arc1 · 019-ep19

Episode 19: Introductions with the Newcomer

The next morning, Fukazumi Iori dropped by the Explorer's Association branch a little later than usual.

At this hour he would normally already be out past the dungeon's upper layers, but today, true to the notice that had arrived the evening before, he had an appointment to meet someone here from the morning on.

He passed through the lobby, where the morning registration rush had settled down, and made for the familiar window at the far end.

Sagimori Chikae, sorting paperwork on the far side of the counter, spotted Iori and her face bloomed open at once.

"Morning, Iori-kun. Right on the dot."

"Morning, Sagimori-san. The notice came yesterday evening—from today, am I really on newcomer training duty?"

"Yes, it's true. Your first year as a registered explorer is exempt, but from year two on, the duty rotates through experienced explorers in order. And Iori-kun's turn has come around just now."

Loosely waved brown hair swaying, Sagimori-san set a black hard case and a single confirmation form on the counter.

Instructor assignments, it seemed, were decided at random by the Association's system—Iori had hardly been specially picked.

"The basic rules and classroom work are already covered in the preliminary course, so the field training is about getting them used to a dungeon's air, and getting them to the point of actually killing monsters. The minimum is three dives together, five or so as a rough guide—but fundamentally, once you as the instructor, Iori-kun, judge 'they can dive solo now,' the training is complete."

"Got it. So we walk together a few times, and if there's nothing precarious, that's the end of it."

"That's about the size of it. ...Though of all timings for the duty to rotate in, honestly."

Sagimori-san lowered her voice, smiling like she found something funny.

"Yesterday too, your full-clear recording to the deepest part ran on Tsukishiro Saya-san's stream, and the whole internet was in an uproar over it, you know? Clips were even making the rounds—so I'd wager the newcomer-chan coming today has at least heard rumors of that stream."

"Ah, so Tsukishiro-san really did watch that recording. Well, my usual streams show no name and no face, and what I'll be teaching the newcomer is upper-layer basics—so I'll just go about it as always."

Iori shrugged with an easy air—and that was the very moment.

From the direction of the lobby entrance came a crisp clip-clop of footsteps, even and metronome-regular, the back they belonged to held ramrod straight.

"――Excuse me! I am Kirise Fumino, assigned to you for newcomer training instruction beginning at ten this morning!"

With that clear, well-carrying voice, a girl pulled up dead straight just beside the reception window.

Her age, perhaps eighteen. Hair neatly cropped at around her shoulders swayed silkily with the motion of her deep bow. Not a single wrinkle marked what looked like brand-new light armor, and at her hip a freshly serviced short sword and a slightly bulging leather pouch were strapped precisely where they belonged.

The girl, head rising—Kirise Fumino—blinked at Iori standing before the window, just a touch surprised.

Perhaps she hadn't expected an instructor so close to her own age, slender and mild-looking. Even so, she tightened her expression at once and aimed a straight gaze at Iori.

"You would be Fukazumi Iori-senpai, I believe. I am Kirise Fumino. The Association's preliminary course, the safety manual, and the classroom work on streaming regulations—all completed."

"Yep, looking forward to it, Kirise-san. I'm Fukazumi Iori."

"Yes! To save up the funds I'm aiming for, I want to acquire skills that earn steadily, safely, and without pointless risk. I will ask rather than leave anything unclear, so please, I'm in your care for instruction!"

In Fumino's eyes, having declared it all in one breath, glowed a light with no play-acting in it.

Apparently a considerably serious, solid sort of girl. Quite a different type from himself, who ran on feel by habit—but if she had the drive, that made teaching easy, and Iori nodded mildly at the thought.

Across the counter, Sagimori-san, who had been watching the two of them trade words, held a hand to her mouth cheerfully suppressing laughter.

Iori, who barrels ahead at his own pace the moment dungeons come up, and Fumino, the honor student who has likely memorized the manual cover to cover. What sort of exploring would unfold with these two side by side—her face said she couldn't wait to find out.

"Fufu, it seems the introductions went off without a hitch. Well then, this is the full filming kit, loaned out only for the duration of newcomer training. Take good care of it until you finish."

"Thank you. Um, this is... decently heavy, isn't it."

"Shall I carry it, senpai? Regarding the division of luggage as well, in the course we were——"

"Ah, it's fine. Something at this level is no trouble at all."

Iori lifted the black hard case one-handed without effort and turned toward Fumino.

"Well then, standing around talking here is a waste of time—let's head down right now. For the first one, somewhere close by that only goes to the middle layers—any objections?"

"Right now, immediately!? Ah—no, my apologies. 『Dungeon #322』, the one a short walk from the branch—my preparations are ready at any time! For the preliminary briefing, may I receive it en route?"

"Briiieeefing...? Well, if anything's unclear along the walk, ask me anything."

Tilting his head a touch at the unfamiliar loanword, Iori turned smiling toward the lobby exit.

With Sagimori-san's snort of laughter faintly detectable from across the counter, Fumino—"......doesn't know what a briefing is......?"—watched her new instructor's profile with eyes already tinged with a thread of unease.