Chapter 69 - Bounty Head and Awakening [12] (1/2)
69. Bounty Head and Awakening [12]
When we went to the lowest level of the laboratory, which was now half-destroyed by the black Dark Roar, there was a spiral staircase leading to the basement.
As we slowly descended with increased vigilance, there were a huge number of eerie machines lined up.
「W-What is this…?」
The huge beaker in front of me was filled with a transparent orange liquid, and a bluish stone floating in it.
「…It’s a very uncomfortable place.」
Beyond Rose’s gaze, there was a water storage tank-like mysterious machine that emitted sounds like an electrocardiograph.
「Fumu… It looks like they were doing research on spirit pills here.」
Leia-sensei picked up a bluish ore and muttered so.
As we continued straight through the dim laboratory which was filled with stagnant air, we encountered five people who looked like researchers.
「Y-You’re… Black Fist!?」
「Thor-sama and Zack-sama… have been defeated…!?」
「Aa… It’s over…」
They started cowering in fear when they saw Leia-sensei.
「I guess I don’t need to introduce myself. Now, I’m going to get straight to the point. Where’s Ria Vesteria? I don’t mind even if you resist, but you’ll just experience pain is all…」
When sensei cracked her knuckles,
「「「Hi-Hii!?」」」
The researchers screamed all at once.
And then,
「T-this way…」
One of the researchers began to guide us to the back of the laboratory.
In the back of the laboratory was a prison with iron bars, and in it there was the figure of Ria with both hands and feet restrained.
「Ri, Ria!」
「A-Allen! Even Rose, and Leia!」
Apparently, there was no serious injury to her body.
As I sigh a breath of relief,
「Where’s the key?」
「He-here…!」
Sensei received the key from the researcher, unlocked the prison and continued to remove the chains on Ria’s hands and feet.
And then,
「Allen!」
「Oops!?」
Free from her restraints, Ria jumped into my chest.
「I was scared…I was really scared…」
I embraced her trembling body gently.
「I’m sorry I’m late. It took some time to find this laboratory.」
「No, it’s okay… Thank you, Allen. I believed you would definitely find me…!」
A big smile bloomed on her face, with tears in her eyes.
「……」
Being shown such a pretty smile right in front of me,
「I-Is your body okay…?」
I turned my face away slightly and asked.
「Un. They took a little bit of blood, but nothing else.」
「I see, I’m truly glad.」
And when I and Ria were talking,
「…Ria. I know how you feel, but you’re being a little too clingy.」
Rose, with a vein popping on her forehead, said so in a low voice while tapping her foot.
「…Ah, I’m sorry, Allen. I’m just a little too happy.」
「A-Aa… Don’t worry about it.」
And when I and Ria distanced ourselves slowly,
「This is an unexpected harvest.」
Sensei picked up a bluish pill which seemed like a spirit pill, and whispered quietly.
「Harvest…?」
「Aa. As far as I know, this is the first time in the world that we have seized a Black Organization laboratory. This is a great achievement, Allen!」
She said so and patted my back.
「It’s because I had help from sensei and Rose, and even Rize-san.」
「Haa… You’re as humble as ever. It’s the exact opposite to me.」
Then sensei smiled and clapped.
「Well, it’s already late, so you guys better go home soon.」
「What about sensei?」
「I’m going to restrain these people, toss them into the Holy Knight’s station, and then join the on-site inspection. And there’s a lot of other work to be done still.」
She said so while shrugging her shoulders.
「Well, to tell you the truth, I’d like to borrow your help too, but… This is the work of the ‘Director of Five Academy’… I can’t impose these duties on my students.」
It looks like there’s nothing we can do to help from here on.
「Thank you very much. Well then, we’ll take our leave here.」
「Thank you very much, sensei!」
「Goodbye.」
And when I, Ria, and Rose were leaving this place, I heard someone running down the spiral staircase at a tremendous speed.
「Who is it?」
I stood in front of the exhausted Ria and Rose, and immediately pulled out my sword.
And then,
「It is I…*gasp* No. 18……*gasp* I have returned…!」
Large beads of sweat trailed down his forehead and he was breathing heavily.
「No. 18-san!?」
If I remember correctly, I heard that he was out on border security.
「You’re late… Where were you loitering around, No. 18?」
「I’m sorry, huff huff… I started running at full speed as soon as I was contacted, huff huff… But as expected, it took a long time.」
He explained so, gasping for breath.
「Good grief, such a helpless guy. Here’s your next task. Just in case, escort Allen and the rest to Thousand Blade Academy. Rose is especially worn-out, so it would be helpful if you move while keeping that in mind.」
「U-Understood…」
No matter how you look at it, No.18-san was way more exhausted than Rose.
And then,