Volume 4 Chapter 1 Upheaval
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Adventurer’s Guild¹ is split into several different branches. There’s the Quest Mediation Department, where Dietlinde-san and Henriette work; the Dismantling Department, where they butcher whatever monsters you drag in; the Appraisal Department for identifying materials and items; and the Finance Department, which handles deposits and loans. As an adventurer, those are the ones you deal with directly, though I don’t personally have much use for the money-lenders. I’m sure there are also General Affairs and an Assessment Department to track achievements and abilities, but they stay behind the scenes, so I couldn’t say for sure.
Determining quest difficulty and setting reward amounts falls on the Quest Mediation Department. They can’t exactly keep a client with an urgent request twisting in the wind while they “wait for departmental clearance.” Because of that, the receptionists have it rough. They need encyclopedic knowledge of monsters, the intuition to spot a suspicious client, and an understanding of which adventurers are actually right for the job. Even if the Department Head has the final say, the receptionists are the ones drafting the proposals. If they submit something with a ridiculous reward or a mismatched difficulty level, the boss will have their head.
Speaking of the Department Head – the guy is a total nightmare, though in a completely different way than those four idiots in the Hero Party. Well, three idiots, now that Otto’s been kicked out. He’s all smiles and sunshine for the nobles’ servants and high-rank adventurers, but the second they turn their backs, he’s kicking his desk and screaming “Shut up!” at any subordinate who dares to breathe too loud. I seriously doubt he’s doing any work that requires that much focus. Plus, he only seems to do what he feels like, and I’ve seen him butt heads with the Guild Master more than once.
Worst of all, he’s incredibly soft on Henriette. The other receptionists must be simmering with resentment. I have no idea how a guy like that became a Department Head – maybe he has noble connections? If my boss were that big of a prick, I could see why Yuko complains so much, but her situation seems to be something else entirely.
I’ve made a few acquaintances in the Dismantling and Appraisal departments. There’s Isaac, a young guy in Dismantling, and Bruno, an older man in Appraisal. Isaac looks like your average guy, while Bruno isn’t so much “rugged” as he is “meticulous.” Even though I call him an old guy, he’s actually around the same age I was in my previous life. Then again, since I’m a “youth” now, it shouldn’t be weird for me to call him that… right?
I chat with them occasionally, and it turns out Isaac is another one of Henriette’s victims. Apparently, she dumps all her grunt work on him. He told me that if he refuses, she starts spreading nasty rumors about him, so he just sucks it up and does it. He’s still young, but the stress is probably giving him ulcers and a receding hairline.
Since he can’t say no, I guess being “favored” by her is a losing game. As for Bruno, he’s married and doesn’t care if Henriette dislikes him. Besides, his position isn’t high enough for her to bother sucking up to him, so they don’t have much to do with each other. I’m jealous.
* * *
The next day, we were back at it, energetically exploring the dungeon. Liese is closing in on Level 15, so things are moving along nicely. I feel like her skill levels are lagging behind her raw stats, but there’s not much we can do about that. She’s been training hard even on our off days, so she’s making progress.
The recommended level for the fourth floor is Level 17. We’ll probably hit that by next week. As long as I’m there to keep an eye on her, she’ll be safe, so it might be good to give her a taste of the next floor soon. Skeletons don’t have any meat on them, so they aren’t exactly satisfying to hunt. I think Liese will find Wolves a lot more motivating.
We spent the morning grinding Skeletons to build up Liese’s combat experience. They’re the “power-hitter” type, but as long as she dodges, she won’t get seriously hurt. Still, some attacks are unavoidable, so positioning is everything for Liese since she doesn’t use a shield.
In the afternoon, we headed to the eleventh floor to hunt Orcs. I don’t go out of my way to avoid the Lizardmen, but if the numbers and distance are equal, I’d rather take the Orc. Every now and then, I show Liese how it’s done to keep her spirits up. It would be better if I could demonstrate with a spear, but I’m not quite there yet.
* * *
Monster encounters were low today, so our progress was a bit slow. I wasn’t particularly tired, but Liese needed a break. We were too far from a Safe Zone² to head back, so I had Liese sit down for a rest.
”Here, Liese. Have some jerky.”, I said.
”Thank you!”, Liese replied.
Since it had been a while since lunch, I figured some jerky would tide her over until dinner. The moment I handed it to her, a massive wave of mana washed over us.
”What the – ?!”, I said.
”Master!”, Liese cried.
Instinctively, I pulled Liese to me and held her tight. My Intuition skill was screaming at me to do exactly that; something was coming. My Danger Sense wasn’t going off that hard, but I knew moving blindly would be a mistake.
Liese went stiff in my arms, startled by the mana surge, but she didn’t panic. The dungeon began to vibrate with short tremors, accompanied by an unsettling, eerie groaning sound. After about a minute, a sensation like a violent, full-body shudder hit us, and we were suddenly teleported. I felt a wave of nausea. I’ve always hated scream machines³.
When we finally landed, the scenery hadn’t changed much. We were in a dimly lit cave; it looked like we had been moved somewhere else within the dungeon. I kept Liese close until the tremors stopped, but there wasn’t a second jump. Since Intuition and Danger Sense both went quiet, I let her go.
”Sorry, Liese. I didn’t mean to grab you so suddenly.”, I said.
”No… thank you for protecting me.”, Liese said.
Liese seemed to understand why I did it. (If she’d tried to call me out for s*xual harassment, I’d have been totally crushed.) Since there was no telling when the situation might shift again, we decided to have a quick snack of jerky and water.
”Liese, we don’t know when we can get out or when our next safe meal will be. Make sure you eat up.”, I said.
”Yes! This jerky is so good! Munch, munch…”, Liese said.
Liese was perfectly happy as long as she had meat. She wasn’t rattled at all; she might actually have nerves of steel. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of jerky, but this wasn’t the time to be picky. Once she settled down, Liese asked about what just happened.
”Master, what exactly was that?”, Liese asked.
”Hmm, I can’t say for sure, but I think it was a Dungeon Upheaval⁴.”, I replied.
Dungeon Upheavals are rare. I can’t even remember the last time one happened in this dungeon – it must have been years ago. When an Upheaval occurs, anyone inside is either spat out of the dungeon, warped to a Safe Zone, or trapped in a locked room. This wasn’t the surface, but it didn’t look like a prison cell either. We had probably been sent to a Safe Zone. Looking around, I spotted what looked like a flight of stairs.
I went over to check them, but they were blocked by a cave-in and completely unusable. The teleportation circle wasn’t responding either.
”No luck. Looks like we’re stuck here for a while.”, I said.
”Master…”, Liese said.
”It’s okay. We’ve got plenty of food and jerky.”, I said.
”Really?!”, Liese cried.
Liese’s face clouded over with worry for a split second, but “plenty of jerky” brought the smile right back. She’s so cute. In truth, I’d packed food and sleeping bags in my Item Box⁵ specifically in case of a situation like this. If I butchered the Orcs I’d hunted earlier, we could hold out for quite a while.
”How long do you think it will last?”, Liese asked.
”Records say as little as a day, or as long as a week. If it’s only a week, we have more than enough food.”, I said.
(That was the record, but there was no guarantee a week was the limit. To be safe, I wanted at least a month’s worth of supplies. Honestly, without an Item Box, we’d be screwed. No storage, no Water Magic, and no edible monsters – that’s the nightmare scenario. You could survive a day, but by the third day, you’d be in a life-threatening spot. Not many adventurers have the luxury of carrying extra rations just in case of an Upheaval.)
Yumiko-san and Hina are with the Female Transferee Party, so they’re probably fine. I wonder about Gale’s party? Sylvie can use water spirit magic, so as long as they can hunt some Orcs, they should be okay.
* * *
We waited for a while, but nothing changed. Since it was a Safe Zone, no monsters appeared – though they had been scarce all day anyway. (Maybe that was a precursor to the Upheaval? I’ll have to look into that if we ever get out.)
To kill time, Liese started practicing with her spear. She’s so dedicated. I stayed close enough to reach her in a heartbeat, still on guard for another forced teleport.
”Let’s get some dinner started.”, I said.
”Okay!”, Liese said.
I pulled out some Orc meat and started frying it up. I’d bought this pan during my first week for camping, but it had been ages since I’d used it. Not since the escort quest for Elmer-san, I think. I don’t usually put in this much effort during a standard run, and cooking meat in a dungeon is usually a death wish. But I decided to do it for Liese’s sake, just to keep her stress levels down. This was the first time I’d ever cooked inside a dungeon, even if it was a Safe Zone.
Gurgle.
”…Gulp.”, Liese sounded.
The smell of the searing meat was clearly getting to her. Her eyes were glued to the pan, a bit of drool was escaping her mouth, and her tail was thumping the ground like crazy.
”Alright, sorry for the wait. Let’s eat.”, I said.
”Yes!”, Liese said.
I thought about letting her start first, but Liese strictly refuses to eat before I do. (I guess that’s the slave education⁶ talking.) So, I plated both portions and we started together. Liese looked overjoyed to have fresh meat. It’s better than her snapping from the stress, that’s for sure.
* * *
The bathroom situation was awkward. Usually, I dig a hole with Earth Magic and have her bury it when she’s finished so I don’t have to watch. I didn’t want to get too far away because I was scared of another teleport, but I’m not about to stand there and watch. I don’t have that kind of fetish. (If it were just me, I could just… shove it into the Item Box, but I could never ask Liese to do that.) In the end, I just dug a hole like usual and kept my back turned, staying as alert as possible.
I could push through one night without sleep, but if this lasted a week, that wasn’t going to happen. I could force it, sure, but if my reactions slowed down, it could be fatal. It’s safer to get some rest. I know Danger Sense and Presence Detection stay active while I sleep, so I’m relatively safe. My Intuition should keep me covered too.
Normally we keep our bedrolls separate, but with the threat of teleportation, it was smarter to stay close. (Since we were technically “camping,” it wasn’t weird – probably. Still, I asked her.)
”Liese, given the situation, I’m going to stay close while you sleep. Is that okay? If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll move as far back as I can.”, I said.
”I don’t mind at all. I feel much safer with you nearby, Master.”, Liese replied.
Thank god, she doesn’t hate me. It’s good to know she trusts me after seeing what I can do. Even in a mess like this, it makes me a little happy. Since having us both sleep at once was too risky, I had Liese go first. She tried to argue, but I told her it didn’t matter who went first and finally got her to lie down.
I hope things change tomorrow. I need to get some sleep so I’m ready for whatever comes next.
—
Summary:
The protagonist provides an overview of the Adventurer’s Guild’s bureaucracy and internal politics before heading into the dungeon with Liese. During their exploration, a rare ‘Dungeon Upheaval’ occurs, warping them to a restricted Safe Zone and cutting off their exit. They prepare for a potential long-term stay, highlighting the protagonist’s foresight in stocking his Item Box and his protective dynamic with Liese.
—
Trivia:
- The mention of low monster encounter rates before the quake suggests that dungeons exhibit ‘pre-shock’ behavior.
- The protagonist’s mention of other parties (Female Transferee Party, Gale’s party) implies a wider network of adventurers operating in the same dungeon.
- The ‘Upheaval’ event is a rare phenomenon that drastically alters dungeon layouts and restricts access to Safe Zones, posing a significant threat to trapped adventurers.
—
Character Insight:
Liese’s absolute obedience regarding eating order demonstrates the deep-seated nature of her ‘slave education,’ which the protagonist notes with a mix of pity and pragmatism. However, her willingness to sleep near him for safety shows a growing genuine trust that goes beyond her status.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The chapter expands on the guild’s administrative structure, including the conflict between department heads and the Guild Master. It also introduces ‘Dungeon Upheavals’—rare, unpredictable events that restructure the dungeon environment and can trap adventurers for days.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘Scream machine’ (絶叫マシン) is a common Japanese term for roller coasters, used here by the protagonist to signal his modern-earth origins to the reader.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Dietlinde – Dietlinde-san, a slender sheep-beastman with white curly hair and tiny horns, serves as a staff member of the Quest Mediation Department at the Maultasche Royal Capital’s Adventurer’s Guild. She moves with quiet, low-heel clicks, radiating cool beauty and a distant noble air, greeting Daisuke with reserved professionalism before seeing him off. Though overburdened and hard-working, she maintains composed grace, admiring cosmetics as unattainable luxuries and favoring calming scents to soothe her weary spirit.
• Henriette – A receptionist in the Quest Mediation Department, this “problem child” is a dog‑ or wolf‑like beastman with long grey‑white hair, about 160 cm tall. Favored by the department head, she delegates her chores to others.
• Otto – Heavy Warrior, once the 52‑level tank of the Hero Party and a doctor‑degree holder, now a creepy 50‑year‑old mind trapped in a youthful body. He dons bulky armor and a stern face, is narcissistic, status‑obsessed and manipulative, obedient to Shouta and Takumi but tyrannical toward Ren and staff, pretends to mentor yet is a nuisance. Expelled from the Hero’s Party, he is delusional, sociopathic, and cares only for his own advancement.
• Yuko – 17‑year‑old high‑schooler, reincarnated from a 40‑year‑old Earth civil servant and former tech‑track professional, wears a half‑up hairstyle, thin chest armor, stands 160 cm with a standard build. Polite but low‑motivation, poor etiquette. Apprentice to Lady Xaveria, acquaintance of Daisuke, battling entitlement and stress.
• Bruno – A middle-aged man working in the Appraisal Department. He is described as meticulous and is married. He is roughly the age the protagonist was in his previous life.
• Isaac – A young man working in the Dismantling Department of the Adventurer’s Guild. He has an average appearance and is frequently overworked by Henriette.
• Liese – Dragonewt girl, 16, grey‑blue hair, thick horns, grey scales on neck and limbs, 170 cm tall, thin chest, tail that thumps when excited. Loyal companion and former slave of Daisuke, she wields a spear, trains seriously in dungeon floors 3 and 11, Level 14, loves meat and reading, and bears the title “Two Conflicting Dragons” sealing fire/water magic.
• Sylvie – Elf, 140 cm tall, petite loli‑like with long wavy blonde hair, fairy‑like smile, polished and feminine. Top‑ranked Gale Party adventurer and Daisuke’s spirit‑magic teacher; excels in scouting and trap detection, drinks MP potions, handles adult topics better than others. Wears frilly dresses, lace‑up boots, carries a staff, and for dates dons a Gothic Lolita dress, always smiling.
• Yumiko – Petite 155 cm Bow Saint, medium‑length hair, thin chest armor, appears 17 and is the eldest Transferee girl. A veteran housewife, skilled cook, maternal and authoritative, she serves as the party’s moral compass and grounding presence, polite and reserved, former corporate worker and ex‑Kyudo club member seeking emotional closure.
• Hina – 160 cm tall, muscular, beautiful girl‑knight with a ponytail and thin chest armor, exuding an honest, serious aura. Reincarnated as an Instant Swordswoman high‑schooler, she’s level‑headed, fiercely protective of Mizuki (ex‑basketball club member of the JK Party) and the straight‑man to Nanami’s antics. Yet in the transferee party she’s clumsy, shy, easily embarrassed, and blurts her thoughts.
• Elmer – Portly merchant in his 40s, owner of a Royal Capital shop, bears an Intuition Skill and travels often for trade. He takes slaves for labor and serves as Daisuke’s master, granting permission for Ilse’s rewards.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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