Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san dropped their gazes to the table, sinking into an awkward silence. My lighthearted question was immediately replaced by a sinking feeling of foreboding.
Don’t tell me they haven’t done anything at all?
"Um..."
Seeking a lifeline, I turned toward Mika. She was sitting next to them, wearing a similarly pained expression.
Mika closed her eyes briefly and let out a small sigh. Then, looking me straight in the face, she spoke.
"They’ve both been exercising, more or less. They know they can’t be explorers if they can’t move. But..."
"Neither of them is anywhere near the level needed to actually start as an explorer yet," Saori-chan added. "Ever since they started coming to us for advice, we’ve been recommending things like marathons to build their basic stamina, but..."
Mika and Saori-chan turned apologetic looks toward Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san, silently prompting them to explain the rest themselves.
Resigned, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san began to describe their current physical capabilities.
"Well, you see... When we first talked to Mika-chan and Saori-chan, they told us that, above all else, you can’t be an explorer without stamina. So, we started working hard to get in shape, but..."
"We haven't seen any real results yet," Hino-san admitted. "I think we can move better than we used to, but Mika-chan and Saori-chan keep telling us it’s nowhere near enough..."
It wasn’t that they hadn’t been doing anything; it seemed they had only just begun. Results from basic training don’t appear overnight. Since they hadn't been at it long, it would still be a while before the fruits of their labor became visible.
If they had started before summer vacation, they might have seen some progress by now. Based on what we’d discussed earlier, they probably hadn't set their sights on the dungeon in earnest until around the school festival.
"I see. So, as of right now, how much can the two of you actually do?"
Since they were essentially acting as their trainers, I directed the question to Mika and Saori-chan.
"Well, from what we’ve seen, they can run about a kilometer or a kilometer and a half without losing their breath," Mika said. "We also have them doing strength training like push-ups and sit-ups, but if they do three sets of thirty reps for each, they’re completely spent for a while afterward."
"We also have them practicing spear swings—thirty reps for each form, for three sets," Saori-chan noted. "But their form starts to fall apart during the first set, and by the third, they’re gasping for air."
Hearing the report from Mika and Saori-chan, it was clear that their lack of stamina was the biggest hurdle. Continuing basic training for the foreseeable future was definitely the right call.
An explorer’s physical abilities improve as they level up, but in the beginning, natural physical strength is everything. If your basic stamina is lacking, the simple act of fighting monsters to earn experience becomes an impossible task.
"I see. Their lack of foundational strength is definitely a problem."
"Yeah," I agreed. "At the very least, they need enough speed to run away if things go south, and enough muscle to swing a weapon firmly enough to actually hurt a monster."
"That’s true," Hiiragi-san added. "If you’re exhausted, your thinking slows down, which leads to dangerous mistakes. And if you lack strength, even the best weapon in the world won’t do you any good if you can’t use it accurately."
In my mind, I wanted them to have at least the physical baseline of someone in an active athletic club. I wasn't saying they needed to be star players on a team headed for nationals, but getting winded by a bit of light exercise was a non-starter.
Above all, entering a dungeon while physically unfit was a recipe for sluggish movements and direct injury.
"You’re... right."
"Yes..."
As we voiced our honest impressions, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san slumped their shoulders. They probably already knew they were lacking, but hearing it point-blank clearly stung.
Leaving them to their dejection for a moment, we turned back to Mika and Saori-chan to ask about the specifics of their training regimen.
"I see. It’s a very solid foundational menu."
"Yeah," Mika said. "I can't suddenly give people who haven't exercised much the kind of drills we usually do. I figured it was best to fix their stamina and teach them how to move their bodies first."
"I’m also prioritizing having them learn the forms with slow movements," Saori-chan added. "If they try to swing a spear quickly before they're used to the motion, they’ll just pull a muscle."
Everything I heard suggested that Mika and Saori-chan’s approach was perfectly sound. If they stuck with this menu, building a decent foundation was only a matter of time. Technical skills could wait until after the groundwork was laid.
"I agree with your approach," I said. "Tatebayashi-san, Hino-san, you should stick with this menu until you've built up enough basic strength. Once you can breeze through these exercises, you won't have to worry about stamina-related setbacks once you finally enter a dungeon."
"If I were to add one thing," I continued, "make sure you’re stretching thoroughly before and after you exercise. Improving your flexibility widens your range of motion and lowers the risk of injury."
"Right. Building that base is the priority," Hiiragi-san said. "The written portion of the qualification exam is easy enough that you can just study for it during your breaks."
The three of us agreed that as long as they followed Mika and Saori-chan's plan, their physical situation would improve. It was just one of those things where time was the only solution.
Though, strictly speaking, if they had started running back during summer vacation, we could have cut this time down significantly.
Understood.
Now that we had a grasp of the situation, the plan was set: they would continue the current training menu. There was no point in trying to teach them advanced techniques before they had the basics down.
"For now, let's stick to the current menu and see how it goes. If you don't solidify your foundation, you're the ones who will suffer in the dungeon."
Yes.
Despite their response, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked slightly anxious. I could understand the feeling of wanting to rush, but haste rarely leads to good results in this profession.
Besides, they were already training with Mika and Saori-chan. Results would start to show soon enough.
"It will take some time, but don’t let it get to you. Basic training isn't the kind of thing where you see a massive change overnight."
If they kept at it every day, they’d probably start feeling the difference in about a month.
"That's right," Mika encouraged them. "It's all about piling up that effort bit by bit. Besides, you’ve already started, right? You'll feel the results soon."
"Your records are improving, even if it’s just a little at a time," Saori-chan added. "It’ll be okay. Consistency is power, after all."
The two of them did their best to cheer up their juniors. Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked up and offered weak, wry smiles.
"Yeah, you're right. We just have to keep at it."
"The distance we can run is increasing, so there must be some progress... right."
They still seemed a bit unsure of themselves, but they appeared to be noticing some small changes. It would just be a little longer before they felt it in earnest.
With the training discussion settled, we moved on to the next topic.
"Alright, let's talk about the next step."
"The next step?"
"Yeah. While you keep up with the training, we should start getting your gear together. If you want to find good equipment at a discount through the Association's auctions, it's going to take some time."
I was talking about the secondhand equipment site run by the Dungeon Association. A massive amount of gear changed hands there every day, and finding a real bargain took a lot of legwork. If you just bought something based on the price alone, you could end up with a piece of junk.
"We have a decent idea of how it works, but Mika and Saori-chan have actually bought stuff there recently. They probably know the specifics better than we do."
I looked toward the two of them, and they both nodded confidently.
"Leave it to us! We studied a lot when we were buying our own gear, so we can help you pick out the good stuff!" Mika exclaimed.
"There are things you won't know unless you look them up beforehand," Saori-chan said. "Like how to tell if a piece of armor is practically new or if it's been poorly maintained. We'll show you the ropes."
"Wait... really?" Tatebayashi-san asked, looking confused. "I thought you were supposed to buy brand-new equipment from a shop?"
"It’s a fair question," I said. "Most people think that way, but in the explorer industry, brand-new isn't necessarily always the best option."
I took a moment to explain the reality of new versus secondhand armor to them.
"I had no idea it worked like that," Tatebayashi-san said, her eyes wide.
"I never would have guessed," Hino-san added.
Ultimately, the choice of what to buy was theirs, but I wanted them to make an informed decision. A newcomer who hasn't done their homework might assume that a high price tag on a new item equals quality, but the secondhand market proved otherwise. Because armor can benefit from an explorer's level ups, a well-maintained piece of used gear can often provide better protection than a generic, mass-produced new item.
"It’ll be easier for you to consult with Mika and Saori-chan, so I’ll let them take the lead, but we’ll provide advice whenever we can."
"Oh, thank you! That helps a lot."
They seemed surprised by the quirks of the industry, but there was one more critical point I had to make.
"Keep in mind that what I just said only applies to armor. When it comes to weapons, it’s a different story. You should always buy those brand-new."
Eh?
The sudden reversal left them looking completely bewildered.
"With weapons, you never know how they were treated by the previous owner. If a total amateur handled it roughly, it could have hidden structural damage. And if it was used by a high-level explorer, it might have been subjected to stresses beyond what it was designed for. Even if a weapon is reinforced by leveling up, if it wasn't used correctly, it could be crumbling on the inside. You’d have no way of knowing when it might snap."
Um...
"The short version is: buy your weapons new. If your weapon breaks in the middle of a fight with a monster, you're looking at a potentially fatal injury."
I-I see...
Buying new meant a higher upfront cost, but I wanted them to understand that this wasn't an area where they could afford to compromise. Saving a bit of money isn't worth a life-altering injury.
They still looked a bit overwhelmed, so I'd probably need to remind them of this later.
"That’s the deal with weapons and armor. As for everything else, like backpacks, you can work that out with Mika and Saori-chan. I’m sure you’re working with a budget, so buying everything brand-new probably isn't feasible anyway."
"Understood. I'll check my savings and try to get the best gear I can afford," Tatebayashi-san said.
"Mika-chan, Saori-chan, we're counting on your advice!" Hino-san added.
You bet! Leave it to us!
Now that the advice session was over, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked a bit nervous but also excited, while Mika and Saori-chan's eyes were practically sparkling. Shopping for gear was fun, but I just hoped they’d stay within their budgets.
I felt a slight twinge of concern, but I was sure they wouldn't buy anything too ridiculous. Probably.