With the introductions out of the way, my first task was to conduct a formal hearing with the discoverers. While I had already received a summary of the dungeon they found, it was always difficult to grasp the actual nuances of a site from a document alone.
In these dungeon investigations, trivial oversights or missed details were often the root cause of injuries. If I grew complacent and treated this as just another day at the office, I’d inevitably face a painful wake-up call.
"I see. So, would it be accurate to say you didn't notice any significant differences from the dungeons you usually frequent?"
"Yes," Hirose-kun replied. "Though I should qualify that by saying we only explored a short distance past the entrance, so I can't be certain. However, the monster we encountered was alone, and we didn't spot anything resembling a trap. I'd assume the basic structure is the same as any other dungeon."
Based on the testimony of Hirose-kun, who spoke for the group, there appeared to be little to distinguish the entrance of the first floor from other dungeons. If explorers with their level of experience said as much, it was probably safe to assume this dungeon followed the standard mold. Since today’s plan was merely a light sweep to confirm the presence of monsters for the official dungeon designation, the (full-scale) survey of traps and monster distribution would be left to a specialized investigation team at a later date. As long as we remained vigilant and followed standard safety protocols, we should be able to complete this investigation without incident.
Well, that aside, there was one more thing I’d been curious about since reading the initial report. I decided to probe a little.
"You know, you three have quite the track record. As you were the ones reporting the find, I took the liberty of looking into your backgrounds. For a small team of civilian explorers, you’re undeniably in the top tier. Naturally, your raw numbers fall a bit behind the corporate-type explorer teams, but they have the advantage of an entire company’s resources and manpower. To even be mentioned in the same breath as the corporate faction is a startling achievement."
"O-Oh. Um... thank you?"
"Haha, you’re quite humble. I’ve found that most youths who achieve this much aren't shy about shouting it from the rooftops."
To get a better sense of their character, I spoke with a hint of admiration, lightly prodding at their pride and ambition. I had dealt with many young explorers—specifically the student-type—and those who reached this level usually exuded an air of arrogance, whether they realized it or not. Given their actual success, a bit of a cocky attitude wouldn't even have been misplaced. It was a common trait among those who became "success stories" in a short span of time.
The real question was whether they were being consumed by that arrogance. Those who lose their sense of self-restraint and let their ego take the wheel usually meet an end that is tragically proportional to their meteoric rise.
"No, well... I do think the results we’ve achieved as explorers are something to be proud of," Hirose-kun said. "But if we started acting arrogant and looking down on others, we wouldn't be able to look the people who support us in the eye. We’ve achieved what we have, as you said, but that's only because we have mentors who guide us and make sure we don't screw up in the dungeons. It might sound strange to put it this way, but if we got conceited over this level of success, we’d get one hell of a lecture."
"...I see. You’ve been blessed with good mentors. It’s rare to find someone willing to risk being disliked just to give you the harsh truth and keep you grounded."
"Exactly. The training is incredibly strict, but we know it’s because they care about our survival. Besides... we’ve seen what happens to people who let it go to their heads."
"The 'ends,' you mean... Come to think of it, the records mentioned you have experience apprehending people who committed crimes inside a dungeon."
"Yeah... and there were also guys at school who messed up big time."
Hirose-kun’s expression turned bitter, and he let out a sigh as if the mere memory exhausted him. "Messing up" was becoming a significant problem among student explorers, and the Association was currently scrambling to develop preventative measures. Many young explorers, still mentally immature and lacking self-control, gained massive power and wealth only to ruin their lives. Those who merely became socially isolated due to their arrogance were the lucky ones; lately, I’d been hearing more and more about cases involving actual criminal activity and subsequent arrests.
Given that context, the fact that these top-tier civilian explorers could look at reality clearly and maintain such humility was a godsend for us.
"You’re right. Since you understand the stakes, I’d honestly love for you to consider becoming exclusive to the Association..."
"Haha, thank you. But we’re still students, so that kind of talk is a bit..."
"Ah, forgive me. I got ahead of myself. Regardless, the Association is always looking for promising young talent. Our doors are always open."
It might have sounded like a mere pleasantry, but I meant every word. Capable, courageous young explorers with a solid moral compass were exactly what we needed. As a society with dungeons becomes the new normal, we can never have enough people like them to help manage the inevitable issues.
As I made the pitch, I noticed Yuta-san, the real estate agent, briefly shoot me a sharp, narrow-eyed look. I suppose his company is also keen on keeping them close. Promising talent is a commodity everyone wants to monopolize.
At any rate, let's settle the other main order of business before we move out. I caught Sugawara-san’s eye and turned back to Hirose-kun, my tone becoming more formal.
This was a critical task, every bit as important as confirming the dungeon itself.
"Regarding the drop item you obtained... do you have it with you?"
"Eh? Oh, yeah. It’s just sitting in the car. Should I go grab it?"
"Yes, please. Taking custody of that is also part of our mission."
"Got it. Give me a second."
Hirose-kun went to the car to retrieve the first drop item while we prepared for the appraisal. Sugawara-san opened a sturdy attaché case, and I carefully pulled out a pair of appraisal glasses—a rare magic item. The Association hadn't even secured enough spares of these yet, and Section Chief Miyashita had been extremely clear about how much trouble I’d be in if I so much as scratched them.
A few moments later, Hirose-kun returned and handed me the drop item—a simple leather bag. I looked through the glasses... What the—!?
"...Are you sure you aren't curious about what this drop item actually is?"
I managed to force the words out, looking at Hirose-kun with a mix of confusion and suspicion. I suspected they’d handed it over because they knew it was trouble, but looking at the appraisal results, this thing was almost too valuable to give up. If I were an explorer, I’d have considered making a scene and asserting ownership even at the risk of being blacklisted.
After all, for a small party delving into the deep floors, this was the ultimate prize. Just having it would cut their burden in half and multiply their profits...
"...Well," Hirose-kun replied with a level-headedness that felt far beyond his years. "Is the appraisal process finished? We've seen plenty of explorers get burned by their own greed. We’d rather not poke the hornet's nest. Besides, if you aren't volunteering the info, that means it's better if we don't know, right?"
His response was that of an adult who knew his place. And he was right—at this stage, the Association couldn't possibly allow this to enter the general market. The ripples it would cause would be impossible to control. We couldn't go public with it until we understood the principles behind it, produced a working copy, or secured enough stock to meet the inevitable demand.
If they had refused to surrender this thing, we probably would have had to place them under "protection" for their own safety. The item was simply too sensitive to leave unmonitored. We certainly would have conducted a thorough background check and psychological evaluation on them.
"I see... If you're satisfied with that, then it certainly makes my job easier."
"Not at all."
As the handover was finalized, Hirose-kun looked almost relieved. He looked like a man who had successfully disposed of a ticking time bomb.
I really had to wonder if they were actually high school students. Their dungeon experience was one thing, but their negotiation skills, crisis management, and the sheer capital required to buy a mountain were all completely off the charts. Perhaps their "strict mentors" had been training them in more than just combat.
With our primary objectives met, we followed Hirose-kun's lead toward the dungeon. However, the trek was significantly more demanding than I’d anticipated. I’d heard the dungeon was on an island in a wetland, but I hadn't realized we’d be navigating such a brutal mountain path.
"Are you holding up okay, Uwajima-san? We're almost there."
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine! Still, you guys really hiked in deep, didn't you? I thought it would be a bit closer to the road!"
Hirose-kun and his group were practically gliding through the brush, but just staying on their heels was a struggle for us. Part of it was the rugged, unmaintained terrain, but the fundamental problem was their pace. To them, this was a light jog; to us, it was a full-on sprint.
I’d had enough breath to chat at the start... but I was seriously reconsidering my fitness level.
"The wetland is on the other side of this ridge from the plaza where the helicopter landed," Hirose-kun explained. "There are shorter routes, but they involves crossing cliffs and ravines..."
"Haha, well, even if it’s a shortcut, we definitely aren't equipped for that."
"...Right. Of course."
Hirose-kun offered the joke to distract us from our labored breathing. I certainly wanted a shorter route, but level-up modifier or not, I wasn't about to scale a cliff. To be honest, I would have preferred they just slowed down a bit.
As I pushed my legs to keep up, I caught the eye of Yuta-san, who was being carried on Hirose-kun’s back via a support harness. His eyes were wide with a mix of shock and a sort of "now you see what I mean" resignation. After staring at me for a moment, he gave a weary smile, offered a small nod of greeting, and looked away. What was that about?
"Alright, we’re here. If we keep this speed up, we’ll splash mud everywhere, so let's stop here."
"Got it."
Just as I was puzzling over Yuta-san’s reaction, we reached the destination. Hirose-kun slowed to a halt where the trees thinned out, revealing a wide, open space where the ground felt heavy with moisture.
Looking out past the trees, I saw a small island sitting prominently in the middle of the wetland. It certainly had an imposing atmosphere.
"The entrance to the dungeon is near the center of that island."
"It's a fairly large island," I noted. "Clear out those trees and it wouldn't be hard to set up a security perimeter and some basic housing."
"The whole thing is surrounded by marsh, though," Yuta-san added. "Any major construction is going to require serious foundation work, or the whole place will just sink. You can manage a few small sheds on the island itself, but if you want to develop this into a full facility, it’s going to be a logistical nightmare."
"Well, that’s a problem for later. First, we confirm the dungeon designation, then another department handles the development and security plans."
That said, while securing the site was one thing, opening this up for civilian explorers to use on a regular basis looked like it would be an uphill battle. I watched Yuta-san, whose expression shifted between annoyance and a strange sense of anticipation, and wondered what kind of future he saw for this place.