Check-in at an affordable inn, have dinner and take a bath. The Onsen eggs come out exactly with the meal (Tamiko likes it very much), and the public bath is a hot spring, so I’m very satisfied with the price.

　Before we spread out the futon and went to bed, we naturally talked about Ouji Metro and that preacher.

“The point is that Ouji Metro is a mining area for various minerals. This town and the metro are both under the direct control of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.” (Noa)

“He said something about a golem, that old man.” (Shuu)

“What is a golem, squeak?” (Tamiko)

“A kind of Metro Beast. A living rock doll.” (Noa)

“Yeah, of course.” (Shuu)

“I also know about it, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Liar.” (Shuu)

“This is the Metro Beast that represents the Ouji Metro. It’s pretty common in Metros with mineral resources.” (Noa)

“Heh… a golem is a living thing? I was wondering if it was magical. Or maybe cursed. I thought they were puppets that moved with some kind of magical or cursed power.” (Shuu)

“The actual golem is a white furball-like creature that uses its tentacles to wrap itself in stone like its armor and move it. It also has sporangium.” (Noa)

“Huh…” (Shuu)

　Is it like a hermit crab? The creature may not fit the ones of the previous era.

“It is something like a parasite in itself.” (Shuu)

“Yes, it is. I read in my great-grandfather’s notebook that the golem was a hint for the development of Parasite weapons. I don’t know how much it has to do with it.” (Noa)

“I see.” (Shuu)

“By the way, the miners who work here are always in danger of encountering golems. Most of them are [Peasant], but I heard that they are tough enough to kill the immature ones that appear in the shallower levels.” (Noa)

“Amazing.” (Shuu)

“I hear the pay is good even though it’s dangerous, and there are hunters who earn their living here. But I guess that means the resources are not infinite. The amount of resources that can be mined is rumored to be decreasing gradually. I think that’s what that Preacher was talking about.” (Noa)

“I see.” (Shuu)

“I see, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Do you really understand?” (Shuu)

“If you take too many acorns, you’ll ruin the forest, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Oh, that’s right. I’m sorry I underestimated you.” (Shuu)

　　The problem of resource depletion. I didn’t realize that in this day and age, the same problems are being talked about as back then.

“Well, let’s not talk about difficult matters, but let us hunters go deep into the depths where miners cannot go and search for rare minerals. If we dig up mithril, we can get rich quick and even make high-class weapons.” (Noa)

“I like that kind of story. Okay, let’s get some rest and get ready for tomorrow.” (Shuu)

　But even after turning off the light, I could not fall asleep.

　The preacher’s words and the way he stared at me were hard to get out of his mind.

　—The previous civilization was purged because of excessive environmental destruction.

　—By the will of the Metro, human society was purged.

　—It was rebuilt into this fungus-infested, prosperous country.

　—If we make the same mistake as the old civilization, the Metro will once again bare its fangs.

“…I don’t know…” (Shuu)

　Is that really the case?

　Did the disaster that destroyed the old civilization come from the arrogance and tyranny of the old humans?

　Did the [Metro Flood] and [Super Fungal Contamination] come from the will to put a stop to them?

　As a modern child who has been “poisoned” by smartphones and the Internet, I have to admit that I have a hard time understanding the situation.

(…It sounds like something an old ecologist would say…) (Shuu)

(If I remember correctly, the Founder of the Metro Church—) (Shuu)

　They are a [Master Threadweaver] just like me. They lived in the same era and old civilization as me.

　Noa told me about them before. They said that demons and Metros appeared to reset the excessive civilization of mankind, and that the Founder of the Church advocated such a reset. Since then, the revival and development of the scientific civilization has been halted here in New Tokyo.

　The doctrines that the Preacher talk about are a direct reflection of the Founder’s ideas and principles.

(…I’d like to meet them, even for a while.) (Shuu)

　However, I feel a little, no, very, afraid to meet them.

　In front of the entrance of Ouji Metro, there are as many people as that of an amusement park.

“…so big…” (Shuu)

“…so big, squeak…” (Tamiko)

　There is a huge building behind the gate. It is about five stories high, but it is also large horizontally. It has bare concrete walls and a large doorway that opens up. The bustle of men and the noisy sound of work coming from the back of the building. It is a large scale factory or warehouse. It seems that the entrance to the Metro is also located here.

　There are two reception areas, one for miners and one for hunters. Lightly dressed men who look like miners are coming and going, but the one for hunters is hardly crowded.

“Do they charge you to enter?” (Shuu)

“Yes, they do. I think that was part of the town revenue to maintain the area?” (Noa)

　In front of the gate, there is a small booth that looks like a lottery ticket booth. When I approached the salesman, he presented me with a price plan. A single ticket costs 3,000 yen per person. A five-trip ticket is 14,000 yen. A ten-trip ticket costs 26,000 yen. There are still more economical annual passes.

　Since we had almost no plan, we decided to buy a one-time ticket. I am charged for Tamiko’s ticket as well. Even though she is a pipsqueak, she is a licensed hunter, so there is nothing I can do about it.

“The miners have rights and work on the 10^th underground floor, so you can’t just go down there. The miners will not let you mine.” (Receptionist)

　Mining rights, huh? It’s a harsh world, isn’t it?

“Is it okay we go lower than them?” (Shuu)

“Of course, the eleventh floor is where the hunters work. But the golem is strong and dangerous, and you’ll get hurt if you dive in like it is any other metro.” (Receptionist)

“Huh.” (Shuu)

“Especially below the twentieth floor, even the most experienced hunters have frequent accidents. You guys look young, so you shouldn’t go too deep.” (Receptionist)

“How many floors are there? Are there any bosses?” (Shuu)

“Up to the 30th floor. I haven’t heard anything about a boss in a long time, because this is a metro with so many people coming and going. Do you want to buy the latest guidebook? It covers all the maps up to the 30th floor. It’s a must if you’re going to make it here.” (Receptionist)

　The guidebook is a notebook-sized book (the first half is a map spread). The price is 10,000 yen per book. It may seem a little expensive, but there is no substitute for shortening the time and safety on the road.

“Well, you may think I’m skimping on a lot of things, but the fee for using the elevators [T/N: Shoukouki or elevator] is included in the price. We’re pretty much in need of money, too.” (Receptionist)

“Archive floor [T/N: Shokoiki]?” (Shuu)

“Squeak?” (Tamiko)

　I was about to ask her what she meant when another hunter came in and left the booth.

“I think they mean the elevator,” said Noa.

“Elevator!? There’s an elevator in the Metro!?” (Shuu)

“Yes, that’s right, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“You don’t know anything about that, you know?” (Shuu)

　Noa opens the map. On the page of the first underground floor, there is a square mark with a cross on it, and the word “elevator” is written in small letters. There is a large one and a small one attached to it.

“Amazing… I never thought I would be able to ride an elevator in this day and era…” (Shuu)

“I heard there is one in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. You don’t hear much about it in the metro.” (Noa)

“Really…?” (Shuu)

　In a lecture on economic history, I heard that the oldest elevator was built in the era before Christ. It is not surprising that this technology has been revived in this era, but I never imagined that it would be installed in the metro.

“Abeshuu, what is an elevator?” (Tamiko)

“I knew you didn’t know.” (Shuu)

　After a brief explanation, Tamiko replied, “I want to ride it! Pigya!” Tamiko was so excited. I checked the map, and it seemed to go up to the tenth floor.

“But aren’t those part of the three major taboos of New Tokyo? The one about excessive development, so what is with the elevators?” (Shuu)

“I’ve heard that the rules allow elevators up to the tenth floor.” (Noa)

　I don’t know how to judge that, but if it’s legal, there’s no reason not to use it.

“Then, let us take the elevator to the 10th floor and dive in while watching the situation. I don’t know what golems are like, so let’s go carefully.” (Shuu)

　The two girls replied cheerfully, “Squeak!”

　Inside the huge factory, it was extremely noisy. It was unbelievably dusty.

　Many miners are working. They carry what looks like ore in wheelbarrows, sort it by hand, and pack it into bags and crates. There is a separate entrance and exit for the wagons at the back. According to Noa’s pieces of trivia, most of the ore is taken to a pit nearby a riverside.

“…That’s ore, right? It looks kind of weird, doesn’t it?” (Shuu)

“That… I’m looking forward to seeing the real thing.” (Noa)

　Noa said that in a mischievous way, and she closed the guidebook she had opened to check things.

“So, is that the elevator?” (Shuu)

　There is a large machine near the center of the facility. The steel frame is assembled, and the top part is covered with gears and wires, and it is working with a heavy thumping sound. Soon, the floor is pushed up against the inside of the fence. There were many bulging burlap sacks piled up on the floor.

“Look out, look out, you’re in the way, Brother!” (Miner)

　The miners came up behind us and almost pushed us out of the way. They were going to start sorting the sacks that had been brought in.

“I wonder how we’re going to get on that thing?” (Shuu)

“… Ah, doesn’t it look like that one.” (Noa)

“Which one?” (Shuu)

　Noa pointed to another elevator.

　It is a rather small, boxy room, different from the one over there that could easily fit a three-bedroom apartment. If you look closely, you will see a sign that says, “Elevator for hunters is here”.

“Hey, welcome.” (Auntie)

　When I walked up to the elevator, I was greeted by a woman in her fifties. She was stout and plump, and looked like a dwarf working in the mines (Noa said she was a “normal human being”).

　However, she is dressed in a very eccentric outfit, far from a dwarf. She wears a tight-fitting pink suit and mini-skirt, with makeup all over her face and her long hair parted into two braids.

“It’s a direct line to the tenth floor, okay?” (Auntie)

“Yes.” (Shuu)

　The auntie pulls the wire door (it’s a manual door) and lets the me and the others into the small room. The room was small, but it could easily accommodate more than ten people.

“Does anyone else want to ride?” (Auntie)

　There were a few hunters around, but none of them responded to the woman’s call. They were probably waiting to meet up with their comrades.

“It’s just you, huh? I’m going to go now. Hold on tight.” (Auntie)

“Eh?” (Shuu)

　The auntie closes the door and presses a button at the front. A bell rings above the door.

　Noa and I hurriedly grabbed the railing.

　The floor shakes loudly, and the descent begins slowly.

　The goal is to get to the bottom of the earth. For Noa and Tamiko, it is the Metro Labyrinth where they have spent most of their lives in this country.

　What awaits them in the new metro?

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