I, Who Was Criticized as the World's Weakest S-Rank Explorer, Am Actually the World's Strongest Explorer - Episode 47
Episode 47
At the headquarters of the Explorer Association in Tokyo—a lavish building constructed with excessive amounts of money—the atmosphere in one of its grand meeting rooms was tense and stifling.
Seated around a circular table were the directors of various departments. Their simultaneous presence signified the discussion of a highly critical matter, something evident to everyone present.
On a large screen in the center of the room were two pieces of text: “Regarding Haruto Amakusa” and “Rin Kanzaki’s Exposé Video”. Even without examining the details, the tension in the air conveyed the gravity of the situation.
The Association’s chairman was present as well. His exhausted expression, coupled with the visible signs of stress from the past few days, made him appear significantly more haggard than usual.
The director of the Strategic Planning Department was tasked with leading the meeting. He stood up and took a deep breath before addressing the group.
“First, let us ensure we’re all aligned on the severity of the current situation.”
Even in his opening words, irritation was apparent in his tone. Haruto Amakusa—or more precisely, the fallout from Daiki Kiryu’s live stream—had brought unprecedented levels of public criticism toward the Association.
Matters had escalated further with Rin Kanzaki’s video exposé, turning the criticism into an unrelenting storm of backlash.
Though the Association had exerted pressure on the media to minimize reporting and ensure any coverage remained superficial, the measures were proving ineffective. If anything, the attempt at restricting information had only fueled public outrage. It exacerbated the situation.
“…What a troublesome era we live in.”
“In our younger days, people only got their information from the media. We could spin any story we wanted with TV alone.”
Most of the directors were over sixty. Many had landed their positions as part of a government retirement placement program. It was a common scene at Association headquarters meetings. Younger directors were few and far between, and those present were overshadowed by the over twenty older directors gathered in the room.
The Explorer Association, still dealing with many unknowns in its industry, had a bloated organizational structure—deliberately so. More departments meant more senior positions, providing lucrative opportunities for government retirees.
This, of course, often drew criticism from taxpayers. They labeled it wasteful spending. And even amidst the current crisis, some directors appeared indifferent. They were dozing off in their seats. The Association’s inefficient and inflated bureaucracy was plainly visible.
“There’s no point lamenting now. According to Director Aizawa’s report, Haruto Amakusa has no intention of reinstating his S-Rank Explorer status.”
“…What? That man… Damn it! Lower-class citizens should know their place and comply!”
A sigh-laden remark from one of the directors sparked a ripple of similar comments. Each one was more venomous than the last. The vitriol filling the room was the kind that, if broadcast nationally, would utterly destroy the Explorer Association’s reputation.
“Regardless, the quickest way to placate the public is to decide who will take responsibility and offer an apology.”
A sharp silence fell over the room. The Public Relations Director, Kana Aizawa, broke it with an icy tone.
(Note: I don’t know if it’s the Author’s fault or not, but on C33, the Public Relations Director is described as an old man. But now, it’s suddenly changed to a female. And so, in relation to the story of next chapters, “Kana Aizawa, the Public Relations Director“ is a female from this chapter onwards.)
“…The most straightforward solution would be for the president to apologize and resign. Don’t you agree?”
Her gaze pierced the chairman, an elderly man seated at the head of the table. In that instant, every eye in the room turned to him, and the air grew unbearably heavy.
The chairman pressed his lips together and remained silent for a moment. In the stillness, the only sound was the soft tapping of his fingers against the edge of the table.
“…That’s an extreme suggestion.”
“Extreme? Then how do you propose we address this? The Association’s credibility has plummeted. Identifying where responsibility lies is the most effective course of action.”
“I understand your point, but resigning is not necessarily the best solution. If I step down, the Association’s leadership could become unstable.”
“The vice-chairman can step into the role, and a new vice-chairman can be chosen from among the directors. That should resolve any leadership concerns.”
To many of the directors, this was an opportunity for personal advancement. None of them were speaking out of genuine concern for reforming the Association.
Though briefly taken aback by Aizawa’s pointed words, the chairman quickly regained his composure.
“There are other parties involved in this matter. Pinning all the responsibility on me alone would be unreasonable.”
“Other parties? Who, exactly, are you referring to?”
“That would include the department heads as well, particularly the Analysis and Audit Bureau,”
As the chairman’s gaze shifted toward Shiramine, the other eyes in the room followed suit.
Shiramine was relatively young compared to the other department heads. Unlike them, he had earned his position through merit, which often made him a target of scrutiny.
“The issue with the Analysis and Audit Bureau…… In other words, you’re saying it’s Shiramine’s responsibility?”
(…Unbelievable.)
The work of the Analysis and Audit Bureau involved investigating dungeons. Their job was to study the locations and conditions of dungeons across the country. Shiramine’s involvement in this bureau had been due to its ability to easily manipulate information about Amakusa’s abilities. But, he had also known that his department would be under fire if any issues arose.
Still, Shiramine remained remarkably calm as he absorbed the situation. He had known that he could be held accountable for this matter.
He smiled faintly and began flipping through the materials in front of him.
“The investigation results from the Analysis and Audit Bureau were all submitted according to the regulations. If there is an issue with the content, then surely it is with the regulations themselves, wouldn’t you agree?”
While there were some deliberate alterations in the methods and subjects of investigation, Shiramine and his subordinates had followed the regulations to the letter. This meant that the real problem lay within the current structure of the Association.
“The problem lies with the regulations?”
“Yes. The regulations were created with everyone’s agreement. And as long as we adhere to them, I don’t believe there is any reason why we should be held accountable.”
“However, if those regulations are outdated and no longer applicable, they are meaningless! The result of not adapting to the situation is this mess we’re in!”
One of the department heads slammed his fist onto the table with an air of intimidation. Shiramine, who appeared gentle and meek, was often the target of this kind of behavior. Some hoped that his soft demeanor would make him more likely to apologize. But as always, Shiramine remained composed.
“Then, shouldn’t we revise the regulations? Wouldn’t it be more problematic if we were to act outside the regulations? If we start discussing changes to the regulations, we’ll inevitably be asked how long we’ve been operating under this outdated system…….. It will only add to the responsibility that’s being piled on.”
The laws and regulations surrounding explorers in Japan had not been updated since their creation. These regulations often didn’t match current realities, as the previous director had pointed out. However, no one was willing to address these issues.
Most people preferred inaction, since doing something would only increase their workload. This was the nature of the Explorer Association.
As long as they were paid without working, doing nothing was the optimal choice. Anyone who made a move risked being held responsible for any consequences. And this mentality dominated the majority of the Association’s members.
“…You’re right about the regulations.”
“In that case… Shouldn’t the chairman take responsibility?”
Another director spoke up, eager to shift the blame. The chairman, however, shook his head with frustration.
“…That’s not the case.”
“Then, do you intend for no one to take responsibility?”
“I’m not saying that!”
The chairman snapped back, unable to contain his irritation. However, he didn’t offer any concrete counterarguments. He was merely trying to intimidate others with his tone.
Another director raised their voice, trying to seize control of the conversation.
“Isn’t part of the reason why Haruto Amakusa has been so heavily criticized the poor handling by Public Relations? I’m not defending him, but the reason the problem escalated this much is because of Public Relations’ inaction! Why did we push him to the point where he was cornered like this?!”
“That was the overall policy of the Association, including the previous chairman! Don’t put all the blame on me! If you’re going to say that, shouldn’t the Bureau of Abilities Research also share some responsibility? It was the Bureau of Abilities Research that declared his abilities were weak, wasn’t it?!”
“That was the previous director, not me!”
The two sides threw accusations at each other, blaming each other for their previous dealings with Amakusa. It became a disgusting battle for self-preservation, with each adult trying to protect their position.
(Watching from the sidelines, it’s rather comical and entertaining… But I can’t let it continue like this.)
Shiramine let out a small sigh and then spoke up.
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