Mob, if I were a high school student, could I be an adventurer, too, Leah?

After school. Heading to my usual family, there were already two figures from the Adventurers' Department there.

In a store where shadows are sparse as early as dinner time, the appearance of a red-haired half-bird girl and a middle-and-disease fashion girl with seven-colored hair attracts the attention of the surrounding guests, nevertheless.

Every time...... you have a subtle embarrassment to head to the seat where these guys are...

When I gently exchanged greetings and got to my seat thinking, etc., Anna just cut out the story.

"Now let's get started with the operation meeting… all the time, before then"

Anna took out a large crystal ornament in her palm as she began to fish her bag like she remembered something in the middle of the line.

"Is that...?

"Easy spy demon props ss. Effect to such an extent that sound is less likely to leak around. It's pretty much on the market, and you've seen seniors, haven't you, sss?

"... oh well, if you say so, you've seen it in karaoke stores"

And I nodded convinced.

Sure, I don't think raiders and their associates happen to be around here, but I'm sure you should be careful, just in case.

Anna, who activated the spy's magic props, restarts the conversation.

"Well, there's nothing else I've had you gathered here today. Raiders that seniors were also attacked the other day... Shall we call them 'houndsmen' because we only use wolves and dog monsters... to find and set up an operation to catch that 'houndsmen'?"

I see... "The Hound Man"? It would be perfect as a word to describe that raider using a werewolf system card. You have better taste than the rookie hunt I was wearing inside.

When I was secretly impressed, Weaver raised his hand.

"... just give me a minute. You want to start with me? Anna told me the whole story, but I'd like to hear it from a senior who actually met 'The Hound Man'. From before diving into the labyrinth, until I woke up in the hospital. What did you think and feel? Everything."

"Oh, okay.... or the weave is mixed naturally, but does that mean you'll cooperate?

Regardless of Anna confirming her intentions in the hospital room, isn't the weave getting caught up in a forceful...? When she asked, she gave a stubborn look.

"What... are you just gonna keep me out of this?

"No, not like that... but it's still dangerous"

"Danger, if you mean, is the same thing as a normal labyrinth exploration. Let me talk to you first."

"Oh, oh..."

I nodded and started talking about a series of streams again.

The explanation itself was smooth because we had already talked about it a few times, but the story was surprisingly long because the weave would stick around and ask me what I felt and wondered.

Incidentally, two of the things she has been asking especially deeply were 'When I encountered Gremlin' and 'How I actually felt in conversation with the Raiders'.

"... so, well, I've been in the hospital for about two days, rested at home for a day, and I feel like I'm going to be today"

"I see..."

Having heard it all, the weave put its arms together and meditated on its eyes, silencing itself.

With that kind of room for her, Anna starts talking.

"First of all, the first thing I'd like to say before we do the killer hunt is that we don't know if we can catch the killer.

The reality is, unlike mystery novels, there's no way to get to the killer. The killer is not necessarily among the characters either......

Still, there is no doubt that the information of the senior who actually came into contact with the killer and survived is important. Let's start with scrutiny. "

"Oh."

As I nodded, Anna started talking with her index finger pinned.

"First, first of all, why isn't the killer still caught?

Typically, crimes in the labyrinth are immediately identified by access control and surveillance cameras with pre-gate licences.

Even if it is accidentally cleaned up in one or two crimes, more victims should always have access to the investigation.

Even if you were using the forgery of a license, or a license you took from someone else, you'd find out that one day too, beyond the footage of a surveillance camera.

Nevertheless, the fact that the killer has not yet been caught is how clever the M.O. is to delude him, or he knows how the unknown labyrinth works and abuses it... "

"Well, you are. But it won't be possible for us amateurs to find it..."

"Yes, I think we do, too, sss. Now let's just say the point is' it's probably impossible to find the killer from the way in and out of the labyrinth '"

I snorted at Anna's words.

Typically, mystery novels and the like often solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets and that leads to the identification of the killer as it is.

Because the only person who could get in and out of the scene of the crime who shouldn't be able to get in and out is definitely the killer.

On the other hand, this case seems to lead, in a sense, to a clandestine murder in that it does not capture the killer-like person, even though it confirms the moment of entry and exit…

Now, if you solve that mystery, it should be a clue to the killer... but it hasn't been formed as a Chamber of Secrets in the first place because there are many mysteries that haven't been solved in the labyrinth.

If this were simply a factor in the counterfeiting of licences or the hacking of surveillance cameras, we would be able to trace it off that line, but I guess it's not even that simple of a story than the police and guilds haven't been able to identify the killer.

This means that the killer is likely to be using some mechanism of the labyrinth, or unknown demonic props, which has not been generally elucidated.

At that point, it will be a treat for us who are just high school students.

Of course, I was going to investigate from there if I could get any clues, but it's not realistic to follow the killer off this line at the moment, I had to say.

"Next, does' Hound Man 'have anything to do with his disappearance in the F-rank labyrinth... I think it's a good idea to assume that there is this.

It's a very hard situation to think about how many one-star adventurers with D-rank cards will be missing in the F-rank labyrinth. Except for the story if that's what Irregular Encount showed up all over the place, but I've never heard of so many Irregular Encount occurrences.

If so, it may be considered an external factor, that is, by human hands.

Nevertheless, the fact that the killer has not yet been caught means that he is in and out by the same means as the 'hounds'. There are so many ways to sneak in and out of the labyrinth... or I don't think I can find it. "

Ah... well. I opened my eyes.

I was unconsciously thinking about the crime in the labyrinth, connecting the multiple missing cases in the F-rank labyrinth with the "Hound Man," but could it also have been someone else's crime?

Come to think of it, attacking a one-star adventurer like hairy to an amateur is like a different risk and return from attacking a three-star in front of a pro step. If the former is a hitch on the side of the road, the latter is like raiding a precious metal store. It can no longer be called another crime.

However, if the modus operandi of the offense is consistent in a special way, this may be considered another offense of the same offense.

Then you should also be able to track down whoever attacked me by pursuing the missing multiple incidents in the F-rank labyrinth.

"Third. About the puzzling words and actions of the killer.

The senior story was that 'The Hound Man' instructed the senior to use the stairs to leave, not from the gate, after demanding all cards and magic equipment, including the named cards.

Why did the killer even demand a named card or its soul card that could not move ownership?

I know why you want it for sale if it's a normal card or demon prop that can transfer ownership. But the fact that you even demanded a soul card seems to have had more purpose than simply depriving your predecessors of their power.

Next, why did you tell him to run down the stairs, without killing him on the spot? If you're not going to kill him, you can let him escape the gate normally. It is no longer the same as saying die to take away the means of self-defense and go to the upper floors where the monsters wander.

Then it should be harder to leak information that leads to you if you kill him on the spot.

There is also the possibility that it is simply due to an abusive mind... but if not, there must be something in this contradiction that leads to the identification of the killer... "

That's it.

That was the part where I was talking to the killer and questioned him the most.

Why did you even demand a soul card that shouldn't make sense to take away? And even told you to go home through the stairs?

It's hard to think of a lie to make people offer cards. Because it's the same thing that ends up dead if you're offered a card to give it away.

Of course it was possible to take a breath with Gabriel at the stage where I gave him the card, but it looked to me like 'that Anubis hates killing with his own hands'.

Of course that doesn't seem like some cheesy reason for not wanting to cross the last line or anything more clear......

"... and well, longer. Is this about the information you are finalising at this stage? The question is how do we get from this information to the identification of the killer..."

So we silenced.

It's a good idea to organize information, but there were limits to our deductions on the desk, not the police or the famous detectives.

and then.

"To see the quest for a missing persons search..."

The weave, which had remained silent for so long, groaned with a potpout.

"... the killer is always after the victim when he is alone.

Are you lurking in the labyrinth in advance and attacking when the prey appears alone... or are you prejudging the prey and then extending it to the crime?

Given the efficiency, it should probably be more likely for the latter. If we sort out the victim's information, we should be able to narrow down the statue of the killer to some extent. "

"I see..."

Convinced while surprised by the sharp weave's focus besides thoughts.

Indeed, it is too inefficient to target those who happen to come alone to attack in a labyrinth that does not know when the prey will come.

I've been solo attacking for a long time, because it's common for two to four average adventurers to attack.

This is due to the fact that if there are two or more people, the survival rate during encounters with Irregular Encount is said to be greatly improved.

Those who work solo are either so confident in their fighting power, wanting to monopolize their harvest even at the risk, or not comfortable working with others in the first place.

In my case, it was because the early Lotus Hua's were too unsuitable properties to work with others, and I had to hide it after Lotus Hua's peculiarities came to light.

Never, not because I was a botch.

"What catches me is that we don't have any information on the killer, even though the victim is actually out there.

Many people bring in cameras and other equipment to prevent problems with other adventurers in the labyrinth. It's unnatural that there are no cameras in the missing person's artifacts, and it should be considered destroyed in some way. And... "

So Weave looked sharply at me and said.

"Seniors have encountered Gremlin just before entering the bottom tier and have been subjected to mechanical destruction. Is this a coincidence?

"No..."

I ran into Gremlin on the verge of entering the lowest level and I'm being mechanically destroyed. As a result, he was left without video or audio leading to the killer.

I had no doubt then that Gremlin showed up at that time because I had encountered another Gremlin that day and was getting a card, but if you think about it, the timing is slightly too good.

Besides, the reaction of the bell deer to the second gremlin...... That was maybe the discomfort with what was another master's card.

I assumed it was a wild monster from dropping demon stones, but that's also something you can easily disguise if you let the cards have demon stones.

This means, for example, that the killer uses gremlin when attacking his prey, making sure he doesn't leave any evidence of himself by carrying out mechanical destruction.

"If the killer is erasing his evidence with gremlin, he must be replenishing the gremlin somewhere. You should first see if anyone is buying a large quantity of Gremlin in your guild. If you don't have something you're buying directly, you'll know there's been a recent decline in supply or an increase in demand."

"Why don't we start the investigation on that line?"

I snorted at the words of the weave. Now you've managed to make your first move.

So Anna says strangely.

"But if I'm trying not to leave any evidence of myself that way, why would I be trying to get him off the stairs? To make it look like you were hit by a labyrinth monster?

"It's just a matter of ending up with the same kind of cards as the monsters that appear in that labyrinth."

"That's right..."

"Is there anything in the weave?

I'll also point the water at the weave, which I've been sayin 'all my sharp opinions from earlier.

"Hmm... half the reason, I can predict. If my expectations are correct, there must be something in the possession of several victims. Check out the victim's possessions, and if there's an alley, I'm pretty sure it is. But I don't know the other half. Probably why we don't know until we try to catch the killer."

"What are you talking about?

"I don't want to say it until I have certainty. I don't want to plant preconceptions.... but if you're the other half, which I don't even know, there must be a reason why a senior was attacked there."

Me?

Why would I have anything to do with that?

"Hound users are basically targeting a single star. But the seniors are three stars...... Moreover, he also has an advantage card for sitting children, a powerful and substantial B-rank card that is also out in Moncolo. Furthermore, the card is mostly named, and even if attacked, it doesn't taste good. You're supposed to be someone who's risky and returns less, who doesn't deserve to be a prey."

"I see, indeed..."

Earlier, I thought to myself, attacking a single star and attacking a three star would pose risks and returns as if they were separate and of a completely different quality as a crime.

Especially since I'm a weirdo named for most of the major cards, and I bet you know who did it through Moncolo, Twitter, etc.

... you raided without knowing me? No, that can't be. Because…….

"... Hound users are obviously raiding against seniors. He has silver-armed his cards against almost immortal vampires on the night field and has prepared multiple B-rank cards. Even more ready to dispose of C-rank cards for battle reconnaissance. This means that houndsmen are attacking for 'something' that only seniors have"

"I'm the only one with 'something'..."

The first thing that came to my mind at that time was a lot of unusual things about my sitting child.

Lianhua is obviously not a regular card. The ability to even interfere with the monster's drop rate deviates from the ability of a normal sitting child. No, on the contrary, there were times when it seemed to me that he could even interfere with the 'fate of the master'...

Abnormality, in the sense that Suzuka sometimes feels that too, but there is something about Lotus Hua that is less bottomless than Suzuka.

If they were attacking us for that speciality, we could snort a little bit that our enemies have even demanded a soul card.

"Was it more fateful to strike a single star and more 'exceptional' for seniors to be attacked? Or are they both destined for two purposes? I don't know about that, but at least it must mean something to you that you attacked a senior. Or if there are other 'exceptions' that are being attacked like seniors, examining them may also show the killer's purpose..."

But that would be difficult, I thought. Is Anna thinking the same, the look on her face is sinister?

Unlike the rare F-rank Labyrinth, the D-rank Labyrinth, the battlefield of the Three Stars, is not uncommon to return.

If the damage was massive, you might know, but if it was a small number, you wouldn't know it first.

If that's what you mean, I see, the damage in the F-rank labyrinth was completely camouflaged.

I said in a sigh.

"... do you want to find out about the victim for now if anyone keeps buying or continuously buying large quantities of gremlin with guilds or something"

"We'll take care of Gremlin. Normally, if you go ask, the guild won't do much for you, and I'll look it up on our connections."

Anna slapping her chest confidently.

I certainly don't think we can go to the guild and give you information about the buyer. I mean, you seem to tell me. On the contrary, I'm scared. Because it means my information will be easily disseminated, too.

... As a common man, I don't feel cold enough to know that with the help of a large company, but, well, I should have said that I am reliable now.

"So it feels like we're gonna hit from the missing."

"Why don't you just take the quest? We can legally check the victim's possessions."

I shook my head with regret at Anna's words.

"No, entering the labyrinth now is a little tight...... I'm devastated too."

If you're an enemy of the F-rank labyrinth even with your current power, it's fine, but considering what if the houndsman was sniping at me, there was resistance to entering the labyrinth now.

At least I want to keep the party back to full condition.

"Oh... speaking of which, you did.... To be honest, what's going on with seniors' fighting power right now? What about the money?

"The power feels like one C-rank card and two D-rank cards. As for the funds…"

I fainted slightly about the funds in hand.

"I see... you have a C-rank card that makes you a fighter for once.

If that's the case, can we have the sale of the cards and the magic props for a moment, please, suss?

I have an idea. Don't buy Lianhua and Eliza's resurrection cards now either "

"Yeah? Yeah, okay."

I nodded while I was expecting my heart to see if he could introduce me to someone who would buy it high or even a cheap card.

"For now, if you have enough power to fight the enemies of the F-rank labyrinth, it's okay, sss. Take a quest to search for the missing."

"What if it's okay... if a houndster attacks you?

"I'll use this then."

That being said, Anna has given me and the weave an original badge and two magic cards.

The badge is a card inspired design with a blue gemstone in the center.

On the other hand, the card is better, but this...

"The badge is a testament to our Adventurer's Department. It incorporates demon props for defense and badges that can communicate with each other, which are also used in Moncolo. Don't worry, even your gremlin opponent won't destroy you because no machine type is used. Be prepared for a car accident or something, so always carry it with you if you can. And if you're on a magic card, 'Metastasis' and 'Emergency Evacuation' sss"

"Emergency Evacuation"... are you serious?

'Emergency Evacuation' is a magic card that can be transferred instantly from anywhere on the field to a safety zone. From there, further 'transfer' cards can be used to return to the ground from anywhere on the field.

If I had this then, I might have been able to run away without losing the lotus huats, too.

Nonetheless, I didn't have one because this is simply shitty expensive.

What a "minimum" of 100 million yen that price is.

The reason the price is soaring is because the appearance rate from the disappointment box is low in the first place and professional adventurers buy it all because it is a lifeline in times of need.

They are rarely sold in guilds and need a cone to get them.

Combine that with the 'Transfer' card. What are the three components......

My hands tremble unexpectedly. If you look at it, the weave also stiffened the look.

"I asked my dad to borrow it just in case. Use this to escape when you encounter a houndsman."

In response to Anna, who said it lightly, I said it in a cold sweat.

"Yes, no, you can't just get it so expensive... and you can't afford to buy it"

A weave that snorts at my words. The small animal stained motion was a little cute.

"No, never mind. It is also from the role of the department manager to pay attention to the safety of the personnel. Especially this time, when we're the first to say," Let's find the killer. "I need to get you some amulets."

Whoa, whoa...!

I shuddered unexpectedly at the strength of the younger girl's sense of responsibility.

Seriously. Because you're the general manager, can you give us more than a hundred million things instead of amulets, normal? No matter how much parental reliance, there would have been some kind of condition.

There is no spare time for that, and there is no atmosphere to be particularly grateful for.

It was the wind that this was my natural duty as general manager.

Now he recognises that this girl is the daughter of one of the largest companies in Japan.

If I were in her shoes, I would have demanded one or two of the terms of exchange.

The vessel was not the same size as a common man like me.

"I will always try to carry one pair at a time when I will continue to work as an Adventurer's Department. So don't hesitate to use it when you think it's dangerous.... Oh, just don't flaunt me or anything, okay?

"Oh, that, of course"

Me and Woven snorted hard.

Let's think this is Anna's compassion and a sign of trust and take care of it.

"In the meantime, this shouldn't be a problem to investigate in the labyrinth. Let's just say that while we're looking into Gremlin on our connections, we'll be searching the tunnels for information on our victims."

"From which quest do you want to do this?

"I guess we should do it from the most recent thing. Corruption doesn't go on in the labyrinth, but the older it gets, the worse it should be eaten by monsters"

"According to the quest request, the most recent victim..."

Anna, who manipulated her smartphone and checked her quest email, raised her face.

"... Shoko Sato. Let's find out from this guy."