Chapter 1, I’m Going To Become an Explorer and Earn a Living!

Translator: Lizz

 

Twenty‑five years ago, dungeons appeared all over the world. Tokyo was no exception; when an entrance emerged beneath Tokyo Station, it drew massive public attention.

 

Dungeons were filled with roaming monsters, and there were even incidents where curious visitors were killed. But now that a proper system was in place, even ordinary people could explore dungeons as long as they had an explorer’s license.

 

The sale of weapons for defeating monsters and martial arts schools for explorers were booming – dungeon exploration had grown into a major industry.

 

“I finally got my explorer’s license!”

 

A deep male voice echoed from a corner of an apartment building in Tokyo.

 

The one who shouted, Masato, was the eldest son of the Kanamiya family, and a student who was struggling to pay off the mortgage on a luxury apartment in place of his late parents. To solve their financial problems, Masato gave up on going to university and became an explorer—said to be a job anyone could earn money from.

 

“Starting tomorrow, I’m going to begin exploring the Tokyo Dungeon. You two are forbidden from getting a license until you enter university, so focus on your studies.”

 

Masato declared this to his younger brother, the high‑school student sitting in front of him.

 

“I object! I’ve got classmates who fight monsters in the Tokyo Dungeon! I want to go too!”

 

The boy protesting had a look that most people would find intimidating or scary.

 

Rekka, the third son, had just started his first year of high school. His short, bright‑red hair made him look like a delinquent at first glance. He was honest at heart, but because of his face and build, his classmates treated him like someone they shouldn’t approach, and the girls kept their distance. His situation was far from the rosy high‑school life he had imagined.

 

If he could just become a popular explorer—not just among high‑schoolers but nationwide—he figured he’d naturally become more popular, so he’d secretly been planning to get an explorer’s license.

 

“No. You need to prioritize your studies. Your last test score was a little below average, wasn’t it?”

 

“That’s just an excuse! You just want to be the only one getting popular with girls, Masato-aniki! It’s unfair! I strongly object! I want to flirt with girls too!!”

 

“Quiet! I’m doing this to earn our living!”

 

“I know the truth. Masato‑aniki is a fan of the idol explorer, Miyazawa Ai!!”

 

“—!!”

 

Miyazawa Ai, known for both her high skill as an explorer and her beauty, was often used as a promotional figure and had captured the hearts of many. Her influence was huge, with fan club members all over the country. Masato had secretly joined too, hiding it from his brother…

 

“H‑how did you find out!?”

 

His face turned red, a faint sheen of sweat forming; anyone could see he was shaken. His voice even trembled from embarrassment.

 

“And I heard she’s in Tokyo right now? Aren’t you hoping for a chance encounter*?”

 

Rekka grinned wickedly, provoking him further.

 

By ‘chance encounter’, he didn’t mean spending the night together, but simply ‘seeing her in person even for a moment’. For the two virgins, the idea of a one‑night stand didn’t even cross their minds.

 

[T/N: In Japanese, the word used here can also mean ‘one-night stand’]

 

“Shut up! I’m allowed to have some hope, aren’t I! There’s nothing wrong with dreaming! At least you still have girls you can talk to, Rekka! I… I only ever talk to you two…”

 

Masato had studied various martial arts, mainly taijutsu and short sword techniques, but he never had the chance to get close to anyone at the dojo.

 

He spent all his time thinking about how to fight better, leaving no room to talk to others. Naturally, his life became nothing more than going back and forth between home and training, and he had almost no friends, male or female.

 

“R‑right…”

 

Remembering that, Rekka fell silent, the momentum he had just moments ago completely fading.

 

“Hey, are you two calm now? I really want to start exploring too, but we have to keep our promise to nii-san.”

 

A soft‑featured, androgynous young man with double‑lidded eyes and hair long enough to reach his shoulders stepped in.

 

He was Haru, the middle of the three brothers. A second‑year high‑school student, one year above Rekka, and popular with both boys and girls thanks to his gentle appearance.

 

“Shouldn’t you be taking my side here, Haru‑aniki?”

 

“Rekka, unfortunately, nii-san is right. Getting a license takes time and money. And who do you think is covering that? Nii-san. Since he’s supporting us, we shouldn’t complain.”

 

“But still—!”

 

“Then why not try getting your grades into the top ranks? If you do that, maybe nii-san might reconsider. Right?”

 

“Well… if you make it into the top thirty in your grade, I’ll think about it positively.”

 

“See? Oh, Himeko‑chan’s calling. Okay, I’ll leave the rest to you two!”

 

Haru wrapped up the conversation quickly, then skipped out of the living room and into his room.

 

The two left behind stood there in a daze.

 

“Haru’s still popular, huh?”

 

“He’s a star. It’s weird he doesn’t have a girlfriend… Why am I not popular at all?”

 

“What a coincidence. I was thinking the same thing. Is he really our brother?”

 

“Unfortunately, yes. He’s got the same blood as Masato‑aniki and me…”

 

Both of them slumped, glaring resentfully at Haru’s door.

 

But that didn’t last long; there was no time to waste on ugly jealousy.

 

If he had time for that, Masato decided he should use it to earn money for their living expenses instead.

 

“Guess I should start preparing for tomorrow’s exploration.”

 

All that talk earlier about being popular or not was just a side issue. Masato’s real purpose was to earn money for his brothers’ future university tuition and their daily living costs.

 

Being an explorer was dangerous, but the rewards were great. For someone like him with no academic background, it felt like the only path to rise in the world.

 

The world had changed: instead of oil, the magic stones left behind by defeated monsters were now used as energy. Skill cards found inside dungeons granted abilities that were practically magic. And the more monsters one defeated, the more one’s body was enhanced—people could literally level up.

 

A new era had arrived, one where you could climb to the top through your own strength alone.

 

Japan was facing turbulent times, but human desires remained the same.

 

To earn more money than others, gain fame, and be popular with the opposite sex—explorers were a highly sought‑after profession among young men, and the Kanamiya brothers were no exception.