The day after my somewhat serious conversation with Tatebayashi-san and the others, Mika and I left the house together for school. Yesterday, she and Saori-chan had teamed up to grill me about the attack we had experienced. Fortunately, once I explained the full context of how it happened, they seemed to accept it.
As a result, however, Mika and Saori-chan had asked me to personally train them in interpersonal combat against other explorers. Whether it was due to the fear the story instilled or the awareness it raised, the two of them had clearly developed a sense of crisis regarding their current situation and wanted to bolster their self-defense.
"Onii-chan, you’ll take care of that thing from yesterday, right?"
"Yeah, I’ll talk to the others about it. I’m sure it’ll be fine, but wait for a formal answer until we’ve reached a conclusion, okay?"
Since I was in favor of Mika and Saori-chan improving their interpersonal self-defense, I intended to help with their training as long as Yuji and Hiiragi-san could find the time. Fortunately, we didn't have any trouble finding places where we could train to our hearts' content as explorers.
"Still, I never expected you and Saori to say you wanted interpersonal combat training."
"After hearing a story like that, even we’re going to feel a sense of danger. We're confident enough to hold out until help arrives in a monster battle, but we never really considered serious combat against humans. We have no idea how we'd fare."
"I suppose so. Your only real experience with interpersonal combat is the light sparring you've done with us, right?"
"Yeah."
Aside from explorers with backgrounds in the Self-Defense Forces or the police, very few explorers from general backgrounds had extensive experience in fighting other people. If there were any, they were likely individuals who had practiced martial arts before the dungeons appeared.
While explorers did fight humanoid monsters, the training curriculum for the general public almost never focused on fighting humans. The core of monster combat was learning how to move efficiently, minimize openings, and land hits. While the foundation of wielding a weapon lay in traditional martial arts, the dungeons were filled with non-humanoid monsters that moved in ways no human could. Explorers had to adapt flexibly, even if it meant breaking established forms.
"That's true. If you’re a serious explorer, you'd never really gain experience in fighting humans unless you're dealing with humanoid monsters."
"We've fought plenty of goblins and orcs, but those are just monster battles in the end."
"Yeah. Even though they're humanoid and fight in a way similar to humans, they're ultimately just swinging weapons around using their raw physical stats rather than moving with any martial intent. Their style is extremely straightforward; they don't use tactics involving feints or deception. For an explorer used to handling a monster's speed and power, they aren't the kind of opponents you'd easily lose to."
Generally, if you raised your level to the appropriate level for a floor before fighting, you wouldn't easily fall behind. Most explorers who got injured in the dungeon were newcomers who weren't used to combat itself, or those who hadn't leveled up sufficiently.
Preparing thoroughly and fighting monsters on floors suited to your level was the fundamental rule for succeeding as an explorer.
"That's why we want to practice with people like you who have plenty of experience. We want to fix our lack of interpersonal skills. After all, if someone attacks us in a dungeon, it’ll be an explorer who has raised their level accordingly. Isn't it safer to assume our opponents will be stronger than us?"
"Well, if someone is actually planning to jump an explorer, they’re likely confident in their own strength. If you want to increase your interpersonal combat experience, your only choice is to repeat actual fights and mock battles. Since real fights don't happen often—and it's better if they don't—the best way to prepare for that one-in-a-million chance is through constant mock battles."
I personally thought that any explorer strong enough to pull that off could make a good living without turning to crime... but then again, there were always twisted people out there.
At the very least, training to the point where they could escape from an attack was a sound decision.
"Exactly. That's what Saori-chan and I talked about, so we decided to ask you guys to train us."
"I see. For you two, the only people who are higher level and would actually be willing to spar with you are probably us. Don't you know anyone else from the dungeon?"
"No one like that. On the floors where we usually explore, there's only people around our level or lower. Besides, watching them move, it feels like there are surprisingly few people with martial arts experience. Most people seem to rely entirely on the physical buffs they get from their levels, using a brute-force fighting style."
"Ah, I see. In that case, you probably wouldn't gain much useful experience from sparring with them."
If brute force was enough to handle monsters, most people wouldn't bother switching to technical martial arts since it took too much time and effort—unless they hit a major wall.
That meant Mika and the others really didn't have anyone else who could give them meaningful training.
"Precisely. That's why we’re asking you."
Mika's reasoning made sense, so I nodded in agreement. If Yuji and the others were too busy, I figured I could at least spar with them a little on my own.
After walking along the school route for a while, I spotted Yuji and Saori-chan walking ahead of us. It seemed we had merged paths at just the right moment. Mika and I quickened our pace to catch up.
"Morning, Yuji. Morning, Saori-chan."
"Good morning."
"Hmm? Ah, Daiki. Morning."
"Good morning."
When we called out, Yuji and Saori-chan stopped to greet us. Yuji was his usual self, but Saori-chan's expression seemed a bit stiff with tension, likely due to yesterday’s topic.
"Oh, right, Daiki. I just heard from Saori-chan. Apparently, you've been asked to be their mock battle partner?"
"Hmm? What, you already heard? I was planning on bringing it up later."
Since Yuji had already caught wind of the request, I replied while glancing at Saori-chan.
"When I got home yesterday, Mika and Saori-chan were waiting for me. They said they wanted to gain interpersonal combat experience and asked me to spar with them. It’s because I told them about that incident."
"True. After hearing a story like that, I can see why you'd want to toughen up."
"So, they wanted us to be their training partners. I was going to ask if you and Hiiragi-san would be willing to help out. Though it looks like Saori-chan beat me to it."
As I explained, I caught Saori-chan giving a small, apologetic bow. Well, it didn't really matter.
"I see. So, did you agree, Daiki?"
"Yeah. I'm all for them training their combat skills just in case. It's best if it’s never needed, but the training won't go to waste. It can be applied to fighting humanoid monsters too."
"True, it's not the kind of thing where training would be a loss. Sounds good to me."
"Yeah. So, what about you, Yuji? Will you help them out?"
Judging that the training was worthwhile, Yuji turned his gaze to the girls and asked a question.
"Improving your combat skills means repeating mock battles over and over. We'll hold back, obviously, but you're still going to be covered in scratches and bruises. Plus, if we're training for anti-attacker measures, we'll include surprise attacks and dirty tricks to keep you on your toes... It's going to be pretty grueling, you know?"
Yuji's words reminded me of Genya-san's training. That was... brutal. We probably wouldn't go that far, but we'd likely do something similar to build the necessary instincts.
"It's fine. Please do it. After hearing that story, I think the risk of getting hurt during training is a necessary trade-off for preparation," Mika replied firmly.
"I feel the same as Mika-chan. After hearing what happens to the victims, I think the risks during training are unavoidable if we want to gain the ability to protect ourselves," Saori-chan added.
They didn't flinch even after the warning. Their determination seemed solid. Besides, minor injuries could be healed instantly with a recovery potion; as long as we avoided major trauma, the only real "risk" was the cost of the potions.
"It looks like you're both serious about this. Alright, I'm in. Fortunately, we have a place to train now."
"Right. That aside, before we start the mock battles, why don't we do some exploration focused on gathering recovery potions? If we have plenty of those, we can heal minor injuries and keep the training going."
"Oh, that's a great idea. With enough recovery potions, we can keep going without worrying about small wounds!"
Eh!?
At Yuji's enthusiastic agreement, Mika and Saori-chan let out a collective gasp of shock. I suppose hearing someone say "We'll just heal you and keep the pain coming!" would be a shock to anyone.
Seeing their reaction, Yuji flashed a slightly mischievous grin.
"Hmm? What are you two so surprised about? Didn't you say you'd endure it if it was necessary? If we use recovery potions, minor injuries heal instantly. That means we can do higher-density training—it's a good thing! You'll acquire the skills much faster without having to drag the process out."
"No, no, no, are you serious!?"
"Saying it's okay because the injuries heal immediately... that's a bit much..."
Mika and Saori-chan balked at the proposal, their faces twitching.
Listening to Yuji, who could have been joking or entirely serious, I stared off into the distance with a hollow gaze. Is he really going to implement Genya-san's style of training...?
"Haha, just kidding. I won't push you that hard."
"R-Really? Oh, thank goodness."
"R-Right. There's no way you were serious..."
As Yuji struggled to hold back a laugh, Mika and Saori-chan slumped their shoulders in relief.
However, I didn't miss the glimmer of seriousness behind the smile in Yuji's eyes. I suspected that if the opportunity arose, he absolutely intended to give them a taste of Genya-san's curriculum.
"My, you all seem to be having fun this morning. Good morning, everyone."
As Yuji was apologizing to the girls for teasing them, Hiiragi-san joined us, looking curious at our lively exchange.
"Ah, Hiiragi-san, morning. Yuji was just messing with Mika and the others. It was nothing much, but Yuji's performance was so convincing they fell for it completely."
"My, my, it sounds like I missed something quite interesting."
With a wry smile, I caught Hiiragi-san up on the mock battle request.
"I see. And so Hirose-kun threatened... I mean, teased Mika-chan and her friend?"
"I didn't intend to threaten them."
"That's even worse news for them. It means you actually intended to carry out the proposal."
"Haha."
Yuji tried to laugh off Hiiragi-san's pointed comment, but Mika and Saori-chan turned pale. They had just realized that the "joke" was something Yuji had actually been considering.
"Well, I don't intend to do anything that reckless right away. We don't have the time, anyway."
"It sounds like you'd do it if you did have time, but I won't press you on it."
Hiiragi-san seemed to be remembering Genya-san's training as well, as her expression twisted slightly. That kind of training was exhausting for the student, but it was also a massive amount of work for the instructor to prepare. If you tried to pull off a surprise attack while your own stamina or concentration was lagging, you could end up causing a serious accident.
"That aside, if Mika-chan and Saori-chan have the resolve, I'm in favor of doing mock battles. It's a skill that will never go to waste, and it can be applied to your regular exploration too."
"Thanks. So, that means all three of us are on board. There you have it, Mika, Saori-chan. It’s a busy time right now, but once we have a break, shall we start the mock battles?"
"Y-Yeah! Thank you very much!"
"U-Understood. Thank you!"
Despite the lingering dread from Yuji’s "joke," Mika and Saori-chan bowed and expressed their gratitude.
I couldn't help but wonder... would they eventually end up going through Genya-san's hellish training too? It was effective, but it was a nightmare for everyone involved.