I resist the urge to crush the cup in my hand, glaring at Shirogasaki-san, but she remains unfazed.
Watching her gracefully sip her tea while steadily gazing at Kageichi in front of her only fuels my irritation.
Seriously, this young lady is…!
“Hmm. Shirogasaki-san, may I ask for your reasoning?”
“It’s simple. Kiraboshi-san is still a high school student, a minor. Of course, she’s not prohibited from working part-time… but still, using violent weapons to defeat Monsters in a dangerous place like a Dungeon… I think it’s dangerous.”
“Shirogasaki-san, don’t decide things without asking me!”
Kiraboshi-san raises her voice in protest, but Kageichi calmly raises his hand to stop her.
“Kiraboshi-san, I understand your feelings, but let’s hear her opinion first.”
“But!”
“I am in favor of exchanging opinions through dialogue. I will give a proper ‘thank you’ for one-sided imposition of logic or acts involving violence, but I have no reason to refuse if we start with dialogue.”
“It’s okay,” he says, and Kiraboshi-san reluctantly backs down.
But if anything happens, I’ll bite her right away–!
“So, young lady. What do you mean by dangerous?”
“As you know, exterminating Monsters in Dungeons is very dangerous. We shouldn’t let high school students do such a job. Don’t you think so too, Kageichi-san?”
“I understand your feelings. However, under current law, there is no law that prohibits high school students from entering Dungeons or working as Cleaners.”
“It’s a matter of ethics… We are still children. Of course, I don’t think so, but legally we are not recognized as adults yet. Yet, I don’t think we should do things that could cause lifelong injuries.”
Hmm, delicious, Kageichi-san says, enjoying the plum kombucha tea he was served.
“I can understand what you’re saying.”
“Thank you… Besides, Kiraboshi-san isn’t originally the type to fight or be violent. She’s serious at school, listens to everyone, and meets the teacher’s expectations. She’s my precious friend… I don’t want her to participate in such barbaric acts as Monster extermination. It’s dirty… Am I saying something strange?”
“No. I don’t find your idea particularly strange.”
Under the table, Kiraboshi-san grinds her heel into the floor.
Ah, frustrating. Really frustrating–but right now, all I can do is listen.
“Kageichi-san, I went to the Dungeon with Kiraboshi-san and her friend just now. Honestly, it was partly for fun, and I went with the light intention of deepening friendships. But an incident occurred where Kiraboshi-san and her friend were attacked… They were almost subjected to terrible things by a bad man.”
“That was a disaster. Are they alive? What about the other party?”
“Yes, fortunately… Eh, the other party? He ran away, but…”
“I see. Well, evidence will remain. In the near future, should I teach you a method to leave no evidence, even if it’s not a landmine?”
Hmm, too bad, Kageichi-san says, crossing his arms.
I’ll keep quiet about the fact that the conversation seems to be meshing but isn’t.
And Sensei, please tell me more about methods that leave no evidence.
“Excuse me,” Kageichi-san interrupts the story, urging Shirogasaki-san to continue.
“I don’t know the circumstances under which Kageichi-san invited Kiraboshi-san. But… if possible, would you please withdraw your offer?”
“Hypothetically speaking, what if I refuse?”
“…I can prepare a certain amount of money.”
“Kiraboshi-san seems to have very unique friends. For better or worse.”
Watching Kageichi-san laugh and leisurely sip from his cup… my heart wavers just a little.
I don’t think it will happen, but.
If Kageichi-san thought that Kiraboshi-san should live a normal high school life and abandoned her.
Then, I would…
“Kiraboshi-san’s opinion is that she wants to continue her Cleaner business, right?”
“Of course.”
“Kiraboshi-san…”
“However, Shirogasaki-san, you wouldn’t be satisfied just because she said so. Dungeons are always dangerous. No matter how much I try to be considerate, I can’t guarantee 100% safety.”
“…If you understand that much, then please fulfill your responsibility as an adult.”
“I understand your claim.”
“Thank you for the meal,” Kageichi-san says, enjoying the plum kombucha tea and putting his hands together. Then,
“Well. As an adult, I will explain this matter from a different approach.”
Kageichi-san spins his Smartphone around and places it on the table.
On the screen is a live video by a famous Dungeon Streamer.
“S-Rank Dungeon ‘Nagi Plains’ Easy Low-Level攻略 by a team of active high school students.”
The video, titled “How to Defeat Earth Golems That Anyone Can Defeat,” which explains their weaknesses, has been viewed 100,000 times.
“This is a common Dungeon攻略 streaming video by high school students in this day and age… You said Dungeons are dangerous, but they are fighting normally. Active high school students are. Is this any different from the Cleaner business?”
“That’s… but the Dungeons you challenge for work are more difficult.”
“They are also攻略ing the middle layers. Although they are in the development枠 of a famous 攻略 team, it is not uncommon for high school students to participate. And I am a professional Hunter, and Kiraboshi-san is working under my supervision.”
In other words, Kageichi-san says, raising his index finger.
“Kiraboshi-san’s participation is a very common act that is more common than you think.”
“But… it’s true that there is a risk to her life. Such a dangerous thing…”
“Then, why don’t you prohibit it by law?”
Huh?
Shirogasaki-san is as surprised as if she had been hit in the face with a beanbag, and Kageichi-san laughs.
“Prohibitions. There are some in our country, right? Typical examples include alcohol, tobacco, obscene expressions, and driver’s licenses. Marriage is not allowed until the age of eighteen, and the law properly regulates dangerous things.
So, what about Dungeons?
Life-threatening dangerous acts. Countless accidents occur every year, yet why doesn’t the government prohibit it? …I might add, why are high school students’ 攻略 videos being distributed to the world so casually? Have you ever thought about it?”
“That’s, but…”
“If they are streaming dangerous things, they should ban the account, right? But streaming is being done as a matter of course, and the government doesn’t even try to restrict it. Why is that?”
Let’s change our approach and think about it.
Shirogasaki-san is being manipulated by Kageichi-san, who is changing his tactics like a magician… and Kiraboshi-san is also having her senses distorted.
Come to think of it, why–can high school students participate in Dungeon攻略?