Chapter 110: A New Mission Awaits
When I showed up at the entrance to the Nagoya Dungeon, the staff from the Explorers' Guild were scrambling. I guess working at a dungeon that usually gets no visitors doesn't prepare you for sudden excitement.
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I was thinking how laid-back they were compared to the people at the Shibuya Dungeon… but now that I think about it, they were also freaking out when I reached the deeper layers over there, so maybe it's just the same everywhere.
"So, Kisaragi-kun, what are you going to do now that you've casually cleared the Nagoya Dungeon?"
"Nothing in particular..."
Waiting for me back in Tokyo was a corporate slave holding an energy drink and giving me a tired smile—Aizawa-san. Apparently, the guild needed to get some details about the Nagoya Dungeon, so he came to see me. Though honestly, I've already told them everything there was to say during that phone call in the dungeon.
"It's not like I wanted to question you about it personally. That's just the official reason. Truthfully, I wanted to ask what your plans are after you graduate from high school. I heard you plan to start a company?"
"Yeah, but nothing will really change. I'll keep working as an EX-rank explorer and as a dungeon streamer. Though, mentoring younger explorers like you do could be nice too."
"Is that so? Well, your two apprentices seem to be doing quite well."
While I've been busy having fun and casually clearing dungeons, Asakawa and Miyamoto have been growing tremendously as explorers. To be fair, I always thought they were geniuses—they just didn't know how to use their talents.
Aizawa is focused on guiding the top-tier explorers, while my grandmother handles beginner-level training (I think?). Both of them care about the future of Japanese explorers, considering how few of us there are. I guess it's important for me to think about the same things now that I'm an EX-rank explorer, too… though I'll leave Kamishiro-san to his own devices.
"You're young, so you should do whatever you want."
"Aizawa-san, you're only 32, right?"
"Thirty-two is already old—especially in a field like dungeon exploration, where most people are younger."
You say that, but the top explorer in this field is over 60.
As far as "freedom" goes, I think I'm already pretty free. If I take any more liberties, Aizawa-san's dark circles are going to get worse from worrying about me.
On my way home, I was riding the train, leaning against the doors while playing on my phone. Suddenly, through the flow of people, a woman was pushed right in front of me.
"Ugh… City trains are the worst."
"...Miyamoto-san?"
"Huh?"
I had a feeling something was off, and when I looked, I saw a familiar face. It was a bit surprising to run into her here. Miyamoto looked startled when I called her name, glancing around to see who was speaking to her. Oh, right—since I'm wearing a hat and glasses, she probably didn't recognize me at first.
"K-Kisaragi…-san?"
"It's been a while since we last met in person."
"Y-Yeah… For a second, I thought someone from my old job had found me."
Oh, right. She used to work at a black company, didn't she? If you're riding the train late at night and someone suddenly calls out to you, it's natural to assume it's someone from your old job.
"Weren't you supposed to be in Nagoya?"
"I just took the bullet train home. I only cleared the dungeon, after all."
"You say that so casually… but the scale of what you did is kind of mind-blowing."
Is it? I guess it might be. I honestly have no clue what a "normal" explorer's workload is like.
"What about you, Miyamoto-san?"
"I've been working on the weapon issue I mentioned before."
"Ah, I see."
It seems like she's still undecided about her weapon. It makes sense to be cautious—after all, she fights in a way that heavily relies on her weapons. Unlike me, who can just make do with whatever, she has to be extra careful about her gear.
"I'm glad to see you doing well as a streamer too. It's reassuring, since I'm sort of your mentor."
"M-Mentor… That's right. You've been a lifesaver for me."
"L-Lifesaver?"
Isn't that a bit much?
From her perspective, I guess I did help her when she felt stuck. But honestly, the fact that she was struggling as an explorer in the first place was because the government didn't provide proper foundational support. I just filled in those gaps.
"We should collaborate again sometime. I'd like you to see how much I've grown."
"S-Sure."
It's stuff like this—collaborating with women all the time—that makes people think I'm some kind of playboy. But with her looking at me like that, it's hard to say no. Maybe I should try reaching out to a male streamer next time… though I might have to make the first move myself.
Ignoring public opinion altogether would be the easiest route, but I also think it's important to listen to feedback. Whether I act on it or ignore it is up to me, though.
After chatting with Miyamoto on the train, I finally made it home. Exploring underwater for so long was exhausting. Summoning four Twelve Heavenly Generals at once probably didn't help either.
I'll have a lot to do starting tomorrow, but for now, I'll keep up with my streaming and work on my business plans little by little.
Besides, I've got one more person I'd like to recruit for my team.