Confused, Shirogasaki desperately tried to find the right words, feeling she had to say something.
But the words wouldn’t come. She felt she had to say something, but Shirogasaki’s words unraveled like threads.
Shirogasaki simply thought it was an ethical and safety issue…
Certainly, Dungeon exploration wasn’t regulated by current laws. But, still!
“E-Even so, it’s a dangerous activity…”
“As I said before, I understand the danger. But it’s also a fact that ordinary high school students are participating according to the rules. It’s also a fact that it’s not regulated by law. Don’t you think it’s too overprotective and exceptional to say that only Kiraboshi-san is not allowed to?”
“…”
“If you were her mother, I could understand your excessive worry. But I feel it’s rather unusual for just a friend to protest to her boss at her part-time job.”
Shirogasaki bit her lip, unable to think of a rebuttal.
On the Smartphone he placed on the table, the high school students from earlier were smiling and casting magic.
…Cool Skills. Swords, spears, and flying blades that everyone admired.
Young women of the same age stood beside the boys, calmly casting magic—that was the everyday life of Japan now.
But. But that was still wrong.
That’s right, she had seen it on social media. Opinions from those against Dungeons…!
“Ugh, it’s legally permitted, but there are many opinions against participating in Dungeons! There are also opinions that the entry of civilians should be prohibited like in the old days, and the government should properly manage them!”
“So you want only Kiraboshi-san to be bound by that opinion? Setting aside all the other high school students?”
“That’s not it! I’m just talking about how dangerous it is!”
“I admit it’s dangerous. But under current law, there’s no reason to fault her actions. In that case, isn’t it a matter of individual free will? Or does Shirogasaki-san want to take Smartphones away from all high school students because SNS is dangerous?”
Ugh, if he put it that way, it sounded like…
Shirogasaki was being unilaterally selfish.
But that wasn’t it. I’m right, Shirogasaki glared at the Suit Man in front of her.
She didn’t know, but he was using some kind of swindler’s trick. She couldn’t be fooled. –Think!
“Then, the current government policy is wrong. Letting anyone enter such a dangerous thing as a Dungeon…”
“Globally speaking, most countries allow anyone to enter Dungeons.”
“Even so, it should be prohibited in our country!”
Yes, it was wrong in the first place for high school students to go to Dungeons in Japan right now–!
“Let me show you a sophistry. Have you ever appealed that opinion to the world before?”
“…Huh?”
“You are in your second year of high school, and I apologize for the fact that you don’t have the right to vote, but have you ever appealed that sense of crisis to others? There are also activity groups that oppose civilians entering Dungeons. Have you ever engaged in such activities?”
…No. She had never even thought about it.
For Shirogasaki, Dungeons were familiar but distant.
Kageichi chuckled mockingly.
“Shirogasaki-san. The world calls it this when you suddenly bring it up now, even though you’ve never thought about it before: an afterthought.”
“—!”
“Let me throw some harsh words at you. You’ve been using the big subject of the world, minors, and high school students since earlier–but isn’t it really just that you personally want to stop Kiraboshi-san from exploring Dungeons?”
“That’s not…”
“Using a big subject is a common trick of liars. Don’t you often hear about it? The imposing people on TV are trying to push through selfish and self-righteous opinions while saying it’s for the sake of the people and the weak.”
Because it’s common in the world.
Because it’s normal for Japanese people to think that way.
I’m a pitiful victim, a weak person–it’s the perfect excuse, Kageichi laughed.
“I recommend you fix it before you develop bad habits.”
“…But it’s a fact that it’s dangerous.”
“Yes, it’s dangerous. And as I’ve repeated many times, why is such a dangerous act left unchecked? Is the government just stupid?”
Why does the government approve of jobs like Streaming?
Why aren’t videos that could be taken as dangerous acts deleted?
Why doesn’t society stop ordinary high school students from going viral and becoming famous in Dungeons?
“…I don’t know. Why is that?”
“There are several reasons. But the biggest reason is that the government strongly recommends that citizens explore Dungeons.”
“Huh???”
“There are economic and research and development reasons for this–but the biggest reason is that the government believes that the threat of Dungeons will increase exponentially in the future. I agree. Especially when you consider the “Final Boss” that will eventually appear.”
“…………”
“Cleaners are currently in charge of cleaning Dungeons, but in the future, ordinary people may have to fight Monsters in their daily lives. It’s not unnatural to think that it’s necessary to get used to Dungeons now as a foundation for that.”
The opening of Dungeons to the general public was also part of that.
The same reason why Dungeons were added to high school classes.
The reason why Dungeon-related businesses are so popular is also because of the government’s strong support.
The government opened Dungeons to the world, knowing that underground crime would increase–that was Kageichi’s reasoning.
“Just because it’s dangerous, you should ban it. Your opinion is perfectly decent… But in this world, you can’t just blindly cover things up because they’re dangerous… To put it in a provocative way, a current high school student can understand that it’s wrong to say that sexual activity is shameful, so you don’t need to know anything about it, right?”
He understood the people’s desire for safety and security.
However, it was also a fact that if they sought 100% safety too much, they would overlook future crises, Kageichi said.
“There are various ways of looking at things in the world. There is no 100% good, no 100% evil. Just as violence is not necessarily a bad thing.”
“Wait, violence is 100% evil!”
“Then what about public power? The Self-Defense Forces? Is the nuclear umbrella evil?”
“That’s too extreme!”
“Yes, that was an extreme argument. But conversely, it is also an extreme argument to say that violence is 100% wrong.”
Shirogasaki’s thoughts froze–how could that be?
Bad is bad.
You should cherish your friends.
That should have been a firm belief in her, but… certainly, when he put it that way…
“On top of that, let’s get back to the main topic… Kiraboshi-san is aware of the dangers of Dungeons and is studying under me, right?”
“Yes. I’m grateful and happy to be able to learn in the Dungeon with you, Sensei.”
Kiraboshi, who had been silent, nodded strongly.
Like a fish in water, she was very energetic… but, that was…
“Happy… in a Dungeon…”
“There are no Legal Regulations. The government recommends Dungeon exploration. They are also taking safety into consideration. On top of that, she wants to explore Dungeons herself and feels happy about it. Do you have any further objections?”
“…”
No good. She couldn’t think of any rebuttals.
Of course, she could rebut in her mind. It was a false accusation. A coward. Dungeons were really dangerous, and earlier, someone attacked her even on the first floor, and Kiraboshi-san jumped on her.
But, but to admit that, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely–
“It’s wrong… the world is strange… it’s crazy…”
“I think so too. But if it’s crazy but it’s reality, you need to deal with reality. You can’t eat with just correctness in this world, and one day you’ll realize reality.”
“Ugh…!”
“Feel free to give me your opinions and rebuttals at any time. I’m always open to dialogue, but only when I have time.”
Kageichi showed the余裕 of a winner and left his seat.
He was taking Shirogasaki’s friend with him, saying he had work to do.
But. But Shirogasaki couldn’t think of any rebuttals right now–.
“Finally. One piece of advice for you, young lady. It’s okay to argue, but stop imposing your one-sided opinions.”
“…”
“If you’re going to argue, do it without lies, exaggerations, or deceptions… If you don’t do that and just try to get your own way, using unconscious sophistry–if you don’t even realize that yourself, it’s unconscious evil. It’s the most hateful folly in this world.”
“…I’m. Evil?”
“Yes. If you’re going to do that, it’s far better to be someone who is aware that they are evil. –The most troublesome evil in this world is absolute justice, who believes they are right.”
It’s a little lesson from an old man, he said condescendingly as he left,… and Shirogasaki gritted her teeth in frustration.
No. He was wrong.
I’m right.
What’s wrong with getting along with friends and stopping them from participating in dungeons to prevent them from getting into dangerous situations?
“Ugh…!”
That man is wrong. Absolutely, positively wrong.
I don’t know exactly what’s wrong, but there’s no value in listening to the words of a spiteful adult who goes out of their way to nitpick and deny people getting along.
Shirogasaki’s whole body felt like it was boiling, her head seething with heat.
I’ll thoroughly investigate when I get home. I’ll definitely prove that Kageichi’s reasoning is wrong.
I’m going to save Kiraboshi-san—
Tears of frustration welling up, Shirogasaki, left alone, searched for the bill with irritation.
…I can’t find it.
She looked up with a start, only to see Kageichi, bill in hand, finishing the payment with electronic money, and passing through the automatic doors with Kiraboshi.
It was as if he was showing off to her.
Experiencing the humiliation of having her precious friend stolen, defiled by that old man, Shirogasaki clenched her fist unconsciously, overwhelmed by the emotions churning within her heart.
I won’t hand her over.
Absolutely not.
That girl is my friend, after all—