Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Henderberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee) + Recruiter
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Rank: Warrior
When an emergency arises, a person’s true nature is revealed.
It’s often depicted in manga, anime, and novels that when an emergency occurs in an amusement facility like a theme park, the majority of ordinary visitors would show anxiety, become confused, and be unable to move in an orderly fashion.
“It shouldn’t be possible, though.”
“Jiro-san, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, I was just indulging in a bit of escapism.”
I shake my head and tell her it’s nothing, as she turns to me, catching my murmur.
With that, she returns to her work.
What was a garden bar just moments ago has been transformed into a conference room with just a change in the arrangement of chairs and tables.
The lights are dimmed, but it’s not as if magic cannot be used; facility staff and some employees (from the Demon Lord’s Army) are working together to provide illumination.
They are handling the emergency situation calmly and effectively.
I am witnessing firsthand the results of thorough training.
“Let’s assess the current situation. First, telepathic communication is completely blocked.”
“The flow of magic circulation is also strange. Otherwise, a power outage in this facility would be impossible.”
“The magic concentration also seems slightly thinner.”
Leading the charge are the three of them, Suella and her companions.
Without a trace of the carefree atmosphere they had while playing, they gather and organize all the information they can verify.
“What is the situation, Gozaru?”
“How would we know?”
“At least, this isn’t an event.”
“That’s right. We don’t know if this is normal since we’re the only humans here, but I don’t think this is.”
“So, it’s a troublesome situation.”
Demons with wings and tails, familiar goblins, lizardmen, and humanoid members of the Demon Lord’s Army are gathered here, all resembling humans.
There’s little we can do to assist them as they direct various other species in various tasks.
What they are doing is verifying the functions of the dungeon itself.
There’s extremely little that we, who are not engaged in this work, can do.
Therefore, we are forming small circles and holding impromptu party meetings.
“Let’s summarize what we know among ourselves.”
“We are trapped in this facility, Gozaru.”
“Also, our life support has been cut off. We have no electricity, water, or gas.”
“Fortunately, it seems there is food. Magic can also be used for cooking.”
“There’s plenty of water right in front of us. I overheard that a facility within a dungeon experiencing this level of malfunction is a serious problem?”
“So, to summarize, while we can wait for rescue, the fact that we are trapped is extremely dangerous, right?”
We want to avoid a war of attrition if possible. While it’s not a closed space, remaining in the same environment for an extended period places a significant mental burden.
“Let’s proceed with unsubstantiated speculation.”
“Is that alright?”
“We have too little information to evaluate the possibilities. The information Suella and the others have is filled with specialized facility jargon. It’s beyond our scope. What we amateurs can do is conserve our stamina so we can act in an emergency. To do that, we need to consider every possibility.”
“…Yes, it’s better than doing nothing.”
“Normally, you’d consider it an accident.”
“I wish that were the case, Gozaru, but my prediction is that it’s artificial.”
“What’s your basis?”
I considered Katsu’s suggestion of an accident as well, but something deep within me rejected it.
Instead, Minami’s idea of something artificial resonates more with my intuition.
“This is a dungeon, Gozaru. The facility’s power source is, needless to say, magic? For all that power to be cut off is abnormal, when you think about it normally.”
“That’s true too. In this kind of fantasy convention, it would be a rebellion or something.”
“Gozaru, I sometimes think Kaido-senpai intentionally goes out to trigger flags.”
“Huh?”
To me, that’s the worst possible thought, just ‘one step before,’ but for now, I’ll listen attentively.
“Is that so? The reason I used an indirect word like ‘artificial’ is because I don’t want it to happen. These event conventions become reality when they’re spoken! It’s what’s commonly called a ‘death flag.’ Kaido-senpai has just triggered one.”
“Eh~ Min-chan, that’s a bit much…”
“Naive! You’re naive, Gozaru!! As naive as adding condensed milk and honey to MAX coffee!”
At that point, it’s already a different beverage.
At least, I wouldn’t want to touch something that nauseating.
Coffee should be lightly sweetened; that’s my justice.
“Those who deny it will be the first to fall, Gozaru! Even now, senpai is steadily building a mountain of death flags!”
“N-no, I still have so many things I want to do!? There are so many stores I want to visit (adult-only).”
Why can this guy, in such a serious situation, so obviously reveal his ulterior motives?
Even if it weren’t me, Katsu or Kitamiya would have understood.
Feeling the situation grow increasingly grim, I decide to see it through to the end.
“Then, senpai, I will teach you how to crush flags, Gozaru.”
“Really!?”
“However, to do so, senpai needs to have resolve, Gozaru.”
“What is it!! I think I can do most things right now!!”
“Is that so? Then first, please transfer about 100,000 to this account.”
“Katsu.”
“Yes.”
How on earth did Min come up with a fantasy-style remittance scam?
At this point, any further inaction is problematic.
I will proceed with forced intervention and apply sanctions to Min, who has started playing around.
“Be serious.”
“Ugh, I’m not good at being serious, Gozaru… Fine, Gozaru, I’ll be serious, so please don’t glare at me… But even so, I can only predict based on similar events, Gozaru?”
“That’s fine. You’re the most knowledgeable about fantasy among us. It’s a bit borderline for me.”
“The leader’s prediction? What is it? I’d like to hear it for reference, Gozaru.”
“What I’m thinking is the possibility that the facility was affected by an attack from the enemy of the Demon Lord’s Army, in this case, the country or organization that summoned the Hero, or from a god.”
“I see, so it’s from the outside rather than the inside, Gozaru?”
“If we suspect our own people first, we’re doomed.”
“In my previous company, we always suspected our own people first.”
“Hey, Kaido, add ‘boss’ to that, you know. There were almost no failures in field operations.”
“Leader, senpai is coming back, Gozaru~ He’s falling to the dark side, Gozaru~”
“”Whoa.””
Even though I told him to be serious, he narrowly avoided collapsing into comedy in a different dimension.
“Sorry, please continue the story.”
“I’ve considered a few things, Gozaru, but among them, I think a power struggle is highly probable.”
“Why? From what I saw, the president seemed to be managing everything quite well.”
“You’re too naive, Gozaru.”
“Your expression is irritating.”
“Hehehe, listen up? If you look back at world history, there’s plenty of racism. If people are already fighting amongst themselves, it’s even more likely to happen if their appearances are different, Gozaru?”
His passionate delivery is like that of a critic. Putting aside Min’s smug look, his explanation does have some merit.
A famous example is the issue of Black people.
A more common example is the fact that people from Osaka and Tokyo don’t get along.
To take it to an extreme, there’s no end to it, but it leads to the question of whether humans and species that look different but are humanoid can coexist.
“It’s not just a problem from the human side, Gozaru. There are also emotions from other species. It’s a classic fantasy trope for beings who are considered a lower species to be depicted as such, Gozaru.”
“Judging from Min’s thinking, essentially, this rebellion, or rather, strike? Either way, this action is from those who want to change our position as testers?”
“That’s what I predict, Gozaru. But if it changes, it will undoubtedly be for the worse.”
“Ugh, worsening working conditions would be the worst.”
Realistically, this is a story that makes you wonder which novel it’s from, an illogical tale, and a wild and absurd speculation. Yet, both my earlier thoughts and Min’s prediction make sense within this company.
And, excluding an accident, the outcome of the predictions that have come up will directly harm us.
My idea is probably aimed at rescue, with the noble cause of saving the deceived Hero. After being saved, they might be abducted under the guise of protection, and the possibility of being able to return home is less likely than winning the lottery.
Min’s prediction is a strike launched by a faction that dislikes the fact that humans are used and their status is guaranteed, a hawkish mindset, a group that views humans as inferior characters… If it were just that, it might be considered more peaceful, but to go this far, one must consider a coup d’état or terrorism.
If that succeeds, at best, we testers will be banished from this company, and at worst, we’ll be heading straight for slavery.
“…”
After saying that and explaining it, we fell silent, realizing the situation was worse than we thought.
It’s just that we’re imagining the situation.
However, in this company, where typical fantasy world developments are becoming realistic, it’s difficult to find any factors to deny them.
No matter how skilled Suella and the others are, they probably don’t have to worry about reaching a conclusion abruptly, but that doesn’t help.
If it could be easily dismissed, we wouldn’t be in such silence.
“…So, what should we do? I don’t really want to act on speculation.”
Habitually, I reach into my pocket, but with my current attire of a swimsuit and hoodie, there’s no way I’d have a cigarette. I substitute by scratching my head.
“For starters, I’d like to get equipped, but…”
“Indeed, Gozaru. A Dungeon strategy in a swimsuit sounds like an eroge.”
“You’re one to talk, being female.”
“I have to say something, Gozaru, or I can’t bear it.”
“Shall we have a beer?”
“I’m still a minor, Gozaru. If I drink, Katsu will make me perform seiza and lecture me.”
“Just kidding.”
When you hear someone say they can’t bear it, your hand instinctively reaches for a beer—that’s a salaryman’s bad habit.
Reacting to that comment, I instinctively offer a beer mug left on the table, but I’m refused with a straight face.
“Can’t we even go to the lockers…?”
“That’s right. The teleportation circles for the swimming area and the locker area are also blocked, so this is all one space. The clothes sold at the shop are all swimsuits and hoodies. The only weapons available were water guns.”
If only I could change into casual clothes, it would be better in terms of appearance and defense than a swimsuit, but it seems that’s not going to happen. Kitamiya, as if trying to suppress a headache, touches his forehead with his fingers and tells himself the current situation.
“I wish it were an accident, but if it were an accident, it might be the worst-case scenario.”
“Worst-case scenario?”
“Yes, dungeons are formed by developing land in another space. If it’s an accident, it’s possible that this place alone has lost its connection.”
“Isn’t that bad!?”
“Yes, whether it’s an accident or intentional, we probably can’t afford to be too leisurely.”
Not Kitamiya, but I can’t think of any good information or good imagination, and all I can imagine is the worst. Is it because I worked at a black company, or is it my instincts that keep ringing the alarm?
“It doesn’t seem to be an accident.”
“Suella.”
While we were contemplating, a change occurred.
The air was still tense as before, but it seemed the flow of the situation had shifted.
“We’ve established contact with employees outside the facility. However…”
“Something happened?”
There’s no need for it to be a question.
Suella’s expression tells me everything.
She’s not struggling with whether to say it or not; she probably has to say it, but doesn’t want to.
That seems to be the case. Suella hesitates after saying “however.”
“Jiro-san… this company has currently been occupied.”
“…By whom?”
There’s no surprise.
Naturally.
We were just exploring that possibility.
The expressions of the people present show no surprise.
Instead, they each wear a grimace, as if they bit into something bitter.
I’m trying to keep mine hidden as much as possible, but I feel my tone of voice has lowered slightly.
First, the accident theory is dismissed, narrowing the choices to internal strife or invasion.
In either case, our position is precarious.
We must act cautiously and swiftly.
Suella doesn’t seem surprised by my reaction.
She probably overheard our conversation earlier.
“It’s internal, then.”
“Then Minami’s prediction was correct.”
“It appears so.”
Although we belong to the same company, the difference in the amount of information we have means there are things Suella can discuss and things she cannot.
“It seems that the opposition and the hardliners of this project, the Dungeon Testers, have joined forces.”
The opposition, as the name suggests, is a faction that opposes the deployment of testers, while the hardliners agree with their deployment but think of them as livestock to be exploited.
This time, the hardliners, who appeased the opposition with profit, led them to take action.
“The Demon Lord is currently not in the dungeon. Other generals are ‘principally’ prohibited from interfering with other dungeons. So, support is probably not expected.”
“What about the supervisor?”
“Evia-sama is likely captured. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to manipulate the dungeon.”
As the path to slavery begins to appear, Suella continues to deliver two or three pieces of bad news.
The company’s strongest forces are suppressed, reinforcements from other dungeons cannot be expected, and they are confined.
“What about the enemy’s strength? Report what you can within the scope of what’s known.”
I want a cigarette.
My lips feel lonely, and I cover my mouth, trying to think calmly and logically.
“Unfortunately, the details are… the lack of uniformity in species can be inferred from the fact that various species are mixed together…”
“That’s troublesome. We can’t distinguish between friend and foe.”
“Yes, and it’s safe to assume that the dungeon where the core is located is completely under the enemy’s control.”
However, the more I hear, the more trapped I feel.
After all, if someone is going to attempt a coup against their own top leader.
They would surely plan the timing and the execution meticulously.
But…
“…Something feels off. Would that president really expose such an easy opening to the enemy?”
A sense of unease arises in my mind.
I only saw him once at the entrance ceremony, but in that single encounter, I was the only one among the testers to converse with the Demon Lord himself.
Although it was a conversation of less than a few minutes, he possessed an overwhelming charisma that made him seem like a formidable opponent, and even setting that aside, he exuded something that couldn’t be described as incompetent. Would he so easily hand over a stronghold in another world in just a few minutes?
It’s impossible.
Something within me declared it as such. Does the top predator in a world of the strong preying on the weak easily let themselves be bitten?
“…There’s no point in thinking about it, I guess.”
After all, for a mere employee to anticipate the thoughts of the top leader is fundamentally misguided.
The first thing employees, who are meant to be the hands and feet, should do is to move their heads and bodies.
“I don’t want to ask, but do you know the enemy’s objective?”
“Probably, it’s to secure testers who could potentially become Heroes.”
“That’s straightforward.”
They are likely thinking of using them as experimental subjects or training them into military strength to secure their own status.
It’s a straightforward development that’s easy to understand, but it’s not funny when you’re the target.
“So, what should we do?”
“…Escape. The enemy’s objective is you testers, Jiro-san and the others. If that’s the case, escaping outside the company is more certain than hunkering down.”
“Alright, wait a minute.”
It was an answer I half-expected from Suella, but no matter how dangerous it was, I couldn’t just immediately say “Yes, understood.”
“We’re in a pretty bad situation right now, aren’t we?”
“Yes, we are.”
“Our forces are few. And the enemy’s strength is unknown, right?”
“Yes.”
“…Haa, if we escape, will Suella and the others’ safety be guaranteed?”
“That…”
“The moment you hesitated, my answer is fixed to NO.”
In this situation, without even needing to think about it, even if we were the objective, unfortunately, I couldn’t answer that.
Keiri-san and Memoria, who are watching me, don’t react to Suella’s words, likely because they are passively agreeing.
“Unfortunately, I’m used to hardship. Dealing with it is a piece of cake for me.”
“No. Jiro-san, you have no right to refuse. This is an order.”
Suella’s hesitant expression recedes, replaced by a serious expression of someone working, which I haven’t seen in a while.
Having mixed her private demeanor before, the contrast is striking.
“Alright, Kaido and the others will escape. That’s fine, right?”
“Not just them, but you too. The enemy’s objective is testers, and Jiro-san, with your high magic aptitude, will be the top priority target.”
Her eyes, filled with an unwavering resolve, gaze at me seriously, showing not only concern but also anxiety.
As someone who has already caused Suella worry, I should probably nod here, but…
“Still,”
“Jiro-san!”
“Suella, you know, bad experiences are truly painful memories at the time. But if time wears them down, smooths them out, and you can laugh about them later thinking, ‘Ah, we had that back then,’ then it becomes a good experience.”
I understand Suella’s indignant feelings, but I can’t back down here and risk what might happen.
“If I nod now and safely escape the company, and when things settle down and we meet again, then my worries would indeed be superfluous. But…”
Just as you worry about me and fear losing me.
“After escaping, even if I could return to this company, what would I do if I could no longer see you?”
I fear losing you too, Suella.
You’ve decided that you’ll stay behind as a matter of course.
Unlike internal company struggles in Japan, that’s the Demon Lord’s Army, where the strong prey on the weak, isn’t it?
It’s a world where lives are on the line without mercy, isn’t it?
Do I look like a fool who would let you go like that?
Would anyone be able to watch idly by, unable to do anything, without fear of losing someone?
At least, I’m confident I wouldn’t be an exception.
“A past story that isn’t funny—it’s the worst, isn’t it?”
Or is there a guarantee that everything will be absolutely fine?
That’s what I wanted to say. If you could show me a smile that would reassure me, saying, “It’s alright, leave it to me,” then I could probably wait, though my anxiety would remain.
But if I said that, all the words I’ve spoken so far would be in vain.
There are times when a man needs to be cool.
“That’s unfair.”
“I’m sorry, but I know I’m weaker than you, but I can’t just run away because of that.”
“Just how much are you going to make me worry?”
“I regret that I can’t give you an exact number.”
“You’re already planning to make me worry, aren’t you?”
“Quite soon, actually.”
Suella, who responds to my words with a sigh and a smile, puts away her serious work expression and returns to her usual private state.
“Understood. I will respect Jiro-san’s wishes. Be prepared, because I’m going to make you work hard.”
“I’ll work hard enough to earn my pay.”
“To be honest, with Jiro-san’s skill level, the return far outweighs the risk, so it would be helpful to the Demon Lord’s Army.”
“As her girlfriend?”
“I already told you. I’m too embarrassed to say it a second time.”
Goodbye, heavy atmosphere.
I’ll be content with seeing Suella blush and avert her eyes.
It’s a situation where every little bit of strength counts, and we don’t have the luxury of leaving any of our limited forces idle.
That was the persuasion that succeeded, but…
“If I oppose this here, will you say those kinds of words to me again?”
“Ideally, I’d appreciate your honest agreement, you know.”
It seems I’m going to have to find a way to deal with the second assassin.
“Then, instead, please take this.”
“Whoa, hm!?”
“Ah, thank you for the meal. That was a healthy vitality.”
“I can taste blood in my mouth.”
“Oh? You shouldn’t have any wounds.”
“It’s Memoria’s jealousy. Yes, yes, don’t pout, Suella. I know I ruined the mood, but we don’t have time now. Jiro-kun will take good care of the aftercare.”
It seems things are going to work out by chance.
It’s going to be tough after this is over, but I’ll take responsibility for what I said.
“Now… the problem is…”
The future plan is decided, but it’s only mine.
Looking back, my party members are perfectly aligned.
Kaido, enthusiastically doing shadow boxing.
Minami, appealing with some mysterious spell formation in the air.
Katsu, who is preparing a first-aid kit from somewhere.
Only Kitamiya, with an envious, jealous, and embarrassed expression, looks at me with blushing cheeks, his expression complex.
But I can tell.
Ah.
They’re ready to follow me with all their might.
Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, single.
Girlfriend: Suella Henderberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee) + Recruiter
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Rank: Warrior
Today’s Quote:
Hahaha!
A phone call from the boss—EEEEEK! (with a rolled ‘R’)
Don’t say it!!
Edmond Honda after George? Wait, that’s different.
FGO’s management is truly skilled at business.
Well, I won’t spend money, but instead, I’ll pick up my pen.
In the next installment, I’d like to add a little combat scene.
And, I’d like to write a bit that feels like a harem, if possible.
Please continue to support “Let’s create a dungeon that Heroes cannot conquer!!”
