The summer sun beat down harshly again this year. I had returned to my parents’ house for the first time in six months, but I didn't remember it being quite this hot around here.
I basked in the cool air blowing from the living room air conditioner while calling out to my mother, who was busy in the kitchen.
"Hey, Mom. Is Mika-chan’s family arriving around noon?"
"Yes. When they called this morning, that’s what they said. Oh, but... because of their work schedules, they can only stay for one night this time."
"I see..."
Only one night? I had things I wanted to ask them, but that might make it difficult. I frowned slightly, my gaze drifting to the clock on the wall.
As I sat there worrying, my father walked into the living room.
"Fumika, we're heading out to shop soon."
"Oh, okay!"
"Dear, if you’re going to the store, could you buy a few extra vegetables?" my mother added.
"Vegetables... Would a yakiniku set from the supermarket be alright?"
"Yes, that will do."
At my mother’s request, my father and I set out for a nearby home center. Since Mika-chan and the others were coming over, we were planning to have a barbecue in the yard for dinner. This was all part of the preparation.
When we finished our errands at the home center and the supermarket and returned home, I spotted an unfamiliar car parked in the driveway. It looked like they had already arrived.
"Ah, looks like Mika-chan’s family is here."
"So it seems. Fumika, I’ll get the charcoal ready, so take the vegetables inside first."
"Got it."
I grabbed the grocery bags and headed into the house. The entryway was lined with shoes that didn't belong to our family, confirming their arrival.
I dropped the vegetables off in the kitchen with a quick word to my mother, then practically jogged toward the guest room.
"Welcome, Mika-chan, Daiki-kun. Uncle Daisuke, Aunt Miharu, it's been a long time."
"Ah, Fumika-onee-chan!"
"It's been a while, Fumika-neesan."
"Oh, Fumika-chan. Hello! Sorry for the sudden intrusion."
"Good to see you, Fumika-chan. Thanks for having us."
As expected, everyone was gathered in the guest room. I gave a polite bow as I greeted them. It had been a year and a half since our last meeting, and both Mika-chan and Daiki-kun had grown significantly. Daiki-kun in particular carried himself with a maturity that far surpassed my classmates... He had a dignified, grounded presence. It was the same kind of aura I sensed from the upperclassmen I knew who worked as explorers.
After exchanging pleasantries with Uncle Daisuke and Aunt Miharu, I heard that Daiki-kun and Mika-chan had become explorers themselves. I decided to pull them aside to ask about the reality of the profession.
"Thanks for agreeing to this so suddenly, especially since you just got here," I said.
I had brought the two of them to my room and settled onto a cushion across from them.
"Don't worry about it, Fumika-onee-chan."
"Besides, it gave us an excuse to get out of unpacking," Daiki added.
The conversation started on a light note, but as I began to consult them about my job-hunting concerns, the atmosphere turned heavy. To be honest, when I had first heard the story from my senior, I suspected it sounded too good to be true. Hearing Daiki-kun and Mika-chan’s perspective confirmed many of my doubts.
Yeah, I was the one who brought it up, but that was definitely a predatory company.
"I should probably tell my senior that the company looks dangerous and they should reconsider, right?"
"Yeah, I think it’s best to tell them as soon as possible," Daiki-kun replied. "If their job hunt has dragged on this late into the season, they’re probably feeling desperate. If they accidentally end up signing with a place like that..."
He was right. I needed to get this information to my senior quickly. They were already panicking about not having a job offer yet... Man, how was I even going to break it to them?
Furthermore, listening to the two of them made me realize that becoming a serious explorer would be incredibly difficult for me. I had thought about just getting the Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures for the sake of my resume, but if I actually wanted to be capable, fighting monsters was unavoidable. And as for forming a team... after everything they told me, I couldn't bring myself to just casually invite a friend. In this climate, they might say yes, but dragging a friend who lacked resolve or mental preparation into a dungeon would be... cruel.
"Well, it's not like I have to decide right this second..."
We were called for lunch, and as we headed to the living room, I let that thought escape in a small murmur.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—I still had about two years before I had to start job hunting in earnest. By then, it should be clear whether having an explorer permit is actually a benefit or a hindrance to employment. I figured it wouldn't be too late to get the Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures then.
I rubbed my eyes and blinked repeatedly, unable to believe the sight before me.
Daiki-kun and Mika-chan had mentioned they wanted to move around a bit because their bodies felt stiff. What followed—a mock battle using wooden swords—was enough to shatter my perception of normalcy. I had no idea humans... or explorers... could move that fast.
We could only watch their clash—which felt both eternal and instantaneous—with stunned expressions. I stood on the veranda, feeling as though my soul had left my body.
"Even if I became an explorer, there's no way I could move like that..." I whispered to myself.
I watched as they finished their intense "light spar" and began rehydrating, looking as though they hadn't even broken a sweat. Listening to Daiki-kun’s stories had made me wonder if I could have some grand adventure of my own if I became an explorer, but seeing this in person proved that such thoughts were nothing more than a fantasy. I decided then and there that if I ever did get a permit, I wouldn't have any reckless, lofty ambitions. I’d get what I needed and get out.
After the mock battle ended, I felt a bit gloomy, but those feelings vanished the moment dinner started. Because...
"This is amazing!"
"Oh my, this is delicious!"
"So good!"
"I’ve never tasted anything like this!"
"It’s so thick, yet it's so tender!"
The "souvenir" Daiki-kun had brought was an exquisite cut of meat. It sizzled over the charcoal, releasing a savory aroma that was simply irresistible. It was impossible to stay depressed in the face of such food. You know the saying—deliciousness is justice! This barbecue was the literal embodiment of that phrase.
As I ate, the ambition I had just abandoned began to stir again. According to Daiki-kun, this meat was a rare find that never hit the open market. If you wanted to eat it, you had to go get it yourself.
Maybe... maybe it wouldn't be so bad to become an explorer, if only for the sake of this meat.
"Thank you, Daiki-kun. That was wonderful."
"Haha, I'm just glad you liked it."
When I thanked him after the meal, he just gave a casual, wry smile. Later on, I would actually look up the price and rarity of that meat, and I'd end up laughing dryly at just how generous he had been. Seriously, don't bring such ultra-premium meat as a casual gift!
That night, I stayed up chatting with Mika-chan in my room before we went to sleep. The next day, I saw them off as they headed for Uncle Daisuke’s family home. This year's visit had turned into quite the shocking homecoming, all thanks to them.
After seeing Daiki and the others off, I immediately contacted the friends I dived into dungeons with. I told them I had something to discuss and asked if we could all meet up.
The replies came back instantly. We agreed to meet the following afternoon at the family restaurant we usually frequented.
"...It’ll be hard to change their minds so suddenly, but I have to face them and talk this through."
I was about to flip our entire plan one hundred and eighty degrees. I might get yelled at, or we might even end up ending our friendship. But this was our crossroads. If I stayed silent because I was afraid of the tension, I would regret it for the rest of my life. For their sake and mine, I had to be clear. I was already feeling incredibly depressed about the upcoming talk, though.
The next morning, I woke up with a sense of lethargy that mirrored my mood.
"...It's morning."
My body felt heavy as lead. Honestly, I wanted to just stay in bed and sleep forever, but that wasn't an option. I dragged myself to the living room and ate the breakfast my mother had prepared.
As I was finishing, my mother held up a pack of meat and asked me about it. Apparently, Daiki and the others had brought it as a gift. Aunt Miharu had told her it was mino meat that Daiki had hunted himself... Wait, was this minotaur meat? If so, that was one hell of an expensive gift. I told her it was the meat of a high-end monster. She murmured that she’d have to send a proper thank-you message later, but as I looked closer at the meat, something felt off. I froze.
Wait. Is this... marbled minotaur meat?
...Yeah, I’m just going to pretend I didn't see that. Daiki... don't just hand out ultra-luxury meat as a souvenir, man.
I felt the sheer gap between our levels as explorers again and let out a long sigh. I had really been letting my success get to my head. There was always a bigger fish.
"...Alright, let’s do this."
When the time came, I steeled my resolve and headed to the restaurant. Since Daiki had left, I had spent time online gathering documents and rumors about management companies. I figured I had enough to make a persuasive case. On top of that, Daiki had sent me some information this morning that had been reported to the Dungeon Association. I had nearly doubled over in shock when I read it. With this much dirt, I absolutely had to stop my team from signing with the management company that was scouting us. Even if it led to a fight, I had to hold that line.
When I arrived at the restaurant, I scanned the booths and found the group of four. I raised a hand as I approached.
"...Hey. Sorry I'm late, guys. Thanks for coming."
"Hm? Oh, Taiga. Don't worry about it. So... what did you want to talk about?"
I was the last one to arrive, likely because I had been hesitating the whole way there. I apologized and took my seat. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves, then got straight to the point.
"I want us to give up on signing with the management company."
For a moment, they just stared at me, unable to process the words. Then, as the meaning sank in, they erupted in confusion.
"Whoa, whoa, Taiga! What are you talking about? You were the one most excited about this!"
"You were so hyped when the scout reached out to us!"
"Yeah! You said we were going to make it big as explorers!"
"And now you’re suddenly backing out...?"
The accusations came from all sides. It was only natural they’d be upset and confused by such a sudden reversal, but I couldn't stay quiet. I pulled several sheets of paper from my bag and laid them out for my frustrated friends to see.
"...I got some advice from a relative who's an explorer while I was home. I did some research based on that, and this is what I found."
"...Research? On what?"
"On the management company that approached us. The more I dug, the more suspicious the information became."
"「「「「!?」」」」"
The room went quiet as they looked over the papers with skeptical expressions. They read through the findings in silence, then looked back at me with eyes full of doubt.
"Taiga... is this for real?"
"I only started looking into it recently, so I can't confirm every single detail, but the Association has similar reports on file. There's no smoke without fire."
"「「「「...」」」」"
They all fell silent, staring down at the papers clutched in their hands. At the very least, they understood why I was bringing this up.
The sudden influx of information had hit them like a bucket of cold water. They had been riding high on the ego boost of being "scouted," and now the reality was setting in. Their reactions were understandable.
We couldn't have a productive discussion after that, so we decided to take the information home and meet again in a few days. For the time being, the contract with the management company was on hold. I suppose that was a win.
"Well, it did a number on my pride, though."
Still, it was better that my conceit was the only thing that got broken. If I hadn't run into Daiki and the others during Obon, we might have ended up in a nightmare. It was a close call, but we got lucky. Real lucky.