The scorching sun felt even more relentless than last year, and a humid, stagnant heat made sweat break out on my forehead just by standing still. Summer had finally arrived in earnest. On a day like this, I would have loved nothing more than to lounge in an air-conditioned room and watch a movie... but that wasn't an option. Today was the day of a long-awaited event. A grand event known as dungeon exploration.
I had entered high school and finally cleared the age limit and qualification exam. All that was left was to actually go to the site, and yet...
"Geez, he's slow..."
With such a major event ahead of me, I, Haruki Hida, stood in the shade of the station concourse alongside my three party members—Tatsuji Minami, Eishun Haruta, and Fujino Kisaki. We waited for our final member to arrive, tepid sweat trickling down our backs.
There was less than a minute left until our meeting time. Was he really going to be late?
"Yeah, he's taking forever... and it's so hot."
"Hey, can't we just head inside? If we keep standing out here, we’re going to collapse before we even reach the dungeon."
"I agree. I’m already covered in sweat."
Complaints spilled from everyone's lips. We had all arrived ten minutes early, so even in the shade, waiting around for ten minutes under the summer sky was brutal. Yeah, the moment the clock struck the hour, we were heading inside without mercy. I'd make him treat us to drinks later; naturally, he wouldn't be allowed to refuse.
Just as I decided that, right on the dot, a guy with a buzzed head carrying a massive pack on his back waved his hand as he ran toward us.
"Hey! Sorry, sorry! Kept you waiting!"
You're late!
We all snapped at the newcomer, Tadao Itsukushima, in unison.
Haven't you ever heard of being five minutes early? Don't make people wait in this heat until they're about to faint.
"What are you doing, man?! You should've been here sooner!"
"Eh? But I made it exactly on time, didn't I?"
"You're right on the edge! We were just talking about leaving you behind and going on without you!"
"Isn't that a bit harsh? I got here when I said I would!"
My nerves were frayed by the heat, and since Tadao didn't seem to feel the least bit guilty, our conflicting views on punctuality sparked a circular argument right there in the station. However, realized that shouting in public was a bad look, Tatsuji and Eishun stepped in to mediate. At Fujino’s suggestion, we moved toward the train platform while enduring the reproachful glares of the people around us. An awkward atmosphere lingered between Tadao and me during the walk, but after more persuasion from Tatsuji and Eishun, we eventually apologized and called a truce.
"Alright, you two, that's enough fighting. Let's focus on today."
"Right. There's no point in bickering over what's already done. It's more constructive to discuss what's ahead."
"I agree. This is our first time exploring a dungeon, after all. We have a lot to coordinate."
...Yeah.
Tadao and I joined the others in discussing our plan until the train arrived, albeit a bit begrudgingly. Still, they were right—if we didn't take this seriously, things could get dangerous.
After transferring from the train to a bus and arriving at the stop nearest to the dungeon, the atmosphere changed completely. A unique tension hung in the air. The area was a chaotic mix of people: muscular individuals who looked like they lived in the gym, sharp-eyed veterans warily scanning their surroundings, strangely cheerful people wearing thin smiles, and those walking with their shoulders squared, radiating confidence.
As first-timers, the alien atmosphere of the place made us feel small, and we unintentionally shrank back.
"S-So the dungeon is just ahead..."
The weak words slipped out of my mouth. No one else said it, but I could tell from their expressions that everyone was being swallowed by the pressure of the environment. The excitement that had filled my heart only moments ago felt like it had been doused with cold water. Are we really going to be okay?
As we stood there, our thoughts stalled, a university student party passing by noticed our state and called out to us, jolting us back to reality.
"You guys okay?"
"Eh? Oh, yes! We're fine!"
At the concerned words from the man with the gentle smile, I exhaled the tension that had built up in my chest with a long sigh.
Looking at them with a clearer head, I saw a mixed party of three men and two women. Even in this intense place, they seemed relaxed and composed, carrying the aura of seasoned veterans. They were likely a party with significant exploration experience.
"You sure? You look pretty nervous. If you're not feeling 100%, it's better not to push yourselves to enter the dungeon."
"Ah, no, thank you for the concern. We're alright. It's our first time, and we don't want to turn back now after coming all this way..."
"Hmm? This is your first time exploring a dungeon?"
"Yes. We got our qualifications as soon as summer break started, so today is our debut."
"I see. If it's your first day, it's only natural to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere here..."
Hearing it was our first time, the man who seemed to be the leader glanced at our faces and nodded as if everything made sense. I suppose a normal explorer party wouldn't be frozen in place like we were.
"Then let me give you a bit of advice as a senior. Since this is your first time, make it your goal to get used to the dungeon's atmosphere rather than focusing on fighting monsters. You can handle the monsters on the 1st floor if you stay calm, but if you push yourselves before you're adjusted to the environment, you're going to get hurt."
"Y-Yes, sir..."
"Well, your exploration policy is up to you. Just keep what this meddling stranger said in the back of your mind. You look like you've got your heads on straight now, so we'll be going."
"Th-Thank you very much..."
The university student party walked away, the leader giving us a light wave.
Once they were gone, we looked at each other and let out a collective sigh.
"Man... I wonder if we can actually do this."
"W-Well, everyone starts somewhere. Let's just do our best."
"Yeah, exactly. We're just getting started."
"That's right. Besides, we've prepared so much for this. There's no way we're going home without even stepping inside!"
"T-True. At the very least, I need to make back what I invested, or my wallet is doomed..."
...That's right.
Tadao's murmur about our finances reminded us of the reality of the situation. The timid, shrinking mood shifted into a sense of necessity. To become explorers for this summer debut, we had all used up our savings and even gotten advances on our allowances. If we didn't collect some items and earn some income, we'd be broke.
We slapped our cheeks to psych ourselves up and headed from the bus stop toward the dungeon.
Upon reaching the dungeon entrance, we found that alongside the veteran explorer parties, there were plenty of other beginner parties like us. They looked just as out of place as they waited in line for the entry registration.
At a glance, about a third of the parties in the queue looked like they were on their first or second trip.
"...Let's just get in line."
"Good idea."
We joined the queue for the reception, but every time the line moved forward, the tension I had tried to suppress began to resurface. My mouth went dry, and I found myself swallowing more frequently. The surrounding noise faded away, replaced by the thumping of my own heart, which grew so loud it almost hurt my ears.
After what felt like an eternity, the line in front of us vanished, and it was finally our turn. "Next, please."
"H-Here you go!"
"Yes, I'll take those."
We handed our brand-new, spotless Explorer Cards to the Receptionist and waited for the process to finish, our faces stiff with nerves. The Receptionist handled the clerical work with practiced indifference, but to us, the clicking of the keys sounded like a countdown to something. I didn't even know what.
After a wait that was both excruciatingly long and surprisingly short, the process was complete. Our Explorer Cards were returned along with locker keys for the changing room.
"That completes your registration. According to our records, this is the first time any of you have used the dungeon. Would you like to sign up for the Beginner Workshop?"
"...A workshop?"
"Yes. It's a session for new explorers sponsored by the Association. An explorer belonging to the Association will serve as an instructor and teach you basic combat and movement within the dungeon."
"I see..."
We looked at each other, trying to decide. We had heard about the Beginner Workshop during our classroom learning for the license, but we weren't sure if we needed it. Honestly, we figured if we were going to take it, we should at least level up once first. What was the point of an amateur who hadn't even leveled up taking a practical course?
While we were hesitating, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine. Startled, I looked behind me.
...
The explorer parties waiting in line behind us were projecting a silent, irritated pressure.
Oh, crap. I need to decide right now...!
"Um, can we take that workshop some other time?"
"Yes. It's held every day, so as long as there's an available slot, you can apply whenever you like."
"I-I see! Then we'll pass for today!"
If we said yes now, there would be more paperwork and more waiting... and the pressure from behind would only intensify. Since we could do it later, we decided to skip it.
"Understood. That's everything, then. Please be careful out there."
"Yes, thank you!"
We gave the Receptionist a quick bow and hurried away. The glares telling us to "hurry up and move" were practically piercing our backs.
Phew. Well, at least we can finally enter the dungeon. Time to do our best.
We ducked into the changing room as if escaping and began the somewhat clumsy process of putting on our dungeon gear. Since we'd only ever worn it when we bought it or tried it on at home, it took a while to make sure everything was fastened correctly. It was especially annoying because Tadao had brought along a bunch of weird extra tools.
By the time we finally finished and stepped out, Fujino was already there, standing with her arms crossed and an angry look on her face.
"...You're late!"
"Sorry! Checking the equipment took longer than expected!"
"Check that stuff before you get here! I've been waiting for twenty minutes!"
It took even more time to soothe Fujino’s anger after leaving her to wait alone in such an intimidating place. Still, we were entirely in the wrong, so we could only apologize profusely—especially Tadao, the primary cause of the delay. Though he just stood there acting like it was someone else's fault...
After finishing our warm-ups and stretches in the exercise area, we finally lined up for the dungeon Entrance Gate.
"Man, look at this line."
"It's summer break. There’s probably a huge influx of new student explorers like us."
The queue leading to the gate was long and winding, filled with people carrying all sorts of dangerous weapons. If this weren't a dungeon, I would've thought it was a mob preparing for a riot.
Everyone was either radiating bloodlust in anticipation of battle or exuding a heavy, silent intimidation as they watched their surroundings.
"...I wish they'd move faster."
"...Yeah."
I realized this was the kind of place where a beginner’s mental and physical energy would be drained just by standing in line. We stared off into the distance toward the far-off gate. Will I really get used to this someday?
As I gazed at the long queue to kill time, my eyes settled on a pair of girls who looked about our age, just about to pass through the gate. For some reason, they really stood out.
"Even girls like that are diving into the dungeon..."
They were petite girls carrying spears, looking even more delicate than Fujino. However, the fact that they were tackling the dungeon as a duo without looking the least bit tense or tragic meant they probably weren't total novices. Yeah. If girls like that can make it as explorers, then we should be able to manage, too.
Looking back, I had absolutely no eye for talent back then. I never imagined those girls were actually that strong...