Ch.204Bright and Wholesome Tentacle Dungeon Exploration Journal. (3)

Not long after the three superhumans and one researcher made their way to the laboratory…

Icarus… I could see a long-awaited message appearing before my eyes.

—————————————-

<Quest>

<<<‘Ancient Base Ruins’ Exploration! Cleared!>>>

—————————————-

“Oh, looks like they finally finished exploring.”

“The internal structure must have been quite complex.”

“I suppose that’s to be expected.”

It must have undergone transformation and erosion from within for a ‘very’ long time.

No matter how smart Griyanar and Oxianor were, it made sense that it would take a while since maps themselves were meaningless in this situation.

Actually, considering that, they cleared it rather quickly.

So with the quest now completed, I felt excited at the thought of enjoying some sweet guaranteed gacha pulls once those three returned.

But shortly after…

—————————————-

<Linked Quest>

<The Traitor’s Scheme!>

<Details>

<The researcher your superhumans rescued from inside the giant monster turns out to be the very person who caused the special-grade biohazard at that facility.>

<When the superhumans discover this fact from data acquired in the laboratory, the researcher mobilizes all power and defense systems of the base to destroy the evidence!>

<Objective>

<Send additional reinforcements to rescue(?) the superhumans trapped inside the base>

<Warning!>

<Maximum deployable personnel: 3 people.>

—————————————-

‘What the hell is this.’

Seeing this unexpected linked quest, I cursed internally at this ridiculous twist while simultaneously…

“Jessica! Tell Ignis, Partia, and Berial to head to the asteroid base right now!”

“Yes, Commander!”

I decided to deploy all the remaining superhumans except Pashtra, who was unsuitable for internal combat.

But just as I was about to deploy them, Partia showed a contemplative expression.

“Commander, how about deploying Pashtra instead of me this time?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

She was unexpectedly suggesting that I send Pashtra, whom I had deemed unsuitable, in her place.

Of course, Pashtra, the person in question, responded:

“Senior, are you trying to interfere with my cozy time alone with the Commander?”

She boldly declared that Partia should be deployed instead of her, but…

“If I leave you alone, you’ll surely cause great disrespect to our Savior and Adjutant, Pashtra.”

“Oh, surely not♡”

“Then why did you recently purchase a large quantity of condoms at the base market? For balloon play?”

“I’m sorry, I’ll go.”

After Partia’s confession(?), Pashtra voluntarily requested to join the rescue team.

Of course, the initial three were deployed for ‘internal exploration’ and ‘investigation,’ meaning they had to wander around the interior without a map, searching for a ‘laboratory’ whose location was unknown.

But the newly formed team, by their nature, had no intention of investigating a mutated research facility covered in flesh, and…

-“This is truly a bizarre place. I feel like burning it all down.”

-“Shouldn’t we prioritize the Commander’s orders right now, Berial♡”

-“Since the advance team has already cleared the way, let’s just reach our destination first.”

Since Griyanar, Oxianor, and Smeragi, who entered as the advance team, had already demolished all hostile life forms and obstacles blocking the passages…

They reached their destination much, MUCH faster than I expected after deploying them and hearing about the discovery of the ‘research facility wing.’

…Actually, they just charged straight from the entrance to the ‘research facility wing’ in a direct line, moving about 10 times faster.

But when they arrived at their destination, the research facility wing, their feet were suddenly stopped.

-“Commander, can you see this?”

“Yes, I can see it very clearly.”

The reason was that from about halfway into the research facility wing, a seemingly very thick wall of flesh was maintaining an impenetrable blockade.

Moreover, the entire surface was densely covered with sharp spikes that looked like they could tear the flesh off a normal person with just a slight touch.

And if it received a certain amount of damage, it would burst like reactive armor, causing harm to the opponent.

Naturally, the damaged reactive armor areas regenerated quickly, instantly filling any gaps.

Because of this, I was starting to wonder how to deal with it, but…

-“This is precisely my specialty, Commander♡”

“Ah, right.”

Pashtra, who had joined as a substitute, fired her beam cannon like a shotgun with properly adjusted output.

As a result, the reactive self-regenerating barrier collapsed under Pashtra’s firepower, regardless of its defensive capabilities.

But even though the barrier was demolished more easily than expected, I remained vigilant.

“Berial, be fully prepared just in case.”

-“Understood, Commander.”

Naturally, Jessica tilted her head in confusion at my behavior.

“Commander, why are you so tense?”

“Don’t you… know?”

“…”

I shook my head at Jessica’s cluelessness about such clichés and quickly explained.

“Think about it, Jessica. We came in because communication with our allies suddenly cut off.”

“That’s right.”

“If this follows the cliché, the first three might have been hypnotized or brainwashed and could end up fighting with our follow-up team.”

“Oh.”

“Of course, that’s just my imagination, so it’s unlikely to happen.”

“…Pardon?”

Despite reassuring Jessica like this, I was internally thinking, ‘What if it really happens?’

If it actually happened and something went wrong, resulting in someone’s death?

Then I’d become a pathetic commander who lost a superhuman because I entered what I thought was a sweet event.

So, while continuing to worry, I ordered the three to maintain vigilance as they entered.

Following my orders, Ignis led Berial and Pashtra inside, and soon after…

I finally got to meet ‘Researcher Rain,’ the culprit behind this incident.

But I’m not sure if I should consider this fortunate or disappointing.

Instead of making a dramatic entrance like I secretly expected—a mastermind laughing at us with our brainwashed superhumans—Rain was…

-“Ungghhh… nnghhhh!”

-“Come on, just hang in there a little longer… Oh my, Ignis, Berial, and even Pashtra? What brings you here?”

-“…?”

Whether she had betrayed the first three and received a group beating, she was kneeling on the floor.

With Griyanar mounted on top of her, she was crying out in pain as tentacle-like syringes were inserted into her ears or other strange places.

Naturally, Berial, who had come to “rescue” them on my orders, maintained a calm expression despite her bewilderment.

-“Well, we… came running on the Commander’s orders that you were in danger.”

-“Ah, it certainly was dangerous.”

-“So the Commander wasn’t wrong. We probably would have suffered great damage if we had been careless.”

As Berial spoke, Ignis and Pashtra nodded beside her.

Eventually, with Griyanar busy manipulating the traitorous researcher’s brain, Oxianor and Smeragi began to explain what had happened as briefly as possible.

-“To put it simply… our compatibility with her was extremely poor—the worst possible match, in fact.”

-“Hmm?”

“Hmm.”