The Reward for the World's Strongest Explorer's Perfect Dungeon Conquest is apparently Marriage to me, who is known as an S-rank Fraud - Chapter 20

“Pardon the intrusion.”

The moment the front door opened, Araki-san strode in, carrying a large cardboard box.

It was tightly wrapped with layers of duct tape, sealing it completely shut.

“Kuma-kun! What the hell is in that box?!

It’s moving sometimes—there’s definitely something alive in there!

I swear, this is terrifying!”

Behind him, Eri-chan stumbled inside, half in tears, completely panicked.

If she saw what was inside, she’d probably faint on the spot.

“We’ll discuss it inside.”

I led them to the living room, where everyone—including Ayane—gathered around the table.

“There’s a lot I want to say and even more I need to ask.

But first—what the hell is in that box?

It reeks of trouble.”

Araki narrowed his eyes and pointed at the sealed box sitting on the table.

His voice was demanding.

I hesitated.

How exactly should I explain this?

Shia, who already knew everything, simply sipped her warm tea—despite the summer heat—and gave me a gentle, knowing look.

“Go on, I’m listening.”

Yeah, she wasn’t going to help.

I considered explaining myself, but…

Let’s be real—I lost the battle against compulsory education.

My language skills weren’t strong enough to logically convey the situation.

So—I opted for the “start with the climax” strategy.

“Alright, let me introduce you.

This is Belgrims—Shibuya Dungeon’s 150th-floor Named Boss.

Everyone, give him a round of applause.”

There was a scattered and awkward applause from everyone except Araki-san.

Then—the cardboard box exploded open.

And out stepped Belgrims—striking a dramatic pose on the table.

“A pleasure to make your acquain—”

BAM.

“KYAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!”

Eri-chan screamed, leaping backward in terror.

She clung to my back, shaking uncontrollably, eyes wide in pure horror.

“G-G-GOB—GOBLIN! GOBLIN!!”

“…I assume, given that you let him appear in front of Ayane, he isn’t a threat?”

Araki-san remained calm, despite the bizarre situation.

As expected of a former S-Class Explorer—

And someone who had survived the monstrous political world for years.

“For now, no.

Eri-chan, it’s fine. He doesn’t bite.”

“NOPE. NOPE. NOPE.”

She shook her head violently, still hiding behind me.

Meanwhile, Shia was staring at me coldly, her expression unreadable.

Somehow, that was scarier than anything else.

“Haaah… Kuma.

My head already hurts, but I need answers.

I’m going to start with the most important question.

What’s your relationship with him?”

Araki pressed his fingers against his temple, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

I pointed at Belgrims.

“Boss.”

Then I pointed at Shia and myself.

“Subordinates.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Ah, I apologize for my earlier interruption.”

“I am Belgrims. It seems my subordinates have been in your care.”

With elegant poise, Belgrims stepped off the table and bowed toward Araki.

“…Araki.

I am the head of this country’s Dungeon Management Agency.

And technically, I am also Kuma’s superior.

So—thank you for taking care of my subordinate as well.”

Though his tone remained calm, there was a sharpness to his voice—

And an undeniable weight behind his words.

Araki’s presence alone was intimidating.

“Kuma.

Next question.

Did you become allies with a monster?

Or did a monster become your ally?

Think carefully before you answer.”

“Hii—”

Eri-chan let out a tiny shriek.

Araki’s sheer authority was enough to terrify ordinary people.

And honestly, even I didn’t want to get on his bad side.

“That’s not an easy question to answer.

To explain that, we need to talk about angels and demons.”

I took my time, carefully explaining—

The conflict between angels and demons,

Belgrims’ true goal,

And the reality of humanity’s position in this whole mess.

When I finished, Araki narrowed his eyes.

“…So, you’re telling me that dungeon conquests are actually a ritual—

A process to bring angels down to Earth?”

“Exactly.”

“Why go through such an elaborate process?

If they want to destroy humanity, why not just descend and wipe us out?”

This time, Belgrims answered.

“Because the dimensions are too different.”

“Originally, Earth existed on the same level as Heaven and Hell.”

“But when humanity appeared, their rapid evolution caused Earth’s dimension to ‘descend.’”

“As it is now, angels cannot descend.

So—they must ‘raise’ the world’s level first.”

Araki processed the information carefully.

Then, he spoke—

“Then the solution is simple.

If we stop dungeon conquests, the world won’t rise.

And angels won’t be able to invade.”

“So—what does the Apocalypse Timer actually mean?”

Yes.

If that were the only factor, then simply halting dungeon conquests would be enough to prevent an angelic invasion.

But—

There was one major problem.

The Apocalypse Timer.

That ominous countdown that drove people into dungeons out of fear.

“…It’s a release.”

“When the countdown reaches zero—

Every named boss.

Every monster in every dungeon floor—

Will be unleashed onto the surface.”

Silence.

Then—

“…I see.”

Araki wasn’t surprised.

The Apocalypse Timer had long been the subject of countless theories, and the leading hypothesis had always been that monsters would flood out of the dungeons—a Dungeon Overflow scenario.

“Other than named bosses, all monsters are mindless, programmed by the angels to attack humans.

Humanity’s numbers will dwindle rapidly.

And when humanity is sufficiently reduced, the world will ascend to a higher dimension, wiping out both demons and the remaining human survivors.

No matter how you look at it—

The angels always win.”

Belgrims sighed, raising his hands in a mock gesture of surrender.

“That’s assuming your words can be trusted.”

“Believe or not—

I don’t intend to force you.

But Kuma and Shia are my subordinates now.

I will be using them.”

A tense atmosphere settled over the room.

Araki and Belgrims locked gazes, sparks practically flying between them.

“Araki—do you think dungeons are humanity’s allies?”

Shia, ignoring the charged atmosphere, suddenly posed the question.

“…I don’t know.

But personally—

Not a day goes by that I don’t wish they would disappear.”

A shocking statement from the head of the Dungeon Bureau.

Eri-chan gasped, her face filled with disbelief.

Even I was surprised.

After all—

Dungeons provided mana stones—a next-generation clean energy source, replacing dwindling fossil fuels.

Efficiency in energy extraction had been steadily increasing, to the point where mana stones now accounted for 10% of global energy production.

If dungeons disappeared, the world would be forced to return to reliance on oil and nuclear energy.

“Mana stones. The Apocalypse Timer.

We’re given both rewards and punishments, forcing us to venture into dungeons.

This is large-scale human manipulation.

Countries that struggle to harvest mana stones are forced to buy them at exorbitant prices, plunging into poverty.

Meanwhile, nations that oppose dungeon conquests are threatened with the Apocalypse Timer,

facing economic sanctions and trade restrictions.”

Araki’s face had palpably paled.

A colossal force was already in motion, one that could not be stopped.

“Exactly as you said.”

Belgrims mocked humanity, his voice dripping with contempt.

“For the angels, manipulating humans was effortless.

Honor? Beauty? Pride? Duty?

None of those matter.

All that matters is self-interest.

So long as they remain comfortable, so long as they remain wealthy, so long as they can escape pain and suffering—

That is all humans care about.

And so—the wheels keep turning.”

He looked down upon all of humanity, lumping them together with disdain.

“But don’t misunderstand me.

There are exceptions.

There are still a handful of humans who are different.

But—

There is no one to lead them.

No one to guide them.

No one to lift up those who have fallen.

And so, humanity continues to sink.”

“Hah. Quite the speech.

I never expected to get a lecture on humanity from a goblin.”

Araki’s scowl deepened, but—

He didn’t refute Belgrims’ words.

There was a part of him that agreed.

“So?

What do you intend to do with humanity?”

“Me?

Nothing.

I helped Kuma, but in turn, he has helped me.

We may be ‘master and servant,’ but we benefit from each other.

However—

Not all demons think like me.

Some want to destroy both the angels and humanity.”

Araki’s eyes narrowed.

“Which side are you on, then?”

“Kuma’s, of course.”

Belgrims answered without hesitation.

“I’ve watched humanity from the dungeon.

For every selfish fool, there’s someone willing to risk their life for another.

Because humanity is covered in filth—

Those who shine within it seem even more beautiful.

And I—

Find that beauty… appealing.”

A grin spread across his face.

A grin so sinister, so unnerving—

“Hii!”

Eri-chan screamed again.

Honestly?

I don’t blame her.

No matter how many times I see it, that smile is still unsettling.

“Kuma. Shia.

Do you trust him?”

“Well… I don’t think he’s a bad guy.”

“And he’s ridiculously strong.

If I get strong enough under him, I won’t have to worry about angels, demons, or anything else.

So I’ll just power through everything! Hahaha!”

“Grigri is a good person.”

Araki looked at the two of us, utterly exasperated.

“…Haaah.

Tch. I’m not as naive as you two.

I’ll keep doubting him.

But—

I do acknowledge that he knows things about dungeons that humanity doesn’t.

So from now on, you’re going to cooperate with us for information.”

“…………Shia. What now?”

The moment Araki finished speaking—

Shia raised her hand.

Araki’s “trouble sense” immediately went off.

He clearly did not want to hear whatever was coming next.

“My reward for the dungeon conquest.

I want Grigri to become a Japanese citizen.”

Twitch.

Araki’s face twitched violently.

Belgrims grinned.

Eri-chan screamed.

“…Kuma.

What exactly is she asking?”

“Basically—

She wants him to get a legal identity. A human registry.

Oh, wait—Belgrims, how old are you?”

“If we use human time—8663 years old.”

“Then you qualify for voting rights.

But no pension, since you haven’t paid into it.

How about health insurance? Do you plan to visit hospitals?”

“As long as Kuma’s mana is available, I am immortal.

No need.”

“Alright. No need for health insurance, then.

Oh—one more thing.

He’ll need an Explorer’s License.”

“…Wait.

Hold on.

Just—give me a break.

My head’s about to explode.

Or my stomach’s about to get an ulcer.”**

Since Araki-san had officially given up, we decided to take a break.

Ayane, who had been quietly listening the entire time—making sure not to interrupt—took this opportunity to approach Belgrims.

She politely asked:

“What kind of drinks do you like? Is there anything you can’t drink?”

Belgrims’ answer?

“I’d like to try cola.”