Living in a Dungeon in Modern Japan! An Overpowered Life with a Useless Skill - Episode 5

Episode 5

We arrived at our destination in about two hours, just as scheduled.

Because of the unusual situation we both found ourselves in, the conversation flowed easily. Satsuki, it turned out, was currently a third-year high school student. She had originally planned to take the test in January. But she came down with a severe case of influenza and ended up hospitalized. It caused her to postpone her test.

In response, I decided to talk about my own hardships in a lighthearted way. While I was very much unemployed, it wasn’t like I was on the verge of death. The conversation occasionally paused, perhaps out of sympathy. But I used my past experiences to turn the mood around. And overall, we were able to chat pleasantly until arrival.

Our destination was the Explorer’s Tower, the administrator center for explorers in the Kanto region.

Since it handled many valuable items obtained from dungeons, the building was protected with strong security. It even housed the largest dungeon in Kanto—the Shinjuku Dungeon.

We followed the staff member through the main entrance. As expected of the largest center in Kanto, it was bustling with people.

I had never visited before since I thought it had nothing to do with me. But now I saw that many explorers hired by companies and independent ones alike were gathered here. They were all preparing to dive into the Shinjuku Dungeon.

We were taken to the main reception area.

“These are the two people we contacted earlier.”

“Understood. Please proceed to the room in the back.”

Following the receptionist, we entered a room.

The room initially looked like a normal office. But the deeper we went, the heavier and more fortified the doors became.

Eventually, we reached a very secure-looking door. In front of it stood a man who appeared to be in his 40s. He was clearly someone of high rank.

“Thanks for guiding them here. I’ll take it from here.”

“Thank you, Chief Hikawa.”

Handed off to Chief Hikawa, we were led further inside through the secure area.

What awaited us was a massive magic stone. It was about five meters in height.

Considering that the detection stones at city halls were only about the size of a fist, we both stared up in awe.

“Please come this way, both of you.”

Snapped out of our daze by the call, we moved forward.

“We’ll begin measuring Kobayashi-san’s magic power. Akatsuki-san, you have a different test in another room. Please go to that woman over there.”

Looking toward the back, I saw a woman in a lab coat waving.

“Alright, see you later.”

Waving to Satsuki, I headed toward the woman.

“You must be Akira Akatsuki. All re-examinees who gained magic undergo additional testing here.”

With that, she led me into a room.

Inside was a setup resembling a doctor’s examination room.

The woman in the lab coat sat in a chair and gestured for me to sit across from her.

“Well then, let me formally introduce myself. I’m Hiyori Kisaragi, and I handle the medical checks for explorers. Nice to meet you.”

Her tone shifted to a more casual and friendly manner than earlier.

“Ah, yes. I’m Akira Akatsuki. Nice to meet you too.”

“No need to be so stiff. I’m not going to bite or anything. So, do you understand your current situation?”

She seemed to be around my age or maybe a bit older. But she spoke directly and without hesitation.

“Yes. I understand that I was confirmed to have magic during re-testing.”

“Good. You also know that re-examinees who turn out to have magic are extremely rare, right?”

I silently nodded.

“Alright. For re-examinees who suddenly have magic, we ask a lot of questions to try and figure out how they gained it. So, let’s begin…”

Thus began an interrogation-like series of questions from Hiyori.

She asked everything—from what happened over the past year, any lifestyle changes, whether I had eaten any new or unusual food, and more.

Bl00d tests and other exams were also conducted. About an hour passed.