“This is bad, this is really bad, this is no joke…” Kazamidori muttered, hugging his knees and trembling in a fetal position.
This is wrong. Why am I in this situation?
His affair with Michiko had been exposed. Two million was demanded.
He claimed he didn’t know she was married, that he had been deceived, but all the evidence was stacked against him.
He told his lawyer he had no money, but they had thoroughly investigated the weapons and armor hidden in his Inventory.
But, this sword and armor, I bought them with all my savings, and if I let them go, I can’t become a super streamer and I still won’t have enough to pay off my debts, right?
So, he needed money.
His credit cards were maxed out, and he couldn’t rely on loan sharks anymore… so he advertised for a part-time job on social media.
“I’ll do anything in the Dungeon!” he posted.
Then a request came in. The client was a young JK. There was no reason to refuse. Besides, if he could get on good terms with the girl, she could replace Michiko…
But it turned out to be a kidnapping.
He thought it was bad news, but he’d already received the money, so, well, to a degree that wouldn’t be a crime? He’d take her a little further away and try to persuade the JK in the meantime… but it turned out he’d kidnapped the companion of some scary Salaryman.
And he was taken down without even realizing it!
He regained consciousness midway and barely managed to escape. Is this the end for me?
“Ugh, why am I so unlucky? What did I ever do…?”
If his affair with the woman hadn’t been exposed.
If the JK’s invitation hadn’t been such a dangerous kidnapping.
If the other party wasn’t a Salaryman’s disciple… wasn’t his luck just too bad?
If you keep rolling 1s on the dice, you can’t win at the Game of Life, I’m at my limit… my family already disowned me and told me not to contact them…
As Kazamidori hugged his knees, his Smartphone vibrated.
He jumped back, and saw—ugh, Gouyoku.
“P-President…”
“Hey, you. What’s the status on the Kageichi investigation?”
“Well, I investigated as hard as I could… he doesn’t seem to use any Skills, oh, except his Inventory is unusually large.”
“You’re useless. Never mind, next. Find out what Quest Kageichi is participating in next.”
“Eh!? Ah, well, I’m a little busy right now…”
“Where are you anyway? My GPS says you’re in a Dungeon.”
“W-well, yeah… I’m being chased right now…”
That’s right. After escaping from Kiraboshi, Kazamidori hadn’t left the Nagi Plains and had gone underground.
He was stuck in a dead end, barely managing to fend off the Monsters.
After all, if the Labyrinth Agency guys were watching the exit Gate and said, “You’re under arrest!” that would be bad!
His face is known… he was just deceived, he didn’t do anything wrong…
“Ugh… can’t you do something, President?”
“You really are a hopeless idiot… well, that’s why I have to take care of a fool like you.”
There was a hint of mockery in Gouyoku’s tone.
Yeah, everyone makes a fool of me… this President probably sees me as a disposable pawn…
“Fine. I’ll prepare an escape route for you.”
“…Eh?”
“The Nagi Plains has multiple entrances and exits, and many people come and go. I’ll have a party of available guys go in, and you can swap places with one of them and come out. After that, I’ll arrange for you to be holed up in a Gyokuryu Society hideout.”
“Really, President!”
A god! This guy is a god, I’m sorry for thinking you were a greedy old geezer!
“I’ll follow you for life!”
“Then do your job properly. Got it? Kageichi’s next Quest. You know where his office is, right? Follow him and contact me when he enters the Dungeon. It’s an easy job.”
“Yes sir! Leave it to me, I’ll do it perfectly!”
“…Don’t get caught, okay? Well, even if you do get caught, it won’t be a big loss.”
The call ended, and Kazamidori let out a triumphant yell.
That was close, really close! He thought he was going to die in the Dungeon!
Just in the nick of time… karma… a 6 on the dice, finally…!
As expected, if you keep living, things will work out…!
Alright! Kazamidori stood up energetically and immediately used his Smartphone as a mirror to fix his hair.
If a woman is coming to pick him up, he can’t show her his bad side. It’s the worst that he’s covered in mud from running around in the Dungeon.
Well, he’ll use his witty talk to… so, investigate Kageichi’s next Quest.
Even if he’s told to do that, he doesn’t know how, and he has a feeling that if he tries to tail that guy, he’ll get caught… oh, that’s right, it’s easy!
Kazamidori tapped his Smartphone again.
The person he contacted was—incredibly, Kageichi himself.
“Yo! Brother, I’ve got some juicy information for you.”
“Is it something that requires contacting me outside of business hours?”
“Seriously, it’s big news! The President asked me to find out what Quest you’re going on next. So, won’t you tell me?”
“…What?”
Kageichi raised his voice in rare confusion, and Kazamidori puffed out his chest.
You don’t get it? You don’t get my intention?
“I’ll tell the President about your next Quest. The President will try to do something to you, but you’ll brilliantly turn the tables! This way, I’m safe, and you’re safe!”
“But if the attack on me fails, won’t the President scold you?”
“Eh, why? The President is the one who failed, it’s not my responsibility.”
“…Huh?”
“Hmm? Did I say something strange?”
“……Ah, excuse me. There was too much of a leap in logic just now. You seem to be acting with a logic far removed from my understanding.”
Oh, it seems Kageichi-ossan has recognized my genius. I’m happy.
So, about that?
In exchange for telling you this, let’s call it even for the JK incident… ah, but Kageichi-ossan doesn’t know about it yet?
…Maybe I should keep quiet.
I’ll tell him if he asks, right? Right? It was a misunderstanding that I attacked her, and the JK is safe.
“I understand your situation. Then please tell the other party. I will be going to the 13th floor of the middle layer of the Nagi Plains for material gathering on the next Quest. Even though I’m a Cleaner, I sometimes take on that kind of job.”
“Got it! Then, Brother, be careful. I’ll follow you for life!”
Alright! Alright, alright, alright! This is perfect!
The momentum is coming. It’s definitely coming…!
He’s earned Brother’s trust with this. He feels bad for the President, but he wants the next operation to fail… ah, should it succeed?
If Kageichi-ossan disappears, that’s one less thing to worry about.
Ah, but then again, the debt to the President will still be there, hmm.
…Well, either way is fine? He should side with whoever wins.
Siding with the strong is the most cost-effective way to live.
I’m so smart! As Kazamidori swung his arms around happily, his Smartphone rang again.
It seems his ride has arrived.
Heh. Now he can safely return. What, maybe things will work out after all—
“Get out here. Contact me when that man makes a move.”
“Huh!?”
The place where he was dropped off by the man with the scar on his cheek was in front of the apartment building where Kageichi lived.
Eh. He didn’t hear about this?
“…No… the next Quest that man is going on is on the 13th floor of the Nagi Plains…”
“Where did you get that information? How reliable is it?”
“I-It’s okay. It’s not a lie—”
“This isn’t a kids’ game, kid. You get paid for doing your job properly. Half-assed work is meaningless… You know what’ll happen if you run to the police, right?”
With a click, a gun appeared from the man’s pocket, and Kazamidori started whimpering as he took up his post.
Ugh, why is my luck so bad…?
“Clean up your own mess. You’re here now because you couldn’t do that.”
The man kicked Kazamidori’s butt, laughed, and drove away.
In the cold sky, Kazamidori sat down in the shadow of a utility pole, trembling and praying… please don’t let me be found.
Also, if you’re going to make me a lookout, at least provide a house or a car! Are you an idiot!