Living in a Dungeon in Modern Japan! An Overpowered Life with a Useless Skill - Episode 8

Episode 8

As I left the room, it seemed preparations had already been made. And I was guided by a staff member to a small classroom-like room.

Inside, I found Kobayashi-san, who had been with me earlier.

When she saw my face, she smiled happily and said:

“Akatsuki-san! We’re together again. I was wondering what I’d do if you decided to leave without taking the training.”

Her concern was valid—we hadn’t promised to take the training together. Depending on one’s skill, it was entirely possible to skip the practical.

In Japan, even among those with magical power, only a small percentage choose to become explorers. That’s common knowledge.

I myself hadn’t expected to see Kobayashi-san again during the training.

“So you’re taking the training too, Kobayashi-san. I didn’t think you’d go into a dungeon.”

“That was my plan too. But I found out that having a high magic value can cause problems… Ah, I’ll explain later.”

A man who appeared to be the instructor came in. It interrupted our conversation.

The instructor thoroughly taught us the basics of dungeon knowledge—what is considered common sense—as well as detailed precautions for being inside a dungeon.

Basically, law enforcement like the police has no authority inside dungeons. So crimes can and do occur.

Surveillance equipment like cameras also can’t be installed. It made it impossible to prove crimes committed inside.

Explorers go through customs-like checks before entering. But since they must fight monsters, bringing weapons is necessary. However, those weapons can also be used against other people. When you think about it, the need for such strict instruction becomes clear.

One of the biggest issues is how to handle drop items.

There is a wide variety of drop items. And some are extremely valuable. Disputes over them are common.

Among them, the most problematic are scrolls that grant new skills.

These are said to drop from any monster. But the probability is extremely low—it’s normal to hunt hundreds without getting one.

Because of that, they are among the most valuable dungeon drops. And depending on the skill granted, they can be worth hundreds of millions of yen.

Since obtaining them is purely luck-based, unexpected drops often cause fights within parties.

Death or injury inside a dungeon is not covered by insurance. And everything is considered your own responsibility.

The explorer management organizations will mediate disputes if needed. But they operate under the principle that issues between explorers are their own responsibility.

Because of this, explorers are held to extremely high moral standards.

Japan is said to be relatively better in this regard. But the truth is no one really knows what goes on.

Maybe because there were only two of us, the instructor emphasized everything to the point of overkill. But thanks to that, we both had no trouble passing the review test after the training.

“Now then, we’ll proceed with the in-dungeon explanation. From here, Hikawa will take over.”

The man referred to earlier as Chief Hikawa appeared.

“Alright, we’re heading into the dungeon now. So I’ll also guide you through the facilities as we go.”

With that, he began explaining the facility.

The Explorer’s Tower was huge. But I was told that basic facilities are the same at dungeons everywhere. After the explanation, we finally entered the dungeon.

To enter a dungeon, you must pass through a customs-like gate. There, things like CT scans are performed to check for dangerous or illegal items.

By the way, items from the dungeon are stored inside the gate area. And you generally cannot bring weapons or goods out of the dungeon.

As for weapons, there are lockers inside the gate where they can be stored.

Since some drops are dangerous, this system helps prevent problems.

We passed through the gate without any trouble and were guided to locker rooms and other facilities. We then received and equipped loaner weapons and armor.

Since we would only be fighting Slimes on the first floor, our gear was basic—more like the protective gear you’d wear when riding a bicycle, and a baton.

After getting our gear on, the two of us finally headed toward the dungeon.

Even after passing through the gate, there were various facilities. But other users were around, and no one paid much attention to us.

“Nobody’s really paying us any attention, huh?”

“That’s because practical trainees aren’t uncommon. From January to March, the place is overflowing with people. Having trainees during this time of year is unusual, but not unheard of.”

That made sense—it’s just that we came in the off-season. During peak months, there are tons of people.

“But I heard not many people actually become explorers,” 

Satsuki-san asked.

“Even if they don’t become explorers, quite a few still go through the training. For those who don’t plan to become explorers, chances to enter a dungeon are rare.”

That made sense, too. Even if someone doesn’t intend to become an explorer, I could understand why they’d want to experience it while they could.

As we chatted, we began to see what looked like the dungeon entrance.

It was a massive, reinforced door. It was clearly different from its surroundings. It was open now, but it looked like it could be sealed shut in an emergency.

You could tell it was the dungeon entrance because beyond it, the scenery changed drastically to a rocky, cave-like interior that didn’t match the rest of the building at all.

“Beyond this point, there’s no signal. Please make sure not to get separated. It’s a cave inside, but it’s well-lit. So don’t worry.”

Holding our breath in nervous anticipation, the two of us stepped through the gate and entered the dungeon.