Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san leaned over the appraisal statement, their eyes widening in surprise as they confirmed its contents.
We were peering over their shoulders from behind, and we were just as surprised to see such a high figure written there.
Six thousand two hundred yen...
"Oh, that fetched a better price than I expected."
"So that really was a recovery potion after all."
"That certainly explains the buyout price."
Congratulations!
The item we had submitted as a potential recovery potion was officially confirmed to be one. Thanks to that, even though we had only turned in a few items, they had earned a respectable amount. There had only been three drops in total, including the Core Crystal Mika had found. High demand for recovery potions meant that their value didn't drop much, even for those found in beginner dungeons.
That said, it was a difficult call to make whether less than ten thousand yen was a fair reward for a life-or-death struggle in a dungeon. Even if they had escorts and the actual work only took an hour or two, the fact remained that they had put their lives on the line. I couldn't decide if it was a high or low payout...
"T-Thank you so much. I never imagined we'd get an appraisal like this on our very first run..."
"The stories on the internet said you'd be lucky to get a thousand yen at best..."
"Well, we were lucky this time. If that recovery potion hadn't dropped, I think it would have been exactly like the rumors said."
To be honest, I had written off profitability for this run. I was satisfied as long as Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san gained practical combat experience against monsters.
The recovery potion drop was purely a stroke of good luck.
"Um, excuse me for interrupting your conversation. What would you like to do? Would you like to take the items back with you, or would you prefer a buyout right here?"
S-Sorry!
While we were getting caught up in our excitement, the Staff-san at the window spoke up, sounding a bit weary. I felt bad for holding up the line.
"So, what will it be?"
"We'll take the buyout, please!"
"A buyout. And will that be for all of the items?"
Yes, please.
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san chose to cash out rather than keep the recovery potion. For now, they would be accompanied by us while they got used to fighting. Compared to a standard dungeon exploration, their risk of injury was significantly lower. It would be a headache for us if they got hurt, so we intended to watch over them carefully during their training period to ensure they stayed safe.
Considering that, they wouldn't have much need for a recovery potion for the time being. It wasn't a bad decision to trade it for cash to fund their future activities. Besides, seeing the results of their hard work in the tangible form of money was better for keeping their motivation up.
"Understood. Shall I transfer the buyout funds to the accounts registered to the two cards you've submitted?"
"Yes, please do that."
"I see. And will the split be fifty-fifty?"
"Yes."
The clerk glanced toward the five of us while asking about the transfer method, and I nodded to signal my approval. If only two people in a group of seven were handing over cards, it was only natural for them to double-check.
"Then I will transfer the buyout money to the registered accounts. Is that acceptable?"
Yes!
"Then please wait a moment while I process the transaction."
With their consent, the clerk began operating the terminal with practiced speed. In less than five minutes, the procedure was finished, and their Explorer Cards were returned.
"The transfer is complete. Here are your cards and your buyout certificate."
Thank you very much!
"You're very welcome. That concludes all the procedures. We look forward to your next visit."
The staff member gave a small bow, which Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san hurriedly returned.
Alright, that took care of their first appraisal and buyout. They'd get used to the process soon enough after a few more trips.
"Well then, shall we move to the break area? We're just going to be in the way if we linger here."
Yes!
"Yeah."
"Right."
Even if it wasn't particularly crowded, occupying the space in front of the counter with a large group was a nuisance. We decided to head to the vending machine corner outside the building.
Once there, we bought drinks for everyone and held a brief gathering that served as a combined review meeting and celebration. Though we called it a review meeting, it was mostly just an opportunity to let them vent and release some stress. It was better to do this while the experience was still fresh in their minds. Keeping those feelings bottled up never led to anything good.
"First of all, great job. You've officially completed your first dungeon exploration. How was it? What are your impressions now that you've actually been inside?"
I directed the question to Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san.
"To be honest, it still feels a bit like a dream. It ended more simply than I expected, I suppose..."
"I feel the same. I was expecting something a bit more... like an intense battle with a monster."
"Yeah, that’s a fair reaction. Most of the combat footage you see on TV or the internet focuses on flashy scenes where top explorers put on a grand performance. If that’s what you were visualizing, then today's run definitely would have felt anti-climactic."
In truth, the combat during this exploration had been more like pest control or disposal. We had used traps to neutralize the targets and then killed them only after ensuring total safety. It was only natural for them to feel like something was "off" compared to their expectations.
"Y-Yes. But still, at the moment I delivered the finishing blow, I felt this... indescribable sensation through my hands."
"I know what you mean. We felt it too, and I can still remember that first sensation clearly even now."
"...Even for you seniors, after you've gone into the dungeon so many times?"
"Of course. You get used to it if you keep working as an explorer, but you can never truly forget it."
I certainly hadn't forgotten that unpleasant aftertaste and the weight of the moment. One eventually grew accustomed to it, or they simply wouldn't be able to stay in the profession.
"That said, don't feel like you have to get used to it. If you force yourself to adapt while just bottling everything up inside, you'll eventually hit a breaking point and explode. If you find that you absolutely cannot handle it, it’s better to just retire from being an explorer."
"Retire?"
"Yeah. It’s not uncommon for explorers to lose their mental balance because they forced themselves to endure too much. I've heard of people becoming more violent, having extreme mood swings, or even starting to babble nonsense. Forcing yourself to continue when the work doesn't suit your temperament carries those kinds of risks. I understand not wanting to waste the money you spent on equipment, but if you break your mind or body in the process, you lose everything. And if you have a breakdown inside a dungeon, it leads directly to a life-threatening crisis."
...
It was a harsh thing to say, but if they lacked the aptitude, it was better to quit. Monster slaying would become easier with repetition, but if they forced it, the unprocessed stress would only accumulate.
Starting as an explorer required an initial investment of anywhere from a hundred thousand to several hundred thousand yen. People often pushed themselves just to make that money back, but unlike the old days when drops fetched a high price, the current market meant you'd just fall into a pit of debt unless you were incredibly lucky. You can fake it for a month, but you can't fake it for a year. You'll hit a wall eventually.
"Well, we'll keep an eye on you both for a while, including today. Like I said before we started, we need to gauge your explorer aptitude."
...Yes.
"Don't look so gloomy. So far, it seems like your aptitude is either average or on the high side."
Eh?
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked surprised by my assessment.
If someone had absolutely zero aptitude, their legs would have frozen the moment they faced a monster; they wouldn't have been able to move, and they would have been injured. Furthermore, those without the stomach for it wouldn't have been able to deliver a finishing blow even to a neutralized monster. The fact that they could dodge attacks and kill their targets meant they were already ahead of the curve.
"If you didn't have the aptitude, you wouldn't have been able to do what you did today. No matter how much training you did beforehand, a person without the right mindset would have been useless in the moment."
Y-Yes.
"However, today was only your first time. We can only tell how this truly affects you after some time has passed. If you feel even the slightest bit of 'wrongness,' make sure to talk to us—and your parents. We'll be watching, but unless you put your feelings into words, we might not realize when something is bothering you."
Yes.
Good. I had made sure to hammer the point home. If they felt something was off, hopefully they would consult us before it became a real problem. I’d also warn their parents to keep an eye on them when we dropped them off. If their families were alert, we’d have a solid safety net in place.
With that, I figured the "review meeting" part was over.
"Alright, let's end the serious talk there. Where should we go for the after-party? This was a successful first run, so let's celebrate properly!"
I changed the subject to brighten the mood.
Eh? Oh, yes!
Yay!
"Yeah, sounds good. An after-party is definitely in order."
"I agree. I wonder where we should go?"
"A place near the station would be fine, but maybe we should find something around here?"
Once the party was decided, the four girls—Mika and the others—cheered and immediately pulled out their phones to look for a restaurant. It was much better to see them happy and celebrating their first success than looking miserable. I wondered what would be a good spot...
We found an all-you-can-eat sweets shop near the dungeon. At Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san's request, that's where we went. It was three thousand yen for ninety minutes of sweets and drinks—perfect for a celebration. It would pretty much wipe out their earnings from the day, but I thought it was important to show them that a successful run could lead to a treat like this.
Having a tangible, delicious goal in sight was a great motivator.
"Alright everyone, good job today! Let's skip the long speeches and just dig in!"
Let's eat!
Facing a group of women staring down plates piled high with sweets, I didn't have the courage to give a long-winded toast. The sheer intensity in their eyes as they waited for the signal was genuinely intimidating.
After enjoying the colorful array of sweets until the time limit was up, we ended the party and began the trek home.
"Well then, Hino-san, great job today. Get some rest."
"Thank you so much!"
"Alright Yuji, Hiiragi-san, I'm leaving Hino-san to you."
"Yeah. We're counting on you for Tatebayashi-san."
"Leave it to us."
Since we lived in different directions, Tatebayashi-san went with me, Mika, and Saori, while Hino-san went with Yuji and Hiiragi-san. It was their first run, and there was always a chance they'd hit a mental wall once the adrenaline wore off on the way home.
They seemed fine during the after-party, but it was better to be safe.
"Shall we head out too?"
"Yes, please."
"Mm-hm."
"Right!"
After seeing Hino-san's group off, we started our own walk to drop off Tatebayashi-san. Mika and Saori kept her engaged in conversation the whole way. The atmosphere was lively, and Tatebayashi-san's expression remained calm. So far, there were no visible signs of trauma from the monster slaying.
We arrived at her house without any issues and successfully handed her over to her mother.
"See ya, Akemi-chan!"
"Get some good sleep today!"
"Yeah! Thanks for walking me home, Mika-chan, Saori-chan!"
"She seems fine for now, but please keep a close eye on her for the next few days," I added to her mother.
"Thank you for bringing my daughter back safely without any injuries. I'll be sure to watch her closely, just like you said."
After conveying my concerns to Tatebayashi-san's mother, we didn't overstay our welcome and headed home.
Alright, now today's dungeon exploration was truly finished. Man, I was exhausted—mostly from the mental strain of worrying.
Grand goals are great, but it's the small rewards that keep you going.