When I returned from exploring the dungeon to save the world, I found out that my lover had been stolen, and I was blamed for the failed expedition. Enraged, I quit Japan's strongest party—only for them to self-destruct on their own. - Chapter 2

“Hey.”

“What’s wrong, Koichi? You look so tense. You just got back, didn’t you? Why don’t you take a break?”

After punching that bastard, I went straight to see her.

Akane Miyanaga—my childhood friend and, supposedly, my girlfriend.

She’s also an explorer, working under the Tokyo branch of the Dungeon Association.

In Japan, there are about thirty dungeons, with the Dungeon Association managing ninety percent of them.

The remaining ten percent are controlled by the government or government-affiliated corporations.

Every explorer is required to be affiliated with an organization that manages dungeons.

Akane, though a low-ranking explorer, was part of the Dungeon Association.

We lived close by, which made visiting her easy.

In fact, most explorers and association staff lived near their respective dungeon bases—it was just common sense.

That bastard Hideaki also lived nearby.

I came here to confirm something.

To confirm whether or not she had cheated.

There was still a slim chance that bastard was making things up.

“Did you sleep with Hideaki?”

It was almost a certainty, though.

That bastard had good looks, was sociable, and had a high opinion of himself.

He wouldn’t lie about something that could be easily exposed.

“How do you know that?”

“So you’re not even denying it?”

Yeah, I knew it.

The moment I asked, her gaze wavered.

Then she looked back at me with an expression of resignation.

I had hoped for at least some kind of excuse, but she was always the type to be blunt about these things.

“You already have proof, don’t you? Then there’s no point in making excuses.”

I wanted to ask why?

But the way she erased all emotion from her face and spoke so matter-of-factly made me give up.

“…Six months is a long time.”

She muttered after a moment of silent, meaningless staring.

“That was the Dungeon Association’s plan. We had no choice—”

“That has nothing to do with it. Your feelings for me were intense, but I appreciated them. Still, when they were gone, I felt lonely.”

Her selfish reasoning made something stir inside me.

Even if that were the case, she cheated with the very man who helped design that insane expedition plan—the one who forced me into it against my will.

The one who threatened to expel me if I refused, dangling the hopes of the people, my family, my friends, and even her in front of me.

The man who blackmailed me was Hideaki’s father… the president of the Dungeon Association.

And she knew all of that. I had told her.

“I’m done. Goodbye.”

“…I see. Do whatever you want. It has nothing to do with me.”

I barely held back the urge to punch something.

She was the one who confessed first.

I had no interest in romance back then.

But when I was at my lowest, she was there for me.

To return the favor, I took her out to dinner, gave her gifts, traveled with her—and eventually, I fell for her too.

We had always been close as childhood friends.

She, her younger sister Haruka, and I had played together all the time.

Even when my parents died, they stayed by my side.

I had thought we’d be together forever.

We had even promised.

And now…

No. Forget it.

It’s over.

She was never something I needed in the first place.

That night, I had no appetite.

I just went home and went straight to bed.

The Next Day…

What a pain.

I got summoned.

“You’re here, Okita.”

“…”

The bastard’s father.

Akihito Kazuno, president of the Japan Dungeon Association.

I didn’t bother responding with words, just gave him a deadpan nod.

“We have a problem. I never expected the mission to fail.”

This absolute clown had the nerve to say that with the smuggest face I’d ever seen.

Who put this idiot in charge?

“In terms of combat ability, you should be stronger than any of China’s explorers. And yet… you failed. Someone has to take responsibility.”

Is he out of his mind?

Who said the Tokyo Dungeon and China’s dungeon had the same level of difficulty?

Even within the category of “high-level dungeons,” there was no confirmation that their floor structures were even comparable.

“So, you’re resigning? Thank you for your service.”

“…What?! Are you insane?! Why would I resign?!”

He exploded in anger, his face turning red and swollen like an overfilled balloon.

I wanted to pop it with a needle.

The association staff standing in the corner—would they lend me a pin?

…No. That guy was one of the president’s loyal dogs.

“Isn’t it the leader’s job to take responsibility?”

I figured I’d say it anyway.

“What nonsense. The association made thorough preparations. The failure was entirely the fault of the field team.”

“You mean, you sabotaged those preparations. And if it’s the field team’s fault, the leader of Myoujou is Hideaki Kazuno, correct?”

“Unfortunately, Hideaki couldn’t participate. If he had, such a failure wouldn’t have occurred.”

His face twitched at my sabotaged the preparations remark, but he shamelessly dodged his son’s accountability.

“What a shame. Watching him whimper and cry about his ‘injury’ when a simple healing spell could’ve fixed him in seconds was pathetic.”

“YOU BASTARD—!”

Maybe I should have kicked him in the crotch while I had the chance.

I could’ve put an end to their family line.

“You can act tough for now, but I’ve already informed the media.”

“Hah? Do whatever you want. I don’t give a damn about this garbage organization!”

Of course, they were trying to control the narrative.

They were prepared for this from the start.

“Unfortunately, someone has to take responsibility. That someone is you, Okita!”

“Screw this! I’m done with this place!”

And just like that, I was free.

Thinking about it…

Wasn’t this actually better for me?

My former teammates included a bastard, a cheating woman, another useless woman, a silent nobody, and Haruka.

Haruka was the only one I had any lingering concerns about.

The rest could rot for all I cared.

Now that I was free, maybe I should go mess around in the Pacific Dungeon—one of the few dungeons where free explorers could operate.