Chapter 23

I cleared the dungeon in front of the Sasaki family's house. When I emerged from the ground after taking the core, the large hole that had been gaping open disappeared without a trace, and the Sasaki family heaved a sigh of relief and thanked me profusely.

I think this is one of the joys of being an explorer. Dungeons can appear anywhere, and it's not uncommon for them to form in inconvenient places within ordinary households.

As a general rule for all explorers, it's standard practice to prioritize and eliminate dungeons that appear within residential areas, and this is often handled systematically. However, for the people living there, it can be a truly unsettling experience. It's natural for them to rely on explorers to resolve the issue quickly, and it's our duty to respond to such calls.

That's why I find the words of gratitude so rewarding.

"Protecting people's lives is a noble job."

I mused to myself. I had been caught up in the idea of exploration as a means to make money, so when I encounter stories like this, which touch on human emotions, I feel a sense of purification.

At the same time, I am reminded of the importance of explorers in the era of large dungeons, and I feel a renewed sense of determination. Especially since I plan to take the promotion exam today.

"Win and tighten the strings of your helmet," as they say. Anyway, I need to remember that the exploration business isn't just for explorers!

"People are saved, and the savior's deep compassion and sense of mission are inspiring... Ah, how noble..."

"Mr. Gotou?"

"Why haven't I recorded this moment on video? As a preacher, it's embarrassing... At the very least, I should take notes and publish them as a biography later. Notes, notes, notes, notes, notes, notes..."

"Mr. Gotou!?"

Stop scheming because of my monologue and the strange emotions it evokes! Don't try to create a Bible or become a fanatic!

As we left the Sasaki family's house and headed to the next dungeon, which was in a factory, I was still worried about Mr. Gotou, who was clinging to me fanatically.

Where is this person heading? Is it known that a top A-rank explorer is acting like this?

When I asked, I got an unexpected answer.

"Other A-rank explorers? Yes, I've already told them about my mission as a preacher."

"Have you gotten any reactions?"

"Most are very interested in Kouta's skills and titles. This is true even for S-rank explorers. Some are worried or concerned about me, but I'm working patiently to enlighten them."

"Be careful, okay? Don't lose your friends."

"I appreciate your concern... Your kind heart. It gives me another reason to spread the word."

Stop it, I'm telling you!

Even though Mr. Gotou is making moves that could lose him friends, I feel somewhat relieved knowing he still has a circle of friends and acquaintances. Is this a silver lining? It seems that my role as an explorer is stimulating a lot of curiosity among everyone, which is a good thing. I'm glad that Mr. Gotou hasn't become isolated and obsessed with religion.

As we talked, we arrived at the factory where the next dungeon was located. It was a large factory in the outskirts of town, surrounded by rice fields. The old pipes were arranged in a network that resembled veins, making a strong impression.

We applied for entry at the entrance and met the factory's supervisor, Mr. Higashi. He was a middle-aged, overweight man with a large belly, wearing a work uniform, helmet, and mask, looking like he was in the middle of work.

"Hello, thank you for coming all the way here. I'm Higashi, the manager of this factory."

"No problem, it's part of my job. I'm Yamanishi, an F-rank explorer."

"I'm Gotou, an A-rank explorer. I will be supervising Yamanishi's dungeon exploration. Nice to meet you."

We exchanged greetings. Mr. Gotou, in name only, was my supervisor. I definitely didn't want him to say he was here to record the savior's activities on video. It seems Mr. Gotou also thought it was necessary to maintain a professional image, so we were able to agree on this smoothly.

Mr. Higashi led us to the dungeon. Along the way, all the workers we encountered looked at us curiously. Actually, it seemed their attention was focused on Mr. Gotou, probably because she's attractive. I hope they keep it to a level that doesn't interfere with safety. Safety first, okay!

"Here we are."

We arrived. In front of the raw material manufacturing machine, there was a gaping hole. It was marked off with traffic cones and barriers, but it was clearly in a very inconvenient location. We should clear it as soon as possible. With that, Gotou and I began our dungeon exploration.

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