At the start of the second floor, the area known as the safe zone had been transformed into a modest rest area resembling a park. It featured everything from coin-operated toilets to a variety of battery-powered vending machines and sets of simple tables and chairs. It was impressive how much equipment they’d managed to haul into the dungeon.
It almost felt like an event venue.
“Whoa. So this is what the safe zone on the second floor looks like.”
“It has a bit of a festival-like atmosphere, doesn't it…?”
Mika and Saori-chan stood frozen halfway down the stairs, gazing at the safe zone with wide-eyed interest. Well, it was a natural reaction. We had felt much the same way when the construction was first finished.
“It was only recently that they renovated this place,” I told them.
“Is that so…?”
I narrowed my eyes nostalgically as I looked around, recalling the renovation. It was back in April, just after the turn of the fiscal year, that the safe zones on the tutorial floors—the second and third floors—were upgraded to this state.
Previously, toilets had been installed regardless of profitability because of hygiene requirements, but there hadn't been any vending machines or rest facilities. It made sense; even if this was a safe zone, monsters still roamed the path leading to it. Transporting supplies here while fending off monster attacks required an armed escort of either security guards or skilled explorers. Back then, the logistics were simply too expensive to make the business viable.
However, things changed after the dungeons had been open for about six months. Former explorers who had retired because they couldn't stomach killing humanoid monsters were being scouted by specialized firms. While these veterans weren't up for deep exploration, they were more than capable of hauling cargo to the safe zones where humanoid monsters didn't spawn. With the arrival of these porters—former explorers with actual combat experience—transporting goods became relatively easy, and more companies began setting up vending machine businesses in the safe zones.
“Hey, you three. If you stand there forever, you'll be in the way. Come on down,” Yuji called out from the bottom of the stairs.
“Ah, yeah. Sorry,” I replied.
Yuji had reached the bottom ahead of us and was waiting. He was right; the three of us were blocking the path. We hurried down the remaining steps.
“Sorry for the wait.”
“No worries. So, what’s the plan? Should we take a break and grab lunch?”
“Let me see…” I hesitated at Yuji’s question and looked toward the girls. “What do you two think? Do you feel like you can eat?”
“Yeah.”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
The two of them hesitated for a fraction of a second, but both confirmed they were ready for a meal.
“Alright. Let's find some empty seats.”
We scanned the rest area. It was crowded with explorers, but there were a few scattered spots. However, finding enough space for all five of us to sit together was proving difficult.
I scanned the room. A table for five… there.
“Over there. That table should be opening up any second.” I pointed to a group of six people chatting a short distance away.
“Hmm? Oh, I see. Yeah, they look like they’re about to get up,” Yuji agreed.
“You’re right. Let’s head over and wait for it,” Hiiragi-san added.
““??””
Yuji and Hiiragi-san had immediately grasped my reasoning, but Mika and Saori-chan just tilted their heads in confusion. This was the gap in our respective observation skills.
I led the puzzled girls toward the table. When we were about ten meters away, the group of six stood up as one.
“They really got up…”
“…They did.”
Mika and Saori-chan watched the group walk away with stunned expressions. I nudged them forward, and the five of us secured the vacant table.
“Well, now that we have seats… shall we eat?”
“W-wait a second, Onii-chan.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“How did you know those people were about to leave?” Mika asked, her face full of wonder. Saori-chan leaned in, clearly just as curious.
I decided to explain the logic behind my prediction.
“Well, for one, I looked at what was on their table.”
“The things on the table?”
“Yeah. They had a convenience store bag with all their trash gathered inside it, and their plastic tea bottles were almost empty. That told me they’d already finished eating and had even finished tidying up.”
“But Onii-chan, that doesn't mean they’re leaving right away, does it? If they were resting after their meal, they could have stayed for ages.”
“True enough,” I admitted.
Mika’s point was valid. Tidying up didn't necessarily mean the end of the rest period. However, there was a second factor.
“That’s why I looked at the time.”
“…The time?”
“Yeah. Look at that wall. What do you see?”
“That’s… a giant clock. Like the ones on the outside of school buildings.”
“Exactly.”
I pointed to a large clock mounted on the wall, big enough to be read from across the room. It was currently 12:35 PM.
“I became certain a moment ago because the person who seemed to be their leader kept checking that clock. Did you notice that?”
“No…”
“I didn't see it either.”
“I see.”
It wasn't surprising they missed it. It was still quite dim in the dungeon, and since the girls didn't have the visual enhancements that come with higher levels, they wouldn't be able to track a person's eye movements from that distance.
“That leader checked the clock nearly ten times in a single minute. I figured he was someone very punctual. Since he was leading the group, I assumed their schedule would be strictly followed.”
Mika and Saori-chan seemed partially convinced, but another question popped up.
“But Onii-chan, when you first picked them out, you didn't have any proof he was the leader, did you?”
“No, I didn't have proof, but the odds were high. Every time their conversation hit a lull, the eyes of every member turned toward him. The person everyone looks to when they aren't sure what to do… that’s almost always the leader.”
“Wow… that’s amazing, Onii-chan. I didn't notice any of that, and I definitely wouldn't have thought that far ahead.”
“Me neither,” Saori-chan added.
They both looked at me with a mix of exasperation and genuine impressed curiosity.
“You’ll be able to do it too once you hone your observation skills and get used to thinking things through. This isn't just for finding seats, either; it’s a vital skill for group combat against monsters.”
“Wait, how is this useful in a fight?”
“Basically, monsters in packs still maintain coordination. There’s usually a leader directing them. In a group battle, the key to making things easier is disrupting that command structure. But since they all look identical, you have to use your observation skills to spot the subtle differences in behavior or posture to figure out which one is the boss. Otherwise, you’re just swinging blindly.”
If you’re fighting a pack of the same species, they really do look the same. In the worst-case scenario, the leader is the last one left, meaning you have to deal with a perfectly coordinated enemy until the very end. It’s a lot easier when it’s a mixed group, as the strongest monster usually takes charge and stands out.
“So, try to consciously observe the people and things around you in your daily life. Once you're used to analyzing your surroundings, you'll be able to do it instinctively in combat.”
“I see… okay. I’ll try practicing.”
“I’ll do my best too.”
The girls nodded seriously. It would take time to get used to, but it was a good start.
As our conversation wound down, Yuji and Hiiragi-san cut in.
“Alright, you three. Let’s put the lessons aside and eat.”
“He’s right. If you don't eat properly, you won't have the strength for the rest of the exploration.”
Yuji and Hiiragi-san pulled their convenience store lunches out of their backpacks. The rest of us followed suit, spreading our food across the table.
Once we finished eating, we relaxed with some cold barley tea from the vending machines. I would have preferred a coffee, but I wanted to avoid caffeine to keep the bathroom breaks to a minimum. It would be nice if they stocked decaf for explorers, though.
As we sipped our tea, Mika looked at her bottle and sighed.
“It’s really expensive, isn't it?”
“Yeah. To think a single bottle costs five hundred yen…” Saori-chan agreed.
It was definitely pricey, but considering the location, it wasn't outrageous. I’d heard that drinks at the summit of Mt. Fuji or in mountain huts cost about the same. Considering that monsters appeared here, a higher price tag wasn't exactly a surprise.
“Mika-chan, Saori-chan, it might be more than it is outside, but given the transport costs, this is actually pretty reasonable,” Yuji explained.
“He's right. In a danger zone like this, you have to expect a premium,” Hiiragi-san added. “Honestly, we're lucky to be able to get supplies inside the dungeon at all.”
The two veterans tried to put the price in perspective. At four or five times the normal cost, I could understand why the girls were balking, though.
“It’s true, Mika. Besides, facilities like this are currently only found in Japanese dungeons. In other countries, a vending machine wouldn't last a day without being smashed open.”
It was true. Inspired by Japan, several countries had tried to install similar facilities, but they had all withdrawn within a week after a string of robberies and vandalism.
In contrast, perhaps because of the social conduct of Japanese explorers, there hadn't been any incidents of vending machines being looted so far. Because of that safety, the product lineup was expanding every day. While it started with just water and emergency rations, they now sold LED lights, basic tools, and even beginner recovery potions. They were all expensive, of course.
“I guess you're right… Even if it's a bit pricey, being able to buy supplies inside the dungeon is a huge luxury.”
“Yeah, you're right. Normally, you'd just have to go without.”
Mika and Saori-chan stared at their bottles and sighed. They understood the logic, but the price still stung. We had all felt that way in the beginning.
“You’ll get used to dungeon prices soon enough. More importantly, we’ve rested long enough. Shall we head back out?” I suggested as I packed away my trash.
“Agreed. If we sit here too long, our muscles will get cold and sluggish,” Yuji said.
“Let’s go,” Hiiragi-san added.
They both stood up and began clearing the table.
“Mika, Saori-chan? Are you ready to keep going?”
“Yeah!”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
The girls had recovered their energy. They quickly packed up their trash, and in less than a minute, we were standing at the entrance to the actual exploration area of the second floor.
“We’re moving into the second floor proper. Ready?”
“Ready!”
“Yes!”
With their spirited confirmation, I looked to my friends. “Alright, let’s do this. Yuji, Hiiragi-san—keep an eye on them.”
“You got it.”
“Leave it to me.”
We fell into formation and stepped into the corridor, beginning the second half of our day.