"It's almost time…"
After hunting the monsters on the first floor, I waited in front of the passage leading to the exit until night fell.
Glancing at the pocket watch that I synced with Tina and the others' clock inside the magic tent, I saw that it was nearly 10 p.m. by now.
I wondered if Tina and the others had arrived in the Empire yet. I had carefully repaired the collar's appearance using my alchemy skills and drained the mana from the embedded magic stone, so I was pretty sure no one would notice it had been removed.
They said there was a high chance that they would be handed first to a viscount that was currently in Japan, before being sent back to the Empire
"Alright! Let's go. Should I put on the Devil Mask just in case?"
Shaking off my worries, I reminded myself that nothing would start until I got outside.
I took out the Devil Mask, a pranking magic item, from my spatial storage bracelet.
I need to hide my face a little bit in case I'm found and they use [Hawk Eye] and [Night Vision] combo to see my face.
I was wearing a black shirt, black leather pants, a black leather cape, and black boots.
The mask covered my eyes and nose, with bat wings protruding from the sides.
Anyone who saw me like this would shoot on sight, no questions asked.
To hide the rings and bracelets on my hands, I wore black fingerless leather gloves and wrapped my wrists with bandages.
I looked like I was in cosplay event
"I chose these clothes to blend into the darkness… not like anyone's watching. Alright, let's go."
Ignoring the small details, I activated my [Detection] as I sprinted toward the exit.
As soon as I reached the dungeon exit, the entrance lit up.
Were they waiting for me!?
I thought that for a split second, but the human presence I detect was only near the base of the mountain.
It seemed to be just a sensor-like mechanism that triggered the light. So I quickly flew up, blending with trees and landing on a branch.
I sensed movement near the mountain's base.
Are they from the Empire? Their magic density wasn't as strong as that red-haired woman's, but it was quite concentrated…
After nearly two years of constantly using [Demon Vanquisher] every day, my senses for magic had sharpened considerably.
The mana I absorbed would first pass through my body, allowing me to become sensitive to its various type of magic power.
[Detection] was a skill that released weak magic pulses to locate enemies through the reflections, but it had also evolved to the point where I could sense not only monsters but also the quality of a person's magic.
Even without [Detection], I could roughly tell if someone was nearby just by the feeling of their magic
The Empire soldiers I sensed near the mountain's base had a distinctly different magic presence compared to Tina and the others.
Is it because they're humans evolved in a world filled with magic?
But if that's the case, it's strange how vastly different they are from beastkin and elves. Maybe it's something unique to humans?
I racked my brain but found no answer, so I dismissed the thought and took out the gate key while still standing on the tree branch.
Focusing on home, I inserted the key into the air and turned it, successfully activating the gate.
I quickly pass through the conspicuous portal, leaving behind the land of Sakurajima where I had been for nearly two years.
"I'm home! It's pitch dark as expected… no streetlights on? Looks like the house across the street has lights on, though. Guess they're saving ekectricity."
Stepping through the gate, I arrived in my front of my house.
It was completely dark since it was nighttime.
Since I hadn't set up automatic payments, I knew the electricity was probably cut off, but I thought there would be a bit more light from outside.
Usually, the streetlights near my house kept it from being this dark, but they were off, leaving everything in shadow.
I could see the light from the house across the street, so it was likely some kind of energy-saving measure, maybe.
Considering Japan is under occupation, I should be grateful there's electricity in my area.
My [Night Vision] was active, so I could move around just fine, but it didn't feel like I've come home in such darkness.
I took out a magical light orb from my Spatial Storage Bracelet and activated it with magic
A small black orb, about the size of my palm and 10 cm thick, emitted a glowing ball of light that illuminated the living room.
This was an essential magic tool for dungeon exploration, and was carried by almost every adventurers.
It was quite bright and followed me at distance as I moved, so find it incredibly useful.
Dungeons weren't pitch black, but they were dim enough that you couldn't see far ahead.
While [Night Vision] used only a small amount of magic, keeping it on constantly would slow down magic recovery.
Thus, all adventurers usually carried one magical light orb.
Apparently it wasn't exactly rare as a dungeon drop items, as it can be found occasionally in advanced dungeons. I have a about 50 of them, which I got from skeletons and some from treasure chests.
It was still valuable item, especially in Japan.
Apprently, in occupied countries, anyone who does not pledge loyalty to the Empire is prohibited from entering advanced dungeons.
They didn't want rebels gaining power and turning against them, especially with Earth's population at 6 billion versus the Empire's 300 million.
I wondered how they managed to keep control with so many rebellions that likely happening everywhere.
Thinking back to my history classes on the colonial policies of European nations during the Pacific War, I imagined they must be enforcing their rule through mass killings.
As uncomfortable as it was to think about, it was something common during and after wars and had happened in many countries.
Oppression of minorities was happening everyday anywhere in the world. People were unjustly arrested and imprisoned. Women were raped everyday.
It was the kind of thing I'd read about online or on the news. Eventhough I felt bad, as Japanese citizens, I'd never felt able to intervene or truly empathize.
I guess that's what people thought when the we were taken away under "Special Employment Law for NEETs".
The news mentioned nothing about us being sent into dungeons; they just announced the law and ended it there.
If I witnessed a massacre with my own eyes, I definitely try to intervene, and if my friends were involved, I will act to protect them with everything I had.
But if it were happening far away, to people I didn't know, I'd probably feel sorry for them but also think there was nothing I could do.
I'd have to live with that same sense of helplessness.
Looking around my familiar, brightened home, I prayed that no massacres were happening in Japan.
There was no sign of burglary, so I headed up to my room on the second floor.
"My room… Oh, my dear room! I'm back! I'm home!"
Unable to contain the emotions welling up inside me, I leaped onto my bed, stirring up a cloud of dust.
"Ugh… cough… Ah, I left the window slightly open. I made a mistake. But if there's no electricity, I can't use my computer… How do I get any information…? There was an internet café in front of the station, though. But in a conquered country? They're probably go bankrupt… Maybe I'll go to Mitsui's place."
It was so normal to rely on my computer and phone to get some information, but I had forgotten that I couldn't do anything without electricity.
My phone had been confiscated when I registered with the Explorers' Association in Shinjuku, so it's still there.
I didn't even know if it would work anymore.
Koenji Station was about a 20 minute walk from here, which I could cover in 10 minutes if I ran.
Japan's economy must be in shambles after the defeat, and I doubted any internet cafés or train would still be operating.
So I decided to visit my high school friend Mitsui. A friendly and intelligent guy. He used to work for a company, but he returned to his parents' home to inherit the butcher shop.
We'd met up at least once a month for drinks.
I've kept the fact that I'm a NEET from Mitsui. Maybe he noticed, but he'd never brought it up.
A good guy like him wouldn't judge me. Tho he was a bit of perv
Since I had to wait six hours to use the gate key again, I decided to walk.
The neighboring station was close enough, and I could probably get there in under 10 minutes if I ran.
I could fly, but I wasn't about to do that.
As I took off my Devil Mask and put my boots back on and was about to head out but a folded piece of paper fell from where it had been stuck in the door. It was a note from Mitsui.
"I'm worried about you. Please contact me."
Standing at the front door, I felt a pang in my chest. I stood still in front of the entrance for a while.
My parents have both passed away and I have no siblings. I have been estranged with my relatives for over 10 years. I'd assumed Mitsui and my friends would have worried when I suddenly lost contact with them.
But with Japan's defeat, I thought they had bigger concerns and couldn't temporary care about me.
Yet Mitsui had come by to check on me.
He must have come multiple times and didn't find me, so he left a note in the door.
That made me really happy for some reason.
I put the note in my pocket, and I set off toward Mitsui's house at my full speed.
When we meet, I'll let you copy the pornographic magazine from another world.
That was my thought as I headed out.