Volume 1 Chapter 32
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Phase One¹ dungeon was finally within reach.
Stepping into the temple-like structure, I noted how much it resembled the entrance to Phase Zero. In the center, a set of stone stairs descended deep into the earth. The layout was identical to the introductory dungeon, save for one key difference: a staff member from the Dungeon Explorer Guild was permanently stationed right beside the descent.
I approached the desk, where a beautiful young woman in her early twenties sat wearing the crisp, charming uniform of the Explorer Guild.
”Hello. I’m Hirosawa Kanade from the National Third Dungeon Academy, I’d like to register for the Phase One dungeon.”
”Hello there! I’m Muto Kurumi, a staff member here with the Guild… Since you’re from the Third Academy… is this your first time using this facility, Hirosawa-san?”
”Yes, it’s my first run.”
”Understood. Your student ID, please.”
I fished the card out of my pocket and handed it over.
”Since it’s your first visit, I’ll need to handle your registration for this specific site,” Muto said as she began filling out the paperwork. “While I do that, please read through these safety precautions. I’m sure you’ve heard the basics at the Academy, but we need to do a final check just to be sure.”
”I understand,” I replied.
As her pen scratched rhythmically across the forms, I looked over the document. The first section detailed that the Phase One dungeon was a joint venture between the Dungeon Explorer Guild and the National Third Academy. While students were authorized for this site, any foray into other dungeons required separate, explicit permission from the Guild.
(Next up… injuries or death are my own responsibility. That’s a given. And any loot found must be inspected by Guild staff before I leave the premises…)
While the training-ground nature of Phase One meant drop items were rare, the rule was strict. Bringing unidentified dungeon artifacts into the public was considered a major safety risk. It was a long shot for a place like this, but in the higher tiers, dungeon gear was the only thing that mattered. Weapons and armor found in the depths were often too volatile or dangerous for an average citizen to carry on the street. Furthermore, the law mandated that all dungeon commerce be brokered through the Guild.
The rest of the fine print covered things I’d already memorized during my lectures at the Academy.
”Sorry for the wait, Hirosawa-san. Here is your ID back,” Muto said, sliding the card across the table. “Will you be needing to rent any gear today?”
”Yes, please.”
”Since it’s your first time, the rental fee is waived as a courtesy. Please, pick whatever you like from the racks over there.”
”That’s a huge help. Thank you!” I said.
She pointed toward a disorganized array of equipment. These were “buy-backs”-items dropped in Phase One that the Guild had purchased and repurposed for beginners. I spotted a [Goblin Sword] and a [Kobold Breastplate]. They were budget-tier items worth maybe a few thousand yen, but for a Phase One run, they were the difference between success and a trip to the infirmary.
Dungeon Energy² was infused into this gear, allowing it to actually bite into monsters that were essentially walking manifestations of that same energy.
In contrast, modern firearms and blades did almost nothing. Back in the early days of the “Dungeon Age,” the military had tried using conventional tech, but once the efficacy of drop-gear was proven, modern weapons had been all but abandoned by serious explorers.
”I’ll stick to the basics-the [Goblin Sword] and the [Kobold Breastplate],” I muttered to myself. (I don’t think I can handle anything heavier than this today, anyway.)
By “heavy,” I didn’t just mean the physical weight. Since my power was still stuck at Phase Zero levels, the gear felt unnaturally burdensome, as if the items themselves were rejecting me. The sword felt twice as heavy as it looked. I buckled on the breastplate and gripped the hilt, trying to adjust to the extra weight pulling at my frame.
I walked back over to the desk. “I’ll take these two. Am I all set to head in?”
”You’re good to go,” Muto replied, her expression softening. “Please remember, the first challenge is often the most dangerous. People get hurt down there… and some don’t make it back. Please be careful, Hirosawa-san.”
”I will. Thanks, Muto-san.”
She really was a kind soul. (I definitely lucked out with my first intake officer,) I thought as I turned toward the stairs. With a deep breath, I began my descent into the depths of Phase One.
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Summary:
Hirosawa Kanade arrives at the Phase One dungeon and registers with the guild staffer, Muto Kurumi. He learns about the strict regulations regarding dungeon drops and the necessity of using dungeon-energy infused equipment. After renting basic gear, he begins his first official descent into the dungeon’s depths.
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Trivia:
- Modern military weapons are almost entirely ineffective against dungeon monsters.
- Dungeon equipment carries a ‘weight’ relative to the wielder’s Phase level.
- The National Third Dungeon Academy and the Explorer Guild share management of training dungeons.
- Selling dungeon loot is legally restricted to Guild-sanctioned channels
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Character Insight:
Kanade shows a pragmatic and cautious side by choosing lower-tier gear he can actually handle rather than overreaching. Muto Kurumi exhibits a protective and empathetic nature toward new students, hinting at the high mortality rate for rookies.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The concept of ‘Dungeon Energy’ (DE) acting as a physical requirement for gear reflects common LitRPG elements where stats dictate equipment viability.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Hirosawa Kanade – A quiet, cute male student at the National Third Dungeon Academy with Phase Zero power levels, he wields the Unique Job [Vital Point Practitioner] and cheat skills centered on pressure points, including Physical Augmentation and Defense Enhancement, making him a stealthy yet formidable combatant who manipulates vital points with precision.
• Kanade – Small‑statured academy student with Unique Job [Vital Point Practitioner] (Tenketsu). He manipulates pressure points for defense and augmentation, has a cheat skill that removes his refractory period, and uses touch to grant powerful buffs. Infatuated with Mana, protective of her trust, close to Minami, and trains to unlock Phase One despite feeling inadequate.
• Muto Kurumi – A staff member of the Dungeon Explorer Guild stationed at the Phase One dungeon entrance.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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