Judged Worthless part1
“Alright! Let’s get to work!”
I muttered to myself in the entrance hall of the dungeon.
My name is Heisuke Todo. I’m twenty-four years old, currently working as a temp, with an annual income of 2.5 million yen.
It has been a full century since dungeons first appeared on this planet.
During that time, humanity managed to survive and adapt to an unprecedented phenomenon...
Though, to be fair, these days, the things brought out of dungeons are far more than just sources of electricity, water, and heat. They have become an indispensable part of the infrastructure that supports our everyday lives.
Long ago, an artificial intelligence known as “AI” was created. Before long, almost every job that required people to use their brains was taken over by AI. Now, humanoids—an advanced form of AI—run the world and our country.
But there was one problem.
How could we secure the resources necessary for humans, and even humanoids, to survive on this planet?
The humanoids decided that when it came to jobs that didn’t require much thinking—mainly physical labor—humans should be given priority.
And so, even today, people descend into dungeons, devoting themselves to extracting resources for the planet, for the humanoids, and for the sake of humanity.
When I turned twenty, I awakened an ability called “Appraisal” during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
Unfortunately, my Appraisal was about as weak as they came.
All it could do was tell me an object’s name, effects, and properties.
In modern society, everyone receives a free, standardized education from the age of six. Then, at twenty, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony determines the general course of their future life.
My Appraisal might have evolved if I had gained enough experience, but I was judged not worth the effort.
And that was how I ended up working as a cleaner for a dungeon staffing agency.
Today, I’m starting my shift at the dungeon in Chuo Ward, commonly known as “Marui.”
Long before I was born, the building was apparently a department store.
Apparently, some of its old features still remain. The escalators and elevators used to move between floors are still in operation.
The building has twelve floors, ranging from two underground levels to the tenth floor above ground.
The underground levels supposedly connect to an area called the Underground Passage, where high-level monsters roam.
It has never been of any use to me, so I’ve never been there or even seen it.
There’s also a floor at the very top called the Cafeteria.
Rumor has it that monsters live there—monsters that enjoy eating people like us.
That place is of no use to me either, so...
My job is to clean every floor of Marui and collect anything discarded there that might still be useful as a resource.
My aptitude as an adventurer is barely above that of an ordinary person, so my combat ability is practically zero.
I’ve been issued something resembling a stun gun for self-defense, though I have no idea whether it would actually protect me.
When I joined the company, I even had to sign a document stating that I wouldn’t hold the company responsible no matter what happened to me...
Most of my coworkers are similarly low-level, though given the nature of our job, almost all of them possess Appraisal.
Anyway, enough exposition. Time to get to work.
The entrance is always packed with people known as adventurers.
At the center stands a statue called “Hiroshi,” and adventurers use it as a landmark while forming teams before heading off to the various floors.
First, I collect the trash from the bins installed throughout the floor.
Since this is the entrance, most of it consists of food, drinks, and ordinary garbage brought in from outside.
Very occasionally, someone will toss in leftover magic stone fragments or broken equipment that should have been discarded at the disposal areas on each floor.
So I activate Appraisal while changing the trash bags.
...Value: Zero.
“Nothing wrong with the entrance today.”
I report the situation on the small tablet in my hand and move on to the next floor.
Since I have almost no combat ability, I’m usually assigned to the above-ground floors.
They’re relatively safe.
I push my magic trash bin—a wheeled container designed for collecting resources—into the elevator.
I press the button for the second floor.
The elevator rises with a slight sensation of weightlessness before stopping at the designated floor. The doors open.
The second floor is a vast grassland.
The safe zone and disposal area are located ahead and to the left.
I push my cart forward while keeping an eye on the monster-detection beacon hanging from my waist.
At the same time, I keep Appraisal active.
Even some of the stones lying along the path can contain magic stones.
Sure enough, I detect one just after passing a certain spot.
I pick it up.
It’s a small stone, but remarkably clear.
I put it into the magic stone collection box and continue on my way.
Since it’s still before noon, there are only a few people in the safe zone.
The disposal area, however, is filled with things that were probably thrown away yesterday.
Broken spears. Torn ropes.
For the larger items, I appraise each one individually and sort them into recyclable and non-recyclable materials before putting them into the appropriate containers.
After a quick sweep, I’m done.
I was just about to head to the next floor when several adventurers came rushing into the safe zone.
Judging by their appearance, they were beginners.
Looks like their monster hunt hadn’t gone well.
“Takeru! Are you okay?”
“Urgh...”
Apparently, he was injured.
I approached them and spoke up.
“What happened?”
“One of our members got hurt. We should probably head back, right?”
I examined the wounds of the man they called Takeru and pulled a certain bottle from inside my coat.
“That injury can be treated with one of the potions manufactured by our company. Would you like to give it a try?
They normally cost 3,000 yen, but we can offer you one for 1,500 yen as a first-time purchase.”
“Oh! That would be a huge help. I’ll take it.”
Takeru pulled a 2,000-yen bill from his wallet.
I handed him the potion and 500 yen in change.
Takeru immediately gulped down the potion.
A faint light enveloped his body...
When the glow faded—
“No way! It’s healed!!!”
His companions cheered at the sight.
I immediately followed up.
“If you’d like, you might want to get some for the rest of your party as well. Just in case something happens in the future. They’re half price for first-time customers.”
Apparently, they didn’t have a healer in their party.
Normally, adventurers should prepare adequate equipment before entering a dungeon.
But there will always be a certain number of adventurers who dive in on nothing but enthusiasm.
Seeing Takeru’s wounds heal right before their eyes, his companions began worrying about what might happen to them.
One after another, they bought potions.
“Oh, I’ll take the empty bottles back. If you have any more empty bottles in the future, please dispose of them at the designated waste area.”
Once they leave the dungeon and see the market price of potions, they’ll be disappointed.
And they’ll learn their lesson.
Because what they just bought was what we call the “dungeon price.”
Several times more expensive than the regular retail price.
Well, it’s not like I get any of the extra profit.
The company is the one making money.
The adventurers nearby watched Takeru’s group with sympathetic looks.
Not a single one of them said a word.
Leaving them behind, I headed for the next floor.
