Chapter-02 · EP-032
Chapter 2: A Weekend of Independence
Episode 32: Urban Labyrinth
Saturday morning. I packed my things and left the dormitory.
Carrying a backpack with my exploration gear and my wooden sword bag, I boarded a train.
My destination was Shinjuku Station.
From the nearest station to the Dungeon Academy, it took about thirty minutes on the rapid train to Shinjuku Station. It was far, but relatively easy to get to by train. My target was an underground labyrinth about a fifteen-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, commonly known as the Shinjuku Dungeon.
Stepping off at Shinjuku Station, I was swallowed by the crowds. Even though it was Saturday, there were salarymen in suits, probably heading to work; stylish young people out for leisure; and people who looked like explorers, likely heading to the same destination as me. I walked towards the exit among this diverse crowd. A city station had many exits; my destination was the South Exit. I walked, following the signs overhead. For a country boy like me, this station itself was already a dungeon.
I managed to get through the Shinjuku Station Dungeon without encountering any monsters, and when I finally exited the station and saw the sky, I felt relieved.
But standing still amidst the wide road before me and the crowds of people walking on the sidewalk to my left and right, I couldn't tell which way to go. I took out my phone to check the map.
Using a map app for navigation, I reached my destination. At the entrance of the Shinjuku Dungeon, located in the very heart of this big city, stood a grand building.
Feeling a bit nervous, I climbed the stairs to the entrance and entered the lobby. The building was so clean that it felt far removed from the gritty work of dungeon exploration, and my tension only increased.
While waiting in line at the reception, my palms were sweating.
Stupid thoughts kept running through my head: what if my registration didn't go through, what if someone said, "Hey, aren't you a student?".
But then, the receptionist lady smiled gently at me, and I relaxed a little.
"Excuse me."
I called out at the reception desk.
"Yes. How can I help you today?"
The beautiful receptionist in her uniform answered. I explained my business for the day.
"I'd like to explore the dungeon here for the first time today…"
"Certainly. A new registration then. Do you have your explorer license?"
"Yes."
I placed my explorer license on the counter.
The receptionist took it, inserted it into a machine beside her, and processed the registration.
"You seem quite young. How old are you?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fifteen."
"Fifteen? Are you a student at a Dungeon Academy?"
"That's right."
"Exploring even on a day off… You're a hard worker. But don't push yourself too hard."
"Yes."
The receptionist smiled, as if to ease my tension. She had light brown hair and a gentle voice. It felt strange to think that such a beautiful woman was involved in such a life-risking profession.
Once my registration was complete, she returned my explorer license, and I put it away.
"With that explorer license, you can now enter the Shinjuku Dungeon. If you're looking for party members or specific items, please use the bulletin board over there. If you scan the QR code at the bottom right of the board, you can also check it on your smartphone, so please register."
After listening to explanations about the facility, I left the reception.
I had no intention of forming a party; I planned to dive into this dungeon solo. There were various restrictions during class, but here, there were none.
(Note: Well, there are some.)
I changed into my exploration gear in the changing room and put my luggage in a coin locker.
As I walked towards the dungeon entrance with my wooden sword in hand, I noticed the differences between the other explorers entering this dungeon and those at the academy.
First, the exploration gear issued by my academy was uncool.
The academy's exploration gear was a gray jumpsuit with fluorescent lines, making it look exactly like construction site workwear.
The trouser hems fastened with Velcro, and the shirt cuffs made the same ripping sound when closed. There was no trace of design. I admit it was easy to move in, but it didn't lift my spirits at all.
In contrast, the clothes worn by the explorers diving into the Shinjuku Dungeon, right in the heart of the big city Tokyo, were, how should I put it, stylish. They looked cool, not just functional.
I started feeling like the other explorers were laughing at my outfit.
Just then, a warrior in armor and a woman with a staff who looked like a mage walked past me. Their equipment looked like something straight out of a game. They were probably high-level explorers, unlike students like us. So cool.
Come to think of it, there were students at the academy who wore their own exploration gear. I silently vowed to save up money quickly and get myself a cool set of explorer gear.
After finishing my equipment check, I finally stood at the dungeon entrance.
Descending the stairs alone was a loneliness I had never experienced before.
But conversely, that felt good. It felt like I could prove that I could do it on my own, without relying on anyone.
The dungeon's structure seemed similar to the academy's dungeon. Just inside the entrance, a Skill Board stood tall in the center of the hall. I had no need to check my current status, so I bypassed it and descended the stairs leading to the first floor.
This was my first exploration outside the Dungeon Academy.
Moreover, it was a solo exploration, with no teachers or companions. It would be a lie to say I wasn't scared of facing enemies alone.
But – it was also true that I was more excited than scared.
I had come all the way to Shinjuku this weekend for one reason alone: to challenge the second floor, which the academy had said we weren't allowed to explore yet.
Alright, let's go! Let's enjoy the second floor!
First, though, since this was my first time in this dungeon, I'd need to clear the first floor.