LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 34
Chapter 34. Pre-Mission Meeting
The next morning, I crawl out of bed and open the curtains.
The dazzling morning sun fills the room, nudging my body awake.
Looking out the window, I can see the headquarters of the Special Ability Unit. The building we moved into is an apartment complex for personnel assigned to the Unit, located close to headquarters.
The new scenery feels unfamiliar, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it in time.
After changing into the issued uniform, I head to the living room.
A dragon emblem is sewn onto the chest of the uniform, and just looking at it sparks a bit of motivation—like being selected as a representative for a major tournament.
“Morning~.”
As I leave my room, I bump into Ao, who’s heading for the living room at the same time.
Her hair is messy with bedhead, and her half-closed eyes suggest she’s still shaking off sleep.
“Morning. Didn’t sleep well last night?”
“I got a bit excited… Oh, not in that way!”
“Nobody’s going to think that from what we’re saying.”
What exactly does she think I am? No brother in the world would imagine his sister in such an unguarded state.
Once in the living room, I head to the kitchen and grab some cereal from the shelf.
I prepare two bowls, pour in the cereal, and top them with milk.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks! Starting work today, right?”
“Yeah, there’s a meeting about the upcoming mission. If there’s an emergency, I’ll get a notification on my phone.”
Emergencies generally mean dealing with B- or A-rank monsters. Anything above that is a rarity. While some regions are plagued with constant monster activity, Japan has been relatively peaceful. There hasn’t been an S-rank monster sighted in the past four years.
“By the way, isn’t today your first day at school, Ao?”
“Yep! I’m going to make lots of friends and bring them home!”
“Don’t go overboard and scare them off.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry!”
Is she really going to be fine? Her personality aside, I’m more concerned about avoiding a repeat of last time.
Though I’ve made some contingency plans, just in case…
The alarm on my phone goes off with a beep-beep-beep.
Time’s up. I shovel the remaining cereal into my mouth and hurry out the door.
As the door closes, Ao’s cheerful voice.
“Good luck out there, onii-chan!”
Her smile eases the nerves building up in my chest.
◇
Arriving at headquarters, I head to the designated meeting room.
On the way, I pass by staff members, but before I can bow to them, they bow to me first. It’s…awkward, to say the least.
It feels like the surprise and discomfort of having a family member suddenly speak to you in formal language.
When I reach the room, I knock a few times and open the door.
No one else is here yet. I set my alarm an hour early to make sure I’d be the first to arrive, so it’s not surprising.
Well, I’ve got some free time now.
I pulled out my phone and reread the data sent to me yesterday.
It’s not directly related to today’s meeting, but it’s information every member of the Unit should know.
The content is fascinating, particularly the part about neutral monsters.
These are creatures with a certain level of intelligence—mostly S-rank monsters.
So far, five such monsters have been identified: a vampire, a mermaid, a dragon, an angel, and an oni.
Though neutral, they possess overwhelming power. The monsters I’ve fought, like Ravana or the new species from the mock battle, wouldn’t even compare.
Countries have repeatedly requested their cooperation, but all attempts have been rejected.
“I’d like to meet them.”
I have so many questions for these neutral monsters.
About their existence, why they attack humans, and about Ao…
Would carrying out missions eventually lead to a meeting? Or—
“Is something wrong? You’re deep in thought—does your head hurt?”
A sweet voice interrupts my thoughts. Looking up, I see Kirasaka-senpai watching me with concern.
It seems I’d been so lost in thought that I didn’t notice my surroundings.
I check the time on my phone—it’s still 30 minutes before the meeting. Kirasaka-senpai is incredibly punctual.
“Thank you for your concern. You’re quite early yourself, Senpai—there’s still 30 minutes to go.”
“That’s what I was going to say to you! I’m usually the first one here, so Yanagi-kun, you surprised me.”
“As a newcomer, I thought it best to arrive early.”
“That’s a good mindset. But no one here is that strict about such things, so you can relax. Anyway, let’s chat while we wait!”
“Sure.”
Kirasaka-senpai starts talking enthusiastically about her pet rabbit, cooking with her mom, and other charming topics.
Even in this place, she’s still just a kid. Strangely, a world exists where even children like her are thrust into battle based on their abilities.
Our conversation is more enjoyable than I expected, and time flies by. Soon, other team members trickle in, and the meeting begins.
Though seating is unassigned, Kirasaka-senpai stays by my side, seemingly fond of me.
“Let’s start the meeting.”
The facilitator, Kongo-san, distributes materials for us to review.
“A labyrinth-like dungeon has appeared in Japan.”
“A labyrinth?”
“That’s right. This is unprecedented, so it’s understandable if you’re confused.”
Thinking I misheard, I can’t help but ask again. A labyrinth? That’s something you’d expect to hear in a game, with monsters, floors, and a boss at the end.
But if such a thing exists in reality, it’s an incredible nuisance. Continuous battles with monsters? Just imagining it is exhausting.
“Take a look at the documents. The labyrinth resembles an ordinary cave, but every investigation team sent by the government has been wiped out.”
With that, the tension in the room skyrockets.
These were government-appointed teams—not lacking in skill by any means.
If even they fail, it means something beyond our expectations awaits inside the labyrinth.
“To be clear, we haven’t confirmed their deaths yet. But all contact has been lost, and the chance of survival is slim.”
Kongou-san’s voice carries a grave tone. Though he hasn’t declared them dead, it’s clear he doesn’t believe they’re alive.
“The mission will proceed tomorrow. The team will include me, Hattori, Sairenji, and Yanagi. We can’t risk the entire unit, so this team was carefully selected. With Sairenji’s [Teleport] ability, we should have a safety net. But remember, irregularities can happen anytime.”
I’ve been chosen. My ability, which work well in confined spaces, makes me a natural fit.
If things go south, Sairenji-san’s teleportation ability can save us. It’s a highly versatile skill, allowing her to teleport anywhere she’s been or within her line of sight, and she can bring others with her if she touches them.
Still, something feels off.
The dungeon’s location is a disused factory in a forest on the outskirts of town. Why is there a factory in such a place?
Who reported it? There are too many unanswered questions.
It’s as if we’re dancing in someone’s palm.
“By the way, regarding the prophecy from Kikuri…”
“Yes… To put it bluntly, unless something drastically changes, someone will die during this mission.”
The prophecy makes my eyes widen.
In other words, one of us—myself, Kongou-san, Sairenji-san, or Hattori-san—will die.
Maybe more than one.
But with this lineup, how is that possible?
Even if someone gets injured, Sairenji-san can evacuate us immediately, and Kongou-san’s barriers offer protection.
Could it mean death would come so swiftly that we wouldn’t have time to react?
“Can you tell who it will be?”
Hattori-san’s calm voice cuts through the tension.
Is she not afraid of her own death? Or has she grown numb to such predictions after hearing them so often?
“No, unfortunately, my ability doesn’t provide that detail.”
“I see.”
Hattori-san leans back in her chair, looking up at the ceiling.
Her strong-willed eyes betray no hint of despair, though I can’t guess what she’s thinking.
“This mission is unpredictable. Stay sharp and prepare yourselves.”
With Kongo-san’s closing remarks, the meeting ends.
As we leave, Hattori-san invites me to lunch.
“There’s a great restaurant on the fourth floor. Want to join me?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
This facility really has everything—a gym, a pool, even a spa. Some amenities seem almost unnecessary, but someone must use them.
“This is it!”
“Whoa.”
The restaurant looks expensive.
If I were alone, I’d probably hesitate to enter.
“Let’s go in!”
Following Hattori-san, I step inside.
We’re seated, and I look over the menu.
(I don’t understand any of this.)
The dishes are described in Japanese, but I have no idea what they actually are.
I pick something at random. Hattori-san orders six items.
A few minutes later, a lobster dish is placed before me.
I struggle to eat it but find it surprisingly delicious.
“What do you think about the mission, Yanagi-kun?”
Hattori-san’s sudden question catches me off guard.
“There are many unknowns, but I can’t imagine anyone on our team dying.”
“True,” she says with a faint smile, though her tone suggests she’s resigned to the prophecy’s accuracy.
“Kikuri’s predictions are almost always correct. Many team members have died as foretold. When I joined, there were about twenty of us—a lively bunch.”
She stares into the distance, her fingers toying with her side-ponytail, lost in memories of her former comrades.
“I invited you to lunch to reassure you, Yanagi-kun.”
“Reassure me?”
“Yes, you’re someone I scouted. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you!”
Her words carry a weight that feels unsettling.
“You’re not planning to sacrifice yourself, are you?”
“Haha, of course not! I’ll just support you.”
I hope that’s true.
People like her often feel an unnecessary sense of responsibility. I’ll have to keep an eye on her in the labyrinth.
“I have my own reasons for fighting, so please don’t feel burdened to protect me.”
“Your reasons?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m eager for results, especially from this mission. The tougher it is, the better.”
In a world obsessed with numbers, I aim to prove they aren’t absolute.
Doing so would ensure my family’s safety and earn the respect I’ve lacked.
For that, I need tangible achievements.
“Then I’ll look forward to your performance, Yanagi-kun!”
“Yes, please do. A reward would be motivating, too.”
“How about a relaxing ear-cleaning from your senior?”
“Seriously? I’ll take it!”
We share a laugh, easing the tension of the impending mission.