"...That guy's place is really nice." After walking with Malte for a while, they arrived at the city next to the church.
It's an adjacent city, about a 30-minute walk from the central city where the palace and church are located.
This is truly... a central city close to the capital, and it seems to have everything...
While the residences aren't quite castle-level, there are many rather luxurious mansions, making it a refined city like a high-class residential area.
In terms of living environment, this place might even be better than the central city.
Although I'd rather have a penthouse than a mansion... living in a place like this when I'm older seems quite nice.
"If you exclude the noble residential areas, this is one of the most livable cities. No, considering that many nobles also reside here, it's almost on par."
That Bivora guy really did a good job evading taxes. An enviable tax evasion bastard. No, now that he's completely finished, there's nothing to be envious of.
"So, where exactly is that guy hiding here? Is someone he knows harboring him?"
I'd run the moment I sensed something was off. Give me a proper answer, Malte.
"...Actually, we found a secret passage leading underground in that guy's house...and inside the passage is a dimensional portal to the dungeon."
"...Uh? The dungeon?"
"Yes. It's the dungeon. Although the measured Taser value is very low, it hasn't disappeared. We believe Bivora might be hiding there." Oh, the dungeon?
In a secret underground passage?
Since the Knights are here, they could have gone in and checked it themselves, but they insisted on calling me...Malte...this is too suspicious.
Can I trust him?
Do I really have to go?
"Hmm. The dungeon...do dungeons often appear in the capital?"
Malte's subtle avoidance of eye contact and the word 'dungeon' had already made my suspicions soar to 100%, but I still pretended to know nothing and asked Malte.
Since I'm already here, I might as well take this opportunity to find out something interesting before slipping away.
"It's not entirely nonexistent, but it's extremely rare. Dungeons usually appear in areas with low Ethel concentration and no life forms. Especially one like this one—within a city—and formed underground, it's probably the first time..."
Hmm. I see. That's a new perspective.
"Well... but... it should be alright, right? After all, the powerful Mr. Malt is with us."
Although I unnecessarily asked Malt, he avoided my gaze, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Hey... at least pretend to give me some confidence. His acting is terrible.
"...Actually, I'm not that strong. I'm the newest member of the Hero Knights."
Malt didn't address my question, changing the subject.
Fine. I'll pretend I don't know until we arrive.
"You were flying around so fast, and your attacks were dazzlingly impressive. Isn't that strong enough? Even the heroes I know, when using their aura, are only slightly faster, and they can't maintain that for long—they get tired in a minute or two…"
"Ah. Even heroes are like that at lower levels. A hero's strength depends on how excellent their aura is."
After the topic changed, Malte finally looked me in the eye and answered my question.
"Just like Ethel Infinity, there's no upper limit to the power a hero's aura can increase. Of course, the stronger the aura, the harder it is for the body to handle, and the faster you'll tire, but that can be solved by leveling up."
"...Huh? It doesn't seem like it can be solved, does it? You fought for quite a long time…"
"Ah. When I fought the Hero Devourer, I only used my aura for a moment. My limit for maintaining my aura is only about three minutes."
Oh dear.
Even someone as strong as Malte can only be Vegeta for three minutes?
"Of course you are that strong... and if you could use it instantly, it probably wouldn't be a big problem..."
"If the aura level is low, it can be maintained for quite a long time, but that defeats the purpose of a hero... The efficiency and duration of this aura apply even to non-heroes. Of course, due to the limitations of Ethel's quantity, adventurers have an upper limit to the increase in their aura ability."
"Hmm... it seems that not only adventurers, but all heroes are like this?"
"Yes. Among the hero knights, apart from one person, the longest they can maintain it is just over 5 minutes. Of course, my low level is also a reason for this."
"...What is your level?"
"Level 59."
Wow. Level 59 is considered low? The hero knights escorting the church are all monsters over level 60.
But five minutes... although I can't beat the hero knights, it should be enough time to escape based on the situation on the street.
"...Ah. But what about the one I mentioned earlier...?"
"Yes. Only one. The hero knight who can continuously release the strongest aura for over thirty minutes." The strongest can last for over thirty minutes...!? The stark contrast between the three minutes Vegeta and his companions took was astonishing, and a face flashed into my mind.
The incredibly strong-looking man I'd seen at the palace. It really was…
"The Knight Commander known as the Guardian of the Kingdom. Lord Orlando. Also a representative figure of our Heroic Knights."
Hmm. I knew it was him.
......
"…! Lord Marto!?"
"How is the situation?"
"Ah, yes! No anomalies detected so far!"
"Good. We'll storm in immediately with the Divine Beast. You hold the outer perimeter."
"Understood!" The knights, yawning and guarding the courtyard of Bivora's mansion, hurriedly straightened their posture when Marto appeared.
They looked completely flustered, as if they hadn't heard any intelligence. Hmm… it seems the knights don't know anything special… Shall we prepare to retreat?
"This way, please." While not exactly opulent, stepping into Bivora's mansion, which resembled a high-class detached house, revealed a staircase leading underground, its walls and floors chiseled open.
Whether it had been thoroughly searched or not, Bivora's mansion was nearly empty, a scene of utter chaos.
Oh well. Bivora wouldn't care anyway, I'll just wait...
"...Hmm?"
Just as I was putting on a show, preparing to tell Malte I was waiting outside, I caught a glimpse of a swaying dimensional portal in the basement.
But...what's going on?
Seeing that dimensional portal gave me a strange, inexplicable feeling of déjà vu...why?
My heart suddenly started pounding.
Is this...anticipation?
Or fear?
A subtle, indescribable feeling...
"Let's go. Mr. Semo."
"...Okay."
...Holy crap!? What happened? I just said I was going? The moment I finished answering, my mind went blank, a "Oh no!" I wanted to change my mind, but my body had already unconsciously started moving with Malte.
Wait, what's with that dimensional portal? Because of that "Wow, I have to go!" feeling, I involuntarily blurted out that I wanted to go.
Alarm bells were blaring in my head, warning me to run away immediately, but my body seemed bewitched by that dimensional portal… Malte, did you install some kind of hypnotic software?
No, what do I do now?
Where have I felt this restless unease before?
"...Uh…" In the midst of this bewildered and agitated commotion, I unknowingly entered a narrow, one-way passageway leading to a closed dungeon.
...Damn it, I'm doomed. I never expected this to happen.
Are they going to jump out of Bivora and his henchmen right now and slit my throat?
While there's no reason for him to kill me, a criminal bastard with a thief's background... he might say something like, "It's all your fault I ended up like this!" I need to get out now...
"Um, Marte..."
"This way, please, Mr. Semo."
Damn... why does my mouth feel like it's glued shut? Why are my feet moving so easily on their own?
This is a first for me. No, I've definitely experienced something similar somewhere... where was it again... it must have been after I arrived in Esendia...
"This is it." After walking a few steps, I saw the end of the one-way path, leading to what appeared to be a spacious room entrance.
The room entrance was eerie; this was definitely a trap...!
"...Mr. Semo."
"...Yes."
"...I'm sorry."
With those words, Marte, with a terrifying strength incongruous with his handsome youthful appearance, pushed me into the dungeon room.
After being pushed into the room at an almost flying speed, as expected, a huge boulder at the entrance collapsed, blocking the way out.
Despite a sliver of hope, just as I expected, Malte seemed to have led me into a trap.
"...Damn it." This bastard...I'm such a useless piece of trash...Even though I foresaw everything, I'm still trapped in the underground city formed beneath the Bivora family's estate, with my eyes wide open.