Chapter 76

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In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

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Upon my mention of diapers, the two of them stood there in a daze for a moment. Well, it's not something that fits the image of dungeon exploration as most people think of it.

After correctly understanding my words, they blushed slightly and asked, somewhat flustered, about the reason for needing diapers.

"Um, did I hear wrong? I thought I heard you say you need diapers..."

"You didn't hear wrong."

"…Why do you need diapers?"

"Why? Because a lot of first-time adventurers end up soiling themselves when they enter a dungeon for the first time."

"…..."

The two of them grimaced at my words.

However, this is actually one of the unspoken truths about dungeons that isn't widely known.

When facing monsters that attack with lethal intent, inexperienced adventurers often lose control of their bladders and bowels out of fear and tension. In a way, it's like a rite of passage for new adventurers. More experienced adventurers, upon encountering new adventurers who have soiled themselves, tend to look the other way, as this is an unspoken rule.

After all, no one wants their past indiscretions to be brought up.

"It sounds like a joke, but it's true."

"Big brother, do you really need them?"

"Well, if you don't need them, you don't need them, but it's safer to wear them just in case…"

"If you say so, it must be true…"

The two of them sighed heavily, their faces showing their displeasure.

Well, this kind of talk tends to dampen the mood. The dungeons people generally imagine are usually based on those in games and novels, where toilet facilities are rarely described.

"By the way, there are toilets in the dungeon, but only on the relatively safe 2nd and 3rd floors."

"Really?"

"Of course. How would you set up toilets in places where monsters spawn? The toilets on the 2nd and 3rd floors are placed near the stairs because monsters don't approach those areas."

The surface floors, which serve as the tutorial stage, are designed to be safe near the stairs, and no monsters have been confirmed to appear there. Therefore, several pay-per-use portable toilets are set up near the stairs.

However, from the 4th floor onwards, monsters also appear near the stairs, so the facilities are not installed due to concerns about damage.

Incidentally, the cleaning and replenishment of water are handled by specialized companies that employ adventurers with exploration qualifications. They are entrusted with management by the Dungeon Association at a premium rate, including hazard pay, and the facilities are well-maintained with daily cleaning and replenishment, which has received good reviews.

I wonder if the employees have cleaning skills?

"So, how do adventurers who go deeper than the 4th floor take care of their needs?"

"Most people hold it until they leave the dungeon. Of course, they should manage their condition by limiting water intake and eating foods that are easy to digest before entering the dungeon."

"Oh! That's why you didn't eat salad the day before you went to the dungeon, big brother."

"Then, what do they do if they really can't hold it?"

"They probably use portable toilets like those used for hiking. There are waste bins set up at the dungeon exits, so they can dispose of the waste when they leave."

But sometimes, I see black bags left in the corners of the corridors. Since there are designated disposal areas, I wish people would follow public hygiene etiquette.

While I was explaining the adventurer situation to the two of them, a staff member approached with a stern look.

"Excuse me, customers. Your conversation is disturbing other customers, so could you please refrain from such topics…"

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

"We're sorry."

Warned by the staff, we hastily bowed and apologized.

It seems our voices had gotten louder while we were talking. After the staff left, I noticed a few customers looking at us with irritated expressions.

…This is really uncomfortable.

"Um… shall we change the location to continue our conversation?"

"Yeah, I agree."

"Okay. Let's change the location."

Agreeing with my suggestion, the two of them quickly finished the remaining cake and drinks.

Well, it's tough to continue the conversation here.

"Thank you for the meal."

"Thank you for the meal."

"Yeah. Shall we go?"

I stood up with the receipt and headed to the cash register. The two of them followed, carrying their belongings.

A staff member was waiting at the cash register, so it seems our actions were expected.

"The total is 3,540 yen."

"Then, 5,000 yen."

"Thank you, 5,000 yen. Your change is 1,460 yen. Thank you for your visit."

"We were loud, I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

We bowed again and apologized as we left the café.

Yeah, we shouldn't have talked about that in a restaurant. We looked at each other and reflected on our mistake.

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After leaving the café, we wandered around the bustling area for a while and decided to have lunch at an Italian restaurant with the Italian flag flying. The restaurant was dimly lit, with a counter facing the entrance and wooden tables for four. It was lunchtime, so the restaurant was quite crowded, and most of the seats were taken.

As we stood at the entrance looking around, a staff member approached us quickly.

"Thank you for waiting. How many people are you?"

"Three."

"Then, this way…"

Led by the staff, we were guided to a table at the back of the restaurant. While we were settling in, the staff brought us cold water, hot towels, and menus.

"Please press the call button when you're ready to order."

"Okay, thank you."

"Thank you."

The staff left, and we started looking at the menus.

The lunch menu offered pasta and pizza as main dishes, with a salad, soup, and coffee for 980 yen, which was a reasonable price.

Looking at other menus, none of them exceeded 3,000 yen.

"You two can choose whatever you like."

"Okay."

"Thank you."

Since I had already said I would pay for the meal, the two of them were freely considering their choices.

After a few minutes of staring at the menu, I decided to order the mixed grill set.

"…Have you two decided on your orders?"

I looked up from the menu and asked the two of them, who were still staring at their menus.

"…Yeah. I'll go with the lunch pizza set."

"I'll have the lunch pasta set, please."

"Are you sure you want the lunch sets? You can order whatever you like."

I thought they were being polite because I was paying, but they both shook their heads.

"It's not that we're being polite."

"Yes. We just ate cake, so we're not that hungry. It's not because we're being polite."

"Okay… if that's the case. Shall we call the staff?"

With their orders decided, I pressed the call button on the side of the table. The sound of a bell echoed in the restaurant, and a staff member quickly approached.

"Have you decided on your orders?"

"Yes. One pizza lunch set, one pasta lunch set, and one mixed grill set."

"What drinks would you like with your lunch sets?"

"Um…"

The staff member, operating a terminal, asked me a question I hadn't prepared for, so I looked at the two of them for their input.

"I'll have tea. What about you, Sae?"

"I'll have tea, please."

The two of them understood my look and quickly chose their drinks, informing the staff.

"Okay."

"Yes. I'll bring you tea after your meal."

"Thank you. And does the mixed grill set come with a drink after the meal?"

"The mixed grill set does not come with a drink after the meal. If you need a drink after the meal, you can order it separately. However, if you order a meal, you can add a coffee for 100 yen more."

"Then, I'll have coffee after the meal."

"Understood."

The staff member took our orders and bowed slightly before leaving.

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While waiting for our food, I decided to continue the conversation we had interrupted.

To avoid repeating the same mistake, I changed the topic.

"By the way, you two said you're going to be adventurers… do you have enough funds to buy the necessary equipment?"

"Well, we've saved up some New Year's money, so I think we should be okay…"

"I've also saved my New Year's money, so I planned to use that."

Hmm, it seems both of you have some savings.

But…

"Let me just say, if you want to buy the minimum necessary equipment, it will cost around 100,000 yen."

"100,000 yen…?"

"100,000 yen…?"

When I told them the amount needed for initial investment, they exclaimed in surprise and quickly covered their mouths, remembering where they were.

I looked around and bowed slightly to apologize.

"You two, be careful not to raise your voices too much. We don't want to be kicked out again, right?"

Well, we left the café voluntarily, but it was essentially the same as being kicked out.

"Sorry."

"I'm sorry."

The two of them hung their heads in shame, reflecting on their mistake.

"…Well, it's understandable that you're surprised, given the amount."

While they were hanging their heads, I took a sip of water.

We also struggled with the cost of buying equipment when we started.

"If you don't have much money, it's better to buy used items where you can and new weapons and armor. If you skimp on this, it could lead to fatal problems later."

"Yes, used items…"

"If you don't have enough funds, you need to compromise where necessary. Clearly distinguish between what you need and what you don't, and focus your funds on what you need."

It seems Mika is not fond of the idea of used items.

I can understand the desire to have everything new, but if you don't have the funds, there's no choice.

"Used items are often from adventurers who only went into the dungeon a few times before quitting, so they are almost as good as new. It might be a bit of a hassle to find good items on the auction page of the association's website, but there are some great deals if you look."

There are also items from adventurers who quit after just one dungeon exploration.

This time, Sae asked about the used item market.

"Is that true?"

"Yes. Many adventurers become adventurers because they are influenced by their peers or are invited by friends and can't say no. When they face monsters, they often give up quickly. Some might recover and continue, but most end up retiring. The items from these adventurers are often sold at auction as used items."

"But wouldn't there be intense bidding, making them expensive?"

Sae's question is valid.

However, the auction on the association's website is a bit different from regular auction sites.

"That's a reasonable assumption, but it's not quite the case."

"Huh?"

"Actually, not many adventurers use the used item market. Those who can make money usually buy new items, and new adventurers often only learn about the used market after they've already bought their equipment."

"…Is it not well-advertised?"

"It's not advertised. The association prefers adventurers to buy new items, so they only provide information if asked. The Dungeon Association's stance is to not offer help unless asked."

This is similar to the situation with weapons. The Dungeon Association is a bit manipulative and unscrupulous in this regard.

"…Wow."

"That's…"

"The association can be a strong ally if you are well-informed, but if you are ignorant, they won't actively help you. You two should be careful when using the association."

After hearing my explanation, the two of them grimaced. Most people would react similarly after hearing this.

"Here are your orders. I'm sorry for the wait."

It seems we had been talking for quite a while. A staff member carrying our food approached us. The smell of the baked pizza was making me hungry…

"Is everything here?"

"Yes, it's all here."

"Please enjoy your meal."

The staff member bowed and left.

In front of us were steaming dishes. …Let's eat.

"Okay, let's stop the serious talk and eat while it's hot."

"Okay."

"Sure."

First, let's fill our stomachs… Itadakimasu.

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This is part of the lesser-known facts about being an adventurer.

I'll share more about other aspects later…