Valkyrie

Soldier A POV

"Now we will commence the mission."

As we entered the dungeon, I could feel the dampness of this tunnel as we went further down, and the stench of something rotten. From the middle of the group, I could see shiny silver armor leading in front.

"Miss Asteria looks cool."

Ever since I joined this group, I truly admired her, who led the men in front without fear, and her serious face combined with her expressionless demeanor was really something.

"Recon drone in the air," the tech corporal muttered beside me, fingers dancing across the controller screen.

We halted at the threshold, holding defensive angles while the rotors whirred down the subterranean tunnel.

Since dungeons appeared, we had already done missions in several dungeons, like the forest dungeon with a gate made of trees and creeping vines, then a sea dungeon near the beach rocks that looked like a sea cave, and a dungeon in the city with some Roman sculpture gate.

"Clear, there are no monsters here."

With that signal, we entered the first level with Miss Asteria leading the group, her hand already on her sword hilt, looking around the level.

"That's strange."

Readying our guns, we checked the perimeter surrounding us, every contour in the stone, and if there were any new holes in the wall from the previous mapping.

As we made sure there was no danger, we calmed down a little bit. Taking a glance back, I could see Miss Asteria talking to Mr. Capsaicin.

"I wonder what they are talking about."

"And why does he never want to tell Miss Asteria his real name?"

As far as I remembered, when I first joined this group, Capsaicin had already been in this group longer than anybody.

"Hey, what do you think is really happening?"

Embracing me, another soldier approached me as I looked around with the TV camera crew looking around the level.

"Well, I really don't know, maybe they are like animals? Transmigration?"

"Haha, if only that were the case, but seriously, why is there a camera crew here?"

"Hmm, maybe it's something like war reporters, you know."

With wars never happening again as other countries were too busy handling their dungeons, this was rather something important, or maybe they were here just to record Miss Asteria.

"Hmm, maybe they are here just to record Miss Asteria."

Both of us said something and smiled about it; after all, she really was that interesting.

"She sure is popular, not just in this group, I think."

When we went back to some station, other soldiers even approached us to ask about Miss Asteria.

"Well, I feel really lucky now."

"Hey, we will go to the next level."

With that, we readied ourselves again and walked down to the next level through the stairs. As we slowly went down, I remembered hearing something on TV about how everything in dungeons, even the stairs leading down, were natural occurrences. I didn't understand how that happened, though.

Like before, the drones were deployed first to check the levels. I thought we didn't always do this because Miss Asteria had mystic eyes to detect life like a snake, I think. It was really magical.

"Magic, huh… I hope I can use it."

From what I heard, it was rare for people to have magical talent. Miss Asteria even said that in her era it was still rare.

Gladly, we had our guns imbued with what monsters drop when they die: monster cores.

"Clear again, no monsters identified."

Hearing that, we immediately went down like before and relaxed again as I sighed.

"Well, looks like there will be no monsters after all."

"Sigh, this is hopeless."

"Hey, it's a good thing we did not meet any monsters."

Other soldiers looked disappointed with the current situation, but we still needed to check around this level. As we spread out, we checked everything from rocks to walls, then re-grouped.

"Looks like there's nothing on this level either."

As we were going to the next level, the person in front of me stopped, and I looked forward and saw Miss Asteria talking to Capsaicin. After that, he looked in our direction.

"We found targets on the next level, and from what Miss Asteria says, she thinks the monsters of this level went to other levels to eat so they can evolve."

"From what she detected, there are ogres and other bipedal monsters, and if this happens again and again, it can result in another outbreak."

"So engage, we have our Valkyrie and lady of luck here, so don't worry."

Hearing that, others smiled and giggled at it, but I wondered why Miss Asteria always only talked to Capsaicin, and in whispers. Maybe I was just overthinking things.

"Are you all ready?"

I could see all of us, including me, grinning. After all, we were not scared of just some mid-level monsters.

"Okay. Flashbang."

Bang

With that, we pushed in, but what I could see from here was her, the first one to jump into it with her sword ready in hand, already making us smile without fear.

"Target the big one."

"Roger."

On that level, with loud bang sounds of bullets filling the area, there was a Valkyrie with silver armor flying and dancing mid-air, slashing every monster amidst the rain of bullets.

"Haha, eat this."

"Hey, ogre in our direction."

"Roger."

Shifting my position and focusing fire on a big, burly monster with almost grey skin, I tried to make a hole in its body.

"Ruaghrh."

"Down, reloading."

The ogre dropped to its knees and died as I next focused on other monsters.

.

..

…

"Okay, level clean."

Hearing that, I exhaled. A stench of burned meat could now be smelled, and the corpses beneath my soles made every movement sound sticky because of the liquid they let out.

Looking around, I could see no movement anymore, and in the center of the monster corpses around her was Miss Asteria, looking the exact same after killing that many.

"She really is strong."

"Well, we are normal humans after all, we should not compare ourselves."

"That maybe right, after all, she is the Valkyrie."

With that thought in my mind, we continued advancing to the levels below until level 5.

◇ ◇ ◇

Asteria POV

"Good job guys, and you too, Miss Asteria."

The lighting outside made me narrow my eyes, and the silhouette of Commander Mustache greeted me. But for some reason, he grinned at me and pointed at the tent, which was now filled with more cameras.

"But the job is not yet finished. Some of you need to give a talk to that crazed TV, you know. Miss Asteria included."

"Wha-?"

"Don't worry, I will go with you."

Capsaicin tapped my shoulder as both of us entered the tent. There were already reporters seated there as I sat in front of them.

"Now the press conference will begin," said a person who looked like part of the military sitting on the far left side.

Sighing, the first question was from this man from this TV station, making me wonder if I had already met him or not.

"So, what is the current idea about the dungeon situation?"

Not wanting to just answer it directly, I whispered to Capsaicin.

"What we know is maybe it was a sign of an outbreak."

The reporter blinked, lowering his recorder.

"Pardon me, Miss Asteria... why are you whispering?"

"Why do you need to ask that?"

After that, Capsaicin handled it, as if I was too tired for this. When the man finished asking, the next question was from this woman who asked if the other 5 dungeons in the country would also behave the same like this one.

"We are not yet certain, but only this dungeon is showing strange behavior."

After that, there were more and more questions, and after it finished, I quickly got out of there and stretched my body. But then I felt someone walk towards me.

"Good job in there."

"No problem."

"Yah~ to think I actually met the famous Asteria. My daughter is a fan of yours."

The man in front of me smiled and greeted me lightly without malice, but somehow I felt uncomfortable with him. He was the Ienaga guy Capsaicin talked to me about before.

I thought he came here to watch the operation via camera on the tent's big screen.

"Anyway, for today I will just do a quick introduction, let's meet again sometime."

With just that, he walked away, leaving me standing there wondering why he even did this. But then, a usual sound made me turn back.

"Oh, Kuroi."

There was the usual car I rode with Kuroi, looking the same as usual approaching me.

"Did something happen?"

"I don't know, but he just introduced himself to me then left."

Silent about it, Kuroi came here to pick me up and return to my apartment. I was also really tired and wanted to sleep in a soft bed.

"Hey, your armor can rip the seat, undo it."

"Hah~"

Undoing my armor, the long trip home made me fall asleep.

.

..

…

"Yah, a drink after work is really good, huh, wonder why I never thought about it."

"Ah, right, because I never worked before, hahaha."

Click

After reaching my apartment, Kuroi left me to rest, and that was exactly what I did, opening some beer with my TV on and watching something.

"Hmm, what is that?"

My finger stopped on some strange news. The presenter was talking about the appearance of a mysterious winged being leaning on a dungeon gate, and after that, when they tried using a flashlight, it disappeared. 

The news was also about some people in another area who were found unconscious in the shopping district at night.

"Hmm?"