Songs in the Void

ICDS Universe, Earth, Japan, Tokyo.

After his solo raid against the Lizard Knight, Tatsuo raided it twice more, this time in parties. And as his rewards, he chose two parts of the [Lizard Knight Set], wanting to complete it as quickly as possible for an experiment.

Then, he took a shower to clean off all the sweat and the scent of blood he had accumulated during his time climbing the Dungeon. After that, he went to the kitchen to make himself something to eat. However, while he was cooking, he heard a Dungeon Notification.

{A Dungeon Explorer from Earth conquered the 50th Floor and became a Gold-Ranked Dungeon Explorer. A Dungeon Explorer Communication Channel will now open on Earth. Those who wish to speak, may do so by putting their left hand over their mouth. When you no longer wish to hear from the Communication Channel, you may simply speak the words, "Channel off."}

"So, it's finally that time, huh?" Tatsuo muttered to himself without raising his left hand to his mouth. "Kang-San must be out having fries and beer wit that one girl… What was her name again? Su Ye-Eun… I think…"

["Earth's Dungeon Explorers, You heard that right."] The bell-like voice of a woman asked in a smug tone through the Communication Channel. ["Can you all hear me?"]

"Her voice is nice." Tatsuo mumbled while continuing to cook. "I wonder what language she's speaking right now. Probably English, since it's not being translated into Japanese."

["My name is Hwaya Eleni Mastiford, an SS-Rank Ability User and a Dungeon Explorer from the Second Dungeon."] The woman, Hwaya continued. ["My Korean name is Ye Hwaya. But I have British citizenship. So, keep that in mind.]

"I really need to get assessed." Tatsuo said, his pride provoked by Hwaya's declaration of her rank. "But she's only a 2nd Dungeon Explorer. So, I'll definitely surpass her soon enough."

A moment later, Tatsuo deflated from his puffed up state. He had just remembered that he would not be staying in this world for too much longer. So, his chance of getting a higher rank than SS before he completed his mission was rather low.

["You all should know there are only six Dungeon Explorers on Earth."] Hwaya said in atone filled with conviction. ["And I want to keep it that way for a while. That is, I don't' want any new Dungeon Explorers to emerge. We can't let just anyone become a Dungeon Explorer."

Hearing the tone in which she spoke, Tatsuo felt as if he were being provoked. Even if he did not intend on making anyone a Dungeon Explorer, who was this woman to tell him what he could and could not do.

With his pride feeling provoked, Tatsuo turned off the heat to the stove before raising his left hand to his mouth.

["And who the hell are you to tell me what I can and can't do?"] Tatsuo asked in a challenging tone.

Immediately, the Communication Channel fell silent.

Meanwhile, not far from Tatsuo's apartment, Sumire, who was sweeping the grounds of her family's shrine, and Shin, who was out with his friend, Su Ye-Eun, opened their eyes wide in surprise after hearing Tatsuo's voice and the tone he spoke in.

["Huh?"] Hwaya exclaimed in surprise. {"And just who are you to talk to me that way?"]

["You can call me Tatsuo. I'm from Japan. But I'm not gonna tell you my surname, though."] Tatsuo replied, completely undaunted by Hwaya's clearly displeased tone. ["And as someone who put in the blood, sweat, and tears to climb the Dungeon, I'll decide when and who I make into a Dungeon Explorer. I don't need anyone's permission to do what is my right."]

Once again, the Dungeon Explorer Communication fell into silence. While Hwaya felt that Tatsuo was cowardly for not giving his full name, everyone else thought that was the right move. Though, not all of them would do so. Simply because they felt they had nothing to fear, or were too naïve.

["No… Wait! I wasn't trying to tell you what to do!"] Hwaya, sounding rather panicked, exclaimed. Then, her tone changed to one that was much firmer as she continued. ["But we have to come together. As we're all more special than regular Ability Users. When we gather we'll have a certain level of synergy."

["And let me guess, if we were to come together, you'd be the leader, right?"] Tatsuo asked in a condescending tone.

["N-Naturally."] Hwaya replied. Though, she sounded a little new to having someone question her. ["As an SS-Rank Ability User and the first to conquer the 50th Floor, I would be the leader. I want to create an organization of Dungeon Explorers, and I would like all of you to be a part of it."]

["Hmph!"] Tatsuo snorted before falling silent.

Following Tatsuo's snort, the rest of the Communication Channel fell into silence for a short while. While Shin was surprised to hear Tatsuo talking back so harshly to one of the world's seven SS-Rank Awakened, Kang Yungoong, Shin's father agreed with the proud stance he took. Meanwhile, Sumire was too caught off guard by the information that Tatsuo was a Dungeon Explorer to say anything at all.

["*Cough* Interesting plan, Mastiford."] The deep voice of a man said, sounding as if he was trying to dissipate the awkward atmosphere. ["I admit you're the strongest among us. But that doesn't mean we should be under your command."]

'That must be Edward Walker.' Tatsuo thought to himself while listening to the conversation as he returned to cooking. 'A 3rd Dungeon Explorer living in Britan."]

["I'm not saying I would command you as I wish."] Hwaya, who sounded as if she had gotten back her confidence, said. ["But if we come together, we should have a leader. And that leader should be the strongest among us."]

["That's not a very tempting or convincing offer, Mastiford."] Edward said in a snide tone. ["Even without coming together, Dungeon Explorers have the potential to command other Ability Users."]

["But we could be even stronger together."] Hwaya countered ["We would have a stronger voice, as well. Plus, I'm not saying we should come together for money, or something like that. You all know what happened in the worlds where other Dungeon Explorers come from, right?"]

Everyone knew what Hwaya was talking about. Every world connected to the Dungeon was currently facing a threat from outside their world. On Earth, it was the monsters. In some worlds, there were beings called Book Walkers. And in others there were demons. Every Explorer climbing the Dungeon was fighting for the fate of their world.

["I-I-I am Su-Sumire Violet Minami, a 2nd Dungeon Explorer on the 24th Floor."] Sumire said, finally finding her voice. ["So, is Mastiford-San.. saying… if we gather… we can defeat all the monsters in the world?"]

'The 24th Floor, huh?' Tatsuo thought to himself. 'I guess our training sessions have helped her a lot. If I remember, she was only on the 18th Floor at this point in the novel.'

["Oh, are you a half, too?"] Hwaya asked, sounding interested in Sumire's origins. ["but yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. As Dungeon Explorers, we'll be able to grow without issues. And if we come together, no country or organization would be able to take advantage of us. Plus, with the power to appoint Dungeon Explorers, we'll be able to expand our organization."]

["Yes, I just found out about appointing Dungeon Explorers not long ago."] Sumire replied. ["I was gonna use it to appoint someone, but it looks like he's already a Dungeon Explorer."]

["I was gonna use my appointment right to make you an Explorer, too, Sumire-San."] Tatsuo said, the smile in his tone evident. ["But I had no idea you were already a Dungeon Explorer, too."]

That short exchange let the other four in the Communication Channel know that Tatsuo and Sumire knew each other. Tatsuo's outburst about someone dictating how he used his appointment rights made a lot more sense, too. And Hwaya dropped almost all of the hostility she had for Tatsuo after he talked back to her so harshly.

["So, you two know each other."] Hwaya said in a much softer tone. ["And you wanted to make each other into Dungeon Explorers, too. Now I understand why you were so hostile to me, Tatsuo."]

While Sumire remained silent, Tatsuo had a response to that.

["That's not the only reason."] Tatsuo replied. Though a lot of his hostility had disappeared, mostly because it was just his pride talking. ["But I meant it when I said I wouldn't let anyone dictate how I used what I earned with my own effort."]

["But…?"} Hwaya tried to ask a question.

["On top of that, just because you're an SS-Rank Awakened, why do you think that makes you the strongest? There's more than just that when it comes to a fight to the death. And I guarantee, if I really wanted you dead, there's nothing you would be able to do about it. Hell, you wouldn't even see it coming."]

Once again, Tatsuo's words shocked the Communication Channel into silence. While Shin agreed with Tatsuo's statement, having fought in raids with him on several occasions, and Yungoong had heard about him from his son, the others were thoroughly dumbfounded by Tatsuo's confident statement.

["And Sumire, you gave out your information way too easily."] Tatsuo said in a scolding tone. ["We don't' know any of the people in this Communication Channel. Yet, you gave out your full name. That's dangerous."]

["But we're all comrades, Tatsuo-Kun."] Sumire replied with a giggle. ["I don't think it's necessary for us to hide anything among allies."]

'*Sigh* She's so naïve.' Tatsuo, as well as all the others, thought.

However, those naïve words provoked at least one of the two people who had yet to speak.

["You're right, young lady."] Shin's father, Kang Yungoong said in a lively tone. ["I was just so mesmerized by the beautiful voices that I stayed silent."]

["Now there's only one left."] Edward said ["Or do you intend to remain silent."]

The Channel fell silent once again. However, that silence did not last long.

["I actually did not plan on interrupting your conversation."] Shin finally said. ["But an organization of Dungeon Explorers, it seems interesting. I just don't know how it would be different from Guardian or Freedom Wing."]

["It would be different."] Hwaya replied strongly. ["The organizations goal would be to find the underlying reasons why the monsters appeared… And put an end to it."]

["Mastiford-Ssi… All organizations start out with righteous causes."] Shin shot back. ["Guardian is a good example. And you see how that turned out."]

["How cheeky."] Hwaya said angrily, clearly upset that her motives were being doubted.

["I agree with him."] Tatsuo added. ["Guardian and Freedom Wing only act for profits at this point. But they started off.. Well, at least Guardian started off as an organization to protect the people. Yet, not long ago they tried to strong arm me into handing over what I hunted before."]

Although that was not completely true, Tatsuo knew it would get to that point if he had stayed at the site of the Azure-Winged Magpie attack for much longer. He also saw that one guy from Freedom Wing who was trying to track him after he left.

After Tatsuo's statement, the sound of teeth grinding could be heard through the Communication Channel. And no one had any doubt that they were from Hwaya.

["Anyway, to be honest, I'm quite interested in your organization and its goal."] Shin said, cutting off the sound of teeth grinding. ["and I agree that if we don't take care of this monster crisis, our world will be in danger like the other worlds."]

["Then, why did you say that before?"] Hwaya questioned angrily.

["Because if we're being honest, I'm weaker than you right now."] Shin replied. ["But I'm not the type to crawl between someone's legs. So, we can talk again when I'm stronger than you. I'll happily join your organization then. But I'd be the leader. And I wouldn't have to worry about the organization losing its way, either."]

["Pfft!"] The sound of someone stifling their laughter, most likely, Edward, rang out through the Channel.

["Now, Those are the words of a real man."] Yungoong said with a hardy laugh. ["But I'll be the one to be the leader, So--- *Cough* Boy."]

'Seriously, you should have just said he was your son,.' Tatsuo thought to himself after realizing the last person to speak was Shin's father.

["Hmph!"] Hwaya snorted in disdain. ["You? You want to surpass me? A Gold-Rank Explorer from the 2nd Dungeon? An SS-Rank Awakened?"]

["Hmm.. Now I see what kind of person you are, Mastiford-Ssi."] Shin said, clearly trying to get under Hwaya's skin. ["If you really only cared about the world and the crisis it was facing, you wouldn't care about who the leader was."]

["*Sigh* She's just like those losers from Freedom Wing."] Tatsuo added in a disappointed tone.

The sound of Hwaya's teeth grinding together could be heard once again.

["But it's obvious I would be the leader as the strongest!"] Hwaya shouted in irritation. ["Aren't you just overestimating yourself. How do you expect to surpass me? Plus, I'm really thinking about the future of all the Dungeon Explorers."]

["No, I agree with those two, Mastiford."] Edward said sternly. ["I can see exactly how this organization of yours will turn out. Sorry, but I'm out."]

["Hmm… I'm still weaker than you, too, young lady."] Yungoong added. ["And I really don't wanna work under anyone, either. So, best of luck to you."]

'I guess things are still turning out the way they did in the novel.' Tatsuo thought to himself with a smirk. 'Well, it's not like I did anything ground breaking. So, this result was expected.'

["Wha-What's with all of you?"] Sumire asked in a panicked tone. ["I think Nee-San is right. She's the strongest right now. And she was the one who brought up the idea of starting an organization. And Tatsuo-Kun, why are you being so mean? You're never like this."]

["It's not that, Miss."] Shin said. ["It's just that Mastiford-Ssi isn't trustworthy."]

["N-Not trustworthy?"] Hwaya questioned angrily. ["You've never even met me…"]

["Hmph! And that's more than enough reason to not trust someone."] Tatsuo added. ["I don't trust anything or anyone until I can see them with my own eyes. Until then, they're all either enemies or potential enemies."]

The resentment in Tatsuo's words could be easily distinguished by everyone. Though, no one knew why he would have such resentment behind his words. Sumire did think she had an idea, though. Thinking that someone who hated the monsters so much would not be able to trust an organization if it might end up like Guardian or Freedom Wing, his resentment was understandable.

["Anyway, I don't know about Miss Minami, but like what I can tell about Tatsuo-Ssi, I have a strong pride."] Shin said ["So, I wouldn't be able to work under someone like her."]

["There's no way I'd work under someone like her, either."] Tatsuo added. ["Unless she could beat me in a fight. And that would only be until I could no longer agree with the direction she was leading her organization in."]

["Tatsuo-Kun…"] Sumire muttered.

'At this point in the story, Hwaya is just too head strong.' Tatsuo thought to herself. 'Working under her would be a nightmare until her pride is broken. *Sigh* that's pretty hypocritical of me, isn't it? Still, I've had what I can and can't do beaten into me viciously. So, I won't let my pride get the better of me. That's a quick way to end up dead.'

["Are you saying you'd ignore a global crisis because of your pride?"] Sumire asked in a dumbfounded tone.

["Oh, I will kill all the monsters."] Tatsuo replied in a dark tone. ["but whether I'm part of an organization, or not, makes no difference. All the monsters will die."]

Hearing Tatsuo's tone, one she had never heard from him before, Sumire was taken aback. However, she could understand why he sounded like that. And because she knew his circumstances, she felt quite guilty.

["Tatsuo-Ssi is right."] Shin added. ["It's not like we can't do our part if we're alone, right?"]

In the novel, Sumire would try to defend her point. However, because of the guilt she felt at the moment, she remained silent.

["I think I'm done."] Shin said. ["Mastiford-Ssi, you're done as well, right?"]

["Hmph! Then go."] Hwaya said in a frustrated toen. ["I don't want someone as narrow-minded as you two in my organization, either. Sumire, just the two of us can talk about how to solve this monster crisis."]

["Oh, okay… Nee-San…"] Sumire replied in an unsure tone. ["but Tatsuo-Kun…"]

At that moment, while shaking his head, Tatsuo was ready to say the words, 'Channel off." And focused on plating his food. However, before he could say it, Edward Walker spoke into the Channel.

["I'm Edward Walker, also British and twenty-six years old."] Edward said in a no nonsense tone. ["Boy who is still unnamed, what is your name?"]

["You're British?] Hwaya shouted frantically. ["then how could you talk to me like that?"]

["I'm Yeon Hwawoo."] Shin replied after a few seconds of hesitation. ["I'm Korean and twenty-three years old."]

"Pfft!" Tatsuo snorted in laughter. Luckily, he had taken his left hand from in front of his mouth before he did so.

Using a fake name made sense in the novel because Yungoong was the only one who knew is identity. But after having met Tatsuo in the Dungeon, Shin still used a fake name, as if he knew that Tatsuo would not reveal that his name was fake.

["I should have known you were Korean from the way you---."] Mastiford said, sounding even more irritated than before.

"Channel off." Tatsuo said, no longer interested in listening to the Communication Channel.

Then, he took his plate of food to the kitchen table to eat. After sitting down, he put his smartphone on the table, as well.

"*Sigh* I guess Sumire will probably want to stop by soon." Tatsuo said as glanced at his smartphone. "Well, I didn't plan on going back into the Dungeon today, anyway."