It’s been a while.
I apologize for the delay, as reorganizing the plot took longer than expected.
I will resume posting from now on.
Thank you for your continued support.
Another Side
The Continent of Another World, also known as the Moonlit Continent, is inhabited by members of the Demon Lord’s Army.
Deep beneath a remote mountain cabin on this continent lay an underground laboratory.
“Done.”
In modern times, this would be long past the end of the workday, too late for overtime, and approaching dawn.
At this hour, a man stood in his laboratory, a single test tube in hand, a smile of madness gracing his face.
“With this, with this…”
His expression, beyond mere joy and bordering on ecstatic frenzy, was one of utter delight as his sanity warped.
Having long abandoned any pretense of normal thought, he had pursued a single objective relentlessly. The achievement before him now amplified his emotions to an unbearable degree.
“It’s been long, so long, SO LONG!!!”
The taut string of his being snapped under the fervor, shattering the last vestiges of his reason.
“Now, let us begin. My daughter.”
He said with a cheerful tone.
“Now, let us destroy. My son.”
He drank the contents of the test tube with glee.
“Come, come, go forth, perish! Use me as sustenance!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!! Gahaaa!! Hahahahaha…”
Then, with a sound like his heart being impaled, the man’s heart ceased its function, and his cabin was engulfed in flames.
The flames, growing stronger, seemed to herald the beginning of something, slowly yet powerfully burning brighter.
As if to blend in with the rising smoke, a single shadow ascended into the sky.
With a fleeting glance back at the man’s face, consumed by laughter in the fire, the shadow took flight once more and vanished.
Another Side END
Side: Jiro Tanaka
“I have some work-related notifications. Hmm, what’s this? A health checkup notice?”
“A health checkup, sir?”
It’s been several weeks since that arduous business trip ended.
The commotion about people going missing, which had been all the rage before, was overshadowed by a scandal involving an idol’s affair. Now, only a few magazines are still talking about it. I imagine the former heroes, having returned to their everyday lives, are currently struggling through special lectures. Almost all the students, except for a few, have returned to their normal routines. They’ve accepted it as a dreamlike experience and will likely never set foot on that land again. I, who played a pivotal role in resolving the issue of disappearances, remained entirely out of the public eye, confirming everything through reports. After a weekend and a few days, my normal operations as a salaryman resumed. While my work, which requires complete self-management, doesn’t have a set start time, the usual gathering time at the Party Room is pretty consistent. Considering the time needed for equipment and consumable checks and coordination, it naturally settles around 8:30 AM. This time can fluctuate depending on the members, especially if Minami is present or absent, but it doesn’t have a significant impact. Amelia Miyagawa, one of the few who remained, along with Katsu, makes up the high school contingent. After the summer vacation ended, they can only come in the mornings on holidays. Most of the others come in the evenings. The university students, Kitamiya and Minami, have varying arrival times depending on their lectures. Sometimes they come first thing in the morning, and other times it’s not until early afternoon. Despite our scattered schedules, we manage by using a whiteboard in the Party Room for a shift schedule. Based on that, this morning’s shift consists of just us salarymen, myself and Kaido. So, unless someone oversleeps, there won’t be any changes to our plans. Naturally, as we already have the necessary personnel, Kaido and I, who often work together even in normal circumstances, finished our preparations with practiced ease. I’m currently checking my tablet for any company announcements before we head out.
“Ah, it says here that both full-time employees and part-timers must undergo a diagnosis at the company clinic within the designated period.”
“Is it like an annual check-up, sir?”
“Probably. It wouldn’t be unusual, but it’s interesting to get the notification now. To be able to have a health checkup in a fantasy world.”
“The content doesn’t seem completely normal, though.”
“While largely the same, the presence of magic aptitude tests suggests otherwise.”
Under these circumstances, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were some effects on our bodies. There was no option to refuse, and upon checking the details, I saw the usual items like height and weight, plus examinations of magic crests and magic aptitude, a list of items not found in Japan. Given this, it’s likely that something else has been added to the blood test parameters. Looking at the health checkup details, I started to plan my schedule, assuming it would be an all-day affair.
“If there are no other notifications, shouldn’t we head out soon?”
“Indeed. Let’s get this unpleasant task over with quickly.”
“Sir… I’m not looking forward to it.”
“There’s nothing we can do. We subordinates must follow orders from above.”
Unfortunately, it’s almost time to head out. With no other work-related notifications, I put down my tablet, and Kaido picked up his recently upgraded twin swords, while I grabbed my Ore Tree. We weren’t heading to Onio’s Dungeon, Undead King’s Dungeon, or even Machine King’s Dungeon. We were going to the Insect Queen’s Dungeon. Why are we tackling a dungeon we haven’t challenged before? It’s not because we’re seeking new territory or are tired of other dungeons. We haven’t even finished clearing the other dungeons, so there’s no room for boredom. The reason is simple: the Supervisor’s single statement.
“The攻略 isn’t progressing at all. You guys go and clear the Insect Queen’s Dungeon.”
We had no choice but to act on that command. Initially, we went with all our party members as instructed, but then a problem arose.
“WE CAN’T STAND IT!!!”
Our female party members, Minami, Kitamiya, and Amelia, were the first to declare their withdrawal. It was understandable. Giant spiders exceeding a meter in length freely leaped through the jungle trees like the Amazon, soldier ants larger than tigers roamed about, and moths with grotesque coloration, the size of human faces, appeared every ten meters. Even I, a man, felt like giving up. The fact that Minami lost her samurai speech was a testament to how serious the situation was. Honestly, when we encountered a mantis over three meters long, I feared for my life. Well, not that I would die, but it was a chilling reminder of how terrifying predatory insects can be. It’s honestly demoralizing to challenge a dungeon that has reached the level of psychological warfare. And then, a worse condition arose. With three women out, even if the three men decided to go…
“Sorry, it’s school.”
Katsu, our healer and the motherly figure of the group, couldn’t be counted as a regular combatant due to his part-time job. Thus, despite adding personnel, our combat strength drastically decreased. As a result, I’m now facing the challenge with only one-third of our full combat power.
“We can’t force them, you know.”
“Personally, I was more afraid of him going insane and firing friendly fire, sir.”
“Ah, Kitamiya’s great magic and all.”
That was terrifying. Kitamiya, caught off guard by a sudden ambush from behind, went berserk, and his magic attack from behind, aimed only at annihilation, was nothing short of a nightmare for his allies. He apologized later, but it’s more efficient to proceed with a smaller group safely until the problem is resolved. Though, Kitamiya was visibly dejected when he received the notice of being removed from combat duty… Katsu will probably figure something out. As a form of compensation, and with the condition that they would challenge different dungeons later, we’re having them focus on the Insect Queen’s Dungeon, Kaido and I. And now, with the passage of time and having challenged it several times, we can look back on those events and laugh about them. We’ve adapted to the psychological burden of this insect paradise to some extent. Lately, it only makes me feel a bit down. A wry smile escapes my lips, and the motivation to grab the necessary items and head to the dungeon arises.
“If a giant spider tried to eat us from above, I’d panic, but I wish you had dealt with it more calmly.”
“We almost turned the entire area into a scorched wasteland.”
“My hair is my life!! It’s not funny to me, sir. If you experienced it, you’d understand my pain.”
“I’d rather not.”
“So blunt!!”
“Naturally.”
We exchanged useless banter as we walked, greeting other fantasy employees we passed on our way to the dungeon entrance.
“By the way, sir, do you know?”
“No.”
“No, you haven’t even said anything yet.”
“I’m not a psychic. If you ask if I know without specifying the subject, I can only say no.”
Kaido then brought up a topic as if he had just remembered it. Caught off guard by his unexpected question, I confidently replied that I didn’t know. More importantly, I was curious about the extra income we might get from today’s dungeon raid.
“It’s a rumor, sir. Just a rumor.”
“What is it, did your favorite succubus get a boyfriend?”
“Cathy is single!! No, that’s not it. It’s about rare monster placements.”
“Isn’t it a Blood?”
If so, it’s a matter of no consequence, but judging from Kaido’s tone, it’s a different story.
“Unlike that, someone apparently proposed something. They say if you defeat it, it drops incredibly expensive items.”
“Oh, so the company is being quite generous.”
What comes to mind is a monster shaped like a treasure chest, or perhaps a metallic slime that flees at an astonishing speed. Either way, I can imagine their use. Is it to motivate the testers, or…
“Instead, they say there are many monsters nearby.”
“So it was a trap after all.”
A decoy, perhaps. Lured by greed, they rush in and get beaten down. Well, if we can defeat it, it’s a bonus.
“But isn’t a fortune a dream?”
“It wouldn’t be funny if that fortune was built on sand. What if a life is actually worth only 10,000? Even if we can’t die, we still feel pain.”
To stake one’s life on such a thing is absurd.
“Solid salary is better than dangerous fortune. Stop dawdling and it’s time for work.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
It seems our time for idle chat is over. As always, we stood before the entrance, which resembled an elevator with its lack of any discernible features. I manipulated the console beside it. The door then opened silently. A wave of hot, humid air, typical of the tropics, touched our skin.
“It’s hot, sir. It’s already autumn outside.”
“It’s supposed to be like this in this sort of place. Think of it as being in the Amazon.”
“The opponents are anything but a joke in terms of size.”
What next came into view were trees found in tropical regions. It looked like a jungle. However, unlike Earth’s Amazon, no animal cries echoed here. Instead, the chirping of insects and the buzzing of wings could be heard from all directions.
“Alright, let’s head west today.”
“Understood, sir. I’m ready to start mapping.”
“Draw it carefully, will you? Your handwriting is terrible.”
“You should tell that to the enemies, sir. Just the other day, some strange liquid was sprayed and ruined the map. At least the materials were bought at a higher-than-average price, so I calmed down, but…”
“Then, we must learn from our mistakes.”
“I’ll be careful, sir.”
The materials obtainable in this dungeon can be applied to weapons and armor without exception. Furthermore, there are many materials that can be acquired without fighting, such as tree sap from the trees and honey stored by certain monsters. This is what keeps our motivation up.
“Alright, let’s go, Kaido.”
“Understood, sir.”
Shifting our focus, we stepped into the unexplored jungle. And without entering the undergrowth, we leaped onto the trees. This is our approach based on the view that when moving in small groups as a pair, prioritizing mobility is better than moving cautiously. Field-type dungeons are far more expansive than labyrinth-type dungeons. Searching such a vast area slowly would take a lifetime. Therefore, we move around by choosing these elevated spots as our footing. This also serves to avoid the insects hidden within the bushes. However, being on a tree doesn’t guarantee safety, of course.
“Kaido, contact! Two large spiders ahead. We won’t recover materials; we’ll kill them, and then retreat immediately.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll initiate with magic then.”
“Alright, let’s engage.”
We encountered enemies while moving. What my eyes beheld were two giant spiders bearing poisonous patterns. There were two of them, and their presence indicated the same number, so there was no mistake. This time, we managed to get behind the spiders, about a meter in height, which were lying in wait for prey passing below. Kaido’s Fireball landed perfectly on its back, and as it lost balance, I cleaved it in two with my Ore Tree as if cutting a watermelon. Then, with a returning stroke, I cut down the adjacent spider on the other tree. The blood didn’t gush out; it dissipated into magic power, meaning it was a soul.
“Let’s move before they swarm us.”
“Understood, sir.”
The terror of this dungeon lies in its numbers. An army greater than goblins, a voracious appetite that doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice for predation, it’s an experience akin to being attacked by aliens. Making noise during combat in such a place means nothing less than attracting enemies. We left the spider claws, our materials, and moved swiftly. When operating in small groups, we must prioritize hit-and-run tactics to survive in this dungeon. It’s fortunate we learned this early on.
“A mantis… what do we do, sir?”
“The materials aren’t worth it, but the experience is good. We’ll take five minutes to finish it. If not, we’ll withdraw.”
“Yes, sir!”
Generally, if we prioritize immediate withdrawal after contact combat, this dungeon is an excellent environment for cultivating magic crests. Machine King’s Dungeon requires too much time for contact, Undead King’s Dungeon has too high physical resistance for us, and Onio’s Dungeon is always booked by other testers. Thanks to this, our recent growth has been remarkable. We are considering efficiency while evading the two large scythes and sharp fangs. Our combat style is such that I draw its attention, and Kaido attacks from behind. If I can finish it, I will, but we aim to minimize risks as much as possible.
“Next one, let’s go.”
“You’re so busy, sir.”
“There’s no other way.”
In about three minutes, after cutting off one of its scythes at the shoulder joint, it ceased to be a threat and was easily defeated, allowing us to move on. We avoid swarms and hunt individuals. That is our motto. Today has been fortunate. We discovered a beehive and successfully secured honey. My partner and I rejoiced at this unexpected windfall, and we decided to call it a day. Thus, today’s dungeon attack proceeded smoothly, and we returned without incident, which is rare.
“Am I wrong for feeling uneasy when nothing happens?”
“You worry too much, sir. It’s good that the honey sold for more than expected, isn’t it?”
“Worrying too much… I suppose. My apologies, Kaido. Too many bad things have happened lately.”
“You had a terrible time during your business trip, sir. Why don’t you go for an exorcism next time?”
“Perhaps I will consider it.”
A smooth, uneventful daily routine, yet it felt like the calm before a storm. Or perhaps, something I’ve recently developed is whispering to me. I couldn’t tell.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old. Has a girlfriend.
Girlfriend: Suella Handelberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee).
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class).
Position: Warrior.
Quote of the day: “Continuing as usual is best, but maintaining normalcy is difficult.”
New Chapter Begins.
I’ve been away from dungeons for a while, so this arc will focus mainly on dungeons.
Thank you for your continued support of this work.
