After finishing our desserts at the family restaurant and settling our plans for the future, we shared a final bit of small talk by the station before parting ways. I asked Yuji to check Juzo-san’s schedule so we could consult the Old Man about the contract. As for Hiiragi-san, I asked her to get her parents’ perspective on the property’s potential as a restaurant site. I needed to know if the Cape had any value beyond being a training ground from a perspective other than a real estate agent's. If I couldn't demonstrate some ordinary utility for the land, my parents would likely try to stop me from buying it.
To an outsider, the property we were eyeing was just a remote stretch of coastline—overgrown brush and a massive, empty underground cavern with nothing nearby. Most people would see no reason to spend a fortune on a poorly located plot that seemed impossible to resell. At the very least, I had to make them feel that there was some potential for development, even if we eventually decided to sell it to someone else.
"Well then, thanks for today, you two. I’m counting on you for those favors."
"Yeah, see ya. Leave it to me. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear about the Old Man’s schedule."
"Good work today. I’ll be sure to ask my parents about your request, Kokonoe-kun. It’s okay if I don’t have an answer today, right?"
"Yeah, that’s fine. Thanks, both of you."
After exchanging a few more words, we gave each other a light wave and headed for our respective homes.
It had been an incredibly dense day. After the verification session in the morning, the afternoon viewing had led to a property that perfectly met my requirements. Compared to a standard day of dungeon exploration, it had been fulfilling in a completely different way.
"Now then... I should probably pick up a gift. Since I’ve found a good property, I’ll need to have a word with my father and mother about it."
Since I planned to sign a lease, I had to run it by my parents as my legal guardians. As a minor, I needed their formal consent for a contract with a real estate agency. Alternatively, I’d need an adult—with Juzo-san being the most likely candidate—to act as a proxy or lend their name to the agreement.
Given the scale of the situation, saying nothing at all was out of the question. At the very least, I needed to explain that I was moving forward with a purchase or lease plan and why.
"...I’ll get some cake. Though, I have no idea which shop to choose."
Since I rarely bought sweets, I had to search for highly-rated shops on my phone. I wasn't sure if a box of cakes would win over my mother and Mika, but it was better than nothing. Hopefully, it would make the task of persuading my father a little easier.
I arrived home before sunset with an assortment of cakes in hand. The rich aroma of curry wafted through the house, suggesting that dinner preparations were well underway.
Right, today was curry night.
"I’m home."
"Welcome back, Onii-chan."
As I opened the door, I ran into Mika, who was just coming down the stairs.
"I’m back. You’re home already?"
"Yeah. I’m going shopping with Asami-chan and the others tomorrow, so I just did a light dive with Saori-chan today."
"I see. Well, keep it up, just don't get hurt."
"I won't. How about you? You said you’d been asked to do something unusual today..."
I hesitated for a moment. Telling her I’d spent the afternoon carving a tunnel through a rocky mountain felt like a bit much.
"Yeah, it worked out fine. I think the person who asked me was satisfied."
"Hmm."
"Hey, you sound remarkably uninterested for someone who asked."
"I don't know the details of what you were doing, so as long as you're safe, that's fine by me."
She truly didn't seem to care. It would have been a hassle if she’d dug too deep, so I was content to let the subject drop. I gave a small sigh and headed into the living room with the souvenir.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back. Dinner's almost ready, so just wait a moment," my mother called out from the kitchen.
"Got it. Oh, and here, I brought something for everyone. Put these out after dinner."
"Oh, that's rare for you. Buying a gift..."
"I have something I want to talk to you and Dad about. They’re for us to eat while we talk."
"I see. I'll put them out after the meal, then."
I handed the box of cakes to my mother, who looked a little wary at the mention of a serious discussion. Mika, who had followed me into the room, caught sight of the box and perked up immediately.
"Hey, Onii-chan, what’s in there? Sweets? Is it sweets?"
"Cakes from a shop near the station. They're to go with our tea."
"Cakes! Yes!"
"They’re for the talk later, remember. It’s about the explorer profession, so it concerns you too."
Mika’s excited grin faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "Oh, right. Okay. I’ll listen properly."
"Don't look so grim. It’s just about a purchase I’m planning as an explorer."
"A purchase? Are you getting new equipment?"
"No, not equipment. A few of us are planning to buy something expensive, so I wanted to tell you guys beforehand. It would be a problem if a student suddenly started moving large sums of money without any explanation."
Mika looked caught between confusion and understanding, while my mother’s expression shifted to a mix of anxiety and bewilderment.
"A purchase that requires a consultation... What on earth are you trying to buy?"
"I’ll tell you after dinner. It’s simple enough, but it might take a while to explain."
"Alright, I understand."
"I'm going to drop my stuff in my room. Put the cakes in the fridge for now, please."
After leaving the cakes with my mother, I went upstairs to set down my gear. When I returned, the table was set, and my father was sitting on the sofa with Mika, watching the news.
Oh, I didn't realize he was already home.
"I’m back, Dad."
"Hm? Oh, Daiki. Welcome home. I was just in the bathroom a second ago."
"I see. By the way, do you have a minute after dinner? There's something I need to discuss."
"Yeah, your mother told me. Something about your work as an explorer?"
The message had already been relayed.
"Yeah. We're planning a major purchase, and I thought it would be bad to proceed without talking to you first."
"A purchase that requires a parental consultation? Just how much are you spending?"
"I'll explain everything after we eat. It might take a bit. I bought cake to go with our coffee."
"I see..."
My father wore a complicated expression. It was normal for a child to consult their parents about a big purchase, but the explorer industry was different. Even a student could earn more than an average salaryman if they were skilled enough. He was clearly worried about what exactly his son—someone he already recognized as a high-tier explorer—considered "expensive" enough to require a formal meeting.
"Dinner's ready, everyone. To the table."
We all took our seats. The menu was exactly what I’d smelled: curry rice with a side of salad and instant onion soup.
"Let’s eat."
The meal was unusually quiet. The weight of the upcoming discussion hung over the table, making the usual family chatter feel out of place. Once we finished and cleared the dishes, my mother brought out the cakes and coffee.
"Now then," I began, "thanks for taking the time to listen."
"I'm not the kind of father who ignores his son when he says he has something important to discuss," my father replied. "So, you said you’re planning a big purchase as an explorer. What’s the plan?"
"Right. I’ll give you the rundown."
I proceeded to explain the plan to purchase a dedicated training ground to my parents and Mika. When I finished, all three of them let out long, heavy sighs, as if trying to process the scale of it.
"...You guys always do things on such a massive scale, Onii-chan," Mika said. "Buying actual land just because you want a place to practice?"
"It’s a necessity. The Association’s public training grounds for attack-type skills are so overbooked you can’t get a reservation. And practicing those skills in a public area without a skill use permit is a crime."
Mika winced, clearly recalling the nightmare of trying to find a place to train.
"I mean, yeah, but... what about practicing inside a dungeon? No, that’s no good either."
"Exactly. You can't focus on practice when a monster might jump you at any second, even on the lower-level upper floors. And the upper floors are more crowded than ever. If a stray shot from an attack skill hits a beginner who doesn't have the levels or the gear to tank it..."
"They could be killed," Mika finished.
"Even if you use a recovery potion immediately, that’s not the point. Negligence resulting in injury is still a crime, even in a dungeon. I have no desire to be handed over to the DP for questioning and then sent to a police station."
It brought back memories of the thugs we’d caught earlier who were preying on other explorers for money. I didn't want to end up in the same category as them.
"I suppose you're right," Mika agreed. "If that's the case, buying your own land and getting a permit for a private training ground might be the only way."
"I don't want to be in a situation where I have a powerful skill but can't use it properly when it counts because I haven't practiced. Proficiency only goes up with use, and practice volume is directly linked to how well you can handle a skill. But right now, there's nowhere to go."
My father, who had been listening to our explorer-centric logic with a look of growing confusion, finally spoke up.
"Look, I don't know the first thing about that industry, so I won't argue about whether a training ground is necessary. But land isn't cheap. Where is the money coming from?"
It was the most practical question of the night. My mother nodded along with him, her expression grave. Money was a language they understood better than dungeon mechanics.
"Don't worry about the funding. During a recent dive, we found an incredible rare drop. The money I got from cashing that in created a significant windfall. The whole reason we’re even considering this is because we have the extra capital."
"A windfall... I see. Well, as long as the money is there... but exactly how much of a windfall are we talking about if it's enough to buy land?"
Mika, never one for subtlety, leaned in. "Yeah, Onii-chan, how much? And what was the rare drop?"
My parents were looking at me with the same intense curiosity. I’d intended to tell them eventually anyway.
"I can't say what the item was, but I’ll tell you the amount. It’ll show up on my final tax return later anyway."
I looked at all three of them, took a steady breath, and dropped the number.
"The appraisal came in at fifty million yen."
All three of them stared at me, their mouths agape in total shock.