When I entered the gymnasium, blackout curtains had been drawn over the windows, and while the interior was illuminated by lights, it remained quite dim. At the far end of the gym, the stage curtain was lowered, and students who were presumably the performers moved about frantically making their final adjustments.
It seemed there was still some time before the performance began.
"There are seats available, but..."
Since the play was scheduled to start soon, a fair number of students and External Guests were already seated in the dozens of chairs set up inside the gymnasium. Those in the front rows watched the stage with eager eyes, while those further back looked on with curious interest. Others stood along the walls instead of taking a seat. Those in the chairs were likely relatives of the performers or invited guests.
Under the circumstances, I knew exactly where I should go.
"I’ll just stand by the wall."
I was on a schedule and didn't necessarily plan to watch the production from beginning to end, so standing was the only choice; it would make it easier to slip out later. Once you sat down, leaving in the middle of a performance became much harder.
With that in mind, I moved to a spot by the wall that offered a clear view of the stage.
"...Five minutes until showtime, huh?"
According to the schedule, it was supposed to start any moment, but the frantic activity on stage suggested they were still scrambling. I didn't think they’d be significantly late, but I decided that if it took too long, I’d unfortunately have to head back.
While waiting, I began to skim the play's pamphlet I had received at the entrance.
"Let's see... The plot is about explorers cooperating to defeat monsters that have leaked out from a dungeon. Is it... an action play?"
I couldn't tell exactly what kind of story it was from the outline alone, but it seemed to emphasize action elements. Given the recent increase in student explorers, a flashy action play would certainly appeal to the audience.
"Well, it’s not right to judge it before seeing it. I’ll save my assessment until after the show starts."
While I was looking over the pamphlet, preparations on stage seemed to finish. A student serving as the MC stood before the lowered curtain with a microphone in hand.
The time for the performance had arrived.
"Thank you all for waiting. We are truly grateful to have so many people here today despite your busy schedules. We will now begin the performance by the Drama Club: Explorer Frontline! This is a play based on an original script, so please, sit back and enjoy the show!"
After a shallow bow amidst the audience's applause, the MC stepped off the stage.
A buzzer signaling the start echoed through the gymnasium, the lights cut out, and the room plunged into darkness over the course of a few seconds.
"Here we go."
Leaning my back against the wall, I turned my attention to the stage.
In the pitch blackness, the curtain rose silently. A spotlight cut through the dark, illuminating several figures standing in the center of the stage as the Narrator began.
『At a Dungeon Association branch in a certain dungeon, there lived a three-person Student Explorer Party. These explorers had just finished their work for the day and were preparing to head home.』
The spotlight revealed two boys and a girl dressed in full explorer gear. Perhaps because the equipment looked well-used, they actually managed to exude the atmosphere of being Veteran Explorers.
As the rest of the stage was lit up, I could see props arranged to look like the waiting area of the Dungeon Association.
"Good work today. We made it back without a scratch."
"Yeah, and our luck held out, too. We got a decent haul today."
"Definitely. Finding a scroll was a huge win. I can't wait for the appraisal."
『The three of them were satisfied with their results, preparing for the trip home with cheerful expressions. After all, everyone is happy when their hard work is rewarded.』
The play began with a scene common for any party returning from a dive, and the story proceeded calmly at first. The party discussed the pros and cons of their exploration, identifying areas for improvement and talking through solutions. They seemed like a genuinely good party. Less professional groups often just boast about a one-time success without bothering to improve, pushing forward on sheer momentum. When those kinds of parties hit a wall, they never consider what they did wrong; they just grow bitter and envy the success of others.
Many of the so-called "nuisance explorers" are people who continue to drift along like that without reflecting or reforming. Or they’re people who suddenly gained great power and became arrogant.
"Hm? What's that siren!?"
The group, who had been calmly conducting their briefing, suddenly looked alarmed as a siren signaling an emergency echoed through the room. They immediately took up wary stances.
After the siren wailed for a moment, an announcement filled with urgency began over the PA system.
"Emergency! Emergency! High-rank monsters are currently leaking out from the dungeon! While the entrance gate is currently sealed, there is a high probability of a breach! All low-rank explorers at D-rank or below and non-explorer staff, please evacuate immediately! All Security Personnel holding Armed Exploration Permits for Special Underground Structures and high-rank explorers at C-rank or above, please rush to the building at the entrance gate to assist in monster subjugation and evacuation guidance!"
At the sound of the emergency broadcast, the three actors exchanged tense, silent glances.
"What should we do?"
"What do you mean 'what should we do'? Are you asking if we should run?"
"Well, yeah. But technically, we're a C-rank party now, even if we only just ranked up the other day..."
"That's right. Even if we can't fight the main threat, we should at least help with the evacuation."
In the real world, there have been no confirmed cases of monsters leaking out from dungeons yet, so there is no legal obligation for active explorers to assist in such a situation. However, I could see a future where a moral obligation for explorers to voluntarily assist with things like evacuation guidance might be established.
I continued to watch the play as these thoughts crossed my mind.
"Let's go."
"Right."
The three explorers set off to assist with the evacuation.
As they moved toward the wings, the curtain was lowered temporarily, and the Narrator provided a bridge for the scene change.
『Having received the request, the three set out, assisting with the evacuation of low-rank explorers and non-explorer staff along the way. Some people were terrified by the monster leak, while others looked disgruntled at being forced to evacuate due to their rank. There were many different reactions, but after about ten minutes of coaxing and guiding the crowd, the three reached the building housing the dungeon entrance. There, a sight they hadn't expected unfolded before them.』
The curtain rose again, and the play resumed. The stage transition had taken barely a minute, which was impressive given how heavy some of the props looked. I wondered if the strength of student explorers was being put to use behind the scenes here as well.
"Whoa, the door looks like it's about to burst."
"We barely made it... though I'm not sure if being here is a good thing or not."
"More importantly, why are there so few guards here?"
The door supposed to be holding back the monsters was dented and distorted, making it clear that it could be smashed open at any moment. In front of the door, several people in uniforms—Security Personnel belonging to the Dungeon Association who held Armed Exploration Permits for Special Underground Structures—stood with weapons drawn, ready for a fight.
However, the problem was their numbers. There were only four of them.
"Forgive me, are you explorers who answered the request?"
"Eh? Ah, yes! We're a C-rank explorer team."
"I see. Thank goodness you’re here. Right now, we're spread thin because there's a possibility of monsters emerging from other entrances as well. We've requested backup from a nearby branch, but they’ll need some time to get here. The security guards watching the other doors are supposed to assist us as soon as the monsters emerge here, but it would be a huge help if you could support us until reinforcements arrive..."
"Wait... you want us to fight too?"
"If we can't pin them down here and they reach the town, the casualties will be catastrophic. We have to keep them within the premises at all costs."
At the request from the man who seemed to be the lead security officer, the three students looked tense. They stared anxiously at the door that looked ready to burst, then glanced toward the surrounding buildings and houses before closing their eyes.
After a few seconds of silence, they nodded firmly with expressions of resolve.
"Understood. We'll support you until reinforcements arrive."
"Thank you for accepting such a sudden request. Reinforcements are already on their way, so they should be here soon. If only the door holds until then..."
Just as the lead officer said that, the door was destroyed with a thunderous crash. The Security Personnel and the trio stared in horror at the breach, bracing themselves for whatever was about to crawl out.
Finally, the play had reached its climax.
What emerged from the broken door were... well, several boys in goblin costumes and several girls in horn rabbit costumes. Since they couldn't bring in real monsters, I suppose that was inevitable, but I couldn't help but feel they could have... done something more with the outfits.
If they had consulted us, we could have lent them the bear costume we made with the Handicrafts Club... No, that would be impossible. Given the quality of the materials used for that, lending it out would be a nightmare. If it were damaged or stolen, the compensation would be astronomical. Even if we didn't mind, the borrower would be crushed by the weight of the debt...
"This is the main front gate! The door has been destroyed and monsters have appeared! Send backup!"
"This is the rear gate! The door here is about to break too! We can't move!"
"This is the staff entrance! The door has been breached! We are engaging now!"
The lead officer shouted into his radio, but since every other entrance had also been compromised, backup was out of the question.
They were on their own. The four Security Personnel and the trio would have to hold the line.
"Damn it! It looks like we can't count on reinforcements!"
"No choice, then. If the other doors are breached too, we just have to focus on what's in front of us!"
"I appreciate the help! As planned, we'll take the front line. You three, cover us. We can't let a single monster get past to the town, so prioritize any that slip through our line!"
"Understood!"
With that, the battle finally began.
The Security Personnel engaged the monsters first. Since they were all supposed to be permit holders, they started performing some fairly flashy stage combat across the stage.
Usa!
Gobu!
The cries were a bit questionable, but I figured it was easier for the audience to understand than trying to reproduce actual monster sounds.
The students playing the monsters seemed to be mimicking the real things; the goblins coordinated their movements while swinging large paper clubs, while the horn rabbits made linear charges.
"Let's go!"
"Yeah!"
The Security Personnel moved swiftly, defeating the monsters one after another. With the right amount of skill, even real ones can be handled easily as long as you maintain coordination.
After about a minute of intense stage combat, the first wave of monsters lay defeated on the floor.
"We managed to hold off the first wave. But it's not over yet."
The lead officer wiped his brow, and as if to prove his point, a second wave of monsters emerged through the door.
This group was larger and more imposing—a mixed group of orcs and minotaurs.
"This is... more than we can handle alone. We’re going to need you in the thick of it this time."
"We’re ready. How do you want to split them up?"
"You three, do you have experience fighting minotaurs?"
"To be honest, only a few times. We haven't had enough time to dive down as far as the 20th floor lately..."
The actor admitted their lack of experience with minos with an apologetic look. It was a very realistic excuse for a student explorer. The lead officer nodded and offered a different tactic.
"In that case, we'll handle the minotaurs. You three take the orcs. What’s your experience with them?"
"We can handle orcs. They’re the main thing we’ve been fighting in the dungeon lately."
"Then I'm leaving them to you. We'll take down the minotaurs as fast as we can, so if it gets dangerous, don't hesitate to call out. Safety first."
"Understood!"
With the roles assigned, the stage combat transitioned to focus on the trio.
Incidentally, before the trio's battle began, the people playing the Security Personnel and the minotaurs scurried off into the wings. I suppose it was a directorial choice to keep the spotlight on the three main characters.
An action play with stage combat... Flashy ones tend to be better received by the audience, don't they?