Following Hirose-kun and the others onto the small island, the sight immediately loomed before us. It was an object I had seen countless times in this line of work: the wide-open maw of a dungeon entrance. It seemed to have been left in the forest for quite some time since its appearance, as dead leaves and branches partially obscured the gate, but there was no mistaking what it was.
I caught Ogawa-kun and Sugawara-san’s eyes and gave them a nod, signaling that we were starting the investigation immediately.
"Then, we’ll begin the survey. Everyone, please wait here for a while. Ogawa-kun, Sugawara-san, let’s get to work. We’ll start with an exterior check."
"Understood!" they replied in unison.
After a brief word to Yuta-san and the others, we began examining the exterior of the entrance. The patterns carved into the gate were identical to those found on other dungeons; at a glance, I couldn't see any differences. While the possibility of someone carving fake patterns wasn't zero, there were no traces of anyone other than Hirose-kun’s group having set foot around here. The likelihood of this being man-made was slim. Above all, the passage visible from the entrance possessed a depth that defied the structure's outward appearance. It was safe to say this wasn't some elaborate prank.
As of now, I had never heard even a rumor of anyone managing to replicate a dungeon itself.
"I’ve finished the perimeter check. I believe we can definitively categorize this as a dungeon entrance."
"Is that... so? As I thought..."
When I relayed the results to Yuta-san, he took a soft breath. His shoulders slumped, and for a fleeting moment, his face betrayed a look that screamed "the nightmare begins." Well, once the dungeon was officially certified, Kiritani Real Estate would be swamped with work for the foreseeable future.
Of course, as the ones investigating the site, we would be just as busy drafting reports and negotiating with other departments!
"Yes. We can’t issue the formal certification until the internal confirmation is finished, but you can assume it’s essentially a done deal."
"Dungeon certification... Hearing it put so bluntly really hits home."
"I understand. We suspected as much when the report came in, but seeing it in person is always a significant moment. Most discovery reports that reach the Association turn out to be duds."
Yuta-san and I shared a bitter smile as we contemplated the upcoming workload, then gave our heads a small shake to clear the distractions. It was time to move on to the next steps.
"After we confirm the interior, this place will be provisionally certified as a dungeon and placed under the management of the Dungeon Association until formal approval is granted. At that point, the government will begin negotiations to acquire the surrounding land. I suggest you start preparing for that process."
"...Understood. I’ll consult with my superiors as soon as we head back down."
"Please do. Now, the three of us will head inside to check for monster activity. We should be back within the hour."
"Understood. We’ll be waiting. Please, be careful."
Yuta-san gave a polite bow. I then turned my attention to Hirose-kun’s group. It would have been easier to have them accompany us, but since they weren't carrying any equipment, it was out of the question. Instead, I decided to ask them to guard Yuta-san. This was deep in the mountains, after all; wild animals were a real threat. Normally, I would have left one of my own team behind to provide security under the guise of an external survey, but with Hirose-kun and his group here, I could leave the task to them and focus all our strength on the interior.
They readily accepted my request, and with the perimeter secure, we were ready to give the survey our full attention. Exploring with three people was significantly safer than two, and it would ultimately speed up the process.
"Well then, we’re heading in."
"Good luck."
After a quick exchange of greetings, we left our extra gear with Yuta-san and stepped into the dungeon. Since Hirose-kun’s group had already scouted it and given us a briefing, our steps were light despite our professional caution.
The interior was just as they had described—nearly identical to most other dungeons. It was dim, but a minimum level of visibility was maintained. Any explorer accustomed to the environment would have felt right at home.
We used our lights to secure a clear field of vision and moved deeper with measured steps, keeping up a light stream of conversation to bleed off the tension.
"You know, Uwajima-san... I’d read the files, but those kids are incredible," Ogawa-kun said. "I’ll admit I underestimated them because they’re students, but they really are top-tier explorers. I didn't think I'd be feeling the gap between us just from a mountain hike."
"I agree," Sugawara-san added. "I managed to keep up, but if the pace had been any faster, I would’ve been flagging. Meanwhile, they looked like they were barely breaking a sweat... I actually had a bit of confidence in my fitness, so this is honestly depressing."
"Yeah," I replied. "The records gave me an idea, but seeing them in person is something else entirely. Those achievements weren't just impressive—they were earned while maintaining a normal school life. I can't even imagine what kind of records they’d be setting if they dropped out and explored full-time..."
Inside the dungeon, away from their ears, we spoke freely about the student explorers. My primary emotion was simply astonishment. We had reviewed the basic data before arriving, but the impression they left in person was different. We had only been with them for an hour, but I had rarely seen explorers who felt this seasoned.
In the private sector, anyway. The elite units of the Self-Defense Forces were on another level entirely.
"Their physical strength is one thing," I continued, "but it’s their control that’s truly terrifying. I heard they practiced martial arts, but that wasn't just some hobbyist level of training. They wouldn't be out of place calling themselves master martial artists..."
"They really didn't sway at all while running up those mountain paths," Ogawa-kun noted. "No stumbling, no slipping. Their core strength must be insane."
"And the way they avoided obstacles," Sugawara-san chimed in. "It was so smooth. It was like they were seeing several steps ahead and picking the route that required the absolute minimum amount of movement."
"What struck me," I said, "was Yuta-san’s face while Hirose-kun was carrying him. He didn't look nauseous at all. He’s probably used to it by now, but it's likely because Hirose-kun’s movements had zero vertical or horizontal sway. Instead of the jarring bounce of a normal run, he was moving as if he were sliding on ice—like the suri-ashi footwork in traditional martial arts. That’s the only way to explain how Yuta-san remained so comfortable."
It was a level of body control that we couldn't dream of imitating. It’s true that as an explorer's level rises, they gain physical ability bonuses that far exceed human norms. However, most explorers never truly master that power; they either let the speed swing them around or rely entirely on brute force. The fact that you can kill monsters with brute force is exactly why most explorers never bother to polish their technique.
In other words, Hirose-kun and his group were that rare breed: high-level explorers with the technical skill to utilize every ounce of their potential. That was the secret behind their absurd track record.
"They really are experts," Ogawa-kun sighed. "It makes me want them for our department even more."
"I know," I replied. "But being pushy will only give them a bad impression. Let’s just be grateful that, from what we’ve seen, they seem like good kids. If someone with that much power had a twisted personality, it would be a disaster for the Association. They’re only in their second year of high school. By next year, they might consider us for a career. We can wait until then for a real pitch. For now, let's just focus on being the 'good guys' in their eyes."
"A PR campaign, huh?" Sugawara-san mused. "I wonder if we can pull that off. If they earn as much as the rumors say, they might just stay independent after university."
"..."
Ogawa-kun and I fell silent at that. She had a point. With their earning potential, they didn't need to be tied to an organization. They could easily function as sole proprietors. The odds of them joining us were probably slim... but I decided not to think about that for now.
I would just have to do my best to leave a good impression. We needed talent like theirs.
"Wait. Enemy shadow ahead. Is that... a horn rabbit?"
"Looks like it," Ogawa-kun confirmed. "Rear is clear. Just the one monster in the area."
"Right. Let’s take it down."
"Understood!"
With the horn rabbit in our sights, we shifted into combat positions. I was the primary attacker, with Ogawa-kun and Sugawara-san providing light and perimeter security.
Sugawara-san clicked on a lantern-style light to flood the area, securing our field of vision. Immediately after, Ogawa-kun aimed a powerful spotlight directly at the horn rabbit's eyes, blinding it instantly. I closed the distance in a flash. Before the creature could recover, I threw a large knife, burying it deep in its throat. The horn rabbit convulsed once, then fell silent without a sound. After a few moments, the body began to dissolve into particles and vanished.
"...Clean kill."
"Yes," Sugawara-san noted. "And since no drop item appeared, that leather bag Hirose-kun gave us was definitely the first drop. The appraisal results also suggest they didn't swap it for anything."
"It seems so. Alright, let’s head back. We’ve confirmed the monsters. I can issue the provisional approval now."
"Understood!"
With our main objective completed, we began our withdrawal. We hadn't ventured very far, so the entire survey had taken only about twenty minutes.
When we emerged from the dungeon, Yuta-san was waiting with a look of palpable anxiety. I gave him the news in my most professional, reassuring tone.
"Thank you for waiting. We’ve confirmed the presence of monsters. In my capacity as an investigator, I am provisionally approving this site as a certified dungeon."
The next hour was a blur of activity. I spoke with Yuta-san about the practical logistics while the team got to work on the necessary documentation for the security detail. Sugawara-san photographed the dungeon and the surrounding terrain, while Ogawa-kun scouted for a landing zone. I focused on the formal interview with the discovery informants.
Once Ogawa-kun found a suitable clearing, we all moved there to mark the landing zone and set up a windsock for a temporary helipad. It would make future trips much easier than trekking up from the city.
"Well then, Uwajima-san, I’ll be in your care," Yuta-san said as we prepared to leave. "I’ll start the transfer procedures as soon as I’m back at the office."
"Likewise. And thank you for the prompt report. Thanks to your team's quick actions, we’ve secured the site before anyone got hurt. If you ever find another one, please let us know immediately."
"I hope it doesn't happen too often," Yuta-san laughed weakly, "but given the nature of the job, I’m sure we’ll be talking again."
We shook hands and parted ways. As the helicopter arrived, we climbed aboard amidst the roar of the engines and the buffeting wind.
"Ogawa-kun, Sugawara-san. I need those investigation reports finished as soon as possible," I shouted over the noise. "I’m going straight to Section Chief Miyashita the moment we land. We need security personnel on-site yesterday."
"Understood. Standard report format?"
"Yeah. Also, about the return of the appraisal item and the first drop..."
"I’ll handle it," Sugawara-san said. "I’ll put them through the priority queue and have the appraisal sheet sent by express mail. They should have it by tomorrow."
"Good. I’m counting on you."
Once the instructions were out of the way, I leaned back and let out a heavy sigh. The report to the Section Chief, the security dispatches, the departmental coordination, the formal certification paperwork, the rescheduling of all the other surveys I had pushed back for this...
Yeah. It was going to be a death march for the next few weeks.
Sigh.