I probably should have been downcast after the scolding, but instead, I radiated a certain sense of relief. Seeing this, Juzo-san’s expression softened into a wry smile.
"You have the look of someone who finds comfort in a dressing-down."
"…Eh?"
"I don't know if you realize it yourself, but your face is much clearer than when we first started this talk. It seems you were bottling up quite a bit by harboring that secret. Even if you told Yuji and the Hiiragi girl, I’m the first adult you've spoken to about the dungeon, aren't I?"
"…Yes."
"Being scolded by an adult allowed you to finally acknowledge that you did something wrong. That is how it looks to me."
Feeling a bit bewildered, I gave a small nod. It was true. I had told Yuji and Hiiragi-san, but Juzo-san was the first adult I had let in on the secret.
"Even after you told Yuji and the Hiiragi girl about the dungeon, your heart didn't quite feel at ease, did it?"
"Ehh!?"
I couldn't help but cry out. He had hit the nail right on the head. When I first told Yuji and Hiiragi-san, my heart had certainly felt lighter because I no longer had to carry the secret alone. However, that relief had been fleeting.
By sharing the secret with them, I had developed a new, heavy sense of guilt for involving them in my mess.
"When you confessed the secret of the dungeon, you said the two of them reprimanded you for hiding it… but you weren't entirely convinced that you had done something truly wrong, were you?"
"…"
I realized that was exactly what had been nagging at me. I bit my lip and looked away from Juzo-san, unable to find the words to argue. Seeing my reaction, Yuji and Hiiragi-san stared at me with stunned, wide-eyed expressions.
Juzo-san let out a soft sigh, looking as if his suspicions had been confirmed.
"Just as I thought. For someone your age, it is difficult to honestly accept a reprimand from your peers. Rebellion is only natural. Even if you are scolded and can recognize that you did something wrong, you won't be fully convinced deep down."
"…"
It was true. Being scolded by Yuji and Hiiragi-san made me realize that hiding the dungeon was wrong, and I did reflect on it. But for some reason I couldn't explain, a part of me hadn't been fully satisfied.
As I remained silent, Yuji spoke up.
"…Is that true, Daiki?"
"…Yeah. Hearing Juzo-san say it made me realize there was definitely a part of me that wasn't convinced. Of course, I was reflecting on it. But how do I put it… it felt like a tiny fish bone caught in the back of my throat."
"…I see."
"…Sorry."
I felt a pang of guilt and bowed my head in apology to Yuji and Hiiragi-san, who both wore somewhat dejected expressions. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Juzo-san cleared his throat.
"That’s enough of that. At your age, you lack the life experience to suppress those rebellious instincts. It’s only to be expected."
"…Is that really how it is, Old Man?"
"Indeed. To truly accept a scolding, one must have accumulated enough experience to judge whether the reprimand was actually intended for their own sake. Especially at your age—when a peer scolds you, you’ll react emotionally long before you can think deeply enough to be convinced."
"…That’s just how it goes?"
"That is how it goes."
Hearing their exchange made the weight in my heart feel a little lighter.
"That is precisely why scolding the youth is a job for those who have lived longer. We don't just scold blindly; we listen, we reason, and we speak out of care for the person's future. Though, there are fewer and fewer people capable of such things these days…"
Juzo-san closed his eyes and muttered the last part with a hint of regret. He poured fresh tea for everyone, and we all took a short breather.
"…Phew. Well, let's leave the preaching there. Now, let's get back to the dungeon."
"…Yes."
"Regarding the possibility of moving the desk and handing it over to the state… attempting to do so through formal, public procedures would be a blunder," Juzo-san said, resting his chin on his hand with a troubled look.
"Based on what you've told me, the value of your dungeon is simply too high. If you hand it over through standard channels, it will trigger a frantic scramble involving multiple nations right here on our soil."
"…You mean the information will leak?"
"Without a doubt. That mountain of items you showed me earlier—think of the astronomical time and expense it would take to gather those normally. There will certainly be entities who decide that seizing it is worth the risk of a violent conflict."
"…"
I had imagined what might happen if I handed over the desk, but hearing Juzo-san confirm it made a chill run down my spine. I had expected domestic turmoil, but the high probability of foreign powers interfering so aggressively was a terrifying thought.
"And the biggest problem in that scenario is the people who will try to steal the desk before it can even be transported. Once it reaches a Self-Defense Forces base, they can't launch an overt attack without causing an international incident. That means they’ll strike during transport or before… at your house."
For a moment, I thought it sounded like a movie plot, but Juzo-san’s dead-serious gaze made me catch my breath. He wasn't joking.
"You probably think it's far-fetched, but if they judge the prize to be worth the risk, they won't hesitate. If your home is attacked, you might be able to fight your way out, but your family won't. The girl is still a novice, and your parents are just ordinary civilians."
"…"
I had assumed the Japanese government would handle the negotiations with overseas powers after the handover. I hadn't considered that the "negotiations" might involve black-ops teams hitting my bedroom.
"Naturally, they would use illegal means. Most likely, after the attack, they'll frame it as a home invasion where the whole family was slaughtered by common robbers… and the matter will be hushed up just like that."
My blood truly ran cold this time. Juzo-san was stating these potential horrors as simple, cold facts. I glanced at Yuji and Hiiragi-san; they were as frozen as I was, their faces pale.
Seeing our terror, Juzo-san flashed a somewhat wicked grin.
"Well, keep in mind that I'm describing a worst-case scenario with a very low probability. However, if you speak about the dungeon without any information control, it becomes a very high probability."
"I-I see…"
This was Juzo-san’s way of warning us against acting recklessly.
"That said, the only time you should even consider the official route is if the dungeon entrance moves into your room during your experiments. In that case, you must be extremely careful about the order in which you reveal information."
"Y-Yes…"
I managed to squeak out a reply. He was right. If a dungeon entrance appeared in my bedroom, there would be no hiding it. I’d have to report it, but I’d need to move with extreme caution.
Having sufficiently put the fear of God into us, Juzo-san moved to the main point.
"Now then, to the heart of the matter. Your plan is to inform only the top brass of the state and hand it over privately. That is indeed possible if you use my connections."
The three of us waited in silence for him to continue.
"However, this method also has its flaws."
"…And those are?"
"You read the news, don't you? Every move a high-ranking state official makes is watched. Even the Prime Minister’s daily schedule is published in the newspapers."
"…"
He had a point. The higher the official, the more they were "guarded"—which was just another form of surveillance. Between their security detail and the media looking for scoops, they were never truly alone.
"As I said, I can arrange a meeting. But it would be a recorded meeting. There would be a permanent log that a mere high school student met with a high official of the state… and people would ask why."
That was a terrifying thought. A random high schooler meeting the top brass without any official reason? People would dig until they found the dungeon.
"So, meeting in secret is impossible?"
Juzo-san shook his head regretfully.
"It’s difficult. If you could explain the situation directly to the official, they might be able to arrange a clandestine meeting later, but the initial contact is the problem."
"…The information would leak at the start?"
"Walls have ears and sliding doors have eyes. Once you’re in the door, they can handle the secrecy, but that first step is the hardest unless you have a way to contact them directly."
Juzo-san tilted his head in thought, then spoke again.
"…Perhaps I should consult with Genya. He knows the general situation already."
"Genya-san?"
"Yes. In his line of work, he has many direct ties to high-ranking officials. He might know a way to reach them without going through official logs. Besides, he already knows you lot, so he’s the best person to act as a bridge. He’s professionally tight-lipped."
That made sense. A professional bodyguard wouldn't last long if he blabbed secrets. If we needed a discreet intermediary, Genya-san was perfect.
Our plan was finally solidifying. After months of putting it off and being vague, we were finally moving forward with a real strategy for the Slime Dungeon.
"Of course, we won't talk to him until after your internal investigation and the relocation test. If the desk can't be moved or you decide to keep it hidden, it’s better not to involve Genya at all. So, make sure you're well-prepared and conduct that investigation quickly."
"…Yes!"
"Understood."
"We will."
"Good. Give it your all."
With that, the heavy consultation regarding the Slime Dungeon came to an end. We spent a little more time chatting with Juzo-san over tea, as none of us felt like heading back into the world just yet. The sweetness of the monaka sweets Juzo-san provided was exactly what my exhausted brain needed.
Inevitably, the conversation turned back to today's exploration.
"I see. It sounds like the Kokonoe girl and the Kishida girl are going to be just fine."
"Yes. They aren't used to it yet, but they were both able to deliver the finishing blows to monsters."
"As long as they want to be explorers, they have to get used to the killing…" Yuji added.
"That's right," Hiiragi-san agreed. "Quite a few people quit because they can't cross that mental hurdle."
"It can't be helped," I said. "Forcing it only leads to mental trauma. If they can't do it, it's better to pull out early."
Juzo-san nodded deeply. "Indeed. It is a dangerous thing for someone with a broken mind to swing a weapon with superhuman strength."
"That’s… a scary thought." I shuddered at the mental image of a broken explorer with a blood-stained weapon.
"Next will be their reaction to humanoid monsters like goblins," Hiiragi-san noted, her brow furrowed.
"Yeah. That’s the real filter for explorers," Yuji added.
The "baptism," the "selection," the "culling"—whatever you called it, it was the final barrier. If Mika and Saori-chan couldn't handle that, they wouldn't make it as professionals.
"You two are getting ahead of yourselves," I interrupted. "It'll be a long time before they have to worry about that. Right now, we focus on the basics."
"…Yeah, you're right. Sorry," Yuji said.
"True. I suppose I'm just excited because things are going so well," Hiiragi-san admitted.
"Now that their debt is gone, they can finally breathe. We shouldn't rush them."
"Hm? Their debt is gone?" Juzo-san asked, his eyebrows shooting up. "Did the girls find a rare drop?"
"Yes. We got lucky and a skill scroll dropped today," I explained.
"Oho, a skill scroll."
"It was just a cheap, unpopular skill, so we swapped it out."
"…Swapped it?"
"Yeah. I saw an opening and swapped it for a Water Magic skill scroll. Once they sell that, their debt is as good as paid."
"It was a pain camouflaging the swap so no one would see," Yuji added with a chuckle.
"It really was," Hiiragi-san said. "The people weren't so bad, but tricking those wide-angle surveillance cameras was a nightmare."
We were so busy talking that we didn't notice Juzo-san had gone completely still, his eyes narrowed to slits.
Then...
"You idiots!"
Juzo-san’s roar shook the very walls of the dojo.