Even after entering the dungeon, we spent some time moving as part of a massive traveling queue formed by a multitude of explorers. Naturally, a gap of several meters was maintained between each party to prepare for any sudden monster spawns, but because the number of entrants was so high, human silhouettes stretched as far as the eye could see.
In other words, the scene wasn't much different from what we had seen back at the Entrance Gate.
"Somehow, it doesn't really feel like we’re inside a dungeon," Tatebayashi-san remarked.
"Yeah, the line of people just goes on forever," Hino-san agreed.
"Well, that’s just how it is. This is the shortest route to the stairs leading down to the next floor, so explorers who want to progress quickly all congregate here. That said, don't forget that we are inside a dungeon. If you let your guard down too much, a monster might suddenly spawn from the shadows of a corridor and attack... that sort of thing happens."
Since the situation was so indistinguishable from the area before the gate, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san seemed a bit underwhelmed, and their focus was starting to slip. While being over-tense isn't good, letting one's guard down in a dungeon is fatal, so I made sure to warn them. Even now, I still occasionally hear stories about newcomer explorers getting injured because they were too relaxed in this exact environment.
"Oh... right." "Yes, sir."
"I understand why you'd relax when there's a queue like this, but keep in mind that these lines aren't limited to this floor," I added.
"Wait... really?" they both asked, looking a bit stunned when I told them that floor traveling queues weren't exclusive to this area.
I turned toward Mika and Saori-chan, prompting them to take over the explanation.
"Yeah, it's true. Like Onii-chan said, queues for moving between floors aren't just a thing here," Mika said.
"They usually persist up until about the 10th floor," Saori-chan added. "Everyone wants to reach their target floor via the shortest route, after all."
"Is that true?" they asked in unison.
It made sense; everyone wanted to reach their destination with minimal exhaustion, avoiding combat whenever possible.
"It is. And while it takes time, moving with the crowd has its benefits."
"If you stay in the traveling queue, you can reach your target floor without fighting unnecessary battles."
It took a bit longer, but moving in a queue meant that if a monster did appear, multiple parties could fight it together. As a result, it allowed for safe passage between floors in a relatively short amount of time. Even against an opponent that a single party might struggle with, a group of parties could handle it with ease—or at least without a desperate struggle.
"That's why there are several rules—unspoken agreements, really—when moving in these floor traveling queues. Like who deals with a monster when it appears, or how to distribute drop items during a joint subjugation."
"Exactly. But the most important rule is to finish things quickly without causing a scene. If you take too long, the queue gets backed up. So, everyone just gags up on the monster to resolve the situation quickly and get moving again."
"A gang-up...?"
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san seemed a bit taken aback by the term, but that kind of efficiency was only possible because top-tier corporate-type explorer parties and mid-tier explorer parties were scattered throughout the queue. Incidentally, when a beginner party encountered a monster, the surrounding veterans usually stepped in to help, so it was rarely a problem.
"The goal is to avoid causing a traffic jam. Occasionally, a newcomer party will let their pride get the better of them and try to take down a monster by themselves, which holds everyone up. The booing they get at those times is really something else."
"If you're taking too long, people will start shouting complaints from all directions, like 'The next floor is too early for you lot!' Though, honestly, if you actually had the strength to handle the next floor, you wouldn't be struggling that much anyway."
"I guess they sound rude, but... should we take that as them giving us kind advice?"
"I think so. If you're struggling even while multiple parties are ganging up on a monster, it means your lack of strength is being exposed. If you try to fight a monster above your level when you're that weak, you're looking at serious injury—or worse."
Some parties took the advice to heart and went back to train, while others ignored it, pushed ahead, and ended up as casualties.
"In a way, it’s a safe opportunity to gauge whether your strength is sufficient for the next floor, but you shouldn't go looking for trouble on purpose. It inconveniences everyone around you, and if you're a nuisance on purpose, the other explorers will completely shun you. If that happens, they really won't help you when you're actually in a bind."
"They might help you eventually, but they might let you get banged up first, or they might refuse to share recovery potions," Saori-chan added.
"......Yeah, we definitely won't do that."
Since our party mainly operated on floors where traveling queues didn't form, we didn't run into those situations often, but I suppose they were common on the floors where Mika and the others usually worked. Being shunned and unable to ask for help in an emergency was a literal matter of life and death.
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san listened to Mika and Saori-chan's warnings and gave their replies with serious expressions.
"You two, we’re going to leave the traveling queue shortly. Stay alert and keep an eye on your surroundings so you’re ready no matter where a monster comes from."
"Ah, yes!" "Understood!"
"I doubt we’ll run into one immediately, so try not to get so tense that you burn yourselves out."
"Okay!"
After continuing in the floor traveling queue for about five more minutes, we broke away from the line and began our dungeon exploration in earnest. This was where the real experience began for Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san.
Once we were clear of the queue, we moved into formation. Mika and Saori-chan took the lead, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san were in the middle, and the three of us brought up the rear. Our goal for today was to get the girls used to the dungeon's unique atmosphere and to see if they had the mental aptitude to continue as explorers by having them actually take a life.
"First, I want you two to get a feel for the dungeon's unique environment. You might not have noticed it while we were in the queue, but how does it feel? The atmosphere is quite different now, isn't it?"
"......"
At my question, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san peered around, their expressions a mix of surprise and confusion. They didn't seem to know the cause, but they clearly felt the shift.
"Um, I can't quite put it into words... but something is strange, isn't it? I expected it to be dim, but... huh?"
"Yeah. Something feels off."
"Mm-hmm, so you've noticed the discrepancy. Here’s a hint: try listening back toward the direction we just came from. Toward the floor traveling queue."
"......Wait?"
When I pointed back the way we had come, the girls obediently strained their ears, then tilted their heads in bewilderment.
"It was so crowded and lively just a moment ago, but I can't hear anything?"
"You're right. I thought it was a bit noisy, but I can't hear it at all now."
"That’s the source of the 'off' feeling you had. The interior of a dungeon has incredibly high sound absorption. If you move even a short distance away, normal speaking voices become almost completely muffled. As proof, let’s all close our eyes and be quiet for a moment."
I held my index finger to my lips, and everyone closed their eyes, stopped moving, and fell silent.
Immediately, every sound vanished from our surroundings, leaving an environment filled with a silence so profound it was almost physical. Only the faint, rhythmic sound of our own breathing echoed softly in the void.
"......"
"Okay, that’s enough."
"...Phew, haa."
After about thirty seconds, I heard Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san’s breathing turn ragged, so I opened my eyes and gave the signal to stop. They were breathing heavily, looking anxious, but they seemed relieved the moment they saw we were all still there.
"As you just experienced, the dungeon is essentially a world of total silence if you don't make noise. On the plus side, it makes it easy to hear the footsteps of approaching monsters or the presence of other parties. On the downside, if you spend too much time in that silence without making a sound, the psychological burden is immense, as you just felt."
"Yes, I agree. That level of silence is... a lot."
"It’s a bit much for me, too. Thinking about that silence lasting for hours..."
"That’s a normal reaction. Even for those of us who are used to it, that environment is taxing over long periods."
In a space where no sound can be heard, an inexplicable sense of anxiety tends to well up.
"That's why we chat with our party members while we explore. Of course, you can't get so absorbed in the conversation that you stop paying attention to your surroundings! Some people use background music to distract themselves, but you have to be mindful of the time and place. If you do that, you have to keep the volume low enough so it doesn't bother others, and you never do it while you're in a queue like the one from before."
"I understand. We definitely need to find a way to stay grounded."
"I might get too distracted by talking, so maybe background music would work for me?"
In terms of being able to stop immediately when a monster approaches, conversation was generally better. Background music had the risk of attracting monsters with the sound. Still, I figured they could adopt whatever method suited them as they gained more experience.
"For today, it’s enough that you understand this is the kind of environment you're working in."
"Yes, sir!"
"Then let’s keep moving. We probably won't run into anything for a bit, so we’ll move along while teaching you the basics of navigating the terrain."
"Understood!"
And so, we moved deeper into the dungeon in search of monsters, teaching Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san the proper protocols and safety measures. After walking for about thirty minutes and occasionally passing other parties, the moment finally arrived.
Up ahead in the dim corridor... something was there.
"Hm? What’s wrong, Mika-chan, Saori-chan? Why did you stop?"
"Shh, be quiet. It’s there."
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked confused by the sudden halt. However, Mika and Saori-chan didn't take their sharp gazes off the corridor ahead; they held their hands out to signal the rest of us to stay back.
"It’s there?...Wait! Does that mean there’s a monster!?"
"Yes. Don't raise your voice. There’s... one of them. We aren't in its enemy search range yet, but stay alert. Once we get a little closer, it’ll definitely notice us and attack."
"O-Okay."
When Mika confirmed the monster's presence, the girls' expressions became a mix of shock and dread. The moment of truth had finally arrived.
"So, what’s the plan, Onii-chan? Should we let them fight it? Or should we show them how it's done first?"
"To be safe, it might be better to give them a demonstration. Yuji, what do you think?"
"Yeah, prioritizing safety is the right move. It’s a bit of a hassle to find another one, but a demonstration will make it easier for them to visualize their own movements. Hiiragi-san?"
"I think they'd be fine without one," Hiiragi-san countered. "Given their training, they can definitely handle it as long as they stay calm. Since they'll eventually have to deal with monsters they've never seen before, I think the experience of handling a first encounter would be valuable."
Yuji was in favor of the demo, while Hiiragi-san was against it. In terms of numbers, the 'pro-demo' side was winning, but Hiiragi-san’s point was valid. As an explorer, you constantly had to face unknown variables. With a perfect backup system in place now, testing their adaptability might be good.
However, doing that when we were still just checking if they could even land a killing blow felt like skipping a step.
"...I see Hiiragi-san’s point, but that’s probably a lesson for the next stage. I think a demonstration is better for now. What do you two think? We’re considering showing you how it's done before you take your turn."
"Um, yes. If possible, I’d like to see a demonstration first."
"Me too..."
"I see. Then we’ll show you one first. Try to imagine exactly how you would move if you were the one in the fight. If you have a clear mental image, your body will respond even if you're nervous."
Once the decision was made, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san let out small sighs of relief, then sharpened their gazes with resolve. They were nervous, but they looked ready to learn.
I gave the orders to Mika, who was still maintaining her watch.
"Mika, you ready?"
"Yeah, all good."
"Then I’m leaving it to you. This is a demonstration for beginners, remember. Keep a wide safety margin and use clear, easy-to-follow movements."
"Understood. Simple and safe, right?"
Mika slowly stepped forward and crossed the monster's alert line.
Immediately, a low growl echoed from down the corridor, and the creature began to approach us with heavy steps. Now then, Mika, show them how a professional does it.
Would she be able to provide the perfect model for the newcomers?