, but still...
Was it just my imagination, or had the women—including Kaworu—started looking at me a little coldly?
I tried to clear up the misunderstanding, but the two women reached around me from behind and pulled me closer.
"(I get it, Butao. Both of them have some pretty impressive... assets. So, what's the name of their idol group?)"
"(Um, they said it's called Rabbit Moon...)"
Majima-kun praised me for a job well done while sneaking glances at the bunny-eared girls, whose outfits revealed quite a bit of cleavage.
Although I'd become more distant from the women, I'd managed to close the gap a little with Majima-kun, who I'd thought would be the hardest person to get along with.
Well, I supposed that was something.
The bunny-eared pair had also given me valuable information about Ten Rakshasas. As an apology for the trouble my younger sister and Chi-chan had caused them, I'd welcome them aboard properly.
Besides, it was only a short trip to the eleventh floor.
However, I could practically feel a piercing gaze coming from behind Tenma-san's helmet. Even the usually easygoing Tenma-san seemed to be glaring at me.
If this continued, it could interfere with the curse-removal quest. I needed to clear up the misunderstanding as soon as possible.
But how could I explain myself?
I desperately racked my brain while Majima-kun continued jostling me.
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