<Infinite Dendrogram>

Episode 29: Emoticons

■ - Basement level 2

Hikaru was troubled.

Igoronak's combined moves to keep the sight shuffle and resurrection by Mocmokren are their constant tactics.

But still, Ray Sterling cannot be defeated, nor can he be pursued by unexpected and powerful enemies.

I've already earned quite a bit of time...... three minutes.

As it is, Ray Sterling will be able to escape to earth.

On the contrary, Igoronak captures several approaching footsteps.

I noticed the battle sounds between Igoronak and Marilyn, and I guess the surrounding < master > is dropping by.

Are you kidding me? "of the < master > eligible, Rookie has been hit by the undead and has become a death penalty, and the number of eligible has already been considerably reduced.

There is also a risk that if more than one person is gathered, some degree of vision will be ensured.

"Hikaru, what do we do?

Michi, a mockingbird, asks as she turns to Hikaru in the back seat.

"Tiger Child (...) or Borrowed (...). Use one?

…………

The suggestion was that Hikaru also thought about it.

Trump card hesitant to use and trump card loaned by the Empire.

Either way, we might be able to break this situation as well.

But even though the opponent is' life ', it is not yet an hour after the beginning of the war.

I am also refraining from fighting Super in the future. You shouldn't cut the trump card here.

In the first place...... my own trump card is not in a usable situation.

"... [disaster-induced warfare] cannot be used. Melo hasn't escaped yet."

"Right."

"Ma, don't be shy. You can't replace Melo's life."

To Hikaru's words, Michi and Large nod as they were convinced.

Melo, who built the barricade, is also in the process of escaping with his own feet now.

Nor can she escape in [Teleportgem]. Melo belongs to the kingdom, and if used, he could be erased by the assassins of the Empire, who would be lurking at the escape point.

"... unfortunately, let's leave here. The discovery of candidates for" Life "and the mere restriction on the use of the Kingdom's Tomb Labyrinth have done their job."

"Right."

"Chi......!

Vito seems unhappy, but he has no choice.

This was the time to retire.

"Michi. The Imperial communications network has been notified that Ray Sterling has a good chance of 'life'. Even if we don't get our hands on it, the rest of us might be able to finish it."

Copy that.

"Small. Keep in touch with Melo, too. Collect in place"

"Wow, okay."

In this way, when Small switches the object of the child connected to the parent machine to the one held by Melo.

'- Do you hear me?

- I heard an unfamiliar voice.

◆ ◆ ◆

■ - First basement floor

[High-Level Mechanic] Melo belongs to the Kingdom.

After I started in heaven and earth, I was rolling over various countries, but a while ago I had moved to the kingdom due to certain circumstances.

The reason for this is the < ruins > of Calcheratan.

A large number of unknown mobile weapons were discovered and she was looking for a mechanical production job for analysis, so she moved to participate in the investigation.

Because we thought it was necessary for the operation of Igoronac, who was "immortal” to our own party.

Her party was doing quests in various countries without belonging to the state.

A party of special operations backing up Igoronak, a remotely operated weapon in everyone's < Embrio >, including Hikaru's Keridwen.

It's a party where each of us has harnessed their own power and their names have become quite known.

Melo also has a role in the party.

Paranoia inscriptions that magically make the equipment restorable, as well as weapons that operate at the party...... the plaid bodies of the armed and living armor were maintained by her.

At one point, however, she was troubled by a new body of vegetation.

Basic performance is low in traditional powersuit shaped [Marshall].

[Marshall II] is pricey and may be eye-catching when even poor copies are made.

I can't use the trump card (...) that a party has.

She was troubled by the fact that she didn't have just the right body... and eventually found something good in Calcheratan.

He is a brilliant jade soldier whose remains were rolling like mountains in the < ruins > of the kingdom.

MP is required for operation, but the specifications can be solved without problems with Hikaru's Keridwen.

If you operate remotely in Igoronak, you don't need the autonomous thinking of a brilliant jade soldier, so you can take it off.

I simply wish my hands and feet were operational, armed handling, and exercise ability could have been demonstrated.

For this reason, arrangement and production were much easier than [Marshall II] if only the basic structure was understood.

While Melo continued his serious investigation in Calcheratan, he was photographing the structure of the brilliant Jade Soldier.

[Igoronac-type], which she could do with her hands, was more armored and athletic than the original brilliant Jade Soldier instead of removing several functions

At this point, Melo had no intention of harming the kingdom either.

Otherwise I would have hooked up to a vigilance net somewhere.

She was merely one of the common < masters > who was expanding the power of the party while doing her quest with "Boats on the Crossing".

Furthermore, at this time she was in the preparatory period for production, so the other members were not accompanied and did not even transfer their citizenship to the Kingdom.

Later, even when Igoronak, the “immortal”, who was revealed his identity by the King, was invited to the Empire, only she remained in the kingdom to continue the work.

Other members belong to the Empire, and she herself earns everything she gets with Brilliant Jade Soldier technology and moves to the Empire.

We rented the equipment to produce a significant amount of [Igoronac type].

But even then, her book was in the kingdom.

Because he was ordered to use it to implement one measure.

- A surprise attack on the Tomb Labyrinth.

Melo enters the Tomb Labyrinth as a master belonging to the kingdom.

There were a number of other out-of-ranking < masters > entering, so they wouldn't be suspicious.

And start the changeling child machine that I kept from the small in an unpopular corner.

I guided Igoronak through the wheel.

And then the ambush on the kingdom succeeded thanks to remote manipulation and the assistance of fellow parties.

Even after this ambush, he sent a replacement for the aircraft that had become inoperable in [Petrification] out of the child aircraft, and carried out maneuvers such as blocking the stairs on the first and second floors with materials.

But that's it. There is no more work she does in this Tomb Labyrinth.

A second redeployment to the boulder may also be detected on the Kingdom side. Now everyone is crushed in sight with mockingbirds, but I still can't risk it.

So all Melo has to do is leave the Tomb Labyrinth and go back to the ground and get [Red Crystal] to pick it up outside the city.

That's what Hikaru told me, too, and she was headed for the exit.

(... ugh)

Melo didn't put it to words, but let him pull his face and walk on the first floor of the Tomb Labyrinth.

In a nutshell, what's going on around you, confusion. Rookies panicked by being replaced in sight and swarmed by such a rookie [Woond Zombie].

Even if it was a zombie movie, it was uncomfortable. Melo was going to throw up inside.

(It smells so tight... Vision is also splatter and frightening...... I'm not usually in the battlefield... Something's going on, Don, but... this is gonna be okay because you're the dust guy, right? Hikaru says it sounds like a player in the game (...) and...)

Melo was walking careful not to accidentally touch her while using an item excluding the undead.

(... I knew it was very real... the future (...). Technological advances are amazing...)

With emotions of emotion and fright at the surrounding scenery, Melo proceeds.

(But nah...... Why are you here when I just wanted to help everyone... I can't help it because the King of the Empire has asked me to...)

Melo thought of his current situation and exhaled.

The King also found out about Igoronak's trick.

Not only that, they even grasped the faces and names of the party members.

If it is also a diffusion of information due to the refusal of the King's offer, they may be targeted more often in the city in the future. That was the result to be avoided for Melo and the others.

(Even if they say it's okay, I'm scared...)

On the contrary, if requested by the King, he has been promised backups and rewards.

In fact, the [red crystal], which has been slightly unwell since I picked it up, is also able to store it in complete condition.

(Let's go home to everyone. The scary part of this is already dust...)

Look at the map from the window and make sure it is the exit if you turn a few more corners.

(I wonder if this fight will be over soon...... It seems to be only three days, even if it's long. When you're done, I want to go see more beautiful scenery with everyone...)

Many have fallen down the aisle to the exit.

Not only are there early equipment rookies, but some are geared up.

I guess whoever went in for the purpose of diving into a deeper layer was badly caught up in a mocking-clean special.

…………

Melo passing next door was a full plate knight.

His head was also a full-faced helm covering his face, a kingdom-like outfit with many knights.

He just didn't seem to be able to move either because of his poor vision.

Melo squats in the middle of the road. Walk towards the exit, careful not to touch him......

- Both ankles were abruptly amputated.

"... Huh?

Melo looked at the cross section of his legs and the blood that erupted, looking at incredible things.

(Huh? Huh? Huh?)

Confusion fills her mind and eventually paints her with fear.

How can I be like this?

There is no pain, but even the absence of pain is horrible... screaming out of fear.

"My feet... cut... lie...!?

'- Oh. I knew you saw it (...), you'

I didn't miss hearing about her fears.

Sole...... a full plate knight who was kneeling rises.

But some of the armor was popping out like a blade, and... the blade had Melo's blood on it.

"... Huh?...... huh?

"Everyone and he are losing sight and panicking. Yet your footsteps are too undisturbed. If you can't see it, it's more of a scary walking thing. He avoided me, too."

Things disguised as full-plate knights are pointing their eyes at her that they're not supposed to see.

"The opponent's < master > can't harm Tian either. Besides, even as it stands, the monster's sight cannot be obstructed. So I can see (...) who you are is three choices'

Raise three fingers and tell Melo.

"Tian, a humanized monster, - a fellow enemy."

Melo's spine, shivering.

That's not all because we lost a lot of blood.

Because the voice I was showered with was so cold.

'I asked Liz. Your left hand has a crest. Now three choices are one. You can see the slashed leg, can't you?

In the meantime, the full plate unravels.

The metal melts like a liquid and is knitted into another form...... turns into a coat of metal yarn.

The face hidden in a full-face helm also becomes dewy.

It was like the Spirit of Snow, an endless beautiful boy.

- It was the face that was on the list of people to watch out for.

"Luke...... Holmes?

"Oh, you know me too."

He is a sub-owner of the Kingdom's second-largest clan and one of the winners of the "Tournament".

Naturally, he is one of the well-known threats in the Empire.

That's why if I had exposed my face from the start... Melo wouldn't have accidentally tried to pass next door either.

"Well, I can read that you were doing some work here. And you also have the means to communicate with your peers who are causing this phenomenon, right?

"Huh!?

Melo, reflectively, grabbed the changeling child machine he had in his hand.

"Could it still be - can you hear me?

I'm not supposed to be seeing it, but Luke sensed a move that would shelter her from something.

Or maybe Liz, who can perceive the surroundings, told him the same thing.

"A fellow. If you could hear me, could you stop me from having this vision disturbing skill?

I'm not saying what I'm going to do if I don't stop.

Rather than that, I don't even think of fine dust as stopping the inquiring Luke himself.

This is just a rush, a means of eliciting information.

Two subordinate positions… Marilyn, who has devoted 100 levels to being a member of the family for only 10 minutes in Restricted Sublimation, can communicate with Luke in the same way as he did in his thoughts.

So I heard the other person's information… 'Resurrecting Armor Without Content' characteristic, combined with this sight shuffle, and in 'Multiple Personnel' I suspected that 'this one is currently attacking me from an unrecognizable safety zone'.

It was a question of trying to get some hints about the location of the main unit, other abilities and weaknesses.

But shortly after Luke's words............... the sight shuffle was immediately (...) released.

"... oh?

"Huh!"

I was surprised at Luke's sudden return to my sight, and Melo also realized from what was going on around him that Michi had unlocked his skills.

(So much so you want to avoid this < master > death penalty? Something, when she is an important key part of the tactics,............?

It was Luke who put his thoughts around why his opponent unskilled him, but that's where he realizes.

in resurrected sight...... the look on Melo's face (...).

What was there was a real fright.

Neither is it an evasion of a death penalty, nor a confusion about a situation change that doesn't make sense.

It's like, yes, it's like...

- I was so frightened that if I died, I would really die (...).

To be continued