“If you are in the same trade…? That’s impossible!” (Owlbear)

 

 

 Owlbear roars.

 

 The trembling his voice showed his inner turmoil.

 

 

“You’re a human being, no matter how I look at it! I don’t know where you got knowledge on dungeon auditing, but…… your plan to disturb my mind is useless! I am the sage of the forest! I can’t be swayed by this……!” (Owlbear)

 

“—A loner sage.”

 

“What do you know…!” (Owlbear)

 

 

 The self-proclaimed sage of the forest exposed how disturbed his mind.

 

 I look at the Elder Boar who lost his fighting spirit.

 

 

“You must have been careful over and over again, it’s hard to force an elderly person protect a dungeon of this size…”

 

“Come on, it’s still good enough! We usually have the right staff! Also, considering the level of adventurers around here, the Elder Boar is enough to deal with them!” (Owlbear)

 

“… Hey, stop joking, it’s hard to not talk about your attitude on how poorly you treat your precious employees.”

 

“Gu…!!!” (Owlbear)

 

 

 Owlbear flinched.

 

 At all-it’s hard to come by good employees!

 

 I pressure Owlbear some more.

 

 

“–Did you know? Just the other day, the King made a policy to ease on tariffs on travelers.”

 

“I’ve never heard of it… Also Why should I? The lives of humans have no effect on me…!” (Owlbear)

 

“You are not taking in knowledge, the city will prosper when merchants gather, and if the city prospers, powerful adventurers will inevitably gather, you know… The average level of adventurers in neighboring countries will jump by 7 or higher. What are your specific measures against that?”

 

“Well, that… I’ll do my best…” (Owlbear)

 

“I’m not asking you to make a resolution; I’m asking you about the specific measures you’ll take. I’m sure you know the 5W1H, right?” [T/N: So 5W1H means who, what, where, when, why and how, usually these are the used when planning for an event. Google-sensei has more examples.]

 

“Hoot…” (Owlbear)

 

 

 His behavior is extremely suspicious.

 

 His eyes are moving all-over the place and won’t evn meet mine.

 

 I was totally surprised that there he doesn’t even have any countermeasure in place…

 

 The employees who work under such a guy are pitiful for not being able to leave.

 

 

“There is no helping it! There is a shortage of staff members! I’m full of my daily work load… ” (Owlbear)

 

“So Elder Boar has been working alone?”

 

“That’s right! He is an excellent subordinate! He has never said any complaints!” (Owlbear)

 

“If so, why aren’t you treating your excellent subordinates better?”

 

“Well, that is…!” (Owlbear)

 

“I think it’s my boss’s job to make immediate improvements, not to mention the excellence of his subordinates, let alone whip his old body.”

 

“Uh, gu… It is as you say… But no! Why do I have to get lectured by a human!?” (Owlbear)

 

“… Please leave this place, humans.” (Elder Boar)

 

 

 Suddenly, I heard a voice from somewhere.

 

 The weak and faint voice was—the voice of the Elder Boar.

 

 ……Did he speak?

 

 Perhaps everyone on the spot thought so.

 

 

“… Owlbear has been working hard for the Bewildering Forest, don’t blame him too much.” (Elder Boar)

 

“Elder Boar… You are…” (Owlbear)

 

“Gramps, is that fine?”

 

“It’s okay, anyway, no one would hire an old person like me. I’m grateful that he will still hire me… even if I don’t get paid overtime.” (Elder Boar)

 

“… How terrible.”

 

“It was a mistake! I just forgot and made a mistake! I was going to pay him in full later!” (Owlbear)

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 That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Black Employers.

 

 

“But that’s okay, because I’ve been working in this workplace for 40 years and I have nowhere else to go.” (Elder Boar)

 

“Work isn’t just enduring, you should also find joy and compensation so you can keep on working. As a former manager, I can’t overlook talented people like you getting worked to the ground.”

 

“Even if I say that…” (Elder Boar)

 

“Let me talk to my previous (dungeon) workplace, overtime is less than 10 hours a month, two days off a week, and the pension after retirement is substantial.”

 

“—Owlbear-san, I have been indebted to you so far, but I will be quitting today.” (Elder Boar)

 

“Oh! Well, wait! What! Wait!” (Owlbear)

 

 

 So Elder Boar gets up and quickly walks up to us like his exhaustion was a lie.

 

 Owlbear, who lost a superb subordinate in just a few seconds of negotiations, clung to his hind legs.

 

 

“What is it Owlbear? I decided to follow that person.” (Elder Boar)

 

“Oh, you’re following that? Reconsider, Elder Boar! You know how much damage it will do to our dungeon if you leave?!” (Owlbear)

 

“I don’t care.” (Elder Boar)

 

“You don’t care—Think about it! There’s no such good deal in this economy! It’s a trap! It’s a trap, and an old man like you will end up being taken advantage of.” (Owlbear)

 

 

 Elder Boar stops walking and looks back towards Owlbear.

 

 Owlbear’s expression brightens.

 

 

“Well, did you change your mind?” (Owlbear)

 

“–Compared to this Black Company (Dungeon), everywhere is better.” (Elder Boar)

 

 

 Woah, Elder Boar spat.

 

 Owlbear froze like he turned to a stone sculpture.

 

 Elder Boar no longer looked at him and stuck on my side.

 

 ……It is the end suitable for a Black Employer.

 

 

“You… You have to be joking!!!” (Owlbear)

 

 

 Owlbear screamed.

 

 The owl’s eyes are red and bloodshot, and he looks really angry.

 

 

“I am Owlbear, the sage of the forest, the lord of the Bewildering Forest!!! How dare you mock me to this extent! I will never forgive you!” (Owlbear)

 

 

 Owlbear spreads his hands wide and begins chanting.

 

 

“Hoot-hoot-hoot! I will chop you all together with [Wind Cutter] that I will release simultaneously! With this number, your summoned beast alone cannot protect you! I will chop all of you!” (Owlbear)

 

“Even your former employee?”

 

“He is unrelated to me! That old man is just a stranger!” (Owlbear)

 

“… how infuriating.”

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“Narugoa-san, I will shield you.” (Elder Boar)

 

 

 Elder Boar quietly tries to shield us from the front.

 

 I won’t allow him.

 

 

“No, no, no. Applying for workers’ compensation is a hassle, you know?”

 

“I can apply for compensation!? I won’t, but…!” (Elder Boar)

 

“It’s okay, my “hands” are enough.”

 

“Hoot-hoot-hoot! —This is the end!” (Owlbear)

 

 

 The Owlbear flapped his wings, and [Wind Cutters] shot out in all directions.

 

 But every single one of them was blocked.

 

 —Literally, by the huge “palm” that surrounds us on all sides.

 

 

“… What?” (Owlbear)

 

“I never said that there is only one “hand” that I can summon.”

 

 

 The 40 wind cutters can’t damage the “hands” instantaneously deployed, so they were all scattered.

 

 And after preventing all this, had the four “hands” I summoned surround Owlbear.

 

 

 –Deco pin. [T/N: Narugoa had the 4 hands make a flicking gesture while surrounding Owlbear.]

 

 

“Do you want to surrender?”

 

 

 Owlbear slowly opened his mouth, listening to the creaking of my fingers.

 

 

“Hoot… I will… surrender…” (Owlbear)

 

 

 

T/N: So the author paralleled Black Dungeons to Black Companies that overwork and underpay their employees. Companies like these are common everywhere and in every part of history. Anyway, If you enjoy this series how about you check the other series in the site. Thanks 

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