The sun had set while we were talking, and by the time the sky had faded into a dim twilight, I decided it was time to walk Saori-chan home. Since I was the one who had asked her to accompany Mika on her shopping trip, I was responsible for making sure she got back safely. It would be a disaster if she ran into any trouble while walking home alone.
I excused myself to Mika and Mother, then left the house with Saori-chan.
"Saori-chan, thanks for helping Mika with her shopping today."
"No, I’m the one who should be thanking you. If you hadn't invited me, Daiki, I probably would have spent this year's Golden Week cooped up at home."
"...Did you really not have any plans?"
I had assumed she was just being polite, but was she serious?
"Yes. My parents are away for work this year, so we didn't have any family outings scheduled. Besides, it’s a bit much to visit the shops we saw today all by myself. I was actually quite worried about how I'd spend the holiday."
"...I see."
"Exactly. So, while I felt a little bad for Mika-chan, I ended up having a lot of fun. And you even treated me to dinner, Daiki."
Saori-chan gave a guiltless smile as she reflected on the day.
Well, as long as she enjoyed herself, that was what mattered.
"Plus, I feel a lot better now that I’ve talked to you about what’s been on my mind lately."
"...You mean the Repeating Student explorer?"
"Yes. It’s honestly such a nightmare. He’s using his status as an explorer to pressure first-years into forming a gang. And the school won't do a thing about it..."
"The school, huh?"
As long as there was no visible delinquency or academic failure, the school likely wouldn't take the initiative to get involved in such a messy situation. From what Mika and Saori-chan had told me, the Repeating Student explorer was playing his cards well.
There were rumors of bad behavior but no hard evidence. Even the claims of intimidation weren't direct; the first-years were simply buckling under the invisible weight of social pressure and the group's numbers. Currently, the school had no grounds to intervene.
To meddle in explorer activities at this stage would be synonymous with the school interfering in a student's private, off-campus life. Without clear reasons or evidence, they were stuck.
"If the results of the midterms in late May are poor, there’s a chance the school might use that as an excuse to step in with disciplinary guidance," I suggested.
"But that means they won't do anything until then, right? In that case, we really have to take our own defensive measures..."
"...I suppose so."
Saori-chan let out a weary sigh at the redundant conclusion. If Mika and Saori-chan had been born later in the year, they could have used the age limit as an excuse to refuse, but since both were born in April and May, that wouldn't work.
"Besides, since he’s already repeated a year because of his grades, I think he’ll be careful about his attendance and test prep this time."
"Good point. If he fails a second year in a row, he'll definitely be expelled."
"Yes. It’s clearly stated in the school rules in our student handbooks."
If that were the case, the only effective defense Mika and Saori-chan could take was to put themselves under the protection of an explorer group the Repeating Student couldn't touch—namely, a group of second or third-year explorers. And in this context, that meant my team.
During my first year, I had kept my head down to avoid persistent recruitment from people like Noguchi, so our group wasn't very well known. However, now that we were second-years, while we didn't go around boasting, we were operating openly as explorers. We were qualified for the job.
But for us to protect them, the two of them needed to be explorers themselves, at least on paper.
"So, you're definitely becoming explorers?"
"Yes. I don't think even they would lay a hand on explorers who belong to a different group."
Saori-chan met my gaze and nodded firmly, reasserting her resolve.
If it were just about protection, being an explorer on paper would suffice, but she looked like she intended to dive in for real.
"So, Daiki..."
"I know. But I can't decide this on my own, so please give me a little time. I’ll talk it over with my team after Golden Week."
If it were just me, I could have given her an answer right then, but as a member of a team, I couldn't. Taking them under our wing meant potentially getting dragged into the first-years' drama. I couldn't decide that without talking to Hirose-san and Hiiragi-san.
"...You mean Hirose-san and Hiiragi-san, right?"
"Yeah. You've met them before, right, Saori-chan? They're both busy during Golden Week, so I'll ask them when we see each other at school."
"..."
Upon hearing that I needed to consult them, Saori-chan’s expression flickered with anxiety, likely worried they might say no. If we turned them down, they’d have to find someone else to protect them from among the older students they had no connection to.
"Don't worry. I'm sure they'll want to help."
"...Are you sure?"
"I can't say for certain, but probably."
If I explained the situation, I doubted either of them would heartlessly refuse the request.
"Ah, we’re here."
While we were talking, we had arrived at Saori-chan's house. She looked up at her home once, then turned back to me and bowed.
"Thank you for everything today."
"You're welcome. Don't worry, I'll ask about the explorer business."
"Yes. I’m counting on you."
Saori-chan bowed deeply again.
I’d have to try my best to persuade the others and get their approval. I waved lightly as I walked away from her house.
On the way back, I stopped at a convenience store to buy a roll cake. It would be a perfect dessert after dinner.
As I returned home with the convenience store bag in hand, the sound of Mika and Mother arguing in the living room reached the entrance. What were they fighting about now?
"Why is it okay for Onii-chan but not for me to be an explorer!?"
"Unlike Daiki, you're a girl! What are you going to do if you end up with scars?"
I paused at the door to the living room and eavesdropped. It seemed Mother was firmly opposed to Mika becoming an explorer.
"Besides, do you even have a plan for the money? Buying a full set of gear costs way more than a few thousand yen, you know."
"Onii-chan explained it to me. I know."
"I see. Well, let me tell you now—I'm not giving you a single yen beyond your monthly allowance. And I'll tell Daiki the same as soon as he's home, so don't think you can borrow from him."
"It's fine. I have my savings from New Year's money and stuff. From what Onii-chan told me, it should be just enough."
"...I see."
This felt like a very awkward time to walk in. But I couldn't stay in the hallway forever. I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and turned the knob.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back, Onii-chan."
"I saw Saori-chan home safe."
"Good job, Daiki."
When I walked into the living room, the two of them greeted me with pleasant smiles, showing not a hint of the argument they’d just been having. Talk about a quick change of face.
"Oh, right. Here, I brought a gift."
I handed the roll cake to Mother.
"Is this... a roll cake?"
"Yeah. The one from the usual convenience store. I thought we could have it for dessert."
"That sounds nice. I'll set it out after we eat."
Mother took the cake to the kitchen to put it in the fridge.
"So, what were you two arguing about?" I asked, sitting down next to Mika.
Mika looked surprised, so I told her I’d heard them through the door.
"I told Mom I wanted to take the Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures Issuance Exam. And then she..."
"She was against it?"
"Yeah."
Mika made a disgruntled face and glanced at Mother in the kitchen before flopping down on the sofa. Mika clearly had her reasons, but from Mother's perspective, it was only natural to worry about her daughter becoming an explorer.
When I got my parental consent signed, there hadn't been much of a fuss due to the timing, but precisely because I’d been honest about what explorers actually do, Mother was now hesitant to let Mika join in.
"Mom is just worried about you, Mika. You understand that, right?"
"...Yeah."
I had shown Mika footage of us fighting monsters, so she should have understood the risks. Logically, no one expects to face monsters and come out completely unscathed. In reality, explorers coming out of dungeons almost always had injuries, whether minor or significant.
"We just haven't been hurt yet because we've been lucky, but it wouldn't be strange for a serious injury to happen at any time. You remember, Mika? That news on TV a while ago about the high schooler who died. Mom's worry is perfectly justified."
"...Daiki is right."
"Mother?"
While I was talking to Mika, Mother had returned with a mug. She placed the coffee in front of me and sat down on the sofa.
"To be honest, I want both of you to quit. Not just Mika, but you too, Daiki."
"...Mother?"
I tilted my head, confused by her confession. She always spoke to me with concern whenever I left for a dungeon, but this was the first time I had heard her say she wanted me to stop.
"The more I learn about explorers, the more I find myself wishing I hadn't signed that consent form. But seeing you looking so happy doing it with your friends, I just couldn't bring myself to tell you to quit."
"Mother..."
"You always come home without a scratch, but I'm constantly on edge, wondering if I'll get a call one day saying you've been seriously injured."
Mother’s expression was shadowed with anxiety. When I looked at Mika, she was watching me with the same look on her face.
...It seemed I had caused my family a great deal of worry since becoming an explorer. To them, my lack of injuries probably looked like blind luck rather than skill, since they didn't know about the Slime Dungeon.
"...I'm sorry for worrying you."
I stood up from the sofa and bowed deeply to both of them. However...
"But I don't intend to quit being an explorer right now."
I raised my head and looked them in the eye, stating my resolve.
My explorer license was essential for managing the Slime Dungeon, and it was the only way to exchange the drop items for cash. Beyond that, I had my commitment to my teammates, Yuji and Hiiragi-san. While Hiiragi-san had partially achieved her goals, Yuji’s were still unfulfilled. I couldn't just walk away yet.
"...Sigh. I knew you'd say that."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Just make sure you're careful not to be reckless and get hurt, okay?"
"I will. Of course."
I gave a firm answer and took a sip of my coffee. As the tension left my chest with a long sigh, I remembered the person this conversation was supposed to be about.
"...Oh, Mika."
"...What? Are you done talking about yourself, Onii-chan?"
Mika had sat back up on the sofa and was staring at me with a pout. She seemed annoyed that she had been sidelined in her own debate.
"Sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? I don't mind."
"No, really, sorry."
"...Hmph."
In the end, I had to promise her my share of the roll cake to get her back in a good mood. It was a good thing I’d bought it on a whim.
After dinner that night, we held a family meeting with Father.
The agenda: whether or not to permit Mika to take the explorer exam. We discussed everything from her motivations to equipment cost estimates and how she’d pay for it. Ultimately, Mika was granted permission to take the Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures Issuance Exam under several conditions.
The conditions were: she must conduct all explorer activities under my supervision; she must not enter a dungeon until she has received sufficient instruction; she must earn the money for her equipment herself; and she must not neglect her studies.
Furthermore, she wouldn't be allowed to start any explorer activities, including taking the exam, until June. This was because her birthday was in mid-May and the midterm exams were at the end of the month. Mika accepted the conditions and immediately messaged Saori-chan.
Under my supervision, huh... Maybe it was time to disclose the existence of the Slime Dungeon to the family.