Vol. 1 Chapter 1 - Birthday Present

 

Today, on June 1st, I, Haruki Kasugano, joyfully celebrated my 18th birthday.

 

Turning 18 is the age in Japan when one is granted permission to enter dungeons.

 

As planned, I took the day off from school and headed to the branch of the Adventurer’s Association located within the nearest dungeon to complete the adventurer’s license issuance procedure.

 

Perhaps due to the weekday morning hours, it seemed I was the only one applying for a license this time, as I found myself alone in a relatively large room, arranged with desks and chairs like a classroom.

 

“Congratulations, Mr. Haruki Kasugano. There were no issues with the documents. With this, you are now an adventurer.”

 

The voice of a woman entered the room as she slid open the rattling door. She was a lively and beautiful woman with black hair tied back. Rumor had it that all receptionists in Adventurer’s Association branches nationwide were beautiful, and being congratulated by a beauty on my birthday was indeed a pleasant surprise.

 

“Thank you very much.”

 

I unintentionally bowed deeply while receiving the adventurer’s license, presented to me like a birthday gift.

 

“After this, let’s go into the dungeon to check your status. Since status is treated like personal information, please refrain from casually sharing it with others, including our Adventurer’s Association staff. Especially about ‘Special Skills,’ as many people are curious about them, so be cautious.”

 

‘Special Skills’ refer to powerful skills that adventurers possess from the moment they enter the dungeon. Skills learned later can be chosen, but Special Skills are unknown until encountered, making them potent with unique abilities.

 

“My apologies for the delay. I am in charge of today’s orientation, Sakura Hayashi. I also hold a Single Adventurer’s License, so don’t worry and follow me. Though encountering monsters on the first floor of the dungeon is highly unlikely.”

 

‘Single’ refers to adventurers who have successfully cleared the 10th floor of the dungeon. I later learned that staff members go through training up to the 10th floor. It’s a kind of power leveling.

 

“I’m Haruki Kasugano. Nice to meet you.”

 

Although my name had been called out moments ago, I thought it best to introduce myself.

 

The Association’s branch was attached to the dungeon or, more accurately, built to cover the rift-like space called the ‘Gate,’ through which one could access the dungeon.

 

As this room was on the second floor, the receptionist moved ahead towards the Gate on the first floor.

 

A spatial rift hovering in the air, about two meters in height and a width of barely a meter at its widest point. It had a distorted rhombus-like shape.

 

There was something like a ticket gate in front of the Gate, reminiscent of a train station. When I presented the license received a while ago, it made an electronic sound, and the gate opened.

 

I wondered who was being monitored here, checking in and out.

 

“Now, let’s enter.”

 

The receptionist, or rather, Ms. Hayashi, smoothly disappeared on the other side of the rift.

 

I took a deep breath and followed suit.

 

There was no sensation when touching the Gate, only a feeling akin to stepping out of an air-conditioned room into a slightly different temperature.

 

The place beyond the Gate was still within a building.

 

It seemed that the dungeon’s Gates were also covered by structures.

 

“Welcome to Chiba Dungeon. Now, please say ‘Status’ out loud.”

 

“Yes. ‘Status.'”

 

Characters and numbers floated into my mind.

 

Name: Haruki Kasugano

 

Job: None

 

Lv: 1

 

HP: 10

 

MP: 10

 

Strength: 1

 

Endurance: 1

 

Agility: 1

 

Magic: 1

 

Skill: ‘Gate’

 

Gate? Is it this Gate?

 

I stared at the spatial rift through which I had just passed.