Two weeks had passed since I started living as an adventurer.
My life had changed dramatically.
I no longer had to squeeze onto a packed train in the morning, or bow to unreasonable bosses. I woke when I wanted, dove into dungeons at my own pace, and came home in the evening to eat with Misaki.
Financial freedom led to mental freedom. Lately I'd even talked more with Misaki. She must've noticed the hard edge gone from her father's face.
That day, I finished my usual "work" in the dungeon and was taking a break in the guild lounge.
On the lounge TV, an adventurer news program was playing.
Then a conversation from the next table drifted into my ears.
"Hey, did you hear? Lately the [Forest of Goblins] has been crazy."
"Yeah, I heard the trap placements are totally messed up. My party fell into a pitfall yesterday on a passage that was supposed to be safe."
"Right? For us, a poison swamp suddenly appeared under the mid-floor boss, and it self-destructed. Made no sense."
"I heard that too. And sometimes after someone passes through, a treasure chest is just sitting in a safe hallway."
...Huh?
I nearly spat out my cheap coffee.
Messed-up trap placements. A poison swamp under a boss. Treasure chests on the path.
...All of that was me.
The young adventurers kept talking.
"Who the hell's doing that?"
"No clue. But on the guild board, the rumor is it's the work of some mysterious solo adventurer."
"Solo? Pulling that off? That's a monster in itself."
"Yeah, so with a touch of awe, they're calling him this—"
One of the guys lowered his voice.
"—'Dungeon God.'"
...Dungeon God.
Wh-who the hell was that?
No, obviously it was me. But I never imagined they'd stick such a grand name on it.
All I cared about was making money safely and efficiently. Other adventurers weren't even on my radar.
I had no idea my actions had turned into bizarre stories and gossip.
"Well, has nothing to do with bottom-feeders like us."
"Yeah. Alright, back to goblin hunting for pocket change."
The young men stood and left.
I just sat frozen in my chair.
God, huh.
A washed-up middle-aged man, laid off from his company, a god? Don't make me laugh.
I turned my eyes back to the TV. On screen, the brilliant exploits of an S-rank party were being reported as usual.
"S-rank party [Holy Sword Knight Order], another triumphant advance today."
Impressive stuff. A different world from mine.
I tossed a potato chip into my mouth.
Even as part of the guild I was now being called "God" by some, I watched the news like it was someone else's business.
* * *
Meanwhile, in one room of the guild office.
Hikawa Reina wrestled with the flood of data on the monitor in front of her.
Reports of abnormal incidents in the [Forest of Goblins] and mid-floor levels over the past two weeks—dozens of them.
And every single date and location matched uncannily with the clear logs of one adventurer.
F-rank, solo adventurer, Sato Koichi.
"No way... that dull middle-aged man is... 'Dungeon God'...?"
Hikawa's eyes widened in shock at the unbelievable conclusion.
In her mind, the man who'd been just a "person of interest" had now been promoted to "top-priority observation target."