Dungeon's Final Boss: Banished by My Boss, the Goddess, to Earth—So I'll Continue My Past Life - 93

Chapter 93: Having a Hot Pot Party With the Big Sister

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The headquarters of the dungeon exploration company Shimazu Mining was located in Fukuoka. After we finished the dungeon conquest, we moved to Fukuoka by car, and it was decided we would have a celebration there.

During the ride, since I was bored, I looked up the origin of the name “Shimazu Mining.”

The company had been founded by Tougo’s father. His father, who came from a miner background, established Shimazu Mining to create a mutual aid network for people in the mining profession.

Afterward, his children awakened and joined the company as well. Because Tougo was an S-rank awakened, the company increasingly took on the aspect of dungeon conquest contracting, but it still retained its original role as a mutual aid organization for miners.

That father of his had died in a dungeon several years ago.

“Thank you very much for this time, Hasegawa-san, Amanokawa-san.”

A woman greeted us in front of the restaurant where we arrived.

“Jiro, this is my big sister.”

Tougo said. The moment he said that, a short bamboo sword appeared from an item box and smacked Tougo on the head.

“Tougo! Don’t address someone older than you without an honorific! And while on duty, you should call me President!”

“Ow, that hurts, Nee-chan.”

“Oh, it’s fine, Onee-san. Don’t worry about it.”

“But still…”

“In this industry, Tougo has more experience, so it’s only natural for him to act like that. .”

Besides, I also addressed him without honorifics. So there was no problem. 

“I apologize. I am Nobori Shimazu, president of Shimazu Mining.”

“Thank you very much for the formal introduction.”

She handed me her business card. Moments like these felt awkward when I didn’t have a card to give in return. Should I make one? But it didn’t seem worth going through the trouble.

I quietly buried the dilemma deep in my mind as we were led into the restaurant.

A spacious room had been prepared for us, and both mizutaki hotpot and motsunabe were already steaming. Both dishes were delicious.

The chicken in the mizutaki was springy and packed with rich flavor that spread through my mouth, while in the motsunabe, the tofu and vegetables had fully absorbed the taste of the offal and were exquisite. And then washing it down with a swig of beer—

“This is irresistible.”

“You really know how to drink, Jiro.”

 Tougo said and the two of us downed our draft beers.

“By the way, did Tougo cause you any trouble?”

“Not at all. As expected of an S-rank awakened, his fighting skill was superb.”

“I see. That’s good to hear.”

“Nee-chan, Jiro’s support skills are seriously amazing. We should have him join our company.”

“Oh my, it’s rare for you to praise someone that much, Tougo. What do you think, Hasegawa-san?”

“Haha, I’m honored to be invited, but I quite like the freedom of freelancing.”

“That’s unfortunate. If you joined, we could introduce you to a house and even a wife.”

“Haha, you must be joking.”

“Oh? You think I’m joking?”

“It is a joke…Right?”

We locked eyes for a moment as Nobori-san leaned in, then she let out a sigh.

“Haah, it doesn’t work, huh? Just so you know, I’m quite confident in my looks.”

“Nee-chan, you’re already married—what are you doing?”

Tougo sounded exasperated, but Nobori-san looked completely unbothered. I had noticed she was married; a ring was clearly visible on the ring finger of her left hand.

“Oh, I never said it has to be. It could just as well be Inori-chan.”

“Eh, me!?” 

Inori, who had been a little distance away, looked shocked.

“No way, someone like me—”

“That’s right. It’s impossible if it’s Inori.”

Tougo cut in before she could finish, and she looked a little downcast.

“That’s right, someone like me…”

Her hand reached up to the bangs covering her left eye. Was she self-conscious about the scar on her face?

“Inori isn’t going anywhere. Inori is…Anyway, absolutely not!”

Huh? Did he just gloss over something important? His face had turned red—maybe from the alcohol.

“Hehehehe~”

“Ah!”

Nobori-san smirked, and Mimimi looked like she had realized something. Even Inori’s face was red?

“What is it?”

“Jiro-san…”

When I turned to Mimimi for an explanation, she slumped as if she had lost against something.

“Huh? Hasegawa-san, are you for real…”

“Ehehe…”

“My, Amanokawa-san, it must be tough dealing with him.”

“Th-that’s not true!”

“Fufufu~ Oh, conversations like this are the best snacks with drinks.” 

Nobori-san chuckled as she happily ordered another round of sake. I didn’t really get what was going on, but since everyone seemed to be having fun, I decided to just enjoy the hotpot and beer myself.

Then it came time for the final course. The mizutaki turned into a rice porridge, and the motsunabe into ramen. Though Nobori-san was a production-type awakened, everyone here was an awakened person, so we made quick work of the food.

“You guys are still hungry, right? Let’s go grab some tonkotsu ramen at a food stall afterward.”

Tougo suggested, but then, his smartphone suddenly rang. 

“Guh?! A request to clear a dungeon already?”

Apparently, he had received a request to clear a dungeon. He took his phone and stepped into the hallway.

“Since the call is coming at this hour, it must be an emergency.”

Nobori-san murmured while taking out her own phone to check something.

“Yeah, it’s here. Dungeon appeared on a national highway in Saga Prefecture.”

“Nee-chan, I’m heading out for a bit.”

Tougo said, poking just his head back into the room.

“Take your sobering pills!”

“I don’t need ’em!”

With that, Tougo left the restaurant.

“Well, the JSDF will probably make him take them anyway. I’m sorry, Hasegawa-san.”

“No, no, this can’t be helped.”

Just then, my own smartphone rang too.

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