Live Dungeon!

The next night, just before six o’clock, seven people gathered in the Guild’s conference room.

In order of front to back, the ones sitting on the sofa in the room’s right side were the Deputy Guild Master, Tsutomu, and Camille, while Amy and Garm stood behind them.

On the sofa opposite to those five, sitting on the side of the door was a young woman with the light brown, round ears and fluffy tail of a tanuki, and next to her was a plump man with a frog-like face. The former was Mirul, the one who had written the fabricated news article, and the latter was the Editor-in-Chief, who had agreed to publish it after falling prey to the former’s seduction.

The Editor-in-Chief looked at his glittering, ornate pocket watch, put it away in his bag, and then heaved a long sigh to calm his mind down. His breath reached all the way to Tsutomu’s knees; contrary to the former’s appearance, his breath did not have an unpleasant odor.

And then, one person walked into the silent conference room. A man in the prime of his life, with graying hair, black mustache, and the refined mannerisms of a soldier, bowed to greet everyone already present in this room.

“It seems that I was the last to arrive. Apologies to have kept you waiting, all.”

“Oh, don’t be, sir — it isn’t yet time to start. Please, have a seat.”

When told so by the Deputy Guild Master, the man nodded and sat down in the free space on the sofa to the room’s left side. This man was, in name, the one who held the title of Chief Executive of Solit Company.

However, he was also one who preferred taking a more active role, and had delegated most of his executive power to the Editor-in-Chief; instead, his actual work involved him gathering information and giving coverage on the Labyrinth Conquerors, a Clan dedicated to exploring the Dungeons outside of town. He had hurried back here after being informed of the scandal via a Magic Tool, and had just arrived.

A few moments after the man was seated, the Editor-in-Chief took a look around the conference room. At the same time, one of the Guild’s receptionists came in and started serving everyone tea — usually, it was someone from Solit Company who would serve tea, but this time the Guild did it themselves. Then, when the receptionist left, the Editor-in-Chief blinked a few times and proceeded to say,

“Now that all of us are present, shall we begin our discussion?”

“Yes, please go ahead,” the Deputy Guild Master answered, while also preparing to make a transcript of the whole meeting from this point on.

The Editor-in-Chief corrected his sitting posture, coughed to clear his throat once, and started talking,

“All right, then… Guild Master, Deputy Guild Master, Mister Tsutomu. Miss Amy. Mister Garm. You all have our thanks for sacrificing your precious time to accompany us today. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity you have given us to express our apologies.”

Editor-in-Chief bowed, then glanced at the two beside him; the three of them proceeded to stand up all at once.

“We sincerely apologize for the misinformation we had circulated through our news coverage article on Mister Tsutomu. From now on, the Solit Company will make every effort to ensure that this does not ever happen again”

Once the Editor-in-Chief said his statements of apology, all three bowed down at once. They kept their heads down for approximately ten seconds, then slowly looked up.

“But of course, we never intended to be let off simply with an apology. The Solit Company would like to provide all five of you with adequate compensation, which is why we have come to meet with you on this occasion.”

“Yes, sir.”

“First of all, we will be recalling the offending articles that had been published. And then, at a later date, we will be releasing a newspaper with a correction article and a public apology. It will take some time to collect the previously published articles, but we think we could manage to recover all of them within one week’s time. We beg your forgiveness and understanding.”

The Deputy Guild Master turned to Tsutomu; the latter nodded silently. The Deputy Guild Master then prompted the Editor-in-Chief to continue the discussion, to which the latter bowed once before doing so.

“Additionally, Solit Company will be monetarily compensating Mister Tsutomu, as well as the Guild Master, Miss Amy, and Mister Garm for the allegedly defamatory content in the articles in question. Mister Tsutomu will be receiving fifty million G, while the Guild Master, Miss Amy, and Mister Garm will each receive ten million G.”

“Fifty million G…”

The amount of money was so tremendous that the Deputy Guild Master couldn’t help but stop transcribing for a moment and mutter to himself. Seeing that Solit Company was able to offer that much money without hesitation, Tsutomu now understood just how powerful they were as an enterprise.

“Of course, if you are not satisfied with the numbers, we are willing to consider an additional amount after further negotiations. What do you think?”

“…We’ll be hearing the terms and conditions first, then decide,” Tsutomu replied to the Editor-in-Chief’s questioning with a blank expression.

The Editor-in-Chief looked away, his expression slightly slackened down. Then he glanced at Mirul beside him — who had been casting her eyes down this whole time — before continuing,

“As of today, Mirul of Solit Company, who had avoided my supervision and published an irresponsible information piece of her own accord, is dismissed from our employment. Us of Solit Company can assure you that we will never hire her again in the future.”

The Editor-in-Chief spoke while directing a blaming look at Mirul. Her article had actually been published after being approved by the Editor-in-Chief via means of seduction, but the way the latter spoke gave off no implications of that being the case. Mirul herself refrained from revealing the truth, instead maintaining a somber expression on her face.

“And of course, since I myself had believed her citations and approved the subsequent articles without a thorough examination, I have decided to voluntarily step down from my position as Editor-in-Chief. Mirul… she was a subordinate whom I had trained personally from the very first minute of her employment, you see. I had believed that she never would fabricate any information for her articles like this… As such, I now feel that I had not scrutinized the content of her submissions as closely as I should have — that point had been brought to my attention by our other employees as well.”

The Editor-in-Chief took out a white handkerchief from the chest pocket of his black suit and lightly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

“At any rate, a subordinate’s responsibility is also the responsibility of his or her superior. As such, I myself have no excuse for my subordinate’s fabrication of information, which had caused this exceedingly serious incident. From now on, I am wholeheartedly determined to correct myself from the basics — to thoroughly assess all work I am responsible for, and to take care not to be too lenient on my subordinates. Once again, I offer my personal apologies.”

His eyes now swollen and bloodshot, the Editor-in-Chief bowed deeply to Tsutomu, and the two others to his side followed suit. Tsutomu looked at them as if he was scrutinizing an ant’s nest.

The Editor-in-Chief then raised his head and wiped his tears with his handkerchief again; this time, it looked like he was done talking for now. The Chief Executive man took one look at the Editor-in-Chief, and proceeded to bow again.

“As I had entrusted the Editor-in-Chief with the highest authority over Solit Company, the blame does fall partially to me. As such, I also offer my apologies for this incident tarnishing your reputation, Mister Tsutomu… As well as Guild Master, Miss Amy, and Mister Garm — we have caused you all much trouble. For that, we apologize.”

Although he had been operating away from Solit Company proper this whole time, he still apologized. Following him, Mirul bowed down so deeply that her forehead touched the table.

“I have caused all of you a great deal of trouble, and have expressed a major degree of disrespect. I know it is not something that can be forgiven, but I hope that at least my apology is accepted.”

Mirul’s fluffy, light brown tail dropped down as she gave her statement. Amy looked to have mixed feelings toward her gesture, while Tsutomu looked down at her with cold eyes. Once Mirul raised her head, she looked up at Tsutomu with a melancholic expression on her face… white in her mind, she was clicking her tongue in annoyance.

Mirul had indeed been dismissed from Solit Company as punishment, but she still had access to many options — she could be employed under other newspaper publishers through her connections at Solit Company, or even work directly under the Editor-in-Chief as his private secretary. She already had her eyes on the former choice, of course — and while doing that, she intended to lay low and wait for new opportunities. Even now, she still blindly believed that Tsutomu was manipulating Amy by threatening her with her secret.

As Tsutomu sat still without so much as a readable expression on his face, Mirul cursed at him in her mind. Amid the strings of apologies, Tsutomu occasionally nodded along. Once Mirul was done, the Editor-in-Chief said nothing as a follow-up; that confused her.

“So… is that all the compensation you are offering?” Tsutomu asked, breaking the silence.

“…Yes. We are open for discussion regarding indemnities and expenses, of course.”

“All right, then. Let’s leave the money talk aside for now — I actually would like three questions answered; may I?”

“…Yes. We’re all ears.”

The Editor-in-Chief wiped his face with his handkerchief, folded it neatly, and returned it to his chest pocket… Then he looked at Tsutomu, his expression more serious than ever.

“First of all, regarding how Mirul’s article had slipped through the evaluation process — was Solit Company so lax in its management that an article could be replaced at the last minute like that?”

“We don’t even know where to begin apologizing for… that. But at any rate, Mirul had always been wholly professional — she has worked hard, and has never caused a problem with her output. No one could have imagined that she would force a replacement of the articles the way she had, and that was what had enabled this situation. We are determined to make sure that our management is much more strict and thorough from now on.”

“I see, I see. Next — from what I’ve been told, you suddenly came to the Guild to offer an apology right after we defeated the Fire Dragon, didn’t you? Do you have any comments regarding that?”

“No, Mister Tsutomu, we already had planned to apologize on that date and time, regardless of whether or not your party defeated the Fire Dragon. We had already discovered the information regarding Mirul’s fabrication beforehand, you see.”

The Editor-in-Chief did sound and look quite apologetic while giving his explanation. Tsutomu, though not convinced, decided to simply cut off this subject and continue on,

“Now then, let us discuss Mirul, the one who had written the offending articles. In my opinion, the treatment she is receiving is too lenient — what do you think?”

“…Solit Company had dismissed her of her employment, and most of her assets had been seized as compensation for damages. Are you still unsatisfied with that degree of punishment?”

To the Editor-in-Chief, who had asked him so in a semi-humorous manner, Tsutomu cracked a full-faced and responded,

“Oh, yes, unsatisfied doesn’t even cut it. Ah, you know what? Could Solit Company publicize a photograph of her face and the fact that she had fabricated her articles? Do that, and I will be satisfied… to an extent.”

“What the…!”

Tsutomu’s statement got an involuntary gasp out of Mirul. The Editor-in-Chief, greatly perplexed and troubled, narrowed his eyes and tilted his fat-inflated head. Camille, sitting to Tsutomu’s right, responded to the latter’s proposal,

“Listen, Tsutomu. Newspaper reporters are automatically granted the status of nobility. Mirul must be put through a trial, her crime thoroughly investigated — there’s no other way it can go.”

“Let us escalate her issue to the court, then…”

“…If you say so.”

The Editor-in-Chief thought of those he knew among the Security Team, the defense attorneys and prosecutors, the judges, and those with connections to them. Tsutomu, his face a perpetual smile, continued,

“…The court of the nobility themselves, that is.”

“……”

Hearing that proposal, the Editor-in-Chief’s expression stiffened up slightly. The man beside him, the Chief Executive, also reacted, raising an eyebrow. Mirul started at Tsutomu in incredulity.

“I mean, if we were to go down a few more layers, we would be getting at least a few audiences with the nobility, wouldn’t we? We’ll just bring this issue to their attention on those occasions.”

The major Clans at the forefront of conquering God’s Dungeon would receive sponsorships, of which tool and equipment manufacturers supply them with items in exchange for the promotion of their wares. Some among those potential sponsors were the nobility that governed over this city. They had rewards, certificates, and celebratory meetings offered to the Clans and parties that broke through to the deepest layers of the Dungeon.

Tsutomu was a member among the party of three that had just defeated the Fire Dragon; the Editor-in-Chief knew full well that he was capable of setting a new record of deepest layer explored, what with it currently being just a handful of layers down. However, it was very much against common sense — practically impossible, even — to escalate such a case during a celebratory audience with the nobility.

“…I don’t think you understand. She technically is a mere commoner; her crime isn’t something the nobility would bother themselves with. And to bring up an unrelated subject during an audience with them is…”

“Now, it doesn’t really matter whether or not this case is ignored. I don’t stand to lose anything in particular to this fiasco anymore,” Tsutomu said, resolute and utterly unconcerned.

The Editor-in-Chief was very well aware of Tsutomu’s official status here as an orphan — the latter had neither the knowledge nor the dignity to fear the nobility. That particular point was what made the Editor-in-Chief seriously consider the possibility of Mirul’s case being brought up during an audience.

“Guild Master? Mister Garm?”

“I’ll stay with Tsutomu’s party. Until his ‘Lucky Boy’ nickname goes away — that’s our contract.”

“I hold the same intention. I will follow Tsutomu and see this through to the end.”

“Ah! Me too, me too!”

Hearing those three make their statements, the Editor-in-Chief’s face crumpled up for the first time. With just a party of three, they had defeated the Fire Dragon. Even the Scarlet Devil Squad had gone through just the sixty-second layer so far — it was only a matter of time that this party caught up, and in turn, caught the eyes of the nobility.

“Remember, I wouldn’t be doing that if you’d only make a public announcement of Mirul’s transgressions, along with a clear shot of her face. She’s no longer affiliated with you anyway — there’s no need to hesitate, is there?”

The man next to the Editor-in-Chief questioned Tsutomu with a stern look on his face,

“…If we were to publicize the case ourselves as a company, her livelihood as a journalist would certainly be taken away. It would also pain me personally to subject her to that — If I may ask, why in the world are you so… obsessed with her?”

Tsutomu stared back right in the man’s face. That look of his was so alarming that the man, strong-willed as he was from having been the head of the famous Solit Company for so many years, could not help but put up his guard.

“Do you not understand?”

Tsutomu raised his voice up a notch. Feeling the passion — of the malicious variety — packed in those words, the man briefly froze over as a tense air washed over the conference room. Amy, feeling quite awkward toward the situation, lifted and shook her foot a little.

Everyone present quieted down even their breathing. Tsutomu, staring the man down, narrowed his eyes in displeasure.

“Is it not your side that had attempted to take away MY livelihood as an Explorer? It’s only a fair trade, if anything! If you’re trying to make me laugh, well, I’m sure as hell not amused!”

Met with a scornful half-grin to go along with that statement, the man kept himself silent.

“……”

“That’s not even to speak of the ‘Lucky Boy’ fiasco… not that it matters much now. Since that one was a publicity stunt that didn’t play out as expected, I still could have gotten myself a party, albeit with increased inconvenience. But that’s not at all the case with the fabricated story — THAT caused me to be treated as a criminal in this city. It was difficult for me to even rent a decent inn. It was only natural that legitimate Explorers would stop coming to me altogether; if it weren’t for Camille, my Explorer career most likely would have ended right then. Remember, I’m a White Mage. I can’t possibly continue deeper into the Dungeon without a party with me.”

Tsutomu had been lured into this world by God, and was in the middle of diving into the Dungeon, searching for a way to return to his world. For him, not being able to form a party was the same as being cut off from all potential means of returning to his home.

And that was the worst thing that could happen to him — neither a way to return to his original world, nor a way to progress deeper into the Dungeon. This world was practically the Middle Ages; there was almost no source of entertainment that didn’t concern the Dungeon. Tsutomu was able to continue living in this world because he had hope that he could one day return home, and that in the meantime, the Dungeon would entertain him and occupy his attention. If he were to lose both of them at once, he would most likely find himself overwhelmed by anxiety and fall into despair.

As such, he had not a shred of the intention of forgiving anyone who would get in his way. She could just roll over and die by the roadside for all Tsutomu cared, so long as it was somewhere out of his sight.

“And I repeat, YOU are the one who started this — you tried to rob me of my livelihood as an Explorer. I’ll have you go through the same circumstances I had. Don’t even think about working as a journalist ever again.”

“Eef…!”

Once Tsutomu widened his narrowed eyes, he revealed instead a gaze filled with hatred; Mirul let out a short scream and turned her face away in a futile attempt to escape it.

“Oh, I have no particular objections to the monetary compensation, by the way. When it comes to Mirul’s case, however, I have absolutely no intention to stay my hand. I want her to never have the power to harm me again, you see.”

Tsutomu was persistent — it seemed to others as if life depended on the Dungeon and his career as an Explorer. The Chief Executive man, understanding that, closed his eyes and proceeded to announce,

“…Very well. If my livelihood as a journalist was to be compromised, I would most likely hold the same sentiments you do. This is to make sure that Mirul’s case never happens again. Editor-in-Chief, do you have any objections?”

“No, sir…”

“And you, Mirul?” The man asked, with a voice so low that was sure to dissuade anyone from showing disobedience.

Mirul, trembling in fear, started rambling,

“I-I did all this for Miss Amy’s sake! All I wanted was to spread the truth!? What did I do to deserve this!? Don’t screw with me!!”

She slammed her fist on the desk. Tsutomu looked at her as if he wasn’t even looking at a person, while Amy behind him made a pained expression.

“The Editor-in-Chief’s vulgar stares, his dirty hands, all that humiliation — all that to get that article out! I did whatever I could! So why… WHY!?”

“W-what!? Now you’re spewing a load of bull!”

With Mirul letting the cat out of the bag, the Editor-in-Chief tried to hold her down, but she already was standing up and pointing fingers at Tsutomu.

“…It’s all because of you! You should’ve stayed an orphan nobody! A Lucky Boy who happened to find a gold box — that’s what you are! If only you hadn’t gotten close to Miss Amy, none of this would’ve–“

Amy walked over to Mirul and slapped her of the cheek. Mirul, dumbfounded, stared blankly back at Amy.

After glaring at Mirul for a few moments, Amy cast her eyes down.

“…You already saw that Tsutomu was able to defeat the Fire Dragon, didn’t you? Without my help? Look, just accept it already — he wasn’t forcing me to do anything. He wasn’t threatening me with any of my secrets, and I wasn’t taking any orders, either.”

“M-Miss Amy… I was…! I was just trying to…!”

“Because you believed your wild delusion way too much and wrote that article, I wasn’t able to join my team to fight the Fire Dragon. You’re the one at fault here.”

“……”

Amy’s sharp glare prompted Mirul to take a step back. Getting a verbal expression of disapproval from her had more of an effect on Mirul than anything else thus far.

“…Why’d you just rush ahead and do things all by yourself? That’s just stupid… well, not that I’m one to talk.”

“Ngh…”

“You should’ve just come to talk to me about it, not write an article like that. Really, you’re so stupid…”

“I’m… I’m sorry…”

As Mirul apologized, Amy heaved a long, deep sigh and turned to Tsutomu and the Editor-in-Chief.

“No, you shouldn’t apologize to me — Save that for Tsutomu… And Solit Company, too, for all the problem you’ve caused.”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!!”

Amy held Mirul up as the latter collapsed while clinging to her. Mirul continued sobbing for a while, completely disregarding where she was. The Editor-in-Chief kept a low profile throughout this moment, so as to not prompt the sight of the man beside him, and Tsutomu looked on at Mirul with his same cold, piercing gaze.