After school was over, we headed to a building near the station that housed various culture schools and learning centers. Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san’s parents had reached out, expressing a desire to hear about the explorer profession directly from us as active practitioners. While they had apparently looked through the general information available to the public, they wanted to hear raw, firsthand opinions from explorers they actually knew.
It was only natural for parents to be cautious when their children said they wanted to become explorers—a job with a notoriously high injury rate.
"I’m sorry for making you all come all the way out here."
"If we had been able to persuade them ourselves, we wouldn't have had to put you through this trouble..."
"No, no, it's fine. Don't worry about it."
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san lowered their heads slightly toward the five of us, looking apologetic for the inconvenience. I suppose it must feel awkward for them to call their seniors out for personal matters right after school.
However, since we had already told them we would help if they needed us for the negotiations, we just waved our hands dismissively with wry smiles. While it would have been best if our presence wasn't necessary at all, I intended to give a thorough explanation as their senior.
"Still, a rental conference room, huh? I’ve never used one before, so I don't really have a feel for it. Is it easy to rent a place like this?"
"Ah, yes. Apparently, you can book them online for the same day if there’s an opening. The fees aren't that expensive, either..."
"My dad has used them a few times. When we were worried about where to have the discussion, he booked this room for us."
"There are eleven of us in total, after all. With that many people gathering, finding a venue would have been the first hurdle. Considering that, I’m glad we could get a room here."
Since the atmosphere had become a bit stiff, I struck up a conversation with Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san while looking up at the building. Looking up as the topic shifted, the two girls explained the circumstances with a bit of hesitation.
With all of us plus both sets of parents, it was quite a crowd. If we were all going to gather and talk, location was always going to be an issue.
"Yes. And because of the nature of the topic, he also said that a place like a family restaurant where many people gather would be inappropriate. He felt that if we were going to ask the seniors about the inner workings of the industry, we shouldn't use a place where others could easily eavesdrop."
"So he chose a rental conference room with that in mind... True, depending on the topic, there might be things that are hard to discuss in a family restaurant. There’s no point if we feel like we can't say what needs to be said because we're worried about our surroundings."
"Yes. They said they want to hear the true feelings of active explorers, not just the rumors and information floating around on TV."
It seemed Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san’s parents were taking their daughters' aspirations very seriously.
In that case, although the talk might get a bit graphic, it would be better to explain the reality of the industry thoroughly.
"I understand. As an active explorer, I'll make sure to give a solid account of my experiences. In that sense, it's actually convenient that Mika and the others started at a different time than Yuji and I did. It makes it easier to explain how much the explorer industry changes day by day."
"You're right. There’s a big difference between when we started and when Mika-chan and her group started. I don't know if it'll apply to Tatebayashi-san and the others who are trying to start now, but it should provide a useful framework."
"True. Since it’s right after summer vacation, there are more people in the dungeons than ever. I wonder if stories from the old days, when it was so crowded that entry restrictions were put in place, would be helpful?"
"Saori and I are the ones who started most recently... but the environment changed completely after summer vacation."
"Yeah. Plus, maybe it's the influence of so many newcomer explorers joining all at once, but the public order has gotten a bit worse... or rather, the atmosphere has soured."
Hearing the resolve of the parents, we decided to talk about the things we had been hesitant to mention as senior explorers. When dungeons are featured on TV or in magazines, they generally only highlight the positives. For the uglier aspects, it's best to ask those who are actually in the trenches.
If the result of that was the girls giving up on becoming explorers after talking with their parents, then that was just how it had to be.
As the appointed time approached, we headed to the designated conference room. The floor was surprisingly quiet, but the door lamps indicating a room was in use were lit, confirming that the parents were already inside.
Apparently, the soundproofing was quite good. Unless someone started screaming at the top of their lungs, we wouldn't have to worry about our conversation leaking out.
"This is it, Rental Conference Room 4. The 'In Use' lamp is on, so it looks like Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san's parents have already arrived."
"They said they’d come early to get ready before we went to school this morning."
"I see. Then it would be rude to keep them waiting any longer. Shall we go in?"
"Yes."
I gestured for the girls to go first, thinking it would be better for them to enter before us since this was our first meeting. Tatebayashi-san stood before the door; the lock had apparently already been released, as she pushed the handle down and opened the door without resistance.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I've brought the seniors."
"Good work."
Through the gap in the door, I caught a glimpse of four figures inside.
We all entered the room quickly, exchanging slight nods, and began with simple introductions.
"Thank you for making time for us today. I am Kengo Tatebayashi, Asami's father."
"I am her mother, Harumi."
Kengo-san lowered his head slightly as he expressed his gratitude to us.
Asami’s parents were a tall, slender salaryman-type father with mid-length hair, and a mother with a slender build and hair reaching her back.
"I'm Tatsuro Hino, Suzune's father."
"I am her mother, Kirie."
Suzune’s parents were a tanned, muscular father with short hair, and a glamorous mother with a short hairstyle.
Then, it was our turn to introduce ourselves.
"Thank you for the introduction. I'm Yuji Hirose, a senior from their club. We would also like to thank you for taking the time and preparing this venue despite your busy schedules."
"I'm Daiki Kokonoe."
"I'm Yukino Hiiragi."
"I'm Mika Kokonoe, a classmate of Asami-chan and Suzune."
"I'm Saori Kishida."
We finished our initial greetings with the parents while bowing slightly.
Once that was over, Kengo-san prompted us to sit in the folding chairs provided. As for the seating arrangement, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san sat in the seats opposite us, each sandwiched between their respective parents. On our side, with Yuji in the center, the order was Mika, me, Yuji, Hiiragi-san, and Saori.
"Now then, I trust the girls have conveyed the purpose for which we asked for your time today?"
"Yes. It's because they wish to become explorers, and you would like to hear the raw opinions of active explorers to help you decide whether to grant your permission, correct?"
It seemed Kengo-san would act as the spokesperson for the parents. That was better than having questions flying from all directions, so we also had Yuji act as our representative.
"That’s good to hear. First, let me explain our current stance. When our daughters approached us about wanting to be explorers, we naturally opposed the idea. Even just looking at the information available to the public, there is a high risk of being injured while fighting monsters. Of course, we know that if you use dungeon-produced recovery potions, wounds that aren't too severe won't even leave a scar and will heal in a short time. However, we also hear stories about people who, even if their physical injuries are cured, suffer from such terrible trauma that they are forced to retire and can no longer lead a normal life. You understand our concern?"
"I understand your position perfectly, and I believe you are exactly right. Being an explorer is a profession where one enters a dungeon and fights monsters to obtain drop items for income. If one intends to make a living this way, combat is basically unavoidable, and you will constantly carry the risk of injury."
As they listened to Yuji's detached tone, the parents stiffened slightly and stole glances at their daughters' faces. Since Yuji, an active explorer, was stating this so clearly, the fear that they might one day suffer a life-altering injury weighed heavily on them.
No matter how strong you get, if you let your guard down even a little in a dungeon, you're going to get hurt. Furthermore, even if it’s not from a monster, the possibility of having a traumatic experience isn't zero. You could be attacked by delinquent explorers looking to steal your loot, run out of supplies deep in a floor, or witness another explorer who has been mangled by a monster.
"I see... By the way, do you know the actual extent of the injuries that a recovery potion can heal?"
"The effectiveness of recovery potions, you mean... Is it alright if I add my personal observations to the explanation?"
"Yes, of course. To what extent can injuries actually be cured if you use a recovery potion?"
"Let's see..."
After a pause to organize his thoughts, Yuji began his explanation while holding up three fingers on his right hand.
"First, the items generally produced in dungeons known as recovery potions are divided into three grades: beginner, mid-grade, and high-grade. Beginner is what the general public recognizes as a standard recovery potion, and it's the most common one on the market. One bottle costs about ten thousand yen. When consumed, it relieves pain and fatigue, and minor bruises and cuts are healed instantly. Most explorers carry several of these and use them as needed during an excursion."
"That's the recovery potion we're familiar with. In that case, I take it they aren't very effective for serious injuries?"
"I think they would have some effect if you used several at once, but for an injury requiring urgent attention, it's better to use a higher grade."
Kengo-san and the others nodded, but their gazes remained fixed on Yuji, waiting for the rest.
"The price for mid-grade goes up significantly, to around one million yen per bottle. There aren't many on the market, so beginner explorers don't usually carry them. Once someone becomes a mid-level explorer, they might carry one as a sort of insurance. It’s a powered-up version of the beginner grade, and it can handle serious injuries like bone fractures or deep gashes. In cases where I've actually seen them used, broken limbs were healed in a short time, and deep, heavily bleeding gashes were closed in an instant."
"One million yen per bottle is expensive, but if the effect is real, it certainly has that value. It's a coveted item not only for explorers but also for people like professional athletes whose careers depend on their physical health. The reason they aren't common on the general market is likely related to those circumstances."
"That may be true. Even though major injuries can be cured instantly, they're a bit too expensive for ordinary people to get their hands on. And that applies to beginner explorers too; there have been cases where someone used a mid-grade recovery potion to heal an injury, only to retire with a massive debt and crushing trauma."
"That's..."
Kengo-san and the others wore grim expressions at Yuji's words, casting worried glances toward their daughters. While it was good news that even serious injuries could be cured with a high-grade potion, if the treatment itself led to financial ruin... it wasn't exactly comforting information.
As a heavy atmosphere settled over the room, Yuji cleared his throat and gave the final explanation.
"And finally, regarding high-grade potions—honestly, I don't think you need to take them into consideration at this point."
"Why is that? If the mid-grade is that effective, I’d expect the high-grade to be even more powerful..."
"It’s precisely because of how powerful they are. With a high-grade potion, you can even hope for the regeneration of lost limbs or recovery from fatal wounds. However, not only is the production volume incredibly low, but the price is exorbitant, and they never reach the general market. There are even rumors that there's already a waiting list of elite individuals for high-grade potions. For an ordinary person to get one, they would either need the strength to find it in a dungeon themselves, or have the connections and the capital to buy a potion at a massive premium."
"...I see."
It was a harsh reality. In a few more years, high-grade recovery potions might start appearing on the general market, even if they remain expensive. But for now, that was a distant dream.
Having a fallback for emergencies was good, but the cost and availability made it a double-edged sword.