Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 214 - Tenji's whereabout

Two days until the collapse of Mallorca Dungeon.

"The first year A-2 team is back. Pyne, Chewon, Mina, Asuka would be taking a break this afternoon~."

The team of students, helping out the rest in search of missing people since the entire morning, had just returned to the surface for a break.

They were just about to enter the tent when they crossed the path with Mehegan Whiz, who was their class teacher until just a few days ago. Apparently Whiz was just about to leave for her search duty.

Pyne chuckled as their eyes happened to meet coincidentally. Their teacher's footstep, too, halted in response and gently rubbed the head of her four students.

"You're doing great work, everyone. President Limey has prepared cookies, so have them in your rest time. They're really tasty! See ya later, I can't let my students do the heavy work only~. There's a little time left before the closing."

"Whoa, cookies! Yay. Yeah, catch up with you later, teach~. We will continue with another search round after a tid-bit rest. We have yet to find Tenji."

"Tenji…seriously, where has this kid disappeared too?"

As Whiz's eyes slightly furrowed in worry, Pyne tip-toed and lightly tapped Whiz's forehead with her tiny finger, putting up her signature dazzling smile.

"I'm sure he's fine no matter where, Teach."

"You're right, he's quite a level-headed one. Thanks, Pyne."

"Fufu, of course. I am his friend after all!"

"You really like him, don't you? Alright, it's time for me to leave. Everyone, please continue to be careful later too."

" " " "Yes, teacher!" " " "

After making sure of the spirited reply from her students, Whiz once again left for the collapsing dungeon. The four students took their break for a while, replenishing their stamina with snacks, and once again left for the dungeon.

†　†　†

"Hey, is it just me or did you guys hear someone's voice too!?"

It happened around when the team of four students had returned to their search mission in the dungeon.

They had been in charge of the third floor, a relatively safe area which they’re familiar with like the back of their hand.

They had been around the outskirts of the third floor when Pyne suddenly raised her voice to fellow teammates. But seeing their lack of reaction, Pyne further raised her voice.

"Heyyy, Asuna! You heard that, right?!"

"Not at all."

"At Least you should have, right, Cheowon?"

"Nooope."

"What about you, Mina?!"

"Hmm? Sorry, I was daydreaming about a handsome man."

It stand to reason why their response were lacking.

Pyne, more hyperactive than usual, would show an extreme reaction when there's as much as thickets rustling, prompting her to shout 'Did you guys hear a voice just now!?'. On another occasion, whenever there was a citrus scent, she would react by shouting 'It's Tenji's smell!'

After the repeated happening, it was inevitable they would lose their patience.

"No-no, I am absolutely sureeee! Let's check it out!"

Nevertheless, Pyne wasn't deterred and dragged the three by their arms no matter what their opinion was.

They had just covered 100 metres of distance when they saw a male persona, with a deep grey hooded jacket hiding his features, jumping out from the depth of alleyway.

The man's body reeled in surprise when his eyes met with the four students.

At the same time, the expressions of the three students changed.

They don't know what was his reason to escape but he would definitely have to be one of the missing people. He could be a shoplifter, a criminal, murderer or convict of any heinous crime, that was for the law to decide. At the end of the day, they had the duty to deport him to the surface safely.

"We're the students of Mallorca Escuela! The dungeon is going to collapse in just two more days. We're not going to ask your reason, but just follow us quietly."

Pyne chooses her words carefully to not startle the man.

However, the man turned a deaf ear to Pyne's calling, twirled on his heels and worked on his legs to escape into the darkness of the alleyway again, holding a purple colour paper bag.

'Ah, he seemed to be an ordinary person,' the students concluded as they saw his less defined movements.

They don't know his reason but they're not going to let him commit suicide by staying here and ultimately decided to use their abilities as explorer.

"Asuka, please."

"Alright."

Asuka replied to Pyne's calm command and activated his ability.

Damon's figure seemed to have flickered for a moment before disappearing from his spot. The next thing the man knew, Damon was just somehow in front of him, blocking his pathway to the back alley.

The man, startled, stopped on his track.

"Why're you running away? You know it's a death wish to stay here for any longer."

"......Ugh?!"

The man showed a conflicting expression for some reason and finally decided to stay still. Meanwhile, the rest of the three students catched up to them.

Amidst that, seemingly catching some hint, Damon spoke out.

"You seem somewhat familiar."

Damon's arms slithered like a living snack and took off that hood from the man. As the man's face laid bare to everyone's eyes---

"Huh, aren't you lemonade uncle?"

"H-Hi, miss......I'm quite glad to hear the way you remember me."

The man was the shopkeeper from the lemonade shop. Pyne knew him as well as someone who had often made trips for his delicious lemonade.

She was slightly astounded. She just couldn't believe why that person was sneaking around.

"Hey, uncle. There's no need to run away from us. I heard from Tenji that you're about to have a child."

"Well, yeah."

"Then why're you trying to commit suicide here when......"

Pyne was just speaking when the lemonade uncle heaved a big sigh and suddenly raised his hand, seemingly guessing what she was about to say.

"Wait, this isn't my intention at all. ......Haa! I really don't know how to explain this."

"Either way, please follow us to the surface. You know, Tenji really likes your lemonade. We definitely can't let anything happen to you."

"I know that very well. But there's...well some reasons."

"What's even that important for you!? You have been slurring your words for a while, Uncle."

As if he really found himself in a conflicting pinch, lemonade uncle looked up at the sky. Then, as if he had decided something, he stared back into the eyes of Pyne.

"Follow me."

†　†　†

The lemonade uncle guided the four students to a certain apartment building. He took them to the fourth floor and unlocked the door to his apartment with his keys. There was nothing noteworthy to mention about.

Creak

The door made a creaking sound as it opened and then—

"Aaaaaarg!?!!?"

An anguish filled, ear splitting scream filled into everyone’s ears, echoing from inside the room.