Chapter 6

Then, Self-Defense Officer Yamane briefly glanced behind us.

Among the participants, I, who have no interest in being an explorer, subtly checked the back, but it seemed nothing had changed; there was only a Self-Defense Officer operating the projector and the door leading outside the gymnasium.

"Hmm"

"Please turn to the third page from the back of the pamphlet."

Self-Defense Officer Yamane spoke to me as I turned my gaze back to the front. It seemed I had caught his attention, but... it doesn't really matter.

I can't join the Self-Defense Force at 41, and I have no interest in being an explorer. I only came today to accompany Sasaki.

Since there's no connection, I thought I only needed to maintain a minimum level of decorum.

As I was thinking this, an image appeared on the screen behind Self-Defense Officer Yamane.

—I see... It seems he was checking if the screen could be switched.

I must have been a bit too inquisitive.

"The main source of income for dungeon explorers is something called a monster core."

"Monster core?"

Sasaki voiced his confusion, but Self-Defense Officer Yamane nodded and pointed to the text on the screen with a pointer.

"A monster core is the nucleus that moves the monsters wandering inside the dungeon—similar to the heart of a human. You can obtain it by defeating a monster."

"Hey! It doesn't say how much they buy them for..."

"The deeper the level, the better quality the monster core will be."

The screen changed.

It showed several stones of different colors.

"The lowest quality ones are the color of coal and are priced at 100 yen each."

At this, Sasaki exclaimed, "Cheap!" I also thought it was cheap in my mind.

It seemed everyone else in the audience thought the same, as they all wore confused expressions.

Some of the participants started talking to each other, saying things like, "I heard explorers can make a lot of money!"

The gymnasium was in an uproar.

I sighed, thinking the presentation was poorly done.

"Participants! Please calm down!"

"Yamane-senpai, did you hear? Monster cores are apparently 100 yen each."

It's good to imagine the whole from a part, but you need to hear the whole story to understand it.

However, there was a problem with the Self-Defense Officer as well.

If he was using a projector to explain, he should have prepared a price list.

The problem arises when you only show the trees and not the forest.

"Sasaki, Yamane-san was pointing to different stones with the pointer. That's what it means."

"What do you mean?"

"—Are you stupid? There are different colored stones, so the buyback prices are different. Besides, there's no such thing as an easy job. People who fall for such sweet talk are why scams never go away."

The gymnasium fell silent.

Everyone's gaze was on me.

Self-Defense Officer Yamane was also frozen.

—Well, I've finished reading the pamphlet and want to go home, so I'll help him out.

"May I speak for a moment?"

"Y-Yes."

"Mr. Yamane, 2nd Lieutenant—"

"Yamane is fine."

"Understood. Yamane-san, could you project a list of the buyback prices for monster cores on the screen using the projector? I think it would be easier to understand visually—"

Self-Defense Officer Yamane nodded at my words.

A large screen soon displayed a list of monster core buyback prices.

Black: 100 yen

Red: 500 yen

Orange: 1000 yen

Yellow: 2000 yen

Yellow-Green: 5000 yen

Green: 10000 yen

Blue: 50000 yen

—I see... It's like a color wheel.

However, the problem is that dungeons and monsters were originally fairy tales.

It's unlikely they are influenced by Earth's physics.

—No, since they already exist in our world, they are not just imaginary.

"The buyback prices are as follows."

"How much can a beginner explorer make in a day?"

It seems the participants had the time to think after the price list was shown.

Still, the problem I had suspected from the beginning...

2nd Lieutenant is a lower rank than sergeant, and it seems more plausible now.

—Because, if I know a sergeant, he would say, "Shut up! Trash! You just listen to me!" and smoothly conduct the new recruit training.

Since he can't do that, he must be a low-ranking new recruit.

Well, in a regular company, someone in their late 20s would be at most a team leader or assistant manager, so it's understandable.

I listened to Self-Defense Officer Yamane while looking at the pamphlet in my hand.

—There are several regulations.

Killing or committing crimes inside the dungeon is judged according to the Japanese Constitution.

This is obvious.

—And...

One, only adults are allowed to carry knives.

One, when registering as an explorer, you must undergo a psychiatric evaluation at a mental hospital and receive a monthly evaluation after becoming an explorer.

One, knives must be registered at the nearest Ground Self-Defense Force base and the Dungeon Explorer Association.

One, those with a criminal record cannot become explorers.

One, foreigners cannot become explorers. Additionally, those with Japanese citizenship who cannot communicate in Japanese are also not allowed.

One, if you die in the dungeon, it is considered your own responsibility.

One, all items obtained in the dungeon must be submitted to the Dungeon Explorer Association for review.

One, items obtained in the dungeon must be sold at the Dungeon Explorer Association's auction. Unauthorized circulation will result in a prison sentence of up to 30 years or a fine of up to 500 million yen.

—500 million yen... That's an astronomical amount.

More importantly, I've never heard that foreigners can't become explorers.

Is it intentional exclusion? Or has something happened in the five years since the dungeon appeared?

"Thank you for the explanation. If anyone wishes to become an explorer, please speak to the counselor who is here for this training session."

It seems 2nd Lieutenant Yamane has finished his explanation.

Well, the pamphlet mainly contained the precautions for becoming an explorer.

It also said to check the website for more details.

The participants will probably check it later.

Humans can't remember everything at once.

At the Nokomoko Call Center, it takes a month of training to teach the operation of mobile phones and regulations, as teaching everything at once leads to forgetting.

Writing "check the website" in the pamphlet is a reasonable approach.

"Yamane-senpai"

"—What is it?"

"Can I go for counseling?"

"It's fine, but..."

"What about you, Yamane-senpai?"

"I'm going home."

Everyone's gaze was on me.

That's why I don't like being the center of attention...

"Yamane-senpai, didn't you hear that explorers can make a lot of money? Just one blue monster core is worth 50,000 yen! 50,000 yen! If you get one a day, that's..."

"Are you thinking of 30 days of work and a monthly salary of 1.5 million yen?"

"Yes!"

"Got it! Good luck!"

I placed my hand on Sasaki's shoulder and stood up from the folding chair.

"Senpai, will you wait for me?"

"No way. The training is over, so I don't need to stay."

"Aw..."

"Stop whining. Good luck."

I said my social pleasantries and left the gymnasium to find a toilet.

After sitting in the cold gymnasium for a long time, I needed to go.

The problem is that I don't know where the toilet is.

"Excuse me, are you Yamane-san?"

"Yes."

The person who spoke to me from behind was 2nd Lieutenant Yamane.

"Thank you for your help earlier."

"No, it's no trouble."

He's quite humble.

Normally, even if it was a helping hand, a host would feel annoyed if the audience took control of the conversation, even for a moment.

"Are you not going to become an explorer, Yamane-san?"

"I only came today because my junior insisted. Personally, I have no interest."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Besides, I don't think a dangerous job suits me."

It's one thing with juniors or close friends, but the person I'm talking to is someone I just met today.

Using "I" is not appropriate.

This is part of social etiquette.

"I thought you would make an excellent explorer, Yamane-san—"

I don't understand why he thinks so highly of me, but to be honest, I just want to go home.

Why do I have to have a conversation with a man in the cold?

"That's just flattery. I'll take my leave now."

I forcibly ended the conversation and left the Self-Defense Force base to head home.