With no time to spare, we were about to dash through the open door when Yuji and I ground to a halt.
Because right there...
"A pitfall, at the very last second?"
"Don't let your guard down until the very end... that's the message, I guess."
Directly in front of us, just past the doorway, I could see faint seams on the floor. The area was about the size of two tatami mats—not huge, but if we had stepped out assuming we’d already finished, we probably would’ve fallen right in.
I quickly scanned the area for any other traps.
"No other traps besides the pitfall. What about your side, Yuji?"
"I don't see anything else either."
It seemed Yuji couldn't find any further traps, either.
"Then we just have to jump over it."
"Yeah. We’re out of time, let's move."
Without a running start, Yuji and I kicked off from the edge of the threshold, leaping over the pitfall together. We’d intended it to be a light hop, but we easily cleared three meters....Maybe that was a bit much?
Once we were over the pitfall, we finally passed through the Goal Gate.
"Good work! You were right at the time limit, but you actually cleared it!"
The Goal Gate was located right next to the Entrance Gate, it seemed. The Staff-san who had been stationed there spoke to us, his eyes wide with astonishment as we emerged. Though, he didn't have to look at us like he was seeing a pair of ghosts...
...Thank you.
Wearing ambiguous expressions that were hard to describe, we both replied to him.
After praising us excitedly for a while, the staff member seemed to remember his job and cleared his throat.
"A-Ahem... excuse me. Since you reached the goal within the time limit, both of you have cleared the Advanced Zone. A clear certificate will be issued at the reception, so please take this and go collect it."
Understood.
He handed us two slips of paper with our clear times written on them. Apparently, we were supposed to submit these at the reception desk.
Once he had finished his duties, the staff member asked us for our impressions.
"Even so, I'm impressed you cleared this on your first try. As I said before you went in, the only ones who have ever cleared this course were a group of professional explorers... how did you do it?"
"Even if you ask how... I can only say we cleared it normally. Right?"
"Yeah. We didn't really do anything special."
"Is that so? Quite a few people have challenged this place, but students like you usually give up or are forcibly removed within ten minutes. Since you didn't come out and the Rescue Button wasn't pressed, I was worried there might have been an accident!"
"Ah, I see."
To be sure, his concern was justified. With traps of that difficulty, anyone without the appropriate level of anti-trap skill would usually give up immediately or be forced to send a Rescue Signal due to injury.
After all, we just looked like ordinary high school students.
"Thank you for your concern."
"No, I should be the one apologizing for misjudging your abilities. I've seen quite a few challengers, so I was confident in my ability to size people up... but from your atmosphere, I didn't think you were such capable explorers."
Atmosphere, huh?
Well, it was true that we were a bit different from ordinary explorers, so we probably did give off a different vibe than the typical person who came here. I recalled the explorers I had met so far and began to understand the "atmosphere" he was talking about. Thanks to the stat boosts from the Slime Dungeon and our training with Juzo-san and Genya-san, we did have the air of reasonably skilled individuals.
However, we didn't have the aura of those who had survived life-or-death struggles... or so I thought. This was because we had never really experienced a truly desperate fight against monsters. The explorers who had challenged the Advanced Zone before had likely overcome one or two brushes with death, so that was probably the difference in atmosphere he had sensed.
"...I see."
"No, really, I'm sorry."
When I murmured that somewhat dejectedly, the Staff-san hurriedly offered an apology. Sensing that the mood had turned a bit sour because of his remark, he began urging us toward the reception area.
"Sorry about that, chatting away while you're tired."
"No, please don't worry about it."
"Then please go pick up your clear certificate at the reception so you don't forget. At any rate, congratulations on clearing the Advanced Zone."
Yuji and I decided to go along with the staff member, who was trying to cut the conversation short with a somewhat forced tone to smooth things over. It would be troublesome if he pried too deeply, anyway.
Thank you very much.
After thanking him, Yuji and I left the Entrance Gate and headed for the reception.
The moment we arrived, the shoulders of the Staff-san behind the counter trembled. My Intimidation from earlier was clearly still lingering.
Wearing an awkward expression, I spoke to him.
"Excuse me."
"Y-Yes. Is there something...?"
"...We'd like to process these, please."
"Y-Yes... wait, this is!?"
After looking at the papers I handed over, the staff member's eyes went wide. He stared at our faces as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"...D-Did you really clear it?"
"Y-Yes."
"I see..."
Apparently, it was hard to process. Well, I suppose that made sense. The staff member at the gate had said only one other group had ever cleared it.
After alternating between looking at the papers and our faces for a while, the staff member cleared his throat and offered an apology.
"I am terribly sorry for my rudeness earlier....Congratulations on clearing the Advanced Zone."
"Thank you."
"I will issue the clear certificate immediately. Please wait a moment."
"Alright."
After bowing to us, he began entering data into his computer. A few minutes later, the certificates were printed.
"Thank you for waiting. These are your clear certificates for the Advanced Zone."
He handed over sheets that looked similar to the ones we had received for the Intermediate Zone.
Yep, they looked as cheap as ever. To be fair, they were printed on cardstock rather than thin paper, but it felt more like drawing paper for kids. They could have at least used something with a glossy finish...
Thank you.
We accepted the certificates with a polite nod. Even if they were cheaply made, they were still proof of our achievement.
Then, the receptionist spoke up again, his expression anxious and his voice hesitant.
"Um..."
"Yes?"
"I am truly sorry for my insolent behavior earlier!"
Suddenly, the man slammed his hands onto the counter and bowed his head with incredible force.
Whoa, wait, what's this all of a sudden?
"Despite being someone who couldn't even judge your true strength, I made all sorts of rude remarks based on my own assumptions! I am truly, deeply sorry!"
"Ah, no. If it's about that, you've already apologized. There's no need to go this far... Please, lift your head."
I wondered why he was being so dramatic, but seeing the fine trembling in the hands he had placed on the counter, I grasped the situation. In short, this staff member was terrified. He regretted picking a fight with explorers capable of clearing the Advanced Zone on their first try. He was likely worried that we would retaliate for his earlier verbal abuse. In this state, even if I said I didn't mind, it probably wouldn't help much.
I looked over at Yuji. What should we do? I signaled.
"..."
Yuji quietly closed his eyes and shook his head. Beyond help, then.
I looked up at the ceiling for a moment before speaking to the still-bowing man.
"Look, we really don't mind anymore, okay? Right, Yuji?"
"Yeah. So please, lift your head. It’s not something that warrants this much of a reaction."
"That’s right. So... we'll be going now."
With that, Yuji and I turned our backs on the bowing staff member and left the building.
Sigh, why did things have to get so tedious?
After leaving the Advanced Zone building, we headed toward the Beginner Zone to regroup with Hiiragi-san and the others. Along the way, we walked in silence, both of us wrapped in an indescribable gloom.
"Sigh, why did it turn out like that?"
"I suppose it can't be helped. From our perspective, we were just venting our frustration. But from his, he’d picked a fight with people far stronger than him and they’d actually responded. Even if he apologized and was forgiven, he’s probably terrified we’ll hold it over him indefinitely. I can’t really blame him for acting like that."
"...I guess. Sigh, even though we cleared the Advanced Zone, I don't feel happy about it at all."
A heavy sigh escaped me.
Watching me, Yuji muttered while looking up at the sky.
"From now on, we're planning to show our strength to some extent at school, too. We need to use this incident as a lesson and think about how we interact with ordinary students."
"...You're right. We can't change what's happened, but we have to make sure we learn from it for the future."
"...For starters, an attitude that intimidates others like you did today is strictly forbidden. I'm sure you only intended it as a light jab, Daiki, but if you don't act while considering your own influence, things will turn out poorly. It leads to unexpected results like this."
There was a weight of lived experience in Yuji's words. I remembered then that Yuji was the son of a Grandmaster—a position of significant influence. While he was his natural self with us, he likely acted with a constant awareness of his status whenever the disciples were around.
This time, I had let my irritation dictate my actions, and I had failed. I needed to learn how to control my emotions better. Especially if I intended to lead people and actually get things done.
"You're right. I definitely need to think more carefully about my own influence before I act."
"Yeah."
After that, we fell silent again and made our way toward the Beginner Zone.
When we arrived, the number of people had decreased considerably compared to our first visit. It seemed the majority of the crowd that had been lining up had been sent away to the Experience Zone.
"The numbers have dropped quite a bit..."
"Yeah. I guess even the Beginner Zone is tough for people who are barely more than amateurs."
As we looked around, Hiiragi-san and the others emerged from the exit of one of the training courses.
"Ah, Onii-chan! Yuji-san!"
Mika ran toward us, waving her hand.
"Hey, Mika. How was it? How's the training going? Did you manage to clear about half?"
"Ah, um, well..."
At my question, Mika awkwardly looked away. Judging by that reaction, she hadn't reached the halfway mark.
While Mika was avoiding my gaze, Hiiragi-san and Saori-chan walked up to us.
"Good work. Thanks, Hiiragi-san, for looking after them."
"Don't mention it. It was a good experience for me as well. But as I thought, unless they acquire a certain level of anti-trap skill beforehand, it’s still too dangerous to take them to the lower floors of the dungeon."
"Ah... as I suspected?"
"Yes."
I scratched my cheek, troubled by Mika and Saori-chan's lack of proficiency. But even if their skills were low, I felt hesitant about throwing them into the kind of training we did at Genya-san's place with their current physical levels.
"For a while, we have no choice but to let them get used to traps and monsters on the surface floors."
"Indeed. Even if we're in a hurry to reach the lower floors, if their technique and mindset don't keep pace, they'll eventually end up with a major injury."
"I guess that's the only way."
While Yuji, Hiiragi-san, and I were discussing our plans based on our experiences, Mika let out a dissatisfied groan.
"Ehh..."
"What do you mean, 'ehh'? Mika, how many traps did you actually manage to conquer?"
"Um... three."
"Three...?"
Three out of ten. At that rate, the middle floors were out of the question.
"Mika, I’m telling you this for your own good—polish your anti-trap skills. There are no monster attacks while you're dealing with traps here, but in an actual dungeon, monsters will attack while you're right in the middle of disarming one."
"Ugh..."
"At the very least, you won't be setting foot in the middle floors until you've reached a certain level of skill. That's final."
Mika didn't complain any further, perhaps finally facing the reality of her skill level. Saori-chan looked equally convinced, and neither of them voiced any more objections.