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 4

“Sister, what is the meaning of this?”

“What are you talking about?”

I couldn’t forgive my sister for cheating. So, I confronted her.

“I’m talking about big brother! Why did you cheat on him? And with that guy of all people?!”

My brother hated Hideaki Kazuno.

I didn’t like him either.

He was good-looking, sure—but selfish and only ever thought about himself.

Why would she choose him?

Was it just to hurt my brother?

“You wouldn’t understand. You’re just a child.”

“Stop treating me like a kid!”

I hated how my sister brushed me off like that.

She had always been like this.

I had loved my brother more than she did, and she knew it.

Yet she stole him away anyway.

Maybe my brother had confessed first—he always looked happy with her—but that didn’t change the fact that she had committed the worst betrayal in the worst way possible.

“He was too much for me. And I was lonely.”

She lowered her head slightly as she spoke, but there was no way I could accept her words.

“That’s your excuse?! And why that bastard?! He faked an injury just to dodge the expedition! Even you, a C-rank healer, could’ve fixed it in seconds!”

“Hmph… there you go again, looking down on me. The reason doesn’t matter. I was alone for six months. And he was there. That’s all.”

That’s all?!

That had nothing to do with big brother!

She was just weak.

And it wasn’t like my brother wanted to go.

He had been forced into it—pinned down by national expectations, a pre-determined plan, and no way out.

And we were part of the reason he had no way out.

Yet she—

“It’s over now. Don’t drag this back up. He left, didn’t he? That’s the end of it.”

I was left speechless by how utterly selfish she was.

She hurt him so one-sidedly.

Did she hate him or something?

After all those years he spent protecting us?

SMACK!

I slapped her with all my strength.

“If hitting me will make you feel better, go ahead. I’ll just heal myself anyway.”

She spoke without a shred of emotion.

The person standing in front of me was no longer the sister I once knew.

A Reckless Order

I was already feeling awful, and I wanted to go home claiming I was sick, but I got summoned before I could.

The room was filled with members of Myoujou, the Dungeon Association’s president, Akihito Kazuno, an association officer named Yumeno Minagawa, and two officials from the Defense Ministry.

The second I saw them, I had a very bad feeling.

And I was right.

The order they gave us was suicidal.

“I need Myoujou to return to Tokyo Dungeon and resume the conquest. This isn’t just my decision—it’s a government order.”

Even with my brother, we couldn’t do it.

And now, without him?

My head was spinning with disbelief.

“This time, I’ll be leading. There’s no problem.”

Why was he so confident?

Even a hundred Kazunos wouldn’t compare to my brother.

…Well, if a hundred Kazunos laughed creepily at the same time, my brother might die from secondhand embarrassment, but still.

“Ugh, last time was so bad, but I’ll totally do better this time! Oh, but make sure I get paid properly. ”

My brother called this one Trash Woman #1.

She twirled her split-ended hair with one hand and shot the president a very pointed look when she mentioned money.

She was basically a gold-digger at this point.

“This time, Shuu-chan’s gonna protect us, so we’ll be just fine! ”

My brother’s Trash Woman #2 was clinging to Kazuno, all smiles and over-the-top gestures.

Hey, Fire Dragon from the 88th floor—could you incinerate these two for me?

Please?

“…”

“Natsuki says she agrees.”

She literally said nothing, but Kazuno declared it anyway.

…Have I ever even heard her voice before?

“And of course, you’re on board too, right, Haruka?”

“…”

Kazuno kept glancing at the Defense Ministry officials as he spoke.

No way in hell was I okay with this.

“Of course not! Even with Koichi, we couldn’t do it! How do you plan to clear the 90th floor and beyond?! And no other teams are joining this time! After what happened last time, everyone’s staying away!”

At least Yumeno Minagawa was sane.

“How pathetic. They’re too cowardly to even try again.”

Says the guy who skipped out on the mission because of a paper-cut.

Did your boomerang come back yet, Kazuno? Or is it still orbiting space?

As I watched the back-and-forth, Kazuno suddenly stepped up to me and whispered in my ear.

Too close.

I felt sick just from his presence.

“If you don’t join, I suppose I’ll just have to bring Akane instead. You’re fine with that, right?”

…What?

No way.

Akane was a low-ranking healer.

She wouldn’t survive in a place like that.

I glared at him, but he just smirked back.

Utter scum.

Did he force my brother the same way?

And while my brother was away, did he steal my sister?

He was disgusting.

I had no choice.

I nodded.

Yumeno argued against it, but nothing changed.

The News Report

“Now, for tonight’s special interview! We have Kotone and Ayaka from Myoujou joining us!”

“Good evening~! ”

Those two airheads were eating up the attention.

They said they wanted to restore their reputation after the damage caused by my brother.

Idiots.

“We’ve heard Myoujou will be returning to Tokyo Dungeon next week. How do you feel about it?”

The same anchor who had slandered my brother non-stop was now smiling politely.

“Oh, I still had plenty of energy last time! I was saving my ultimate move, but then we got forced to leave. This time, I’ll show my full power! ”

That’s rich, coming from Ayaka—the so-called “magician” who couldn’t hit a moving target.

“I was only injured because of Koichi’s mistake. Then he forced me to retreat. I’m so glad he’s gone. This time, our real leader, Hideaki Kazuno, will be with us. There’s nothing to worry about! ”

Fwoooosh…

…

The one who made a mistake was you.

You provoked the dragon, and you got blasted for it.

This interview was so revolting that I shut the TV off.

“So, you’re going too, huh? Just don’t drag Hideaki down.”

Akane spoke smugly, despite knowing nothing.

I wanted to slap her again.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I just clutched the charm my brother gave me and went to sleep.