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 6: The Beginning of an Explorer’s Life

Episode 6: The Beginning of an Explorer’s Life

“That concludes the Explorer Training. Thank you for your hard work.”

In the classroom behind the counter, I finished the one-hour explorer training.

Otama-chan did a great job as the instructor.

I even ended up clapping for her.

“Thanks. That was really helpful.”

“Really? I’m so happy.”

“The textbook is from the government, right? But your way of explaining was really good.”

“Hehe, it’s not that big of a deal…”

Otama-chan looked pleased. She was scratching the back of her head.

How to carry weapons outside of dungeons, tools that aren’t mandatory but are recommended, how to deal with monsters when you encounter them…

I was able to gain some very practical knowledge.

“It feels like a waste that I got to monopolize it.”

Maybe because it’s a weekday morning, there weren’t any other customers taking the training.

“More people should hear it.”

“Ehehe… thank you, thank you.”

Otama-chan responded to me with a rockstar-like gesture.

“Yamada-saaaan, Omoigawa-san is getting carried awaaaay!”

“K-Kou-chan! Don’t say that!”

“Haha…”

“Geez… I actually got scolded a lot yesterday, you know.”

“I said it quietly. So she probably didn’t hear it.”

“Yamada-san has crazy high detection ability in dungeons, you know? Wouldn’t be weird if she *did* hear it.”

“Don’t make her sound like a monster with super hearing.”

“I-I wasn’t saying that! Here! I’ll give you this 20% off coupon, so why don’t you go to the Explorer Corner at Eayon!? They sell recommended beginner sets there too!”

“…This is a well-designed system.”

☆★☆

“Thanks for your hard work.”

When I exited the classroom, Yamada-san from the Explorer Association greeted me.

“How was Omoigawa-san’s explanation?”

I answered honestly.

“It was super easy to understand. So please praise her for it.”

“Fufu, understood. You’re very kind, NK-kun.”

“NK?”

“Wah! Wah! Yamada-san!”

Otama-san flailed her hands around noisily. What a completely incomprehensible person.

“Oh my, sorry about that, Natsume-san. Now then… please take this.”

Yamada-san handed me a card.

“This is…?”

“Your Explorer Card, Natsume-san. Since it’s [Green], you can only enter Type-5 dungeons. So please be careful.”

“Ohh…”

I accepted the card.

It had the photo of my face taken before the training.

“This marks the beginning of your life as an explorer, Natsume-san.”

“That makes me kind of happy. Oh, right. Can I try selling something?”

“The magic stone from yesterday? No problem.”

I took a tiny magic stone from my bag.

Yamada-san took it and placed it on a scale-like machine behind the counter.

*Clink*—a lonely sound rang out.

“Let’s see……… it seems to be pretty good quality. This one is 40 yen. After withholding tax, it will be 36 yen. Is that okay?”

“Yes, please.”

After I signed the document, Yamada-san brought me a receipt-like slip and coins.

“Here you go. Oh, and by the way, the Explorer Card also keeps track of your money transactions. If you’re heading to the Explorer Shop later, be sure to show it. That way, your income tax expenses will be automatically reported.”

“Got it. Thank you very much.”

Just a few coins—

But this was the first money I earned without belonging to an organization.

I couldn’t navigate society well when I was part of one.

From now on, if possible, I want to support myself as an individual.

Maybe I’ll keep this money as a memento of my first step.

…Thinking that, I put the coins into my bag.

☆★☆

Then, I returned to the door of the private dungeon.

The time was 2:00 p.m.

I was unemployed now, so time didn’t matter. But since it was my first time, I planned to come back out by 6:00 p.m.

“One dragonfly is 40 yen… 25 of them would be 1,000 yen…”

I decided not to go deep today. I would just focus on catching dragonflies while exploring areas where I could still see the exit.

“Alright then…”

I double-checked the setup of the beginner explorer set I bought from Eayon for 9,600 yen (originally 12,000 yen before the discount).

Helmet—check. Waist item pouch—check. Healing potions, antidotes—check……

“—No problems.”

I took off the coat I was wearing and hung it on a tree near the door. I then opened the iron door leading to the dungeon.

*Clack… creak…*

The temperature changed instantly as I stepped inside.

*Miin, min-min-min…*

The sound of cicadas welcomed me.

“…Nice.”

Thinking this dungeon was just for us suddenly made me feel attached to it.

“Alright then…”

I didn’t just buy the explorer set at Eayon.

I also picked up a bug-catching net from the 100 yen shop.

Let’s try catching some dragonflies with this right away.

Dragonflies were flying all around, like they owned the place.

I raised the net and—

“Yah!”

—swung it down.

The timing was perfect.

“Let’s see……… hmm?”

But there was nothing inside the net.

“That’s weird…”

I tried again. But once again, there were no dragonflies or magic stones inside the net.

“Hmm…”

Looking carefully, it seemed the moment the dragonfly touched the 100-yen net, it disappeared.

“…Strange.”

I had heard stories about the use of items in the dungeon. No matter how precisely these modern items were made as industrial products, they were still weaker than a longsword obtained inside the dungeon.

Maybe items from outside the dungeon get some sort of debuff.

“…Oh well. I’ll have to go the slow and steady route.”

I walked along the rice field path while catching dragonflies.

Once I got the feel for it again, I could catch them easily even while walking.

When I got a magic stone, I’d put it into the waist item pouch.

“Oh…”

A grasshopper jumped out from the weeds at the edge of the rice field.

This one probably wasn’t poisonous… probably.

I ran to where the grasshopper landed and quickly reached out to grab it.

*Boing!*

The grasshopper turned into a pebble-sized magic stone in my hand.

At the same time, a book appeared in midair and flipped open on its own.

Encyclopedia No. 20/251 

Name: Dungeon Grasshopper

Rarity: 0

Capture Skill: Swarm Attack (Unlocks at 100 captures)

Capture EXP: 2

Drop Item: Magic Stone (Tiny)

Description: A grasshopper that lives in grassy areas inside dungeons. Can only be captured with the [Child’s Heart] skill. Not dangerous on its own, but gathering a certain number allows it to be used as an attack method.

Number Caught: 1 / 100

“Hmm…?”

So this grasshopper… if I gather enough of them, I can use it as an attack skill?

I can’t use swords or magic. But maybe I can fight in the dungeon with this.

“Maybe it’s too soon to get my hopes up… but I can’t help feeling excited.”

I wonder if someday, I’ll be able to dive into other dungeons with Otama-chan.

“…Alright.”

I don’t want to give up on myself just yet.

Changing my plans, I decided to start gathering grasshoppers.