Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Dissecting the Monster
The purge of the Labyrinth Cult and the adventurer guild Dancing Darkness began from the Special District and the dungeon.
While the disturbances within the Special District had to be handled by adventurers, the authorities were also moving outside.
Searches were conducted at the Labyrinth Cult's branches, and a special force called the Emblem Squad was deployed against the adventurers who fled outside.
These captured adventurers possessed supernatural powers, so they could not be placed in ordinary prisons.
There was a high possibility they would escape immediately, and if that happened, casualties would occur.
And then, the usual "who is responsible" drama would start in this country.
To prevent that, the arrested adventurers were thrown into a specialized facility.
It was an inverted bowl-shaped facility located 100 meters underground.
The only entrance and exit was the elevator shaft in the center.
No matter how high-level the adventurers were, they could not climb up 100 meters.
If it were me, I might manage somehow using the Item Box.
Ah, I see—that must be why the Item Box is being watched so closely.
――One day, I received a call from a man who buys monsters.
He said they were ready to dismantle a huge thing called a Dragon and asked me to bring the prey.
Finally, I can make some money.
Well, even if it were 10 million, the revenue from the video site is already bigger.
The Princesses aren't that fixated on money anyway.
Since he said he would handle the cashing of the prey, I decided to respond to his summons.
I was summoned not to the Special District, but to a certain place where warehouses lined up in Haneda.
"Hi~. Is this the place?"
"Oh~ You're here. Big Brother!"
I always think, though, that calling someone "Big Brother" when there isn't much age difference...
Entering the large warehouse-like building, the air was cool and chilly.
Looking up, the ceiling was high, and air conditioning was running with a low hum, while a yellow gantry crane ran along the floor.
It seemed to be a place converted from a originally low-temperature warehouse.
There was a large silver door on the wall; perhaps the inside there was a freezer or something.
"Did you build this facility for this purpose?"
"No~ We were just talking about how one day we'd come to process huge things like Dragons, so we were preparing together, haha."
"Well, if it only runs occasionally, the cost-performance seems poor."
"No, we'll handle normal processing here too, so it's fine."
From what I heard, they were already struggling when big shots like Trolls came in.
So they decided to build a slightly larger facility.
"I hope it doesn't end up in the red..."
"It's fine! Because they saw your videos, orders are coming in from all over the world!"
"You know my video site?"
"Of course, aren't you a super celebrity?"
Apparently, I had become a celebrity without me noticing.
Well, that's because I have the Item Box, and I'm with Cherry Princess and Empress.
Maybe my popularity would drop since there's a man nearby, but I'm not the type to worry about that.
They probably don't think of themselves as idols anyway.
"Ultimately, how will you sell it?"
"We'll advertise as much as possible before putting it up for auction."
"In fantasy settings, Dragon blood sells for a high price, doesn't it...?"
"Of course, we won't waste the blood either; we'll freeze it rapidly!"
"Eh?! Seriously?"
"Yes, as long as it's fresh and hot, there's no problem."
"Seriously?"
"Whahaha! I'm looking forward to you and Cherry Princess bringing us huge things constantly!"
He was patting my shoulder hard.
This kind of close distance is my type of thing I dislike.
"Well, since I have the Item Box, it's doable."
"That's right! Normally, just carrying a huge thing from the depths of a dungeon is a huge deal."
"Haha, well, shall we get started right away?"
"Yeah! Listen up, you guys!"
"YEAH!"
About 30 workers wearing black rubber jumpsuits were standing by.
It seemed everything was ready.
In that case, I took out the items stored in the Item Box in the center of the warehouse.
First, the Dragon's body.
Even as a corpse, its giant form radiated an overwhelming presence.
Its entire body was covered in hard scales that shone like metal, and each scale was huge, reflecting light like a sharp blade.
Its head was full of dignity even in death, and its sharp eyes seemed to be staring at us.
"Don't give me such a hateful look."
"Ooooooh!"
Cheers erupted from everyone.
"So this is a Dragon~!" "It's huge!" "It's still warm!"
"I put it in the Item Box right after taking it down, so I think only about 10 minutes have passed."
"Amazing, this is the Item Box." "We don't need refrigerators or freezers."
"That's really unnecessary. I even put all the crops harvested from my farm in there, and they stay exactly as they were when harvested."
"Heh~!"
"Why is the tail cut off?"
It was a question from a young male worker.
"If it exceeds about 10 meters in size, it won't fit in storage. So I cut the tail."
"Heh~!"
"Hey! This isn't the time to be impressed!"
"YEAH!"
"Can I just hang around here? Let me know when you're done."
"Understood!"
That's right, I had forgotten something.
"Ah, I mentioned this before, but since I used Depleted Uranium Rounds when taking it down, the meat might be ruined."
"Depleted Uranium Round?! Why use something like that?"
The workers all looked at me at once.
"I made it for emergencies, but the opponent wasn't someone I could hold back against, so I used it."
"Ah, I see."
"Well, leave that part to us. We're professionals."
"Yes, of course."
They were wearing equipment, but I was only in a shirt.
The chilly air of the low-temperature warehouse seeped into my body.
I don't think high-level adventurers catch colds, though.
"Kyaa~!"
While talking with the old man, a high-pitched voice that didn't fit a site full of men was heard.
Looking in the direction of the voice, a woman in a rubber jumpsuit was touching the Dragon's scales.
She had her long hair tied up and wore glasses; she looked like a scholar or a school teacher...
"Who is she?"
"I heard she's a teacher from some university. She heard a Dragon was coming here and came by word of mouth."
It seemed she couldn't refuse a request from someone she was indebted to.
"Is she a researcher in biology or something?"
"I don't know, why don't you ask her? Hey, Sensei!"
"Y-yes."
"This person is the Big Brother who took down the Dragon and brought it here."
"Just call me Niwa-san, please."
"Hahaha!"
She patted my back.
It seems she won't stop calling me that.
A bit troubled, the Sensei in question came over to me.
"You did this?!"
As her face got closer, her freckles became prominent.
Is she the type who doesn't wear makeup?
This is fine too, though.
"Yes, I am the adventurer Niwa."
"I am Hashidate. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise—by the way, Sensei, are you a researcher in biology or something?"
"Yes! I research the creatures living in dungeons."
Her eyes were sparkling; it must be a very enjoyable research topic.
She probably isn't a professor at this age...
"Should I call you Associate Professor or Doctor?"
"No, no! I haven't reached that far yet!"
She was waving her hands frantically to deny it.
"What part of the monster is interesting? Well, it's natural that they are all strange creatures."
"The amazing part is that although their appearance looks like a patchwork of normal creatures and is messy, it's not broken!"
"That means—everything functions perfectly as a creature, even inside?"
"That's exactly right!"
Apparently, it wasn't some mad scientist from somewhere randomly patching together existing creatures.
"Is it at the genetic level?"
"Of course! It seems reproductive ability has been omitted."
"Haha, I see."
――So, they won't breed and multiply on their own inside the dungeon.
"Every day, I can study creatures I've never seen before—can I really get paid for doing something this fun?!"
"Hahaha, Sensei, you're an interesting person."
"Ahem! ... (Serious face)!"
Did she regain her senses? She turned serious and blushed.
It's too late to act serious now.
My Empress, this Sensei, the receptionist lady at the government office, the tax accountant and judicial scrivener teachers—the Special District has many beautiful women with glasses.
For an old man like me, that's very welcome news.
Well, I shouldn't interfere with the work, so I decided to go outside for a bit.
After finishing processing this one, next is the Dragon's tail.
It will probably take until evening, but it's for a lot of money.
The money will be handled by the guild and transferred to Kaorulko's account.
Stepping outside, I immediately felt the scorching heat on my skin.
Since the inside was cool, it probably felt even more intense.
Walking a bit, I found a park and decided to rest.
Although, the plaza seemed to be a field, with only one bench in the shade of a tree.
It seemed the playground equipment that used to be here had been melted down due to resource shortages when the world stopped.
"Only the bench and the tree remain."
Japan has recovered quite a bit, but there are still places like this.
Good weather—a soft sunlight poured down comfortably, and I sat on an old bench in the shade of a tree.
In my hand was a can of coffee, cold from the Item Box, and its chill felt pleasant on my palm.
Branches above swayed in the wind, and the leaves made a rustling sound.
That sound was like a pleasant lullaby, giving a sense of peace that blended into nature.
Lying down on the bench, the blue sky visible through the gaps in the trees came into view, and I lazily watched the white clouds drift slowly.
I sat up slightly and took a sip of coffee.
The bitter taste of the coffee spread in my mouth, and at that moment, I involuntarily let out a sigh.
Every time the wind caressed my cheek, a pleasant coolness wrapped around my whole body, and I closed my eyes.
The laughter of children heard in the distance freed me from the harshness of being an adventurer.
"Time, stop. This world is beautiful—something like that."
While relaxing, I was suddenly spoken to.
"What are you doing, old man?"
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by several kids in shorts.
Probably lower elementary school age.
School must be over already.
"I'm just resting."
"Old man, what about work? Unemployed?"
"You know words like 'unemployed'?"
"My dad is unemployed."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Does the old man not have work either?"
"No, I'm an adventurer. I'm here for work. Just taking a short break."
"..."
The children looked at each other.
"Liar! Adventurers are much cooler."
"Old man wears armor usually too."
"Liar!"
It seems they don't believe me.
I can't take out the monsters stored in the Item Box in a place like this.
I wanted to shoo the kids away since I wanted to relax, but one boy caught my eye.
"What happened to those eyes?"
The boy's eyes were swollen, half-hidden.
"I got a bump, but going to the hospital is troublesome..."
"Eye doctors are crowded..."
Before that, maybe his parents don't have money.
I turned around and took out a Recovery Potion from the Item Box.
Since I was far from the dungeon, the effect might be weak, but maybe it would cure the eye swelling.
"An adventurer's essential item, a Recovery Potion. Have you seen it?"
"Recovery Potion?!" "Amazing!" "Is it real?!"
"I picked it up inside a dungeon, so of course it's real."
"Heh~!"
The children were glued to the glass bottle I was holding.
"Try putting a little of this in your eyes. Your eyes might get better."
"..."
The kids froze at my words.
Well, medicine from a weird old man is suspicious and impossible to trust.
"Old man, lend me that bottle."
One boy spoke up.
"Here."
He took the bottle, pulled out his smartphone, and started searching for something.
Even though he's a kid, he uses these terminals so naturally.
Younger kids really are more adaptable.
"Look! This looks exactly like a Recovery Potion bottle!"
He seemed to have searched for medicine bottles online.
He's quite smart.
"So, is it real?!"
"Hmm."
"It's not poison or anything, you know?"
I took the bottle and took a sip myself.
Since the effect is weakened, nothing will happen with just one sip.
It just makes my stomach feel a bit fuzzy.
It's probably only as effective as an energy drink.
"Well, I won't force you."
"U-um..."
Still, he must be worried about his eyes.
He seems to try applying the Recovery Potion.
I poured the medicine into my palm, and he applied it to his fingertips and put it on his eyes.
"How is it?!" "How does it feel?!"
It seemed the children were very interested despite everything.
"Hmm, I don't know..."
"Ah! But it looks like it's getting better a little!"
"Really?!"
"Yes."
The noisy boy applied more medicine.
"I can tell even I can understand. The swelling has gone down quite a bit."
"It's working, it's working."
The boy must have felt the effect himself.
He was applying the Recovery Potion to his eyes again and again.
"Wow! I can see!"
"Just to be safe, apply a bit more."
"Yes."
While making a fuss with the children, my phone rang.
It was a summons.
It seems the Dragon processing was finished.
"I have to go to work."
"Are you going to the dungeon?!"
"No, today— I'm processing a monster."
"Are you taking out the Magic Stones?!"
The children's eyes were sparkling.
I'm tearing open the monster's belly to get the Magic Stone, though.
Do they really understand?
"Well, yes."
The kids seem to want to see, but outsiders can't enter the processing facility, of course.
After saying goodbye to them, I returned to the facility.
"Oh~ Amazing, it's all gone."
"Whahaha, we're professionals."
"Can big bones be used for something?"
"That's it! I'll use them as materials for research!"
Hashidate-sensei adjusted her glasses sharply, making the lenses shine.
"Are you going to make a skeletal specimen?"
"Of course, I will!"
"Haha."
She seems so excited.
"Ahem! (Serious face)!"
She realized she was getting too excited again and acted serious.
"Big Brother, show us the next one."
"Just the Dragon's tail? Or should I take out others too?"
"Well—let's take it out for now. I'll decide after seeing it."
"OK!"
Since the Item Box allows free entry and exit, it's doable.
I took out the Manticore and the Griffon too.
"Ooooooh!"
"Kyaa~!"
The men's cheers and the Sensei's excited scream echoed inside the facility.
The Sensei was drooling and hugging the Griffon's body.
She's a challenger.
Well, unlike a real bear, it doesn't smell.
Since it was just born, there are no parasites either.
Bears have a parasite called Trichinella.
"The Griffon's flesh might be ruined because Empress's great magic pierced through it."
"Magic?" "Indeed, there's a hole, and it pierced all the way to the butt." "Amazing."
"Is it Light Bullet magic?"
"No, it's a magic far superior to that."
"Heh~"
Everyone was impressed.
The internal organs might be ruined, but the limbs and head from the neck up should be fine.
With a bird head this big, it looks like it could become a splendid taxidermy specimen.
"Sensei, it has wings, but with wings like this and its weight, it can't fly, right?"
"Yes. This is a type I've never seen before, but I think they are probably decorative, like the horns of a cicada."
The wings were moving, so there is muscle and nerves connected, but the structure isn't built for flight.
To lift this weight, much larger wings and muscles to support them would be needed.
"Heh~ Harpies fly normally, though."
"I checked Harpies, but their bodies are completely bird-like."
"How about this one? It seems to be called a Manticore."
I pointed to another big thing.
"Ah! This is also a type I've never seen before!"
"Since it's a deep-layer monster, I think it's the first time one has been brought out."
"Yes! It has a human head—but does it speak?"
"It did talk—but whether we could communicate was questionable. It felt like it was just stringing words together randomly."
"How did it learn language if it's a deep-layer monster?"
It spoke words learned from adventurers sent to the depths, but I hesitated to mention that.
"Could the dungeon itself be absorbing knowledge from us and giving it to the monsters?"
"U, um. It's interesting as fiction, but without concrete evidence..."
Well, when it comes to academia, that's natural.
It needs evidence to prove it.
"Ah, speaking of communication—I could communicate with the Harpy."
"Eh?!"
Her eyes shone.
"I had a Harpy that I fed and became friends with. It became almost like a pet."
"Uuuu... I want to hear that story in detail..."
"Since we should finish the work in front of us first, maybe we can take time later?"
"Really?!"
"Yes."
"Ab-solutely!"
We exchanged contact information.
"Haha, it's fine."
She flew over to the Dragon's tail, the Griffon, and the Manticore.
As a result of the discussion, it seems they decided to process everything together.
Since the Item Box is no longer needed, I decided to leave.
"Yeah! Big Brother, you saved me."
"I'll bring you another big thing if I get one."
"Please do it with Cherry Princess!"
"Haa, being with Cherry Princess and Empress... I'm envious..." "Yeah..."
Sighs leaked from the young workers.
Jealous gazes were directed here too.
Even if they say that.
I don't know why the Princess likes an old man like me either.
Well, maybe anyone stronger than herself was fine.
She had danced back from the brink of death, leveled up, and might be the strongest in Japan besides me.
If someone is stronger than her—then there is no one left but me.
"Niwa-san! Please take care of the Harpy matter."
"I'll contact you."
She was waving her hands frantically.
I left the facility and headed toward the commercial district near the pier.
Entering a department store, I bought a large amount of food for now.
Since the Item Box is now public, I just threw everything in right there.
With three high-level big eaters, no matter how much I buy, it's never enough.
Bento, raw food, anything is fine.
If I put it in the Item Box, it won't spoil.
On the contrary, instant food is inconvenient because it requires water or heating.
Of course, just like before, I also stocked my cooked food in the Item Box.
"Ah, um! Is that—could it be the Item Box?"
A female clerk wearing an apron spoke to me.
She was a cute girl with brown hair and short hair.
She's quite young—maybe 18 years old?
"Yes, it is."
"Could it be... Niwa-san?"
"Yes."
"Kyaa! Please shake my hand."
"Huh?"
"Is that... no good?"
"No, it's fine... but shaking hands with an old man like me won't do much, right?"
"That's not true! I watch your video site too!"
"Thank you."
I've always been treated like a bonus, but I feel like she remembered my name for the first time.
Well, an adventurer younger than an old man is probably cooler anyway.
"You took down a Dragon too, right?!"
"Haha, well..."
"Amazing~!"
"Um, is your work... okay?"
"Ah! I can't!"
"Haha..."
"Good luck! I'm cheering for you."
"Thank you."
"Um, can I exchange contact information?"
"That's a bit troubling."
"R-right..."
She looked dejected.
If I exchanged contacts with everyone I met, it would be a disaster.
Well, life is about connections, so increasing acquaintances is good.
It might help with securing supplies too.
"I see—hey, can you handle a large order?"
"Yes! I'm an employee."
"I see."
So, I placed an order for 100 portions each of food and drinks.
I hesitated a bit because buying everything at once here would trouble other customers.
If I can order directly, there's no need to hesitate.
"Are you ordering this much?"
"See, I have the Item Box."
"Ah! That's right!"
If they accept large orders, it helps as a connection.
I exchanged contact information with her.
She said she would contact me when the ordered items arrive.
Since there are things like bento that don't last long, I can't dive into the dungeon until I receive them.
Parting ways with the female clerk, I returned to the Special District.
"That's right! I should replenish my weapons. I used up the Depleted Uranium Rounds too."
I headed toward the weapon shop in the Special District where I previously procured weapons.