Mika and Saori-chan were practically jumping for joy, their excitement over the unexpected windfall overflowing. While they celebrated, the three of us took another look at the appraisal slip.
Since we had only skimmed it earlier because of where we were, we decided to scrutinize the details properly.
"The buyout price for the minotaur meat seems a bit higher than the recent market rate, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it’s probably a few hundred yen higher."
"It’s likely seasonal demand," Hiiragi-san suggested. "With Christmas and New Year’s right around the corner, the dungeon food market is heating up."
I see. It made sense. There was always a segment of the population looking to splurge on special events. If you added those people to the usual demand, it was only logical that the buyout prices would see a temporary bump.
In that sense, our timing for this expedition couldn't have been better.
"Because the volume was so high, we walked away with a pretty decent profit—not quite like the old days, but still. Mika and Saori-chan really lucked out."
"Yeah," Yuji agreed. "I’d bet there’s a difference of nearly two million yen compared to a normal haul."
"Exactly. Timing really is everything."
We watched Mika and Saori-chan with a mix of amusement and admiration as they continued their victory dance.
That said, if they kept making such a scene, they were eventually going to bother the people around them—or worse, attract some unwanted attention from the wrong crowd. I felt a little bad for raining on their parade, but it was time to bring them back down to earth.
"Hey, you two. I know you’re happy, but settle down. Keep making a racket like that and you're going to attract some weirdos."
"「!?」"
My voice finally pierced the fog of their joy. Mika and Saori-chan both froze, their faces flushing as they looked down, suddenly very sheepish.
They probably realized just how much of a spectacle they’d been making of themselves in public. Even from my perspective, they’d been pretty far gone.
"「......」"
"Well, look... I get why you're happy. You don't have to shrink away like that."
"Y-Yeah, I know, but..."
"I just... I lost myself for a moment..."
Mika and Saori-chan apologized in tiny voices, their faces still beet-red.
I waited a bit for them to compose themselves before moving the conversation forward.
"Look, it’s great that we made such a massive profit this time, but don't go getting cocky and wasting it. This was a huge success because we were there to act as porters and the timing was perfect. On a normal day, you'd be lucky to get a fraction of this."
"Yeah. You're right. This was just a fluke."
"Realistically, if it were just the two of us, we couldn't have carried even half of that meat back," Saori-chan added. "We never would have reached this amount. Plus, the appraisal was boosted by the season..."
If it were just Mika and Saori, their carrying capacity would have limited them to maybe one or two million yen, even if they focused purely on minotaur meat. Granted, for high school student explorers, that was still an incredible income for a single day’s work.
However, once you’ve tasted a win this big, it’s hard to be satisfied with anything less.
"Exactly. That’s why you shouldn't treat this haul as the benchmark for your earnings. If you start relying on high-stakes income like this, you’re on a one-way path to bankruptcy. Don't forget about taxes, either. If you spend your dungeon earnings on fun and games, you’ll be in hell when it’s time to pay up. Since explorers can hit it big, your income can easily catapult you into the highest tax bracket."
"T-That’s right. Taxes... If we spent everything..."
"I’ve seen idiots do that," Yuji said. "Then, around the time for the final tax return, you see them in the dungeon looking pale as ghosts, diving like their lives depend on it because they’re desperate to earn their tax money before the deadline."
It really does happen. Every year between February and March, those types swarm the dungeon. I’d heard rumors of explorers who saw their tax notices, did a quick calculation of what they owed, and fainted on the spot. Then they have to spend every waking hour diving just to stay out of trouble with the tax office.
"Since you two earned this much, you're going to be hit with a significant tax bill. Be careful. It’s better not to touch any of this until you've calculated your total income for the year and set aside what you'll owe."
"「......」"
The joy that had lit up their faces moments ago had vanished, replaced by strained, hollow expressions.
I knew this kind of talk was a buzzkill, but if they didn't manage their finances now, they really would see hell later.
"I mean, you both researched explorer taxes for the school festival, so you should know the theory. I just wanted to make sure you didn't forget while you were riding high on the win."
"「......」"
Mika and Saori-chan looked at each other, their expressions complicated.
I’d just doused them with a bucket of cold reality right after they’d worked their hearts out to earn a fortune. I couldn't blame them for looking a bit grim.
The high of the victory had been thoroughly cooled by the harshness of the real world, and the girls had finally returned to their usual temperaments. It’s only natural to get swept up when you suddenly have more money than you've ever seen, but I was impressed they were able to settle down so quickly.
We moved to a quiet vending machine corner nearby and sat on a bench to take a break.
"Phew... Oh, that reminds me, Mika, Saori-chan."
"What is it, Onii-chan?"
"Yes?"
I decided to bring up something that had been on my mind during today’s exploration.
"I noticed something during our dive... You guys are keeping up with your weapon maintenance, right?"
"Maintenance? Yeah, of course. I'm doing it exactly the way I was taught. Right, Saori-chan?"
"Yes, I'm taking care of mine too."
Mika and Saori-chan looked a bit puzzled by the question, but they answered with serious expressions.
These were the weapons they trusted with their lives in the dungeon; I knew they wouldn't skip the basics. But...
"I see... In that case, would you mind if I took a look at them?"
I checked our surroundings to make sure I wouldn't be bothering other explorers before asking.
"Eh? Sure..."
"Alright..."
Despite having just insisted they were doing their maintenance, they both looked confused as they handed over their gear bags.
I pulled Mika’s weapon from her bag while Yuji took Saori’s, and we both began a careful inspection.
"Hmm, yeah..."
"I thought so."
Yuji and I shared a troubled look as we examined the gear. It was exactly as I’d suspected.
"Um, Onii-chan? What’s wrong? Why are you making that face...?"
"Is there a problem with them?"
Sensing the mood, Mika and Saori-chan asked with bated breath, their expressions turning fearful.
Yuji and I could only give them wry smiles.
"Well, I had a feeling it was getting to be about that time. Looks like I was right."
"Yeah. It happened to us around this stage, too. It’s pretty much inevitable once you reach a certain level."
"「??」"
"You two are being too vague," Hiiragi-san chided us with a sigh, noticing the girls’ confusion. "Don't scare them for no reason."
She turned to the girls. "To put it simply, it’s about time you brought these to a professional for some serious maintenance."
"They've been cared for," I explained, "but every time a weapon is used, fatigue and minor distortions build up. We had our own gear overhauled and upgraded to explorer-spec around this same stage."
"The weapons you're using right now were designed for ordinary people," Hiiragi-san continued. "They weren't built to withstand the strength of explorers who have leveled up as much as you have. Now that you've both reached a mid-tier level, that unintended fatigue is starting to accumulate. No matter how much you clean them, they’ll eventually snap if you don't address it. This is about maintenance and modification to keep that from happening. Fortunately, we can use the same contact we used for our gear, so you don't have to worry about where to take them."
"「......」"
Mika and Saori-chan looked stunned. They glanced at each other, clearly unsure of how to process the news.
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah. I mean, they're in better shape than ours were back then, so they’ll hold up for a little while longer. But once the damage passes a certain threshold, it deteriorates rapidly. It’s better to get them in perfect condition while you have the chance. You wouldn't want your weapon to break in the middle of a fight, would you?"
"That would be... awful."
"Then you should put them in for maintenance while you have the leeway. Fortunately—or unfortunately—you can easily afford the modification costs after today's haul."
The modifications would likely take a decent chunk of their earnings, but that was a small price to pay compared to having a familiar weapon break and having to start over with a new one.
"I mean, we have the money, so it’s fine, but..."
"It’s just so sudden..."
They were clearly rattled. Part of it was the unexpected expense, but I think the bigger shock was that they hadn't noticed their own gear was failing.
Even a quick glance showed they had been taking excellent care of their equipment. But when you’re constantly struggling to adapt to the shifting physical sensations of leveling up, it’s hard to notice the subtle signs of weapon fatigue. It’s the kind of thing where you need an experienced third party to point it out.
"It is sudden, I know. But if you want to use these long-term, you really should get them looked at—even if you skip the major modifications for now."
"Exactly," Yuji added. "Better to have a pro check them before something actually goes wrong."
"They are the tools you trust with your lives," Hiiragi-san said softly. "I highly recommend keeping them in top condition."
"「......」"
Faced with our unanimous advice, the girls’ expressions shifted toward a resigned sort of acceptance.
Modifications take time, and I’m sure they weren't thrilled about the idea of being away from their favorite weapons. I decided to give them one final push.
"Look at it this way: you’re going to be helping Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san with their training for a while. Since you won’t be diving into the deep floors during that time, it’s the perfect window to have your main weapons modified. You don't want to be forced to send them out later when the hunting is good."
"「That's... true.」"
"Plus, it’s hard to find the motivation for big upgrades unless you have a financial cushion," I added. "When money is tight, you’re always tempted to just make do with what you have until things get better."
Mika and Saori-chan looked at each other, silent for a long moment. Then, with a look of shared resolve, they both nodded.
"I guess now really is the best time," Mika said. "If we have to do it eventually, we might as well do it now."
"I agree. It’s better to do it while we can afford it."
They had finally reached a decision.
"Great. In that case, I'll contact the craftsman soon and see if he can take the job."
"Okay."
"Thank you, Onii-chan."
As we started talking about the specifics, Mika and Saori-chan still looked a little bit like they’d been railroaded into this.
Well, I just hope Kyosuke-san is available to take the commission.