Aldo decided to consult his boss about something during his lunch break at work.
“Boss, do you have any side jobs that can earn some money?”
“Hm? Well, there are some, but what’s up? Gambling? Womanizing? Or is it that you’ve accumulated a tab at the tavern?”
The boss smirked as he put his arm around Aldo’s shoulder.
“No, it’s not that! There’s no way I’d do such things with Iris around!”
Aldo felt a bit disheartened, wondering if that was the impression he gave before he lost his memory.
“Hah hah hah! Don’t sulk like that! I’ve got some good information for you. Behind this mine, there’s a dungeon.”
“A dungeon?”
“Hmm? Oh, right. You’ve lost your memory, haven’t you? Okay, let me tell you about it.”
The boss began to speak proudly about the dungeon.
“Listen closely. In this world, there are beings known as spirits and evil spirits. The essence of these two is the same. The difference is that spirits are beneficial to humans, while evil spirits are harmful, which is how they are distinguished.”
“Hmm, I see.”
Aldo recalled the relationship between fermentation and decay. The essence of both is the same; what differentiates them is whether they are harmful to humans.
“And the place where spirits seal away evil spirits—that’s the dungeon. Spirits sacrifice themselves to seal away large amounts of evil spirits within the dungeon. To seal evil spirits in the dungeon, the spirits must also be sealed in that land. Are you following so far?”
“Yes.”
“While it may seem that leaving it alone poses no immediate harm to humans, there are overwhelmingly more evil spirits than there are spirits. In short, there aren’t enough spirits. Therefore, humans need to delve into the dungeon, defeat the evil spirits, and release the spirits from their seals. By doing so, spirits will once again bring benefits to humans and can respond to new threats from evil spirits.”
The boss raised a finger as he explained.
“So, how does this dungeon relate to a side job?”
“Oh, right. Actually, if you clear the dungeon and release the spirits, you’ll receive a reward from the country and the Digger Association. Ah, ‘Digger’ is a term for those who venture into dungeons. Also, since evil spirits and spirits are fundamentally the same, places with a high concentration of evil spirits sometimes yield mysterious ‘materials.’ If you sell those materials, you could earn a decent amount of money.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, being a Digger is a job with life-threatening risks. The rewards can be huge, but you should think carefully about it.”
“Well, even coal miners can die in accidents, so it’s definitely dangerous.”
At Aldo’s words, the boss paused for a moment to think. Then, he laughed heartily and slapped Aldo on the back.
“You’re right! If it’s dangerous anyway, why not aim to be a Digger, huh?”
“Sure!”
“I’m home!”
“Welcome back, Dad!”
Iris greeted Aldo as he returned from the mine. Today, Aldo had come straight home to see Iris.
“Dad, dinner’s ready. Are you hungry?”
“Oh, thanks, Iris.”
Aldo sat down at the dining table. The dish Iris made was stir-fried vegetables, roughly chopped. Though it looked a bit clumsy, he could feel Iris’s love in it.
“Oh, you made this, Iris? Amazing!”
“Uh-huh! Eat up! Quickly, quickly!”
Iris bounced with excitement as she waited for Aldo to eat the stir-fried vegetables.
Aldo smiled at her enthusiasm, glancing at Iris while bringing the food to his mouth. Though there were slight imperfections in the seasoning, it was delicious enough. More than anything, it was made by Iris for Aldo. To him, that was the most delicious meal in the world.
“Delicious! Just like you, Iris!”
“Hehehe.”
Aldo munched on the stir-fried vegetables. Seeing Aldo happy made Iris beam with joy.
“Oh, by the way, Iris, I’m thinking of taking on more work.”
“Eh? Are you sure, Dad?”
Iris’s smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. Aldo’s words were that significant to her.
Naturally, Iris was worried about Aldo. If he took on more work, their time together would decrease. While that was something Iris didn’t want, she was more concerned about Aldo’s health deteriorating from overwork.
“Don’t worry, Iris. I won’t push myself too hard.”
Aldo gently placed his hand on Iris’s shoulder. Though she looked slightly anxious, seeing Aldo’s smile calmed her down.
“When you say work, does that mean more coal mining?”
“No, it’s different. I’m thinking of starting a side job as a Digger.”
“A Digger…? The one who ventures into dungeons?”
Iris, even as a child, had the general knowledge to understand that much. The relationship between spirits and evil spirits was content commonly found in children’s picture books, teaching the principles of this world as fairy tales.
“Yeah. If I conquer the dungeon and rescue the spirits, I’ll earn a lot of money. If that happens, we might not have to live in this slum anymore. Haha!”
Aldo laughed it off. However, Iris frowned with concern and hugged him tightly.
“Iris?”
“It’s okay. I like living here. So, you don’t have to force yourself…”
Iris let out a few sobs. Every year, there were people who died while venturing into dungeons. Iris knew that it was such a dangerous job. She didn’t want Aldo to take on such work if possible. That was Iris’s true feelings.
Aldo gently stroked Iris’s back. Iris leaned in close to Aldo.
“It’s okay. I won’t do anything reckless. There’s no way I would do something that would make me unable to see Iris again. So, don’t worry, okay?”
Aldo was aware that Iris loved books. The last time they went to the bookstore, she had been drawn to books outside the children’s section. Iris truly wanted to read many more books. However, books were expensive, and if he only bought her what she wished for, they wouldn’t be able to make ends meet.
Aldo didn’t want Iris to have to endure anything. Having been unhappy so far, he didn’t want her to live a constrained life.
“It’s true. Dad… please don’t go anywhere without me.”
Iris’s eyes were moist and red. Aldo felt he had to be strong so that this child wouldn’t cry any more. He needed to be strong enough for Iris to feel secure sending him into the dungeon.
“Ah, it’s okay. I’ll never leave you alone.”
Aldo hugged Iris tightly. Feeling Aldo’s warmth, Iris felt a sense of reassurance.
After a while, Aldo completed various procedures at the Digger Association and obtained the qualifications to venture into the dungeon. Just as he was about to leave home to enter the dungeon, Iris followed him to the front door.
“Dad…”
“Ah, Iris. I’m heading out.”
“This…”
Iris handed Aldo something. It was a doll made of cotton that Iris had crafted. The size of the doll fit comfortably in his palm, and it bore a resemblance to Aldo.
“This is your doll… keep it as a good luck charm.”
“Ah. Thank you, Iris. I’m really happy.”
“Dad! Go defeat the evil spirits! There’s no way you’ll lose to them!”
Iris thrust her fist out, cheering Aldo on.
“Fufu, yeah. That’s right. Well then, I’ll be off.”
Aldo carefully accepted the doll and set off toward the dungeon behind the mine.
