Shortly after returning from our dungeon dive, the period the world calls the Obon break began. That said, as a student already in the middle of summer vacation, it didn’t really feel any different to me.
Despite the start of the holiday, nothing particularly special had... kicked off at our house.
“...Hey, Onii-chan? Are we heading to Dad and Mom’s parents’ places the day after tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Dad has work until tomorrow, so we’re leaving the morning after that.”
Mika lay sprawled lazily across the living room sofa watching TV. When she asked about our Obon plans with a vacant, bored expression, I gave a lackluster reply without taking my eyes off the screen, sitting on the opposite sofa and sipping iced coffee through a straw.
The program we were staring at so listlessly was a typical cliché—a travel special featuring famous delicacies from across the country.
“I see... Man, I'm bored.”
“Yeah, tell me about it....Why don’t you start getting the souvenirs ready for the trip?”
“Souvenirs, huh...”
Since both Dad’s and Mom’s family homes weren’t that far away, we could visit both by car without much trouble.
Naturally, I couldn't go exploring in a dungeon right before a family trip, so I had a sudden hole in my schedule. While going shopping was an option, I had no desire to step outside where the blazing sun would scorch my skin. Sipping iced coffee in an air-conditioned room was a luxury that was hard to give up.
“Did you prepare something, Onii-chan?”
“Me? I’m... taking some minotaur meat. The marbled kind.”
“Wait, what!?”
At the mention of marbled minotaur meat, Mika threw her laziness aside and bolted upright. She turned a face plastered with sheer shock toward me.
“Hold on, Onii-chan! When did you get your hands on that!?”
“Hmm? The other day, when I dove with Yuji and the others. A minotaur was blocking the path, and it just happened to drop when we defeated it.”
A mino had appeared on the path toward the 30th floor and was in the way, so we took it down as usual, and it just happened to drop marbled meat. Since it had been a while since we’d seen a marbled minotaur meat drop, even Yuji and Hiiragi-san’s eyes had sparkled with excitement.
As for who got to keep it, I won the rock-paper-scissors showdown that followed.
“By chance?...Ugh, honestly! Never mind that! Why didn’t you tell me we had marbled mino meat?!”
“Hmm? Well, I didn't think it was that big of a deal.”
“B-But it’s marbled minotaur meat!?”
“What’s with you? Why are you being so desperate...”
Mika’s expression shifted to a slightly panicked one, and she trailed off as if struggling to find the right words.
We stared at each other in silence for a moment before she finally spoke up hesitantly.
“I mean... it’s delicious...”
She turned her head away in embarrassment after admitting it. In other words, she just wanted to eat it herself. It was true that once you tasted marbled minotaur meat, the flavor stayed with you. Even if you tried to buy it at a store, it was still prohibitively expensive.
If there was a chance to eat it within arm's reach, she obviously didn't want to let it slip away.
“I’m taking it to the grandparents’ house, so you can just eat it there, right?”
“But if we do that, the amount I can have goes way down...”
“Well, I suppose we’ll be sharing it with the whole family...”
I had plenty of regular minotaur meat in stock, but marbled minotaur meat was a different story. If we shared it with all our relatives, everyone would likely only get a single slice. If you knew how good it was, one slice was never going to be enough.
Maybe I should go mino hunting specifically for marbled meat next time. Since I was the one who got it this time, I’d eventually need to secure some for Yuji and Hiiragi-san as well.
“Ugh...”
“Don’t look so depressed. I’ll let you have some next time I get some more. Though I can’t promise when that’ll be.”
If I didn't overhunt and only fought the minos I happened to run into, there was no telling when that would be.
I made that non-committal promise to Mika while sipping my coffee and staring back at the TV.
Dad’s pre-holiday work finally ended, and our household officially began preparations for the Obon trip. However, because of the way the calendar fell this year, the break was short, so we weren't planning on a long stay.
It was a quick three-day, two-night trip just to show our faces at Dad’s and Mom’s family homes.
“Daiki. Is it really okay to take this as a gift?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I prepared it specifically for this.”
“I see, thank you. Even so, I wonder if this is a bit much for a simple souvenir?”
Mom wore a slightly troubled look as she stared at the marbled minotaur meat I had handed her. It was a bit pricey to be called a "souvenir." On top of that, since I thought a single block of marbled minotaur meat wouldn't be enough for two households, I had also pulled out some regular minotaur meat. If you calculated the market price for all of it, the total would be staggering.
Even one of these blocks of mino meat would be worth tens of thousands of yen in the right market.
“If you slice it up for yakiniku and hand it over, I'm sure they'll finish it off in no time.”
“I suppose...”
“It’s a gift for a rare trip home, so you can just tell them you splurged. Besides, it’s direct from the source, so it didn't actually cost us anything.”
“That’s true.”
“Alright, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
With a look that suggested she was only half-convinced, Mom began slicing the blocks of meat. I wondered just how much a single plate of that meat would cost at a restaurant. Deciding it was better not to think about the price, I gave Mom a quick word and left the kitchen while she worked.
I moved to the living room and spoke to my father, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
“Are you all set on your end, Dad?”
“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Though Mom already took care of everything for me, so there wasn’t much for me to do. What about you, Daiki?”
“I’m all ready. I didn’t have much to pack anyway.”
Since I’d left the minotaur meat to Mom, I was sure she’d handle it perfectly.
“Come to think of it, Daiki... did we ever tell your grandparents that you two were explorers?”
“Eh? Oh, now that you mention it, I don't think we told them. We weren't explorers during last year’s Obon, and we didn't visit for New Year's.”
“Right... I think it might be better to let them know, just in case.”
“Yeah, you're probably right...”
With the dungeon boom being such a huge thing right now, it probably wouldn't be a problem to tell them that Mika and I were explorers... but I had a feeling they’d have something to say about it.
Especially my paternal grandparents; they doted on Mika far too much.
“I have a feeling they’re going to tell Mika to quit immediately.”
“Most likely. Your grandma and grandpa really do treat her like a princess.”
Dad and I fell silent, staring at each other for a moment before nodding in unison.
Well, whatever happens, happens.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
“Yeah. No use worrying until we arrive.”
Exchanging a wry smile with Dad, I left the living room and headed back to my room. He had a long drive ahead of him tomorrow, so he needed to rest well tonight.
On the way back to my room, I ran into Mika right in front of her door.
“Ah, Onii-chan.”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“Hey, Onii-chan. I have something I want to talk to you about...”
Mika wore an apologetic expression as she pulled me into her room. It looked like she had been packing her bags for tomorrow; a bag and various belongings were scattered across the floor.
“So, what is it?”
“Um, well. I was telling Asami-chan and the others about that corporate event. And I just got an email back from them...”
“From Tatebayashi-san and the rest? What did they say?”
“They said they want to come too. They said they want to learn at least a little bit about what explorers do so they don't feel left out of the conversation. So, Onii-chan, is it okay if Asami-chan and the others join us for the event?”
It seemed they had developed a real interest in it. The event was primarily a corporate promotion to attract potential recruits, but it was probably the perfect way for them to learn about the profession.
There would be stalls serving dungeon food too, so it would be fun even just as a food tour.
“Yeah, I think that’s fine. Just make sure you give them the right date and time.”
“It’s okay, I already sent them that.”
“Right, of course you did.”
If they were asking to attend an event right after Obon, it meant they’d already checked their schedules. She would have naturally told them the details.
In any case, Mika looked visibly relieved once I gave my approval.
“That’s a relief. I’m glad I didn’t have to tell Asami-chan and the others they couldn't come.”
“Was there something you were that worried about?”
“Ugh, well... it seems like Asami-chan and the others are really bothered by the fact that they're the only ones in our club without an Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures.”
“Tatebayashi-san and the others feel that way?”
According to Mika, they felt a sense of guilt for being in the club despite not having their permits. Since summer vacation started, more and more of their other friends had become explorers, which only made them more anxious.
It made sense; if everyone around you was becoming an explorer, you’d start to feel like you were being left behind.
“A little while ago, I could have just casually asked if they wanted to try it too, but...”
“Is this because of that incident?”
“...Yeah. After seeing something like that, it's hard, you know?”
“I suppose so.”
Mika looked awkward and cast her gaze downward, the mood turning somber. Clearly, the situation with Kawahara-san had left a mark. Whether you went in of your own volition or were just swept along by the crowd, the physical act of entering a dungeon was the same—but the difference in the mindset behind that decision could be fatal. Knowing that, it was hard to casually suggest someone become an explorer.
It was because they had gained experience as explorers and now had the perspective to see the risks that they could no longer act with the same carefree attitude. I suppose this was a form of growth in its own right.
“I’m happy Asami-chan and the others can come, but we’ll teach them what we can so they don’t decide to become explorers just because the event makes it look good.”
“You guys are closer in age to them than I am. These corporate events are designed to recruit people, so they’re going to highlight all the best parts. Make sure you tell them the reality so they don't just get swept away.”
“I will.”
As Mika nodded, her eyes held a spark of firm resolve.
A dazzlingly bright morning sun rose, and the temperature began its steady climb. I would have preferred some clouds to keep the sun from scorching our skin, but the sky was a clear, refreshing blue.
Under that quintessential summer sky, I finished loading the luggage into the car.
“Daiki, make sure this gets in too. Oh, and use plenty of ice packs.”
“Got it.”
“Mom, can I take this as well?”
“Yes, that’s fine. It shouldn't be in the way.”
Since we didn't have that much gear, the loading was finished quickly. Because it was Obon, the roads would be crowded with traffic, so if we left now, we’d likely arrive just before lunch.
As I was thinking that, Mom, who had been doing a final check of the house, came out to join us.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone. Let’s head out.”
“Okay!”
“Roger that.”
“Alright, let’s get going.”
With that, we all piled into the car and Dad pulled out of the driveway.
The drive went surprisingly smoothly. We avoided any major traffic jams and arrived at our destination almost exactly on schedule. Our first stop was Mom’s family home, a two-story house nestled in a quiet residential area.
“We finally made it. It’s been a while since we were here.”
“Since last Obon, so a full year?”
“Yes. We couldn't make it for New Year's because Mika was so busy with her exams, so it really has been a whole year.”
Mom looked at her childhood home with nostalgia as she stepped out of the car, while Dad checked the parking situation.
As for Mika and me...
“Man, I’m wiped. It feels like forever since we were here.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
“I wonder if Onee-chan is home?”
“It’s Obon break, so her university should be out. She’s probably back home, right?”
Mika and I stretched our stiff limbs after the long drive while looking up at the house, wondering if our older cousin who was away at college was currently home. She was a sophomore this year and attended a university in another prefecture.
“You two, don’t just stand around. Come over here.”
““Ah, coming!””
Called by Mom, who was already pressing the doorbell, Mika and I hurried to the entrance.
A few seconds after the chime rang, the door opened to reveal a woman who looked very much like Mom.
“Welcome, Miharu. Good to have you back.”
“I’m home, sister.”
The person who greeted us was Mom’s older sister—my aunt.
Visiting relatives for Obon with a special gift of marbled minotaur meat... we were bound to be welcomed, weren't we?