Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: The Real One Has Arrived
I ended up helping with the restoration work for the railway that had derailed and overturned inside the dungeon.
A government official in charge was supposed to come for a meeting about that...
But before I knew it, they had been swapped out for an assassin.
Well, what a thing to happen.
As if responding to that, terrorists attacked the hotel.
Terrorists at a hotel and a school!
This is a setting that really pushes the chuunibyou tendencies!
――And so, it wasn't time to joke around, and I annihilated the insolent enemies.
If I'm at this hotel, won't they attack again?
When I consulted with the hotel manager about whether I should leave the hotel, he said it seemed fine.
So I decided to stay as usual.
――Night fell as usual, and while I was eating, the door suddenly opened.
"Sakurako! Are you okay?!"
The one who burst in without knocking was Kako, the Princess's older sister.
"You can see that for yourself..."
The Princess, who had been smiling, suddenly became sullen.
"Welcome, Lady Kako. Shall we prepare something for you?"
Kaorulko gave her usual response.
"I don't need anything."
Saying that, Kako marched straight over to me.
"Good evening, sister-in-law."
"It's because you're here that Sakurako gets into dangerous situations, isn't it?!"
When I stood up, she suddenly lunged at me, so I smoothly dodged.
With my level, even if she hit me, it would be like being bitten by a mosquito.
"What are you doing?!"
The Princess cut in between Kako and me.
"It's because some old man like this is here!"
Kako pointed at me.
"What does danger matter? For adventurers, danger is a given. Rather, that moment of being on the brink of death! And the feeling of skin touching when you escape from it! That is the proof of love with Darling!"
Wait, wait a minute――while that makes me very happy, "proof of love"... that's a bit too much for an old man.
At my age, my face is getting hot.
"Gnnn..."
Ah, Kako, who had lost her standing before the Princess's declaration, was making a "gnnn" sound.
"I'm here!"
The door swung open with force again.
Looking over, it was Iroha this time.
"You should at least knock."
"Hahaha!"
Even though I said that, she showed absolutely no sign of regret.
"Hi."
From behind Iroha, her younger sister Kagari peeked out.
"Even Kagari-chan."
"Knocking?――That's not between me and Darling! Besides, I heard Cherry Princess got killed by terrorists, so I came running!"
"Unfortunately, she is still alive."
"Hahaha! Alright!――So, let's do it!"
She opened her leather jacket.
There was the usual micro-bikini equipment.
"Gyah! What is that outfit?!"
Perhaps Iroha's outfit, which was just a bit too skimpy, was too stimulating for Kako.
"What? Isn't this Cherry Princess's older sister?"
"Eh?! She looks exactly like her! Cherry Princess has a twin sister?"
Kagari was surprised looking at Kako.
"That's right."
"Alright! Then, will you join us too, older sister?!"
"I won't!"
Kako turned her head away.
"Hahaha! Well then, shall we do it?"
"Is that all you've got?!"
The Princess couldn't help but retort at Iroha's actions.
"That's what I say――but while those making pocket money in the shallow layers are one thing, we could die any moment if we dive into the dungeon."
"Well, if high-level adventurers attack the deep layers, that's what happens."
"If you think about it that way, there's nothing left to do but go for it!"
"Umm, I can't say Oga doesn't have a point."
"Right?! If you live or die in the dungeon, then have one round with Darling, you can feel that you're alive!"
"Hey, you're saying the same thing as the Princess."
At my words, the Princess looked a bit shocked.
"To think I share the same thoughts as someone like this..."
"Wahaha! But all high-level adventurers are pretty much the same, right?"
While laughing, Iroha threw off her leather pants.
She was wearing the micro-bikini, but it was almost completely naked.
"Gyah!"
At that outfit, Kako turned bright red and screamed.
"Here, Darling."
Iroha lifted me up onto her head.
Being lifted by her tall figure, I was about to hit the ceiling.
――"It can't be helped. So, Kako, please go home."
The Princess, perhaps giving up because she was pushed by Iroha, started pushing her sister toward the entrance door.
"What do you mean 'it can't be helped'? You should respect your sister a bit more."
"Yes, yes, I understand, I understand."
The Princess pushed Kako out of the room.
"Your sister flew over here because she was worried about you, Princess, right? Is that okay?"
"It's always like this, and it's endless."
And so, everyone ended up in an unlimited one-round battle again.
Is this really okay?
――The day after the terrorists attacked the hotel.
The bed above and below were covered with women with their eyes rolled back, so I was eating breakfast alone.
While eating, I checked the internet.
As always, the video I uploaded had amazing view counts.
Anyway, Dungeon News had posted about the hotel incident.
Since no reporters came to interview us, they probably just broadcasted the police announcement as is.
It didn't say the terrorists' target was me.
I filmed the footage too, but I couldn't bring myself to put it on the internet.
If the opponent were monsters, it would be fine, but they were ordinary humans.
――I read the news comment section.
"Terrorists at a hotel~"
"The Special District has become famous now lol"
"Targeting places where people gather is basic for terrorists, right?"
"They sometimes drive cars into crowds, but cars are banned in the Special District."
"There's Cherry Princess at that hotel, right? Terrorists would be instantly killed, wouldn't they?"
"It says the Self-Defense Forces handled it."
"Based on guest comments online, it was written that explosives were also planted."
"Seriously terrorists lol"
Since there was little information, it didn't seem to be getting very heated.
Rather, rare monsters would probably get more access numbers.
My phone rang――looking at it, it was from the Prime Minister.
"Good morning."
'Good morning――no, I'm really in trouble...'
A heavy sigh could be heard from the other end.
"What's wrong?"
'Well, it's from the Yaegashi Group...'
"Oh, but when I tried to leave the hotel, I was stopped. It seems it hasn't been a negative for the hotel."
'We are in a pinch...'
"I'm sorry to hear that――by the way, did you find the person who was swapped out for an assassin, Onoda-san?"
'Ah, we found her, and she's fine. She seemed to be in shock though.'
"Right after talking to the Prime Minister about this incident, the swap happened――don't you think there are spies or traitors?"
'Of course, we are investigating that side as well.'
"Could this communication be bugged?"
'I think the possibility is low...'
"A worm inside a lion's body~"
'Truly a headache.'
It seems a government official will come again as the person in charge of the dungeon railway restoration work.
Also, there is talk of Self-Defense Forces units being stationed at the hotel.
If we officially announce this, won't the people who rush in disappear, since a consolidated fighting force will be waiting?
I wish that were the case.
If the opponents are adventurers, Niwa and the Princess can handle it.
I don't know the levels of foreign adventurers, but according to my search, the Special District's dungeon seems to be the most cleared.
Probably, Niwa, Sana, the Princess, Kaorulko――around here will be the world's strongest members.
While looking at the internet, Kaorulko, wearing a large T-shirt dress, woke up.
She came to me and clung to my back.
"Want to eat breakfast?"
"..."
She seemed still half-asleep.
After a while, everyone else woke up, so I prepared the meal.
Everyone was wearing T-shirt dresses, but Iroha was dressed in a micro-bikini and leather jacket.
That outfit is dangerous――I think that, but only we are here anyway.
"Haa, I saw a terrible sight today too."
Iroha, who had gone in with high spirits, crashed quickly.
Does recovering stamina with items not apply to her?
I also get to learn various weaknesses by seeing the opponent's reactions.
There are many ways to clear it now.
"If so, you shouldn't have come here?!"
"Haa, the food here is delicious and good."
Iroha changed the subject.
"Goriki is earning money too, right? How about hiring dedicated staff for meals at the guild? It would help young kids and beginners too?"
"That's true."
She seems to be thinking about it, at least.
"Daisuke-san, what are your plans for today?"
Kaorulko asked about the schedule.
"After talking to the Prime Minister, it seems the real construction manager is coming."
"That person was safe, right?"
"Seems so."
"Darling, the Prime Minister is a big shot in Japan, right? What did you talk about?"
Iroha seemed curious about what I was doing.
"Well, there is confidentiality, but――the railway on the 4th floor overturned, right?"
"Ah."
"I ended up helping with that restoration work."
"Ah, using Darling's Item Box, right?"
"That's right."
"As adventurers, it would be troublesome if that isn't restored."
Kagari, sitting next to Iroha, nodded.
"It's troubling for the government too."
"I see."
"Why did Kagari-chan come here following her older sister?"
"Eh?! Eh? Ah, um..."
She turned red.
"She is my Darling..."
The Princess glared at Kagari.
"Hahaha! Darling is shared property for everyone."
"She is my Darling!"
The Princess's glare didn't seem to reach Iroha.
Iroha, satisfied after competing with me and eating, said she was returning to her base.
"Darling, if you have any trouble, tell me. I owe you a big favor."
"Well, sometime."
"Bow."
Kagari bowed, and she returned with her older sister.
"Kagari seems popular. She doesn't need an old man like me."
"Muu!"
In the first place, the Princess was acting so confident that if it were Iroha, it would be okay, so it's getting out of hand.
At 10 o'clock, I received a call on my smartphone.
It was from the construction manager who was supposed to come today.
The name was still Onoda.
Did they borrow a business card or something when they were swapped?
Since they are already in the Special District, they should be here soon.
While waiting for a while drinking some drinks, a call came from the front desk.
――But they were confused.
"What's wrong?"
"Um, the person who caused a commotion yesterday..."
"Ah, yesterday's person was a fake, and this person seems to be the real one, so please let them through."
"Y-yes, understood."
If the front desk is confused, maybe their faces look similar?
While waiting, the bell rang.
"Yes?"
When I opened it, it was the lady who usually guides me.
Behind her was a woman in a navy blue suit.
Black-rimmed glasses, and black hair parted neatly down the middle.
I see――with this, you might look like the same person.
If you look closely, you can tell they are different, but the first impression of this person is the black-rimmed glasses and the middle-parted hairstyle.
"Onoda-san?"
"Y-yes... I am terribly sorry for the trouble..."
"No, no, it was like getting caught up in an accident, and you are not at fault."
"Y-yes..."
I invited her inside.
"Kaorulko, please order some coffee and cake for her."
"Yes."
"Please, make yourself at home..."
As expected, this person is an ordinary woman.
Her movements don't look like she practices martial arts either.
So my intuition from that time was not wrong.
However, she looks more serious.
Is she a very stiff type?
Just like Hareyama-san from the nuclear power plant work, it's an era where women go to the field too.
Since the world stopped, there is a shortage of personnel.
If you have ability, gender doesn't matter.
The prime example is adventurers diving into dungeons.
"The person in charge of the nuclear power plant work was also a woman, and it's nice to be able to work with a beauty."
Her glasses glinted at my words.
"Is that sexual harassment?"
"Oops, sorry. I didn't mean that, it was just a personal impression..."
"Please be careful."
She raised her glasses slightly.
Stiff, too stiff.
It seems better to focus on work.
"I apologize."
I bowed my head.
"Was the Hareyama from the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy mentioned earlier?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. Do you know her?"
"We were classmates at Imperial University."
She raised her glasses again.
What is it――are they rivals as classmates?
"As expected, if you enter a ministry, you must have graduated from a good university. I'm a high school graduate, hahaha."
"I'm a middle school dropout."
"Me too."
"You two ran away from home right after graduating middle school and became adventurers, right? In my case, it's a story from before the world stopped."
Anyway, let's discuss the work.
While explaining various circumstances, coffee and cake arrived.
"Do you have any concerns from Niwa-san?"
"Well――I also spoke to the Prime Minister."
"Yes."
"My Item Box only holds up to 10m. I think the derailed passenger car was about 20m long."
"Well, it has been modified, but since it's a general passenger car, the total length should be just under 20m."
"The locomotive seemed to be a small type, so it might fit, but the passenger car is impossible."
"Shouldn't I just cut it in half from the middle?"
The Princess cut in from the side.
"If we were to carry it out, that's probably the only way..."
"Even if we leave it at the site, it will hinder work and operation, right?"
How did they carry in the locomotives and passenger cars until now?
I asked Onoda-san.
"We run it from the 1st floor and lower it onto a temporary track laid in the connecting passage leading to the lower layers."
"That's a lot of trouble. There's also the trouble of bringing it all the way to the dungeon, right?"
"Yes, crane ships and large trailers."
"If I go in, using the Item Box at Haneda would eliminate that..."
"That's exactly right! That's how amazing Niwa-san's ability is!"
"If I were captured by some country, I'd probably be forced to work as a slave until I die."
"There is a possibility. As a nation, losing Niwa-san's ability would be a national loss..."
"We've already finished cleaning up the nuclear accident site."
"That's right! That project should have taken decades!"
"But by crushing the rights and interests for those decades, there are probably many people who hate me~"
Are the people who leaked information in the hotel attack incident those kinds of people?
Really, instead of thinking about Japan as politicians, they should think about their own profits.
Well, that's impossible.
"T-that is... cough cough."
Since she is on that side too, she might slip her tongue.
"Well then――if the new train is divided into a 10m passenger car and a 10m freight car, it can be done in one go."
"That's amazing!"
"Right, right, the rails need to be 10m too, otherwise we can't carry them."
According to her, the rails are basically about 20m long.
"Originally, since it's a low-speed railway, there should be no problem even with short rails."
Only one section was damaged.
"Alright, the general specifications seem decided."
"Thank you very much! Then――I will return immediately and draw up a business plan. Also, I will arrange things with various places."
"Ah, so there is that kind of thing?"
"Eighty percent of work is preparation (Kirin!)"
Her glasses glinted.
Dangerous, she seems like a person who can do a super great job.
Is it okay to team up with an old man like me, who is so careless (dead language)?
"Onoda-san."
"Yes!"
"Here, have some cake."
"Ah! Thank you very much..."
She seems to be turning red.
Is she flustered, viewing Hareyama-san who is succeeding in the project as a rival?
The inside of the dungeon is quite harsh.
Will she be okay?
I'm worried, but adventurers alone cannot restore the railway.
We have to have her do it.
"So, when will we check the site?"
"Mu... mug... ah, tomorrow or soon!"
Onoda-san, who was eating cake, was in a panic.
The fact that she seems to like sweets is very feminine.
"Is tomorrow okay?"
That's fast――well, it's probably just checking the site with the foreman.
"Princess, is tomorrow okay?"
"There is no problem anytime. I am with Darling."
"It's okay."
"I will go back now and set the schedule immediately, so I think it will be fine. Once it is officially decided, I will contact you."
"Understood."
Onoda-san left as is, and a call came late at night.
'We will visit with the foreman first thing in the morning.'
"What about the meeting place? Is the automatic ticket gate in front of the dungeon okay?"
'That is perfectly fine.'
"When diving into the dungeon, we need permission from the government office..."
'That is also perfectly fine.'
"Then, tomorrow morning."
'Please take care of us.'
Working this late at night.
Civil servants have it tough too.
――The day after the government official Onoda-san arrived.
Preparing to dive into the dungeon with the Princess and others, we headed to the automatic ticket gate at the entrance to the Underworld.
Leaving the hotel, the three of us headed for the dungeon.
"Should we have called Sana too?"
"For the 4th floor, there is no need."
The Princess was blunt, but the condition "for the 4th floor" means she admits Sana's power is needed for deeper layers.
Sometimes, groups like fans of the Princess are at the front of the hotel, but they are just taking photos from a distance.
Since we don't know when she will appear, are they waiting here forever?
Outside the dungeon, she wears a deep robe, so I think filming her wouldn't be interesting.
Is that kind of thing unimportant?
Arriving at the meeting place, Onoda-san, a middle-aged man, and two young men were already there.
They carried black backpacks and held tools that looked like surveying equipment.
Both wore white helmets and gray work clothes, top and bottom.
As expected, suits are impossible.
The helmets had lights, but of course, ordinary electric lights cannot be used.
Chemical light type?
Around their necks were permits in transparent cases.
Is this serving as a provisional license?
The young man seemed to be the foreman.
"I am Niwa. You are young for a foreman."
"No, when the world stopped, many veterans passed away... so young people like us are being drafted everywhere."
Now that I think about it, Hareyama-san and Onoda-san are young too.
It means Japan is now an era where young people are mainly leading the way.
"Today's escort is three people including me, but everyone is a top ranker, so please feel like you are on a big ship."
"It is an honor to work with the members of Guild Cherry Princess."
Since the Princess is a celebrity, she seems to be known after all.
Well, even the stiff Onoda-san seems to know her.
It's like the Showa idols and baseball players my father told me about.
"Nice to meet you." "Thank you very much."
The Princess and Kaorulko bowed lightly.
Well, unlike me, the Princess and others are really just doing escort work.
"Is that tripod? I can put it in my Item Box. It must be heavy."
"Ah, thank you."
All the luggage held by the workers was put into the Item Box.
"Oooo..."
From them came voices of surprise at the disappearing luggage.
It was the usual scene.
"Well, shall we go?"
"Y-yes."
Onoda-san seemed nervous.
"Onoda-san, is this your first time in a dungeon?"
"Yes."
"Shall we try defeating monsters inside? Maybe you have adventurer traits and can use magic or become able to use it."
"Umm, I would like to try magic, but living creatures..."
"I see, I won't force you."
Well, having resistance is normal.
I had been hunting in the mountains before entering the dungeon, and now I have no resistance at all.
Entering the dungeon's entrance hall.
"This is the hall? It's bright."
"We pull light from the outside using fiber optics."
Today, hunting is not the goal, so everyone rode the dungeon railway.
As expected, the first layer had many people.
We arrived safely at the terminal.
Taking the steam elevator, we headed to the 2nd layer.
"It's good that the derailment happened on the 4th floor. If such a full train derailed and overturned, it would be a great disaster."
"I received the report, but was it caught in some dungeon trap?"
"Yes, it's a trap where powerful monsters appear, and you can't return to normal until you defeat them."
"If something like that appeared in the shallow layers, everyone would be wiped out in an instant. Even we were saved thanks to Darling."
The Princess explained to Onoda-san.
"It's thanks to Sana too."
"Guh..."
She was at a loss for words.
"Should we change the railway route?"
"Until now, it was fine, so it's probably not a fixed event, but a random appearance-type event?"
"Haa."
While talking, we arrived at the 2nd layer railway station.
From here, we aim for the 4th layer.