The “Submarine” Suzuno Shion.
Ranked fourth among Japan’s top rankers, Shion was counted as one of the “new generation awakener.”
A physical-type dealer adapted to underwater combat yet also possessing considerable strength on land, Shion was highly sought after by awakener companies hoping to contract with her. But Shion had refused them all, remaining freelance. Because of this, her face almost never appeared in the media, making her the most “known yet unknown” awakened.
Well, the fact that her exploits played out mostly underwater only added to the effect…
Name: Suzuno Shion
Level: 58
Job: Submarine Assault Vessel
Stats
Strength: B
Magic: E
Phys. Defense: B
Magic Defense: E
Agility: C
Luck: E
Skills
Underwater Adaptation A, Phantom Warship (Armament), Phantom Warship (Storage)
Her abilities only emphasized her uniqueness.
While extremely weak to magic, she embodied both a physical dealer and a physical tank in one—an ideal for operating alone. Her special job, “Submarine Assault Vessel,” was one held only by her, and compared to other underwater-adapted awakener, her strength was far greater. Such was the girl named Shion.
“I had fun the other day…”
Diving through the sea, Shion suddenly recalled her recent overnight at Inari’s home. She rarely socialized outside of work, so it had been a very pleasant time. She wanted to visit again—but her schedule was full. For a while, she likely wouldn’t have the chance.
Particularly now, she had to carefully investigate the waters around Toshima. The countless “urban legend”-type monsters reported there. And the unconfirmed monster Inari had described: the “Tatari-gami.”
These were thought to have come from Saitama Dungeon No. 4, back when the Awakener Association did not yet exist and Japan’s awakener had been fleeing overseas to escape government pressure. At that time, it was well known that many monsters poured into the seas. Toshima’s recent incident was believed to be “one of those.”
But… Toshima lay close to Izu Ooshima. If similar monsters lurked near Izu Ooshima—still within human territory—the island might become another Toshima. To prevent that danger, Shion was stationed on Izu Ooshima, investigating the surrounding waters. So far, nothing unusual had appeared.
Of course, water-dwelling monsters attacked from time to time, but that was normal now. Unless the Pacific Ocean’s sea gates were resolved, there was no helping it.
At any rate, after completing her round of checks and finding no issues, Shion started heading back toward shore—when she noticed it.
“…What’s that?”
It looked like… ruins. No, perhaps a city?
The ruins of a sunken city. A mysterious ancient civilization. Such rumors existed in every age. In itself, that was not the problem. The problem was… nothing like that should exist here.
Shion had just surveyed this area. She had just confirmed there was nothing here.
And yet, there it was—those “ruins,” or something resembling them. It was an undeniable anomaly. And anomalies had to be investigated. Operating her underwater communicator, she transmitted her coordinates and a survival confirmation ping in the specified rhythm. Anomaly confirmed. Start the investigation.
“Suspicious. Something is definitely here. Don’t approach—photograph it from a distance. Then withdraw at once…”
Reviewing the manual for anomaly response in her head, Shion raised her camera and snapped photos of the “mysterious ruins.” Good—there it was, clearly captured. She confirmed, and then—
“!?”
Realized she was “above” the ruins. She hadn’t approached them. Did the ruins move to her? In any case, this was bad. As she tried to surface immediately, black hands reached for her.
“Fire.”
『Flying Torpedo!』
From the void, a torpedo-like phantom shot forward and blasted apart the black hand. But in the next instant, more appeared. Ten hands. Twenty. Thirty. Far too many to dodge. And yet, Shion showed no panic. Because—
“Blow them away.”
『Torpedo Launcher!』
Countless phantom torpedoes materialized around her and launched all at once, shattering the black hands. The roar likely reached the surface. Surely enough to signal that something had happened.
She prepared to surface quickly while she still could—when—
“What—”
Even more black hands seized her, dragging her down into the ruins. It happened almost instantly.
She felt herself pulled deeper than the sea floor itself—and then, suddenly, she was no longer in the seabed, nor underground, nor any underwater ruin.
—Miiin. Minminminmin… miiin… The sound of cicadas filled the air. The faint warmth that made one sweat lightly. Evening—the hour when the setting sun loomed largest.
And before her spread a scene like… some village.
“Otherworld. I’ve been dragged in… but where is this place?”
Bracing her guard to its utmost, Shion resolved to give everything to survive.
Meanwhile, outside, awakener backups had discovered Shion’s camera, and an emergency report was sent to the Awakener Association.
It was a grim reminder that the incident was not over. That something unpredictable was about to unfold.
And at the same time, certain Association executives recalled a girl’s name. A girl who just might resolve this.
The name of the fox-eared girl.