The mysterious space called the dungeon has various terrains.
From the beginner class to the intermediate class, dungeons are primarily composed of cave-like paths that resemble abandoned mines.
And a characteristic of these dungeons is that they are connected to this time and space.
The more difficult dungeons, from advanced and above, become like a subspace.
For example, they have various features such as wilderness or grasslands, swamps, forests at night, ruins, ghost towns, and so on.
Inside these high-level dungeons, there is both sky, sun, moon, wind, and rain. It is a mysterious space that resembles a world of its own.
In this world, they call this space between time and space or the space-time barrier the mysterious space. It is a magical world where anything is possible.
I was impressed that they were going to investigate the subspace of the space-time barrier.
Now, we are in the beginner dungeon, and we have started our field training.
.
.
.
"Let's take a relatively safe route," Maria said, holding the map and leading the way.
"Yes, that's a good idea," Claire, who was walking next to Maria on her right, nodded in agreement.
Maria and Claire led the way, followed by Nikubu in the middle, with Ayaka next to him.
Finally, I was carrying the baggage at the back.
Normally, wouldn't they put the weak ones in the middle? If you get attacked from behind, you'll die like a true weakling.
Are you sure about this, Captain Maria?
"Alright then, Claire. Please lead the way. I'll take the rear guard."
"Okay~"
"Huh?"
You're kidding, right?
Maria gradually retreated and glanced at me, then smiled. When she lined up next to me, carrying everyone's luggage like a pack horse, she spoke up.
"Are you tired? Shall I carry half of it for you?"
She had a beautiful smile like a flower.
"Huh? Oh, no, it's okay. I can only be useful to everyone to this extent," I forced a smile.
"That's not true. You're very humble," she said.
"Is that so?" I dryly laughed.
"Hehehe," Maria continued with a cynical smile. "This is the first time we've talked like this, isn't it?"
Why did she hold it in?
"Yeah, it is," I said, avoiding eye contact.
There was a hint of suspicion in her attitude towards me. We had only exchanged greetings until now.
Moreover, she had been a little cold to me when I first transferred in and was still not fitting in. She had organized a class social event and left me out. Maria, who was the class queen, had invited me, and no one in the class would dare to refuse her invitation.
When Ayaka asked me yesterday, "Why didn't you come?" I felt a little sad, you know?
Do you understand?
It was like being accused of a crime and being confronted with the sad truth. Memories of being left out, even in my past life, came back to me, and I became teary-eyed.
I quickly lied to Ayaka, saying, "I had something urgent to take care of." But there was no such thing as an urgent matter.
"Amachi-san, you're strong. I'm very impressed," she said.
"That's nothing to praise."
"Is she a hostess at a cabaret?"
"She's just a cabaret girl who praises pointless and worthless things."
"No, no. It's not like that. Really..."
"Oh, no. It's okay."
Maria stammered and rubbed her cheeks.
"Oh, I see..."
"..."
There was a silence for a while.
The conversation suddenly ended, and an awkward silence followed.
What kind of poorly articulated talk is this? Why are we trying to pry into each other's minds like in the Liar Game?
Claire led us smoothly to the target point.
We haven't encountered any monsters yet.
Maybe the previous team has already cleared them out.
There were signs of a fierce battle, such as burn marks and chipped rocks, indicating that the area
was littered with debris and remnants of combat.
Those foolish men said they were "clearing the way," but they might have already killed all the weak monsters.
Our mission is to recover dropped items, and it may become impossible to achieve.
I'm worried about that and scanning the area.
Claire, Nikubu, and Ayaka were having a good time chatting together, while an icy atmosphere covered the back of the group.
After several minutes of silence or even longer, suddenly, Maria started repeatedly saying,
"Ah...a, a, a."
I involuntarily let out a high-pitched sound like a strangled chicken.
It was scary to see a person break down like that in real life.
"Amachi-san, do you like tea?"
"Huh?"
"Th-th-then...this!"
Suddenly, Maria pulled out a valuable-looking letter from her pocket and handed it to me.
"What's this?"
When I received it,
"It's a letter."
"Ah. Hmm."
I could only give a foolish response.
A letter?
A death threat?
Or a warrant.
It could be possible.
"..."
No, it's an invoice!?
This.
This is an invoice, isn't it!?
I was caught.
My guess was right.
I gave up.
I decided to obediently accept my fate.
"Ah, yes. Indeed... Please wait a moment.
I will definitely... do something about it.
Okay... I understand...
I'm sorry..."
For some reason, I became polite.
I remembered when I got a phone call for overdue payment after borrowing from a consumer finance company.
No... borrowing money was fine.
I might be sent to a juvenile detention center or prison from now on.
I'm a vandal.
Or maybe it's a crime of assault or battery.
Even if I'm a villain, I beat them up too much.
I don't know the charge.
I have to do something about it.
Not only the Phantom Thieves' plan, but also becoming a repeat offender and getting stuck here.
Wait... does this mean the prison arc is starting?
If this continues, the "Extreme Evil Death Row Inmate" arc will begin.
I don't want to!
I absolutely don't want to!
I will be crammed into a smelly prison with heinous death row inmates.
Panopticon.
I will surely be pushed into a place like Panopticon.
I will be surrounded by strong men wearing orange jumpsuits.
And I will have to fight for my position among the strongest death row inmates in the prison.
"No, wait a moment, Perhaps that could be interesting after all."
"The story of Megashuva didn't mention anything about the inside of the prison."
"Anyway, there will only be small-fry mob characters, right?"
"It might be interesting to beat them up and become the top prisoner."
"And then I can live elegantly as an unchained person."
"...This won't work."
"That means nothing has been resolved!!" Amachi thought so
"Did you see through the contents...? As expected of you, Amachi-san. Well then... Is that okay!?" Maria's eyes widened in surprise.
"Ah... yes. Um... that... no, yes. I must express my gratitude and shyness. I'm sorry. I really apologize. I've always thought that I have to express my gratitude, but I didn't have the courage. I have thought of talking to you several times before, but I'm a fool who always runs away. I knew that I had to express my gratitude... So, please be gentle with me. This is my first time... Please forgive me."
I felt like a criminal caught by a police officer, and my mind went blank. I had to be humble and somehow appeal that it was my first offense and ask for forgiveness. Let's settle it with a settlement.
"I see. You were shy... I'm surprised. Yes, I'm the same. I'm the one who should apologize. I was not good either. I forgot my gratitude and was selfish. I'm just ashamed. Let's hold hands and move forward together. We are companions, so there is no need to apologize. If there is anything to apologize for, it is my immaturity. Amachi-san did nothing wrong."
Maria wiped away her tears and continued to smile kindly.
I bowed my head and put my hands together like in a prayer at the church.
"Are you forgiving me... even after what I did as a deranged criminal?"
The melody of Ave Maria was playing in my head.
"Why do you have to apologize?" Maria wiped away her tears and smiled kindly again.
"She's a goddess."
"Is she really a goddess?"
"How generous she is."
"I feel ashamed of my small heart."
"What was I afraid of?"
"Tortured by guilt, I ran away to hide it."
"Poor sheep."
"I feel like I've been reborn now."
"Maybe I'm witnessing a miracle of the gods."
"Am I watching the descent of a goddess?"
"This is grace."
"Can one really feel this elated?"
"The forgiveness of sins."
"I feel like my heart is light."
"I look forward to working with you in the future," Maria extended her hand.
"As you wish," I replied, bowing deeply, like a knight paying respect to a noble.
"What are those two doing over there?" Ayaka asked, sounding uninterested.
"I don't know," Claire and Nikubu responded with a questioning tone.
"Yes! I did it! I won't have a criminal record, and my debt is gone. Goodbye gloomy daily life, hello bright new one!"
"All right, time to enjoy my life as a small fry!"