B+-Rank Event Dungeon, General's Honor

ICDS Universe, Earth, Japan, Osaka.

Two days after clearing the Spider Den Event Dungeon, Tatsuo, Sumire, and Hwaya stepped out of the Osaka International Airport in Osaka, Japan. The reason for their stop in Osaka was self-explanatory. They had every intention to clear the B+-Rank Event Dungeon that swallowed up Osaka Castle.

And to make sure that no one noticed them, they were all wearing [Otus' Secret]. Though, they did draw some unwanted attention because of the masks. Even so, they were not mobbed like a pair of SS-Rankers would usually be if they were to walk freely in public.

"I never thought I'd be back in Japan so fast." Hwaya said as the trio stepped out of the airport. "But I'm definitely not complaining."

"I'm glad you're here, too." Sumire said with a smile.

Hwaya smiled back in response. Meanwhile, Tatsuo was looking around for a cab. However, for some reason, there were no cabs around the airport, which was extremely weird.

"Why aren't there any cabs?" Tatsuo muttered in confusion.

"Huh?" x 2

When Sumire and Hwaya heard that, they both exclaimed in surprise. Then, like Tatsuo, they started looking around for a cab. However, they were unable to see one, either.

"That really is weird." Hwaya said. "I've never seen an airport without cabs before."

"Do you think it's because of the Dungeon?" Sumire asked.

"Possibly." Hwaya replied. "Still, that will make things difficult."

"You can drive, right, Mastiford-San?" Tatsuo asked.

"Yes, I have an international driver's license." Hwaya replied. "Why?"

"We can just rent a car, then." Tatsuo said. "I checked while we were on the plain, Osaka Castle is only about twenty minutes from here by car."

"Oh, that's a good idea." Sumire said with a smile. "Why didn't we think of that?"

"Well, I usually have drivers wherever I go." Hwaya said. "But I forgot to get one after Tatsuo [Enchanted] my dress."

After saying that, Hwaya looked away sheepishly when Tatsuo's deadpan gaze landed on her. Even Sumire looked at her dumbfoundedly.

"Don't look at me like that." Hwaya grumbled. "When Tatsuo went into the Dungeon, I did to. I wanted to test out my new dress, after all. And I only came out when it was time for breakfast yesterday. Then, we went out to sightsee. And when we got back, I went right back into the Dungeon."

Shaking his head, Tatsuo took out his smartphone and started looking for where the car rental shop was. Meanwhile, Sumire only smiled gently at Hwaya, which made her even more embarrassed, since she was acting like a child who just got a new toy. Even though she was the oldest of the three.

Eventually, Tatsuo found the location of the car rental shop at the airport. Then, he led the ladies towards it. Not long later, the trio drove away from the airport in a simple sedan. Though Hwaya wanted to drive something fancier, Tatsuo convinced her to forget it. There was a chance the car would get destroyed if there was an Event Raid, after all.

About twenty minutes later, Hwaya pulled up at the parking lot where the tourists usually parked nearest to Osaka Castle. Then, the trio got out of the car and started walking towards the castle under Hwaya's anti-recognition barrier.

"There are even more people here than at Yeongdeungpo's Dungeon." Hwaya muttered as she, Tatsuo, and Sumire walked past the unsuspecting members of Guardian.

"They're probably wary since they don't know who cleared it." Tatsuo replied. "Then again, I don't think we need to hide for this one. Well, you and Sumire-San should. I don't want the hassle if they see you with me when I enter the Dungeon."

"Yeah, that could get pretty annoying." Hwaya said while nodding her head.

"I'll do it like you say." Sumire added with a nod of her own.

Responding with a nod of his own, Tatsuo stepped out of Hwaya's barrier. However, just before he did, he equipped the [Azure Green-Scaled Body Suit] and [Fluttering Feathers]. Then, he started walking up to the Gate with confident steps.

"Stop! This area is restricted." A member of Guardian shouted when he noticed Tatsuo walking towards the Gate.

"Hmph! I already said I was going to reclaim Osaka Castle in that video." Tatsuo said in an arrogant tone. "So, I'm sure you know who I am and that you can't stop me. So, just do us both a favor and get the hell outta my way."

When the member of Guardian heard Tatsuo's words and tone, he was angered immediately. However, when he recognized Japan's SS-Ranker, Void, his eyes opened wide. Then, he pulled out a walkie talkie to report Void's appearance to his higher ups.

Seeing that, Tatsuo narrowed his eyes for a moment. However, he did not slow his steps, eventually reaching that member of Guardian and walking past him.

"I knew he was proud, but I've never seen him act so arrogantly before." Hwaya said as she and Sumire followed Tatsuo up to the Gate.

"I think he's only acting like that because he doesn't want anyone to know its him in the future." Sumire replied. "I don't think Tatsuo-Kun would ever act like that for real."

Hwaya was rather skeptical of that statement. However, she decided not to say anything. Instead, she only continued to follow behind Tatsuo.

Meanwhile, in the command center where the officer who led this platoon of Guardian members was located, she just finished communicating with the member that first encountered Tatsuo.

"He really showed up." The leader of the members of Guardian, a woman in her mid-thirties with sharp black eyes and earthy-brown hair, said coldly. "So what if he's an SS-Ranker. If he can't be controlled, the country doesn't need an SS-Ranker like him. So, he's only got one chance to come to heel. Otherwise..."

Reaching that point, the woman stood from where she sat. Then, she picked up the katana that was leaning against the side of her desk and strapped it to her waist.

"Men!" The woman shouted once her katana was fastened securely.

"Ma'am!" A man replied after rushing into the command center.

"Void has arrived." The woman said calmly. "Tell the men to prepare for possible battle. Hopefully he'll know what's good for him and we won't have to fight."

Hearing that, the man stiffened for a moment.

"Are we sure we can defeat an SS-Ranker with just our platoon, Lt. Colonel?" The man, who was only a lieutenant, asked apprehensively.

"Probably not." The Lt. Colonel replied. "But why do you think we invited Freedom Wing to help us guard this Gate? Would we need their help for something so simple?"

At that moment, the lieutenant seemed to be enlightened.

"I understand." the lieutenant said as he saluted. "I'll spread your orders immediately.

The Lt. Colonel nodded in response. Then, as the lieutenant left the office, she began moving to leave, as well. At the same time, she used her smartphone to dial a number.

"Get your people ready." The Lt. Colonel said into the phone after the call was connected. "He's here."

"Hehehe. Good." A man's voice said from the other side of the phone. "I've been waiting for the opportunity to teach that brat a lesson. Nobody threatens members of Freedom Wing and gets away with it scot-free."

Hearing that, the Lt. Colonel frowned disdainfully. However, she did not let her feelings show in her tone.

"Don't forget the true objective of this operation, Okajima." the Lt. Colonel said sternly. 'A conflict is the last resort."

"Don't tell me how to do my job, Yoshikawa." the man, Okajima, said sharply. "Just because I left the JSDF to do things my way doesn't mean I've forgotten how things are done."

"Really? Because it sure sounds that way to me, former Major, Okajima." Lt. Colonel Yoshikawa replied.

"Say whatever you want." Okajima said uncaringly. "Just make sure your people don't get in our way if it comes to a fight."

"I'd ask the same of you." Lt. Colonel Yoshikawa replied as she ended the phone call.

As it turned out, both Guardian and Freedom Wing had correctly connected the masked man at Tatsuo's high school with Void. And neither organization was happy that they had been threatened. However, since Freedom Wing was filled with a higher number of lawless individuals, they had no intention of reconciling. Guardian, on the other hand, wanted to control Void and force him to work for the country.

At around the same time, Tatsuo, Sumire, and Hwaya arrived outside the Event Dungeon's Gate.

"Are the two of you ready?" Tatsuo asked as he reached out his right hand towards the cloud of swirling, black smoke.

In response, Sumire and Hwaya nodded with solemn expressions on their faces.

"I just hope there are no spiders in this Dungeon." Hwaya muttered quietly.

Unfortunately, no matter how quiet her mutters were, Hwaya was overheard by Tatsuo and Sumire, who could not help but smile at the SS-Rank Flame Witch who was afraid of spiders.

{Would you like to enter the B+-Rank Event Dungeon, General's Honor?}

Hearing the Dungeon Notification, Tatsuo silently nodded his head. A moment later, Tatsuo touched the Gate. Then, all three Dungeon Explorers were pulled inside the Event Dungeon as their visions turned black.

After another moment, Tatsuo, Sumire, and Hwaya found themselves standing in front of the gate of a completely different environment. In fact, they seemed to be in front of the gates ofa ruined Japanese castle. One they had never seen before. But they were certain it was different than Osaka Castle.

"General's Honor, huh?" Tatsuo asked while looking around. "I wonder what kind of monsters we'll have to fight."

"Based on the name, I wouldn't be surprised if they were humanoids." Hwaya replied. "Either way, they should be weaker than the spiders we fought last time."

It seemed that the Spider Den Dungeon caused a not insignificant amount of trauma for Hwaya, as she began to shudder just from mentioning it. However, since they were in a serious situation, Tatsuo decided not to tease her about it… For now.

"Let's go." Tatsuo said as he took a step forward.

The two ladies did not respond verbally as they followed behind Tatsuo. And after a few steps, they passed the broken gates of the castle. When they were finally inside, they found that the buildings in the castle were just as damaged and ruined as the walls surrounding it.

However, that was not the only thing they found, as there were a number of clay, humanoid statues wearing armor and holding all sorts of weapons, such as katanas, naginatas, bows and arrows, etc., and wearing warn, rusted armor.

"Are those… Terracotta statues?" Sumire asked as she looked at the statues curiously.

"That's what it looks like." Hwaya replied. "But aren't those Chinese? Why would they appear in an Event Dungeon in Japan?"

Hearing that, Tatsuo smiled after remembering Shin complain about Asian giant hornets appearing in an American Event Dungeon in the novel.

"It doesn't matter." Tatsuo said after putting away his smile. "we just need to figure out what kind of monsters we're going to be fighting."

Once again, the two ladies nodded in agreement. Then, the three continued forward.

*Creak!*

Just as they walked past the first of the Terracotta statues, they all heard a creaking sound, causing them all to go on alert. However, before they could see what produced the sound, the statue they just passed lunged forward, swinging its zanbatō, a giant sword meant for cutting cavalry, towards Sumire's back.

Luckily, Sumire was on high alert. So, she was able to quickly spin around and defend herself with her shield.

*Clang!*

However, Sumire did not simply block the incoming blade. Instead, she shifted her shield slightly, causing the sword to slide towards her left. At the same time, she drew back the spear in her right hand.

"Ha!" Sumire shouted as she thrust the spear forward with all her might.

*Crumble!*

In the next instant, the tip of Sumire's spear pierced through the terracotta statue's neck. Then, the statue crumbled into a pile of clay rubble.

"I guess we know what kind of monsters we'll be facing." Tatsuo said as he dropped into his fighting stance and surveyed his surroundings. "And since their little sneak attack failed, they're not pretending to be statues anymore."

Just as Tatsuo said, all the terracotta statues began to move shortly after the first one attacked. On top of that, the blank eyes that were commonly seen on clay statues were no longer clay colored. Instead, they were all glowing white, as if they were possessed by a spirit.

"Well then, let's get started." Hwaya said as a ball of scorching white flames began to rotate around her.

"Yeah." Sumire added as she swept her gaze around at all the moving statues. "The faster we get started; the faster Osaka Castle will be back where it's supposed to be."

Instead of adding his own two cents, Tatsuo vanished from where he stood with a [Blink] before reappearing next to a terracotta statue holding a bow and aiming an arrow at Sumire from her blind spot.

*Swish!*

In the next instant, Tatsuo cut off the terracotta statue's head before moving onto his next target. At the same time, Hwaya started sending waves of white fire balls at statues in another direction while Sumire dashed forward to engage other statues in melee combat.

Just like that, the clearing of the B+-Rank Event Dungeon, General's Honor began.