Two weeks after accepting Yuji and Hiiragi-san’s invitation and submitting my application, we arrived at a national university. Standing in the auditorium, we were slightly overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowd.
The age range was diverse; men and women of all generations had gathered for the exam.
"There are a lot of people here," I remarked.
"Well, of course. It’s the most popular qualification in Japan right now," Yuji said.
"They’ve already held the exam several times, so this is actually a lot smaller than the first wave," Hiiragi-san added.
Roughly seventy percent of the hundreds of seats were occupied. We checked our examinee numbers and headed to our assigned places.
"I’m glad we turned in our applications together. We didn't end up scattered too far apart."
"True. If even one of us had been seated across the room, it would’ve defeated the purpose of coming here as a group," Yuji agreed.
"We really were lucky, though," Hiiragi-san noted.
She was right. My examinee number was 351, Yuji’s was 347, and Hiiragi-san’s was 345. While the numbers were close, the seating arrangement was such that if my number had been just one digit higher, I could have ended up alone in the front rows, dozens of seats away from them.
As I pulled my pens and pencils out of my shoulder bag, a nervous-looking Yuji checked the schedule one more time.
"So, it’s the written part first?"
"Yeah. A lecture based on the textbook in the morning, then a multiple-choice test. Then we head to Ground A in the afternoon for the practical exam... right?"
"Yes, that’s correct," Hiiragi-san confirmed. She glanced at the schedule before putting her own stationery on her desk. "But honestly, calling it a 'written test' is a bit of an exaggeration. The difficulty level is low enough that you can pass just by listening to the lectures for a few hours. As long as you pay attention and read the textbook, it’s almost impossible to fail."
"Hear that, Yuji? Don't get worked up over nothing. Just treat it like a normal class and you'll be fine. Your grades aren't exactly bottom-tier, so just relax."
"Y-Yeah. Got it."
I think the unfamiliar university environment was getting to him. Despite his rugged appearance, he could be surprisingly high-strung.
I opened the textbook distributed by the staff at the entrance and gave it a quick skim.
"1. Prepare your equipment properly. 2. Refrain from acting alone. 3. Avoid overexertion... huh?"
"It reads more like a manual for a role-playing game than a government textbook," Hiiragi-san observed.
"I guess so."
I suspected the content was heavily influenced by the game creators and SF writers who had been brought in as experts for the Dungeon Verification Committee. Some of the phrasing sounded like it had been lifted straight from a game script.
Then again, it was better than having some chibi anime mascot doing the explaining.
"The actual lecture material is only about thirty pages long," I noted.
"Yes, the rest looks like a catalog for Association-recommended equipment. It even has a mail-order postcard attached to the back."
"Whoa! Look at these prices! They're insane!" Yuji whispered.
I didn't know how they determined their pricing, but the items in the catalog were aggressively expensive. They had super-alloy swords used by the Self-Defense Forces listed for millions of yen. Who was the target audience for this? It certainly wasn't something a student could buy on a whim. I wondered if they actually expected to sell any.
We flipped through the pages, chatting about the exorbitant gear. Alongside the high-end stuff, they were also selling basic items you could find at any hardware store, though at a significant markup.
"Oh, it looks like it’s starting."
"So it is. I'll head back to my seat," Hiiragi-san said.
"Me too."
Yuji had spotted someone who looked like an instructor taking the podium. Hiiragi-san checked her watch; it was five minutes before the scheduled start. We scurried back to our assigned seats before anyone could scold us for loitering.
"There are five minutes until the start of the workshop. Any students away from their seats, please return and wait quietly," the instructor announced into the microphone. Those still standing hurried back, and within three minutes, everyone was settled.
A chime rang through the hall, and the instructor began his opening remarks.
"Good morning, everyone. I am Yamamoto, and I will be your instructor for today. Thank you for attending this pre-workshop for the Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures Issuance Exam. Today’s lecture will cover two main areas: legal regulations that every explorer must know, and preliminary information regarding dungeons based on lessons learned thus far."
Instructor Yamamoto, who had the air of a focused academic, operated a terminal to turn on the projector. An image appeared on the wall behind him.
It was titled The XXth Prospective Explorer Workshop.
"We will begin with the legal section. Please open your textbooks to page one."
The sound of hundreds of pages turning filled the auditorium.
"First, I will explain the Act on Special Measures Concerning Dungeons, which is the primary law governing your activities as explorers. The specifics are in your text, so I will provide a summary. First: Only those holding an Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures are permitted to enter dungeons. Second: The possession of bladed weapons and the use of skills are permitted within these structures. Third: All items obtained within a dungeon are technically property of the state, for which the discoverer will receive appropriate monetary rewards."
Instructor Yamamoto held up three fingers as he listed the points. After a brief pause to scan the room, he began the detailed explanation.
"Regarding the first point: Dungeons are hazardous zones inhabited by dangerous monsters. Currently, they are under state management, and public access is strictly restricted. Therefore, to allow private citizens entry, we have established a new qualification. That is this exam. Those who pass and hold the permit are officially designated as explorers."
No one raised any objections or questions.
"Please turn to the next page. Point two: This concerns the weapons—such as swords and spears—and skills used to combat monsters. Explorers are permitted to use these only within the confines of a dungeon. Naturally, using them outside a dungeon is a violation of the Firearms and Swords Act and is a criminal offense. Furthermore, there are strict rules regarding storage and transport. Weapons must be kept in a sturdy, lockable metal locker. The type and quantity must be registered with the Japan Dungeon Association. Failure to register weapons may lead to criminal charges. Regarding the special abilities known as skills, which are learned via skill scrolls: there are no restrictions on their use within a dungeon. However, if a skill is used outside a dungeon to commit a crime, the sentencing will be significantly harsher than that of a standard criminal offense."
Yamamoto took a sip of water from a plastic bottle to clear his throat. The textbook showed illustrations of approved storage lockers and registration forms.
"There are also rules for transport. Weapons must be carried in a container that hides their nature. Carrying them out in the open is strictly prohibited. We recommend using trunks, fishing rod cases, or instrument cases. During transport, you may be subject to police questioning. If that happens, follow the officer's instructions and present your Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures. If you are not carrying your permit, you will be temporarily detained. Do not resist; accompany them to the station. Once the Association verifies your status, you will be issued a temporary permit and released. If you resist and injure an officer, you will be charged with obstruction of justice or assault."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. I couldn't blame them; most people probably hadn't expected this much red tape. They likely just wanted to go in and fight monsters. Games never show the paperwork involved in real-life dungeon exploration.
"Next page, please. Point three: This clarifies that dungeons and their contents are state property. This regulation allows the Japan Dungeon Association to purchase all monster drops to manage their distribution. Most dungeon products are untested and their safety is unconfirmed. We must prevent them from entering the general market unregulated. I’m sure none of you want a situation where an unknown mushroom ends up on a dinner table before we know if it’s edible or lethal."
The crowd, which had started to buzz at the mention of the state seizing loot, settled down at the instructor's analogy. It made sense that the government wanted to control these items, both for safety and for their own interests.
"The Association will buy items at a rate determined by current market prices for raw materials. These rates are updated on our website. Rewards are typically wired to your registered bank account after an income certificate is issued. Please remember to file your tax returns at the end of the fiscal year."
The mention of "tax returns" caused another small stir, but it passed quickly.
"For unconfirmed items, payment may be delayed by up to a month while safety checks and auction appraisals are performed. If an item is deemed a hazardous substance, the Association will dispose of it. In such cases, you will receive a disposal notice rather than a payment."
That seemed fair enough. Inspections took time, and for some things, it could probably take years. At least they weren't charging the explorers for the disposal fees of hazardous materials.
"Finally, an important note: all items obtained in a dungeon must be brought to a Dungeon Association Branch Office immediately upon exiting. Intentionally concealing or taking items home without processing is considered theft. Regarding items like skill scrolls or recovery potions that you might need to use inside the dungeon: you are free to use them as long as they stay inside. However, the user assumes all responsibility for any adverse effects. The state will not be held liable for any malfunctions or injuries resulting from their use."
This caused a significant uproar. Essentially, the government was saying "don't take it out, and if you use it inside and die, that's on you."
Yamamoto waited patiently for the noise to die down. Once the room was quiet again, he resumed.
"The fundamental premise is that until the Association buys it, the state owns everything. This allows the government to take full responsibility and provide compensation in the event that a monster escapes a dungeon and harms a citizen."
That was a logical point. If the state claimed ownership of everything, they also had to claim ownership of the risks.
"In exchange, explorers have the right to purchase dungeon-derived goods directly from the Association at a discounted rate, rather than at market price. You are effectively allowed to buy back the items you found."
So, you get paid for the find, but if you want to keep it, you have to buy it back through the proper channels. I’d have to double-check the rules for things like skill scrolls that might be used on the fly.
The rest of the lecture covered monster types and traps known to appear in the dungeons. As he finished, Yamamoto began to pack his things.
"That concludes the pre-workshop for the Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures Issuance Exam. We recommend reviewing your textbooks before entering a dungeon. The written exam will begin in thirty minutes. Please use the restroom and be back in your seats by then. If you leave during the exam, you will not be readmitted."
With that, he made a quick exit. I stretched my arms over my head, working out the knots in my back.
"Daiki."
"Hm? Oh, Yuji. How was it?"
"Not bad. I actually paid attention, so I think I’ll do okay on the test."
"Good to hear. Same here."
Yuji walked over to my desk. He looked a bit drained, and I’m sure I didn't look much better.
"It sounds like you both have a handle on it," Hiiragi-san said as she joined us. "The content wasn't that difficult. As long as you don't make any careless mistakes due to nerves, you should easily hit the passing score."
She was right. As long as we didn't panic, the written portion was well within our reach. We spent the remaining time cross-referencing our notes with the textbook.
The multiple-choice exam was as straightforward as expected.
"Time is up. Put down your pens. Stay in your seats while the proctors collect the answer sheets and question booklets. Good work; the written exam is now over. For the afternoon session, please change into your athletic gear and gather at Ground A after lunch. Use the designated locker rooms. Practical training and testing will begin at 1:30 PM. Do not be late. You are dismissed."
The proctors gathered the papers and left.
I let out a long breath. No matter how easy the subject matter, exams were always exhausting.