My Unique Skill [Gacha] Will Save the World - Episode 121: Questions

Episode 121: Questions

The pursuit had turned into an unexpectedly prolonged battle. 

This was because monsters kept merging from different directions. It forced Rindou and Kunichika into chaotic skirmishes, only to resume the chase again afterward. 

Even while fighting, Rindou couldn’t help but keep turning the situation over in his mind.

(The sheer number of monsters is clearly abnormal. And despite the considerable distance we’ve covered, there’s not even a trace of the other players!)

Ever since entering the star-4 gate, the mysteries had been piling up. 

Typically, experienced players left behind intentional traces to help those coming later. Yet, there were none to be found this time. 

While it wasn’t unusual for some players to try monopolizing the resources gained from the gate, that explanation didn’t fit this situation. 

Kyousuke, Ayane, and even the stealthy Kageboshi were likely among the first wave of players to enter. They would have anticipated Rindou’s arrival and left signs for him to follow. But the complete lack of evidence was a glaring anomaly.

“Damn it! These things are running off again!”

Even more puzzling to Rindou was how these instinct-driven monsters kept fleeing repeatedly.

(The star-5 gate we entered before was a double-layered structure. That one had a trapdoor leading to an underground space………. Could this place operate on a similar mechanism?)

He considered the possibility that monsters were being generated underground and ascending to the higher levels. 

But if that were the case, there had to be some means for them to come up.

(Of course, the underground theory is only one of many possibilities…)

Rindou debated whether he should share this uncertain information with Kunichika. Ultimately, he decided to tell him about the double gate he had previously encountered.

“Kunichika, I need to talk to you.”

“What is it now, during all this chaos?”

“It’s about double gates.”

At the mention of double gates, Kunichika’s suspicious expression shifted to one of curiosity.

“…Alright, let’s hear it.”

“Keep in mind this is mostly conjecture.”

“Doors are all about conjecture anyway. Don’t sweat it.”

With that reassurance, Rindou began recounting what they had experienced during their previous encounter with a double-layered gate: the trapdoor opening to reveal more monsters, and even higher-tier, intelligent monsters appearing.

“So, you’re saying there might be another space besides the one we’re standing in?”

“The monster numbers aren’t decreasing. If anything, more seem to keep flooding in before we can even reduce their numbers. And yet, we’re sensing almost no traces of their presence. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”

When Rindou shared his thoughts, Kunichika fell into a contemplative silence.

“…You’re right. Something’s definitely off. Even the ones that ran away earlier—there’s barely any trace of them left now.”

“What?”

Rindou hadn’t been paying attention to the monsters they had already encountered. He quickly extended his senses to confirm.

“…It’s true. Assuming there’s another space, that explanation fits.”

“Then what about Kyousuke and the others? Could they have entered that other space?”

“Based on this assumption, it’s a strong possibility. Which means…”

Rindou paused, exhaled deeply, and then continued.

“…Kyosuke and the others might already be in critical danger.”

“Tch! If that’s the case, we need to find the connection to this other space fast, or we’re completely useless here!”

Frustrated at their helplessness, Kunichika struck the wall with his fist. The force sent dust cascading down from the upper edge of the wall.

“…Hold on, Kunichika.”

“What now?”

“Take a look at this.”

Rindou pointed out something unusual he had noticed about the wall Kunichika had just punched.

“…It’s just a wall, isn’t it?”

“Doesn’t this part seem misaligned compared to the rest?”

“Hmm… Couldn’t it just be a protrusion?”

“But look at how clean and precise this protrusion is.”

As Rindou ran his fingers along the misaligned section, he emphasized the oddity of its smoothness and symmetry.

The other walls had rough, exposed rock surfaces, uneven and jagged. But the section Rindou traced with his fingers was smooth. It was as if it had been deliberately shaved down.  

“…Yeah, this is definitely strange.”  

“I think this spot might be the key to unraveling the double-layered gate…”  

While they had found something unusual, they couldn’t figure out what to do next. Rindou’s skills weren’t sufficient to confirm or act on the suspicion.  

“………No helping it. Guess I’ll step in and handle this!”  

“What are you planning to do?”  

“Just watch.”  

Kunichika grinned mischievously as he spoke. He then thrust his Voltenix spear into the wall.  

“[Thunderous Explosion]!”  

From Voltenix, a deafening roar of thunder erupted. It sent intense vibrations rippling through the wall.  

The thunder was powerful enough to shake the ground. It reverberated throughout the entire area of the door.  

—Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble…  

Immediately after, a deep sound of something moving echoed from behind the wall.