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Sōzoku Shita Sofu no Ie no Urayama ni Danjon ga Dekimashita - Chapter 48

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The Branch Manager Investigates the Right-Side Wall

While I was busy with work, Takuya came by.

Has that guy done something again?

I’m already overwhelmed with the investigation on the second basement floor…

On guard, he said he was going to the third basement floor to fish for the fish-type monsters.

Then he asked, "What bait should I use?"

What the hell is he talking about?

I didn’t understand the meaning well.

I answered, “I don’t know.”

“Takuya, do you know why you don’t know? Because no one fishes in a dangerous dungeon,” I said.

After thinking for a while, Takuya quietly left the room.

Did he understand what I meant?

Anyway, it’s work now.

I have to clear my backlog.

Sigh This is exhausting.

As planned, the priests arrived.

But they didn’t even come to greet me.

Do they look down on me just because I’m a branch manager of a C-rank dungeon branch?

They’re totally different from those at the research institute.

Well, whatever.

As long as they do their job properly, I have no complaints.

I wrapped up work to prepare for tomorrow.

I hope it ends safely...

On the day of the investigation, we all headed to the second basement floor.

The scaffolding was set up, and led by the thief, we climbed the scaffolding one by one.

Once we reached the top, as Takuya had reported, we saw the tunnel.

We gathered in front of the tunnel and did a final equipment check.

If our hands were occupied, we couldn’t respond to sudden events.

We attached searchlights to our helmets, and the thief led us inside.

After a while, wraiths appeared.

One priest cast a barrier to block them, while the other chanted a spell.

Then magic flared, and the wraiths disappeared into particles of light.

Only their magic stones were left behind.

We collected those magic stones and pressed on.

More wraiths appeared.

This time, the priests switched roles—the one who cast the spell created the barrier, and the other used holy magic.

They took turns defeating the wraiths.

We continued forward.

We brought along a female magic-user with a magic job who could use basic holy magic as backup.

She told me that holy magic consumes more mana than barrier magic, so they alternate to conserve energy.

I’m not a magic-user, so this was new information.

The priests defeated wraith after wraith and kept going.

They drank mana potions — rare drops.

As expected of priests from headquarters, they didn’t hesitate to use rare items.

The priests were visibly tired.

At that moment, the thief reported spotting a trap.

We had passed the information from Takuya beforehand.

The thief marked the trap with special paint that doesn’t disappear easily inside the dungeon.

There were marks in the middle and left of the path.

However, the trap on the right wall was hard to find.

No need to rush.

If we get careless, accidents could happen.

Besides, the priests can rest for a bit.

About 30 minutes later, they finally found the trap on the right.

“It was a trap so cunning that even knowing it existed made it hard to find,” the thief said.

We marked the traps, defeated the wraiths, and advanced.

At last, we reached the far end.

As Takuya had reported, there was a large double door.

The priests were exhausted.

We decided to take a break there.

I asked the thief to keep watch.

Also, I asked the female magic-user to hold off any attacking wraiths.

We counted 19 magic stones from the defeated wraiths.

Takuya had delivered over 200 magic stones.

If he hadn’t reduced their numbers, we wouldn’t have made it this far.

We owe him thanks.

After the break, I told the thief to open the door a little to check inside.

Following my order, the thief opened the door slightly.

When I leaned in to look, the thief suddenly closed it.

I couldn’t see anything.

I glared at him.

He pointed behind me.

I turned to see two priests sitting on the floor, shaking uncontrollably.

The female magic-user was barely standing.

“What happened?” I asked.

She said, “A violent wind of magic blew through. It was a wicked magic.”

Magic-users have a skill called Magic Sense that makes them sensitive to magic.

They must have been affected by the malevolent magic.

I asked if they could continue.

Both priests shook their heads.

It’s impossible to go further.

My頼みの神官 (reliable priests) are no good.

I decided to abort the exploration.

“Retreat!” I ordered.

We headed back to the tunnel entrance with the thief leading.

Since the priests were too weak to walk on their own, staff helped carry them.

We exited the tunnel and returned to the branch, then disbanded.

All the wraiths were defeated.

That bought us more time.

But it’s not a fundamental solution.

What should we do…

For now, I started working on the report.

Then, a staff member came in and reported, “Both priests have already left.”

Quit halfway, and without informing me, the branch manager!

Unbelievable!!

I was about to call the executive to complain…

No, wait.

I put down the receiver.

If the priests go back to headquarters, the executive will ask them about the situation.

It’s probably better they explain directly than me over the phone.

So, I continued writing the report.

Translator’s Notes:

  • Wraiths (レイス): Typical ghost-like dungeon monsters, usually weak but troublesome in numbers.

  • Magic stones (魔石): Dropped by defeated monsters, a valuable resource used for crafting, trading, or magical purposes.

  • Barrier magic and holy magic: The priests alternate between a protective barrier spell and offensive holy magic, balancing mana consumption.

  • Magic Sense skill: Enables magic-users to detect ambient magical energy and sense harmful magical phenomena.

  • The thief’s role: Scouts ahead, detects traps, and marks them, crucial for party survival in dangerous dungeons.

  • The priests’ early retreat: Reflects the severity of the threat and potential limitations of the team.

  • The branch manager’s frustration: Highlights organizational and communication issues in dungeon operations.

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