Engineers (1)

Okay, my preparations are in order and I've had a good night's rest. I get out of bed while telling myself that I have done everything I could do.

I leave without waking Melody and the girls since it's too damn early for them get up. Why do I have to start this training class so early again?

That sounds weird. Are you sure about that?

Government politics…

Anyway, I leave the house and briskly walk over to my workplace. Entering the lobby through the main entrance, I see that despite me being fifteen minutes early, a dozen people are already waiting. Half of them are looking a bit like Quinn does when she has to get up anytime before noon. The other half is busy appearing productive. How many of them actually are… not my area of expertise.

As I enter, most of them look up from whatever they are doing and give me a once over. Determining that I am not someone like them, they lower the gazes in disinterest.

I walk past them and go to my private room inside the company building. It's been a while.

I grab the printouts I had Navi prepare and scan through them. All is well. With five minutes to go, I make my way over to the classroom. Yes, apparently this place has classrooms. I don't know who all built this but Darwin certainly didn't spare any expenses.

I arrive at the classroom finding Navi bringing the group I saw in the lobby over. A quick count reveals to me that three more people must have arrived after I passed the lobby.

"Ah, Guy, perfect timing. Dear customers, this will be your instructor, Mr. Goodwin."

Navi once again pretends that our time of meeting is wholly coincidental and introduces me to the engineers. I immediately get a few doubtful looks.

I don't respond to those doubtful looks and enter the classroom. If I am going to address any concerns then I'll do that once everyone is here. The engineers file into the classroom and find their seats. There isn't an assigned order of seats but everyone entering almost instantly gravitates towards the back rows.

Some of them seem to know each other as they chat in low murmurs.

I walk through the rows and hand them the printouts. I get more weird stares but pointedly ignore them.

Navi brings another three people as it's time for me to start. Two people failed to attend, huh.

"Well then, thank you all for coming. My name is Guy Goodwin, I'm an instructor here at VR dungeons as well as a former senior carrier. This… class has been newly created due to a very specific need that has arisen recently. This means that there is no established curriculum and I'll teach you the basics of dungeon logic and survival as I would a carrier. If you want to know more details don't hesitate to ask and I'll answer to the best of my ability."

Immediately a bunch of hands soar and I mentally sigh. I can already see the questions coming but there's no easy way to stop them.

"Yes?"

I point at a lady in a blue cardigan.

"What are your qualifications? And how is carrier training supposed to help us?"

"My qualifications are that the ministry of education has asked for me to hold this course. And forgive my bluntness but all of you are weak. In a dungeon you are likely to meet your doom upon coming face to face with your first monster. Carriers constantly live like that and they excel at surviving in a fight where they are horribly outmatched. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes."

Her voice is quiet as a mouse and all the other raised hands have been lowered. Guess being a bit blunt helped me get through to them.

True enough.

"Now to begin with a few general facts that you may or may not know. Dungeons are all located in other planes. This means that getting out of a dungeon means there will generally be a teleportation opportunity nearby. Teleportation from within the dungeon is generally impossible unless facilitated by the dungeon usually to a place that will kill you.

"From what I have heard, you all will be going to the white tower. It's comparable to a standard dungeon in most ways. However, one main difference is that it's full of challenges and traps regarding morality. If you face one of those challenges I can only wish you good luck and tell you to go with what your gut tells you."

A hand is raised.

"Yes?"

"So the main danger in the white tower is those challenges?"

"Not quite. But it is a danger everyone may face. Meaning most adventurers will be far too busy with themselves to help you. Normally that less of an issue but if things go wrong and you suddenly face a challenge you need to be prepared. Since I can't offer much help in that regard I thought I'd mention it now before proceeding."

They all nod and most of them are writing things down on their tablets.

"Now, as you can see on the handouts, I have divided the course into three parts. Dangers from monsters, dangers from the dungeon, and dangers from yourself.