21-40 · 035
Arc 6
Chapter 33: Unjust Resentment
Side: Koji Goda
“…I’m not wrong. It’s not my fault…”
In a dim 4.5-tatami rundown apartment, I was crouched in a corner of the wall, hugging my head, trembling uncontrollably. The floor was littered with fragments of the ‘reddish-black crystal’ I had smashed against the wall. Now, that ominous light was gone, and it had become nothing but gray gravel.
The TV, left on, was repeatedly airing a special program about how the Shinjuku Stampede last night had been completely suppressed.
“—Tokyo was saved from the brink of destruction by weapons provided by the mysterious craftsman who appeared like a comet, Master_Eye-shi! Online, voices praising him as a god are flooding in—”
“Shut up!! Everyone, always Master_Eye, Master_Eye…!”
I hurled an empty long can at the TV. On the screen, that accursed owl logo and the faces of explorers wild with joy were displayed.
Why am I suffering like this while some nobody is being treated as a hero? Anyway, this whole incident wasn’t my fault. It’s the fault of that quack appraiser at the guild who rejected that stone as “worthless.” If he had properly appraised it at a price worth hundreds of millions, I never would have thrown it against the wall. Yes, I’m the victim. An unfortunate victim of the guild’s incompetent system and bad luck.
Ding-dong.
“…!”
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and my heart leaped.
“Koji Goda-san, are you there? This is the Dungeon Guild Investigation Division.”
A low, stern voice sounded from beyond the door. The Guild’s Investigation Division!?
“…No answer. Goda-san, we know you’re inside. At the same time last night that the Stampede began, a special magical wave pattern that perfectly matches the ‘keystone seal’ in the Middle Layer Area was detected from your room in this apartment. The monsters may have been drawn by the keystone’s magical power.”
I held my breath and covered my mouth with both hands. Unpleasant sweat poured from my entire body like a waterfall.
“Regarding the cause of last night’s Stampede, we would like to hear your account. Would you please open the door? …If you do not, we will contact the police, obtain a warrant, and conduct a forced search.”
They know. They’ve traced it completely. If I’m caught, it’s over. Not only would my explorer’s license be revoked, I’d be thrown in prison for life; at worst, I could face the death penalty.
(I have to run… running is my only option!)
Crawling silently, I picked up my smartphone that had fallen on the floor. Is there anyone who could help me? A lawyer? No, I have no money. Can I at least scrape together some funds to escape?
As my panicked mind fumbled with the phone with trembling fingers, I accidentally tapped the icon for the explorers-only flea market app, ‘D-Market.’
What appeared was my account’s ‘Listings / Transaction History’ page. At the top was the completion notice for the item I’d listed a few days ago as “just a heavy black stone” and sold for 10,000 yen via Buy It Now.
“…Huh?”
Even though I should be thinking about how to escape, my eyes were glued to the buyer’s ID displayed on that transaction screen.
====================
[Item Name] Pitch-black stone? (Heavy) Sold as-is, no claims.
[Winning Bid] 10,000 yen
[Buyer] Master_Eye
====================
“…Huh?”
Master… Eye? I doubted my eyes and swiped the screen several times. The buyer’s icon was that monocle-wearing owl logo that had been shown endlessly on TV. No doubt about it. Back then, without giving it much thought, I’d been thrilled to get rid of it, but the identity of that eccentric who paid 10,000 yen for my garbage-like stone was none other than Master_Eye, the one acting like a hero.
At that moment, in my head, the scattered puzzle pieces clicked into place, forming a single answer.
(Wait…? Last night, he ‘transferred’ hundreds of huge weapons to the battlefield in an instant. Something like that, with ordinary magic, is absolutely impossible.)
The reason he could exercise such cheat-level power… maybe…
(Wasn’t it because of that ‘black stone’ I sold him…!?)
Yes, it must be! That stone wasn’t just trash. It must have been an incredible Mythic Level artifact that could control space. I was swindled out of a treasure worth hundreds of billions—maybe even trillions—for a paltry 10,000 yen!
“That bastard…! He cheated me!!”
I ground my teeth so hard they felt like they’d shatter. My vision turned red with rage.
That Master_Eye bastard used my artifact to scatter weapons, ended the Stampede, and is being celebrated as the “Savior of Tokyo.” But the source of that power originally belonged to me. Because I found that stone in the dungeon and sold it to him, Tokyo was saved. That means—
“All of Master_Eye’s achievements… are actually mine.”
A twisted smile, almost like joy, escaped my lips.
Yes. I’m not some great criminal who nearly destroyed the world. Because I provided that stone, Tokyo was saved. I am the true hero who indirectly saved this country! Yet that cowardly, thieving craftsman stole all my achievements and fame. His wealth, his glory—all of it should rightfully belong to me, Koji Goda!
“Goda-san! You’re in there, aren’t you!? Open the door!”
The doorknob rattled violently. But I felt no fear anymore. I didn’t have time to be caught by those incompetent guild officials in a dump like this.
(I am a hero. I must reclaim my rightful claim and the glory that was stolen from me…!)
Shoving only my wallet into my pocket, I silently opened the window. Just as the guild members were about to break down the door, I put my foot on the windowsill and jumped down into the garbage dump in the back alley.
Strangely, I felt no more fear. Only anger toward Master_Eye and the exhilaration of becoming a hero remained. I will find Master_Eye, who took everything from me, and make him pay.