Chapter 105: Poor Company
It’s the first Monday of the week. It’s been a while since Yuma came back from the Black Dungeon.
Good morning.
“Yuma!”
It was Tanaka who came running up to me as soon as I entered the office.
“Are you okay? I was worried. I heard you were in the hospital for a while. I’m glad you got out of there so soon!”
Maika, who was in the back of the office, said, “Oh! Yuma, thank goodness… Are you okay?” I answered strongly. I answered strongly.
“Even so, what the hell were you thinking taking Yuma-kun to the lowest level of the dungeon!”
Maika folds her arms angrily and glares at Kanzaki who is sitting in the back of the office.
Kanzaki was smoking a cigarette and reading a newspaper when he noticed Maika’s eyes on him and turned away, looking uncomfortable as he turned the pages of the newspaper.
“I’m sorry, Yuma. Dad… I’m sorry you had to go through all that trouble because you didn’t do your job properly.
No, no… I’ve always been saved by the boss… It’s thanks to you that I made it back from the dungeon alive.
“You’re too soft-hearted, Yuma. It’s okay to be angry!”
“So how did you get to the bottom? What kind of monsters were there? The boss won’t give me any details. Tell me what happened then!
“But I passed out at the bottom and I don’t remember most of it.”
“Yeah, I know that. Just tell me the story of how you got to the bottom.”
Tanaka asked with a twinkle in his eye.
–Speaking of which, Tanaka-san seems to like talking about dungeons.
“Yuma, I need to talk to you. Come with me.
Uh, yes.
Maika and Tanaka look at each other to see what’s going on.
Yuma hurriedly chased after Kanzaki as he opened the door to his office and walked out. They went downstairs and entered a room on the second floor together.
In the middle of the dusty room with weapons, armor, and miscellaneous items, Kanzaki stopped in his tracks.
He turns around and looks at Yuma with a serious expression.
“Yuma, there’s something I have to tell you.”
“… What is it?”
“The chimera at the bottom of the black dungeon. You said he died falling down a hole.”
Yes, that’s what I heard.
“Actually, no. You’re the one who killed that demon. Yuma.
“What? Is that me?”
Yuma is puzzled by this sudden talk.
“You were in the middle of a fight with the Chimera and you did fall unconscious. But then your body turned into a big metal ball.”
“A metal… Is it a ball?”
“Yes. You came out of that sphere in your metal armor and you grew to a giant size. You’re the Steel Giant.
No, no, no! It’s impossible!
“That’s my line! Anyway, you went from a giant to a chimera in no time at all. When the fight was over, you reverted to your normal form and I had to carry you out.”
Even if you told me all of a sudden… Yuma couldn’t believe it out of the blue and tilted his head.
“If that’s true, how did it happen?”
“I don’t know. But Aisha seemed to know something. She said something about the power of the king.”
“Aisha-san…”
You should ask Aisha next time you’re in town if you’re interested. She won’t return my calls and she doesn’t want to see me. The black dungeon is gone because of his reckless… Well, maybe you’ll see him.”
I see.
I have mixed feelings. There’s still so much I don’t know about my abilities, but to grow so large is almost monstrous.
Yuma looked at his right hand. Unspeakable anxiety welled up in him.
“But I have one more important thing to tell you.”
“What?”
Kanzaki was looking more mysterious than ever.
“Aisha told me not to tell you, but it’s not in my nature to lie all the time.”
“No?”
“I’m sorry, Yuuma. Aisha’s mana meter measured your mana index and it wasn’t 200 or something like that.”
“What? Then how old are you really?”
“… Four hundred and sixty thousand.”
“Yo, forty… Sixty thousand? Is there such a number?”
“I don’t know what’s going on. At first I didn’t believe it because I thought the gauge he made was broken. But when I saw you use magic on Earth and your ability to turn into metal… I knew it was real.”
“Wait a minute, sir! If you have so much mana, why couldn’t you measure it before? I’ve measured it many times.
“The mana was too strong. That’s why I could only measure it with the special measuring device Aisha made.”
“Oh, no…”
Kanzaki picks up the cudgel that is propped up on the shelf. It is dusty, so he dusts it off.
It’s an old model [magic imparting armament] cudgel.
“You lost your nickel in the Black Dungeon. I liked it. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring it back.”
No, no… We all made it back safely, that’s all that matters.
Kanzaki puts his club back on the shelf and turns to Yuma, slapping his hand.
“Yuma, you’ve become incredibly strong. You can’t use magic properly, but you’re no match for a normal demon.
Boss, what’s going on? You’re here all of a sudden.
“No… I don’t think I can even provide you with a weapon worthy of you here.”
“With as much mana as you have… you can use all magic… Fire… wind… water… lightning… You could even use restoration magic. That’s amazing. But D-Minor… we can’t afford enough magic gems. We’re a poor company.
Yuma looks at Kanzaki with a worried expression. Kanzaki notices the look and scratches his cheeks and smiles a little.
“I know someone at El-Seed. If you ask him, he’ll keep your secret, and he’ll make sure you do well at the Company.”
Mr. President, what are you–
Kanzaki interrupted Yuma’s words and spoke up.
“Go to El-Seed, Yuma! Your talent can only be used in a big company.
