The man returned to the room and sat down, closing his eyes as he let out a long, weary sigh. Had he uncovered something so grim that he needed a moment to compose himself before he could even speak?
...He probably had.
"Thank you for waiting. I’ve completed the investigation into the company you asked about."
"Ah, thank you. Um..."
"Oh, my apologies. I haven’t introduced myself properly yet. My name is Iida, and I serve as the Section Chief of the Consultation Section here."
Section Chief Iida introduced himself with a slight bow. I felt a bit of a rush and offered a brief introduction in return. I’d already presented my Explorer Card when I applied for the consultation, but as a matter of courtesy, it would have been poor form not to state my name.
"I appreciate your help. I’m Kokonoe, and this is my sister."
Mika gave Iida a small bow as I introduced her.
"...So you two are siblings."
"Yes. My sister is also an explorer, and since she’ll likely have her own reasons to consult with the Association in the future, I brought her along today to observe."
"I see..."
Iida’s brow furrowed for a moment, a look of hesitation crossing his face. I understood why. Given the nature of this inquiry, he was likely wondering if I really intended to expose my sister to the industry’s darker side. However, as long as she continued to work as an explorer, she was at risk of getting caught up in something dangerous if she stayed ignorant. If knowing the truth could help her avoid trouble, then seeing the reality of the situation now was in her best interest.
Besides, Mika already had a general idea of what was going on.
"So, Section Chief Iida. Regarding the results..."
"Right, yes. About the investigation..."
Iida swallowed hard, then opened his mouth as if he’d finally reached a decision.
"Legally speaking, it’s white—but it’s a shade of gray so dark it’s almost black. To be blunt, as a company, they are completely out of line. Based on a quick search, the Association has received multiple consultations... or rather, damage reports, regarding this firm from various explorer parties."
"Damage reports?"
"Yes."
Iida spread the documents he’d brought across the desk so we could see them. The papers were filled with the desperate grievances of explorers.
They claimed they were being coerced into delivery requests that far exceeded their abilities.
They claimed that even when they were buried under multiple requests, they were charged penalty fees for missing deadlines.
They claimed that when they tried to terminate their management contracts, they were hit with exorbitant cancellation fees for ending the agreement early.
The list went on. As Mika and I looked over the litany of complaints, our faces twitched, and our eyes widened in shock. This was beyond what I had imagined. Or rather, it was exactly what I’d feared, but seeing the sheer scale of the misery was staggering.
And this is legally "safe"? You’ve got to be kidding me.
"S-Section Chief Iida..."
"I know what you want to ask. 'Why isn't this illegal if there are so many reports?' 'Why isn't the Dungeon Association doing something?' Right?"
"..."
Mika and I both nodded silently.
Iida let out a heavy sigh, his expression a mixture of apology and shame, as he explained the situation.
"First, the reason there’s no clear illegality is that the contracts themselves don't violate any specific laws. The terms regarding management fees for brokered requests, penalty payments for failure, and cancellation fees within the contract period are all technically standard and follow legal regulations."
"But what about the part where they were pressured into delivery requests they couldn't handle?"
"The company only acts as a broker for those delivery requests. The final decision on whether to accept a request rests with the explorer. No matter what the reality on the ground is, the contract dictates that the responsibility ultimately lies with the explorer who accepted the job. We might be able to pursue the company for negligence for recommending a request that didn't match the party’s skills, but..."
"Is the issue the skill gap within a single rank?"
At my question, Iida nodded solemnly.
"Precisely. Ranks are strictly a measure of an explorer’s track record. Even among explorers of the same rank, there can be a massive disparity in actual ability. In this company’s case, they have explorers declare their rank upon signing, then broker delivery requests that fit that rank..."
"So, 'not matching their ability' doesn't technically mean 'not matching their rank'?"
"Exactly. Therefore, we can't definitively prove that they failed in their duty as brokers."
I couldn't exactly blame the rank system either. It wasn't like Association staff could follow every explorer into a dungeon to personally assess their skills and assign ranks. They had no choice but to evaluate people based on the drop items they brought back.
However, that method was often more about luck than actual skill.
"If there were statements made during the brokering process that could be clearly defined as threats, the situation would change, but..."
"They use minimal words and exert pressure through the atmosphere alone, making sure never to give a statement that could be used as evidence of coercion?"
"Yes. Even when we interview the victims, none of them can recall a statement that constitutes a clear legal threat."
"So they’re just relying on people who feel forced to read the room..."
"Yes, sigh..."
It was a predatory exploitation of social pressure. They likely muttered things like, "If you don't take this request, I don't know what will happen," or "I wonder if there’s anyone reliable who can take this," making it impossible for the explorers to say no.
I suppose I really need to be the kind of person who can say "no" when things aren't right.
I resolved to tell Taiga-niisan that this company was a black-hearted entity hiding behind a thin veil of legality. Then, I turned to Iida with another question.
"Then why hasn't the Association acted? Even if it's technically legal, there are real victims. If explorers are being exploited, I’d think the Dungeon Association would step in."
"That's the problem. We want to move, but our hands are tied."
"? Your hands are tied?"
Iida let out a self-deprecating, bitter chuckle.
"Yes. Since they aren't technically committing a crime, the Dungeon Association doesn't have the authority to conduct a forced audit. In fact, we weren't granted that kind of power to begin with. Our jurisdiction is limited to the management and operation of explorers and dungeon resources."
"Meaning...?"
"The Association is effectively powerless to intervene directly. We’ve reported the situation to the police and relevant ministries, so some action may eventually be taken, but..."
"But they can't move immediately?"
"Exactly. To put it bluntly, it’s a matter of bureaucracy. Any government action requires the proper groundwork and a long preparation period."
I put my hand to my forehead and looked down, let out a small sigh. It was a predictable development. By the time the state actually decides to address the problem, it’ll be too late—the victims will have reached their breaking point and taken matters into their own hands, probably storming the company themselves.
If that happened, the public’s perception of explorers would plummet.
"...Is there absolutely nothing the Dungeon Association can do on its own?"
"Well, we could conduct awareness campaigns to warn people about these kinds of issues..."
"Does that take a long time too?"
"Yes, we have to follow protocol. Because this involves private enterprises, a poorly executed campaign could lead to legitimate companies being painted with the same brush and viewed with suspicion. We have to be thorough with our research and preparation before we can go public."
So, they’re afraid of good companies going bankrupt due to collateral damage.
I could see their point. Given the immense influence the Dungeon Association has over explorers, they can't move recklessly. If they acted on impulse and it resulted in several honest management companies collapsing while the real villains escaped with the money, it would be a disaster.
"...I see. I understand."
"I’m truly sorry. With the current structure of the Association, it doesn't look like we can be of much help with this particular issue."
"No, thank you for being so thorough with a sudden consultation like this."
I bowed deeply from my seat to show my gratitude. Mika, who had been listening to the conversation with a stunned expression, followed my lead and bowed as well.
Honestly, I hadn't expected such professional treatment for a high schooler walking in off the street. Oh, right.
"Um, could I have copies of these materials? I’d like to use them to persuade an acquaintance."
"I’m sorry, but because these documents contain personal information, I can't let them leave the building."
"Ah, I figured as much."
"Yes. However, if your acquaintance comes to the consultation desk personally, we can show the documents to them."
"That might be difficult. He lives quite a distance away..."
I looked a bit troubled. I couldn't exactly drag Taiga-niisan all the way out here.
"In that case, please suggest that he visit his local Association branch. These documents are shared across our internal network, so they can be accessed from any branch office."
"Really? That’s perfect. I’ll tell him to visit the branch nearest to him."
"Please do. Personally, I would strongly advise against signing any contract with this company."
"Right. I’ll make sure he knows. Thank you again for your time today."
"Not at all. I’m sorry we couldn't do more."
We exchanged deep bows before leaving the Consultation Room.
Phew. I need to get these materials organized and sent to Taiga-niisan immediately.
Once we were out of the room, I sat down on a bench in a nearby rest area and sent a quick warning email to Taiga-niisan. He’d mentioned he was planning to persuade his party members soon, so the sooner he had this, the better. You can find rumors online, but reports of actual victims filed with the Dungeon Association carry a different weight. As evidence, it was as valuable as speaking to a victim directly.
If he still won't listen after this, he's on his own.
"Alright, sent. I'll send over the other data I gathered yesterday later... Sorry to keep you waiting, Mika. Ready to finish our shopping?"
"...No way, Onii-chan. I’m really not in the mood for that anymore."
Having finished my task, I turned to Mika, but she just waved a hand weakly, looking utterly exhausted.
The reality of the situation had clearly taken a mental toll on her.
"Really? I figured a change of pace would be good for you."
"Maybe if I actually wanted to buy something, but... it's not like I have the money anyway."
"Fine, I’ll treat you to something. You did come all this way with me on your day off."
Mika’s mood was in the gutter, so I decided to offer a bit of a reward to cheer her up. I just meant some kind of street food or a snack we could eat while walking.
I certainly wasn't going to buy her the new gear she’d been eyeing during our window shopping earlier.
"Wait, really?! Then—!"
"I said food. No new equipment or anything like what you were looking at before."
The moment she heard "treat," Mika’s depression vanished. Her eyes lit up as she prepared to make a request, so I shut her down immediately. If I gave in now, she’d think she could get whatever she wanted just by acting sad.
Mika pouted, muttering under her breath.
"...Onii-chan, you’re so stingy."
"I’m not stingy. If you want something, manage your money better. If you spend every cent as soon as it comes in, you’re going to end up bankrupt."
"Ugh... Fine. Then... I want cake."
"Cake, huh? Let me find a place nearby..."
Ignoring Mika's lingering dissatisfaction, I started searching for a cake shop on my phone. Seeing this, Mika perked up and raised her hand.
"Oh! Onii-chan! My friends told me about a place that’s supposed to be amazing! It should be right around here—I want to go there!"
"Is that so? Well, lead the way then."
"Yes! It’s decided! No time like the present, let’s go!"
And just like that, a revitalized Mika—making me wonder where her earlier exhaustion had gone—led the way out of the Dungeon Association and toward the cake shop.
However, given that Mika’s friends had recommended it, the shop turned out to be a place where ninety percent of the customers were teenage girls. I felt incredibly out of place, though I had to admit, the cake was delicious.
A predatory company that hides in the loopholes of the law... I really hope they go out of business soon.