A heavy, awkward silence settled between us until Fumika-neesan cleared her throat, attempting to steer the conversation back on track. Even so, the core of the issue remained the same.
"So, getting back to the topic... what exactly does an explorer do for a living?"
"...Fumika-neesan."
"...Fumika-oneechan."
Mika and I both gave her a look that asked, Are you really okay with that? Brushing off the previous revelation as if nothing had happened seemed like a lot to take in.
"It can't be helped. We just have to accept things as they are. Right now, a few companies are just jumping the gun—getting a head start on new initiatives. Once new labor laws regarding explorers are enacted, other companies will likely set similar hiring criteria."
"That’s... certainly possible."
Now that dungeons and explorers were a reality, the very structure of society had begun to shift around them. It was inevitable that labor laws would eventually be revised to account for explorers. I was sure there were plenty of malicious companies looking to exploit the gap until then... Honestly, businesses like that could rot for all I cared.
Still, as Fumika-neesan said, if she planned to find a job at an existing firm rather than starting her own business, some level of compromise was probably necessary.
"I understand. For now, let’s set that aside. What specifically did you want to hear about, Fumika-neesan?"
"Well, could we start with the basics? Things like the qualification exam or how much the initial investment for equipment costs? I’d like to hear about it from your perspective, based on what you and Daiki-kun have actually experienced."
"Got it. Let’s start from the very beginning then. I'll summarize the main points, so feel free to interrupt if you have questions."
"Yes, please. Thank you, Daiki-kun, Mika-chan."
"You're welcome."
Since we weren't going to reach a definitive conclusion here, I decided to shelf the heavier topic and focus on what she wanted to know. Of course, I only shared general information. If I even touched upon Juzo-san’s training regimen or the reality of the 30th floor, she’d likely be terrified, so those were strictly off-limits.
Mika and I began walking her through the essentials of being an explorer, keeping the details relatively harmless.
Aunt Miku brought us some drinks partway through, but aside from that brief pause, we spoke almost non-stop. As I recounted our experiences, I realized just how much had happened—even when sticking only to the stories I could actually tell.
"Wow, so things like that really happen in a dungeon..."
"Like I said, that’s just one example out of many."
"I understand. But it sounds like you have to be careful about so many things."
"True. But honestly, it’s still better than dealing with trouble between explorers."
If the opponent was a monster, you just had to defeat it. If it was a trap, you just had to deal with it correctly. But trouble involving other people was nothing but a headache. Even if you helped someone in a life-threatening situation, there were people who would hold a grudge, claiming you’d interfered unnecessarily. If you handled it poorly, that resentment could linger, and you'd have to spend every future exploration looking over your shoulder. On the other hand, if you abandoned someone in distress right in front of you, the guilt would haunt you—it could even lead to trauma.
Then again, even if you did help, you might end up in a situation like the one Mika and her party dealt with recently.
"Listening to you two, it’s hard to feel like I could just casually become an explorer," Fumika-neesan admitted.
"If you have the will and the resolve to do it, I won’t stop you. But if you’re unsure, you’re better off stopping now. If you go into it half-heartedly, I think you’ll regret it."
"I agree. Fumika-oneechan, you definitely shouldn't become an explorer just because someone suggested it. Absolutely not."
"Y-yeah. If you both feel that strongly, I promise I won't just drift into it. But..."
Our talk seemed to have convinced her that jumping in blindly was a bad idea. However, she trailed off, her expression clouded by the thought of how an Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures might affect her career.
I knew that many job hunters struggled, sometimes applying to dozens of companies without a single offer. In that light, it was understandable that she’d find it hard to give up on a qualification that might give her an edge. Perhaps it was best to wait and see how the world moved before making a final decision.
"Fumika-neesan, I don't think you need to rush. There might be a movement to legally regulate using the permit as a hiring criterion. Besides, if you consider the potential downsides for a company, there’s a chance they might eventually start rejecting people because they have the qualification."
"Wait... rejecting them?"
"Yeah. Think about it. If a company overworks an employee because they’re 'tough,' they have to worry about retaliation. Driving an employee to work excessive hours also means that employee might rack up achievements and get promoted quickly. Imagine the subordinate you once exploited becoming your boss... that's a terrifying thought, isn't it?"
"...That’s a very good point."
Few people could stomach the fear of a former subordinate—someone they’d buried under a mountain of work—rising above them. Even if they tried to protest their own workload later, the response would be obvious: "I managed this same load back when I worked for you, Mr. Tanaka," or "I could do it, so surely you can handle it too." At that point, it would just be getting what they deserved.
Because of that, many companies might decide it was safer to hire non-explorers with similar abilities. It was another reason why the laws needed to catch up quickly, before unfair employment practices became the norm.
"Fortunately, you're only a sophomore, so why not just wait and see?"
"You're right. I still have some time before I start job hunting. It might be better to watch how things develop."
"Exactly. Even if no laws are passed in the next year or two, you’ll be able to see the general trend. Making a hasty decision now might just be jumping the gun."
If she jumped in based on vague rumors of an advantage only to find that the social climate had turned against permit-holders, it would all be for nothing. Unless she was aiming to be a professional explorer, the level required for a "career boost" was low enough that she didn't need to rush.
If the goal was around Level 10, that was something she could reach through a short stint of power leveling without much trouble, provided the dungeons weren't too crowded. Of course, that assumed she had a competent guide. I wouldn't be surprised if "Job Hunter Power Leveling Packs" became a trend soon.
"Fumika, Daiki-kun, Mika-chan! It’s time for lunch!"
"Coming!"
Aunt Miku's voice drifted in from outside the room. Fumika-neesan gave a slightly startled reply, and I glanced at the wall clock. It was already past noon. We had been talking for quite a while.
"Well, it sounds like we should pause here for now."
"Does 'pause' mean we can keep talking after we eat?"
"Sure. It sounds like you two won't be staying very long this time, so I want to hear as much as I can while you're here."
I didn't have any other plans, so that was fine with me. "Is that okay with you, Mika?"
"Yeah. It's been a long time since I've seen Fumika-oneechan, so I'd like to chat. Besides..."
"Ah, right."
It would be good practice for when she had to talk to Tatebayashi-san and the others about the reality of being an explorer. Mika looked a little guilty, likely because it felt like she was using her cousin as a test subject.
Still, if it helped both of them, I didn't see the harm.
"Alright, then it’s a plan. We can keep going after lunch, Fumika-neesan."
"Thank you, Daiki-kun, Mika-chan."
With our plans settled, we left her room and headed to the living room where the rest of the family was waiting.
When we arrived, the six adults—including my parents—were already seated. We hurried to take our places in the remaining chairs. Lunch was a spread of somen noodles, tempura, and chicken rice balls.
"Now that everyone’s here, shall we eat?"
"Yes, let's."
Itadakimasu!
With Aunt Miku’s signal, the family meal began. At first, everyone was focused on the food, but once our hunger was satisfied, the conversation turned lively. Naturally, the main topic was the fact that Mika and I had become explorers.
"I see, so both Daiki-kun and Mika-chan are working as explorers now."
"Are you two really alright? I hear explorers get injured all the time..."
"We're fine for now, Uncle Masaru, Aunt Miku. We haven't had any major injuries," my mother said.
"Still, we can't help but worry," my father added.
When asked about us, my parents spoke with slightly uneasy expressions, trying to reassure my aunt and uncle despite their own lingering anxieties. It was true that the overall injury rate for explorers was high if you counted every minor scrape.
However, mid-tier explorers who had survived the beginner stage usually had enough experience and judgment to know when to push and when to pull back. They rarely suffered serious wounds. Furthermore, once they reached that level, they usually had enough money to be mindful of their image. Many would use recovery potions on visible injuries just to look like they’d returned unscathed. Between an explorer who returned battered and one who returned looking untouchable, the latter appeared far more like a seasoned veteran. Explorers hoping to be headhunted by corporations were especially careful about maintaining that invincible image.
"That's what they say, but Daiki-kun, Mika-chan... are you truly doing okay?"
"Yeah. I'm with a party of friends, and we're being extremely cautious," I replied.
"And we're training outside the dungeon too—practice swings and mock battles," Mika added.
"Practice swings? Mock battles? Are you two learning at a dojo or something?" my grandfather asked.
"Yeah. A friend in my party comes from a family of martial artists, so I’m being taught at their dojo."
"Oh, my."
Grandfather and Grandmother looked impressed, clearly imagining us practicing something like kendo. The reality was a brutal, practical combat style that went far beyond anything they were picturing.
Looking back, if I hadn't had my explorer stats to bolster me, I might have been permanently sidelined during one of those mock battles before I ever set foot in a dungeon...
"...Daiki?" "...Daiki-kun?"
"Eh? Ah, sorry. I was just spacing out."
Remembering the training had given me a thousand-yard stare, which clearly worried them. I had to be careful. If they ever found out what that training actually involved, they'd definitely tell us to quit on the spot.
"By the way, Fumika," Uncle Masaru asked. "Did you get to ask them what you wanted?"
"Yes, it was very helpful."
"I see. Still, to think we’re in an era where an explorer permit is a career advantage... I wouldn't have believed it a year ago."
"Uncle Masaru, what do you mean by that?" my father, Daisuke, asked.
"Actually, Daisuke-kun..."
My father listened to Uncle Masaru's explanation of Fumika-neesan's concerns and let out a weary sigh, rubbing his temples.
"Is the job market really like that now? That's a problem."
"Ah, are you seeing similar things at your company, Daisuke-kun?"
"Yes. We've had a lot of younger employees jump on the dungeon boom and become explorers. It's true that their physical capabilities improve, and I've heard reports of individual productivity going up, just as we discussed. However..."
"However, more employees are taking leave due to injuries? Individual efficiency goes up, but team efficiency drops because someone is always missing? And on top of that, you have employees with visible scars going out on sales calls, leading to complaints or concern from clients?"
"Exactly. It's much better now than it was at first, but still..."
Father and Uncle Masaru both let out deep sighs, looking like men burdened by the same corporate headaches. It seemed that office workers moonlighted as explorers was causing significant friction. Since most corporate work is collaborative, if one person is absent, the burden falls on everyone else. And when someone is out for an injury, it’s rarely just for a day or two.
There were recovery potions, of course, but depending on the wound, a single beginner recovery potion might not be enough. That left them with the choice of either using expensive higher-grade potions or taking the time to heal the long way.
"Maybe things will improve once the labor laws and company regulations are revised."
"You mean things like banning secondary jobs?"
"Yeah."
I listened to their conversation while slurping my somen, exchanging an awkward look with Mika and Fumika-neesan. It seemed our theory about permit-holders being a potential disadvantage wasn't far off the mark after all.