Saitama Dungeon - Chapter 3

Episode 3: Return (2)

I entered my own room and looked around.

Nothing seemed to have changed. Or so I thought.

I took my wallet out of the pocket of my jacket and placed it on the desk. Then, I took off my jacket and hung it on a hanger in the closet.

The scratches from the compass I had on my desk since elementary school were still there.

Checking the drawers of the desk revealed nothing had changed.

Then, I remembered and checked under the bed. Sure enough, the treasure I had hidden at the bottom of the box was still there.

It was exactly as I remembered, my old room.

Somewhat curious about my current abilities, I took a 10 yen coin from the wallet I placed on the desk and pinched it between my index finger and thumb. Applying a bit of force, the 10 yen coin easily folded in half.

I realized that in addition to speed and endurance, I also had some strength.

Although I unfolded the half-folded 10 yen coin with both hands because it seemed wasteful, it ended up with a crack in the middle and looked like it could break in half at any moment. It seemed better not to use it in vending machines.

Next was magic.

I decided to try using magic while sitting on the bed.

Since I was a hero, I wasn’t particularly skilled in magic, but I could manage simple spells to some extent.

Without needing to say it aloud, I quietly said “Fire” and tried the magic to produce flames from my fingertips. Sure enough, flames spouted from my fingertips.

While it’s still not entirely clear if everything has returned to normal, it seems that my physical abilities are maintained, and I can use magic.

I felt a bit relieved.

Once I felt relieved, exhaustion washed over me.
It was only natural since I had been battling the Demon King until just a little while ago.

I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.

If the real me from this world suddenly returned and saw me, it would be a big commotion.

But somehow, I had a feeling that wouldn’t happen.

A voice from downstairs called out that dinner would be ready soon, and I should take a bath first.

When I closed my eyes, it seemed like I inadvertently fell asleep.

Looking at the clock, it was already 6 PM.

Since I haven’t returned until this time, can’t I assume I’m the only one here?

If I don’t return until tomorrow morning, it’s completely safe.

Descending the stairs, on the opposite side of the entrance was a changing room with a washstand and a washing machine.

I looked at my naked self reflected in the mirror above the washstand.

I didn’t look like a middle schooler at all, I looked muscular.

When I stepped on the scale, it showed 70 kilograms.

I’m sure I was 60 kilograms back then.

I hadn’t thought I’d gained weight at all, but it’s only natural to get heavier with this much muscle.

It’s been ten years since I had a Japanese-style bath.

As I slowly soaked in the bathtub filled with hot water, it felt like the exhaustion of ten years was melting away.

I lathered body soap onto a nylon towel and washed my body.

The lather was amazing.

After washing my body, I washed my hair with shampoo, and the lather was also amazing.

After getting out of the bath and changing into pajamas/room wear, I headed to the dining room connected to the kitchen and living room.

On the table were two servings of tonkatsu with shredded cabbage, miso soup, and white rice.

I sat down at the seat across from my mother, who was already seated, and said, “Itadakimasu.”

I generously poured tonkatsu sauce over the tonkatsu and shredded cabbage, picked up a piece of tonkatsu with my chopsticks, and put it in my mouth.

The crispy coating enveloped the fatty pork.

Delicious.

Tonkatsu didn’t appear in my dreams, but miso soup and white rice did multiple times.

I immediately put the rice in my mouth and chewed.

Then, it was miso soup.

The ingredients in the miso soup were tofu and green onions.

After eating about half of the tonkatsu, I asked my mother sitting across from me about my father.

“Where’s Dad?”

“What are you talking about? Your father’s on a business trip and won’t be back until the day after tomorrow in Fukuoka.”

“That’s right.”

I answered, but I didn’t remember at all.

Anyway, I confirmed that my father was also here.

My mother looked at me closely and said,

“Ichiro, I haven’t properly seen your face in a while, but has your aura changed a bit? And your body seems to have gotten bigger.”

“Is that so?”

“People your age grow up in the blink of an eye.”

I was a bit taken aback, but it seemed like my mother had settled it within herself, which relieved me.

After having another serving of rice and finishing everything on the plate, I drank up the miso soup.

“Thank you for the food.”

“Thank you.”

I took the dishes to the sink and sat on the sofa in the living room, turning on the TV.

After the political and international news, there were reports on accidents and incidents.

Among them were the numbers of deaths, missing persons, and injured people in dungeons since the beginning of this year.

There were 14 deaths, 75 missing persons, and 1,460 injured, which was a 4% increase from the same period last year.

I didn’t know if these numbers were high or low, but from my perspective, they seemed low. But from an ordinary Japanese person’s perspective, they might seem high.

My mother, who finished washing the dishes, said she would take a bath and left the kitchen.

Once the news was over, a variety show started.

Since I didn’t feel like watching TV with all channels airing similar programs, I turned off the TV and returned to my room on the second floor.

Back in my room, I thought about using my smartphone to research dungeons, but I suddenly felt tired again and ended up lying down on the bed.

As I lay on the bed, I looked at the ceiling and remembered the final battle with the Demon King just a few hours ago.

Did defeating the Demon King allow me to return to Japan?

No. There was no sense of accomplishment from cutting off the Demon King’s head.

Besides, I hadn’t even swung the Holy Sword Enolagrat.

There’s still something unsatisfactory about it.

Nevertheless, I have returned to Japan.

It’s a different Japan from the one I remember, but Japan is Japan.

I’ll never know the outcome of the battle with the Demon King.

It might be okay to consider the battle with the demons over for me.