As we walked toward our classroom, we caught Hiiragi-san up on what Mika had told us about Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san’s current state.
"I see. Well, it's only natural they’d be wavering after hearing something like that so suddenly," Hiiragi-san said. "Even if they were prepared to fight monsters, being told they might have to fight other humans is another matter entirely."
"True," Yuji agreed. "But if they don't know now, they'll pay for it later. Ignorance means you can't react in time."
"Exactly. If you’re aware of the danger, you can stay alert the moment a situation looks suspicious. If you're oblivious and let your guard down, it can be fatal. Hesitating to go on guard when facing an assailant exponentially increases your chances of getting hit."
No matter how skilled an explorer might be, they wouldn't last long if caught off guard. Facing an unexpected crisis is the easiest way to create those fatal openings.
"The possibility of conflict between explorers is certainly something one can imagine, but finding the resolve to actually fight back takes time," Hiiragi-san noted.
"Yeah. And waiting until after you've already become an explorer might be too late. There’s no guarantee you won’t be attacked on your very first dive."
"Right. Even if they can't fight back, they need to have the mindset to at least escape."
Freezing up and standing there like a target is the absolute worst-case scenario. If a newcomer explorer finds themselves in that position, their only real option is to run with everything they have, betting on the hope that the attacker won't bother to give chase. While leaving other victims behind is a heavy burden, someone who can't even protect themselves will only increase the casualty count by staying. It's far more effective to flee and alert other explorers or the Dungeon Police. Most assailants would rather retreat and hide than risk getting caught by lingering at the scene.
"You're right," Hiiragi-san said. "Regardless of which way they lean, we have no choice but to wait for them to reach their own conclusions."
"They both seemed to genuinely want to become explorers, so I think time will settle it," Yuji added. "They’re just shaken because the news is fresh. If they were the type to break this easily, they wouldn't have gone through the trouble of persuading their parents."
"True. They even secured financial support for their activities, even if it came with strings attached. Once they calm down, I think they’ll still aim to be explorers."
Of course, there was the possibility that Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san felt like they’d reached a point of no return. Having involved their parents, friends, and seniors, it would be emotionally difficult to admit they wanted to quit now.
While we were perfectly willing to accept it if they decided to walk away, it ultimately came down to how they felt. I just hoped they could be honest with themselves without getting stubborn.
"I hope they feel they can speak their minds freely," Hiiragi-san said.
"Me too."
Hiiragi-san seemed to share my concern, a trace of melancholy in her expression. It's surprisingly difficult to voice your true opinion without worrying about what others think. I decided it would be best to spend today’s club session just listening to what they had to say.
While we talked, we reached the classroom.
The school day passed without incident, and soon it was after school. I’d expected to hear from Mika during the lunch break, but when nothing came through, I figured Tatebayashi-san and her friend were still wrestling with their decision.
It really did look like today’s club time would be dedicated to a heart-to-heart.
"Phew, finally done."
I stretched my arms over my head, working out the stiffness as I exhaled a long breath. Nothing special had happened, and the day should have been peaceful, but for some reason, it felt incredibly long.
I packed my things into my bag and called out to Yuji, who was also ready to go.
"Good work, Yuji. Ready for the club?"
"Yeah, just finished. What about Hiiragi-san?"
I looked over toward Hiiragi-san’s desk.
"Hmm? Looks like she’s still in the middle of a conversation. Maybe we should wait a moment before calling her over?"
"Probably for the best."
Since Hiiragi-san was busy chatting with friends who sat near her, Yuji and I sat back down to talk while we waited. There was no desperate rush to get to the clubroom, after all.
Just then, Shigemori, who was packed up and ready to head home, noticed us and walked over.
"Yo, you two. This is rare. Usually, you’re out the door the second the bell rings."
"Hm? Oh, Shigemori. What’s up?"
"Nothing, I just thought it was unusual to see you guys actually hanging around talking."
Shigemori pulled over a nearby empty chair and joined our circle.
"So, what’s the topic?"
"You've got some nerve jumping in without even knowing what we’re talking about," I teased. "What if it was a deep, serious conversation?"
"You wouldn't be discussing anything too heavy in a crowded room like this, right? It was probably just some boring small talk to kill time."
"Well, you’re right about the killing time part."
Yuji and I exchanged wry looks. Since we were literally just waiting around, we couldn't really argue with his logic.
"Actually, this is good timing. Shigemori, do you mind if I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
I let out a soft sigh and decided to pick his brain. Shigemori was one of the few non-explorers in our class—in our entire year, really.
"The thing is, some juniors in our club asked us for advice on becoming explorers. But something unexpected came up, and now they’re torn on whether to keep going or just quit while they're ahead."
"Ah, I see. Since they're juniors, they're first-years, right? It's that time of year where about half the freshmen have cleared the age limit and gotten their Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures. Are they feeling rushed because everyone else is getting theirs?"
Hearing my explanation, Shigemori nodded as if he understood exactly what Tatebayashi-san and her friend were going through.
"I don't know if they're feeling rushed, but since me, Yuji, my sisters, and almost everyone else in the club are explorers, it’s bound to weigh on them."
"I bet. I felt the same way back when the recruitments started for our grade. Everyone around me was getting their permits, and I spent a lot of time wondering what to do. Especially when I found out magic was real—I was so hyped thinking I could use it if I became an explorer."
"Wait, really?" I asked, surprised. "You never went for the permit, so I figured you just weren't interested."
"Of course I was interested. But when I thought about actually having to fight monsters, I just couldn't bring myself to take that first step."
Shigemori looked a bit annoyed as he spoke, likely trying to hide his embarrassment at our surprised faces.
"So, while I was debating it, a friend of mine went into a dungeon and got seriously injured. Luckily, they used a recovery potion and healed up fast, but the costs were insane, and they were talking about quitting because the monsters were too terrifying. I kept hearing all these success stories, but the bad ones were just as loud. I just couldn't take the plunge."
"I see. Hearing that when you're already on the fence would definitely kill your motivation."
"Exactly. And the final nail in the coffin was seeing our classmates come to school after the break looking like mummies, covered in bandages. I admire magic, sure, but do I want to use it so badly that I’m willing to end up like that?"
Shigemori sighed, clearly remembering the sight. Now that he mentioned it, right after the explorer system launched, it was common to see students wrapped in bandages. Seeing that every day would definitely make someone think twice.
"But once I calmed down and thought about it, I realized there was no real reason to rush."
"Oh? How so?"
"Look, my only goal was to try out magic. I never cared about being a top-tier frontline explorer or striking it rich. I didn't see the point in rushing in when no one knew how the dungeons worked and ending up a mummy like everyone else."
"That’s a fair point," Yuji said. "Back then, everyone was just fumbling around without any clear rules. If you’d started then, Shigemori, you probably would’ve been wrapped up too."
"Right? So I decided to wait until the mechanics were better understood. It might be harder to make money now because the market is flooded with drop items, but my priority is just the magic."
"I see. If your goal is that specific, there really isn't a need to hurry."
"Yeah. In the worst case, even after I become an explorer, I can just save up money from a part-time job and buy a skill scroll that lets me use magic."
Yuji and I looked at Shigemori with newfound respect. He had a very logical, concrete plan to achieve his dream.
If his only desire was to use magic, he didn't need to jump into the deep end immediately. Waiting until there was more information and safety measures were established was a perfectly valid strategy. If you weren't chasing the prestige of being a top explorer or the high rewards from rare drops, his approach was actually quite smart.
"It might lack the 'romance' of finding power through a dangerous adventure, but for me, just being able to use magic is enough. I don't have some burning need to use it to fight monsters. I checked, and if you use the training facilities provided by the Association, you can use magic outside of dungeons, right? That’s plenty for me."
"I want to say it’s not very 'dreamy,' but it’s an incredibly practical plan for someone who just wants to use magic. Though, you still need to reach a certain level to use it, so you'll have to fight monsters eventually."
"I’m prepared for that. That’s why I’m waiting for more strategy info to come out. Rushing into a dungeon unprepared is just a recipe for disaster."
Shigemori looked determined, his earlier hesitation replaced by a firm resolve. It was clear he was steadily preparing to reach his goal on his own terms.
"Well, there you have it," Shigemori said. "If your juniors are lost, you should ask them what they actually want to achieve once they become explorers. If they have a solid goal, they’ll probably find the motivation to keep going."
"That makes sense. Thanks, Shigemori, that was really helpful. I’ll make sure to listen to what they have to say."
"Yeah, we’ll take that into account," Yuji added.
"Sure thing. Good luck."
After thanking Shigemori, we looked back toward Hiiragi-san’s desk. Her conversation had finally wrapped up.
Noticing our gaze, she stood up. We said our goodbyes to Shigemori and headed over to meet her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hiiragi-san."
"It's fine. I caught most of Shigemori-kun’s story, and I think it’s a very useful perspective."
"I agree," I said. "Let’s ask Tatebayashi-san and the others when we get to the clubroom. Do they have a specific goal in mind for when they become explorers?"
Looking back, we all had our own reasons for starting. If they had a clear objective, they should be able to find their own answers, even through their current doubts.
"Let's get to the clubroom. We’ve been talking for a while, so it’s getting late. Mika and the others are probably tired of waiting."
"True. Let's go."
"Yes, let's."
We left the classroom and made our way toward the clubroom where the others were waiting.