The day after our meeting with Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san’s parents, we got straight to work on their formal training.
That said, we were limited to what we could do on the school’s athletic grounds, so it wasn't anything too grueling. For the most part, it was a repeat of the same drills I had put Mika and the others through when they started.
"Alright, let's start with warm-ups. Thorough stretching to improve your flexibility is the first step in preventing injuries."
"Yes. Mika-chan and the others also told us that proper warm-ups are the most important part," Tatebayashi-san replied.
"I see. So Mika's been teaching you guys the right way."
I glanced at Mika and Saori-chan with an impressed look. It seemed they were providing solid, fundamental guidance.
"Yep! Onii-chan and the others drilled it into us so many times," Mika said, a hint of pride in her voice. "Thanks to that, we haven't had any major injuries in the dungeon so far." She added that she still kept up with her flexibility exercises every single day.
When fighting monsters in a dungeon, an explorer is constantly required to make explosive movements. For instance, you might need to spring from a standstill to dodge a monster's attack in the blink of an eye. Those kinds of motions put an immense strain on joints and muscles; if your timing is off or your body is stiff, it’s all too easy for something to snap or tear.
"She’s right," Yuji added. "A lot of explorers underestimate the basics like warm-ups and stretching. But those are usually the ones who get hurt. Then they make excuses about how their bodies couldn't keep up with a split-second reaction."
"I've seen 'em," I agreed. "The people who never exercise but charge into the dungeon based on nothing but blind confidence, right?"
"Exactly. Especially back when the dungeons were first opened to the public. I used to hear stories that were almost like jokes—out-of-shape office workers blinded by the high prices of drop items would challenge a dungeon, only to rupture their Achilles tendons."
"I’ve heard those rumors too," Hiiragi-san chimed in. "The story goes that someone tried to dodge a monster’s attack, heard a sickening pop from their leg, and collapsed. But the punchline was that the tendon rupture was actually a much more severe injury than anything the monster did to them."
It really was the stuff of dark comedy. It was lucky that the explorer in question didn't die or end up with a permanent disability, but suffering a major, self-inflicted injury just because they skipped a simple warm-up was the definition of 'bringing it on yourself.'
Supposedly, that explorer used a recovery potion to heal the same day, but without one, that's a major injury that takes months to fully recover from.
"Wow... so things like that really happened?"
"They did. Well, at least the importance of warming up became common knowledge because of it. Nowadays, most explorers do at least a light version of it, even if some are a bit half-hearted."
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san listened intently, reaffirming the importance of preparation.
Honestly, even just doing some light radio calisthenics before entering a dungeon makes a world of difference, especially for people who aren't used to regular physical activity.
"So, you two, make sure you don't skimp on your warm-ups. You can technically fix a ruptured tendon with a recovery potion, but it’s a waste to use a precious, expensive item on an injury that was entirely preventable."
During the newcomer explorer phase, you have to avoid unnecessary expenses, or you'll find yourself drowning in debt.
Mika and Saori-chan, who clearly remembered those early struggles, offered their own advice with somewhat pained expressions.
"Yeah, definitely. Like Onii-chan said, a recovery potion might fix you up, but finding the money for one is incredibly hard when you're just starting out. It's tough enough just covering your transportation and food costs with the money you get from drop items."
"It really is," Saori-chan agreed. "When we first started, just earning back the train fare to the dungeon was a struggle. There were so many people inside that we’d go ages without finding a monster. And even when we did, if it wasn't a rare drop, the buyback price was a pittance. After splitting that between Mika-chan and me, we were left with peanuts."
"If I recall, we didn't start turning a profit on drop items alone until we reached around the 5th floor, right?"
"Yeah, that sounds about right. That was when monsters started appearing in groups. Encountering them more often boosted our collection efficiency and our income started to climb. Before that, we only stayed in the black because we got lucky and found a few rare drops... It was pure luck, honestly."
Mika and Saori-chan gazed distantly at the sky, reminiscing about their rookie days. By the time they had started, the buyback prices for drop items had fallen significantly compared to when I first began. Wandering the 1st floor or 2nd floor, you'd be lucky to encounter more than one or two monsters per dive. You certainly couldn't expect a stable income from that.
If luck was on your side, a rare drop could give you some breathing room. However, if a skill scroll dropped, many beginners would agonize over whether to sell it or use it—and often, they’d use it, go broke, and have to quit.
"Exactly. You might catch a break with a rare drop, but since monster encounters are so sparse on the 1st and 2nd floor, it’s better not to count on them. Assume they won't appear unless you've gone through dozens of battles. That’s why keeping your expenses to a minimum is vital."
Yes!
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked a little shaken by Mika and Saori-chan’s tales, clearly taking the lesson about the financial dangers of the newcomer period to heart.
The after-school practice for Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san finished smoothly. For the most part, they worked through the menu Mika and Saori-chan had set for them, while Hiiragi-san and I offered corrections where needed.
Because these are the foundations, any bad habits formed now will plague them for a long time. We have to ensure they learn the correct form before their movements are set in stone.
"Looks like they’re finished over there. Let's wrap things up on our end too."
"Haa... haa... Thank you... so much."
"Thank you very much."
While Hiiragi-san and I had been overseeing the newcomers, Yuji had been teaching Mika and Saori-chan the basics of unarmed interpersonal combat. Ever since we discussed the assault incidents in the dungeons, the girls had expressed interest in learning how to fight people, so Yuji was acting as their sparring partner.
Out of breath, Mika and Saori-chan gave Yuji a quick bow of gratitude.
"Good work, Yuji. How do they look?"
"They’ve got a long way to go. Since they have plenty of experience against monsters, they don't hesitate in their movements, but their fundamentals are entirely geared toward monster hunting. Their sense of distance and timing is a bit off for human opponents. They'll just have to get used to it through mock battles."
I see. It makes sense. Human opponents move and think differently than monsters, and since Mika and Saori-chan were essentially self-taught explorers who honed their skills against monsters, that experience might actually be a hindrance in interpersonal combat.
"So their actual fighting technique isn't the problem?"
"No. They observe their opponent well, maintain an advantageous distance, and their attacks are decisive. Their defense is solid too; they guard their vitals and dodge well. However, being able to escape or fight back is probably limited to weaker opponents or peers who aren't used to fighting humans. Against a peer or a superior who knows how to fight people, escaping unscathed would be a tall order."
Yuji gave them a passing grade for their current ability but remained realistic about the threat posed by experienced opponents.
"And keep in mind, this mock battle was strictly unarmed. If they have their usual weapons, they might do a bit better, but if the opponent is armed or using skills... honestly, I wouldn't be comfortable with their current level."
"True. It's highly unlikely that anyone attacking you in a dungeon would be unarmed."
"Exactly. You don't go into a dungeon without a weapon. You have to assume the enemy is armed."
Yuji was right. Since any assailant would be an explorer themselves, they would naturally have weapons. And if they were intent on attacking others, they’d likely have hidden cards—skills or concealed weapons—that we wouldn't see coming.
With that in mind, I wanted them to have enough skill to at least escape from an armed peer or superior, even if they were caught unarmed.
"In that case, maybe we should give Mika and the others some experience against different types of weapons."
"That would be for the best. Even if they don't use those weapons themselves, understanding how they work and their effective reach makes them much easier to deal with. There's nothing more dangerous than facing a weapon for the first time—especially since some have hidden features designed for surprise attacks."
"Oh, like in movies? Those knives where the blade shoots out from the handle on a spring?"
"Yeah, exactly like that. If you know those things exist, you can at least try to dodge or block them. The Old Man used to say with a bitter look that if a human can imagine it, someone’s probably built it."
Wait, Juzo-san said that with a bitter look? Does that mean he’s been caught off guard by a weapon like that before?
Actually, now that I think about it, maybe the massive collection of weapons at Yuji’s house exists because Juzo-san started collecting them as 'research' after that incident.
"I see. In that case, we should probably research what kinds of skills are currently in circulation too. I haven't checked in a while, but I think the Association's website has a list of skill scrolls that have been traded..."
"It does. I check it occasionally to keep track of the meta. I knew about the assailants, and I've even stumbled onto a scene before. I managed to suppress them before they could do anything that time, but it’ll be trouble if someone uses a skill I've never seen next time. If you know what kind of skills a criminal might use, you can prepare for them."
"Good point. I really do need to check the latest lists regularly. Even if Yuji knows, it doesn't help if the rest of the party is a step behind."
"You should. I’d rather avoid a situation where I'm targeted first and then no one else knows how to read the enemy’s hand."
Listening to Yuji, I realized I’d been lacking in crisis awareness. Even though I knew the dangers, I’d grown complacent because I’d handled things once without getting hurt. I hadn't prepared for assailants who might be even more cunning. It was a failure on my part to ignore valuable information that was publicly available.
I'll have to sit down and study the list with Mika and the others.
"You're right. I'll make sure we’re all up to speed. I'll print out the list from the Association website so we can use it for our lessons."
"That's a good idea. This is knowledge that Tatebayashi-san and the others should also have, not just Mika-chan. A lot of accidents can be avoided simply by knowing the risks."
"Haha, true. I'll sharpen my focus."
Honestly, I'm just glad I realized this before anything actually happened.
"Alright, let's call it a day and head home."
"Sounds good."
Mika and the others had caught their breath, so it was time to wrap up.
Come to think of it, we’re supposed to check the newcomers' weapon aptitude at Yuji’s house this weekend. Maybe we should all go shopping afterward? We talked about getting matching training wear for everyone, and having Mika and the others there will ensure we pick the right stuff.