Living in a Dungeon in Modern Japan! An Overpowered Life with a Useless Skill - Episode 10: Bulletin Board

Episode 10: Bulletin Board

[Beginner Explorers] – Part 3001

163: I just got my Explorer License. So I’m thinking of becoming one. What should I do first?

170: >163 What’s your magic power level?

173: It’s E.

177: >170 Then don’t bother.

180: Why not? I heard that if you have magic power, you can become an explorer and make money.

185: What age are you from? These days, most full-time explorers have at least a C in magic power. The only ones with a D who can manage are those with really useful unique skills. If you’ve got E-level magic power, unless your unique skill is ultra-rare, it’s basically impossible.

187: My unique skill is a combat skill. If it’s a combat skill, wouldn’t I be able to manage in dungeons?

190: Even if it’s a combat skill, if you didn’t get a special briefing from the staff, then it’s probably just a standard one. If it were a rare one, they’d have assigned you a specialist to explain it. If that’s not the case, it’s better to give up and just get a regular job. Right now, due to labor shortages, even part-time jobs pay over 2,000 yen per hour.

192: >190 I did get a briefing from a specialist! It was in the Kanto region, and she was really pretty too.

194: >192 So jealous. Was your skill that rare?

197: It’s not something I’d brag about… but apparently it was the first time it manifested in Japan.

199: >190 Is magic power really that important? I didn’t think it mattered much in combat when they explained it to me…

201: Even if you have low magic power, you can brute-force things by leveling up. But if you want to make money, you need skills—and skills consume magic power. With an E rank, most skills are either completely unusable or can only be used a few times. Totally useless.

205: Back during the dungeon boom, even people with E-rank could earn something. But now, most parties are stability-focused and play it safe. “Dungeon dream” is just that—a dream.

207: Magic power is a key selection factor when forming parties. Honestly, if you’re E, no one will even let you in.

210: Nowadays, unique skills are considered very personal info. And even party members usually don’t share them. In the past, people used to openly disclose their skills. But there were too many issues with that…

215: From what I’ve read here, seems like being an explorer with E-level is hopeless. I’ll just quietly get a part-time job. Thanks, everyone.

218: Some people can’t accept it and end up dying by overestimating themselves. You’re better off for making a calm decision.

222: Japan has a pretty high safety margin when it comes to dungeon hunting. Lately, there are hardly any fatalities.

230: Even so, there are still injuries. And while Japan has fewer deaths, globally the number of casualties is still quite high. Explorers are literally risking their lives for money.

233: Still, I’ve heard if your magic power is too high, you might get kidnapped or detained. So having a C is the sweet spot—not too high, not too low.

255: In one country, someone with A-rank magic power became president.

266: That’s what they call the “magic power lottery,” huh? Magic power level is completely random, right?

270: Currently, they’re collecting stats globally. But officially, governments just say it’s random.

290: If you spend a lot of time in dungeons, it’s hard not to envy those with high magic power. Leveling up barely raises your magic power. Even if you acquire a skill, it’s meaningless if you can’t use it. In the end, it’s just brute-forcing through levels. And I can’t earn like I used to… Maybe it’s time to pass the torch…

295: Says the guy who’s only been active as an explorer for 1–2 years…

297: Japan’s explorer population barely grows at all.

305: Japan’s way behind when it comes to supporting explorers. Even the buyback price for magic stones has dropped year after year—thanks to the government. Since we can’t take items out of the dungeon, we have no choice but to sell them at the exit.

307: That system’s messed up. They should let us trade more freely.

310: According to the government, magic stones acquired in dungeons are state property. Trading raw stones is prohibited.

315: Dungeons managed by the government = mines. Magic stones = ore. So yeah, of course they ban sales.

320: Then they should at least raise the price. In other countries, I saw they go for at least 3,000 yen each.

322: Then why not just go to that country?

325: Japanese explorers aren’t allowed to enter foreign dungeons. And once your level goes up, travel restrictions kick in. There are way too many restrictions on Japanese explorers.

333: Talk about being fenced in…

345: Japan is so behind it’s considered a “dungeon underdeveloped nation.” Other countries keep poaching our explorers. So maybe this is the government’s way of trying to stop that.

350: It’s like being a caged animal.

355: Japan even has an age limit to become an explorer. They tried to control everything in the early days. But now it’s all backfiring, and we keep falling further behind.

360: Wait, other countries don’t have age limits!?

367: Depends on the country. Some places just have detection stones in the town square that anyone can touch.

370: That’s way too free!

372: Yeah, but crime rates are also much higher in those countries.

375: Japan is the best!

378: In the end, it’s the explorers who get the short end of the stick. Everyone else enjoys the benefits, and the economy’s good right now. So no one wants reform.