April 25th.
By the time I met up with Hinata-san at Shinjuku Station, I was already at death's door.
"Haa... haa...! I-It’s so hard...!"
"Takeo-kun, hang in there! We’re almost at the Shinjuku Branch!"
"U-Uuugh...!"
The ever-kind Hinata-san lent me her shoulder to support my weight, since I could barely walk. She guided me toward the Shinjuku Branch while offering constant words of encouragement.
A week had passed since the incident on April 18th. Parts of Shinjuku Station were still undergoing repairs, but for the most part, it had returned to its usual daily routine.
Vast crowds used the station, with people constantly rushing to and fro. It was hard to believe this was the site of such a gruesome incident only a week ago.
Amidst the throng, stares gathered on me as I stumbled along, supported by Hinata-san. People wondered what was wrong with me.
The moment they caught a glimpse of my face, they looked horrified and hurried away.
However, I didn't have the mental capacity to care about them.
"S-Sorry, Hinata-san... for the trouble..."
I apologized to Hinata-san, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
But Hinata-san didn't show even a hint of annoyance; she simply shook her head and said, "No, it's okay."
"I know you're suffering, Takeo-kun. Don't worry about it."
"U-Uuugh... I'm so sorry."
I felt terrible.
Though I was filled with shame, I finally arrived at the Shinjuku Branch while leaning on Hinata-san. Not a single Explorer was in sight. Even considering the Shinjuku Dungeon's lack of popularity, this was an unusual sight.
The reason was that, currently, every single Dungeon in Japan—not just Shinjuku—was locked down.
The closure was a direct result of the terrorist attack a week prior. The Dungeons targeted in the attacks had sustained severe damage and required construction to repair the facilities, and the government had apparently decided to re-investigate all other Dungeons as well.
That was why they remained closed to this day.
Regardless, we crossed the deserted lobby to the reception counter. Hinata-san explained our business to the staff member who emerged from the back.
"Excuse me. We are Samejima and Hinata. We were told to come here today by someone from the Special Response Section."
"A-Ah... yes. I’ve been informed. I’ll show you to the drawing room, so please wait there."
"Thank you."
Hinata-san and I were led to a drawing room within the Association branch, where we were left to wait for a while.
Once I sat down, I noticed plastic bottles of tea had been prepared on the table. I reached out a trembling hand to grab one—but my grip failed, and the bottle rolled off the table.
"A-Ah...! H-Hinata-san."
"Ah, it's okay. I'll get it for you."
"T-The Goblin."
"Huh?"
"C-Can you take the Goblin for me...? T-The Goblin...!!"
"Takeo-kun, we’re outside the Dungeon. There are no Goblins here. Calm down."
"T-The Goblin."
Give me a Goblin... I beg you...!!
Hinata-san picked up the bottle from the floor, unscrewed the cap, and made sure I had a firm grip on it. I slowly sipped the tea with trembling hands.
"Phew..."
"How are you feeling? Are you a bit more relaxed now?"
"Yes, thank you, Hinata-san. I've calmed down."
"I see, that's good."
"Also, Hinata-san."
"Yeah?"
"On the way here, it seems I was being stalked by multiple Goblins. We don't know when they might strike, so let’s stay on high alert."
"Takeo-kun, we’re outside the Dungeon. There are no Goblins here. Please, calm down."
"But!! I saw them!!"
"I see. But since it's dangerous, please don't attack Goblins on the Surface, okay?"
"Yes, I understand. Those bastards... they disappear the moment you look away...! They’re probably a Higher Species of Assassin...!!"
"Yes, yes, I'm sure they are."
It was during this trivial conversation that we heard it.
Knock, knock. A knock sounded at the door.
"A Goblin!?"
I immediately entered a combat-ready stance.
"No, Takeo-kun, calm down!?"
For some reason, Hinata-san held my shoulders down.
The door opened, and instead of a Goblin, a person entered the room. It was—
"Excuse me. Thank you for waiting!"
"—!? An elementary schooler...?"
It was a girl who stood perhaps in the late 140-centimeter range, likely a student in the upper grades of elementary school. However, for some reason, she was wearing a Japan Explorer Association uniform.
When the girl overheard my mutter, her eyes widened, and she flared up in a rage.
"Wh-Who are you calling an elementary schooler!? That is beyond rude!!"
So she wasn't an elementary schooler...?
No, more importantly right now...
"Hurry up and close the door!!"
"Eh!? Wh-Why!?"
"The Goblins will get in!!"
"Fueeh!? Wh-What is with this person!?"
The girl hurriedly closed the door, her eyes starting to tear up.
●◯●
Shortly thereafter, we were facing each other across the table.
Sitting opposite us was an elementary school girl who appeared to be cosplaying as an Association staff member.
She had long black hair tied in a ponytail and looked like a very energetic girl.
She cleared her throat with an ahem and began her self-introduction.
"Umm, I am Urara Kongoji from the Special Crisis Response Explorer Section. You are Takeo Samejima-san and Mashiro Hinata-san, correct?"
"Yes, that's correct," Hinata-san replied.
Apparently, she had decided to play along with Urara Kongoji-chan's game of make-believe. As expected of Hinata-san, she was so kind.
"By the way, I am twenty-four years old and older than both of you. Here is my driver's license."
Perhaps she noticed my dubious gaze. Urara-chan took out her driver's license with a practiced air and slid it onto the table for me to see.
When I checked the date of birth, she did indeed appear to be twenty-four.
The license was exceptionally well-crafted and didn't look like a fake. That meant the girl before me wasn't an elementary schooler, but an adult woman. The human body truly was a mystery.
Hinata-san also whispered in surprise, "No way...!"
However, we were in a small room. Naturally, her voice reached Urara-cha—no, Urara-san.
Urara-san puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
Hinata-san apologized with a quick "Ah, I'm sorry," but it couldn't be helped. No matter how you looked at her, she was a child.
"Ahem. W-Well, fine. Since I'm the older sister here, I will generously forgive your rude attitude."
Spouting a line that an "older sister" would almost certainly never say, Urara-san forgave us.
"More importantly!"
Urara-san forcibly took control of the conversation again with a sharp tone.
"Since we're past that, I’m just going to ask you straight, okay? I know it might be hard to answer, but this is my job, so please answer truthfully without any lies."
What was she talking about? While tilting my head, I stayed on guard against the Goblins lurking outside the room, watching us. Those bastards, they’d gotten closer again...!
"Point-blank! You're doing it, aren't you...? Samejima-san... no, Samejima-kun... no, Takeo-kun is fine. Takeo-kun, you're doing it, right?"
They're there...! They’re there even now...! I could feel their presence behind the door, ears pressed against it, eavesdropping on our conversation...!
"I knew Takeo-kun was being called 'Leveling Junkie Bro' on the internet, but I never imagined he was a junkie in that sense...!!"
"W-Wait! There's a reason for this! It's not for the reason you're imagining, Kongoji-san! Takeo-kun is innocent!"
I gasped and looked at the ceiling. They were there. They were there too...! They were in the ceiling space...! They were peeping at us even now...!!
"Please don't lie!! He's on guard against Goblins that can't possibly be here, he's reacting abnormally to every noise, and he even has incredibly dark circles under his eyes!! When I first saw him, I reflexively thought of that Dungeon Master person, you know!?"
"I understand why you would be suspicious, Kongoji-san, but it's really not like that! Takeo-kun is—"
"I know you're there, you Goblins!! Come out! I'll kill every last one of you!!"
I shouted at the Goblins that were in the process of surrounding us.
I didn't know what they were planning, but fine by me. I’d turn you all into Experience Points!!
"See!! Look, see!! This is completely that, isn't it!? He's showing drug withdrawal symptoms!! Hallucinations, paranoid delusions!!"
"I-I won't deny that it certainly looks that way at first glance, but... it's really not! I even have proof!"
"...Proof?"
"Y-Yes! This! I had him take a drug test at a hospital the other day and got a medical certificate... please look at this!"
Hinata-san took a folded piece of paper from her pouch and handed it to Urara-san.
The hospital... referred to the one Hinata-san had taken me to the day before yesterday for some reason. While the Dungeons were closed, I had been keeping in touch with Hinata-san via LUINE and phone calls, and that was when I had realized it.
This smartphone was being bugged by the Goblins...!
When I told Hinata-san that, for some reason, we ended up going to the hospital together the next day, and I was made to take some kind of test.
Of course, since I was a healthy young man, there was nothing wrong with me.
"N-No way! I can't believe it...! The drug test is negative...!?"
Urara-san was astonished as she checked the medical certificate.
"Could this medical certificate be a forgery...!?"
"It's not a forgery! It's real!"
Urara-san was suspicious, completely ignoring her own situation. If anything, her driver's license was the one that smelled fishy.
"Th-Then, are you saying he really isn't doing drugs!? If that's the case, how do you intend to explain this state he's in!?"
"Th-That is—"
Ignoring me as I sharpened my senses toward the presence of the Goblins, Hinata-san said:
"It’s... Experience Point withdrawal symptoms."
"..."
Urara-san’s face went blank, and then she wore an expression of pure bewilderment.
"...Eh? No, seriously, what are you even talking about...?"
"Uguu...!"
Actually letting out a groan of despair, Hinata-san lowered her head in embarrassment.