An Incompetent Explorer Who Failed to Make His High School Debut but Mastered Being a Human Being

Episode 004 The First Exploration

 Today is April 3rd. I was planning to dive from yesterday, but it was postponed to today because my family went out together to celebrate my birthday and we had a small party.

"Physical condition is good, equipment is good, tools are good, perfect."

 Even though I say equipment, my jersey was lightly equipped with various protectors. It is said that full-scale equipment is required from D-rank onwards.

 When asked why, the number one issue is the amount of money. The weapons of a person with forging skills, the products of a person with clothing and accessory skills, and the magic tools of a person with alchemy skills are extremely expensive.

 Therefore, it is quite difficult to earn that amount with F or E-rank. It seems to be quite difficult to earn unless you reach at least D-rank.

"That's nice. Nanami wants to go to the dungeon too."

 When I was doing the final check in my room, my sister Nanami came into my room, and looked at me enviously.

"That's definitely no good, isn't it? You're barely in Junior high school. Be patient until you're sixteen. And you don't even konw if you have the aptitude to be an explorer."

"Buu~"

 Nanami who inflates her cheeks is cute.

 My Imouto can't be this cute, it can't be!!(TN:Literally an OreImo reference here.)

 The dungeon is basically equipped with a management facility and a guard post, and it is difficult to enter because it requires authentication with an explorer's card when entering.

 Basically, there may be dungeons that haven't been found yet. I could take her to such a dungeon with me, but it's difficult to go to a dungeon while protecting someone even if you can't protect yourself, and it's prohibited by law in the first place.(TN:Flag?)

 My sister's request is something I want to fulfill, but this is all I can do.

"Well, if you have the aptitude to be an explorer and want to dive even when you are 16 years old, I'll accompany you."

"You absolutely have to!!"

"I got it, I got it."

 I patted Nanami's head with a 'Pon Pon' as she looked up at me with upturned eyes and left the room.

"Then, I'm heading out."

"See you later. Be careful."

"See you later!"

 I was sent off by my mother and sister and left.

 I arrived at the F-rank dungeon, which was within the range that I could go by bicycle. The rank represents the grade of the explorer. There are from F to S from the bottom up, and you need to take a test to raise the rank.

 Basically, it is linked with the rank of the explorer, and it is a rule that you can only search up to the dungeon below the same rank or one level higher.(TN:So, F rank can search E and F)

 It seems that there are people who come by bicycle other than me, and there is a bicycle parking lot properly set up, so I park my bicycle there and arrive at the checkpoint.

"Mmm? I don't know your face? Are you a newcomer?"

 When I presented my explorer card and tried to get through, I was stopped by a guard who was wearing military equipment.

 It's a hassle, but it can't be helped.

 I will follow the lead of the guard.

"That's right. I'm going to dive starting today."

"Yes. It looks like you're well prepared and it's okay. What about your weapon?"

"No, I'm going to fight with this bat this time."

 Explorers basically need screening and permission to carry weapons such as blades and firearms outside the labyrinth. Therefore, weapons used by low-ranked explorers and unlicensed explorers are managed at the dungeon checkpoint. Exceptions are when monsters overflow from the dungeon, when a stampede is occuring, and so on.

 Because of this, explorers often set up bases near the dungeon they are in. There are adventurer-friendly apartments near the dungeon, and sometimes condominiums are built.

 It wouldn't be funny if they didn't have weapons at the time of a stampede.

"Well, if you're in an F-rank dungeon, you can fight well with your bare hands, so there should be no problem, but if you reach E-rank or higher, you should have a proper weapon, okay?"

"I understand. I'll look into it. Thank you."

 As I searched on the net, it seems that F-rank dungeons can be searched relatively without problems if the explorer has awakened status. You can also see that it is said to be a tutorial dungeon for beginners who just became explorers.

"Ok. Go through. After that, hold your explorer card over the authentication gate ahead and go inside."

"Understood."

"Then, I don't think you'll die in an F-rank dungeon unless there's a lot happening, but be careful."

"Thank you. I'll be careful."

 When I was reminded, I bowed and headed for the gate.

"Oh, is this the gate ..."

 The gate is a big gate with a partition. There was a terminal near it that could be operated, and it was easy to understand where to hold the card.

 Maybe since it's the early morning and a weekday, but right now there's no one but myself. No, it's for beginners, so maybe non-beginners will move to dungeons other than here soon.

 Besides, I'm probably the first person who will be able to dive into the dungeon from this year, so I think that's also related.

"Hold the card over here."

"Confirm registration information. Confirmed. Please pass."

 I mutter to myself and hold the explorer card to the screen. Then, a voice is heard from the terminal and the partition wall that overlaps is opened.

 I went down the wide open gate and stepped into the dungeon.