c41-c60 · 043-ch43

Chapter 43: The Dungeon's Threat

"A murder... you say?"

Even for me, with 25 years as an explorer, the word "murder" is still something I'm not used to hearing.

Dungeons might seem like spaces separated from regular society because of monsters and magic, but naturally, dungeons are still under Japanese law. Murder, of course, but also theft, assault, intimidation... while there are some exceptions, all of these are treated as crimes and enforced.

I thought we'd stopped hearing about that kind of thing lately...

I sit deep in the living room chair, sinking into it, and Rindou-san follows suit, sitting in the chair opposite me. After taking a breath, Rindou-san continues his explanation.

"Yes. However, as things stand, we're still at the estimation stage."

"And by that you mean..."

"Today, an explorer who sent out a distress signal in Shinjuku Dungeon... the woman you all rescued, explorer Rose, who treated her on-site, reported that the injuries she sustained were highly likely to be man-made."

"I see..."

Dungeons are subject to the law. But dungeons have dungeon problems.

That is, enforcing crimes committed within dungeons is extremely difficult.

There are three reasons for this.

First, all crime scene evidence disappears due to dungeon shifts.

Second, because of dungeons' vastness, it's easy to commit crimes without witnesses.

And third, a strong survival-of-the-fittest mentality is deeply rooted among explorers. It's faded considerably now, but many people support the idea that the one who was harmed was at fault, and that the strong are righteous. Back when I was active, it was particularly terrible—targeting weaker explorers and taking their belongings was actually introduced as one of the easy ways for explorers to make a living.

From the way Rindou-san is talking, it seems the Bureau doesn't have definitive proof whether this was a crime or not. That's why they're calling it an "estimation."

"Regarding details, we plan to question the victim once she regains consciousness. The Bureau is taking this matter seriously, and based on explorer Rose's report, we've estimated this as an attempted murder targeting explorers."

"..."

"For this reason, I've come to ask for your cooperation in arresting the culprit, Shibasaki-san."

The Dungeon Management Bureau sometimes asks explorers for cooperation regarding incidents and accidents that occur in dungeons. This is due to troublesome background circumstances like the Bureau not having its own forces, or delays in police intervention after an incident occurs...

I cross my arms and think quietly. Then, breaking the heavy silence, I open my mouth.

"Since it's you, Rindou-san, I'll speak frankly... but isn't this a bit of an exaggeration?"

Rindou-san hears this without moving a single eyebrow. Since he doesn't seem to mind, I'll continue.

"Fights between explorers escalating to the point of injuring the other party... of course, I fully understand this is a problem. But this kind of thing is just one of the common daily occurrences for explorers. With healers being readily available and Life Cords being widespread now, making a big deal out of every incident would just cause chaos, wouldn't it? ...And more than anything, in this case, doesn't the victim share some of the blame?"

"...That is..."

"The girl who was injured, she's still B-rank, right?"

At my words, Rindou-san falls silent. The fact that he's not denying it means that's exactly what it is.

...So it is. When I saw her equipment, I thought that might be the case.

"Intentional deep-layer entry by B-rank or below explorers is a clear violation. Whether what injured her was a monster or a person, the primary reason she nearly died lies with herself for entering the deep layer."

That's right, the reason dungeon safety has improved in recent years is entirely thanks to the widespread use of Life Cords. With the advent of a magical tool that allows instant escape even when caught by dangerous types, so-called "preying on the weak" has become difficult to carry out.

That's why I think this explorer's victimization falls within the scope of personal responsibility in dungeons. She went to a place where Life Cords don't work well by her own will, so if something appropriate happened, it can't be helped. Maika-chan would probably tell me I'm cold-hearted if I said this, though.

Receiving my point, Rindou-san opens his mouth, which he had been clamping shut tightly.

"...The Bureau is also aware that this explorer, despite being B-rank, entered the deep layer."

I thought so. Naturally, Rindou-san would also know everything I've just said in detail. And yet he came here anyway—there must be some Bureau-specific circumstances behind it.

Unless he tells me about that, I can't accept the request. Accepting a request is synonymous with risking my life, after all.

After a while, Rindou-san turns a quiet, yet earnest gaze toward me. And the first words he chose to show his sincerity were something I never would have expected.

"Do you happen to know the monthly average death toll for Shinjuku Dungeon last fiscal year, Shibasaki-san?"

Monthly average death toll? Maybe around 5 people?

"Um, no, I don't."

"2.5 people. This is a considerably low number even compared to other dungeons. ...However, last month's death toll was 11 people, and in this one month, those who haven't reported returning for over a week number 23. Most of them were seasoned explorers. ...Every one of them was a curiosity-seeker who continued to dive into the now-empty Shinjuku Dungeon."

Rindou-san suddenly shows a nostalgic smile, as if reminiscing about the past. The Bureau's job is to see off explorers who dive into dungeons. Naturally, among them are people who don't return.

Rindou-san has been with the Bureau since its founding, I believe. That's probably why he has such strong attachments. To the dungeon, and to the explorers who can't leave their old haunts.

Rindou-san's eyes, which had been looking into the past, now transform into a piercing sharp gaze.

"You know, Shibasaki-san. I don't think this incident was just a crime targeting a reckless B-rank. I think it's probably the tip of the iceberg, a trace left by something that was moving beneath the surface."

"..."

"Of course, there's no proof. As circumstantial evidence, it's insufficient. But I can feel a definite malice there. Malice directed at the dungeon and at explorers."

Rindou-san said this clearly. All information about a dungeon gathers at each Bureau. Rindou-san has access to that information, and he must have sensed some anomaly that doesn't appear on the surface of the data as malice.

...This person's intuition is usually right.

"The Bureau has authority, but no power. Frustratingly, even if there's evil that harms dungeons, in the end, we have to rely on the individual strength of explorers for pure military force."

Saying that, Rindou-san bows his head deeply.

"That's why I came here, to bow my head like this. Please, Shibasaki-san, lend me your strength. This is all still in the realm of speculation. I hope it's just my emotional misjudgment. But if something major happens in Shinjuku, your power will surely be needed. ...Please help Shinjuku Dungeon."

The deep bow, as if he might drive his head into the floor, makes me feel Rindou-san's undiminished strength.

An investigation of explorers who met mysterious deaths, huh. I see. If that's the case, I can stake my life on it. Rindou-san said there's no proof, but if this person thinks there's something, that alone is reason enough for me to act.

"Please raise your head, Rindou-san."

"Shibasaki-san..."

In the past, the deaths of explorers were much closer than they are now. Healers, Life Cords, distress signals... among veteran explorers, there are some who proudly claim that these modern, multi-layered safety nets are the reason younger explorers have grown weak.

I don't think so. The guarantee of life, the establishment of rules, the change in each individual's awareness. Through the accumulation of these, dungeon safety has gradually improved. While I do feel it's become more restrictive, I've never thought for a moment that the past was better.

If someone intends to harm that, whatever their purpose, I can't show them mercy.

"I'll accept your request. I owe a debt to Shinjuku Dungeon, so for the sake of the dungeon, I'll give it my all... if my help is good enough, that is."

All for the sake of the dungeon. Dungeons should only have the threats of dungeons within them.

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By the way, one of the exception laws that don't apply within dungeons is the Swords and Firearms Control Law.