「Um, why are we here?」
“Well, it was a sudden request, and there weren’t many good places available, but I think this is actually optimal for a private conversation. There are no prying eyes, and no one comes here. I believe there’s no better place in the company for secret talks.”
“But why go to such lengths to meet here?”
“I won’t do anything strange, you know I have a wife, right? Besides, isn’t there no better place than this?”
“That’s true, but…”
Kaidou and I exchanged glances when Nanase, whose complexion was poor, said she had something to tell us.
Her expression seemed more grave than serious, so we couldn’t tell her to discuss it later. At the same time, it wasn’t the kind of conversation that could be held on the street.
So, what should we do? Conclusion.
“Don’t worry, Kaidou will clear the way. So you don’t have to worry about being attacked by enemies, and in this floor, Kaidou will likely not lose.”
“H-Haa…”
We changed our destination and decided to hear her out in the dungeon.
In reality, there would have been other, better places, but there were no conference rooms readily available.
We also couldn’t take her to my room, Kaidou’s room, or the party room.
As a last resort, we brought her to the Machine King’s dungeon.
The floor is the thirty-second.
The BGM consists of Kaidou’s strange cries, the sounds of impacts from him crushing something, and the sound of blades slashing, as he’s fighting a Golem.
It fills the air like a scene from a kung fu movie as Kaidou shouts “Hoacher!!” Meanwhile, I calmly take out a cigarette and try to light it, while Nanase nervously looks around.
After all, this isn’t a simulated space like the training rooms; this is our actual workplace, a real dungeon.
Monsters naturally roam around, and there are traps. I understand her caution.
I believe she can defend herself since she’s dressed appropriately for entering a dungeon.
And if anything happens, I can handle it.
“So? What did you want to talk about?”
Even though I told her to relax, her emotional state was clearly different.
Her guard was still up.
However, a mutual sense of caution was present on our side as well.
Nanase is merely an acquaintance of Kitamiya, and we aren’t that close.
My reason for engaging in this conversation stems from a selfish desire to obtain information.
While I’m willing to entertain her story, I must also remain vigilant.
Therefore, we chose this place as a location where we could both be cautious.
Inside the dungeon, it’s impossible to know who is having what conversation.
Even if we were seen entering the dungeon together, we could claim it was a coincidence and, if necessary, dismiss it by saying it was work-related.
So, without paying attention to the battles around us, I get to the main point.
“Um…”
“You went to the trouble of ambushing me to talk, so it must be important, right?”
“…Yes.”
If she’s hesitating even after all this setup, there must be a reason. However, I can’t entertain her for an indefinite amount of time.
I have work to do, and talking with her for too long could also lead to problems.
So, to give her a trigger to start, I point out that I’ve been waiting, and she suddenly looks up and starts to speak.
“Actually, I have something to discuss about Tou-kun.”
“Himusumi’s?”
When Nanase asked me for advice, I naturally assumed it would be about Himusumi.
Although I feigned surprise, I inwardly thought, “As expected.”
Another prediction was that she was stuck in her work and wanted advice.
I would have preferred that, but unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned.
“Honestly, I thought I should consult Karen-chan, but after what happened before, we haven’t made up yet.”
“I see.”
As soon as Kitamiya’s name came up, my mood slightly soured, anticipating talk of romance.
“Lately, Tou-kun’s behavior has been strange.”
“Strange, how so?”
I am somewhat, or rather, completely out of my depth when it comes to receiving relationship advice from a woman younger than me.
I wonder why she’s asking me and make a small interjection.
I listen with a bit of anxiety, hoping she’ll explain well.
“He seemed a little down before, but lately, he’s become energetic.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Well, it is good that he’s energetic, but he’s become energetic in a strange way. It’s different from the Tou-kun I knew. Yes, he’s suddenly become excessively righteous.”
“Righteousness? I thought he was always a serious person.”
As the conversation progresses, things start to get complicated.
“Yes, he was certainly serious, but he wasn’t the type to force his own ideas on others. He wouldn’t say, ‘This is the right way, so you should do it too,’ pushing his opinions like that.”
“That is, indeed, strange.”
From my memory, Himusumi was a straightforward guy, but not arrogant.
“Something must have happened.”
“Something?”
“I don’t know the specifics, but if there was a trigger that changed his way of thinking.”
If such a change occurred, there must have been a corresponding trigger.
When I asked if she had any familiarity, Nanase seemed to recall something. She blushed slightly and hesitated to speak.
“Um…”
“Ah.”
She kept glancing at me from the corner of her eye for several minutes, then looking away again. I was mentally exhausted by the lack of progress.
Whether this was a relationship consultation or not, she was clearly uncomfortable. Frankly, I envied Kaidou, who was rampaging around.
I couldn’t help but feel irritated, but considering she had some reason for this, I could endure it.
However, if possible, I wanted her to get to the point quickly.
“Um…”
“Yes.”
But Nanase showed no sign of starting the conversation.
In fact, her voice became softer and softer, to the point where I might have missed it if the soundproofing wasn’t so good.
It’s understandable that I started to think she was just trying to buy time.
And just as I was starting to experience gestalt breakdown from trying to figure out her true purpose.
“Mr. Tanaka.”
“Yes, yes, Mr. Tanaka, coming right up.”
Just as my responses were starting to become perfunctory.
“Do men like harems?”
“Yes, yes, harems… harems?”
“Yes, harems.”
And finally, the question that was brought up was whether men like harems.
Intending to give a simple answer and end this quickly, I was surprised because I was already thinking about going straight into practical training with a dungeon attack.
Nanase, having finally managed to broach the subject, seemed to have resigned herself and looked intently at me.
“…Ah, harems.”
“Yes.”
If she’s going to ask about harems, I am indeed the right person to ask.
Especially a man in my immediate circle who is actually forming a harem.
If this is the familiarity she has regarding Himusumi’s change, I suppose I have to answer, but it’s frankly difficult to say.
And now it was my turn to falter.
What sin did I commit to have to answer a woman of marriageable age on whether men like harems?
“…I guess it depends on the person? You know, some are devoted, and some are…”
And on what grounds am I giving this kind of answer?
Putting aside my inability to give any other response than a safe one, my feelings are quite complicated.
As an individual, if asked whether I like harems, I can only say that I don’t dislike them.
However, the reality is that I am currently involved with multiple women.
While it might be acceptable from the Demon Lord’s Army’s perspective, from Japan’s standpoint, it would be considered abnormal. Yet, Nanase asked me this question.
There’s no need to think about what it means.
It probably means other women have appeared around Himusumi besides Nanase.
I think, “What is this guy doing, causing trouble with Kitamiya and Nanase?” but I hold back.
“…Is that so?”
And my answer was apparently not what Nanase was hoping for.
I don’t know if I should have simply said I liked it, or if I should have said I disliked it.
“Himusumi, ah, well, what is it?”
Seeing her accept my answer with what seemed like dejection, I was convinced she must be around Himusumi.
And I could largely guess what Nanase was troubled about.
Is she being asked to join the harem? No, in this case, she’s likely asking to be let in?
Nanase, judging by her appearance, seems to be somewhat weak-willed.
She might want to refuse in her heart, but thinking that if Himusumi, whom she likes, says so, she’ll endure it, but she can’t, leading to a dilemma.
Not knowing how to proceed, I scratch my head and desperately search for words, but in the end, I settle on a question.
I understood what had happened, but I couldn’t grasp what needed to be done.
Whether I tried to comfort her or be exasperated, any action seemed wrong, and the words wouldn’t come.
“Sorry, I’m sorry for taking up your time with this.”
“No, it’s not that. You’re not alright, are you?”
“…”
It’s difficult to find a solution in matters of relationships.
The fact that there’s someone stirring the pot makes things even more complicated.
It’s impossible to ask Nanase, who is in the midst of such a situation, if she’s alright. The fact that she came to me implies she’s troubled.
This place, for some reason, feels strangely quiet, so much so that Kaidou’s fighting sounds fade away.
“I’m not alright.”
“I see… Um, should I contact Kitamiya?”
The sandcastle that might crumble at any moment. That’s Nanase’s current state.
I’m fumbling in my attempt to understand. Normally, one wouldn’t need to go this far, but seeing someone weakened before me and leaving them to their fate would leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Ultimately, I have no choice but to proceed by leaving the choice to her.
“But, what should I tell Karen-chan?”
“She’s somewhat resigned to what happened that time. She might be concerned, but she wouldn’t just turn you away.”
She might have someone else she could rely on, but she came to me, perhaps due to that sense of guilt.
It’s true that Kitamiya is more suitable than me, a man.
While I’m stating this as a prediction, part of me hopes it’s not wrong. When I suggest this, Nanase’s expression finally softens as if relieved.
“Then, um, can I ask you to do that?”
“Sure.”
I answer while idly shaking an unlit cigarette in one hand.
If only Nanase’s request was the end of it, but unfortunately, for me, the more important part is from here on.
Frankly, for me, Nanase approaching me at that timing was opportune.
I intend to take care of my own agenda as well.
“So, Nanase, sorry, but I have something I’d like to ask you as well. Is that alright?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“The woman who’s by Himusumi’s side… is it that Kawasaki Midori girl?”
“!? ”
The unease I feel means this is not something to be ignored. Something will be done. I’ve had that premonition for a while.
“OK, based on that expression alone, it’s like an answer. Thanks.”
“Uh, y-you’re welcome?”
“By any chance, besides that Kawasaki girl interfering with Himusumi, have you heard of her doing anything else?”
“Anything? Specifically what?”
“Ah, no, saying ‘anything’ is too broad… Let’s see.”
To find out, I search for examples in my mind.
The behavior I can predict from my knowledge of Kawasaki Midori’s personality.
And the information I heard from Hands and Memoria.
Connecting these two perspectives with Nanase’s consultation, I think about what she might be trying to do.
“Has she contacted any other Testers? More specifically, is it only Himusumi?”
“Um, I think her interaction with him has increased recently.”
“I hit the mark, huh.”
As expected, she was working on two fronts.
Kawasaki was dealing with the Demon Lord’s Army side, and Himusumi was handling the Dungeon Tester side.
However, the core is probably Kawasaki.
What is her objective? It’s undoubtedly the establishment of her status.
“No, is that also part of the process?”
“Mr. Tanaka?”
I think that, but I feel a sense of dissonance with that idea.
I believe this line of thinking itself is not wrong.
What I lack is something.
I feel that this conclusion is missing something.
Although I respond to Nanase’s reaction to my muttered words by waving my hand dismissively, I temporarily halt my thoughts on Kawasaki’s objective.
“…Is Tou-kun somehow involved in something strange?”
“Whether he’s involved in something strange or not, I honestly don’t know, but I believe he’s involved in trouble.”
However, even if I say it’s nothing, I find the matter bothersome.
Especially when it concerns someone I know, and moreover, my lover.
So, I candidly answer Nanase without hiding my thoughts.
“What kind of trouble?”
Nanase’s anxiety flares up again, and her relieved expression vanishes as she questions me.
Unfortunately, I don’t have that answer.
“Well, judging by your demeanor, it’s something you’re keeping from him too. The idea that a man who rushes headlong on his own should be kept in the dark is a selfish thought. Finally, he believes he’ll be alright. That’s a common pattern for him. He might be different, but if that’s the case, I don’t have the ability to see through such a person’s thoughts. My own thoughts are just speculation.”
I have a conviction.
But I have no proof.
I think that’s enough.
This will allow me to decide on our course of action.
“All you can do is discuss it with Kitamiya, and perhaps slap the man charging like a bull to stop him.”
And this is all I can do for Nanase.
The rest is entirely up to Kitamiya.
As a reward for the information, I offer a male perspective piece of advice.
“Senpai! I’ve cleared all the enemies around here, but will it still take a while!?”
I couldn’t smoke my cigarette, but I gathered enough information.
“It’s finished. I’ll clear the way on the way back, so you can rest.”
“Whoa! It’s nice to be able to relax!”
I exchange eye contact with Nanase to see if we can end this, and she nods back.
So, I tell Kaidou, who has returned at the opportune moment, that we’re leaving.
“Um! Thank you very much for today.”
“I haven’t done anything worthy of thanks.”
“Still, just listening to me has made me feel much better.”
“Continue this with Kitamiya.”
“Yes.”
And with a nod to Nanase, whose expression has somewhat brightened, I head for the dungeon exit.
“Now, where should I start?”
“Did you say something, Senpai?”
“Just talking to myself.”
Accompanying Nanase and Kaidou, I contemplate how to proceed.
Today’s Word:
Trouble is a regular occurrence. The issue is how much to reduce the effort required to deal with that trouble.
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*The first volume of the book is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
An e-book version was also released on October 31 of the same year.
Volume two was released on December 19.
The third volume was released on February 20, 2019.
The content has been revised and expanded from the version posted on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, with the addition of an unpublished interlude.
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A comic adaptation is being serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.”
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