Thou Shalt Not Have Hope in Modern Dungeons - Chapter 2: Resignation Letter

Ten years ago. Underground facilities, known as dungeons, where monsters emerge, began to appear without warning. All over the world, without exception.

In the streets, in the mountains, in the fields. This thing appeared everywhere, causing a huge commotion at the time. Once the monsters started overflowing from the dungeons, it was sheer chaos.

No matter how many we defeat, monsters appear from somewhere within. A dungeon that cannot be destroyed even by explosives, let alone nuclear weapons. It’s no wonder that pessimistic rumors spread saying humanity is finished.

However, as they continued to resist, knowledge and experience accumulated. The fact that it was not something they could never overcome barely kept the people’s panic at bay.

If they keep defeating them, the monsters won’t come out of the dungeon. The defeated monsters can be used for food and other purposes. Due to this confusion, Japan and some other countries, which faced issues with imports and distribution, had no choice but to use dungeon resources.

Our homeland advanced legal reforms at an unprecedented speed. A significant reason for this was the situation on the ground, which was shaking the very foundation of the nation. Thanks to this, although many rough edges were noticeable, the legal framework related to dungeon management was completed faster than in other countries.

Somehow, we managed to regain our daily lives, but the situation is not something we can be optimistic about. The number of dungeons continues to gradually increase. Due to the immense burden, many administrators end up fleeing. Even with aid from the government, this is the case.

Ten years since the dungeon appeared. There is still no hope in sight for resolving the situation.

* * *

My name is Irikawa Haruo. Former salaryman. Current dungeon manager. Since yesterday, I have been utterly alone. I had no family. No relatives. Thinking that, I block a few numbers. Curse them.

It was quite difficult to quit the company. First, I went to the office, printed out the materials I had prepared at home, and then reported to my boss.

“Excuse me, Manager Tanuma. I was deceived into buying a property with a dungeon. I have management responsibilities, and it’s impossible to handle them while working. Therefore, I will be resigning.”

“…What are you talking about?”

My boss was dumbfounded. I understand how he feels. After that, he scolded me, saying, “Don’t mess around, you idiot!” I understand that feeling too.

Since the emergence of dungeons, most of Japan’s industries have been struggling with recession. To be precise, it’s the increase in transportation costs. The routes that were previously used for travel have become dangerous zones due to monster appearances. The safer routes take more time.

If the working hours increase, the costs will increase. Labor costs, fuel costs, vehicle maintenance costs, etc. Transportation is involved in all industries. Rising costs, decreasing profits, cost-cutting… thus, the bad history of the Heisei era is repeated.

The second employment ice age. Labor costs are being cut, and the number of jobs is decreasing. The amount and quality of work required from each employee are on the rise. Even if I try to find a new job, everywhere I look is more or less the same.

Even if I want to work, there are no places available. The only places hiring are black companies. There are countless people who can take my place. It’s an environment that completely ignores labor laws, treating workers like slaves. That is the current reality.

Given the current situation, the market is also tough. Each employee must give their all for the company to make a profit. In the midst of this, an employee who was contributing significantly, even without a formal position, suddenly leaves. The burden on those working in the same department increases even more.

As an administrator, it would be very hard to swallow. Especially since I would be caught in the crossfire as well.

“Hey! Do you even realize how much trouble one person leaving causes the company? This is business disruption!”

The boss is in full-on rage mode. Once it gets to this point, there’s no stopping. He’ll keep barking until he gets his way. But today, I can’t let myself be swept away by this.

“I fully understand that this is a nuisance, but if we don’t stop it, things will get much worse. Please take a look at this.”

I placed a document on my boss’s desk. The web news article has the headline “Company Executive Arrested for Interfering with Dungeon Management.”

“This is the incident where the superior and the person in charge who did not approve the resignation of the dungeon manager were arrested.”

“Huh!? Why!?”

“Because interfering with dungeon management is a serious crime. There are laws in place for that.”

I explained the penalties for obstructing dungeon management and also presented the pamphlet I received from the city hall. To be honest, they are quite severe. And there’s no mercy.

The damage caused by monsters overflowing from the dungeon is no joke. Not only are lives threatened, but surrounding facilities also take damage. The cost of recovery is usually in the tens of millions of yen. If a large facility is involved, it can easily reach hundreds of millions.

Both neglecting management and obstructing it will result in severe penalties. If he refuses my resignation, it will harm both the company and themselves. Even though I was furious, it seemed he understood that.

However, whether or not I can accept it is another matter.

“Then what are you going to do about the work you’re in charge of? How do you plan to take responsibility for it?”

When I resign, it’s always the boss’s words that come out. The other employees listening must be thoroughly fed up too. I get it, I was the same.

And since it has happened repeatedly, I know how the story will unfold afterward. He threatened me by saying things like, “I’ll tell your next company what you did! You’ll have no place to go at your new job! I’ll even sue for business interference!”

I can’t say I don’t understand how he feels. If I keep surviving in this environment, anyone would end up the same way. I also feel sorry about it.

But we are working adults. We have to live with responsibility. And I ended up with the responsibility of managing the dungeon. If I don’t fulfill that, I’ll end up in jail. Our neighborhood is crawling with monsters. We have to avoid that.

“If you could hire new employees there.”

“Are you kidding me, you bastard! This is business sabotage…”

“By the way, please take a look at this document. It’s about a case where we sued a former employee for business obstruction and lost.”

Since I knew my boss’s pattern, of course, I was prepared. It’s a common threat to resigning employees in black companies. This, if I ask whether it’s possible, it can’t be done unless the conditions are right.

Basically, workers have the freedom to resign. However, if the employment period is fixed, they cannot resign unless there is a special reason (such as an accident or illness). Additionally, they must work for two weeks after declaring their intention to resign.

In the end, if the worker was fulfilling their duties, it’s impossible. Even if the job becomes unmanageable because that person quit.

If I explain such a story in a kind and detailed manner, even the section chief can’t help but fall silent. Instead, his face turns red and black. It doesn’t seem good for his health.

“Well then, I’d like to start the handover process.”

“…Let the one who’s free do it.”

“Well then, Manager, please.”

Stopping work means being freed from my previous position. Of course, there are limits, but I can say things I couldn’t say before.

So, I’ve decided to vent the frustrations I’ve accumulated since being assigned to this department here. Yeah, I really feel sorry for quitting so suddenly. But I will take revenge for the power harassment.

People in the past said good things. That is that! This is this!

“…Huh?”

“There’s only the section chief. Someone who has enough free time to leave by seven every day.”

Shoving work onto us, huh! When I looked around the department, everyone averted their eyes from me all at once. But there was a smile on their faces. They must be thinking, “Serves you right.”

In the end, I successfully managed to offload my work onto the section chief. In fact, when others call his name, he happily starts talking about the amount of work he is currently handling.

On top of that, there were even people who would respond with something like, “Well then, can I return this work that the section chief asked me to do instead?” Even the boss couldn’t help but be at a loss for words at this.

Thus, I completed the so-called “handover work” as a form of revenge in just a few days and successfully resigned. I also used my paid leave. Of course, they tried to resist, but I wielded the ultimate weapon of submitting evidence to the labor union.

The usual card of “it’s bad for your next job” is meaningless in front of the hell that is the dungeon manager.

Thus, I resigned from the (quite) black company where I had worked for three years since graduating from university. A system was established to seriously engage in the management of a truly black dungeon.