CH 110

Episode 110: The Sloppy Man Is Still Sloppy Today (Third Person Perspective)

"What's going on with the Stampede?"

"Yes. We are splitting the forces that were originally intended to be used in the subjugation operation for the Shushima Dungeon in two. It's big, and we can't escape the damage."

"Haa ... I'm getting complaints from citizens about the Union again ..."

"It can't be helped. They don't know the actual situation ..."

Two people are having a conversation in the office of the Emergency Response Department Toshima Branch. One of them is Shindou, who is the owner of the room and the head of the Toshima Branch of the Emergency Response Department. The other is Yanagi Aki, who is his subordinate.

The two shared information about Stampedes that occured at various places.

"Even so, it's an abnormal situation to have Stampedes happen all over the world, isn't it?"

"That's right. Until now, there have been several Stampedes in the world, but this is the first time in history that more than 100 dungeons have caused Stampedes at the same time around the world."

Never before have to many dungeons simultaneously caused Stampedes. A number that does not reach double digits at most. This time it has passed double digits and reached triple digits. Clearly abnormal.

"If this happens, I'm suddenly curious about that theory."

"What? What is the theory?"

Aki muttered while staring into the air with a thoughtful look, and Shindou looked back at her with a puzzled expression.

"Do you not know about the Dungeon Invasion Theory?"

Aki with, 'Don't you know that?' such an expression on her face, replied with a look of surprise.

"Invasion? Those monsters that don't seem to have much intelligence?"

On Shindou's face, a sudden look of disbelief flashed across his face.

It might be so. Although monsters may flock with their companions, even if they live such a life, they don't even talk. He had no idea they were so intelligent.

"It's not necessarily them. There might be an entity controlling them, right? We still don't know what the dungeon is."

"That's true, but ..."

Shindou stutters at Aki's reply.

Come to think of it, they don't know anything about dungeons, so it wouldn't be strange for someone to create dungeons and create monsters.

"Also, did you know? The concentration of mana around the world is steadily increasing."

"Oh, I heard that story."

There are institutions around the world that research magical power, and those intitutions have equipment that measures magical power, but it was observed that the concentration was rising year by year at institutions around the world.

"Doesn't it feel like that? It's like someone somewhere is using the dungeon to create an environment where they can live."

"Aren't you guessing a bit too much?"

It's true that such an idea is understandable, but it seemed to Shindou that it was a bit too far-fetched.

"It seems that due to these Stampedes, the concentration of mana at observation points around the world is jumping up at an accelerating rate.

"Something that controls the dungeons ... if there is such a thing, isn't the world doomed?"

Shindou gradually began to think seriously about Aki's words.

Already an area of disaster, such as monsters in SSS-rank dungeons. If someone who could manipulate something like that was an enemy, that would indiciate a hopeless difference in power.

"Maybe ... but, regardless of the future, we have no choice but to do what we can do now."

"Understood."

They nodded to each other with a wry smile at the conclusion they reached.

While thinking that they don't want such a future to come if possible ...

- Don Don Don

The sound of a violent knock on the door resounds in the room when the atmosphere becomes a little depressing.

"Yanagi, let them in."

"I understand."

Following Shindou's instructions, Aki opens the door.

"Kya."

"Section Chief, it's serious!!"

As soon as the door opens, an employee rushes inside. Wearing an impatient expression and doesn't even seem to notice Aki. Aki is blown away and screams, but she is an explorer. She steadies herself without falling.

"What is it!? You didn't even ask for confirmation!!"

"Eh! Oh! Excuse me!! I'm in a hurry!!"

"Really ... will you be more careful next time?"

"Yes. Excuse me."

And she yelled at the staff who entered the room with such momentum.

The staff finally notices Aki's existence, understands that she was pushed away, and lowers their head. Seeing that, Aki folds her arms and exhales deeply, relaxing her disgruntled face and admonishes the staff.

"Now, now, Yanagi. That person must have been impatient, too. Please leave it at that."

"I know."

"So, what happened?"

Aki answers Shindou with a frustrated expression. Shindou ignores Aki and continues the story.

"Yes ... that is, the dungeon near ESJ in Tohoku has caused a Stampede!!"

"Damn. Is this a new Stampede here?"

Shindou curses the new information brought by the staff.

Now high-ranked and notable explorers flew to Hokkaidou and Kyuushuu to handle two Stampedes. If you hear such information in such a situation, it is not unreasonable to curse.

"We have already contacted the Emergency Response Departments of the branches in various parts of the Tohoku Region. They can't afford it, so ..."

"If another Stampede were to occur far away, we wouldn't be able to handle it, and even if we moved from here by helicopter, it would still take some time. What the hell is going on ..."

"Certainly, if a Stampede of this scale were to occur, there is a possibility that the explorers who have exclusive contracts with ESJ alone would not be able to handle it."

All three of them fell silent.

Here comes a new Stampede. It is possible that there will be more. They need to also have some reserves. While they were out somewhere, a Stampede could occur somewhere else and the area would be devastated. One or two more would be manageable, but if there were more than that, the damage to the general public would be great.

"For the time being, the least we can do is to support them."

"Is that so."

"Understood. The Union will send half our people. Please adjust accordingly."

"I understand."

"Phew. What should I do?"

Shindou involuntarily complained about the difficult situation.

- Don Don Don

A few minutes later there was another loud knock, and at the same time someone entered the room without permission. It was Aki.

"Section Chief!! The dungeon stampede near ESJ has come to an end!!"

"Huh!?"

It's no wonder Shindou raised his voice at the premature ending.

"Why did it finish so quickly?"

"I don't know the details, but it seems that there was an explorer who came to visit the ESJ, and with the cooperation of that explorer, they were able to successfully deal with it."

"Do you know who the collaborator was?"

Certainly, if high-ranked explorers who haven't been sent to Hokkaidou or Kyuushuu are cooperating, it woudln't be strange for it to end quickly. However, he shoudl have called out to most of the high-ranked explorers, and basically confirmed where they were.

Among them, there should have been no one going to the ESJ suburbs.

"The staff were all busy dealing with the Stampede, and the witnesses didn't seem to know much about it. It was said that there was no data left."

"What are the ESJs saying?"

Shindou listens to the opinions while thinking that neither this one nor that one is useful.

"It's strange that they said that they were helped by an E-rank explorer, but that shouldn't be the case. The scale of the Stampede this time is too different."

Aki groaned again and looked into the distance and answered.

" ~ !?"

The moment Shindou hears the words 'E-rank explorer', he is astonished at the possibility. That person has been on the spot as a party in most of the various incidents so far.

"Aki!! Check the name of that E-rank explorer right away!!"

"Wha, what happened!?"

"Just go!! Right now!!"

"Ye, yes!!"

Aki rushed out of the room while being terrified by Shindou's threatening attitude.

"If my guess is not wrong, then your name should be there. Right ... Satou Fuhito?"

In this way, both the world and the environment surrouding Fuhito was about to show dramatic changes without his knowledge.

"Even so, no matter how long I wait, he doesn't show up at the Union. Call me when he visits the Union, I thought I would face him with dignity. Give me back the feelings I've been waiting for!!"

He was Shindou, a man who was as sloppy as ever.