Chapter 40

“Could you explain what this means? You conducted a doping test on my disciple. Regardless of the result, it seems you failed to consider what kind of consequences such an action would bring.”

“I sincerely apologize. It appears that the people on site regarded it as nothing more than a simple confirmation, not something worth reporting up the chain… Our internal circumstances were not properly conveyed to them…”

“So your coordination has failed. You should understand that this incident will remain an unresolved grievance within me forever. Now then—about the individual who provided the information. Why would an ordinary high school student immediately suspect doping and make a report? To be frank, the issue of illegal drugs is only whispered about among a small subset of explorers. Isn’t it rather unnatural for a student who doesn’t even possess a Window yet, and who has never entered a dungeon, to point this out?”

“…That is true. Then… could it be?”

“Even if he was using something, it would only have been temporary. If he uses it again, it will be during the advancement exam. At that time, you should test that student. No—rather than that, you should monitor his movements.”

“Understood. Could it be that this is at the instruction of your employer, Arnie-san…?”

“My master will not move until the time is right. However… that time is approaching. When it comes, I will tell you the truth. That is, provided you proceed with that matter.”

“…That is still difficult. There simply aren’t enough results yet. No—strictly speaking, you and your master, who guided the Odaiba Incident to its resolution, already meet the requirements, but…”

Inside the phone booth, Arnie spoke to Director Suzakuyama with a calm yet intimidating tone that carried its pressure even through the phone line, lodging a formal protest regarding Akira’s doping suspicion.

Arnie’s true feelings were simple and extremely emotional:
How dare they do something that could hurt my Akira.
How dare they pull this while investigating us.
I won’t let this Nanjou person run free.
I’ll make him experience the same thing.

But at the same time, Arnie was also thinking.

Why did Nanjou, a high school student, immediately suspect illegal drugs meant for explorers—something not even widely known among explorers themselves?

The effects of doping occasionally discovered in ordinary sports were on an entirely different level.

That was precisely why such matters rarely surfaced publicly, remaining little more than rumors on message boards.

And yet, Nanjou had suspected it immediately.

As if he already knew of its existence and effects from the start.

“Let’s produce results soon—results that can be made public. Begin the procedures now.”

“…Understood. We sincerely apologize for this incident.”

With that, Arnie ended the call.

Her beloved disciple—who had accumulated power in his previous life, who was now on the verge of becoming a true powerhouse beyond anyone’s interference—might stumble over something as trivial as this.

That anger burned far more fiercely than Akira realized.

“Whew… whew… I finally relaxed in the bath, and now I’m irritated all over again…!”

“Sweet! Big sis loves energy drinks the most, but this sweet fruit milk after a bath is just as good! And these takoyaki! I don’t like those trendy crispy-on-the-outside types—big sis prefers the old-school, soft and melty kind! This is the perfect combo!”

When my sister came back, her face was still so expressionless it made a Noh mask look lively, so I immediately tried to placate her with ice-cold fruit milk and piping-hot takoyaki—and somehow, her mood improved instantly. Wow, she’s easy!

…I just hope she didn’t make any outrageous demands while she was angry.

To be fair, if you think about it calmly, the doping suspicion itself wasn’t impossible.

High school students are supposed to be level 1. Given that, showing excessive results would naturally raise suspicion. It would have been better to wait until I could officially challenge dungeons and rack up actual achievements before standing out.

This was the price of rushing results—of acting in haste, of trying too hard to avoid repeating my past failures, and of flaunting my strength for the sake of appeal.

I should have been more cautious.

“So tasty! Big sis thinks buying a takoyaki maker is worth considering!”

“That sounds nice. We have an electric one at home—we make Akashiyaki with it.”

“Oh! The kind you dip in broth, right? Big sis has never tried that before!”

I like seeing my sister happy like this.

I want to avoid situations that bring out any other kind of expression if I can help it…

“Want to go buy a takoyaki maker sometime?”

“Yes! Big sis will pour pancake batter into it, add chocolate inside, and make round chocolate-filled pancakes!”

“That’s not takoyaki.”

“Adaptation! One day I’ll mass-produce round grilled rice balls and put them in your lunch! Look forward to a pop and cute bento!”

With my sister fully cheered up and Kasumi along with us, the three of us refreshed both body and mind, and then went our separate ways for the day.

Now then… starting tomorrow, I’ll be collecting items left at school, having final career consultations, and even parent–teacher meetings…

Time to tighten my resolve as high school life truly begins to wind down.

…Wait? Parent–teacher meetings?

No, no—my parents’ absence has already been reported to the school. There’s no way I have a three-party meeting… right?

Several days later, on a day after December had begun—

Right after arriving at school, my name was called over the PA system, and I was summoned—of all places—to the chairman’s office.

What truly shocked me was the sight that greeted me inside.

My homeroom teacher, the chairman, the school nurse, a police officer, and the man in the white coat were all kneeling on the floor in seiza, bowing deeply in unison.

“We sincerely apologize. Based on a single testimony, we made a grave mistake that could have damaged the future of a promising young man. We will bear full responsibility. The chairman will resign, the homeroom teacher and school nurse will be suspended, and the two who proceeded with the inspection on-site will be dismissed.”

The chairman—whom I usually only ever saw from afar—explained the punishments in one breath while still kneeling.

But this was far too severe. Excessive, even.

It wasn’t hard to imagine the overwhelming power and pressure being brought to bear on these five people.

“The punishment is too heavy. I suspect this came from Director Suzakuyama, but is it possible to contact him now? I’d like to personally request that the penalties be reduced.”

“R-really…!?”

“Higashiyama… I’m sorry! Please—being unable to attend the graduation ceremony as your homeroom teacher… that would be unbearable.”

Yeah… my guess is that my sister lodged a very serious complaint.

Right now, she’s probably regarded as an explorer with an extremely high chance of reaching Central, with a mysterious master behind her—the one who defeated the massive Ascended-type in Odaiba—making her a guaranteed asset to national interests.

Explorers who can bring back dungeon resources and magic stones are that valuable.

Especially when they’re one of the fewer than one hundred people worldwide who might reach the Central Dungeon.

There was no way they wanted to risk angering us and having us withdraw from Japan.

That was likely why they imposed such excessive punishments—hoping it would instead make me feel guilty.
In other words, it was a kind of negotiation tactic. You could say they were trying to steer me into making concessions and meeting the state halfway.

“Higashiyama-san, please take the call.”

“Thank you, Chairman.”

I took the receiver and spoke to Director Suzakuyama on the other end of the line.

“Good afternoon, Director Suzakuyama. That was quite a childish approach. Handing down punishments designed to make us feel guilty.”

An opening jab—I can read your intentions just fine.

“Good afternoon, Higashiyama-san …I see. So you saw through it.”

“Yes. I’m a little disappointed. After graduating from the academy, I was thinking of moving to live with my mother.”

“What!?”

“I’m joking. But it might stop being a joke. It would also be possible for me to relocate together with my sister, or to sell magic stones only to foreign manufacturers. Please refrain from using methods like this. Minimal punishment is fine, but please make sure to thoroughly investigate the cause of this incident.”

“My apologies. Yes, you’re right. These punishments were a bit too heavy-handed. How about reducing them all to pay cuts for three months?”

“I’ll leave that to your discretion. I imagine there were reasons on your side that required swift action, weren’t there?”

“Understood. …We are currently investigating both the person who made the report and the actual drug-related incidents that have occurred. I am truly sorry. It seems I had thought of you as merely the disciple of an explorer.”

“I am just an explorer’s disciple. But I will produce results. This time, my master was uncharacteristically furious, so I imagine it gave you quite a scare as well. We apologize too.”

“No… please give my regards to Arnie.”

“Yes. Thank you for your time.”

With that, I ended the call.

Well then… at the very least, the school staff now knew that I was someone connected to the government—but that might actually work in my favor.

There probably won’t be anyone trying to obstruct me within the school anymore.

“It seems everyone’s punishment will be reduced. At the very least, there won’t be any suspensions or resignations.”

“Really!? Higashiyama-san… how can we ever thank you…”

“I’m sorry, Higashiyama… even if it was according to regulations, I should have been more cautious.”

“No. The ones at fault were those who acted rashly, thinking, ‘Let’s just run the test first before reporting it upward.’ Even so, forcing people to resign was going too far.”

Now then… all that’s left is Nanjou. I don’t know what will happen to him, but judging from Director Suzakuyama’s tone earlier, it seems Nanjou himself is under investigation as well.

Today happens to be the day exam results are announced. I suppose I’ll watch how he reacts—and that should help me feel a little better about all this.