After finishing several mock battles interspersed with critique, we decided to call it a day, judging that Mika and Saori-chan were reaching their limits. If we pushed them until they collapsed, they wouldn’t be able to make it home; it was essential to save some stamina for the return trip.
Once the training officially ended, we agreed to a quick tour of the training facility at Mika and Saori-chan’s request.
"Alright, let’s take a brisk walk around the perimeter. That should give you a decent grasp of the general terrain."
They had looked utterly spent from the exhaustion of the mock battles just moments ago, but the second the tour was confirmed, they suddenly perked up with renewed life.
"Let’s head toward the coastline first. The ground cuts off abruptly in some places, so watch your step. It would be a disaster if you slipped and fell."
"Got it!"
"Yes!"
After laying out the safety precautions, I led Mika and Saori-chan toward the shore.
Since we hadn't implemented any safety measures yet, the area was still quite hazardous. I’d eventually need to string up some fall-prevention ropes; it was fine during the day, but it would be extremely dangerous after dark.
"There are so many rocks scattered around. One wrong step and you'd definitely trip."
"It doesn't just 'cut off'—isn't this basically a sheer cliff?"
"I heard the waves reach this high during typhoons or storm surges, so the rock face was likely carved out by the sea. If you fall, we can't just climb down to save you, so stay alert."
Peering over the edge of the cliff, Mika and Saori-chan wore slightly uneasy expressions. I suppose it wasn't every day they got to look down from a precipice like this. The closest comparison would probably be looking down from a high-rise balcony.
"Is there no way to get down to the water? You know, like a sandy beach?"
"Unfortunately, no. There are spots where you could probably climb down through gaps in the cliff, but the waves are constantly crashing against them, so I wouldn't recommend it. At best, you'd be swallowed by the tide and slammed against the rocks."
"I see. That’s a shame."
Apparently, there had been plans to create an artificial beach back when the resort was being developed, but it never made it past the planning stage; they hadn't even started on the foundation work. Considering such a project would cost several hundred million yen, it wasn't exactly something we could pull off ourselves.
"Then what about fishing? Do you know what kind of fish we can catch?"
"You could probably fish here, but I haven't tried yet, so I have no idea. It might be nice to bring some rods next time for a change of pace. Since no one usually fishes here, there might be some unexpectedly big ones lurking."
"Or maybe there are only tiny fish?"
I gave a wry smile at Saori-chan’s teasing grin, thinking that was also a distinct possibility.
In any case, I had been so focused on navigating bureaucracy and preparing the facility for inspections that I hadn't used this place for any actual recreation. Now that we had the permits, it might be fun for everyone to hang out here to unwind, not just to train. Maybe we could even host a barbecue.
"By the way, Onii-chan, do you fire magic out toward the sea? You didn't use anything too flashy in the mock battle, but you can use those spectacular spells we see in videos online, right?"
"Ah, about that. Actually..."
I explained the warning the Dungeon Association inspector had given me regarding the operation of the training facility. It had been a blind spot until then, but in hindsight, it was an obvious restriction. It was unthinkable for "projectiles" used in training to fly outside the bounds of an authorized range. That would be a major accident.
"Oh, I see. That makes sense when you put it like that."
"You're right. If people had to worry about magic flying out of the property at any moment, it would be terrifying."
"Yeah. So, for that reason, firing magic toward the sea is strictly forbidden. I'll build a proper firing range eventually, so we'll save the magic practice for then."
"Okaaay."
Mika and Saori-chan looked a bit disappointed, but they nodded in understanding. Since neither of them had magic skills yet, it didn't affect them immediately, but I figured I should use Earth Magic to pile up some soil and create a proper range soon. I could even count the construction as practice for myself.
"More importantly, Onii-chan, let's move on! There are other highlights here, right?"
"Other highlights, huh? Well, I suppose so."
I wouldn't exactly call them highlights, but there was the forest and the underground cave. The cave wasn't usable yet since it hadn't been maintained, but it was fine just to look at. Eventually, I planned to turn it into a training ground for secret skills.
"Really! Then let’s go!"
With Mika pulling my hand to hurry me along, we left the coastline and headed toward the forest. Given the time it would take to get home, we couldn't afford to linger for too long.
As we stepped into the dense, dim woods, Mika and Saori-chan momentarily grew wary of their surroundings. When I asked what they were guarding against, they said they were checking if we had set any traps.
Honestly, we hadn't done that yet.
"Hey now, you're being way too suspicious. We haven't done anything like that yet. Right, Yuji?"
"Yeah, not yet. We had the official inspections and all, so we wouldn't dream of planting things like that. Right, Hiiragi-san?"
"That's right. We haven't done anything... yet. It would have been a disaster if the inspectors had tripped over something and denied our permit."
Hearing the three of us respond that way, Mika and Saori-chan let out deep, exasperated sighs. What was with that reaction?
"That basically means you're going to set them eventually, doesn't it?"
"Of course. It would be a waste not to use such a perfect environment for training."
"Haha, of course..."
Mika and Saori-chan wore strained smiles, shaking their heads as they likely imagined the horrors to come. I had a feeling their predictions were spot on.
"Well, there's nothing special here for now, so feel free to just walk around. Just keep an eye out for wild animals. I'm also not entirely sure what's growing here, so don't touch any plants or mushrooms you don't recognize. Don't blame me if you get a rash."
"I see, so there are wild animals too."
"I definitely don't want a rash."
There were likely bees and snakes as well. Walking through a forest that had seen almost no human intervention required plenty of caution even without man-made traps. Fortunately, their long-sleeved training tracksuits offered some protection against insects.
"Alright, let's head to the main attraction."
"Main attraction? Oh, the underground cave!"
"Exactly. There’s a building with an entrance just a bit further in."
Though the stairs inside had long since rusted and rotted away. I told them we couldn't actually go inside today since we hadn't brought lights or gear, which left them both looking thoroughly dejected.
"Is the underground cave like the limestone caverns you see at tourist spots?" Saori-chan asked.
"Something like that. It's not nearly as developed, but it's a fairly large cavern."
"I can't believe something like that is here."
"It's the reason we were able to buy this land so cheaply. The usage of the site is extremely limited because of it."
If the bubble economy hadn't burst, they probably would have built some kind of facility—maybe a roadside station—even if a massive hotel was out of the question.
"So, where is it? Where's the entrance!"
"It's not far. We'll be there in a few minutes."
"It's right there! Let's hurry! I'd much rather see a cave than walk through these empty trees. Right, Saori-chan?"
"Eh? Ah, yes, definitely."
Saori-chan, being propelled forward by Mika, seemed to share the interest in the cave. There wasn't much else to see in this part of the forest, so I couldn't blame them.
"Hey, Mika, the entrance isn't that way. Further to the right."
I corrected their course as Mika continued to push Saori-chan ahead. They’d get lost if they just wandered aimlessly. After a few more minutes of trekking, the building housing the entrance came into view.
"Onii-chan, is that it? There's moss all over the walls, and the door is rusted."
"Yeah, that’s the one. It was built during the initial development to house the stairs leading down."
Mika looked at the dilapidated structure with a hint of apprehension. At the very least, it still functioned as a shield against the rain and a barrier to keep people from falling in.
"The stairs inside are rusted and have collapsed in places, so they’re unusable. Since we don't have the gear to descend today, we're just going to peek in from the doorway."
"What?! We can't go in?"
"We're not prepared, Mika. If you went in carelessly, you might not be able to get back out."
"No way..."
Mika’s shoulders slumped in genuine disappointment, while Saori-chan tried to comfort her despite looking a bit let down herself. It was a pity, but safety came first.
"Alright, opening it up."
I used the key to unlock the door. It groaned with a high-pitched, rusty screech, revealing a void of absolute darkness.
"There's scaffolding inside, but it's rotted. Don't step on it. It could give way the moment you put any weight on it."
"Wait, is it really that dangerous?"
"Years of sea breeze will do that. Several of the steps have already vanished entirely. Don't lean in too far."
I cast Light Magic to illuminate the interior and stepped aside for the girls.
"Whoa... amazing!"
Mika and Saori-chan gasped in awe as the grand scale of the cavern was revealed. My light source cut through the gloom, showing just how vast the space near the entrance really was.
"What you see here is just the start. The cave goes back much further."
"Onii-chan, exactly how big is this place?"
"Hard to say. I've heard it stretches across a good portion of the property, but we don't know the exact layout yet. There are some very open areas further back, but we've been warned not to explore recklessly because it's easy to get lost."
"So it's basically a Great Cavern?"
That was the very reason the project had stalled. When they tried to build the hotel, they found the ground was riddled with holes, and the reinforcement costs were several times the original budget. Then the developer went bust, and the plan was abandoned. If they had known from the start, they might have designed something that incorporated the cave.
"Pretty much. I don't think the ground is going to cave in suddenly, but you need to keep in mind what's beneath your feet. It's fine under normal circumstances, but things could change during an earthquake or a heavy storm."
"Understood."
Of course, those "disasters" might also include man-made ones, like a high-level mock battle. The worry that we might punch a hole through the floor if we kicked off too hard was a persistent one.
"Anyway, that's enough for today. Next time we come, we'll bring the right equipment so we can actually explore the interior."
"Yes! Please let us see the inside next time. Right, Saori-chan?"
"Definitely. I really want to see those open spaces."
Despite their lingering disappointment, they were both eager to return. Since there was no reason to refuse, we agreed to their request.
"That's fine, but that means you'll have more gear to carry. You'll have to work hard on those bikes."
"Ah..."
"We can help with the heavy stuff like ladders, but carrying bulky luggage on a bicycle can be a nuisance to everyone else on the road. You’ll have to manage."
"We'll... we'll do our best."
I occasionally saw cyclists wobbling along with massive loads, and it was always a nerve-wracking sight. I’m sure the riders think they're fine, but they rarely consider how much they’re stressing out the people around them.
"Alright, we've seen the highlights. Let’s head back. We need to eat lunch, and if we leave too late, we won't get home until the middle of the night."
The return trip would take just as long as the arrival, and if we made stops, it would take even longer. It would be a breeze for the three of us, but with Mika and the others exhausted from the mock battles, we had to build in a significant time buffer.
Whether it was a dungeon or a private facility, the travel time was always the bottleneck.