Ordinary Person × Modern Dungeon × Summer Vacation Life = Rise to Success!? 〜A Private Dungeon Was Made at the Remains of a Secret Base From Childhood〜 - Episode 30: [Dungeon Management Bureau] In the Case of Childhood Friend, Sasarabashi Shiho

Episode 30: [Dungeon Management Bureau] In the Case of Childhood Friend, Sasarabashi Shiho

(Note: Special for this chapter, dialogues from the livestream are written in this bracket:『…..』.)

Near Mansei Bridge in Akihabara, where Japan’s oldest dungeon exists――.

On the upper floors of a high-rise building, there was the Dungeon Management Bureau.

“Exploration Officer Sasarabashi, how’s Natsume-san doing?”

Chief Nagashima of the Dungeon Management Bureau’s Industrial Division asked while holding a canned coffee.

“Yes, right after entering the 12th floor, he was catching spiders with that bug-catching net. I think that’s probably related. He’s been using thread-based skills frequently on the 12th floor.”

On the large monitor in the meeting room, Natsume-kun was just shown tying up a Goblin General’s leg with thread. And Omoigawa-san was slashing its upper body.

“Hmm… So he’s gained another skill, huh?”

“Yes. I believe so.”

“Thanks for the report. The [Teleportation] skill is extremely valuable. Please continue to cooperate with the Explorer Association for rescue operations. Here, a little gift. You liked these, right?”

Chief Nagashima handed me a four-pack of *tamago boro* (egg biscuits).

“…Thank you very much.”

Since I’m only 145 cm tall and have a baby face, I often receive sweets.

I have some thoughts about that. But I accept them honestly.

Then, Assistant Chief Inaba from the Explorer Support Division, which I belong to, arrived.

“Mind if I ask too? Do you have the status information on those two?”

“Yes. These are the results from the National Dungeon Aptitude Test and the explorer license info, obtained from the Explorer Network.”

“Thanks. You’re really competent, Sasarabashi-san.”

“I’m nothing special.”

“No need to be so modest. Let’s see here… Huh!? What is this!?”

Assistant Chief Inaba shouted upon seeing Natsume-kun’s National Dungeon Aptitude Test results.

“Natsume-kun didn’t have a single talent! All his base stats are 1, and the only skill he has is a garbage one called [Child’s Heart]. This is…”

“Assistant Chief, that’s disrespectful to Natsume-kun. Please take that back.”

Having my childhood friend insulted, I couldn’t help but speak harshly.

“A-Ah, sorry. But that’s in the past now, right? Let’s see the explorer info now… What!?”

Now looking at the explorer license information, he shouted again.

“He went from a [Green] license to C-rank in less than a month!? And his stats and skills increased this much!? What’s going on…? He’s growing too fast…!”

“According to the responsible Association, it’s not illegal exploration.”

“I see… But still, his skill combinations are strange. There are some I don’t know, like [Butterfly Dance], and then lots of small ones like [Water Resistance (Small)] and [Slash Boost (Small)]. Also, the crucial [Teleportation] wasn’t present when he applied for the explorer exam, right?”

“No. It’s believed he awakened it afterward.”

“I see… So this might mean Natsume-kun’s hidden talent, unseen in the aptitude test, has bloomed? What do you think, Sasarabashi-san?”

I voiced a vague premonition.

“This is just my guess… but I think that astonishing growth may be the effect of the [Child’s Heart] skill.”

“[Child’s Heart]? From the name alone, it doesn’t seem to have any effect.”

“—Children must jump around, run freely, and shout out loud.

—All their movements are born from the body’s need to become stronger.”

“…What’s that from?”

“A passage from Rousseau’s ‘Emile’.”

“As expected of you, Sasarabashi-san. You’ve read a lot.”

“…Please think back. Children, through play, come in contact with nature, animals, and many things, learning and growing. They’re amazed by the world and grow stronger by enjoying it to the fullest. Isn’t that the true value of the [Child’s Heart] skill?”

Natsume-kun swinging a bug net in the dungeon was surely having fun.

—Come to think of it.

Back then too, Natsume-kun sparkled.

Looking back now, his athletic ability and reflexes were probably average. It was maybe even below average.

But he always threw himself into everything, made lots of mistakes, and gradually increased what he could do.

Climbing trees, catching cicadas, crossing stepping stones in the river—it was all the same.

Sure, he got scraped, peed on by cicadas, and soaked his clothes.

But he quickly forgot those things and grew bit by bit.

If that brightness turned into a skill――

If he can keep growing like that while playing in the dungeon――

――Eventually, Natsume-kun might become invincible.

I have that feeling.

“Huh… Well, let’s take that as a romantic theory. Then maybe Natsume-kun will someday learn [Resurrection] or [Time Manipulation] too.”

“Yes. I think that’s entirely possible.”

“I see… Either way, the nation should try to contact Natsume-kun early. Sasarabashi-san, if he comes out of the dungeon safely, I’d like you to meet him.”

“…Understood.”

I didn’t say he was my former childhood friend—just nodded.

“Well then, thank you. That was helpful. Here, a little gift.”

Assistant Chief Inaba also handed me a four-pack of egg biscuits.

“…………..Everyone gives me these. Do I really seem that childlike?”

“No, no, it’s not that. I just thought you might want something sweet since you’re working hard!”

“If that’s the case, I’ll accept it humbly. Thank you very much.”

Assistant Chief Inaba returned to his office.

…I’ve gotten better at pretending to be an adult. But deep down, I haven’t changed.

I still love sweets. I enjoy shiny things like magic stones and kaleidoscopes like I’m dreaming.

And…

『Kou-chan! I told you this floor’s mine! Why’d you go and beat the monster!?』

『It was just one! I figured out I can hang from the ceiling using [Thread]. So I wanted to try it out.』

『Next one’s mine, okay? I can fly too with my [Water User] skill!』

『Hey, Omoigawa-san! Don’t compete pointlessly!!』

――I wanted to explore that dungeon with them too.

It may be inappropriate. But seeing the two of them having fun made me envious.

“Natsume-kun, Tama-chan… Manamin…”

Since moving to Tokyo, I don’t think I’ve had any real fun.

Every day was full of endless studying. And all conversations with family or friends were about entrance exams.

I got into a prestigious junior high school. But after all that studying, it felt expected—no joy, no surprise.

Nothing made me laugh from the heart like when Natsume-kun fell in the river.

I kept completing task after task. And in the end, I was hired by the Dungeon Management Bureau as a specialist.

『Kou-chan! Again!?』

『Haha, sorry. Turns out I can reel back the thrown dagger. There are a lot of ways to use [Thread].』

“I want to play together again…”

…I found out from a letter from Manamin a while ago.

After I moved to Tokyo, they went to that secret base less and less. And eventually, the remaining three began to drift apart.

…I am to blame.

I was the trigger that broke that paradise.

So――

“If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it.”

I have to bring those two back safely, to atone.

Unlike Natsume-kun, I don’t have any fantastical skills. So what I can do is limited.

All I can do is make steady preparations.

Like temporarily reserving beds at a nearby hospital, in case they’re seriously injured after clearing the dungeon.

Right now, I’m powerless.

But――

“I want to see them again…”

I’ll do everything I can to reunite with them.

And if possible, I want the four of us, including Manamin, to play together again……

==================

[Supplementary Note ①: Source]

Iwanami Bunko “Emile (Vol. 1)” [eBook Version]

Author: Rousseau

Translator: Kazuo Konno

[Supplementary Note ②: Capture Info]

Encyclopedia No. 25 / 251

Name: Dungeon Spider

Rarity: 0

Capture Skill: Thread (Lv.1)

Capture EXP: 10

Drop Item: Magic Stone (Tiny)

Description: A spider that inhabits dungeons. It consumes magical essence and spins thread using that essence. The thread can be recovered unless broken. Can be captured using a Magical Creature Capture Net by someone with the [Child’s Heart] skill.