Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 5 - Ch. 221 - The Prelude to Preliminary & Behind the Idol's life

Final Preliminary Venue---Fujiyoshida City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

A city located at the base of Mt. Fuji, a greater half of its land had been rendered inhospitable five years ago following the disaster caused by a certain professions explorer. While recovery efforts have been ongoing, nearly half of the city remains abandoned and in a state of urban decay.

This town, stuck in a unique situation, was now the venue for this year's preliminary.

"Man, I can't wait for the game to start. No, Yuujiro?"

Sprawled atop of a hay bale at a ranch somewhere on Mt. Fuji, gazing at the refreshing sky, the Supervising Professional Explorer---Renji Ukai squealed like an excited teenager.

The committee staff member Yuujiro Mizuhashi, who had just returned with coffee that he was asked to, chuckled wryly hearing him, which were so unlike of him.

"Ukai-san, it's just us two here so you don't have to put up that pretence. I have made sure no one can peep here either. Oh, and here is your black coffee you asked for."

"Hmm."

As if someone else had replaced Ukai to take his place in a split second, Renji Ukai's tone instantly dropped from an amicable one to a blunt one.

'Now it's so like him,' thought Mizuhara, chuckling to himself.

This two-face persona of his had been quite famous among a certain part of high-ranking explorers and in the association.

When in public, he would be everyone's target of adoration, the professional explorer Renji Ukai, but transitioning to within one's circle, he would reveal his honest side---the brisk personality. For Mizuhara, the honest to his personality Renji Ukai was far easier to talk to and he would rather prefer it anytime.

"But I'm confused, why did Sir make this location the end goal? I had to walk a long way just to find a vending machine."

Lowering himself to sit on the ground, Mizuhara spoke. Renji Ukai, looking rather annoyed, replied curtly without even meeting his gaze.

"The only one troubled is you though."

"Huh, well yeah, but..."

At the end of their conversation, only the sound of rustling wind, typical of places like ranch, echoed between the two. Mizuhara squinted his eyes, gazing at the scenery with a laid-back expression.

On other hand, Ukai surprisingly initiated the conversation from himself.

"What about him?"

"Him? ......Oh, you mean the guy I mentioned from Mallorca's selection?"

"Hmm."

It was quite rare for Ukai to show his interest in amateurs.

Well, given that he had attended Mallorca Escuella, it only stands to reason that the person in question would surely appear as another pillar in the world of explorers. However this wasn't the only reason for him. When that zero-grade explorer Leon Hyakuse himself was paying attention to that student, it was only natural for him, a top explorer in Japan, to be curious about that person.

"He's here followed by the application from 'Loader.'"

"......He's in 'Loafer'?"

"Not affiliated. I asked Kusatsu-san and it seemed he still hasn't joined any guild. Frankly, even I am quite looking forward to his performance. The only time I have ever heard his name is in rumours, so I wonder how far that young man has come to. Incidentally, I was there when his licence was issued."

"What's his grade?"

"Fifth-grade <Swordsman>."

Renji Ukai's eyes peeled back in surprise, but then as if something clicked to him, he tapped his chin with a finger, nodding to himself.

"I definitely believe it must be the tinkering of Leon."

"It seemed so. Maybe he must have given him a 'disguised blue stone'? But at the end, he really did make a fool of us. If Leon Hyakuse hadn't interfered that time, I would have scouted him to our association for sure. Oh wait, we're going to do scouting too, aren't we? What do you think about pulling him into your <Class>?"

"It will have to depend on his ability."

"Still stuck on it? I mean, I don't think there can be any better stamp of approval than Hyakuse-san's."

"I will make an exception and step in if he deserves that reputation."

With those words, Ukai slowly got up to his feet. Then, he curled up the corner of his lips, adopting the amicable and everyone's idol Renji Ukai's persona.

"Pep up, the moment is finally here. Let's begin with the final preliminary! Time to shine everyone’s day!"

†　†　†

"Summon---Demon Fire <Ancient Caged Fire>!"

A moss covered, dark-green hell gate appeared from the sound in response to Tenji's call. ...But on another look, it displayed slight dissimilarity in contrast to the hell gate of Red and Blue demons.

While it was still the hell gate that connects this world to hell, it harbours a shape similar to a garden lantern then of the typical door. A dark green fire was crackling inside that lantern.

<Hey, what have you called me for? Didn't I tell you already I'm just a small fry so you better call someone else.>

From it appeared a will-o-wisp like fire, holding no tangible body.

Sharing the roots with a spectre or ghost, the grudge in the form of fire, which would typically harbour a spherical shape, appeared as Ancient Caged Fire in response to Tenji's call.

It's silhouette showed a resemblance to various entities; monkey, a devil, or even an Oni. Perhaps, there was no correct answer to what its true form was, however the sole thing confirmed was that Ancient Caged Fire had its own ego and an appearance shaped out of fire.

(I haven’t forgotten either, and we’re not going to battle either, so relax.. I know you don't like to fight, Koro-chan.)

(Finnneee, then. So, what did you call me for then?)

For it was fire, Ancient Caged Fire---Koro-chan hopped in front of Tenji's eye level. For it was fire, Koro-chan couldn't produce sound waves but was capable of telepathic communication to convey its intention. Gazing at his new adorable partner, Tenji asked.

<You said no one beside me can see you, right?>

<Of course. I'm a hell spirit, it's impossible for other to look at me.>

<Amazing, Koro-chan.>

<Ah, but you know right. Occasionally there are some humans with strong spiritual sense, maybe they might be able to see me.>

Koro-chan replied humorously while perching atop the head of Tenji, as if resting. But as this was news to Tenji, his eyebrows shot up in surprise understandably.

<Huh? ......You know, you should have explained something so important beforehand.>

<Sorry a bunch. But humans like them aren't a common sight. Besides, their supernatural sense can also range from weak to strong after all. Hmm, and they hafta have some strong spiritual sense to notice me as well ya know.>

'Kufufufu,' Kuro-chan chuckled as if saying I'm not some ordinary spirit. Then as if attention was taken by something else, it suddenly looked up at the blue sky.

<Nyaaaa, so this is the present world huh. I have even forgotten how long it has been since my last visit.>

<Oh, right. I have only summoned you inside the confinement of the dungeon until now huh. So, you have come to this world already?>

<Of course. There have been quite a lot of ghosts who were once human. I used to be a mere hanging lantern but then a lot of will-o-wisp suddenly blended into me and......well, you can say I'm a sort of Artifact Spirit.>

<Heh? Interesting......ack, aww no. I wasn't here to chit-chat!>

Realising he had drifted from his plan, Tenji shook his head to change his mood, which subsequently threw Koro-chan from his head. 'What happened so suddenly?' Koro-chan asked while hovering into the air.

Tenji often called Koro-chan to be his conversation partner, so it had misunderstood this might be the case this time as well. Often to crush the solitude inside the dungeon, Tenji would call this adorable summon, even more than Flame Demon or Snow Demon.

<Hmm, what's the actual matter?>

<I was thinking since there aren't monsters in present world, you would be able to move freely, right?>

<Well, as long as there's no nuisance, I can do that, yeah.>

<Sure enough! So, I was saying can you look for watermelons around this big.....oh wait, do you know what are watermelons between?>

<Watermelon? Never heard beforeeee.>

Koro-chan titled its neck in confusion.

The knowledge of Koro-chan regarding the present world was quite thin in contrast to Flame or Snow Demon, so Tenji asked just in case to confirm his doubt. His hunch was right, and it seemed like Koro-chan had never seen a watermelon before.

Tenji picked up a small branch from the ground and used it to draw a simple image of watermelon on the ground.

<It’s overall green, while these are dark green jagged lines here and there and it's round in shape.>

<Hmm-mm, and how big it is?>

<It should be around this big I think.>

'I see, I see,' Koro-chan nodded as Tenji conveyed the idea of size with his hands.

<Well, I guess I just need to try it out huh. I will call you if I find it.>

<Yes, do so. Koro-chan!>

Tenji brought his hand together in front of Koro-chan to appeal. 'Oh well, fine,' Koro-chan bobbed around in the air as if doing him the honour, and with the same fluttery movement it wandered around aimlessly in its search.

Shortly thereafter, Tenji summoned a second Ancient Caged Fire and had it get along in the watermelon search.

"Haa......well, I should also begin my search now."

Search. In contrast to how simple the act might seem, it's just as difficult to master it.

When it comes to Explorers, the simple act had a multitude of approaches for them. But of course, the starting line was decided on the factor whether they even had any ability to search or not.

In the case of Tenji, he falls into the latter category, one who doesn't have any search skills.

"Hmm, I need to make use of my mobility."

In that case, how do other, who lacks the skill, search? For them, it’s the good ol’ method...using their legs to look around. But of course, even the fundamental step may vary. A closer example could be Leon, if asked him, his response would be 'Huh? Search is always the playground for intuition to work, you moron!'

Such was the world of explorers. Occasionally there would be people with abilities similar to sixth sense.

Tenji was recalling his conversation when he suddenly squatted down, parting the grass below.

He captured the faint sign of someone's footprint. The marks were faint enough to be usually overlooked. However he was sure these marks were from some explorer's shoes.

"Ohh, so that's the play huh."

While with probability as low as finding a needle in the haystack, there was also a method to search the watermelons by grasping these tiny hints. Presumably, these marks were left behind by management on purpose.

The general knowledge around this land was that---it was a cursed land.

While it put no scratch on explorers with considerable training, those without adequate skills like ordinary people were the easy target to it. The curse would induce various ailments like sudden severe nausea, dizziness causing one to squat on the ground, body temperature rising up as if caught a fever and so on depending on people's constitution.

This was the reason why the land saw few visitors. And since there was no dungeon nearby, the visit of professional explorers were also nil. In that case, the shoe print means this place had been recently visited by explorers and considering this was preliminary, it all indicates the deliberate hint.

(Alright, I will focus on the hints while Koro-chan and them will seek for any watermelon placed randomly. It's a scramble for the points so this is the best option for me, yeah.)

Tenji murmured inside his mind. He had just confirmed his strategy when...rustle, the thickets wavered and from amidst them, a shadow rose up.

"Heh......so this is the final preliminary of this year huh."