After meeting up with Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san once their exams were over, we headed to a nearby family restaurant to hear how things had gone. When we first regrouped, they both wore such ambiguous expressions that I couldn't help but be curious.
Since they didn't seem particularly depressed, I doubted they had failed spectacularly.
"So, how was the exam? Judging by your faces, I'm guessing you didn't bet on the wrong topics and bomb it."
"Well..."
"Um..."
When I asked, the two girls looked at each other with expressions that suggested they found it difficult to say anything at all.
It wasn't quite confidence, yet it wasn't the look of someone who had messed up. It was a truly strange reaction.
"What's wrong? Was the content different from what we told you to expect?"
It had been about a year since the explorer exams officially started, so there was always a possibility that the format had been changed to better reflect the reality of dungeon exploration. Then again, if that were the case, there surely would have been a prior announcement; it wasn't the kind of thing they’d keep secret.
In that case, what exactly happened?
"Ah, no, the exam content itself wasn't really different from what you seniors told us. It’s just..."
"Just?"
"It was much easier than we expected... or rather, it didn't really feel like a challenge..."
"Wait, that's it?"
I had been worried something had gone wrong, but I never imagined they were just underwhelmed because the test was too easy. We had put a lot of effort into teaching them both the written and practical portions to ensure they’d pass on their first try.
Looking back, if the goal was just to secure an Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures, our training might have been a bit overkill.
"Yes. The written exam was almost identical to the materials you gave us, so I finished answering everything in about twenty minutes. I’m fairly certain I’ve secured more than enough points to pass."
"Just like you said, as long as you pay attention during the introductory lecture, there’s no way you’d fail that written test."
"Well, if someone can't manage a passing grade on that test, they probably shouldn't be trying to become an explorer in the first place."
The exam was designed so that anyone who listened to the lecture could pass even without prior study. It was likely meant to bolster the explorer population in the early days, but personally, I felt they should make the questions harder or increase the number of items.
Now that the number of applicants per session had likely decreased compared to the initial dungeon opening, it might be time to shift toward a policy of quality over quantity. Even if they were a minority in the grand scheme of things, low-quality explorers definitely existed.
"I agree. I think anyone who watches explorer specials on TV or reads up online could pass even without the lecture. If someone is so disconnected that they don't naturally pick up that kind of information, it’s hard to believe they’re actually serious about this."
"I thought the same thing. Words that always come up when I'm talking about dungeons with Mika-chan and the others appeared as exam questions. Even during the lecture, I felt like I already knew most of it. If you have even a passing interest in dungeon-related news, I don't think you can fail that written exam."
The questions only covered the most common-sense aspects of being an explorer; anyone truly intent on the career should have heard it all before.
"Well, it's a test meant to confirm you have the bare minimum knowledge required. That's all."
"I suppose. Still, it sounds like you both did fine on the written portion. What about the practical exam?"
If they were at the point of questioning the necessity of the written format, they weren't going to get a failing grade, so I considered that part settled. Yuji seemed to reach the same conclusion, nodding as he asked about their performance in the field.
"The practical exam was no problem either. If anything, the practice sessions you seniors put us through are much tougher than the actual test. It was our first time having to break through traps, but if you observe your surroundings carefully, the triggers are obvious."
"And even when a trap went off, it wasn't at a speed that was impossible to dodge. To be honest, the attacks you seniors throw at us during practice are much harder to avoid, even if they're technically slower than a trap mechanism. Thanks to that, we cleared the evasion exam with zero misses."
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san seemed to be recalling their daily training, shaking their heads weakly with distant looks in their eyes. Well, putting aside traps designed to completely catch someone off guard, these two should be able to dodge any trap they know is coming.
Besides, during our after-school sessions, we intentionally use attacks that they can see coming but are difficult to avoid because their posture has been compromised. We do this to hammer home the importance of core strength and footwork that doesn't create openings. Sloppy attacks, forced defense, or reckless evasion only lead to fatal mistakes.
"Well, that's why we do it. But since that's your reaction, I take it you cleared the practical without any hitches?"
"Yes. We cleared it well within the time limit. Actually, the wait time for our turn was the hardest part. It seemed like quite a few people were struggling and taking the full allotted time, so it felt like forever."
"The two of us were the top graduates for the practical exam. The exam proctor looked shocked; they said it had been a long time since they saw examinees clear it so far ahead of the limit. Though apparently, quite a few people clear the evasion exam with no misses."
The girls looked a bit proud as they spoke of their performance. It was the fruit of all their hard work, so they deserved to feel a sense of accomplishment.
In any case, it seemed the practical portion was a success as well.
"Then it sounds like you'll both pass without a hitch. Good for you."
"Yes, it should be fine. It’s just a little disappointing that it didn't feel like more of a challenge."
"That's just because it was too easy for you, isn't it? Based on what I've heard, I’m sure you’re fine."
"I hope so... Actually, you're right. We'll be fine."
The two of them looked a bit uneasy because the lack of difficulty made it feel like a non-event, but that was simply the result of how hard they'd trained. There was no reason to worry about the results.
"That's the spirit. The passing notice should arrive within a few days, so you'll know soon enough. After that, you'll have your permits issued. If we move fast, you'll both make your explorer debut as early as next week."
Explorer... debut...
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san let out sighs of wonder as they realized that the goal they had endured such harsh training for was finally right in front of them.
"Yeah. It won't take weeks like that bookkeeping certification exam did. Why don't we start preparing on the assumption that you passed? You've probably been putting your armor together on the secondhand market while listening to Mika and the others, but you don't have your dungeon consumables yet, right? Since we're already at the Association branch, let's look around the specialized shops inside."
"Eh?"
"The branch has specialized shops that sell Association-recommended gear. They're a bit pricey, but the quality is top-notch. You'll be using these items inside a dungeon, a place full of monsters and traps. If you use cheap, inferior goods, they might fail you when it really matters. You need equipment you can trust, even if it costs more."
Newcomer explorers often use cheap, commercial products that break from the slightest impact of a monster's attack, spilling their contents and leading to injuries when the explorer's focus shifts. Student explorers especially tend to be short on cash and try to cut costs by prioritizing weapons and armor while skimping on support gear like backpacks.
Ironically, this often leads to higher spending on medical bills, equipment repairs, and replacement costs. It was the textbook definition of being penny wise and pound foolish.
"For example, if you use a headlamp that's too cheap, a little jolt during a fight could cause it to malfunction. If your light dies and you lose your vision in the middle of a battle, you're in trouble. There’s a bare minimum of light inside the dungeon, but do you understand the danger of having your visibility drastically change while a monster is attacking? Expensive things are expensive for a reason."
"That's true. If I was constantly worried about my gear breaking, I wouldn't be able to focus on the fight. And like you said, we're not skilled enough yet to fight monsters while making sure we don't bump our headlamps."
"Most active explorers feel the same way. That's why you need to make sure your kit is solid, even if it's a bit of an investment."
...Yes.
Once they were convinced, we headed back into the Dungeon Association branch to browse the specialized shops. I hadn't been here in a while, so I hoped they had some new products on display.
Three days after Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san took their exams, I returned home from our usual after-school training to find a message from them. The long-awaited news had arrived: the passing notices for the explorer exam.
Actually, I found out because Mika was making a huge scene about it.
"Phew. So they passed."
"Yeah! Both of them passed together!"
"Well, given the level of that test, it’s only natural for those two since they were so well-prepared."
"I know! But now Asami-chan and the others are real explorers... As their senior, I'll have to make sure I teach them well."
Mika beamed, clearly happy for her friends, but there was also a look of newfound responsibility on her face as she thought about mentoring her juniors.
It was a good sign. To think she used to be the one just following along behind us.
"Just don't go too hard on them, okay? Yuji and I plan to keep helping them too, so don't feel like you have to cram everything into them at once."
"What are you saying? You're the last person who should be talking, Onii-chan! Your training sessions are incredibly spartan!"
"Hey, it's better than them getting hurt in a dungeon, isn't it?"
"I mean, yeah, but it’s still way too strict! I don't even know how we survived it, but when I talked to my other explorer friends, they were totally weirded out! They said they’d never do training that intense!"
I personally thought our training was quite mild compared to what we’d received under Juzo-san and Genya-san... but I guess it was "spartan" enough to scare off Mika's friends.
Oh well. Even if people think it's harsh, I'm going to keep it up because it’s better than them bleeding in the field.
"Well, to each their own educational policy."
"I don't like it, but I can't really argue because we haven't had any major injuries since we started exploring. I still don't like it, though..."
"Just accept it. Besides, the real 'spartan' method is just throwing people into live combat with no training and letting them figure it out. Don't you think our way of making sure you practice first is much kinder?"
Mika's expression fluctuated as she thought it over, before finally nodding weakly with a bitter look.
"...I guess so."
"We can talk more about their training once their first request is done. For now, let’s just celebrate. If we get the paperwork done quickly, they can make their dungeon debut this weekend."
Now that the passing notice had arrived, they could get their Explorer Cards issued the same day they went to the branch. And with that card in hand, they could technically enter a dungeon immediately.
Though, very few beginners actually go straight into a dungeon the moment they get their license.
"Then let's all go to the Association after school tomorrow to get their cards! It'll be faster if we're there to help with the paperwork."
"Sure, that sounds like a plan. We'll head over after moving our bodies a bit."
"Yay! I'll message them right now and tell them we're going tomorrow!"
"Yeah. And make sure you tell them to bring all the necessary documents. It’s a pain to have to go back because you forgot a piece of paper."
Failing the paperwork because of missing documents was a classic rookie mistake.
The next day, after a light training session, we headed to the Dungeon Association branch for the second time in a week. Since it was a weekday, the wait was short, and the issuance process went smoothly. Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san had officially made their debut as explorers.
"Congratulations. Now you two are officially explorers."
Yes! Thank you very much!
"But keep in mind, you've only just gotten the license. The real work starts now."
"An explorer isn't an explorer until they actually go into a dungeon, right?"
Asami-chan asked for confirmation with a small breath, and I gave her a slow, firm nod.
"Exactly. Everything starts once you're inside. You won't know if you want to keep being an explorer or quit until you've experienced the real thing."
...Yes.
"Then, shall we stick to the plan and have your dungeon debut this Sunday?"
Yes!
Having officially become explorers, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked ready to take on the world, their faces full of determination as they looked toward their first dive.
Yeah. I’d better work hard so I don't let them down.