Volume 2: The Place Where It Begins

Chapter 33

A week had passed since November began, and the feeling that permeated the entire school wasn’t the chill of late autumn—it was the sense of urgency and anxiety brought on by the approaching midterm exams.

These midterms were, in a way, the last “interim report” to check where one stood before the advancement exams—whether you were within the range to progress or not.

Amid all this, I was called alone to the faculty office and handed an envelope.

“Higashiyama, I haven’t asked about the results yet, but I’m certain—you’ve already obtained your Explorer’s License ahead of schedule. Since summer, your growth has truly been remarkable. I know it’s not something a teacher should say lightly to a student… but I have high expectations for you, Higashiyama.”

“Ah… I passed. Thank you, sensei. I’ll live up to your expectations. I’ll be the second graduate of this high school to reach the Central Dungeon.”

I opened the envelope right in front of the teacher and revealed the pass notification.

What I was speaking of would normally be considered a “grand dream.”

But now it was a “dream within range.”

“That’s right. I’m counting on you. Don’t let your guard down in the midterms.”

With that, I hurried back to the classroom during lunch to eat the bento my older sister had made.

“Akira, your bento always has rice balls, doesn’t it? And the variety is amazing.”
“Right? Today it’s an omelette rice onigiri. My sister’s really skilled.”
“Hey… can I have one? I’ll trade you for my rice burger.”
“You make that kind of thing in a bento? That’s impressive too.”

At lunchtime, there were no more students bothering me about the summer incident.

Showing such isolated results, and demonstrating real skill even in class, I was starting to stand out—not just in my class, but in the entire grade.

The idea of competing with me had finally sunk in. “It’s foolish to compete,” “Don’t challenge him lightly.” Even Nanjou had started avoiding me.

“By the way, Akira, where were you?”
“Hm? Faculty office. For students, the results of the Explorer’s License exam are sent to the school. I went to pick mine up.”
“Eh! The results are out!? How’d it go!?”
“Of course I passed. Most people will probably take next month’s exam instead, I’d imagine.”
“Hmm… maybe I’ll take it next month too.”

In my previous life, I failed this exam, then passed in December.

But back then, I hadn’t told Kasumi that I’d become an Explorer right after high school, or that I’d taken the Explorer’s License exam.

Looking back now, I can only call myself cold—but that’s how desperately one had to study to earn an Explorer’s License.

“You’re going to take it too, Kasumi? Then I can probably help you.”
“Really? You’ll help me? Maybe I can do it… alongside the advancement exam.”

In my previous life, Kasumi had decided to get her license after entering the academy.

That’s true for most people—the academy doesn’t immediately offer classrooms for practical dungeon training.

But my actions changed things before summer break. Looking back… Kasumi saw my career plan, and that seemed to shift the flow entirely.

I changed my focus to advancement and chose to acquire the “Blessing of the Dungeon” during summer break.

Perhaps… the reason I could gain the [Transfer Bonus] was because I went to receive the blessing during summer break.

“I’ll help you with everything. Phew, thanks for the rice burger.”
“Thanks for the omelette rice onigiri. It was delicious.”
“See? My sister is even better at Western-style dishes.”
“How was my rice burger?”
“Honestly, it’s just as good as at a store. How did you make the rice patty?”
“Just cook the rice normally, mix with potato starch while warm, shape it firmly, and grill it a bit.”
“I see… I’ll try that next time.”

Talking about lunch and the Explorer’s License exam, blending the ordinary and the extraordinary, the final winter of high school had begun.

“Hello. I’ve confirmed the transfer. We’ve received 675 billion. Please collect the magic stone at the designated location—the Explorer’s safe deposit box—”

At that time, Arnie was at home, having received an enormous fortune, issuing instructions over the phone to government officials.

“Understood. Also… Director Suzakuyama sent a message that he wishes to meet again. If convenient for you, we will come at the time you designate.”

The person on the phone, likely a subordinate of Suzakuyama, half expected refusal but conveyed the message. Surprisingly—

“That’s fine. Then, shall we meet at the Ginza Branch Dungeon Management Center next Saturday at 4 PM? Does that work?”

“Understood! I’ll relay the message immediately.”

Having sent that message, Arnie ended the call and immediately used Akira’s room PC to finally order her own computer.

But this wasn’t because she wanted to play games—it was to obtain a high-spec PC capable of running multiple programs in parallel.

Her insistence on a gaming PC was really for this purpose. Arnie had already started moving toward her next ambition.

“Where should I set it…? I didn’t expect a dungeon to appear in Odaiba… If I’m building a base for the two of them… maybe somewhere between Ginza and Odaiba…”

“Hello, Akira-kun.”
“Oh, hello, Misaki-senpai.”

On the way home, the air had grown chilly enough that I started taking the school bus home instead of biking. At the bus stop, Misaki-senpai spoke to me.

She seemed to be on her way home too, probably with a group of friends. As expected of the student council president, she must be well-liked.

“Oh? Misaki President, you have acquaintances at the affiliated high school?”
“Yes, I owe him a lot.”
“We’re the ones who owe you. Thanks for dealing with my sister.”

One of her friends looked at me curiously, as if seeing something unusual.

Even though we were only a year or two apart in age, seeing her in casual clothes with makeup made her feel like a grown woman—it was slightly intimidating.

That’s the way of high schoolers.

“Then perhaps you will become our junior. You’ll advance, right?”
“Yes. When that happens, I’ll be counting on you, senpai.”

Next, a serious-looking boy with square-frame glasses spoke.

I guessed—could these people with Misaki-senpai be the student council?

Yeah, this boy definitely seemed like the competent vice president supporting a beautiful student council president.

“Are you all in the student council?”
“Yes. I’m the vice president, that’s the secretary, and Misaki-kun is the president.”

Wow, my intuition was pretty accurate!

“Akira-kun, the midterm exams are coming up soon. Any problems with your studies?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“If you have questions when we visit, don’t hesitate to ask anything.”
“Ha, then I won’t hold back when that happens.”

Actually, Misaki-senpai had been coming over to my house quite frequently lately.

Of course, the main reason was to spar with my older sister—and she dutifully paid 500 yen each time.

…The other day, I picked up the piggy bank in the living room, and it was already heavy as a rock.

If all of that was Misaki-senpai’s pocket money… I kind of felt guilty.

And honestly, it’s harsh that it’s not 500 yen per day, but 500 yen per match.

“Oh? Misaki President, you’re visiting this kid’s house? That’s kind of unexpected.”
“Hmm… Even though the age of majority has been lowered, the President should still maintain a proper sense of moderation in her relationships—”
“No! I have business with the maid who lives at Akira-kun’s house!”

Feeling a slight sense of superiority and delight, I wondered if I was a bad person.

As I caught the gazes of people around the bus station, that thought lingered in my mind.

“Actually, recently my sister seems to be spending more time at home than going to dungeons, so I think Misaki-senpai has been a good way for her to relax. Please continue looking after her.”

“No, no. The pleasure is mine. Ah, here comes the bus. We’re going to inspect a dungeon with these three after this, so we won’t be able to visit today, but please give my regards to your sister.”

Getting on the bus and taking a seat away from the seniors who huddled in the back, I quietly savored the realization: I finally became an Explorer again this time.

“I’m home~”
“Welcome back~”

When I got home, my sister unusually came down from the second floor.

My room? Maybe she had been doing some research on my computer.

“Nee-san, are you looking something up?”

“Hehe… I’ve ordered a BTO computer! The money’s been transferred! The wealth Explorers gain in dungeons is taxed at the point of purchase, so the money transferred to me now isn’t taxed! That means all the money here is ours, Akira and me!”

“Oh… um, I don’t really want to hear about the magic stone sales, but wasn’t a lot taken in taxes?”

“Hehe… Listen. The tax on dungeon-produced items is basically 10% of the purchase price, but there’s a rule: the maximum tax per item is 10 million yen!”

“…So if a single item sells for over 100 million, you basically don’t pay any more taxes. I didn’t want to know this…”

“Don’t worry about money anymore! Soon we’ll set up the Explorer clan and secure a base, so prepare yourself now! Time to move! A move!”

Cheerfully, she spoke of the future as she set things in motion.

It felt… really like this was finally where it all begins.

I thanked my sister for today’s delicious bento and prepared dinner together with her.

Originally, my admiration for Explorers came from wanting to see people face the unknown on their own and make a living from it.

But now, it’s different. It’s not for money or survival. Purely, I want to challenge these mysteries.

The dungeons—mysterious entities that give humanity power and progress, yet also present danger.

I want to know what lies at their very ends. And why beings like my sister exist in this world.

I want to unravel all of these mysteries, all the things I don’t yet know.

“Akira, tonight we’re having nabe. And we’ll finish it with zosui!”
“Oh, nice. Let’s have plenty of soft-boiled egg with it too.”

With this sister by my side, part of my family, I want to uncover it all.