CHAPTER 83: A DREAM FROM THAT DAY

~Alraune’s Perspective~

　There is a scene that I see in my dreams repeatedly.

“What motivated you to join our dungeon?” (Sergeant)

　The interview for the low-level dungeon Cave of Silence took place in a small trash-filled, storeroom.

　Later on—specifically, after I joined… I finally learned that the room was originally used as a strategy meeting room.

　In any case, I tried to answer the question asked by the interviewer, Poison Slime, in a cheerful manner.

“Self-improvement!” (Alraune)

　When he heard this, he smiled somewhat wryly.

“…good luck with that.” (Sergeant)

　By the way, I’ve heard that you can make a good impression in a job interview if you look the person in the eye.

　But… I don’t know why, but he never made eye contact with me.

　It didn’t take me long to figure out why.

“… I’m sorry, is there anything I can do?” (Alraune)

　The person in charge of the second level of Shijima’s cave-that is, my direct boss, Dryad, turned around and replied, puffing white smoke from her mouth.

“No, none.”

　The smoke leaked out and hit my nose.

　I almost frowned, but I held it back.

“What …? No, not even a little.” (Alraune)

“Didn’t you hear me? Nothing at all.” (Dryad)

　Dryad said in a stubborn tone and puffed on his cigarette.

　The exhaled purple smoke moved across the outer wall of the dungeon, and a Fairy is lying on the ground crawling.

“Dryad-san, there is a smoking ban here…” (Alraune)

“Is that so.” (Dryad)

　I stared at the void behind her muddy eyes as replied disinterestedly.

　When I was looking at her profile, dark emotions well up within me, but I hurriedly pushed them down.

“Then I will plant Luminous Moss!” (Alraune)

“… Luminous Moss?” (Dryad)

“Yes! Growing Luminous Moss on the walls and ceiling of the dungeon will brighten the entire floor and make it much easier to spend time! And the fairies will regain their vitality…!” (Alraune)

　The second floor is an area where the plant monsters and fairies are working.

　I thought this was a revolutionary idea.

　But…

“Hmm, and who will manage it?” (Dryad)

　Then such a cold, cutting reply came back from Dryad.

“Who …” (Alraune)

“Of course you know I won’t do it, so will you do it alone?” (Dryad)

“Huh, then the fairies…” (Alraune)

“No! They also have jobs.” (Dryad)

“Well, but they just lie down all day …” (Alraune)

　Just as I was about to say this, she leaned closer to me.

　I’ll probably never forget the look on her face.

“You know, you didn’t seem to get it, so I’ll make it clear with easy-to-understand words.” (Dryad)

　Purple smoke covered my vision.

　And as I almost fainted from the suffocation, she said clearly,

“Do not do anything… We do things the old-fashioned way.” (Dryad)

　…I honestly don’t remember the rest.

　But the fact is that I realized at that time.

　That’s what working is all about… That’s all to it.

　After that, I never tried and did anything.

　Every day, I wasted my time by handling my daily tasks in an extremely clerical manner.

　I tried to eliminate any element of effort or change in my time.

　As a result, Dryad eventually retired and I was next in line for the post as the person in charge of the second floor.

　Following my senior’s back, I naturally became the boss on that floor.

“…What am I working for, I wonder?” (Alraune)

　In the dim and damp second level of the cave, my soliloquy echoed vainly.

　The fairies, who had lost all their energy, did not respond to me, except to occasionally turn over.

　The middle boss had changed so many times since then that I no longer understood anything.

　Why am I here? What am I supposed to do here?

　If I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do, then I don’t even need to be here.

　It doesn’t matter who it is.

　It’s the same no matter who leads, nothing changes…

　That’s when he came.

“—-Greetings. My name is the Thousand Hands Narugoa, and I’m going to be the new boss of the Cave of Silence.”