As we stepped inside the building, a massive queue for registration immediately caught my eye. Explorers lugging heavy gear formed orderly rows in front of the five reception windows, most of them chatting in low voices to avoid disturbing others as they waited.
The atmosphere wasn't tense or irritable despite the wait; it was a familiar, everyday scene where no one felt the need to make a fuss.
"That's an incredible line..."
"Actually, this is on the shorter side," I said. "During the long school holidays, you'll see several times as many student explorers flooding the place."
"Even more than this?" Tatebayashi-san asked, her eyes widening.
"If you're unlucky, a one-hour wait is perfectly normal."
I explained to Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san that this was actually a decent turnout. Back when we first started visiting dungeons, the facilities weren't nearly as well-organized, and the crowds were a chaotic nightmare compared to this.
The number of windows had increased since then, and the procedures had been streamlined and made much more efficient.
"He's right," Mika added. "Honestly, every time Saori-chan and I come here, we find ourselves wishing it took just a little less time to get inside."
"I know the paperwork is necessary," Saori said, "but having to wait like this every single time is a bit... exhausting."
"Keep in mind it's much faster than it used to be," Hiiragi-san noted. "In the old days, this would have been a guaranteed one-hour wait."
Given it was early on a weekend morning, there were probably about a hundred people ahead of us. At this rate, we'd likely be through in fifteen or twenty minutes, which was relatively quick.
Part of the reason we usually frequented more remote dungeons was to avoid this kind of congestion. Student explorers with limited budgets tended to stay close to home to save on transportation costs.
"Hey, everyone, save the chatter for after we're in line," Yuji cut in. "If we just stand here, it'll never be our turn."
"He's right. Let's get our spot, shall we?" Hiiragi-san suggested.
"Yes!"
"Ah, sorry. You're right, we need to line up first."
While we had been talking near the entrance, Yuji and Hiiragi-san had been watching the queue. Several groups from our shuttle bus had already overtaken us while we were standing around.
Mika and I gave Yuji and Hiiragi-san a quick, apologetic nod and hurried to join the line before any more parties could get ahead of us.
The line moved more smoothly than I expected, and after about fifteen minutes, it was finally our turn.
Deciding this was a good learning experience, we nudged the clearly nervous Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san toward the window where a female staff member was waiting.
"Welcome. How can I help you today?"
"E-Eh, ah, um... We're here for dungeon exploration."
"Certainly. And will there be seven of you in total today?"
"Y-Yes! That's correct!"
The staff member gave the two girls a warm, gentle smile as they answered in voices tight with nerves. Their reactions were those of textbook newcomer explorers, and it was obvious at a glance.
The staff member cleared her throat softly and continued with her professional script, her tone clearly meant to put the two girls at ease.
"I'll begin the entry procedures. May I have the Explorer Cards for everyone in the party?"
Y-Yes!
Fumbling slightly, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san placed their cards on the counter. We followed suit, offering sheepish smiles at the girls' flustered behavior as we handed over our own cards.
It couldn't be helped; your first time handling official procedures always made you more nervous than necessary.
"Thank you. I have all seven. Please wait just a moment."
Y-Yes!
The staff member quickly scanned the cards, still wearing that pleasant smile as she began the database check and identity verification.
However, while her expression remained friendly as she processed Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san's cards, it shifted to one of confusion when she reached Mika and Saori-chan. By the time she got to the cards for the three of us, her face was a mask of pure shock.
"Uh... thank you. The identity verification is complete. I'm returning your Explorer Cards now."
Y-Yes, thank you very much!
"......"
The staff member couldn't quite hide her agitation as she handed the cards back. Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san were too high-strung to notice, while Mika and Saori-chan wore unreadable smiles. The three of us simply looked away, feeling a bit awkward.
I couldn't blame her for being stunned. To any observer, we looked like a typical student party, yet we were an incomprehensible mix of top-tier explorers, mid-level veterans, and complete newcomers.
"H-Here are your locker keys for the changing rooms. Please keep safety in mind and have a safe exploration."
T-Thank you! We'll do our best!
"Thank you."
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san gathered the keys, and we all gave a slight bow before leaving the reception window.
Leaving the girls to Hiiragi-san and the others, Yuji and I headed into the men's changing room to get ready.
Since we were used to the routine, it took us no time at all. We finished and found some empty seats in the waiting area nearby.
"It'll probably take the girls a while, since Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san are with them today," I said.
"Yeah. If you aren't used to it, getting the armor on is surprisingly tricky," Yuji replied. "And once you start worrying about whether you've forgotten something, you end up checking and re-checking everything, which eats up a lot of time."
"Right? You catch yourself thinking, 'Wait, did I pack that? Okay, I'm wearing this, so I'm good,' and you go through every single item."
"Well, it's better than being lazy and entering the dungeon without a proper check. If you forget spare batteries for your light, you could end up losing visibility in the middle of a dive and getting ambushed. You can't be too careful."
I'd seen it before—explorers with headlamps that were dark, not because they were broken, but because they'd run out of power. Usually, they'd been chewed out by their party members and were walking around with guilty, terrified expressions, being far too jumpy about their surroundings.
Still, a party that can decide to retreat the moment a problem arises is a cautious one. Those are the explorers who survive and eventually succeed.
"Exactly," I agreed. "The deeper you go, the more a single mistake in resource management can cause the whole plan to fall apart."
"Yeah. Corporate-type explorer parties with their own supply units are one thing, but for individuals or small parties, missing a single bottle of water can be a life-or-death issue. I once saw a party deep in the floors that had lost their supplies during a monster attack. They looked like they could make it back, but considering the expedition costs they'd sunk into it, it must have been a gut-wrenching decision to turn back."
"I bet. Between the expedition costs and the potential profit from drop items, you really can't afford to make it a one-day trip at those depths. If it happened at the end of their run, it might be okay, but if it was the first day, it would be devastating."
"Let's hope that doesn't happen to us."
Small groups capable of reaching the floors beyond the 20th floor were rare outside of corporate setups. If more non-corporate groups could manage the 30th floor, it would help us blend in a little more.
Though, as a student party that had already cleared the 30th floor, that might be wishful thinking. Still, it would be nice to be able to say, "Look, we're not the only ones."
"There you are. Sorry to keep you waiting."
While Yuji and I were talking, quite a bit of time had passed. Hiiragi-san and the girls had finished changing and were heading our way.
"No, we're fine," I said. "But... you two look pretty tense. Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes!"
"I-I'm fine!"
Yeah, they were definitely not fine. Now that they were fully geared up, the reality of the situation had finally hit them, and their nerves were at a breaking point.
It would be too dangerous to take them into the dungeon in this state.
"You seem really nervous. Before we head inside, there's one more thing we need to do. Let's work off some of that tension, okay?"
Y-Yes.
"Let's go to the free space and do some warm-ups. We're going to be thorough."
To help Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san relax, we headed to the free space. Moving your body is the best way to ease nerves; standing still only lets the anxiety fester.
The free space was fairly large, but it was crowded with other explorers. It took us a moment to find enough room for all of us. Maybe a rental room would have been better? No, making things too private from the start might have felt too high-pressure.
"Alright, let's begin."
Once we found a spot, we started with radio calisthenics. There was no music playing, but everyone knew the routine by heart, and it was the best way to get the whole body moving. After that, we split into groups to do stretches. If you aren't flexible and loose, a sudden movement in the dungeon can result in a torn muscle or worse.
After about fifteen minutes of thorough warming up, the stiff, panicked looks on Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san's faces had softened into something much more manageable. They looked ready now.
"Good. That should do it for the warm-ups. You two look like you've calmed down a lot."
"Yes! I'm still a little nervous, but I'll be okay!"
"Me too," Hino-san added. "Doing the same thing we do during our usual training really helped me settle down."
They always did these exercises before training, so it had become a routine for them. It seemed to have anchored their mental state. That was a very good sign.
They were no longer paralyzed by fear, nor were they overconfident. They were in that ideal state of alert tension perfect for physical activity.
"Glad to hear it. Well then, shall we finally head into the dungeon?"
"Yes!"
"Yeah!"
"Let's go."
"Right."
Preparations were complete. It was time for the main event.
Oh, and of course, everyone made sure to hit the restroom before leaving. Bathroom issues in the dungeon were no joke.
As we entered the building housing the entrance gates, we were met with another set of long, winding queues.
However, the explorers here were used to the process, and the line moved steadily as everyone passed through the gates in a rhythmic tempo. Despite the numbers, it wouldn't take long to get through.
"Alright, let's join the back of the line," I instructed. "You'll need your Explorer Cards for the gate, so have them ready. If you fumble around at the front, the people behind you won't be happy."
"Understood. But seeing it like this... a dungeon entrance really does look like a train station during the morning rush, doesn't it?"
"Oh, you're right! I was wondering why this felt so familiar."
Just as Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san said, watching the explorers tap their cards against the authentication machines and file through the gates was exactly like a morning commute.
Passing through the dungeon gate—the station turnstile—to clock in at the dungeon—the office or school...
"Haha, I guess it is. Come on, let's get in line."
Yes.
We joined the tail end of the queue, moving slowly toward the threshold of the dungeon.
In less than ten minutes, our turn arrived. The five of us scanned our cards with practiced ease, but Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san hesitated for a split second, their hands trembling slightly as they pressed their brand-new Explorer Cards against the readers.
"Good. Everyone's through. Tatebayashi-san, Hino-san... we're going in."
Y-Yes.
"There are plenty of other explorers near the entrance, so it's relatively safe, but don't forget that you are inside a dungeon," I warned. "Never let your guard down. Remember your training and keep your eyes on your surroundings at all times. Got it?"
...Yes!
Though their eyes still showed a glimmer of fear, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked us squarely in the face, their expressions filled with resolve.
Now then, it was time. We'd be right there to support them, but the rest was up to them.