Chapter 561 Liz’s Team – 20th Floor (Part IV)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Hiroya’s POV)
Because I fell from a high place into the water, I sank pretty deep, but that turned out to be a blessing.
(They’re gathering at the surface…)
Thanks to the Sea Serpents swarming around the corpses, things are quiet around us.
Just… I’m starting to feel like I can’t breathe.
Even though it’s lightweight, it’s tough to stay afloat at the surface with all this armor on.
Plus, I’m carrying Kazumi, who’s also in full armor and unconscious.
(First things first, I need to protect myself from the water pressure.)
I quickly concentrate my magical power and release it, coating my whole body with it.
’Good judgment, my lord. Now… might you please draw Yamikirimaru──me──from my sheath?’
As Lilith instructed, I draw Yamikirimaru.
But since I’m holding Kazumi and Yamikirimaru, my hands are completely full.
I can’t swim like this, so I put the blade of Yamikirimaru in my mouth and use one hand to paddle through the water.
’Don’t worry, my lord, I’ve created an air pocket within the magical power you’ve enveloped yourself in. You’re safe.’
Trusting Lilith, I try breathing through my nose.
…There’s definitely air.
I take a deep breath, pulling in all the air I’ve been holding back.
(Thanks, Lilith. Now, while the Sea Serpents are eating…)
I swim with all my strength towards the side passage I see in my vision.
* * *
(Liz’s POV)
”Hiroya and Kazumi seem to have stopped moving about halfway down the depth of the subterranean lake.”
After we rejoined, Rena used Detection to pinpoint Hiroya and Kazumi’s location, but they’re not moving…
”That means… possibly…”
”Don’t worry! Mr. Hiroya is alive, Mycrotch tattoo is telling me. He must have found some air pocket and taken refuge there!”
Dorothy loudly denies Simona’s musing in a way that’s uncharacteristically emotional.
”S-Sorry. I believe that too… But, how are we supposed to go and help them in our current state…?”
Hearing Simona’s dispirited words, I stared out at the underground lake.
The sea serpents that had been swarming around earlier were gone, presumably having devoured the corpses, and their forms were no longer visible on the surface.
”Well… Lilith is probably taking care of the air. ──Like Simona said, the problem is how we’re going to save those 2…”
Rena didn’t seem to have any bright ideas either.
”That’s it! Big Sis Rena, use Doro-Doro! Try talking to Big Sis Kazumi with Telepathy!”
Martina’s face lit up as she looked between the two of us.
But both Rena and Dorothy just looked down and shook their heads.
”There’s no response…”
”Yeah, there’s absolutely no reaction. Ms. Kazumi has probably lost consciousness.”
Martina slumped her shoulders at their answer.
”Ugh… Uuuunngh…”
”H… Huh…?”
”Ah, Lady Aluda and Lady Meluda are awake〜!”
At Noo’s voice, we all rushed over to the two of them.
”Good… Rena treated you both, but do you feel any pain anywhere?”
”Yeah… Aluda is fine, but…”
”What about Kazumi? When Meluda were blown away, I saw Kazumi get sent flying really high…”
Both of them slowly sat up.
And, when Meluda mentioned Kazumi’s name, everyone’s faces, which had been relieved, clouded over.
”──!”
Seeing everyone’s reaction, Meluda seemed to understand something and covered her mouth in surprise.
”No way… Hey, what about Hiro? I can’t see either Kazumi or Hiro!”
”Calm down, Aluda. Kazumi… and Hiroya, who saved Kazumi from falling, both sank into the underground lake.”
Asuka put a hand on Aluda’s shoulder, trying to calm her as she tried to get up while looking around frantically.
”We can track him with the Clan bracelet. And Dorothy’s crotch tattoo… it says ‘Hiroya’s alive.’”
”Then we have to go save him, right now!”
Meluda snapped at Simona, who was explaining the situation.
”There are still a ton of sea serpents in the water. And we don’t have any way to fight in the water…”
”Then think of a way, Liz!”
Aluda was practically breathing down my neck, but I couldn’t think of a damn thing.
(What kind of Clan Leader am I, if I can’t think of anything in a situation like this…)
I slammed my fist into the ground in frustration.
My skin split, and blood welled up… but this much pain wasn’t even a proper punishment for being so useless.
”Liz, stop. You need to calm down…”
Rena gently took my arm, and a warm green light enveloped my torn fist.
”Ugh… sorry. But I just can’t think of anything. It’s so frustrating…”
”Can’t Rena’s magic do something? Like, maybe use lightning magic to wipe out all the sea serpents at once?”
”Too dangerous. What if Hiroya and Kazumi are still in the water?”
Asuka immediately shot down Simona’s idea.
She was right, that would put the two of them in danger too.
”They’ll be fine, you know~”
Noo spoke in her usual gentle tone, as we were all racking our brains for a solution.
”Why? What makes you say that?”
Asuka crouched down in front of Noo, and asked her with a smile.
”Because Sir Hiroya loves Lady Kazumi, you know~. So he’d never let anything happen to her, you know~”
Everyone couldn’t help but let out a wry chuckle at Noo’s groundless assertion.
”Besides… you’re all underestimating Sir Hiroya, you know~. He could probably slice up sea serpents in the water like it’s nothing, you know~”
Noo spoke with unwavering confidence.
Though she probably didn’t intend to encourage us at all, her words──purely believing in ‘Hiroya’s strength’──lit up everyone’s gloomy expressions.
”Right? All we have to do is wait for now!”
”Indeed. Mr. Hiroya will surely find a way out of his predicament.”
Simona brought her fists together in front of her chest, and Dorothy, nodding vigorously, stood up.
”Alright, we’re getting out of here. It’s not like we want to be ambushed again from below the corridor.”
At my words, everyone nodded in agreement.
”Aluda, Meluda, can you walk?”
”Yeah. I’m fine.”
”Thanks to RenRen, my body feels totally alright.”
Rena offered her hands to the two of them, and Aluda and Meluda slowly got to their feet.
”I thought I understood Hiroya’s strength more than anyone… but who would have guessed that Noo got it even better than I did?”
Asuka stood up as well and reached out to help Noo to her feet.
”Of course! I’ve been watching Sir Hiroya for so long, after all!”
Noo chirped happily, standing up, her dazzling smile uplifting our spirits.
”Martina, lead us to the end of this corridor.”
”Got it!”
Martina responded with a smile, patting her chest.
”I thought I believed in Big Brother Hiroya the most… but it looks like I’ve been outdone by Noo.”
She muttered quietly, beginning to walk down the corridor leading to the exit of this wide space.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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