Ever since our first dungeon expedition ended, we had fallen into a steady routine: attending school, training in martial arts under Juzo-san after class, and diving into the dungeon on our weekends off. Thanks to our level ups, Yukino-san and I possessed more than enough physical ability to keep up, and under Juzo-san’s guidance, we spent our days honing our skills with the sword and spear.
Through that process, we learned the hard way that a mere difference in levels was a trivial matter.
"Well now, what's the matter, Kokonoe boy? Your movements are fast, but they lack discipline. Falling for such a transparent opening..."
And that lesson was delivered personally by Juzo-san.
Seriously, what was with this old guy? He was ridiculously strong.
I lay sprawled on the dojo floor, clutching my stomach and glaring up at Juzo-san with one eye.
"I’ve told you time and again: openings are not something you find; they are something you create. The moment you think you’ve spotted a gap in your opponent’s guard, assume it’s a trap."
"Wait... Gramps, wasn't that going a bit far?"
Yuji spoke up, voicing his doubts about Juzo-san’s methods.
I wanted to nod along with him. I had definitely knocked the shinai out of Juzo-san’s hands, leaving him unarmed. So why was I the one rolling around on the floor?
"Foolish grandson! It is because you think like that that you fall behind!"
"No, I mean, if someone drops their weapon, you’d normally call that an opening, right?"
"This isn't a kendo match! Who decided that the shinai was my only weapon? In a real fight, everything available is a weapon. Furthermore, relying on a single weapon creates an opening in itself. In fact, the Kokonoe boy ended up in this state because he assumed the shinai was my only threat."
As I listened to Yuji and Juzo-san argue, I pieced together what had happened. When I knocked away his shinai and tried for a horizontal slash to his torso, Juzo-san had used my own wrist as a pivot to throw me, slammed me into the floor, and then delivered a heel drop to my solar plexus.
No wonder my gut was screaming.
"Kokonoe boy, you can speak now, can you not? When you knocked away my shinai, did you have any intention of attacking me with anything else?"
"...I didn't even consider it."
Juzo-san addressed me as I struggled to stand while rubbing my stomach.
When I’d knocked his weapon away, I had been focused entirely on driving my own shinai into his ribs before he could recover.
"I thought as much. In that case, did you consider the possibility that I let the shinai fall?"
"Let it fall?...No way!"
"It seems you have only just realized. I guided you into that strike and let it fall on purpose. The impact felt strangely light, did it not? I relaxed my grip the moment your blow landed, allowing the force to dissipate rather than travel into my hands."
I slumped my shoulders in dejection as Juzo-san smugly revealed his scheme.
In the end, I was just dancing in the palm of the old man’s hand.
If he had intended for the shinai to be knocked away from the start, then his follow-up move was naturally going to be faster. The moment I struck his weapon away, I thought it was my big chance and mindlessly followed through, aiming for Juzo-san’s wide-open torso.
But that was exactly the opening he had fabricated. Since he knew exactly what my next move would be, a counterattack was effortless for someone of his caliber. He had simply caught the wrist that had paused for a split second to transition into the swing and sent me flying.
"Well, your movements themselves have improved significantly. All that remains is the accumulation of experience."
I felt conflicted by Juzo-san’s attitude, which suggested I had only just barely cleared a passing grade. In terms of raw physical stats, I should have been overwhelmingly superior to him... or so I had thought.
Through my recent training sessions, I was coming to understand the true power of martial arts. Having superior physical strength alone meant nothing more than being a slightly more durable toy for a true master. Whether or not one understood the mechanics of body movement—refined and sublimated over generations—made a world of difference.
Once I was back on my feet, I returned to my starting position and bowed to Juzo-san. Man, I was exhausted.
"By the way, how is the dungeon faring? It’s been quite some time since you started your dives, hasn't it?"
As we took a break to drink tea in the dojo, the setting sun streaming through the windows, Juzo-san broached the subject. We exchanged glances before answering.
"Well, we're just feeling things out for now. It’s too dangerous to force our way down this early, so we've only gone as far as the third floor."
"What? Is that all?"
"What do you mean 'is that all,' Gramps? We aren't used to fighting monsters yet. We can't just dive deep that easily."
At Yuji’s answer, Juzo-san snorted, looking bored.
Easy for you to say, old man... Every time we fight a monster, blood sprays everywhere. How are we supposed to engage in continuous combat before we've even adjusted to the gore? Our mental state wouldn't hold up!
"I suppose you are mostly frightened by the blood? It is true that becoming completely desensitized to bloodshed is its own problem, but you cannot remain hesitant forever. Though, I suppose it is better than becoming intoxicated by the carnage."
"...We're getting used to it, bit by bit. We plan to try diving a little deeper next month. But..."
From the third floor onwards, monsters stopped appearing individually and started appearing in groups. It was the threshold where combat shifted from many-against-one to many-against-many team battles. While I had gained some confidence in fighting individual enemies, I still had concerns about our coordination. I couldn't bring myself to descend further just yet; if we fought with poor teamwork, we risked hitting each other in the chaos.
As we wore uneasy expressions while thinking about group combat, Juzo-san grinned.
"Hmm, I see. In that case, I shall focus our future training on coordination."
Gah. I really opened a can of worms there.
We turned pale at the sight of Juzo-san’s smile, which made it clear he had found some new way to break us.
Lately, his training sessions had involved zero leniency. Because we were more durable than the average person thanks to our high-level IPS, he didn't hold back. Even if we took a serious hit, it resulted in bruises rather than broken bones. Taking advantage of that fact, Juzo-san had been using a variety of techniques on us that would have been fatal to an ordinary person.
From his perspective, we—who could actually withstand his refined skills—must have been incredibly sturdy, fast, and fun to hit.
Sigh...
On the way home, I recalled Juzo-san’s final words as we were leaving.
"Kokonoe boy and Hiiragi girl, I’m afraid there will be no practice over the year-end and New Year holidays. There are various events during that time, you see? I shall be quite busy and won’t have the leisure to look after you. Ah, but do make sure to keep up with your independent practice—don’t forget your swings."
Well, looking at the size of Yuji’s family estate, I could guess the situation. There were probably an exhausting number of year-end parties, New Year’s gatherings, and formal visits to make. There might even be martial arts exchanges with other schools.
All I could say to that was "good luck."
"Still, tomorrow is the closing ceremony for the second semester... A lot happened this year."
Lost in the sentimentality of the year’s end, I sighed as I looked back on everything.
When the high school life I had spent so much time anticipating finally began, the dungeons that transformed the world appeared within just two weeks. I remembered checking the date on the calendar when the Government Broadcast first aired, thinking it was some elaborate April Fool’s joke.
The world changed completely after that. Economically, the biggest shift was the practical application of Core Crystal power generation. It was moving fast enough to replace not just nuclear power, but fossil fuels as well. According to the news, multiple 10-million-kilowatt-class Core Crystal power plants are set to be built across Japan next year. Because construction conditions like land acquisition are easier than for nuclear or thermal plants, the state is providing full support. There’s even talk of significant electricity rate cuts once the plants are finished, and Japanese corporations are eager to ramp up production after years of energy-saving suppression. The economy is on an upward trend, and the dream of escaping deflation is finally becoming a reality.
On the other hand, oil-producing countries are in dire straits. The value of oil is expected to plummet, and there is chaos over whether they can pivot their industries in time. Japan has expressed support for promoting petrochemical fiber industries for those nations, but it will take time for things to settle. Some countries have already begun hiking crude oil prices in a desperate attempt to stay afloat.
However, those were the "better" changes. The worst involved the surge in conflict and crime. In regions where tension was already high, individuals who gained power from dungeons have launched anti-government movements and intensified terrorist activities. By selling drop items on the black market, these organizations have secured massive funding, allowing them to strengthen their forces. Because individual combatants are now so much stronger, suppression takes longer, leading to more property damage and civilian casualties. Abroad, there’s also been a spike in criminals misusing dungeon powers, leaving police departments scrambling for countermeasures.
"After tomorrow’s ceremony, it’s winter break... Practice with Juzo-san is on break too, so what should I do? Hiiragi-san said she’d be busy helping out at home..."
With my schedule suddenly open, I pondered how to spend the holidays. I thought about going to the dungeon alone, but I decided it was too early. I still didn't trust myself to remain composed and alert after killing humanoid monsters like goblins. Until I could do that, solo diving was too high a hurdle. Statistics say the number one cause of injury in dungeons is a lapse in concentration right after a monster is defeated.
"...Maybe I’ll just have a lazy New Year. I don't have anything better to do."
I figured I’d forget about dungeon-related business for a while and enjoy a quiet New Year with my family. Since Mika has her high school entrance exams coming up, we weren't planning any trips anyway. Last year, I was the one studying, so this time I could stick around and help her out as a tutor.
Lost in thought, I reached my front door before I knew it.
"I'm home."
"...Welcome back!"
Mika’s voice called out from the living room.
When I walked in, I saw that everyone was already there. It looked like I was the last one back.
"I'm home. Is dinner ready?"
"Welcome back. I’m just about to serve it, so Daiki, go wash up first. You smell a bit like sweat."
"...? Okay, I'll take a bath."
Did I really smell? I sniffed my collar, but I couldn't tell.
Well, if Mom said so, then it must be true. I had been training with Juzo-san until recently, so it was entirely possible. I excused myself, dropped my bag in my room, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed to the bathroom.
After a quick soak, I changed into loungewear and returned to find dinner on the table.
"Thanks for the food."
I started eating while watching TV. Since it was the end of the year, every station was airing special programs.
"So, Daiki, you've been heading to the dungeon lately, right? How’s that going?"
"Hmm? It’s going fine so far."
As we ate, Dad asked after my progress.
"I see. I’ve seen reports of people getting injured, so I was worried about you."
"Thanks for worrying, Dad. I’m not overdoing it, so don’t worry."
"Still, be careful, Daiki. I don't want to get a call saying you've been hospitalized."
"Yeah. I’ll be careful."
I realized I was making them worry more than I’d thought. I’d have to stay vigilant. Fortunately, neither Yuji nor Hiiragi-san were the type to take reckless risks, so we weren't likely to run into serious trouble.
"Oh, by the way, Big Brother, did the appraisal for that drop item you mentioned finish yet?"
"Oh, that..."
"I've been dying to know how much it’s worth!"
Mika was talking about the skill scroll I had left with the Dungeon Association for appraisal. A few days ago, I’d received a notice. It listed the name and effect of the skill, along with its purchase value.
The skill was "Hardening," which slightly increases defense. We decided to sell it because raising its proficiency required the user to actually take hits from enemies. This wasn't a game; taking hits on purpose is a high-risk gamble. We considered it a dead skill for us.
However, since skill scrolls were in short supply, the appraisal came back higher than the market average. It sold for about 450,000 yen.
"It fetched a pretty good price."
"Really!? Then, then, then... you have to take me somewhere! Winter break is coming up, so you can afford it, right!?"
"No, Mika. You have your exams this year. You need to focus on your studies."
"Ehh!"
Mika, who had been planning to live it up on my dime, collapsed at Mom’s sharp remark.
Well, this time last year, I was in the same boat—buried in books. My condolences.
...But, well.
"I'll take you somewhere once your exams are over. So hang in there."
"Really!? Big Brother, that’s a promise!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Pushing someone to study with only the whip is inefficient. You need a carrot too. Mom and Dad just offered wry smiles and didn't object, so I figured it was fine.
Phew. I’d have to scrape together some decent funds for that.