Since we had to stand in line outside again to re-register, we left the Beginner Zone building for the time being. We headed to a refreshment corner to discuss our plans over juice. Since we could pay for the drinks later using the IC tags on our locker key wristbands, there was no need to walk all the way back to the changing room for our wallets.
It was a truly convenient system. I tapped my IC tag against the vending machine's reader and bought a drink.
"Phew... So, what’s the plan? You guys want to give the beginner zone another shot?"
I took a sip of my lemon water and addressed the other four, who were all sipping their own drinks.
"I don't know," Yuji replied. "To be honest, there isn't much left for us to gain from the beginner zone..."
"He’s right," Hiiragi-san added, looking a bit conflicted. "Compared to the traps we dealt with at Genya-san’s place... well, you know?"
They were both giving their honest impressions of the Beginner Zone, and I was in complete agreement. Having shared their thoughts, I turned my gaze toward the novice duo. Mika and Saori-chan both looked quite troubled.
"How did you two feel after experiencing the traps in the Beginner Zone?" I asked.
"..." "..."
The two girls exchanged a look before Mika spoke up hesitantly.
"Those traps might have been nothing to you, Onii-chan, but for us right now..."
"I just feel pathetic," Saori-chan added, her shoulders slumping with a heavy sigh. "Our anti-trap skills are practically non-existent."
They both stared at the floor, clearly spiraling into a pit of self-loathing. They were comparing their dismal performance in the first half—where they triggered every single trap—to the effortless, mistake-free run we had displayed in the second half.
"Hey, don't beat yourselves up by comparing your performance to ours. You’ve only just started as explorers."
There was at least a six-month gap in experience between us, not to mention the fact that we had received formal anti-trap training. It was only natural that we would outclass them in a training exercise of this level.
"I know there's a gap in skill and experience," Mika said. "But..."
"The thing that’s bothering us most," Saori-chan interrupted, "is the difference in our mindset."
"We... even though we knew it was a training exercise, we let our guard down," Mika admitted.
"Failing to spot the traps was probably unavoidable given our lack of skill. But our mindset was the real problem..."
Hearing their words, I glanced at Yuji and Hiiragi-san and felt a surge of relief. My expression must have mirrored theirs—a mix of admiration and satisfaction. We were glad to realize that they weren't depressed over their lack of technical skill, but rather over their lack of mental preparedness.
Bridging the gap in skill and experience is easy enough with our help, but teaching someone the correct mindset for dealing with traps is incredibly difficult. In anti-trap work, mindset is everything. If you're conceited or careless, no matter how much experience or skill you have, you’ll eventually overlook even the simplest trap.
Mika and Saori-chan had realized this on their own without us having to point it out. That realization was likely the most valuable thing they had gained today.
"I see... Well, if you’ve realized that much, then this challenge was a success. No—a massive success."
"He’s right," Yuji chimed in. "Some people never realize that and just keep chasing technical mastery until they end up with a life-altering injury. Compared to them, you two are ahead of the game for pulling such a vital lesson from a failure."
"The fact that you noticed it yourselves makes the failure well worth it," Hiiragi-san added.
The three of us offered words of praise with gentle smiles to the two dejected girls. Mika and Saori-chan looked up, their faces reflecting surprise at our enthusiastic approval.
"Um..."
"Mika, Saori-chan," I said, catching their eyes. "Now that you've grasped the most important lesson, you have nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, you should be proud of yourselves."
"O-Okay."
"Y-Yes."
Mika and Saori-chan seemed a bit overwhelmed by my words and the sight of Yuji and Hiiragi-san nodding vigorously in agreement. They looked bewildered, but the heavy cloud over them had lifted slightly.
I tossed my empty bottle into a nearby trash can and got the conversation back on track.
"In that case, it’s probably best for Mika and Saori to run through the Beginner Zone a few more times to build up some experience."
"Agreed," Yuji said, following suit and throwing his bottle away. "It’s an easy course for us, but it’s perfect for Mika-chan and Saori-chan to safely rack up some experience points."
If they went in with us, we could ensure they completed the course and got to try it again and again without being relegated to the Experience Zone. However, as Yuji and I were planning our marathon of the Beginner Zone, Hiiragi-san spoke up.
"Oh? Is that really what you two want? Weren't you discussing something else in front of the changing rooms?"
"Oh." "Right."
Hiiragi-san’s reminder brought back the topic we had been debating earlier.
"Wait, what? Did you guys have other plans?" Mika asked, peering into my face with curiosity. It wasn't a secret, but it was a bit awkward to explain.
I gave Yuji a quick look before explaining our earlier conversation.
"I see. It’s exactly as you feared," Hiiragi-san said thoughtfully. "It’s a matter of relatability..."
"Yeah," Mika agreed. "Now that you mention it, if someone told me they’d reached the twenty-something floor, it wouldn't really click. I can't even imagine what that’s like."
"Exactly," Saori-chan added. "Saying you cleared the Advanced Zone here without a single mistake sounds much more impressive to me."
"Just as we thought..." Yuji muttered.
If Mika and Saori-chan felt this way, then it meant our accomplishments on the deep floors would likely be lost on most of the first-years. The appeal would be thin at best. There was a high chance that many students saw our poster and recognized we were strong but didn't have a concrete sense of how strong.
"If that’s their reaction, then we definitely need a more tangible achievement for the sports festival," Hiiragi-san said. "We need 'Advanced Zone Clearer' on our resumes."
"I agree. But if we're going to tackle the Advanced Course..." I trailed off, looking at Mika and Saori-chan with concern. They noticed my gaze and reflexively looked away.
"...Yeah, we can't exactly take these two with us into the Advanced Zone yet," Yuji said, voicing my thoughts for me. I gave him a small nod of apology for making him the one to say it. Mika and Saori-chan both looked apologetic, clearly feeling like they were a burden.
Then, Hiiragi-san clapped her hands together lightly.
"...Oh, I have an idea. Let’s do this."
Breaking the awkward silence, she made a proposal.
"I’ll take Mika-chan and Saori-chan through the Beginner Zone while you and Hirose-kun tackle the Advanced Zone as a pair."
"Wait... are you sure?" I asked.
"Of course. We can't take the girls into the Advanced Zone yet, and I want them to get as much experience with traps as possible. At the same time, we need those Advanced Zone clears to impress the first-years. Splitting the party is the only logical solution."
Hiiragi-san spoke with a smile, but I felt a strange, underlying pressure. As Yuji and I stood there, slightly intimidated by her cheerfulness, Mika and Saori-chan spoke up nervously.
"Is that really okay, Yukino-san? For you to spend your time on us..."
"I don't mind at all. I can't just leave you two to your own devices."
"But... you won't gain anything from the Beginner Zone," Mika insisted. "Wouldn't it be better if you went with the boys to the Advanced Zone?"
They both looked genuinely worried that they were holding her back.
"It’s true that I won't learn anything new from the Beginner Zone," Hiiragi-san admitted. "But if I’m with you, I can ensure you learn the proper techniques. If you start making up your own methods now, you’ll never be able to handle the truly sophisticated traps set by pros later on."
"..." "..."
"Besides, Kokonoe-kun and Hirose-kun can clear the Advanced Zone without me. Right, boys?"
The gentle gaze she had for the girls sharpened into a piercing stare for a split second when she looked at us.
"Uh, yeah. Leave it to us," I said.
"Yeah, we’ve got this," Yuji added, thumping his chest.
I wondered if we had done something to annoy her. Was she mad because we made the girls feel like a burden? Regardless, Mika and Saori-chan seemed to reach a decision and bowed slightly to her.
"Thank you very much."
"We’re in your care."
"Of course. Leave it to me," Hiiragi-san said with a pleasant smile.
"Sorry about this, Hiiragi-san. I'm leaving them in your hands," I said.
"Don't worry about it. But next time we come, one of you is switching with me. I’m curious to see what the Advanced Zone is like."
"Right. Got it..."
"Now, go and clear that Advanced Zone for us."
"U-Uh-huh."
"Y-Yeah."
With that, Hiiragi-san led Mika and Saori-chan back toward the Beginner Zone building. Yuji and I watched them go until they disappeared inside, then let out a heavy sigh in unison.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah."
We turned and began walking toward the Advanced Zone, following the signs.
A short while later, making no effort to hide my irritation, I slammed a slip of paper onto the reception counter before a stunned staff member. I forced a wide, artificial smile onto my face and spoke in a flat, clinical tone.
"I’ve brought what you asked for. Now, I assume the course is ready for us?"
"Eh? I... uh..."
Fear flickered in the staff member's eyes.
"You were the one who said it, weren't you?" I continued, my voice cold. "That if we wanted to attempt the Advanced Zone, we had to provide a clear certificate for the Intermediate Zone first. Well, here it is."
"B-But... it hasn't even been thirty minutes since you left this desk..."
My smile deepened, and the man’s face twitched.
"That’s right. It took us exactly thirty minutes to clear the Intermediate Zone and get back here. If you don't believe me, feel free to call the intermediate staff and confirm it."
"P-Please wait just a moment!"
The man scrambled away from the counter and dove for the phone in the back office. Watching him panic finally brought me some small sense of satisfaction.
From behind me, Yuji let out a long sigh. "You went a little overboard, Daiki."
"Sorry. My patience just ran out."
"I get it, but still..."
I knew I’d overdone it, and I felt a bit of guilt as Yuji scolded me. My reaction was a direct result of the conversation we’d had with this same man thirty minutes ago. When we’d first tried to register for the Advanced Zone, he’d flatly refused us. While it was understandable that he’d be skeptical of two teenagers who hadn't even cleared the Beginner Zone yet, it was his delivery that had set me off.
"Come on, Yuji. You weren't annoyed? He basically told us to stop acting like hotshots when we were 'hack explorers who couldn't even clear the Beginner Zone.' He basically spat on us."
"I was annoyed, yeah. But Daiki, you went too far. Ease up on the intimidation."
I looked away, feeling a bit awkward. I knew I had been projecting a pretty heavy aura.
As the tension between us lingered, the staff member's voice rang out from the back.
"My sincerest apologies! I’ve confirmed your clear with the other department. We will prepare your entry into the Advanced Zone immediately!"
The arrogant man from thirty minutes ago was gone. In his place was a pale, sweating clerk who looked like he was about to collapse.