Ahh, I got some nice news yesterday, and it was a very fulfilling day.
They say others’ misfortunes taste like honey, and it’s true. I know it sounds nasty, but what can I do?
Today I’m going to Guardian HD because I have to formally resign.
I made my intention to quit clear, so I thought I could just go goodbye… But it is a problem for a working adult. I have to return stuff like the health insurance card and employee ID. And I have to work through the paperwork of the pension, insurance, letter of separation, among other things. I can’t just hand in a letter of resignation and leave.
And the biggest reason is that an executive wants to speak to me directly, so I was kept as an employee.
That’s pretty high-handed, but when I try calling the number that’s been contacting me several times for the past few days, an executive of Guardian HD picks up. Who apparently has been trying to get in touch with me all this time.
Apparently the executive wants me to go to their company to formally apologize. And to do some paperwork.
◇ ◇ ◇
When I get to Guardian HD, the receptionist lady gets up and bows.
Am I being treated like a visitor, or did the higher ups tell her to do that? Maybe they’re taking the fact that I went to the Labor Standards Office seriously.
Someone who seems to me like an executive apologizes, and tells me some things.
Chief Gotouta suffered disciplinary measures not just because of me, but because of past transgressions.
He even led someone to attempt suicide, so Chief Gotouta definitely couldn’t get away with it. Still, the company is also a perpetrator. They knew what he was up to and pretended not to see it.
The company is apologizing and offering reparations to those harmed by him, and I’m shown how much.
…Yes, I don’t really care. He’s gone, that’s what matters.
It’s not the company’s fault, it’s his.
I’m impressed by the stance of the company, and exchange a firm handshake with the executive.
◇ ◇ ◇
After taking care of the formalities in Guardian HD, I leave to go to the dungeon, but I feel like someone’s looking at me from behind.
Someone’s staring a hole through me with the intensity of a dragon with a grudge.
I want to ignore it, but since there’s not even an intention to hide this stare, I fearfully turn around.
And there I see Chief Gotouta hiding behind a telephone pole and glaring.
Eek!?
He’s too big to hide behind it completely, and there’s a shroud of hatred around him. He’s cracking the pole with how hard he’s gripping it.
I get scared and run away.
I’ve fought several monsters, but I can’t handle that. Feeling how big a grudge can get sends a chill down my spine.
Wait, I should have a grudge against him!!
I run through the portal, and jump to the twentieth floor.
◇ ◇ ◇
The twenty-first floor.
Ahh ahh ahh. Calm down, Chief Gotouta. No, Mister Gotouta!
You’re just deranged! Calm down!
I’m in the dungeon, but Chief Gotouta is still after me. And he attacked me with a broadaxe the moment I crossed the portal.
That’s really scary. It’s not like I knew him for long, but seeing someone I knew snap like this is scary. I think the fact that he’s a person and not a monster is what’s really scary to me.
Let’s talk. Let’s calm down and talk.
This is a dungeon, there are monsters. We’re going to get surrounded by them if we fight.
Okay? Do you understand?
Why are you attacking me? What did I do?
I contacted Labor Standards? I didn’t. Are you sure it wasn’t another employee?
Stop making this stupid face? It’s the only one I have you idiot! I’m gonna get you!!
Ah, just kidding. Sorry. Calm down.
Can I ask a question? Why did you make me and other people get hit by orcs like that?
Because it was necessary for work. A necessary sacrifice to boost sales. The company grew because of it. We wished for it too?
That’s pretty messed up considering someone tried to kill himself.
…What do you really think?
When I ask that question, a creepy smile forms on his face.
“Don’t you enjoy watching people suffer?”
He says. Yep, this guy’s just scum.
I approach him, kick the arm holding the broadaxe, breaking it, punch him in the stomach, and kick him and punch him from below.
I make sure to hold back so he won’t die, as I destroy his body.
I break the joint of the hand he raises to protect himself, and hit his face.
As he’s dying, I open his mouth and pour a potion. One doesn’t cut it, so I use another.
After confirming that he can stand, I beat him again.
It might seem pretty inhumane, but I need to show this guy the meaning of pain.
Am I qualified to do this? No. I’m not virtuous enough to be lecturing others. I’m more of an emotional person that might not even meet the minimum ethical standards.
But still, I’m not gonna get another opportunity to show this guy what pain is like.
No one can see us, and I don’t feel any monsters around either…
◇ ◇ ◇
After casting Healing Magic on a beaten down and unconscious Gotouta, I return to the surface.
He was breathing. His spirit might be broken, but he was definitively alive. At the end of the day, I just didn’t want to kill him and become a criminal.
I left him on the first floor. That place is safe, because there’s only pill bugs with no fighting power.
This feels terrible. I just let my emotions take over and beat him.
I don’t regret it. Only a little, because it might not be that different from what he did.
If the same happened again, I’d probably do the same. No matter how much I try to argue, we might not be so different.
I stop by the guild to replace my potions, and someone calls out to me from behind me.
I turn around, and see Kaname Toufu, who I met in the dungeon the other day, and her party.
Ou, did you come back today?
You look happy. Did you get good results?
You found a treasure chest!? I’m jealous.
Are you going out to celebrate? Eh, me too?
No, you should celebrate it as a party. It’s no place for an outsider.
I promised in the dungeon?
Well, I did, but…
Toufu happily nods, and the others invite me too. One of them feels a little distant, but okay.
We drink a lot and I have to hear them talk one-sidedly, and I even have to put up with drunk Toufu’s crying, but I feel like having fun with everyone saved me a little.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Thanks for the treat.