Half a month had passed since the entry restrictions and rank system were implemented, and as expected, numerous problems had surfaced. The issues ranged widely, from matters directly affecting explorers to businesses near the dungeons that relied on explorer demand; the ripples caused by the entry regulations seemed likely to continue for some time.
Arriving at the dungeon in time for our reservation, we finished changing and joined the back of the queue.
"We finally won a slot."
"Yeah. It feels like it’s been forever since we were last here."
As we gazed at the dungeon entrance gate, Yuji and I were overcome with emotion. Winning an entry ticket had proven much harder than we’d anticipated, making this our first visit in two weeks.
During that half-month gap, we had undergone intensive training under Juzo-san. That was brutal.
The weekend sessions, in particular, were the worst. Normally, we would have spent those days in the dungeon, but once Juzo-san learned we couldn't dive due to the restrictions, he put together a "special curriculum." He made us dodge his attacks while blindfolded... He claimed it was training to read presence and feel the flow of air with our skin, but surely it wasn't the sort of training for someone who’d been practicing martial arts for less than six months? He insisted I should be able to manage because he was "intentionally projecting murderous intent." I really wondered what on earth Juzo-san was aiming for...
As I sighed while recalling the past two weeks, Hiiragi-san called out to me with a puzzled expression.
"...You two said that today, rather than heading to a new lower floor, you’d prioritize increasing our stockpile of materials. Are you really sure about that?"
"Yeah, of course. I talked it over with Yuji, and since we don't know how long these restrictions will last, we decided to prioritize our stockpile while we have the chance."
"Yeah," Yuji added. "It’d be bad if we couldn't get a ticket just as our supplies were running out. For a while, it's probably best to alternate between harvesting and exploration."
"...Thank you."
Lately, Hiiragi-san had been noticeably anxious because she hadn't been able to secure an entry ticket.
It was true that the average level of explorers had improved thanks to the entry restrictions and the distribution of orc materials had increased, but the reality was that supply was nowhere near meeting the demand. Since market prices hadn't dropped as much as expected, dungeon-produced ingredients—orc materials—were still treated as luxury goods. From Hiiragi-san’s perspective, her route for sourcing affordable ingredients, which had finally stabilized, had been abruptly severed. Apparently, they had some stock in the shop’s commercial freezer, but it was only enough to last about a month.
In truth, I could have just handed over the materials I had in my Spatial Storage, but I couldn't pull them out while we weren't actually inside the dungeon. If I produced orc materials out here, people would wonder how I had them without having entered the dungeon, which would lead to suspicion and unnecessary trouble.
Using dungeon ingredients without a recorded purchase history was risky. Now that the volume of ingredients in circulation was low and the supply chains were easy to track, anyone who found it suspicious and investigated would immediately realize the source of the orc meat was illegitimate. If things went poorly, not only the Dungeon Association, but national institutions like the police and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare might get involved. However, it would be a stroke of luck if it ended there. There was also the possibility that corporations or criminal groups, catching the scent of profit, would move to seize the acquisition route.
If that happened, a storm of trouble would follow. We wouldn't be able to continue business as usual, and the shop would likely be forced to close.
Hiiragi-san wouldn't want that, and if it came to that, I wouldn't escape unscathed either.
Even now, quite some time since the dungeons first appeared, the number of people with Item Box-type skills remained low on a global scale. Apparently, skill-holders were actively protected and secured by their respective governments. Perhaps, since Spatial Storage was a high-cost passive skill, there were those who had acquired it by opening a skill scroll inside a dungeon, only to run out of EP and be hunted by monsters.
Regardless, from a national perspective, Item Box users were a resource that could not be ignored for security reasons, making protection mandatory. To criminals or terrorists, there was no more convenient or safe smuggler. That was likely why the government secured Spatial Storage-type skill scrolls produced by dungeons, and they didn't circulate among the general public. If they could be used effectively, it would be a logistics revolution...
"Well, putting that aside... What’s with this atmosphere?"
I felt bewildered by the fact that the vibe of this familiar place was significantly different from before.
The long queue to enter the dungeon was gone, replaced by a level of activity that was merely bustling, but the attitude of the people in that line was off. The friendly, harmonious atmosphere of people waiting for an event had vanished, replaced by a prickly tension where everyone kept their distance and eyed one another.
"I read online that the mood around the dungeons has been deteriorating since the restrictions. But still..."
"It’s changed a bit too much. I mean, it’s only been half a month, right?"
Hiiragi-san frowned slightly, while Yuji looked at the explorers in line with an exasperated expression.
"Yes, half a month. But it seems that was more than enough time. Looking at the reactions online, two main factions have formed and are in conflict: those who earn their living through dungeon exploration, and those who come to the dungeon as a hobby on their days off."
"...You mean..."
"Yes. To put their claims simply: 'We’re not doing this for fun, get out of our way!' versus 'Why are you getting so worked up over a game?'"
Hmm. In other words, the difference in mindset between explorers was the cause of the tension.
From the perspective of an explorer whose livelihood depended on it, hobbyists who dove with a casual attitude and thinned out the monster population were nothing but a nuisance. Conversely, for explorers who only came on their days off, professionals who took everything too seriously and directed hostility toward every single action were just plain irritating.
It was like the difference between professional fishermen and people at a tourist fishing pond.
"Explorers whose lives are on the line... they’re called professional explorers, or pro explorers. For them, these restrictions came just when their income was finally starting to stabilize, so it must be frustrating..."
"Um, well..."
As Hiiragi-san frowned while watching the line, Yuji and I looked at each other, unable to say much. After all, Hiiragi-san was also a pro explorer. She likely shared the feelings of her peers. If anything, Yuji and I—the amateur explorer types who came on our days off and weren't tethered to it for our livelihoods—couldn't find the right words for her.
Seeing the look on our faces, Hiiragi-san gave a wry smile.
"Hehe. I’m truly grateful to you both, you know? So please, don't make those faces. On the flip side, for explorers who come on their days off... I'll call them amateur explorers, or ama explorers, okay? To an ama explorer, the presence of pro explorers must be annoying. Even though they’re just trying to have a good time with friends, they face hostility just for being 'amas.' It seems no actual harm has occurred yet, but apparently some people are even quitting because of it."
"Well, for people who come to the dungeon like it’s an attraction, there’s no point in forcing themselves to continue if they’re going to be met with that kind of hostility."
"But if that happens, the rift between the pros and the amas will only get worse," Yuji noted. "How are things looking on that front?"
"I don't know. For now, they’ve limited themselves to insulting each other online, but depending on how things develop..."
In response to Yuji’s question, Hiiragi-san closed her eyes and shook her head. Whether she couldn't predict the future or simply didn't want to think about it... it was likely the latter.
I just hoped the entry restrictions would be lifted before things got out of hand.
The line moved while we talked, and within a few minutes, it was our turn.
"Still, I’d really like to be spared this atmosphere. I think I preferred it when it was just crowded."
"Too true," Yuji muttered. Being in this environment was exhausting.
I scanned the faces of the explorers in line; everyone seemed to be in a foul mood. I noticed a university-aged guy with a strange smirk and some high schoolers our age who weren't even trying to hide their irritation. It looked like there might be a specific feud going on, as they were stealing glances at each other when they thought no one was looking....Wait, are those guys part of a "monopoly group" and their victims?
Seriously, give me a break.
"...It seems best to pass through the surface floors quickly and head down. If we wander around the upper levels with this vibe, we’ll probably get harassed by other explorers."
"Agreed. Hiiragi-san?"
"I agree too. If people with that kind of attitude are nearby, I’d be worried about when they might stab me in the back."
The three of us were in accord.
Wary of the strange behavior of the waiting explorers, we kept our voices down and waited patiently. It would be a nightmare to cause a scene here and then get targeted inside the dungeon.
Finally, our turn came.
"Verification of entry permit. Please tap the card of the authorized person against the reader."
"Here."
Following the staff member’s instructions, Yuji held his Explorer Card over the machine. The one who had won the lottery this time was Yuji. Hiiragi-san and I had both lost....My luck isn't usually that bad, is it?
When Yuji tapped his card, a short electronic beep sounded, and a green lamp lit up.
"Confirmed. The scheduled number of entrants is three, correct? Your companions are the two behind you?"
"Yes, that’s right."
"Then please, proceed through the gate."
Urged by the staff, we moved forward. Phew, we were finally in.
We passed through the gate and set off on our first dungeon exploration in half a month.
Traveling through the dungeon via the shortest route, we focused our efforts on orc hunting on the 10th, 11th, and 12th floors.
It seemed there were still few explorers who could descend this deep, so we encountered orcs more frequently than we did other people. We took them down at a steady pace, acquiring a solid amount of orc materials.
"Hmm, this is a decent amount."
"Decent?...Um, Hiiragi-san, how many days' worth does this cover?"
"Let’s see... about two weeks' worth, I suppose?"
Hearing Hiiragi-san’s reply, Yuji and I shared a sigh.
Two cooler bags packed to the brim with orc meat and bones, and that was only two weeks? It had taken us an hour just to collect this much... Given that we didn't know when we could come next, we had no choice but to hunt as much as we could. Hiiragi-san was clearly intent on continuing the hunt until the absolute last minute.
According to today's schedule, we had planned two hours for travel, one hour for a break, and four hours for hunting. If we worked hard, could we secure eight weeks' worth?
"I see. Being a ramen shop owner is a lot of work."
"It really is. Recently, dungeon ingredients have started hitting the food industry, and customers' tastes are shifting. Although their numbers are still small, more shops are starting to use dungeon ingredients like we do. There’s a massive difference in flavor between conventional pork and dungeon ingredients. If we fall behind the trend now, customers will drift away and the shop will fail. So I understand the need to use dungeon ingredients even if it’s a struggle... but if we tried to source this much normally, we’d go bankrupt instantly. But even so..."
A continuous stream of complaints began to pour out of Hiiragi-san.
To summarize: Orc broth is amazing! But it’s so expensive! But if we don't use it, the shop is doomed! She was caught in a classic catch-22. Since it wasn't our place to interfere with her family's business, Yuji and I just stayed quiet and acted as her sounding board while keeping an eye on our surroundings.
I hoped this helped ease her mind, at least a little...
"...I’m sorry."
"No, it’s fine. We understand. In that case, we really have to give it our all today."
"...Yes, definitely. We don't know when we'll be able to dive here again."
"Well then, now that we’ve had our break, shall we get back to it?"
"Yes."
"Yuji, you good?"
"Yeah, let's go."
Having finished our rest, we resumed our exploration and devoted ourselves to the hunt.
By the end of the day, we had obtained eight cooler bags' worth of orc meat and materials. Hiiragi-san took the meat and bones, while the other drop items were converted into cash and split between Yuji and me. This had become our standard reward distribution lately: Hiiragi-san received payment in kind, while Yuji and I were paid in cash. Since everyone was happy with the arrangement, it worked out perfectly.
It was our first successful hunt since the new regulations.