After a quick chat at a cafe near the station, I parted ways with Yuji and Hiiragi-san. By the time I walked through the front door, the sun had nearly vanished below the horizon. I was the last one back; the rest of the family was already home. Mika greeted me at the entrance, immediately pestering me for stories about the dungeon, but Mom poked her head out from the living room and told me to drop my bags because dinner was ready. Mika reluctantly backed off.
I joined everyone at the table after leaving my things upstairs. It was a standard "one soup, three sides" meal—ginger pork, basically. Steam rose from the plates and the aroma was enticing, but the events of the day—specifically the sight and sensation of my blade passing through a monster—clung to the back of my mind. I couldn't bring myself to eat. At least I wasn't nauseous; that was something.
"What’s the matter, Daiki? You’ve hardly touched your food..."
Mom looked at me with concern as I poked at the pork without actually taking a bite. I wanted to eat so she wouldn't worry, but my hand just wouldn't lift the chopsticks to my mouth.
...It was no use.
"Sorry, Mom. I know you went to the trouble, but I just don't have much of an appetite."
"I see... How about some ochazuke, then? If you’re not sick, it’s better to have something in your stomach."
Ochazuke, huh? I might be able to wash that down. It was better than nothing.
"Yeah. Please."
"Just a moment. I think we have some instant packets left."
Mom stood up, took my rice bowl, and headed for the kitchen.
I suppose I have a more sensitive soul than my appearance suggests. Right after leaving the dungeon, the adrenaline must have been enough for me to scarf down a convenience store sandwich without a second thought. But now that I was back in the comfort of my own home, I was a mess.
Mika, who had been watching us, leaned in with a worried expression.
"Are you okay, Big Brother? You're leaving your favorite ginger pork..."
"Hm? Oh, I'm just not very hungry. I'm not sick or anything, don't worry."
"Oh. Okay."
Mika looked a little relieved at my answer.
I wonder if it’s written all over my face? I didn't feel particularly bad, and yet...
"You went to a dungeon today, right?"
After her relief passed, I saw a flash of curiosity in Mika’s eyes.
"Yeah. I went with some friends."
"How was it!? Did you fight monsters!?"
"Fight," huh? Naturally, that was her first thought.
I glanced away from Mika to check on Dad. I was curious how he’d react to her questions, but he just kept eating, his eyes glued to the news on the TV.
I suppose that’s the normal reaction in this day and age...
"...Yeah, we fought."
"Then did you get any drop items!? What kind!?"
Still holding her chopsticks, Mika leaned over the table excitedly, pestering me for details. Her entire body practically radiated curiosity.
"What are you making such a fuss for? We’re in the middle of dinner. Talk about that after we’ve finished eating."
As Mika’s voice rose, Mom returned with a large bowl of ochazuke and told her to pipe down. She set the bowl in front of me and took her seat next to Mika.
Plum ochazuke. Good.
"...Fine. But Big Brother, you have to tell me later!"
"Yeah, alright."
Now, how was I going to handle this? I probably should be honest about what I experienced today, but it was a straight shot from a grotesque story about killing monsters into a depressing realization that explorers might end up killing each other.
I mulled over how to word it while I stirred the ochazuke and took a bite. The acidity of the plum stimulated my faded appetite, and the grains of rice slipped down my throat without resistance.
Yeah, this was good.
"You seem okay with the ochazuke. I'll pack the ginger pork in your lunch tomorrow."
"Yeah. Thanks."
I couldn't eat it now, but I did love her ginger pork, so I was glad she was saving it. Maybe after a night’s sleep, I’d feel better.
I slowly finished the bowl. I wouldn't say I was full, but my hunger was satisfied.
"Thanks for the meal."
I finished first, but since the others were still eating, I stayed at the table and watched the news.
Even with the advent of dungeons, the world hadn't changed much; the news was as dull as ever. At least we didn't have reports of explorers committing murder or robbery every day like they did in some other countries. Perhaps it was a national trait, but so far, the only crimes committed by Japanese explorers were mostly cases of property damage—people not knowing how to control their increased strength after a level up. Most of those cases seemed to be settled out of court. There were also plenty of "oops" videos posted by explorers on video sites.
"Thanks for the meal."
While I was aimlessly watching the screen, everyone else finished up.
Mom started clearing the dishes, and Dad began channel-surfing for a baseball game. As for Mika...
"Alright, Big Brother! Dinner’s over, so tell me the story!"
She clung to my arm. While I was glad she didn't find me annoying like most sisters her age, I really wished she’d stop this hugging habit. It was awkward in more ways than one.
Still, whatever. I’d intended to talk to her about dungeons and explorers anyway.
"Fine. Is my room okay? I need to tidy up my gear, too."
I’d gone straight to dinner after dropping my bags. I wanted to maintain the Shiranui and check the armor I’d used today.
"Yes!"
"Okay. Let me get ready. Go on up to my room and wait."
I disentangled myself from her and told her to go ahead. Mika nodded happily and hurried up the stairs.
Once she was gone, I turned to my parents.
"Dad, Mom, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Hmm? What is it?"
"...Yes?"
Dad looked away from the TV, and Mom poked her head out from the kitchen.
"I’m about to talk to Mika about the dungeon and being an explorer. The details might be a bit shocking, so could you guys support her afterward?"
"Shocking? What kind of talk is this?" Dad asked, looking puzzled.
"The real kind."
I answered firmly. I was about to use the weapon of reality to shatter the romanticized fantasies Mika had about dungeons. It would be a significant shock, so she’d need someone other than me to comfort her.
"I don't know what you’re planning to say, but alright. Basically, we just need to comfort her, right?"
"Yeah. Please. If it works, she might stop obsessing over dungeons so much."
"Oh, really? That would be a blessing. That girl has been buying every dungeon magazine she can find and hasn't touched her entrance exam studies."
Mom agreed to the follow-up, looking almost relieved.
...That wasn't exactly my primary goal, but it worked out. Now that I was ready, it was time.
I grabbed a bottle of water from the kitchen and headed to my room.
When I arrived, Mika was sitting on my bed, looking like she’d been waiting for hours.
"So, what was it like? How is a real dungeon different from what they show on TV and in magazines?"
Just as Mika said, the media was full of dungeon coverage lately.
But a photo is just a photo, and video is just video. They couldn't recreate the actual atmosphere. Most of it looked like an amusement park brochure, emphasizing only the exciting parts and editing everything to look appealing. It was a tired old trick, but an effective one.
The image provided by those magazines was what most people believed, and it was what fueled the current craze.
I silently handed the bamboo sword bag containing the Shiranui to my excited sister. I hadn't let her touch it before, but she needed it for what I was about to say.
"? What’s this?"
"The weapon I used in the dungeon. Take it out."
Mika did as she was told, unzipping the bag and revealing the Shiranui.
When she felt its weight, her expression shifted to one of surprise. I took the bag from her and spoke in the gentlest tone I could manage as she held the sheathed sword.
"How does it feel? It’s heavy, isn't it?"
"Y-yeah. It’s got some real weight to it. So this is what you used, Big Brother..."
"You know Yuji’s grandfather, right? He gave this to me. It’s a type of Japanese sword called a gunto. Its name is Shiranui."
"A Japanese sword... Shiranui."
Mika whispered the words, staring intently at the weapon.
I couldn't tell exactly what she was thinking, but the physical weight of the Shiranui seemed to be cooling her excitement.
"Try drawing it a little. Just a bit, though. It’s dangerous if you pull it all the way out."
"O-okay."
I showed her how to release the locking lug—the mechanism that prevents the blade from slipping out—and had her draw a few inches of steel. Our faces were reflected in the silver, temper-line-free blade.
I heard Mika catch her breath. She froze, staring at her own reflection in the steel. I’d felt the exact same way.
"Mika, you can put it back now."
"! Oh... okay."
Mika returned the blade to its scabbard and sat there for a moment, dazed by the presence of the sword in her hands.
That was exactly why I had to tell her. I had to make her understand what she was holding.
"It’s heavy, right? That’s the weight of a weapon designed to take a life."
"!!"
Mika’s mouth worked, but no sound came out. Her face grew pale, and I could see her hands trembling as she held the sword.
...Yeah, maybe this was a bit too much at once.
"I went into the dungeon with that. And when I fought monsters..."
"Big Brother, does that mean..."
As her eyes began to water and her face filled with anxiety, I nodded and spoke the truth.
"I cut a monster with that Shiranui. In other words... I killed it."
"..."
"To fight a monster in a dungeon is to kill it. Mika, you asked how it was different from magazines and TV, right? That’s the biggest difference—the things they don't write or show. They use words like 'subjugate' or 'exterminate' to soften the blow, but in the end, they’re just killing monsters."
"..."
Mika fell silent, looking down at the Shiranui.
The girl who had been so excited just minutes ago was gone. I had ruthlessly crushed her romanticized dreams of adventure. But this was only the beginning. There were so many other things I’d felt and realized during today’s dive—things I had to tell her.
It would be hard on her, but it was better to give her the full, ugly truth of the dangers than to leave her with half-baked ideas.
"Mika. This is hard to hear, but do you want to hear the rest?"
"..."
"You don't have to listen if you don't want to. But if you're still thinking about going into a dungeon yourself, you need to hear this."
Mika was still for a long time. Then, she gripped the Shiranui tighter and slowly raised her head. Gritting her teeth, she looked me in the eye and gave a firm, determined nod.
It was a shame she hadn't given up on the idea of going, but since she’d steeled herself to listen, I would tell her everything.
"Alright. Then where should I start?"