The news broke during the morning broadcast a week after Mika’s entrance ceremony.
"In the early hours of yesterday morning, a fatal accident occurred in a dungeon in this prefecture. A minor explorer was attacked by multiple monsters and killed."
"A DP who was called to the scene by an injured minor from the same party reportedly confirmed that the victim was still being attacked upon arrival. Although the victim was rescued and rushed to a hospital, they were pronounced dead shortly after."
"The victim was a minor who had only just received their explorer license this spring; this was reportedly their very first time entering a dungeon."
"Currently, the DP and police are conducting a joint investigation of the scene to determine the exact circumstances of the accident."
"In other news..."
The breakfast table, where my family had gathered, went as silent as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over it.
Everyone stopped moving their chopsticks. They turned their heads toward me in silence, their eyes clouded with deep anxiety.
After a long pause, Mika squeezed out a question.
"Onii-chan. That news just now..."
"...Yeah. It happened at a dungeon in the neighborhood."
"I thought so..."
When I confirmed it, Mika started to say something but fell silent again. Once she went quiet, Dad spoke up.
"Daiki. It might be a little late to ask this, but are you guys going to be okay?"
"Okay as in... fighting monsters?"
"Yes. Looking at what you've been earning as an explorer, I assumed you knew what you were doing, but seeing a report like that makes me worry. I only know what happens inside the dungeon from what you tell us. You aren't doing anything reckless, are you?"
"The definition of 'reckless' is a bit subjective, but I'm not doing anything stupid, Dad. Even if something unforeseen happens, I've made sure we have the resources to handle it with room to spare."
"...I see. Since I don't know the specifics, I won't say any more, but just don't push yourself. If you get seriously injured or die, all that money won't matter."
"I know, Dad."
Dad looked like he still had more to say, but he seemed to accept my answer for now and went back to his food.
Finally, Mom spoke.
"Daiki."
"...What is it, Mom?"
"If we told you to stop being an explorer, would you quit?"
Mom looked at me with a gaze so serious it was heavy.
It was true that as long as I continued to be an explorer, the dangers reported on the news would always be a factor. As a parent, she obviously wouldn't want her child doing something so life-threatening.
But...
"...I won't quit. At least, not right now."
"...I see."
"Sorry, Mom. For making you worry."
Mom wore a disappointed expression at my response.
"It's fine, as long as it's something you've decided for yourself."
"...Thanks."
"But, you be extremely careful. If you get a major injury even once while you're still in school, I'm making you quit no matter what you say. Do you understand?"
"...Right. Yeah, I got it."
Before I knew it, I had been swept into making a heavy promise with Mom.
But, well... since we have recovery potions, as long as I don't die instantly, I probably won't ever leave the dungeon with a visible major injury, right?
Wait... hold on. Does that mean dungeon exploration with recovery potions is basically just "Dead or Alive"?
"Well, that's enough of that. Come on, finish your breakfast. You’re all going to be late."
At Mom's voice, the three of us snapped out of it. A glance at the clock on the TV showed that time had slipped away while we were talking. The heavy conversation had killed my appetite, but I forced the rest of the meal down.
After a hurried breakfast, I walked the familiar route to school with Mika. Wearing her brand-new high school uniform, Mika had chopped off her hair, which used to reach her back, into a short bob. It was the "high school debut" makeover she’d been talking about. It definitely gave her a more sophisticated, grown-up look.
Since we’d started attending the same school and walking together past the intersection where we used to split up, Mika had always been in high spirits, but today a shadow hung over her.
Well, it was natural after that talk this morning.
"Look, we don't get hurt that easily. Don't worry so much."
"...But, Onii-chan."
"In fact, have you ever seen me or the others come home injured? Not once, right?"
"...No. But I'm still worried."
Mika looked up at me with an anxious, upturned gaze.
...Urgh. For my own little sister, that’s some serious destructive power.
I kept my face neutral and lightly patted Mika’s head to calm her down. She narrowed her eyes as if it felt good, leaning into the contact.
Did I... actually have a Nadepo skill?
While I was wondering about my own mysterious abilities, Saori-chan called out to us from behind.
"Good morning, Onii-san. Good morning, Mika-chan."
"Ah, Saori-chan. Good morning."
"Hmm?...Oh, Saori-chan. Morning."
Mika and I returned the greeting. Seriously, Mika, your face is totally melting.
Saori-chan, wearing the same uniform as Mika, gave her a look of pure exasperation. She had also used her high school debut to change her twin-tails into long, straight hair, making her look much more mature.
"You look like you're in heaven, Mika-chan. But your complexion seems a little pale. Are you okay?"
At Saori-chan's observation, Mika’s blissed-out face clouded over again.
"It's just... the news this morning."
"Ah, the minor explorer who died..."
"Yeah. Onii-chan says he’s fine, but... I can't help it. I'm worried."
Seeing Mika hang her head, Saori-chan looked at me with a slightly reproachful gaze.
"...Onii-san?"
"Don't look at me like that... I'm really not being reckless. It's fine... though you probably don't believe me, do you?"
"I don't. We've seen some of your footage from inside the dungeon, so I know you're careful. But..."
"Monsters that want to kill you are lunging at you, you know? If one thing went wrong..."
I had shown them some footage from the dungeon—edited to make sure things like Spatial Storage weren't visible.
Since it was action-cam footage, it vividly captured the sight of monsters lunging at us with pure murderous intent. To an amateur, even a routine fight for us looks like a terrifying brush with death.
"I know you're worried. I really do. But it's okay. Have we ever come back with so much as a scratch?"
"But Onii-san, if you use a recovery potion, minor injuries just vanish, don't they?"
Saori-chan, that is an incredibly sharp point...
However...
"That’s true, but... Hey, Mika?"
"...What?"
"Has Mom ever mentioned finding blood or tears in my laundry?"
"...Now that you mention it, no."
"Right? If I were getting hurt enough to bleed, there would be stains on my clothes. And I've never come home in different clothes than the ones I left in."
In the past, if things got dirty, I’d hit a laundromat before coming home. These days, thanks to Hiiragi-san's Cleansing skill, our gear comes back looking brand new. I've never brought home anything bloodstained, so Mom’s never had a reason to be suspicious.
"So, look. I can't tell you not to worry—that's impossible—but I promise I won't do anything that leads to a major injury."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. I promise."
"...Okay."
Having finally been convinced, the shadow on Mika’s face lifted a little. Saori-chan seemed to accept it for now as well and didn't press me further.
Still... are there even enemies on the lower floors that could actually threaten me? As long as I don't get careless, anyway.
I parted ways with the girls at the shoe lockers and headed into the new classroom, which was finally starting to feel like home. Most of the class had already arrived, and the room was buzzing with chatter.
From what I could hear, the main topic was the morning news.
"Yuji and Hiiragi-san aren't here yet, huh..."
Since my usual group wasn't around, I started moving my things from my bag to my desk.
As I was doing that, a guy I’d met after the class reshuffle, Hibiki Shigemori, walked over.
"Morning, Kokonoe."
"Morning."
"Hey, did you see the news this morning?"
"I saw the news, yeah. Which part?"
I knew exactly what he meant, but I played it safe since he hadn't specified.
"The rookie explorer who died in the dungeon."
"Oh, that. Yeah, I saw it."
"Last year, when they opened the dungeons to the public, nothing like this happened. Why now, of all times?"
Shigemori's confusion was understandable.
The reason was probably...
"Well, it was an accident that was bound to happen, really."
"Bound to happen? What do you mean?"
"Actually, it's more surprising that it hasn't happened sooner. There's no way a normal person with no hunting experience can just start killing monsters—living creatures—without any hesitation, right?"
"Well, I guess not..."
"The only reason people could do it before was because the floors were so overcrowded. Everyone was swept up in the 'hype' of the place—the feeling that monsters were just things you hunt."
"Hype?"
"You know how it is. You do something in the heat of the moment, and then later when you're calm, you wonder what the hell you were thinking."
It was that specific frenzy you find at concerts or festivals—the kind of energy that makes people jump off bridges to celebrate a sports victory.
"..."
"Once you've been swept up by that energy and killed a monster once, the hesitation mostly disappears for the second time."
It was a matter of crossing that initial threshold of killing.
As I spoke, Shigemori’s face turned a shade paler.
"Then why did the rookie in the news die?"
"Because the situation in the dungeons is different now. Before the restrictions, the lower floors were packed. Now, thanks to the entry restrictions, explorers are spread out. You don't have that frantic crowd energy to hide behind anymore. Those rookies had to face the reality of killing a monster while completely 'sober.' In all likelihood, they hesitated, and the monster didn't."
"..."
"And the news said they got their license right at the start of April, so they were probably a party of pure rookies. They had the numbers because of the party system, but without a single experienced explorer... it was literally like throwing a flock of sheep to the wolves."
"..."
As I continued, Shigemori looked worse and worse.
Is this guy okay?
"Hey, you all right?"
"...Yeah. Thanks, Kokonoe. I think I get it now. See ya."
"Uh, yeah."
Shigemori waved a hand and walked away. He was the one who brought it up, but he sure left in a hurry.
A few minutes later, Yuji walked in.
"Morning, Yuji."
"Oh, Daiki. Morning. You're early."
"I guess."
After a quick greeting, Yuji dropped his bag at his desk and came over to sit in the empty chair in front of mine.
"By the way, Daiki. Did you see the news?"
"The minor explorer?"
"Yeah, that."
"I was just talking about it with Shigemori."
"Shigemori?"
Yuji glanced over at Shigemori.
...Wait.
"What's up with him? He’s slumped over his desk like he’s dead."
"Who knows? He looked a bit pale earlier... maybe he’s just tired?"
"Huh. I guess."
Losing interest in Shigemori, Yuji turned back to me.
"So, after the news, how was it at your house? Did they try to make you quit?"
"They didn't make me quit. But I did get a lecture about being careful."
"Same here. My family was worried, but they didn't say anything about me stopping."
Well, in Yuji’s case, Juzo-san practically threw him into the dungeon to get some real-world experience. They might be worried, but they weren't going to stop him.
Wait... why didn't my family, who aren't even a martial arts family, tell me to quit?
Dad was silent but accepting, Mom gave me permission with a condition, and even Mika was eventually convinced... Huh. Should I take that as a sign of their trust?...Better not to overthink it.
Just as the bell was about to ring, Hiiragi-san hurried into the classroom. She looked expressionless at a glance, but I could see a flash of irritation and sorrow in her eyes.
What had happened to her?