It has been ten years since mysterious structures known as "dungeons" began appearing all over the world.
The first time I—Yuma Minashiro—saw one, I was just a kid in elementary school.
I believed that once I became an adult, my turn to explore a dungeon would surely come.
I thought that would be the beginning of an extraordinary life.
But humans, it seems, are surprisingly adaptable.
Ten years later, dungeons have become a fully integrated part of daily life. These days, you can find dungeon-grown fruits and vegetables being sold, and handy items from dungeons are marketed to the public as well.
There are still people out there exploring the frontlines of these dungeons, and unfortunate accidents do still claim lives. But for most people, it's a distant world.
That's because, in Japan at least, if you want to adventure on the dungeon frontlines, you need to work for a company that specializes in dungeon exploration.
Well, it's not like it's strictly required—but realistically, there's no other way.
To get into those companies, you need top-tier physical abilities, a high IQ, and a massive amount of fundamental knowledge in various areas.
Of course you do. People die easily on the frontlines. It's no different from a battlefield.
Anyone can enter a cleared dungeon, and in some places, the lower levels have even been turned into leisure facilities, so for the average person, it's just another part of life.
By the way, you can apply to dungeon-exploration companies starting from the age of 15.
Younger people are said to have an advantage when it comes to dungeon exploration.
No one really knows why, but dungeon explorers gradually begin to develop superhuman physical abilities.
People like to joke that it's like a game—leveling up the more you explore—but no one's proven if that's true.
What we do know is that younger people are more prone to experiencing those boosts in physical performance, so it's pretty clear some kind of dungeon magic is at work.
As for me, I'm currently 22.
Like many others who dreamed of conquering dungeons, I took the entrance test for one of those companies seven years ago.
And I failed.
Spectacularly.
I kept trying after that, but it never worked out.
Eventually, I gave up on my dream of dungeon exploration, deciding to accept it like most people—as just another mysterious facility that provides convenient things for daily life.
It was during that aimless period of job hunting that it happened.
1.
"Guess today's a bust too, huh..."
The muggy, rainy-season air clung to me as my mood mirrored the overcast sky.
Just got back from another interview.
Feels like I've introduced myself enough in the past three months to last a lifetime.
The world is currently riding a huge economic boom thanks to the dungeons that appeared ten years ago.
But that's only true for consumers and employers.
The ones paying the price are the workers.
Sure, dungeons brought incredible benefits.
If I had to name one, the energy crisis would be the biggest.
The days when we worried that all resources would be used up in 200 or 300 years are long gone.
Now, thanks to high-density energy stones called "magic stones" left behind by dungeon monsters, electricity and gas have become dramatically cheaper.
Gas is practically obsolete, and with magic stone energy, we can generate power more safely and efficiently than nuclear.
And the rich? They invested heavily in magic stone energy and got even richer.
That's what I mean when I say workers got the short end of the stick.
Similar issues are happening in other sectors too—food, marine resources, you name it—but honestly, it's hard to blame anyone in particular.
If I had to point fingers, I'd blame the dungeons that suddenly appeared.
Once admired by everyone ten years ago, dungeons are now seen as a nuisance by some.
And yeah, I'm one of them.
Laid-off workers naturally turn to other jobs, which has led to the new-graduate advantage losing its power in recent years.
Makes sense.
The dungeon industry touches nearly every field. Right now, every company is in a crucial period. Why would they hire someone fresh out of school over a seasoned worker?
Some experts say that in five years, companies will be desperate to hire new grads again…
"But that'll be too late for me."
Even if today's chances are slim, if there's even a 1% chance, I have to try.
I forced myself to look up, lifting my spirits—
"Huh?"
—and then I fell.
Not metaphorically, like "I failed the interview."
I literally fell.
Just moments ago, I had been standing in the middle of the city, on solid asphalt, like always.
And then the ground vanished beneath me.
I fell.
"You've gotta be kidding me."
My heart felt like it shrank to the size of a pea.
Cold sweat gushed from every pore.
But just as I thought it was the end, the fall stopped after what felt like about two seconds. Maybe less, maybe more.
Thud. I hit the ground.
Or rather, crashed onto it.
I quickly looked up—
But there was no hole in the ceiling where I'd fallen through. Just a solid, lifeless stone surface above me.
And ahead of me, a path stretched into the darkness, as if inviting me forward.
Inviting me to where?
That's obvious.
To death.