Episode 31.21-22 (2/2)
”What about you guys, you don't come often to floor 90 yourself, do you?”
”Well, that's cause it was a request from General Dungeon Administration.”
”Working as bodyguards for young adventurers?”
”Yep yep. Apparently one of those guys is a son of some bigshot in this town.”
”I see. You guys are trusted enough to keep a watch on some VIPs.”
”Eh it's not really like that. We just couldn't decline this request after saying no to the last one.”
”The last one?”
”That was quite some time ago though.”
”Have you heard rumors 'bout <Bat Demon>, Lecan?”
”Bat Demon? I know about demons, but what's a bat?”
”Oy oy, it's that, y'know. Those things that come out flying around in the evening.”
”They got devil-like wings, face and body like rats'.”
”Ah, gotcha. It's bats.”
”That's what I been telling ya.”
”So, is this <Bat Demon> a newly discovered magic beast?”
”Kakaka. It would be great if it were.”
”Its identity is completely unknown. Or more like we dunno if it even exists.”
”I don't get it.”
”So you see, Lecan. There's been many reports of people experiencing something flying above head or hearing sounds of flapping in the Dungeon Tsubolt's stairways from around the tenth of month one this year. All thorough upper to middle floors.”
”They've got reports of sighting in the depths too.”
”There were also adventurers who witnessed a suspicious-looking black magic beast. It looked like a humanoid with bat-like wings, see.”
”Hou.”
”None has ever seen its figure even in the depths. They could only sense suspicious shadows or presences.”
”I see.”
”And so they told us to investigate this thing that may not even exist. The scope's also way too vast. And unless you know a skill to fly in the stairways, one just cannot take this quest.”
”Must be suspenseful to have something flying above your head.”
”Kakaka. You cannot blame them for imagining the possibility of getting attacked by the thing.”
”Say if Lecan jumps above someone's head with that overcoat of yours, that's what it probably looks like.”
”Damn right. Kakakakaka.”
”But of course that can't be it. I mean Lecan should have long been a depth-walker by the first month of this year. Huh wait?”
Bruska seemed like he recalled something and turned around to look at Nark.
Nark who was watching over their conversation with a stern look on his face averted his eyes.
Lecan quietly drank his cup.
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Arios returned the night of that day.
Fatigue has completely disappeared from his eyes, tranquil fighting spirit is drifting out of his entire being.
”Looks like you're ready.”
”Yes. Same to you Lecan-dono.”
”Alright. We'll take on floor 117 the day after tomorrow.”
”Yes.”
They took it easy the following day.
Then on the tenth of month four, the two stood before floor 117 <Guardians>' room.