Prior to entering the dungeon, Hiroshi and his team had already informed Keisuke and the others about the situation on the first floor. They explained the presence of a goblin nest and a "Shaman," a higher-ranking spellcaster among the goblins. The shaman, similar to a village chief, commanded the goblins to abduct females for breeding purposes. These females were essentially used as breeding machines, while the goblins, under the shaman's direction, raided villages, seizing rations, killing men, and consuming them. Once the stolen provisions ran out, the shaman would then send out goblin scouts to seek new targets. These scouts meticulously surveyed the area for days, carefully watching for any potential threats before returning to convey their findings.
"How did you acquire such knowledge about their behavior, Hiroshi-senpai?" asked Keisuke, his expression displaying a blend of discomfort and curiosity.
The others also had unpleasant faces. The girls group were timid so when they heard about it trembled in fear, some slumped on the ground. Mio was calm as Ichika was holding her hands firmly, she knew Ichika would stay by her side and save her if she ever fell to danger, relying on her all the time made Mio feel weak.
I will become strong... strong enough to be able to protect Yoshikawa-san, Ichika and Hinata shouted Mio inwardly.
"This book was given to us by an adventurer," Hiroshi explained, presenting an old tome to the group.
"They mentioned that when the dungeon first opened, someone ventured inside, slew the goblins, and discovered this book. It documents the actions of the goblins before they were sealed here and transformed into dungeon monsters, guarding the first floor. The book was submitted to the government office responsible for gathering information. The following day, the contents were copied and sold to other adventurers by the office. However, this particular book that was given to us is entirely different," Hiroshi said, his thoughts lingering on the individual who had bestowed the book upon them. He couldn't recall the person's face; it was shrouded in a haze, concealing their features entirely.
"Adventurer...? So, do we have an adventurer's guild? Has the government already established one...?!" Mio exclaimed, astonished.
"No, it hasn't been set up yet. We just refer to those who explore the dungeon as adventurers. It will take time, but eventually... an adventurer's guild will be established. After all, they are putting us to work. We also earn money by simply turning in the bodies of monsters to the collection office!" Asuka added cheerfully.
"I already mentioned I wanted to discuss the goblins... now it's your turn to prove yourselves. Clear the first floor, and then you can call yourselves adventurers. And remember, the monsters inside are stronger than those on the surface! I don't know why, so be cautious when facing the goblins...!" Hiroshi stated seriously, his expression stern as he addressed the juniors.
"Don't worry, senpai... I'll protect them!" Keisuke declared, his fist clenched in determination.
"Yeah, we'll protect them!" Fuji echoed Keisuke's words with a fearless smile.
"Haah... He's giving me a headache..." Ichika sighed with irritation, casting a glance at Keisuke's face. She imagined turning his face into meat buns with a swift blow. "He's always like that. I should have disciplined him when we were kids. His sense of justice will get him killed one day," she thought to herself. "To keep him alive, I need to keep an eye on him."
"I'll join you, Ichika...!" Mio said happily, then turned to look at Haruto, who was lazily watching the scene unfold, finding it entertaining. Haruto had a headache as he glanced at Keisuke's face, which was uttering the all-too-familiar heroic line. Shaking his head, he kicked his thoughts away, banishing the image of the hero getting blasted by his lover at the end of the game.
They crafted a strategy for engaging the goblins: Keisuke's team would take the forefront, with Haruto joining them, his skill being instrumental in confronting the shaman. Haruto would strike at the shaman once its hiding place was identified. Meanwhile, Keisuke's group would focus on eliminating the goblins. Providing backup from behind would be students proficient in long-range magic. Other students with combat-oriented roles would be responsible for handling any goblins that managed to slip past Keisuke's team. With the plan solidified, they proceeded towards the dungeon.
Now, following Haruto's intervention that halted the berserk mana from targeting Mio and Ichika.
Glancing at Mio, I silently signaled for her to stay quiet by pressing the index finger of my left hand against my lips. Understanding my gesture, she promptly covered Ichika's mouth, preventing her from speaking. Shifting my attention back to the berserk mana, I observed it against the palm of my right hand. Thin tendrils of smoke curled from my skin, accompanied by a faint tingling sensation, yet my hand remained unscathed. With a light clench, I nullified the spell contained within the mana, eradicating it completely. Utilizing shadow walk, I swiftly departed from the area. Apart from Mio and Ichika, no one witnessed my intervention to stop the attack. Returning to Hinata's side, I found him dealing with the last remaining goblin.
As Keisuke and the others hurried towards Mio and Ichika, who had narrowly avoided the shaman's spell, Keisuke shouted, "Blazing Strike!" Charging forward, he swung his sword using one of his Hero skills, unleashing a wave of flames that incinerated any goblins in its path before they could even scream. "Earth Blast!" Following suit, Fuji employed his skill by stomping on the ground. The earth cracked beneath the goblins, causing a group of them to tumble into the crevice filled with sharp rocks, gruesomely impaling their bodies. The cracks quickly sealed shut moments later, burying the goblins underground.
The students, concerned for Mio and Ichika's safety, swiftly followed Keisuke and Fuji. They understood that any accidents resulting in harm to them would severely impact the group's morale. This was particularly true for the members of Mio and Ichika's fan club, who were deeply devoted to them. Despite their fervent worry, they arrived just a few seconds after Keisuke and Fuji, their determination driving them forward at an impressive speed.
Keisuke positioned himself in front of Mio and Ichika, his face displaying both worry and a hint of relief upon seeing them unharmed. Despite his partial relief, he couldn't help but ask, "Mio! Ichika! Are you two alright...?" Unaware of Mio's amused grin, Keisuke's concern remained evident. Ichika, grasping her dear friend's thoughts, empathized with Keisuke's concern. She responded to him, disregarding her friend's playful demeanor, as Mio seemed preoccupied with her own fantasies of a knight in shining armor... or perhaps a darker figure instead? Ichika couldn't shake the memory of Haruto's dark and mysterious aura.
"We're fine, Keisuke. Don't worry about us; we weren't hurt by that spell," Ichika assured him, opting to keep quiet about Haruto's intervention. Mio had made it clear they shouldn't reveal anything about him, and Ichika respected her friend's wishes. Still, she couldn't shake her curiosity about Haruto's hidden strength and why he kept it concealed. The mystery surrounding him intrigued Ichika, and she found herself wanting to uncover his secrets, despite Mio's warnings. As she pondered this, Ichika distracted herself by repeating the mantra that Yoshikawa-kun belonged to Mio, trying to push aside her conflicting thoughts.
Ichika and Mio reassured Keisuke, Fuji, and the other concerned students, grateful for their care. They appreciated having so many people who cared about them. With the goblin numbers dwindling, other students took over the task of defeating them, allowing those with weaker combat skills to level up and gain stronger abilities. Meanwhile, Haruto, Hinata, Haruka, and Hiroshi's team members patiently awaited Keisuke's team.
Haruka pondered over the enigmatic black figure that had intercepted the attack aimed at Mio and Ichika. Just as she was preparing to counter the spell herself, the shadow intervened, prompting her to abandon her incantation and focus on the mysterious presence. Unfortunately, the shadow vanished before she could utilize her identification skill, leaving her disappointed. Consulting Hiroshi and their teammates proved fruitless, adding to her frustration. With a resigned sigh, she gave up her pursuit of answers and awaited Mio and Ichika's arrival, hoping they might provide some insight into the situation.
Upon reaching the area guarded by the students who had previously supported the frontline, Mio and Ichika found themselves immediately questioned by Haruka.
"Did either of you get a good look at the shadow's face, Ichika, Mio?" Haruka's penetrating gaze bore into them, searching for any hidden truths. Mio and Ichika felt a bead of sweat trickle down their backs, sensing the weight of Haruka-sensei's scrutiny; it was as though she could peer directly into their hearts. After exchanging a brief glance, they steeled themselves to maintain their facade.
"Um... sorry, Haruka-sensei, w-we couldn't really discern its features... It was just a dark silhouette, completely shrouded in black," Mio replied nervously, her eyes darting around as she struggled to meet her sensei's gaze. Lying so openly in front of Haruka-sensei was a new and unsettling experience for her.
"Indeed, just as Mio mentioned... The figure's features eluded me," Ichika responded composedly, masking her true sentiments with practiced deceit. Over time, she had become skilled at bending the truth, especially when it involved shielding Mio from unnecessary scrutiny.
"Got it," Haruka acknowledged, noting the subtle cues in Mio and Ichika's demeanor. She couldn't help but wonder why they were so hesitant to divulge the identity of the mysterious individual. Trusting in their honesty, she opted not to probe further at the moment. Nevertheless, she made a mental note to revisit the topic after their expedition in the dungeon. With the goblins dispatched and the first floor cleared, it was time to progress to the second level.