Chapter 12

The entire top floor of the high-rise building in Toranomon served as the office of the Japan Adventurer’s Association.

The vested interests held by the Adventurer’s Association, which managed both Japanese dungeons and the adventurers diving into them, were staggering.

Magic stones dropped by monsters were in high demand as high-energy-density battery materials. The Japan Adventurer’s Association held a total monopoly on the purchase and sale of those strategic materials.

Japan was the country with the second-highest number of dungeons in the world. However, due to the declining birthrate and aging population, the working-age population continued to shrink steadily.

Because of that, the Association spared no effort in securing workers. The measure they had struck upon was improving the public image of adventurers.

To wipe away the impressions of being grueling, dirty, and dangerous, they heavily favored good-looking adventurers to act as image characters.

Moreover, to prevent fatal accidents and the like, they meticulously analyzed each dungeon and devised strategies to clear them.

Rankings for adventurers within the Japan Adventurer’s Association came to be determined by whether or not they could execute the strategies for clearing Japanese dungeons.

This initiative had been a success in a sense.

Even young and inexperienced adventurers could rise to high ranks simply by acquiring the skills and magic listed within the clearing guides.

For young people, it was a way to aim for a high income, and by doing dungeon streaming, they could also satisfy their desire for validation.

Adventurers had become one of the most popular professions, and everything seemed to be progressing smoothly. However—

Yatsuka Mai, the director of the Japan Adventurer’s Association sitting alone in the meeting room, wore an expression as if she had bitten into a bitter bug.

Her gaze was directed toward a large monitor for web conferences. What was displayed on it was one of the vice chairmen of Japan Business Federation. In other words, a valued client for the Adventurer’s Association.

“America has reportedly already decided to dispatch an investigation team to Somalia. The leader is said to be the legendary S-rank adventurer, Gaston Friedman.”

The vice chairman continued in an accusing tone.

“It seems that the existence of a Japanese-speaking monster has been confirmed in the Somalia Dungeon, doesn’t it? Among researchers, it’s becoming a major topic of discussion that there might be something different about it compared to previous dungeons.”
“Yes…”

Yatsuka replied in a voice that seemed ready to fade away.

“I understand that the first person to successfully infiltrate that Somalia Dungeon was a Japanese citizen, correct? His name is Morokoshi Daitoku. Until recently, he belonged to the Japan Adventurer’s Association. However, by your order, Morokoshi’s adventurer license was revoked. He is proceeding with the conquest of the Somalia Dungeon as an ordinary civilian. Am I right?”
“That is correct.”

The vice chairman’s tone grew even harsher.

“Because you made a poor judgment call, even if he discovers items in the Somalia Dungeon that could lead to new technologies, the Japan Adventurer’s Association will be completely unable to get involved! Morokoshi might sell those precious items to countries other than Japan! Do you understand just how dangerous this is!?”
“I am terribly sorry…”

Yatsuka bowed her head deeply.

“As Japan Business Federation, we demand that you organize a Somalia Dungeon investigation team immediately. I want you to realize that there is not a single moment to lose.”
“Understood.”

Answering with her head still bowed, the web conference was unilaterally disconnected.

Remaining hunched over for a while, Yatsuka was unable to move.