c1-c20 · 010-ch10

Chapter 10: A Different Kind of Day at Shinjuku Dungeon

When I open the office door, the cold air inside gently brushes against my cheek.

"Mmm, the wind is still cold... Wish summer would come already."

I hurry inside and close the door behind me. When I turn on the lights, my familiar office comes into view.

I set my bag on the floor, and while making coffee, I check the emails that have come in for the company. As usual, there's a message from the Shinjuku Dungeon Management Bureau about a processing request. But looking closely, there's something different written at the end.

"Hmm, what's this?"

'Regarding the Blood Ogre undead incident that occurred yesterday, our investigation has discovered two unreported corpses in the deep floors.

The Dungeon Management Bureau is currently working to identify the unreported explorers, but as there is a possibility that the explorers in question are still in the dungeon, we request that Shibasaki Cleaning take appropriate action such as apprehension should you encounter such individuals.

Additionally, when exploring the deep floors, if you discover any unreported corpses, please include details about their condition in your report when processing them.'

"Hah, I see."

So it's searching for suspicious people and detailed reporting on unreported corpses. I'd suggested to the Management Bureau that they should check the deep floors since the Blood Ogre situation seemed fishy, but I didn't actually expect them to find something.

Hmm, doing work just led to more work. Well, it's not really "more work" so much as finding hidden work that needed to be solved eventually anyway.

"Not that what I'm doing changes. I'm just a humble cleaning business after all."

I down the freshly brewed hot coffee in one go and stand up.

While printing the file with the locations of the monsters requested for processing, I open the locker to change into my work clothes.

"...Huh? My usual work clothes aren't here. Yesterday's are... in the wash. Why?"

Let's see, yesterday's and the day before's are in the wash, and the rest are... oh right, I sent them to the cleaners. Ah, I miscalculated the number I needed versus what I sent out.

"Ah crap..."

I hold my head in my hands alone in the empty room. Without Sanada-san here, I make mistakes on these little details. The cause is probably that this company relies too much on her, including the administrative work.

I really should hire more people. Maika-chan helps out as an apprentice, but that's more like job experience at best. Still, dungeon cleaning isn't a popular job. Even if I put out a job listing... wait, thinking about this now won't help.

"Alright, I'll just buy some work clothes at the general store in Shinjuku Dungeon."

I pack the printed papers into my bag, grab a deck brush from the locker, and leave the office.

---

"Whoa, why are there so many people today?"

Shinjuku Dungeon was somehow bustling with crowds. Usually, having even a tenth of this many people would be considered a lot. What's going on? Is there some kind of event?

And just like Maika-chan said, lots of people have come to Shinjuku Dungeon. Was she not just making stuff up...? If so, that means I'm going to be talked to by a ton of strangers later...

"Nah, no way. It's probably just a coincidence that there are lots of people today."

I weave through the crowd to show my face at the Management Bureau office set up on the first floor of the dungeon.

"Good morning. This is Shibasaki from Shibasaki Cleaning."

"Ah, hello Shibasaki-san. You're early again today."

When I approach the Bureau's counter, a staff member named Rindou-san notices me and hurries out of his chair. That he straightens his worn-out bureau uniform collar before speaking to me is surely a testament to the relationship we've built over time.

"Rindou-san, good morning. There sure are a lot of people today, is something happening?"

"I wonder about that myself, I don't really understand it either. When I ask the younger staff, they seem to avoid the topic somehow."

"Huh, is that so?"

"Well, it's good to have energy in the place. With this many people, it reminds me of the old days, Shibasaki-san."

"It really does. Back then, Shinjuku Dungeon had a certain energy you couldn't find anywhere else."

"Nowadays that's all been taken over by Shibuya, though."

"Ahaha, that's the flow of time for you. Here, please take this."

While making small talk, I hand Rindou-san the entry permit application. Just then, he seems to notice something and looks at me.

"Oh, Shibasaki-san, where are your work clothes?"

"Well, this is embarrassing, but I forgot I'd sent all the ones I had to the cleaners. I was planning to buy some at the Labyrinth General Store after this."

"Is that right? Even Shibasaki-san's place has that happen. In that case, we can lend you some. I'm pretty sure we have some extras sitting in the warehouse."

"I couldn't possibly impose..."

"Come on, don't be shy... Aki-kun! Aki-kun!"

Rindou-san calls out to his subordinate Akiyama-kun at a desk in the back. Buying at the general store would honestly be a waste of money, so I'll gratefully accept the loan. Talk about a lifesaver.

Akiyama-kun, summoned by Rindou-san, comes over with deep dark circles under his eyes, messy hair, and yawning sleepily.

"Yaaawn... what's up~ Rindou-san. Oh, hello Shibasaki-san."

"Good morning, Akiyama-kun."

"We have some unused work clothes, right? We want to lend them to Shibasaki-san. Can those be used right away?"

"Yeah~ we got 'em but... they're just the regular kind. No enchants or anything special on 'em."

"Well, would that work for you?"

"Ah, that's no problem at all. Ours don't have any enchantment magic on them either."

"Wait, seriously... and you can move like that...?"

Akiyama-kun mutters something while heading to another room, then returns with work clothes in a bag.

"Thank you very much. I really appreciate borrowing these."

"It's fine, it's fine. We help each other out in the labyrinth, right? Here you go, today's entry permit."

I take the entry permit and work clothes from Rindou-san, thank him repeatedly, and leave the Bureau.

There's a spacious changing room a little away from the plaza on the first floor, so I head there immediately and put on the borrowed work clothes. Mine are bluish work clothes, but the ones the Bureau lent me were white overall.

Feels a bit restless wearing unfamiliar clothes. Actually, aren't these better than mine? The texture feels nice and they're easy to move in.

"Alright, then... whoa, there really are a lot of people today."

The changing room was crowded too, but the entry registration area was even more packed. There was an unprecedented number of people forming a huge line, and just passing nearby felt like getting swallowed by the crowd.

But since I already have my entry permit as a business operator, I feel a bit relieved knowing I don't have to line up in that.

As I watch the people in line, I notice quite a few explorers carrying deck brushes just like mine for some reason.

Hmm, are they from other cleaning businesses? But my place didn't get any contact about that...

While I'm standing there thinking, two explorers in flimsy-looking equipment stop in front of me.

"Um, can we ask you something?"

Then, they suddenly speak to me. I wasn't expecting to be talked to, so my heart jumps.

"Y-yes, what is it?"

"We're looking for someone right now, and maybe you're the one from yesterday..."

I really am being talked to! What Maika-chan said was true!? Am I somehow famous right now for some reason!?

Crap, crap, what are they going to ask me...!

"Wait Mii-kun! That person's clothes are different from yesterday! Wrong person."

"Really? Sorry, we got the wrong person."

"Ah, okay."

Despite my panic, the pair conclude their conversation among themselves and quickly walk away.

...What, just a case of mistaken identity. Can't be helped then. Why am I even getting nervous?

"Hello there~ if you'd like, would you talk with me for a bit..."

"Yes!"

"Ah... never mind, this guy doesn't look this weak. Sorry, forget it."

This time a man in intimidating armor speaks to me, but again leaves without waiting for my response.

Well, yeah. I knew it. I didn't completely believe everything Maika-chan said, but... I dunno, that stung a bit more than a monster attack...

From their reactions, I guess they're looking for someone who looks like me. At this point, I actually feel kind of bad for them.

"Um, excuse me."

This time, someone wearing sunglasses, a mask, and a cap pulled down low speaks to me.

What's with this person, super suspicious. But third time's the charm. They probably want the same thing.

"Probably a case of mistaken identity..."

"No, that can't be... right... I was right. I'm so glad I could meet you!"

The person says this while getting strangely excited, then removes their sunglasses and mask. The face that appears is definitely one I recognize.

Finally, removing their cap as well, pink hair bounces out adorably.

"It's me! The one you saved yesterday, Negomin!"