*

　Bitterness spreads in your mouth.
　If I had to name a similar taste, it would be a cocktail I drank out of curiosity, or a similar one I bought at a hundred-yen store.
　No, I think there's a more accurate way to describe it.
　Makoto groaned as he searched for an accurate description.
　The existence of a certain object suddenly flashed through my mind.
　Of course, it's not something to drink.
　Probably up to ninety-nine out of a hundred people will say they've never drunk it.
　I've never drunk it, but--'

'Maybe it tastes like hairdresser.
What?

　He opened his eyes, surprised at the answer.
　Then a girl wearing black-rimmed glasses was looking down at Mako.
　Her shiny black hair was shoulder-length and the tips were cropped as if measured with a ruler.
　Her nose was prominent and her lips were thin.
　His eyes, which could be seen through the lens, were slightly hanging.
　He wears a black cloak and a triangular hat like a wizard's hat.
　He is wearing a white sailor suit underneath the cape, so his age must be between fifteen and eighteen years old.

'Halloween?'
Of course not. You're better now, so get up now.

　The girl's brusque attitude irritates me.
　I'm 40 years old and I don't know what's so sad about having to be spoken to by a high school girl in a casual manner.
　However, she can't just lie there forever.
　Makoto tried to sit up and frowned.

'My head, it hurts.'

　Holding my temples, I let my gaze wander.
　All I see in my vision, though, is a rock.
　It seems that we are in a cave.
　Somehow, I was able to make out what was going on inside the cave even though there was nothing that looked like a light source.

''What is this place?''
It's a dungeon, of course.
A dungeon?

　Mako couldn't help but ask back.

'Yes.'
Are you dreaming?
I'm sorry, but it's true.

　The girl said with a sigh.
　It was hard to believe, but the pain running through her temples was real for a dream.

'If I don't know where I am, I wonder if I've been summoned directly?　I thought he was one of us because he was lying there covered in blood, but--
Bloody?

　Mako looked down at herself and gasped. His coat was covered in blood.
　And it was torn to shreds.
　I'm not sure.
　My memory is confused.

'What the hell?'
Don't ask me.
No, wait a minute. Why am I in this place?

　Makoto fished through his memories.
　Today should have been an uneventful day.
　He woke up in his apartment, went to the office, and stayed up until just before the last train to work on his materials.
　And then--

'I was attacked in the park.
Was he attacked?
'Yes!　I've been attacked!

　Mako stood up and looked around.

'd*mn it!　I'm not going to cry!　d*mn it!
You need to calm down!
'This is not the way to stay calm!　I'm beaten to death over here and I can't even sue the police!
That doesn't mean it can't be done!
Shut up, high school girl!　You should have more respect for your elders!
'The elders?　At best, it's tame!
No way!
All right, well, then you'll have to show me the evidence.

　Mako held out her driver's license, which she took out of her purse.
　She hadn't expected the license she'd gotten at the company's behest to be useful in a place like this.
　The girl took the license in her hand and squinted at it like a stinker.

'Where did you pick it up?'
He's the one!
Well, it's not all that dissimilar.

　Irritated by the girl's attitude, Makoto searched the inside pocket of his jacket to get a cigarette.
　Then she noticed something.
　The sleeve length was long.
　Not just sleeve length, but trouser length as well.
　His waist was bulging and his leather shoes were no longer the right size.
　What does this mean?

"Do you have a mirror?
I have it, but don't lose it.

　The girl held out a hand mirror to me with a sense of reluctance.
　Mako repeats a deep breath. I think I'm thinking of something stupid.
　Fearfully, she looked into the mirror and saw Mako there.
　Not as an old man tired of life, but as a young boy with an innocent look on his face.

''.........I'm getting younger. Ugh, oh no, oh no. I'm getting young again.
You don't have much of a vocabulary for a young man.
But I don't like the look in your eyes.

　I ignore the girl's sarcasm and stare at my reflection in the mirror.
　My younger self would have had a slightly milder look in his eyes.

'Well, it can't be helped. You've been through a lot~'
Give me the mirror back.
Oh, yeah, I'm sorry.

　Makoto handed the mirror back to the girl.

''Well I see, you've gotten younger.

　I mutter in a daze. The elation I felt earlier has already disappeared.
　Instead, what dominates my chest is a vague sense of unease.

'What am I going to do now?'
Like it or not, we have to get out of the dungeon.

　I'm annoyed by his spiky tone.

'Let me have a cigarette. Let's talk then.
Cigarettes at a time like this?
Let me have a smoke, at least.

　When you're annoyed, you have to smoke.
　Makoto pulled a Marlboro out of his pocket and lit it with his Zippo.
　He choked violently as he tried to lead the purple smoke deep into his lungs.

'Ugh, this is f*cking disgusting.'
Are you done?
I'm not done.

　Mako took the Marlboro into her mouth again and choked hard again.
　Once his breathing had calmed down, he tried again, but the result was the same.

'Is this another effect of rejuvenation?'
It's a good thing you quit smoking.
I thought quitting smoking was something you could do on your own.

　Mako dumped the smoking Marlboro on the ground.

'Now we can finally get down to business.
I'm older than you, in case you didn't know.
What does it matter?
Isn't there a way to talk?
I'm the one who saved your life, sweetheart. You should be more grateful to me for saving your life by using that precious water potion.

　Tsk, Mako clicked her tongue.
　If you say one thing, it comes back to you more than twice as much.
　This is why I don't like women.

'I understand.
I'm glad you understand.

　The sarcastic tone of voice annoys me, but I can't even begin to complain.

'We're talking about escaping the dungeon, though. Where are we in the first place?
I told you it was a dungeon.
That's not what I'm asking.

　Mako scratched her head.
　Dried blood spilled out in parasites.
　There are so many things I want to know, but why can't this woman understand that?
　I'm not sure if this is what high school students are supposed to be doing.
　If you think about it, when I got the job, I was yelled at to report properly.
　It would be unfair to ask others to do what I couldn't do.

"Ah~ You were the first to--
It's not you. It's Yuka Sato.
Can you tell me why Yuka is here?
Where do I start?

　Yuka paused for a moment and asked back.
　The reason for the pause was not because he was troubled, but because he called her a name.
　The fact that he stared at me with a tremendous form is proof of that.

'Explain to me from where you came into this world.
'About a month ago ... as soon as I walked into my school classroom in the morning, my vision went blank. And the next thing I knew I was lying in the basement of the castle.
Where?
It's in the Kingdom of Veris. And the king came...
What kind of RPG is the king?
'I don't blame you, it's the truth!

　When Makoto said with a sigh, Yuka's voice broke out.

''So, the king said that we were invited by an errand boy.
An errand boy?
It means God's servant. Shit, you don't even know that you're a teenager?
Don't be a dick about it.

　Can't we talk without being sarcastic?

So, why is this angel of yours, why are there other people like Yuka and the others?
The whole class was summoned, so maybe 20 people.
Twenty. You know. It's a common turn of events that happens in romances and internet novels that freaks you out when it happens to you.
'You're an alumnus and you read a bunch of novels and internet novels?'
It's evil.
But that's not what I'm talking about.
I don't know what kind of illusions you have. There are very few decent people in good positions in the corporate world.
Yeah?
Yeah.

　Makoto replies to Yuka, who gives him a quizzical look.
　Well, I understand the feeling.
　When I was young, I thought adults were great - or at least rational beings.
　But the reality is different.
　I'm sure you'll be able to see that the adults that Makoto saw were hardly rational.

''It's called being an adult, though. It wouldn't be hard to improve your humanity when you're old enough. I don't mean to make fun of you, but you're an extension of your current one, so you should be able to understand the extent of it.
Yeah, well, you know.

　When I said it to him, Yuka nodded vaguely, as if he was pressured.

'So, why did the angel summon Yuka and the others?'
He said he didn't know.
You're not helping. So you don't know how to get home?
He said I might get home if I beat this No-Life King guy.
Did you believe it?
I appealed to them about the danger of believing the story, but the guys in my class didn't seem to think so...

　Yuka let out a sigh.
　It certainly doesn't mean that the king is telling the truth.
　It's even possible that the king summoned him, not an angel.

''He's breathing down his neck about joining the Order and defeating the Immortal King. Well, it's partly because they had no other way to eat.
'You mean the king won't provide for you?
If I was, I wouldn't be in the Order.
It's a hard world, isn't it?

　The phrase "don't work and don't eat" seems to have taken root in other worlds.

'But it's not all bad. You're guaranteed food, clothing and shelter, and you're taught how to fight for free.
He's an asset. It's not free.

　Food and clothing are important, but I don't think it's worth the life.
　If Yuka's story is true, the king doesn't seem to be a very trustworthy person.

''There's probably another way to do it, though.
Now I just need to be an adventurer.
Does that mean I'm joining the Adventurers' Guild?

　Finally, it's starting to feel like a ramble.

'There's no such thing as an adventurer's guild,'
What?　Isn't it?
The church seems to take care of all the guild-like work. When you defeat a monster, the church gives you a reward or a job offer.

　From the tone of voice, it seems to be someone's take on the matter.
　'But,' continued Yuka, 'I've heard that adventurers are unstable.

I've heard that adventurers are unstable. Food, clothing and shelter are not guaranteed, and you have to learn how to fight on your own.

　If the Knights are full-time employees, then the adventurers would be self-employed or like craftsmen.
　You can work at your own discretion, but you have to bear the consequences.

''So you're saying that Yuka came here to work for the Order?
There you go. The Immortal King's aide, the Skeleton King, was ordered to kill the Skeleton King. But I lost my friends in the process.

　Yuka's shoulders slumped disappointedly.

'You don't have a map?'
I don't have a map and I don't have any food. I just have my water bottle.

　Yuka tapped the tube he carried from his waist.

'What about the pills?'
I used it to save your life.
I'm sorry about that.

　Yuka's eyes widened in surprise.
　Apparently, Mako was considered to be someone who couldn't say a single apology.

''Is there anything else you want to ask me?''
It's about the Immortal King and his dungeon.
'I didn't get to look into it too closely, but the Immortal King is supposed to be an adversary of God.
"God?
Don't look at me like that. I think it stinks too.

　Kohon," Yuka said, clearing her throat to regain her composure.

''It's said that when people in this world die, they're called to God's will, but if they don't get a proper burial or if they leave behind some unrequited love for this world, they can't do that.
I don't know, what's the point of being a Buddha?
'Maybe. He also said something about turning into the undead and coming back to life.

　He doesn't seem to be confident about one right now.

'And now about the dungeon, is this place a natural creation?
'It seems that strong undead can create dungeons. He also said that even the weakest undead can create them if they are swarmed.
"You're going to take down the powerful undead?
It's all gone.
'Ha, that's a real fantasy.'

　Mako touched the walls of the dungeon.
　He could feel the ruggedness of it.
　I can't believe this is going to disappear.

''I get the gist of the situation. The bottom line is that Yuka wanted the strength to escape the dungeon and saved me, right?
Yes, I'm a wizard and I wanted a wallflower.
...the wall?
You've never played a MMORPG or anything?
I've never done it before, but I know a thing or two about it.

　To be knowledgeable about lanterns and internet novels, a wall role is supposed to be a position that takes on enemy attacks and protects less durable party members.

''You call me a wallflower. I don't think I'm that useful, you know?
Why?　It's not an easy job just to endure the spell until you finish chanting.
'No, no, it's not easy. How much do you expect from a man in Alaska? I haven't been exercising at all, so I'm just going to have to see if I can run for 100 meters as fast as I can.
You're pathetic.
That's what it's like to be a forty-year-old man.

　It doesn't matter if you're doing physical labor, you rarely get a chance to exercise once you're out of school.
　Yuka looked at me and narrowed her eyes.

'You'll be fine, probably.'
Give me some evidence.

　I don't want to die being carried off by a high school girl.

I just checked your status.
A game.
Ichijo Makoto, his main job is as a spiritist and his sub is a martial artist, level 1, strength 12, muscle strength 9, agility 11, and magic 10.
How do you know?

　My heart leaps at the mention of being a martial artist, but I ask, feigning composure.

''My rare skill, so........it's all thanks to the appraisal.
What do you mean, "so"?
I said the wrong word!
How can you say the 'so' and the 'ka' wrong?
Everyone gets it wrong!
No!

　Mako yelled back.

'You're a whiny little man for saying the wrong thing. You're single anyway.
Single people don't care about being single.

　I click my tongue and suck on the Marlboro.
　I just suck on it.
　I've been choked up that much.
　I don't think I'd want to smoke a cigarette now.

'So, is that status great?'
Strength, strength and agility are as good as any man in 10.
...as good as anyone else.

　It's a lot better than his natural strength, but it's not enough to fight the undead.

''You have some experience in martial arts, right?
I took Shaolin kung fu in high school.
Heh, he learned Chinese kung fu.
"Shaolin kung fu is not Chinese kung fu.
In a Shaolin temple?
Well, that part is a bit of a pain in the ass to explain.

　Hmm, Yuka nodded disinterestedly.

'Anyway, if you were doing martial arts, it would be a piece of cake, right?'
That's impossible.
Are you weak?
You're going to get beaten to a pulp and you're going to be whimpering.
Crybaby.

　Yuka let out a loud sigh.

'I remained weak until the end, but I've learned a few things thanks to you.
What have you learned?
No violence, right?
What?
'Self-defense is still a form of violence. I'm just glad I learned that it's essentially violence.

　Sometimes you have to fight to protect yourself.
　I'm not going to deny that, but I think it's important to recognize that it's a necessary evil.
　I think it's an important realization, but Yuka has a look on her face as if she's bitten down on a bitter bug.

'What are we going to do?!'
Don't look to me for help.
'Oh, I failed!　I shouldn't have used water pills if this was going to happen!

　Yuka held her head and stomped her feet on the spot.

'Calm down,'
I'm not at my wit's end because you're useless to me!
Don't tell me it's not working!
That's not very nice!　What's wrong with calling someone useless if they can't use it!　I mean, what's with the way you talk!
What?
I don't like it when people say "you" or "she" or "she" or "she".　You, you pretend to be the hero of a novel!
That's a hell of a thing to say.

　Makoto stared at Yuka in dismay.

''Well, whether you like it or not, shouldn't we figure out a way to get out of the dungeon with as little fighting as possible?''
I'm afraid I have no other choice.

　Yuka said with a sigh.

'By the way, what floor are we on?'
Ten floors underground.
There's a lot of desperation.
　Mako looked up to the heavens and let out a sigh.