The day after our dungeon exploration—an outing that had been plagued by one issue after another—we finished our training session with Juzo-san at the dojo alongside Mika and the others. Once we were done, I told Mika and the others that we had something private to discuss with the old man and sent them home early. I didn't want them overhearing our conversation and getting anxious before they even started their own dungeon activities.
Once they were gone, we sat down with Juzo-san to seek his advice on how to fix the problems that had surfaced during our recent excursion.
"I see. It was a wise move to send the girls home first, that much is certain. Hearing a conversation like this would only breed unnecessary anxiety before they’ve even set foot in the dungeon, no?"
"Yes. Honestly, it was just pathetic," I replied.
"Well, no matter how much you've dived into the dungeon as explorers, you were originally just ordinary people with no connection to violence. Since you haven't undergone formal combat training, it's only natural that you've come to rely on skills, wai..."
A grim expression appeared on Juzo-san's face as he listened to our story. It wasn't a look of disappointment at our unsightly performance, but rather an expression that suggested what was bound to happen had finally happened.
"So, I wanted to ask, Grandpa—how should we train to learn how to search for enemies without overtaxing ourselves? With the way we're doing it now, we're just constantly concentrating and wearing our nerves thin..." Yuji asked.
"Searching without overtaxing oneself... If you mean performing enemy searches as naturally as breathing, then there is no alternative but to endure countless life-or-death situations. Since you lot have been diving into the dungeon, I suppose you've been through a fair share of close calls, but they lack quality... This is a dilemma, noka."
Juzo-san wore a somewhat troubled expression in response to Yuji's question.
But what did he mean by "lacking quality"? Just as I was wondering that, Yuji voiced the question.
"Grandpa, what do you mean by the quality being lacking? We've been holding our own against monsters well enough..."
"It means exactly what I said. Have any of you ever truly felt your lives were in danger while facing monsters or traps?"
"..."
At Juzo-san’s question, the three of us involuntarily looked at each other and fell silent.
Now that he mentioned it, while diving into the dungeon with skills active, there were times I felt things were dangerous, but I never felt like I was actually going to die.
Observing our reaction, Juzo-san let out a light sigh.
"...As I thought. In that case, no matter how much combat experience you gain in the dungeon, you will never acquire a sense of crisis in the true sense, wai."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Even if I don't spell it out, you surely understand by now, don't you? If you have never truly feared for your life, you will never understand what kind of events, situations, or presences are actually dangerous. It is only after having a near-death experience that a sense of crisis becomes ingrained in you through the instinct to never repeat the same mistake again. With the combat experience you've gained in the dungeon so far, you won't acquire that true sense of crisis."
"..."
Juzo-san was certainly right. The combat experience we had gained was, in the end, experience accumulated while maintaining an excessive safety margin. As he said, we had never once fought monsters or bypassed traps while fearing for our lives. Even when we fought the ogre area boss, while there were moments I thought were risky, there were no moments where I felt my life was in imminent peril.
"Indeed, you've likely gained combat experience in the dungeon. That is not a mistake. However, that experience is insufficient for one who fights. Combat experience only truly counts when it includes the exchange of life itself."
Rebuked by Juzo-san, we hung our heads in dejection, feeling thoroughly demoralized.
We thought we had gained a fair amount of combat experience, but it seemed that was merely our own misunderstanding.
"..."
"Well, if you intend to continue as explorers who are merely hunters while maintaining the status quo, then continuing with your policy of relying on skills should be no problem. There's no need to push yourselves to overcome powerful enemies or high-difficulty traps, after all. However, if you aren't satisfied with the status quo and intend to keep challenging the dungeon with ambition, things will become dangerous later on if you don't improve now."
The status quo or the challenge... That was a difficult choice.
Since Yuji was doing this for the sake of his training to begin with, he would likely choose to keep challenging himself. Since I intended to act as a guardian for Mika and the others, I wanted to aim for greater heights to be as influential a backer as possible.
However, Hiiragi-san...
"..."
Hiiragi-san wore a troubled expression, seemingly agonizing over Juzo-san's words.
Originally, Hiiragi-san had been diving into the dungeon because of her family's circumstances. Since she had achieved her goal for the most part, there was no need for her to challenge hardships unnecessarily. Even if Hiiragi-san refused to take on the challenge with us here, it wasn't as if we could say anything about it. After all, choosing to challenge more than the current state meant exposing one's life to more danger than before; it wasn't a choice one could make without a clear purpose.
While I was observing the look on the troubled Hiiragi-san's face, Yuji, having made up his mind, spoke up.
"...Grandpa, I'm going to keep challenging it. Diving into the dungeon is my training to begin with, and at this rate, I'll never be able to land a single blow on you."
"Hmm, I see."
"What's with that? That was pretty blunt..."
"What. If you had said no here, I would have personally beaten some spirit into you and thrown you back into the dungeon anyway."
...This old man was saying something incredible.
As proof, Yuji's face twisted into a look of disgust.
"Ugh. What the hell? That means I didn't have a choice in the end anyway..."
"Even if the path doesn't change, the fact that you chose that path yourself is what's important. A path forced upon you by others will only lead to you breaking easily when you eventually hit a wall. To keep from breaking, you need a core, and the awareness that you chose that path yourself is vital. When you are cornered to the very end, that awareness of having chosen it yourself becomes the driving force to overturn the crisis."
"..."
Yuji wore an expression that said he didn't like it, but he understood.
Still... choosing one's own path by one's own will, huh? In that case, I had to decide my path myself, too.
I straightened my posture and called out to Juzo-san.
"Juzo-san. I'm with Yuji. I intend to keep challenging the dungeon."
"...Are you sure?"
Responding to my voice, Juzo-san turned toward me with slow movements and questioned me while looking me straight in the eye.
"Yes. I'm giving this answer with the full understanding that it's a harsh choice."
"I see..."
"Besides... continuing to challenge the dungeon will also help my sister and the others who are trying to fight those deluded fools."
"...In that case, I shall say no more about it."
Hearing my serious declaration, even though it was mixed with a bitter smile, Juzo-san didn't try to force me to change my mind. I did have the desire to be a reliable older brother for Mika, after all. I knew I was choosing a dangerous option, but my little sister was working hard even if it meant overextending herself. As her brother, I wanted to provide as much support as possible.
"Does that mean the reason you're going to keep challenging the dungeon is for Mika-chan and the others, Daiki?"
"Well, yeah..."
"My, my, aren't you the doting older brother?...Is this what they call a 'siscon'?"
"Don't call me a siscon!"
Who's a siscon? Who! I'm just saying I want to support my sister who's doing her best.
"...I..."
While Yuji and I were bantering, Hiiragi-san spoke up hesitantly.
Well, since Hiiragi-san didn't need to push herself, she'd probably be for the status quo. While Yuji and I were diving into the lower floors of the dungeon, if she could lead Mika and the others...
"I also intend to keep challenging the dungeon."
Wait, what?...Challenge?
While Yuji and I were staring at Hiiragi-san with wide eyes, Juzo-san, who had been sitting in silence, spoke heavily.
"Is that all right, Hiiragi girl? You understand it's quite a dangerous choice, don't you?"
"...Yes. I understand."
"Unlike the Kokonoe boy or Yuji, you don't necessarily need to dive deep into the dungeon, do you? Your purpose for diving into the dungeon is already being fulfilled as things stand....You don't need to force yourself to go along with these two, you know?"
Juzo-san said nothing more and stared intently into Hiiragi-san's eyes.
"That's..."
Hiiragi-san tried to offer some kind of counterargument to Juzo-san's warning, but she only opened and closed her mouth, unable to find the words.
Seeing Hiiragi-san like that, Yuji and I exchanged a quick glance before speaking up.
"...Hiiragi-san, you don't have to push yourself, okay? Just because we chose to challenge the dungeon doesn't mean you have to take on a challenge you don't want."
"...That's right. Overdoing it isn't good."
Yuji and I each tried to persuade her, mentioning the shop which was her purpose for diving into the dungeon, as Juzo-san had pointed out.
However...
"...It's not because I'm forcing myself."
"...Eh?"
"I'm not saying I'll challenge the dungeon because I'm pushing myself. Certainly, as Kokonoe-kun and Hirose-kun say, with my current situation, there's no reason to dive deep into the dungeon. Regarding the shop, since my father and the others are working hard, even if I don't procure dungeon ingredients, the management shouldn't fall into such a predicament as before. But..."
"But?"
Cutting her words there, Hiiragi-san closed her eyes, swallowed hard, and then spoke with resolve.
"The ones who kept my family afloat until the shop's finances stabilized were undoubtedly Kokonoe-kun and Hirose-kun. And yet, I haven't been able to repay the debt of gratitude I owe you both."
"...A debt?"
Whoa. Hiiragi-san was actually a person with a strong sense of duty and honor...
The gaze Hiiragi-san directed at Yuji and me was not that of someone making a joke. From start to finish, it was a gaze of absolute seriousness. To think that Hiiragi-san had taken what we were doing so seriously...
Overwhelmed by Hiiragi-san's intensity, Yuji and I were hesitating, not knowing how to respond, when Juzo-san spoke.
"Repaying a debt... so that is the path you've chosen for yourself, Hiiragi girl?"
"...Yes."
"Even if there is a risk to your life, you have no intention of changing it?"
"Yes. Naturally, I don't intend to die, but I want to do whatever I can."
"...I see."
Hearing Hiiragi-san's answer, Juzo-san gave a single-word reply and fell silent, crossing his arms. Yuji and I looked at each other, exchanging awkward glances.
Like—what do we do now?
After the exchange between Hiiragi-san and Juzo-san, an awkward atmosphere flowed through the dojo.
Yuji and I were just flustered, not knowing how to call out to her, and Hiiragi-san also didn't take her eyes off Juzo-san, who remained silent with his arms crossed. For a while, no one moved, but then Juzo-san finally opened his mouth.
"Now then, you lot. With this, your mutual intentions have been confirmed."
Wait! Hold on just a minute, please! It's troubling if you move the conversation forward while leaving Hiiragi-san aside! Yuji's and my heads haven't caught up to this situation yet!
Perhaps noticing our pleading bewilderment, Juzo-san directed a gaze toward Yuji and me that was somewhere between pitying and exasperated.
"You likely both have things you want to say, but this is the path you've each chosen for your own reasons. If that is the case, then respect each other's choices."
"...Yes."
At Juzo-san's words, spoken in a quiet, admonishing tone, we looked at each other before giving our consent. Indeed, as Juzo-san said, the path of continuing to challenge the dungeon was chosen by no one else's opinion but our own will. That was something we should accept and respect in each other without thoughtlessly denying it.
"Now that I've finished confirming your intentions, I suppose we should think of a way to improve the quality of your combat experience."
"Ah... come to think of it, that was the consultation."
"What, had you forgotten?"
"The preamble was so heavy that I forgot."
Just as Yuji said, the preamble was way too heavy, seriously.
"Well, fine. Now, when it comes to improving the quality of combat experience, there's only one thing that can be done."
"...Meaning we fight powerful enemies that make us feel like our lives are at risk?"
"Indeed. However... considering your current strength, that will be difficult."
Juzo-san frowned and looked at our faces.
It was exactly as Juzo-san said; if we were to fight enemies in the dungeon that made us feel our lives were at risk, we would have no choice but to dive into the lower floors, far beyond the 30th floor. But for that...
"Tell me... do any of you have any intention of skipping school to spend your days in the dungeon?"
We simply didn't have enough time.