ch341-ch360 · 349-ch349
Chapter 349: Walk in Front of Me
"It's possible that, unconsciously, you're having a rejection response to getting your memory back. Now is your only chance to call it off—so, what will you do?"
What should I do......
"Haaah, well...... let's go ahead with it, please?"
Troubled......
"A half-hearted answer, that. Well, I suppose it can't be helped—as I said, 'unconsciously,' so you yourself aren't aware of it."
"Haruki-san......"
Now Kasumi-san is worried about me too.
It seems we're about to begin the treatment to restore my memory.
Ugh, my head...... no—this one's for real, you know?
"If that's settled, let's get it over with quickly. We're doing it at the hospital, yes? Come on, move."
The branch manager hurries us along.
"Huh? The branch manager is coming too?"
"Obviously. The dungeon is off-limits right now. I'll be keeping watch. Try to run, and I shoot."
"Eep!"
The branch manager shows us the pistol at his hip.
On January 1st of the new year, new dungeons will appear on Earth.
Along with that, dungeons with little foot traffic are said to vanish—so right now, Japan has sealed off every dungeon as a precaution. That's how it goes, right?
Even with people still inside, the surface 'Dungeon Gates' apparently just vanish.
Well, going by the pattern so far, we know the dungeons at each branch won't disappear.
But there might be people who try to sneak INTO a dungeon on the sly, and there are strange rumors too—that if you're inside a dungeon when it vanishes, you can go to another world.
That's the level of vigilance we're talking about: the branch manager armed and waiting inside.
On the surface, I get the feeling Hiramatsu-san and the other staff were solidly blocking the 'Dungeon Gate'......
"If you understand, walk. In FRONT of me."
With a face that scary, how is anyone supposed to tell who the bad guy is?
Ah—I'm not a bad guy either, you know?
But come to think of it, getting shot with that pistol at this point wouldn't hurt or itch or...... well, it might hurt, but that would be all.
No wait, the branch manager is a Triple-Rank too......
He might have some skill that enhances his bullets.
And setting aside me and Kasumi-san, the others are...... hm? Is this Shiraishi-san?
I turn around, and there's one person as startled by the gun as I am......
(Now I understand what Umemoto-san was talking about. I see, I see......)
With 【Presence Detection】 I can gauge strength roughly, it seems.
So Kasumi-san is strong.
No problem there.
Next strongest are the two bodyguards with 'the Holy Maiden' and company.
Yellow-Green-san...... what was this person's name again?
In a suit today, no weapon, but I'm fairly sure this is the bow user......
And the other one, Ishikawa-san...... huh? Did they avert their eyes? Weren't they just looking this way?
Well, Ishikawa-san is decent too—so both of them are stronger than the branch manager, I suppose?
The branch manager's presence is a bit unusual—a different feel from scout-types again.
Presence-wise he doesn't seem strong, but he's carrying a gun, so who knows how he really is?
Maybe what 【Presence Detection】 shows is something separate from actual strength.
Akiyama-san and Kuwashima-san have presences like ordinary staff—so this is what a weak presence looks like, I suppose.
But it's blinding, though.
The weakest would be Dr. Amamiya.
Her level should be near 20, but she's that rare person with no job, after all.
And then, Shiraishi-san.
This person's presence is strange, isn't it?
Shiraishi-san is supposed to be someone who can't fight, right?
Is this what strength means in Status terms?
......Even so, this would make her stronger than Kasumi-san, you know?
"Haruki-san, are you all right?"
I'd been worried the branch manager might actually shoot, so I took up position beside him and started walking—that's when Kasumi-san calls out.
She's walking beside him on the opposite side, the same as me.
"Yes. Huh? Kasumi-san? We went to Tokyo Tower yesterday, right? What day was today again?"
Uh-oh—amnesia might be setting in......
"That's worse than I was told...... And why are you two having a conversation with ME in the middle?! Walk in front, I said—in front!"
Of course—so that we can pin him down the moment he moves even an inch.
Yellow-Green-san has also casually slipped in between 'the Holy Maiden' and company, cutting off the lines of fire.
"Hold on! I can't let that pass! What's this about Tokyo Tower!"
'The Holy Maiden'...... Kuwashima-san is the one who reacted.
I thought this before too—she's so childish, isn't she?
The 'Holy Maiden' on TV is so crisp and grown-up......
Kuwashima-san was apparently working until just a moment ago today, too......
Something about how she herself spent Christmas with the chairman, and how it's so unfair that it's only her......
And how she couldn't even get to Mia-san and the others' place because of the crowds......
Her grievances exploded.
Amid all the squabbling, we arrive at the hospital.
(Really, what do I do......)
My memory, it's already back, you know......
No no—it's that everyone has worked so hard to bring it back that I can't bring myself to tell them......
Actually, it returned the moment we entered the dungeon from the surface.
From where I stood, it felt like clearing that dream world would let me out—but over here, apparently I spent over a month in a state of memory loss.
No wait—was the dream even cleared?
I snatched the spear from the 'black armor,' skipped the finishing blow to buy time for 'Charge,' hid from the 'Sword Saint-chan skeleton' with 【Gate】 while banking MP to the limit, and blasted it all upward.
And then, before I knew it, we were entering the dungeon......
Beating that Wraith might have been the key.
"Ishikawa-san and I will remain here and keep watch. Ishikawa-san—there's no presence inside, correct?"
"Ehh? Me too? ......Ah, yes. None."
"Mm. I leave it to you."
Yellow-Green-san and Ishikawa-san will apparently wait at the entrance.
The branch manager could stay behind too, you know?
Ah—he's glaring at me.
Yes, walking.
"About this much, I suppose? Then let's begin."
We enter the hospital room, the monitoring equipment gets stuck on here and there, and the treatment begins.
"Branch manager, we will wait outside the hospital room."
"Eh?"
At Kasumi-san's words, everyone doubts their own ears. All five of them cry out in unison.
"Is that so? If you're fine with it, then so be it......"
Did she get him to back off for us?
This time the treatment is the two 【Saint】s working in tandem, with Shiraishi-san as the add-on—that's what the branch manager has been told.
The branch manager doesn't know that Shiraishi-san has acquired a new job.
(She became a 【Wicked Woman】, right?)
That part of my memory is fuzzy.
Did I not listen properly, or did the memory drop out......
I clearly remember going to Floor 40 together, after all.
And I have a feeling I heard something about evil points too.
Is my memory not integrating properly?
Or did it get overwritten by the returning memories and vanish......
"Haruki-san, please hang in there."
"Yes, I'll be f—"
"WE'RE the ones doing our best, so YOU cheer for US!"
Kuwashima-san cuts in.
"That's right. Miyuki, do your best. Fuyumi-san, please take care of Haruki-san. Shiraishi-san...... in moderation, if you please."
With a final glance at me, Kasumi-san leaves the hospital room.
(Now, the real show begins.)
......Can I pull off acting like my memory came back?