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Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
Girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Theocratic Nation Tris
The majority of the citizens are believers who worship the Sun God.
It’s not so much piety as it is a daily ritual to pray. It’s like the Middle Eastern countries on Earth, perhaps.
It was three weeks after leaving the city of Sakaru that I arrived at the capital, Tris.
The journey was safe, with no encounters with bandits or magic beasts, thanks to the military movements on the road.
It’s a bitter irony that the war was a blessing.
When I finally arrived and entered the city, my first impression of the scenery was how remarkably prominent the stone buildings were.
The stone construction prevalent in this cityscape reminded me of Europe.
While there might be some deviation in proportions, it’s a city that blends medieval Europe and the Middle East.
I walk alone down the city’s main street.
“Well, this is as far as I go. Given that it’s the main sanctuary of the Sun God, there might be unforeseen circumstances.”
Memoria, the vampire, cannot enter this city.
Even with her seal, she cannot approach the divine realms like churches, so we are currently acting separately.
No matter how much she is sealed and perceived as human, there are limits.
If she gets too close to an area she has an incompatibility with, she’ll be discovered as a vampire and cause problems.
So, for now, she is hiding in a secret base in a nearby mountain outside the city, preparing to support me when I extract the Hero.
Since someone had to take on this role originally, it’s a convenient coincidence that we are acting separately like this.
“If things go wrong, don’t hesitate to run.”
Acting alone in a city I’ve never visited before was something I had planned for in advance.
However, having an insurance policy or not is a significant difference.
We have a plan to rendezvous with Memoria and escape if necessary, but I still feel bad about making her worry.
Recalling Memoria’s worried eyes as she saw me off, I pull the hood of my outer garment deeper.
Thanks to the distant war, this city is still peaceful.
“This is it.”
As I physically walk, comparing the map in my head to the scenery before my eyes, I arrive at my destination.
The moment I enter the plaza, I see waves of people.
It’s the Cathedral, the sanctuary of the Sun God, where countless believers are said to come to pray in rotation every day.
There is a considerable distance from the plaza entrance to the Cathedral, yet the massive structure, whose full scope I cannot grasp, is a magnificent sight, unparalleled in Japan, or even in the world.
It makes me want to visit as a tourist under any other circumstances.
“…”
But now, I have no business there.
I slip into a side street, blending into the crowd.
Unlike the vibrant main street, the path is dimly lit and of a moderate width.
“Hey, bro. You got any alcohol? If you do, pass some over.”
Then, I’m addressed by a suspicious-looking man who fits the alley.
I scrutinize him from head to toe.
He wears a hat that conceals his eyes and a torn scarf. His clothes and shoes are all brown but look like they haven’t been washed in days.
Normally, I would never get involved with someone like this.
“What kind of alcohol do you prefer?”
“Hehehe, you’re a sensible guy. Hmm, something mellow would be good.”
“Red?”
“Ah, yes. I like wine that’s red like blood.”
“I see. Unfortunately, I have none on hand. If you could recommend a good store, I’ll treat you?”
“Hehehe, then let’s extort you. Fine, I’ll take you to a place I recommend.”
It seems this is the person I was looking for.
When I speak the code words that Birth taught me, things proceed smoothly.
And then, we are to be led to a store. He must be someone who drinks regularly, as his steps are unsteady.
However, I couldn’t picture him naturally falling.
I silently follow the man.
“Go in.”
I follow the staggering drunk through a maze of turns, right, right, and left, until we arrive at the store.
It has a sign depicting well-maintained, old sake barrels and a potted plant with red berries. It appears this is our destination.
The man standing before the door speaks with a steady voice, a stark contrast to his earlier instability.
Following his voice, I step through the door he opens.
Inside, it’s reasonably clean, and though not on the verge of closing, it’s not exactly thriving.
“Welcome to the Underground Guild, guest from another world. I’ve heard from Birth. The members you requested are all here.”
It seems the customer is not a customer after all.
The guide man expertly swaps the “Open” sign for “Closed” and closes the door.
The Underground Guild, a group whose profession is literally the underworld, operating outside the law.
Such individuals exist in any world, and this guild is one of the old organizations that has ties with the Demon Lord’s Army.
While they don’t do anything for money, they are an organization that doesn’t shy away from certain means when necessary.
The man who glides past me, removes his hat, bows theatrically, and pulls out a chair shows no sign of the instability he displayed during our walk.
They are the darkness in a world without night.
“First, let’s hear about the situation.”
Introductions are unnecessary.
It’s an unwritten rule to do business without exchanging names.
Taught that the underworld is a place where those who use each other are used in return, I sit in the pulled chair, waiting for the guide to sit opposite me before starting the conversation.
The information I possess is outdated, and there might be discrepancies with the latest intel.
“The situation is quite simple. The entire country is in high spirits, and it’s a holy war, with festivities every day.”
Every action this man takes seems theatrical.
It’s likely a gesture to hide his true feelings.
However, celebrating a war makes me want to retort, “Is this ancient Japan?”
“What’s the information on the Demon Lord who was sealed?”
“That’s the strange thing, not a bit of information is coming in.”
“Huh?”
I unconsciously voice my doubt and glare at him.
“Well, calm down. The story is that most of the information just vanished naturally. After all, it’s a soul from thousands of years ago. It’s strange if anything remains.”
“…That’s true.”
“Even the Tris military’s complaints about wasted funds have reached the underworld. Some even say the Demon Lord wasn’t sealed at all.”
“But, there’s the fact that he was sealed, and there was a seal.”
“So, everyone’s saying he vanished while sealed.”
“How reliable is this information?”
“It’s from reliable sources, but… there’s nothing we can do when he hasn’t been found in the first place.”
“I see…”
There’s no way to confirm something that doesn’t exist.
It hasn’t surfaced on Birth’s information network, nor on the company’s.
In this situation, I can only keep this information on the back burner… I suppose.
“Understood. Have you seen the main Hero?”
“I haven’t seen all of them, but I have seen some. A few are even out in town with ‘guards’.”
“Guards, huh.”
“Or are you meaning surveillance?”
The man corrects himself in response to my loaded statement.
“As you suspect, they are probably ‘also’ guarding, but the main purpose is different. They are guiding them on paths they deem dangerous, ostensibly out of concern to prevent them from acquiring unnecessary knowledge. To the Heroes, they probably appear as kind, good people. Anyone with such insight would see it as surveillance immediately.”
“So, the situation is deteriorating according to plan?”
“Precisely.”
The Hero is steadily progressing on the path to becoming the Hero.
As for me, hearing about the usual becoming common practice makes me sigh.
I can guess the man’s personality, who seems to enjoy watching this.
“So, a potent poison is needed as planned.”
“It’s convenient for us, so we don’t mind.”
“We can bring the Hero back, and you can move freely when the country falls into chaos. Our objectives differ, but our interests align.”
“That’s why this many people have gathered.”
The man laughs, relieved by how quickly the conversation is progressing.
I wonder what he’s keeping inside, but for now, I’ll refrain from prying.
“Then, let me see your work.”
“Hehehe, you’re an impatient one. The preparations are already made.”
These meticulous types will do the job if they are paid sufficiently.
I was told that all I need to do is be careful not to be betrayed.
Thanks to Birth’s introduction, that part might be alright, but a lack of vigilance is still a problem.
“Then, when is the execution?”
“Ah, tonight.”
However, there is no time for careful action.
If the preparations are done, there’s no reason to delay.
For now, at least.
“Hehehe, there’s no rush. Burn it into your mind while you have the chance.”
“…Understood.”
I suppose I’ll have to go through some paperwork and then proceed.
I’ll begin the task of thoroughly drilling the city’s information and the plan into my head.
Deep into the night, though it seems like a dim daytime to me under the overcast sky, I stand on a rooftop, wearing a gray outer garment that matches the overcast sky.
At this hour, the city is quiet, with only soldiers and a small number of residents moving about.
“Hehehe, are you ready?”
“Ah, please.”
“I know. Follow me.”
The guide, wearing a similar outfit, moves with agility that belies his daytime stagger, darting from roof to roof.
I follow, but I’m not as smooth as a ninja or in a spy movie.
At best, I can run without being noticed and without making a sound.
Buildings are clustered, so there’s no shortage of footing, but the height and width vary.
If I were to misstep and fall, it wouldn’t be a laughing matter.
No matter how much my magic crest enhances me, falling will still hurt.
“Hehehe, let’s take a break here for a moment.”
“It’s surprisingly manageable.”
“Of course, I’m choosing a safe path for you.”
We land gently and stop on a rooftop slightly distant from the plaza in front of the Cathedral.
“On time?”
“Hehehe, no mistakes.”
We waited there for less than a minute.
A distant alarm bell draws our attention.
Even in the dim light of the overcast sky, we can see black smoke and the light of flames beneath it.
And the alarm bell spreads further.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah.”
The commotion spreads, and attention shifts elsewhere.
We melt into the darkness and join the commotion.
It’s an old trick, but a reliable one.
I know who caused it and how.
I know what needs to be done next.
I start moving and rush towards the Cathedral.
We move along the rooftops, not towards the main sanctuary, but towards the dormitory used by the attendants.
“This is as far as I go. I’m heading back. It’s up to you now. Do your best.”
“Ah.”
It appears to be a window leading to an attic room.
With a specific rhythm, I tap the window three times, and it opens.
The guide, seeing this, turns without looking back, as if my role is finished, and silently runs off without a word of farewell.
I don’t pursue him further and slip in quietly.
As soon as I enter, the window is closed.
There are no other light sources inside except for the light entering through gaps, and though insufficient, I can tell there are people inside.
“This way.”
The shadow guides me to a place to descend without hesitation.
As I approach, the shadow gropes around the floor, finds a handle, and gently opens a trapdoor in the floor.
A ladder leading down is revealed.
The shadow’s attire is also visible, appearing to be a cloistered nun working at this church, illuminated by the light from the entrance.
After peering down once to confirm no one is coming, I descend and am beckoned by the shadow.
I descend silently, being instructed not to make noise, and follow.
As I follow, glimpsing the outside scenery through the windows, I quickly arrive at our destination.
Following instructions, I enter the opened door. It’s a four-person room with only two bunk beds.
“You shouldn’t be discovered here for a while.”
“…And you?”
“I will only identify myself as a member of the Guild. I’m here to cooperate with you on the Guild’s orders.”
Finally, a self-introduction, but even here, communication is kept to a minimum, and we don’t pry into each other’s affairs.
It’s like being extreme business partners.
Seeing this reality—that such individuals can infiltrate even the domain of the great Sun God—I have no choice but to accept their attitude.
“Your objective is to establish a connection with the Heroes, is that correct?”
“Ah, it would be futile to approach them directly and would likely result in being turned away at the door.”
The current Heroes are akin to idols.
The populace eagerly gathers to meet them, while the country tries to prevent contact to avoid danger.
Among them, there are likely those who, claiming to be from the same hometown, ask to meet them.
If I were to try to make an appointment with a similar request, it would be in vain.
Furthermore, I doubt this country would readily allow a guest like me, whom they did not invite, to meet them.
At best, I’d be turned away; at worst, I’d be literally buried in darkness.
So, what’s the solution?
“Meeting them itself isn’t that difficult, but conversing might be a bit tricky. They don’t leave their residences in the main sanctuary, under the guise of training. Even if they do come out, they are accompanied by Temple Knights, making contact impossible for ordinary people.”
“But there’s a way around it.”
Historically, fortifications that cannot be breached from the outside can often be broken from within.
This time, I will act accordingly.
She nods in agreement to my statement.
“There are several Heroes training in the courtyard early in the morning. During that time, there are fewer guards and less surveillance. There are also a few Heroes who move individually, so if you can make contact with one of them, your objective will be achieved. Additionally, there is one Hero who practices dancing every morning without fail. We will have you contact her immediately.”
“Ah.”
Looking out the window, I can see the clouds gradually clearing.
This indicates that dawn is breaking soon.
She opens the door, and seeing that we are alone, I take off my outer garment.
I am now dressed in the work clothes of a church attendant.
This will help me move around the building without attracting suspicion.
It’s unavoidable to act without haste, but I can’t hide my nervousness.
I’ve never infiltrated anything before, nor have I trained for it.
I can’t help but imagine failure with my makeshift skills.
I wipe the sweat that naturally beads on my forehead and follow her as she moves.
There are times when you have to do things even if they are difficult during work, and I’ve experienced it several times in the past.
But at my previous company, I never would have thought I’d end up doing something like this spy work, I thought as I walked.
And—
“This is her.”
“……?”
I never expected to feel a sense of déjà vu when we arrived at the courtyard.
The sunlight, signaling the dawn, illuminates her as if she were a streetlamp.
Watching her dance beneath it, I realized that the girl in the资料 was the same girl from that time.
Perhaps there is a god of destiny—I felt that for the first time then.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
Girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Position: Warrior
Word of the Day:
There are times for things, that’s what destiny is!
That concludes this installment.
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