Episode 046 Concerns That Never Leave My Mind (Third Party Perspective)

-Konkon

"Come in."

A knocking sound echoes in the manager's room of the Emergency Response Department, and when Shindou gives permission, one person enters the room.

"It's been a long time, Section Chief Shindou."

"You are ... Samejima ...?"

The person who came to the front of Shindou's office desk and greeted him was Samejima, one of the A-rank explorers who had previously participated in the investigation of the Shushima Dungeon, and who has an excellent ability in the detection system.

"That's right, have we actually met since you became the Section Chief of the Emergency Response Department?"

"I see, it's been that long, has it."

Shindou was originally an explorer, but when he was consulted about the Emergency Response Department, he accepted it, and now he has become the Section Chief. On the other hand, Samejima declined the invitation to the Emergency Response Department and is diving in the dungeon as an explorer.

The two of them had a relationship of being temporary party members several times.

"Yes, I don't think I've seen you for about two years now."

"The flow of time is fast ..."

They thought about each other for a while during the two years they spent apart.

"So? You didn't come to see me today to reminisce about our old relationship?"

"That's right."

"So, what is it?"

"It's about the Shushima Dungeon that caused the Dungeon Rebirth the other day."

The two people returned their thoughts to reality. Samejima cut to the main subject with a thoughtful look on her face.

"I think you got the report from Inoue-san, right?"

"That's right, but there are things about which I'm really worried ..."

To Shindou's worries, her complexion turns blue and she begins to talk while her body is shaking.

"That is?"

"Although it is the final floor of that dungeon, I certainly felt the signs and magical power of an S-rank boss."

"That's right. I've received such reports."

"But there was no dungeon boss in the innermost room, and a return magic circle had already been installed."

"Yes, I heard as much?"

"That means that there wasn't a dungeon boss at the bottom, and yet it left that much of a sign and magical power."

Samejima enumerates the information while repeating what the research team had reported, and finally conveys the concern that Samejima had just before leaving the dungeon.

Samejima couldn't get rid of the suspicion from her mind even until today after the dungeon investigation was over.

"..."

Shindou becomes silent by thinking what was conveyed by the questions and answers so far. It was too desperate.

"In short?"

After worrying for a minute, he urges Samejima to go ahead.

"It was either a monster over S-rank, and someone easily killed it? Or it is also possible a monster over S-rank broke the dungeon restrictions and went out of the boss room."

"Is that possible?"

Shindou raises doubts about the information provided by Samejima. Shindou didn't want the contents of the hypothesis to be affirmed and was hoping for them to be denied.

"I don't think that's the case, but I don't have any information about what kind of boss it was or who defeated that boss. Given that, the possibility cannot be ruled out. I'm still worried about it ..."

"Is there such a possibility ..."

As a result of the exploration from the report, no danger was found in the dungeon. Therefore, it was decided that it was a dungeon with a high A-rank.

It was stated that the contents were thus.

But if you think about it, neither the boss monster nor the person who defeated the boss monster were known. Certainly this was something that needed to be investigated.

Shindou's intuition said that.

"What do you think, Samejima?"

"I think we should do a re-investigation, and hopefully somebody should get a clue about the monster ..."

Samejima, who was lead to the water, groans and expresses her thoughts with a confused expression.

Whether it's the one who defeated the monster or the monster that went out of the boss room, it wouldn't be strange for their power to be directed at them at any time. There's nothing but fear, such as being targeted by someone you know nothing about.

It would be unavoidable to want to find even a part of the cause.

"Hmm. I have something to say. I may ask you to investigate again."

"I understand. I'm just saying that. Let me cooperate."

"Is it okay? You look awfully pale ..."

From the time she came here, Samejima had a pale face and was in a very unusual state.

Naturally, Samejima couldn't sleep well after the day of the investigation. She has the fear of confronting an overwhelming opponent, but she was more frightened by the fear of what she didn't know.

"I can't sleep at night because I'm worried. It's rather convenient."

"That's fine ..."

"Then let me know if there is any progress."

Samejima answers with a weak smile. Shindou is a little worried, but Samejima ends the conversation.

Don't worry about it anymore, that's what it was.

"Yes, well then."

"Yes, I'm sorry to bother you."

Shindou said goodbye without saying anything else, and Samejima bowed lightly and left the room.

"Is that really possible? ... No, it's best to do an investigation and find it to be safe. Let's have it re-investigated soon."

Recalling his interaction with Samejima, he almost denied anything too unrealistic, but he shook his head and immediately called the Union.

"Hello, this is Shindou, is Union Leader Yamanaka there?"

[ Section Chief Shindou, I'm indebted to you. I'll connect you to Yamanaka immediately ... ]

After listening to the waiting melody and waiting for a while, Yamanaka answers the phone after the music plays.

[ Hello, Shindou-kun is it? ]

"Yes, I'm indebted to you. I'm Shindou."

[ Yes, did something happen? ]

"Yes, it's about Shushima that you investigated the other day ..."

...

...

...

...

"Well, then, I'm looking forward to working with you."

[ Yes, leave it to me. ]

"Excuse me."

-Pustuu tsuu, tsuu, tsuu, tsuu

Shindou hangs up after finishing the groundwork and reporting to the Union's headquarters.

"Hmm, that's fine. What kind of exploration results are waiting ... I'm scared to see from now on ..."

Shindou imagined a dark future alone, stood up and looked down at the peaceful cityscape from the window, and indulged in thought for a while.