With the meeting over, I take a breather, and the notification sound on my device rings. Not many know my number, only the girls and the odd person like Shuu. I press the button to accept the call without looking at the screen…
“Yes?”
‘Hello Amachi. Good work just now.’
“Hneh!?”
There’s no way I would forget this voice. It’s someone I would have to include if I was asked about attractive women, my mother-in-law Sakuya. Talking to her on the phone one-on-one makes me a little nervous.
“W-why…”
These devices distributed by the association typically only communicate with other people who are registered, so I assumed it was someone close to me, but it’s Sakuya…
I guess a branch manager would have access to the ID of an adventurer who entered their dungeon. But wait, that would mean Miki, Youko, and Ryuu have my ID… Did she use unlawful means…
‘Fufu, don’t worry. I got it from Miki.’
“A-ah… I see.”
‘I contacted you because I have something to tell you. Can I have some of your time?’
“W-what is it…?”
Is she mad because I didn’t pick the Mid Rank Dungeon?
‘Do you remember when I brought up the topic of foreign S rank adventurers?’
“Ah, yes. That they came here to invite me… Come to think of it, that didn’t happen.”
‘Yes, but there were stampedes in underwater dungeons not found around the world, right? They were sent to suppress them, which delayed their arrival. Using important resources such as S rank adventurers for personal reasons rather than deal with dangers to several countries would make them look bad.’
“I see?”
‘And as they stood and waited, you became an S rank adventurer. Furthermore, the first person to ever activate a monster-repelling barrier, and someone who is conquering dungeons on the front line.’
For some reason, being praised by her tickles.
‘They also had to change their approach. This time, they are not out to get you to join them, but instead to build a relationship with you.’
“Build a relationship… So they want to be friends?”
Surely they’re thinking if we’re friendly, I’ll help if their countries are in trouble.
Nowadays, it’s hard to get detailed information from dungeons in different areas, let alone different countries. I’m curious about dungeons in other countries.
‘You’re naive, Amachi. Too sweet, more so than the Killer Hive extra thick honey you sent me.’
“Eh…?”
‘All of them… No, except one, wish to marry you.’
“…Ah?”
‘Although while they might also strongly wish to do so, there will also be some who were ordered by their higher ups.’
Marry…?
So the same situation that happened when I met Ayane!?
But it’s S rank adventurers from various countries and their higher ups!?
‘I believe when it comes to the current four, their families, fame, and levels are all more than respectable, and I have no intention to separate you. Still, that won’t be enough to carry on the great achievements you accomplished recently. Although I appreciate that they have taken the initiative to add six members. The world is so exhausted, that it only makes sense for it to want more.’
That mention of six additional members has me curious, but I feel like mentioning that now would be digging my own grave. Let’s let that slide.
“Are things that bad? It doesn’t feel that way at all around me…”
‘Governments are regulating freedom of speech to prevent fear within their populations. You saying that is proof that my job is going well. The number of dungeons in this country is among the top in the world, but while we had more than two stampedes, it is rare to find a country that has held it all together and preserved the lives of high rank adventurers.’
…I didn’t know that. Is that how things are like abroad?
‘That said, other countries are making up for their initial slow responses. But if dungeons continue appearing indefinitely, there is no doubt they will overwhelm humanity in decades. The world needs to act on them soon.’
It makes sense. If a hundred dungeons appear practically every year and there’s no end to them, the world won’t stay peaceful.
‘There is another problem. There are actually quite a few people who have trophies, but only a handful are holders.’
“So there really are more. Other administrators.”
‘Yes. It is both a symbol of peace and the proof of a leader. I won’t ask how you got administrator keys from multiple dungeons, but I assume it was not straightforward. I have a question for you. Do you think it is possible to acquire keys in other dungeons the same way?’
“…If the method is the same, I think they could do it with enough time. If the method is different, I think it would be discovered eventually.”
To be honest, if it was just about collecting keys, the fastest way to get them would be to cause stampedes. That’s why I always ask the dungeon cores.
But I can see that being terrible in dungeons in the middle of towns.
‘Wonderful. But at the same time, countries with holders would have to bow to those without. Can you imagine the consequences?’
“That’s…”
It doesn’t sound nice. I don’t know what they would ask in return, and there are countries with and without holders. And even among the latter, there might be a hierarchy based on how much they offer.
It’s like a hellish pyramid.
‘…I’m glad you understand. It’s not just you, people dear to you are becoming stronger at an unimaginable pace, which is a great relief. Among the outsiders, some were sent last month with the intention of kidnapping. I dealt with most, but some slipped by… But after seeing your power and the others’, they quietly went back.’
“That happened?”
‘There were other incidents with intruders, but I told Aira, so you may ask her if you want to know more.’
“So there are no holders among those people wanting to build a relationship with me?”
‘Not necessarily. For example, we have confirmed a holder in America, although it seems the Thunder Witch coming from there is not from that faction. Speedstar is the only male among those that are coming, and his affiliation is unknown.’
“I see.”
So there are factions even within a country. Politics are a pain no matter the field…
I’ll leave that to the girls and my mothers-in-law, and focus on conquering dungeons.
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