Ordinary Person × Modern Dungeon × Summer Vacation Life = Rise to Success!? 〜A Private Dungeon Was Made at the Remains of a Secret Base From Childhood〜 - Episode 22: Day of the Explorer Exam ①

Episode 22: Day of the Explorer Exam ①

――8:30 a.m.

I had come to the Ōta Dungeon. It was located in Ōta City, Gunma Prefecture.

The Ōta Dungeon is at the edge of an industrial park, inside a vast parking lot.

Originally, it was a parking area for factory employees. But after the dungeon appeared, the government purchased the land.

In the center of the concrete-covered site, there was a cube-shaped structure. It was also made of concrete.

That was the entrance to the Ōta Dungeon.

“The exam reception is… over there.”

Near the dungeon entrance, there was a simple two-story prefab building.

Apparently, that was the Gunma Prefecture Explorer Association – Ōta Dungeon Branch.

In front of the building, there was an event-style tent. And at the long table there, Otama-chan and another woman about the same age were seated.

In front of Otama-chan, a sign read “Reception: Tochigi Residents.” So I spoke to her.

“Yo, looking forward to today.”

“Ah, Kou-chan… I mean, *ahem*, please provide your examinee number and name.”

“…I’m Natsume Koichi, examinee number [Tochigi 05].”

Since Otama-chan was acting serious, I responded seriously as well.

Otama-chan picked up one card from the table and handed it to me.

“This is your dungeon pass for today. Please wait inside the building until your exam time.”

“Ah, okay.”

I obediently took it and walked toward the prefab building.

Following the sign, I entered the lecture room and saw about ten people already seated.

“Haha, you feeling confident?”

“Goblins are no big deal.”

Since it was March, most of the people seemed to be high school or college students.

Groups of friends who likely came together were chatting cheerfully.

I found the seat labeled [Tochigi 05] and sat down.

“…Everyone seems pretty relaxed.”

In this exam, we fight Goblins in live combat. And the results determine whether we pass or fail.

According to what I found online, as long as your stats are somewhat decent, Goblins can be beaten. So it’s apparently not too hard to get a general explorer license.

The real hurdle comes after that – getting a rank on the license.

The general explorer license is ranked from E to S. And the higher your rank, the fewer restrictions you have on where you can go.

If you completely dominate the Goblin in this exam, you can get a D-rank license.

With a D-rank, you can enter most normal-difficulty dungeons freely.

On the other hand, even if you defeat the Goblin, if you struggle or show weaknesses in your combat style, the examiner may assign you an E-rank.

E-rank explorers are only allowed to explore the very shallow levels of limited dungeons. And until they build up a track record of delivering magic stones, they can’t rank up to D.

That means a huge gap opens up right from the starting line as an explorer.

“I have to aim for a D-rank start too…”

Since I promised to team up with Otama-chan, I can’t afford to mess around.

No matter what, I’ll overwhelm the Goblin.

――And so, I passed the time for 30 minutes by going to the restroom and checking the tools I’d be using in the dungeon.

Before long, Yamada-san from the Explorer Association and a burly, bearded old man entered the lecture room.

“Examinees, quiet down and take your seats!”

The bearded man placed materials on the lectern as he spoke.

With a creak, the back door closed.

Near the door, Otama-chan and the other woman from reception stood by.

In the now quiet room, a deep voice echoed.

“I am Jōnuma from the Gunma Prefecture Explorer Association. The scheduled time has come, so we’ll now begin the General Explorer Exam.”

“I’m Yamada from the Tochigi Prefecture Explorer Association. Today’s exam is co-hosted by Tochigi and Gunma Prefectures. Examinees, please follow instructions not only from your own prefecture’s association, but also from the other. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.”

“Alright, I’ll explain the exam now!”

Jōnuma-san’s explanation was as follows:

• • Under the supervision of Explorer Association staff, examinees will enter the dungeon in the order of their examinee number, two from each prefecture at a time.

• • Each examinee will fight a Goblin twice.

• • One battle will allow skill use. The other will prohibit skill use. (Those with martial arts skills will use a weapon type they are not proficient with. Rentals are available.)

• • The skill-allowed battle will evaluate the examinee’s maximum combat power.

• • The no-skill battle will assess survival ability in emergencies. It’s not mandatory to defeat the Goblin; enduring and deflecting attacks for a certain time is acceptable.

• • If it is determined that the examinee cannot defeat the Goblin, or if the examinee gives up, staff from the Explorer Association will defeat the Goblin. In that case, the examinee fails.

• • If you get injured, healing potions will be provided. Inform staff inside the dungeon.

“…That’s all. Any questions?”

A boy who looked like a high school student sitting up front raised his hand.

“Yes, I have a question! Which battle comes first, the one with or without skills?”

“The examiner will specify when you encounter the Goblin. Follow their instructions. Any other questions?”

No one, including myself, raised a hand.

“Alright, then let’s begin. Examinee numbers 1 and 2 from Gunma, come with me.”

“Tochigi numbers 1 and 2, please come with me. The rest of you, wait until your turn.”

With that, the four people in the first row left the room.

Otama-chan and the other receptionist woman also exited.

The room began to buzz quietly.

“Hey, it started.”

“Those guys might struggle and start at E-rank, huh?”

“That’d be hilarious.”

――Then, 10 minutes later.

“Ugh… sniff… sniffle…”

“………………”

The four examinees returned with gloomy expressions.

“Ah…”

Even their group friends seemed at a loss for words.

They silently watched their friends leave the room with their belongings.

“Next, examinees 3 and 4, follow me.”

“Yes!”

The four people in the row in front of me left the room.

……..Did the entire first row fail?

A sense of unease began to creep in.

The woman examinee sitting next to me also spoke up.

“Um, do you think everyone in the first group failed?”

“Not sure. But… it didn’t look like it went well.”

“It’s strange, isn’t it? They all must’ve prepared, yet the whole row failed…”

“True, that’s different from what I read online…”

Depending on the region, General Explorer Exams can use Kobolds, or combinations like Slimes and walking mushrooms. So there’s some variation and difficulty differences.

But Goblins are considered standard exam monsters and supposedly aren’t especially hard.

There weren’t any reports saying the Ōta Dungeon exam was particularly tough either.

After a while…

Examinees 3 and 4 from each prefecture returned.

“……………………”

All of them had their heads down and remained silent.

“…Again, doesn’t look like it went well.”

“What could it be…”

The mood in the room began to grow heavy.

“Alright, examinees 5 and 6 from each prefecture, follow me.”

――It was our turn.

“Let’s do our best.”

“Yeah.”

The four of us left the Explorer Association building.

There, staff from both prefectures were waiting, including Otama-chan.

“You must be examinee [Tochigi 05], Natsume Koichi? I’m Yamada, your examiner.”

“Ah, yes. Pleased to meet you.”

I wanted to say, “Yeah, I know,” but I answered sincerely.

“We will now begin the Goblin subjugation exam inside the Ōta Dungeon. Upon a recent re-measurement, it seems the mana levels have slightly risen compared to this morning. It shouldn’t be a major issue, but please be cautious just in case.”

“Understood.”

Maybe the Goblins are slightly stronger now because of the mana increase…

Thinking that, I followed Yamada-san.

…….Even if something happens, I should at least be able to earn an E-rank license, right…?