I waited for Mika and Saori-chan to finish their curious exploration of the surroundings before calling out to them. We weren't here for sightseeing, after all, and I couldn't let them wander about in a vacation daze forever.
"Are you two ready? I understand wanting to look around, but at this scale, it would take half a day just to walk the perimeter. We really don't have that kind of time."
"“Ah, right!”"
Catching themselves in their excitement, Mika and Saori-chan averted their eyes with sheepish looks.
"Let's save the tour for another time. This is a training facility, but it doesn't have to be used only for training. Once we get the infrastructure set up, maybe we could have an overnight camp with the whole club."
"Yeah, that sounds like fun. No one's going to complain about us being loud out here."
"Oh, that sounds lovely. There’s no one around, so we could enjoy fireworks or karaoke without bothering anyone, couldn’t we?"
It had been a fleeting suggestion, but surprisingly, both Yuji and Hiiragi-san seemed keen on the idea. Since it was such a vast piece of land we’d acquired for ourselves, I could understand the desire to try all the things we couldn't do before.
Speaking of which, fireworks... We could probably even host a private fireworks display here. Maybe I could set it up as a surprise for a wrap-up party after a training camp. I had no idea about the cost or the logistics, though.
"Well, there's plenty we want to do, but let's decide on all that later. Back to the main topic. We came here today to teach Mika and Saori-chan the basics of interpersonal combat against explorers, right?"
"Right, right. We should save the fun talk for after we've finished our work."
"Yes. Let's move forward with the main subject."
If we ever did hold a camp, it would probably be after Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san entered the dungeons and leveled up a bit. Otherwise, they’d likely be exhausted just from the bicycle ride here. At their current level, the commute alone would consume over half the day.
Locking eyes with Mika and Saori-chan, I forcibly steered the conversation back on track after the slight detour and tossed out a fundamental question.
"We’re going to have you learn the basics of interpersonal combat between explorers, but first, let's confirm the basic premise. In a fight, what do you two think is the primary difference between an explorer and a non-explorer?"
At my question, Mika and Saori-chan looked thoughtful for a moment before answering with somewhat hesitant expressions.
"Level, maybe? Explorers have way higher physical abilities than ordinary people because of their level ups."
"I agree with Mika-chan. Level is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the difference."
"Yeah, exactly. People usually associate explorers with the incredible physical boosts provided by leveling up."
When asked what defined an explorer, the ability to exhibit superhuman physical prowess was the first thing most people thought of. It was featured in various media, and since skill usage was restricted outside of dungeons, the amazing physical feats people occasionally witnessed were easy to grasp.
For example, even a large, heavy load that an ordinary person would struggle with could be carried by an explorer who had leveled up as if they were holding a small accessory. Seeing such things frequently in daily life naturally gave the general public the impression that explorers were simply cut from a different cloth.
"It's true that explorers can fight at high speeds with superhuman strength. But that's just an increase in basic combat speed; the fundamental way of fighting doesn't change."
That was precisely why we couldn't beat Juzo-san, who could keep up with our speed through technical mastery and reading the flow of combat. According to Juzo-san, while it took some getting used to, he could handle someone who just relied on brute-forcing with their specs. He told us to develop the skill and the repertoire of techniques required to disrupt an opponent’s rhythm, take them by surprise, and create an opening.
He used to say he was a bit of a delinquent in the old days, but who was that man really? I was almost afraid to ask, though I was curious about what he’d actually done.
"So, in my opinion, the biggest difference from interpersonal combat between non-explorers is the presence of skills. Magic skills are a perfect example. In combat between explorers, using skills allows for attack methods and movements that would normally be unthinkable."
"That's right. If you get used to projectile-type magic skills, you can fire them from various parts of your body. And with combat support-type skills, you can perform double jumps in mid-air or achieve instantaneous acceleration that doesn't rely on leg strength. If you're planning for anti-explorer combat, you'll be caught off guard if you aren't prepared for those."
"Yes. For example, a surprise magic attack while clashing weapons is difficult, but possible if you're skilled enough. It looks a bit silly, but firing beams from your eyes or flames from your mouth... it's like how robots or monsters fight, isn't it?"
It was essentially like those supernatural battles in anime or manga. If you went in expecting a fight centered solely on weapons or bare-handed grappling, you’d be in for a world of hurt.
Therefore, when considering anti-explorer combat, one had to prepare for even the most unlikely methods of attack. Knowing the various possibilities allowed you to reduce the lag in your response. Even if you couldn't dodge an attack, it was a win if you could get your guard up in time.
"We have to think about all that...?"
"Well, I'd like to think explorers with that level of skill wouldn't just go around picking fights... but you never know what people will do. If you don't want to get hurt, it's worth being prepared."
However, training for that kind of combat wasn't something you could do in a normal dojo. If you were caught having a mock battle with skills in an unauthorized area, the police would arrest you. Currently, if you wanted to hold a mock battle for anti-explorer combat, you had to do it in a dungeon or a training facility with a Skill Use Certification Permit.
The fact that we mostly focused on basic training without skills at Yuji's place or with Genya-san was partly due to that. We probably wouldn't get caught easily, but we had to avoid suspicious behavior as much as possible. Especially lately, since we’d been drawing attention from the Dungeon Association in various ways.
"That's why we bought this place—so we could train like explorers. The Association has facilities where you can use skills, but they're always fully booked. We can't get enough training if we only get a few slots a month."
"Even so, Onii-chan, buying such a huge plot of land is just... the scale is way too big."
"Exactly. How flashy are the training sessions you're planning if you need a place this size, Senpai?"
Mika and Saori-chan looked around with exasperated expressions, while the three of us scratched our cheeks awkwardly.
"We didn't plan for it to be this big from the start. It just kind of came up while we were searching..."
"They suggested it as a 'highly recommended' property, and well, it turned out they were right."
"I thought we'd never find a property like this again, so I just couldn't help myself..."
The price had been a steal considering the size of the land. It had its drawbacks, like being in a remote location, but the sheer vastness and potential uses were incredibly attractive.
To be honest, even the three of us wondered if we really needed this much space.
"“I see...”"
"Anyway, the fact remains that we have a training facility we can use freely. We've applied to the Association and gotten the Skill Use Certification Permit. Here, we can do proper explorer training and mock battles using skills."
"Okay."
"Yes."
When I guaranteed that we could go all out, Mika and Saori-chan looked a bit hesitant. Even if you were assured that intense training was possible, being the person on the receiving end of that training was bound to stir up some apprehension.
"Before we start your training, Yuji and I will show you a light mock battle using skills."
"You've seen us spar without skills plenty of times, but you've never seen one with skills, right?"
"I'll stay by you two and guard you against any stray shots, then."
After saying that, Yuji and I moved far enough away so as not to involve Mika and Saori-chan, while Hiiragi-san stood by them to prepare for any contingencies.
Now then, let's have ourselves an exemplary match worthy of explorers.
Yuji and I, having moved away from the watching Mika and the others, stood facing each other about ten meters apart.
Since this was just a light warm-up, we were sparring bare-handed. However, since it was an explorer-style mock battle, skills were allowed.
"Are you two ready?"
"Yep."
"Yeah."
"Just a reminder: this is for Mika-chan and Saori-chan to watch, so please keep it slow and easy to follow. If you move like you do in a dungeon, I doubt they'll be able to see anything at all."
"“Roger.”"
As Hiiragi-san said, if we sparred at our usual speed, Mika and the others likely wouldn’t be able to tell what was happening. Since the point was to show them, there was no sense in showing them something they couldn't perceive.
I figured we’d start at a moderate speed and gradually ramp it up while watching their reactions. Also, since the request was to make it easy to follow, it seemed better to limit ourselves to one skill each.
"Hey Yuji, should we limit ourselves to one skill for now?"
"Hm? Sure. What are you using?"
"Since the request is to make it easy to follow, I'll use Water Magic. Magic is the quintessential explorer skill, after all."
"I'll go with Wind Magic, then. Oh, and since it's dangerous, no cutting-type. Ball-type only."
"Roger."
With our defense, even basic cutting-type magic wouldn't be particularly dangerous, but it would be bad if Mika and the others tried to mimic that in their own sparring. Ball-type magic, which focused on impact and had a broader striking surface, was better suited for mock battles as long as it wasn't overly compressed.
Still, for people at Mika’s level, we’d want to have recovery potions on hand, just in case.
"Finished talking, have we?"
"Yep."
"Yeah."
Judging that we were ready, Hiiragi-san raised her right hand straight up.
"Ready... Begin!"
As Hiiragi-san swung her arm down to signal the start, Yuji and I closed the distance as if launched by springs, throwing out our first strikes simultaneously. Our opening moves, as if pre-arranged, were both right straights aimed at each other's faces.
“...”
Naturally, we both caught and blocked the strikes with our left palms. A flashy, shockwave-like collision echoed through the surroundings, hinting at the sheer force behind the punches. It was likely enough to easily shatter a cinderblock wall.
"Hah!"
"Seiya!"
For the next move, while still gripping each other’s fists, we both launched middle kicks with our right legs toward each other’s ribs. Given our posture, they didn't have maximum power, but it was easy to imagine the impact a kick from an explorer of our level would have.
Well, assuming they hit their mark.
“...”
The kicks Yuji and I launched stopped just before hitting our respective ribs, letting out a sharp clashing sound. Of course, there was a trick to it. Between each kick and the target rib was a mass of wind and water.
In other words, we had both successfully executed a defense using magic skills. It was actually a fairly difficult technique to maintain the position of the magic in a projectile-ready state while keeping enough power to cancel out an opponent's attack.
"Not bad, Yuji."
"Right back at you."
After exchanging fearless grins, Yuji and I turned our gazes toward Mika and Saori-chan. Both of them were staring at us with wide eyes and shocked expressions, their mouths hanging slightly open.
"Looks like they could follow that movement, at least."
"They look a bit dazed, but they'll get used to it. Hiiragi-san is right there, so let's keep going."
"True. Well then, let's keep the flow going... Here I come!"
"Yeah!"
Yuji and I released each other's hands and opened up some distance with a single-legged backstep.
Now then, let's get on with an explorer-style mock battle using skills, keeping the visual flair in mind!