Danmachi : Start With Terraria Calamity Mod! Chapter 68 68 : Seitenshi: What? Drake Was Taken Away?!

In the next mont, his abdon was struck by a violent elbow blow. Intense pain instantly shot toward his brain.

Seeing this, the Initiator girl beside him quickly raised the sniper rifle in her hands, wanting to stop the fight.

However, a sudden chill appeared at the side of her neck.

"Do not interrupt Big Brother's fight."

At so point, Enju had arrived behind Shougen Ikuma's Initiator and directly knocked her unconscious with a chop to the neck.

"Honestly, why did Big Brother ask to take her away?"

"Has he finally reached the phase where he gets bored of the old and likes the new?"

Although she said that, Enju still followed the instructions Drake had given her earlier.

While the crowd was in an uproar, she secretly dragged the unconscious girl away.

"You… you bastard—"

Shougen Ikuma clutched his stomach, his forehead covered in cold sweat from the intense pain.

"I'll make you wish you were dead!"

"Please stop this aningless fight, both of you."

The silver-haired young man who had just intervened walked over and tried to smooth things over.

"Our enemies should be that enormous hive and the Gastrea inside the forbidden zone."

"Shouma… it's you."

After seeing the silver-haired youth, Shougen Ikuma also cald down.

He had no choice but to calm down.

Shouma Nagisawa's IP Rank was 970, which ant he was stronger than Shougen.

"Hmph. For your sake, I'll let this stinking brat who only knows how to ambush people off for now."

"Is that so?" Drake smiled indifferently.

"Losers always co up with all kinds of excuses."

"You bastard—!"

"Oh, right. I don't have the habit of letting people bully for free."

Facing the burly man glaring angrily at him, Drake turned around and waved his hand.

"I'll be borrowing your Initiator for now."

"As for when I'll return her… that depends on my mood."

As he spoke, Drake's body gradually beca transparent, and finally disappeared into thin air from everyone's sight.

The shock brought by this scene was even greater than when he had caught Shougen Ikuma's greatsword barehanded.

"…Invisibility?! How did he do that?!"

"Was he so fast that what we saw just now was only an afterimage?"

"But he was still talking a second ago!"

"No wonder he dared to speak to Lady Seitenshi like that. So he really does have a few tricks."

"Hurry up and look into the Tendo Civil Security Corporation!"

"Wait, this Tendo couldn't be…"

Hearing the discussions around him, Shouma Nagisawa glanced at Shougen Ikuma, who was filled with anger but had nowhere to vent it, and sighed helplessly.

It seed this operation would not go as smoothly as they had imagined.

...

A few minutes later, in the dense forest of the forbidden zone outside the outpost.

Once one left the outpost, they would imdiately be swallowed by a complex environnt like a primitive jungle.

Without the destruction of modern industry, all kinds of plants grew freely and wildly.

Everywhere were giant grasses and trees so oversized they made people suspect the world's scale had gone wrong. It was enough to make one wonder if they had arrived in another world.

However, for Drake, after he figured out the details of the forbidden zone, it felt as familiar as returning ho.

"Piranhas, Snatchers, Man Eaters, Jungle Bats… Isn't this just Terraria's Jungle?"

"It's just that the Surface Jungle and Underground Jungle bios have been mixed together, with so Gastrea added in."

This discovery made Drake extrely delighted.

At first, he had not understood what "the jungle regions of this world have been overwritten by Terraria's environnt" ant.

Now that he saw it, this was practically ho-field advantage!

"Big Brother, I brought her over."

At that mont, Enju also leaped over from another direction, carrying a small unconscious body over her shoulder.

"Good job."

Drake took a few fruit-flavored gummies out of his inventory and handed them to Enju as a reward.

These were little snacks he had casually picked up while buying ingredients in the city.

After all, there was more than one little girl living at ho, so they would always co in handy.

"Should I wake her up?"

Enju happily peeled open the wrapper while looking at the unconscious Initiator girl.

She was a girl with short, slightly yellowish hair, wearing a long-sleeved dress and tight pants.

She looked rather calm and composed.

"No need. She's already awake."

Drake glanced at her, saw through her act of pretending to be unconscious, and spoke.

"If you don't want to be drenched in cold water, then open your eyes."

"…I understand."

Under Enju's surprised gaze, the girl who had been unconscious on her shoulder just monts ago suddenly opened her eyes.

There was no trace of confusion in those clear black-and-white eyes.

"You were tricking the whole ti!"

"Mm…"

The girl nodded slightly, her voice extrely calm.

"In close combat, I cannot beat you."

"I also did not know where you intended to take , so I could only pretend to be unconscious first."

As expected of an Initiator with dolphin-factor genes. Her mind worked quickly.

"Then you should have heard what I said to that partner of yours."

Drake did not directly state his purpose. Instead, he first observed her reaction.

"You an the matter of borrowing ?"

The girl fell silent for a mont, seemingly thinking.

"I believe… you have no intention of returning ."

"You are very smart, Kayo Senju."

Drake nodded approvingly and used his Contract ability on the borrowed Initiator.

"Do not refuse. I will give you a better life than the one you have now."

"Heh…"

Hearing Drake's promise, Kayo Senju smiled wordlessly and accepted the power of the contract.

"What choice does a Cursed Child like have?"

....

The process of signing a contract with Kayo Senju went extrely smoothly.

Perhaps this was the advantage of communicating with intelligent people.

There was not the slightest bit of unnecessary nonsense.

Just like Enju, Kayo Senju's contract skill also had the sa na.

Contract Skill — Cursed Child: Grants the user the Dangersense and Hunter buffs. When tead with other Cursed Children, the skill effects are shared with them.

Without a doubt, if Drake intended to form a team made specifically of Cursed Children, then Kayo Senju would unquestionably be a core mber of the party.

Dangersense and Hunter allowed her to detect every source of danger and every enemy within her field of vision.

If she ford a party, this effect could also be shared with other team mbers, up to a maximum of four.

Although Dangersense Potions and Hunter Potions could accomplish the sa thing, Kayo Senju's skill was always active.

Even when they were not exploring, she could still sense danger.

After all, while Drake was not lacking in potions, he was not so extravagant that he would drink them twenty-four hours a day.

"My vision and perception have beco clearer."

After signing the contract, Kayo Senju seed to have noticed the changes in herself as well.

"I can even see things outside my field of vision… Is this also power brought by the contract, Master?"

"Sothing like that."

Drake nodded, then corrected her.

"You can just call Big Brother like Enju does."

"Is that because it makes you happier?"

"…Think whatever you want."

The corners of Drake's mouth twitched slightly.

He secretly wondered whether kids these days were all this mature.

He took two large rubies out of his inventory and handed them to Enju and Kayo.

"Take these two gems. Your abilities can be shared with each other."

"With this, the two of you are mbers of the sa party."

Enju curiously accepted the ruby.

Then, as if she had discovered a whole new world, her eyes widened.

"Sure enough… I can see things much more clearly. I can even see the Gastrea hiding behind the tree."

"If you can see it, then don't just stand there. Prepare to engage the enemy!"

On this day, the rarely visited "forbidden zone" once again welcod the footsteps of human exploration.

...

One week later.

Tokyo Area, District One, Seitenshi's residence: the Sacred Residence.

Looking at the report in her hands, written by Shiba Heavy Industries' research laboratory, a trace of worry appeared on Seitenshi's delicate face.

Ever since the giant hive had appeared, every research institution in the Tokyo Area had been working nonstop to analyze and study the biological samples sent back from the front lines.

The conclusions reached so far could be described as nothing but bad news.

First, the environnt within the forbidden zone had undergone an unimaginable, earth-shattering change.

Besides various Gastrea, monsters such as Slis, which should have existed only in fantasy, had also appeared.

So Civil Security officers and soldiers patrolling at night had even reported sightings of Zombies!

This made Seitenshi feel that the world beyond the Monoliths was no longer a forbidden zone for humanity, but sowhere outside Earth entirely.

In such an environnt, the outpost expansion work had beco extrely difficult.

To ensure the safety of the outposts, Shiba Heavy Industries' construction crews had used every possible thod.

So outposts were located underground, with only hidden entrances and exits left on the surface.

Other outposts made use of relatively intact prewar buildings, adapting to local conditions.

Even so, the frontline outposts could only remain around one hundred kiloters away from the Monoliths.

Any farther forward, and they would suffer overwhelming suicide attacks from "wasp-type" Gastrea.

In just one short week, the joint operation had already suffered more than five hundred casualties.

Among them were participating Civil Security pairs, Shiba Heavy Industries researchers and logistics personnel, and military soldiers.

Such a painful price had only been exchanged for an increasingly terrible situation.

As the ruler, Seitenshi could not help feeling deeply anxious.

"Kiyomi, prepare generous pensions for the families of the casualties on the list."

With a heavy expression, Seitenshi gave an order to the female secretary beside her.

"They died to protect this city. They are heroes worthy of respect."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The secretary imdiately took out her terminal and recorded Seitenshi's order.

Just then, her terminal made a soft ding, as if a new ssage had arrived.

"I apologize. I forgot to switch it to silent mode."

The female secretary quickly apologized. However, after glancing at the ssage on the screen, she hurriedly reported,

"Your Highness, soone has submitted structural fragnts of the hive and biological samples of wasp-type Gastrea at the First Outpost!"

"…What?"

The news made Seitenshi feel montarily dazed.

She was not a professional scholar, so she did not imdiately understand what this ant.

Fortunately, the secretary quickly added an explanation.

"According to the ssage sent back from the outpost…"

"A Civil Security officer nad Drake and his Initiators submitted those materials."

"They had already gone deep near the hive and successfully returned!"

Seitenshi's breathing suddenly stopped for a mont, and her mind began spinning rapidly.

If this information was true, it ant this operation had finally achieved a breakthrough.

However…

Why did the na "Drake" sound sowhat familiar?

A few seconds later, Seitenshi finally recalled the face of the young man who had questioned her more than a week ago.

"Since he wants to et , then fulfill his request."

"No… rather, I should go et him."

Seitenshi imdiately stood up and walked toward her wardrobe.

"Kiyomi, prepare a helicopter to the forbidden zone. I am going to the First Outpost."

This decision startled the secretary so badly that her face turned a little pale.

The First Outpost was the outpost closest to the Monoliths.

Although it had the lowest danger level, it was still located inside the forbidden zone.

As the ruler of the Tokyo Area, for Seitenshi to rashly go to a place like that…

It was practically creating a headache for the army responsible for her security.

Thinking of this, the secretary quickly sent a ssage to soone.

A few minutes later, a handso-looking man with glasses knocked on the door.

"Your Highness Seitenshi, I heard that you intend to go to the First Outpost in the forbidden zone?"

"That is correct."

By this ti, Seitenshi had already changed into casual clothing that was easy to move in.

She turned and looked at the man who had arrived uninvited.

Takuto Yasuwaki.

Nominally, he was the captain of her guard, but because he was far too aggressive and showy, she disliked him sowhat.

Takuto Yasuwaki pushed up his glasses and spoke in a tone that made it sound only natural.

"In that case, as Your Highness's bodyguard, I will certainly protect your safety."

In other words, he would also be accompanying Seitenshi to the First Outpost.

"…Very well. I will leave it to you, Officer Yasuwaki."

Although she felt sowhat annoyed inside, Seitenshi still nodded calmly.

With her position, it would be stranger if she went out without bringing her guards.

Hearing this, Takuto Yasuwaki was delighted.

He had coveted Seitenshi's beauty for a long ti, and this was the perfect chance to show off.

...

At the sa ti, at the First Outpost.

"A big shot wants to et ?"

After Drake finished submitting the materials, he had originally planned to find a place to return to Terraria.

Unexpectedly, several Shiba Heavy Industries staff mbers stopped him.

"That is correct, sir."

A male employee who looked like an engineer, wearing a technician's robe, spoke sincerely.

"The hive structural samples and biological tissue you submitted have attracted attention from higher up."

"Therefore, a high-ranking person is urgently coming to the scene. They wish to ask you in detail about your experience."

"Oh… I don't mind."

Drake pressed down on Enju's head, since she could no longer wait to go back and eat a feast, and casually said,

"But you'll have to pay extra."

"This…"

The engineer was a little speechless.

He had not expected the Civil Security officer in front of him to be this direct.

However, that was not sothing he could decide.

Fortunately, the sudden sound of helicopter rotors from outside saved him.

"Looks like that big shot has arrived."

Drake held Enju's small hand and walked toward the door.

"Let see who it is… Hm?"

The mont he stepped outside, a paper fan giving off the scent of ink stretched toward him and rested against his chin.

"As expected, you are quite handso. Not bad.... You are exactly my type!"

Even though she was inside the forbidden zone, the girl was still wearing an old-fashioned kimono.

She sized Drake up with an expression that looked extrely satisfied.

"I heard you have the ability to explore the hive?"

Miori Shiba, the young lady of Shiba Heavy Industries and the actual person in charge of the Tokyo Area headquarters, spoke.

"In that case… are you interested in working for ?"

...

A few minutes later.

Seitenshi, who was sitting inside the helicopter, answered the First Outpost's call with a dazed expression.

"What? The person I wanted to et was taken away?!"