c21-c40 · 025-ch25

Chapter 25: Right Now Is a Bit...

"Please wait a moment... are you really sure about this?"

"Huh, so I just need to come to your company, right?"

"Ah, yes."

"Then I don't really have any reason to refuse, so sure."

When I accepted Anarchy-san's offer, for some reason he seemed surprised instead. Did he think I'd say no?

The other three members of Stained Hawk looked confused at first too, but they quickly accepted the situation and started horsing around Anarchy-san.

"Way to go, Anarchy-chan!"

"This means we're getting that reward for sure...!"

"Can't wait to get back to Shibuya."

Is calling a dungeon cleaner really something to be that happy about? I mean, there are dungeon cleaners at other dungeons too, but they're okay with me?

Mayoi-san, who had somehow ended up standing next to me, tapped my shoulder a few times.

"You sure this is okay, Strong-saki-san? Those guys are giving off some seriously sketchy vibes."

"Really? If we're talking sketchy, you're way sketchier, Mayoi-san."

"Harsh~~~~ That actually hurts, you know."

"Huh... sorry."

What is with this person.

Anarchy-san seemed to have finished the commotion among his teammates, and now spoke to me with a polite attitude.

"Then we shall head there now, so please accompany us."

"R-Right now?!"

That's sudden! That's impossible!

...Right, these guys are explorers even if they're company employees, so they probably don't know how inflexible normal jobs can be.

Ugh, I'm really starting to not want to go. But I already said yes...

"Is there a problem with leaving now? We just need to return, correct?"

"No, I have work after this..."

"I see, how long would that take?"

"If it's just today's reporting... probably around 9 PM, I think."

"9 PM?! Man, that's some brutal black company work!"

"You said it..."

I couldn't argue with Andante-san's words at all. I really wish they'd hire more people soon.

Wait, hold on? If it's just a quick thing, couldn't I just pop over and come right back?

"Um... if I may ask, how long would I be detained for..."

"What did the President say again~"

"The manager said she wants to sit down and have a proper, long talk..."

"So like a day or so? That person talks forever after all."

A day, huh, a day...

"...Would my next day off or something not work?"

"That... should be fine, but when would that be?"

This weekend... I have work, and I need to help Maika-chan prepare for her entrance ceremony, so that's no good. Then the next day off would be...

"Maika-chan, can you check when my next day off is over there?"

'Just a sec... ugh, gross... Your next day off is the end of this month. You need to take more breaks.'

I'd like to, haha.

"...I'm free at the end of this month."

"..." "..." "..."

Ah, the Stained Hawk folks have gone silent. Yeah, figured as much.

"Man, enough with this tedious stuff."

Andante-san, who had been looking listless until just now, stepped in front of me while cracking his knuckles.

"Boss said it, right? She said we could use force if we had to bring him in."

"That's in the case of resistance, though..."

"This is basically the same as refusing, isn't it?"

"Andante really is so quick to pick fights~. But I agree~"

"Main thinks this is fine, too."

"Then it's 3 against 1, settled."

Huh, wait, what's with this weird development?

"Um..."

"That's how it is, old man. If you don't come with us, you're gonna get hurt."

The moment Andante-san finished speaking, the Stained Hawk members (though Anarchy-san looked reluctant) readied their weapons. I see, so that's how they want to play it.

Fights between explorers in dungeons happen pretty often actually, but the aftermath and stuff is such a pain~~ Can't we settle this peacefully somehow?

"Um, could we not resort to violence? People are watching and all... right, Rose-san?"

"Huh? But I've heard that when explorers have disagreements, fighting is the quickest way to resolve things..."

Damn it, I thought she'd be the type to hate conflict since she's a healer, but she really is an explorer through and through!

"The S-ranker said it too, so let's just do it already~?"

"Don't worry, old man. Feather Company's got excellent healers, so it doesn't matter how beat up you get."

Nothing about that is reassuring but... huh? Did he just say Feather Company?

"Ah, wait a minute... you guys are from Feather Company?"

"Huh? Yeah, so what?"

"Wow~... so that's what this is about."

So that's it, they were from Feather Company... Now I finally understand the situation. I can accept why they'd want to bring someone like me along, and why they suddenly got all aggressive—if she's pulling the strings, it all makes sense.

Then this is a different story. I stretched while speaking to the other side of the incam.

"Maika-chan, what's the situation around here?"

'No signs of monster spawn, and the estimate says 15 minutes until mana stabilizes~'

"That's quite a bit... well, accounting for everything, probably about 5 minutes."

"Hey, what are you whispering about over there?"

"Just talking among ourselves, don't worry about it. Now then..."

Finished stretching too, so... it's been a while, but might as well.

"Sure, let's fight. Don't worry, I'll hold back enough that you won't die."