ch61-ch80 · 074-ch74

Chapter 74: The Receptionist's Job

SIDE: Endo (Adventurer's Association Chiba Branch, Surface Duty Staff)

Kasugano Haruki-kun.

"That high schooler."

Apparently, that's the nickname for the high schooler who hasn't come back.

He's famous among the staff who work inside the dungeon, it seems.

Just mentioning his name was enough for everyone to know exactly who I meant.

"So he hasn't come back?"

"That's right, ssu. Around five he went off playing ninja and never came back, ssu."

"Eh? Playing ninja? A high schooler?"

"So what's the story on the surface side—how did it come out that Haruki hasn't come home? His parents?"

"No, a high schooler claiming to be his friend. His friend hasn't come home, so he asked us to confirm whether he's still inside the dungeon. That's why I came here first, you see."

I couldn't just hand out personal information right off the bat, but since there was a real possibility he hadn't come back, I decided to start by hearing what the staff inside the dungeon had to say.

"I see. We might have missed him too, so let's check the surface ticket gate logs. Once we've confirmed he hasn't come back, we contact the branch manager. We'd better call Shiraishi and Sato in as well."

I see—Shiraishi-san is a 【Healer】, and Sato-san is a 【Scout】, huh.

This is the first time I've ever dealt with a missing person, and honestly, I had no idea what to do, but Hiramatsu-san is surprisingly dependable.

My opinion of him has improved considerably.

"More importantly, someone should contact Watanabe-san, ssu."

Watanabe-san?

It's true Watanabe-san is high level. In the Chiba Dungeon, staff and adventurers combined, she might just be the strongest of them all.

We might... need her?

︙

︙

SIDE: Kasugano Harue (Haruki's Mother)

'Riiing...'

That's the home phone ringing, not my cell.

Could it be Soushi-kun?

"Hello, this is Kasugano. Eh? The Adventurer's Association? Um, yes, that's right. Haruki is my son, but...?"

Why is the Adventurer's Association calling?

About Haruki?

"Eh? What do you mean he hasn't come back? A dungeon? I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're saying. That's impossible. My son is not an adventurer."

I can't make sense of what the person on the phone is telling me.

And what do they mean, he hasn't come back?

Why would Haruki be in a dungeon in the first place?

There are so many dungeons—which dungeon are they even talking about?

Adventurers are those people who appear on TV, aren't they?

I don't understand anything.

Only the words "hasn't come back" echoed in my ears, heavy as lead.

"...I understand. I'm coming over right now. It's the Chiba Dungeon, correct?"

I don't understand.

In any case, I have to contact my husband...

I don't remember much after that.

︙

︙

SIDE: Endo (Adventurer's Association Chiba Branch, Surface Duty Staff)

Honestly, the only thing I can say is that Hiramatsu-san's judgment was a mistake.

"Let go of me. I have to go look for him!"

"Wait, wait—Sato's already gone to get ready. Leave the searching to her. It's nighttime, and she's faster on her own."

"That's right, ssu. Please calm down, ssu."

When Watanabe-san arrived at the branch, her face was deathly pale.

And when she heard the situation, she broke down crying right there on the spot.

I don't know what the relationship is between Watanabe-san and the missing high schooler, Kasugano-kun.

But having her sobbing in the Chiba Branch entrance hall like this is also a problem.

Kasugano-kun's mother is on her way here right now.

"It'll only needlessly worry her. Let's move to the dungeon side."

On Hiramatsu-san's orders, newbie-chan and I more or less carried Watanabe-san into the dungeon.

...And that was a mistake.

Right now, we're standing in front of the warehouse that the missing high schooler's party supposedly rents.

Watanabe-san, who had been crying too hard to stand, suddenly took off running as if she'd remembered something, so we followed her.

Even when Watanabe-san called out to the warehouse at the top of her lungs, there was no answer.

If Sato-san had arrived even a little later, we would have broken the door down to search inside.

We had the newly arrived Sato-san check inside the warehouse with her skill, and apparently there was no one in there.

Hearing that, Watanabe-san declared that this time she was going to search the dungeon itself.

Which is why newbie-chan is currently clinging to Watanabe-san's waist, trying to hold her back.

Ah, newbie-chan is...

"Oh nooooo—ssu—"

It's no use.

No one inside the dungeon can stop Watanabe-san.

Hiramatsu-san, please do something.

"C-calm down. That's it. Are you planning to go empty-handed? Let's head back to the Association first and gear up. Okay?"

That'll just end with her dashing off anyway.

The dungeon at night is dangerous, and even if she says she'll search—where would she even search?

If he's dead, there won't even be a body left, you know?

"My, my. What on earth is going on here?"

It's Shiraishi-san.

Shiraishi-san is standing there, imposing as a guardian statue, right in front of Watanabe-san, who'd been trying to head back.

But a 【Healer】 like Shiraishi-san can't stop Watanabe-san, a high-level combat job holder.

"Shiraishi-san, Haruki-san hasn't come back. I have to go look for him."

That's right.

Watanabe-san and Shiraishi-san are close.

She might manage to talk her down.

"I heard all about that. And that Sato-chan is going out to search, too. You—go do your job."

"My... job?"

"His mother is upstairs at the branch right now."

"—!"

The moment she hears that, Watanabe-san's knees give out.

"Go do your job."

Wait, isn't that far too cruel?

I don't know the exact relationship between Watanabe-san and Kasugano-kun, but for the Watanabe-san to fall apart this badly, it must be something serious.

Honestly, Shiraishi-san is a hard person for me to deal with.

She always takes one step into your personal space—or rather, I get the feeling she barges straight into people's hearts without a shred of hesitation.

And then she comes out with things as if she's seen right through you...

She hits the bullseye every time.

That's just the kind of person she is.

"...I can't. What am I supposed to say? You mean I'm to tell his mother, from my own mouth, that Haruki-san hasn't come back? How can I? How can I..."

Watanabe-san's shoulders are trembling.

Is she crying?

I can't see her face from here.

"And what exactly do you think a receptionist's job is?"

Is she saying that no matter how painful it is, it's the job, so I just have to do it?

That's far too harsh.

"Our job as receptionists is to believe in adventurers! Adventurer is a dangerous line of work. They might not come back. But even so—isn't believing in them and waiting for them our job as receptionists?"

Everyone freezes at Shiraishi-san's words.

Me, and Watanabe-san, who'd been crying.

"Could it be that you, of all people, think for even a second that he might not come back? Not anyone else—you! If you won't believe he's absolutely coming home, who will?!"

"But, but, what if he's injured and can't move? He might be... waiting for me."

"It's all right. Leave that to Sato-chan. His mother, you know. She kept muttering it over and over like a prayer. 'It's all right. It's definitely all right. He'll come home.' Her hands were shaking. So listen up. You'll be right there beside her, and you'll hold those hands of hers. And you'll say those very same words right next to her—'It's all right.'"

Shiraishi-san takes Watanabe-san's hands in hers and gently helps her to her feet.

"That's the job only you can do, isn't it? Now, you have your uniform, don't you? Get changed properly, and put your makeup on too. You look an absolute mess. Go encourage his mother looking crisp and cool, like the usual Watanabe-san."

"...Yes."

Watanabe-san staggers off alone toward the branch.

Shiraishi-san heads in the opposite direction to pick newbie-chan up.

Maybe I had misunderstood Shiraishi-san.

"Hey, newbie-chan, were you listening? Watanabe-san just went to introduce herself to his mother. The escape routes are all sealed up now—that boy will never get away."

"Yep, ssu. They might just end up married before we know it, ssu."

"She was crying, so she must be thirsty. I'll go make some tea."

"Ah, no fair, ssu."

Or maybe I hadn't misunderstood her at all.