Around the time when Shouta fell asleep on the bed meant for employees, the people left in the room started hypothesizing and preparing for what came next.
“The reception desks are already closed for the day. Now we just have to wait for the customers already inside to leave.”
“How do you handle that sort of thing, Youko?”
“If they’re far from the entrance, we tell them it’s almost time, and they start making their way back. And once there aren’t any people around, meaning no people to exterminate them, fluff bugs start overflowing out of the forests.
But it happens at a pretty slow pace, and every day around seven in the morning, we have people go around cleaning them up.”
“…Then there’s no rush. Shouta can take his time resting.”
“…He sounds important to you Aki. Are you dating already?”
Both Aki and Maki froze, and Youko grinned when she saw them.
“Oh? Not yet? If you get careless, someone else might take him.”
“N-no way…”
“I-it’s all right, Maki. Shouta wouldn’t do that! I’m gettin’ mad, Youko!”
“S-sorry Maki, I’m joking. It’s clear he cares about you two.”
Youko was surprised to see Maki was even weaker psychologically than she heard.
“Cares… Hehehe…”
But she was quick to get back on her feet too, and wiped away the sadness with a smile back on her face.
“Well then, go rest too, you two. I’ll leave it up to you if you want to go with him. I’ll go back to the meeting and tell them what’s going on. Then I’ll establish clear rules about Amachi’s technique to control the spawn rates of rare monsters, including an explanation to the staff.
I felt myself going pale when you brought me this bomb, but I’m glad to hear there are countermeasures that can be taken. If we had no idea how those rare monsters spawned, we would have to suspend business immediately. But we have a lot of information about it, so I think it will work out.”
“Ah, Youko, it’s an online meeting, right? Is our mother taking part too?”
“Yes. Wait, no way.”
“Exactly! Let me come along! Maki can go prepare a meal for Shouta. And then sleep next to him if there’s time.”
“M-Maki!?”
Aki pushed Youko’s back, and left the room with her.
Maki was left alone, but she caught the now idle receptionist, and had her show her around the association.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
“Everyone, I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
‘Welcome back. You were gone for a while. Was there any trouble?’
‘Hahaha, what trouble could there be in the Heart Dungeon that has been stable for two years?’
‘Sir, we can’t be negligent, or the rug will be pulled from underneath us. That said, I can’t imagine anything happening in that dungeon, other than civilians ignoring the warnings of adventurers and charging towards monsters.’
‘If that happened, Youko would set them straight, so I’m not worried. We should learn from her too.’
When I return to my seat, the other branch managers are concerned, and I’m thankful for how much they value me.
However, this trouble is my responsibility. After all, I was the one who declared that there weren’t any when we didn’t find them during that first investigation, and started managing a business directed at couples going on dates.
If someone else had found that thing besides them, if it was civilians, what would have happened…
I’m scared of disappointing my seniors, but this is my blunder. I need to take responsibility, and explain.
“No, there was big trouble. To the point where we have to interrupt the topic of this meeting. I’m very sorry about that.”
‘…’
There’s silence, until Miki, who has been looking after me since my assignment to a beginner dungeon, gently speaks to me.
‘What happened, Youko?’
She moved to another branch to become branch manager, but she still treats me like I was her daughter, as she did back then. I really can’t thank her enough.
“A new species of rare monster not in the database has spawned on the first floor. It was an adventurer from outside this branch who found it, and he was accompanied by an association employee with the Appraisal Lv4 skill. I received the values she read then.”
I send over the data I got from Aki, and while everyone is surprised to see them, no one panics. These people are all seasoned, and tough.
And even among them, someone checks it with an even cooler head. Miki.
‘An employee with Lv4 must have an association rank of at least three. And this employee just happened to be in your dungeon… Are you there, Aki?’
“Here!”
Aki makes a double peace sign to the camera.
‘Ooh, Aki?’
‘Looks like you’re doing well!’
‘Full of energy as always.’
As always, my seniors treat her like she’s their granddaughter or something. Although, among that peaceful atmosphere, one person is cold enough that I can feel it through the camera.
‘Aki… What did you do?’
“Oh? Are you mad!?”
‘If you’re there, that means he’s there too, right? He was the one who made it spawn, wasn’t he?’
“Yes. He really wanted to do it, so I cheered him on!”
‘You have a boyfriend, Aki!?’
‘Who is it!?’
‘Oh my, what is he like?’
The meeting puts the information about the rare monster aside and starts dancing. These people are so lively, but when it’s time to enter work mode, they’re very reliable. I’m also going on the side that’s poking fun.
“Oh? Wasn’t it just one sided yet?”
“Y-yes.”
‘W-what!?’
That information gets them even more heated.
‘Silence.’
But it settles down instantly.
It’s the director of the first head office of the Japanese dungeon association, who has been silently listening this whole time.
“Aki, Miki.”
‘”Yes.”’
‘I heard the matter we are discussing and this new rare monster have been brought forward by the same person. Is this correct?’
I’ve heard that the director of the main office pays out of his own pocket for a specialized section that’s responsible for gathering information.
That means it’s pretty much impossible to hide things from the main office’s director.
‘”Correct.”’
‘And this person is important to you, Aki?’
“Yes!”
‘…Very well. So Aki, do you have footage of the fight with the rare monster?’
“I do!”
‘Well then everyone, we should check only the monster in detail. Don’t sniff around regarding the person in the video. Do I make myself clear?’
Everyone nods, not going against him.
“Thanks grandpa! I love you!!”
‘Fufu. Now let’s watch this video right away.’
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The head of the association is Aki and Maki’s grandfather. Their mother runs one of the branches, with Aki running another branch and Maki working as a receptionist.
Apparently, it runs in the family.
Thanks for the treat.