I, Daiki Kokonoe, really can't be blamed for glancing at the calendar to double-check the date the moment I heard those words.
I was watching the morning news while eating breakfast as usual when a short electronic chime chirped and a breaking news alert scrolled across the top of the TV screen. It was a rare—actually, a first-time—advisory ticker recommending that viewers tune in for an emergency government broadcast starting in five minutes.
Exactly five minutes after the news flash, the figure of a government spokesperson appeared on screen. I tried changing the channel as a test, but every station was showing the exact same feed. As the cameras focused on the spokesperson to hear what he had to say, he wore a philosophical, detached expression. He then uttered the first sentence that would blow the minds of the entire nation.
"Numerous large-scale underground structures, commonly known as dungeons, have appeared within our nation's territory."
At that moment, time likely came to a standstill across all of Japan. My father, Daisuke, and my mother, Miharu, who were watching TV with me, as well as my younger sister, Mika—one year my junior—all sat with their eyes wide and their chopsticks frozen mid-air, staring at the screen.
"You are likely surprised and finding this unbelievable due to the suddenness of the situation, but this is the official conclusion reached after the government performed multiple rounds of verification. I shall say it once more. Numerous dungeons have appeared within our nation's territory."
Apparently, I hadn't misheard him.
My father and mother turned to look at each other with movements like rusted machinery, expressions of pure disbelief on their faces. My sister, however, had a twinkle of joy in her eyes as her ponytail swayed. Well, Mika is a third-year in middle school... she's right in the thick of her chunibyo phase.
While I was busy escaping reality, the spokesperson's report regarding the dungeons continued.
"Furthermore, these dungeons have appeared not only in our country but in various nations around the world. The cause of their appearance is unknown, but it has been confirmed that fierce unidentified lifeforms, commonly known as monsters, inhabit the interiors. Consequently, we have dispatched the Self-Defense Forces to the dungeons currently confirmed within our territory to restrict civilian access and seal the entrances."
Well, yeah, that’s the expected state response. If civilians went in on their own and ended up injured or dead, it would somehow become the government's responsibility.
"We are currently dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to investigate the interior of these dungeons. However, from what we have gathered so far, the interiors are extremely vast and harsh environments, where dangers such as traps and fierce monsters have been confirmed. Therefore, if you discover a dungeon that the government has not yet identified, do not enter it; report it immediately to public institutions such as the police or municipal offices. There is a serious risk to your life, so please do not enter a dungeon out of curiosity."
Hmm. Is that... a dare?
Well, the government probably didn't intend it that way, but there are definitely going to be a few idiots who ignore the warnings and go inside anyway. This was likely just a way for them to cover their bases—a defensive line for when things go wrong. If they warn people in advance, then anyone who ignores the warning and gets killed only has themselves to blame.
"Repeating..."
The government broadcast ended after the spokesperson repeated the same message three times.
"Hey, hey, Big Brother! Did you hear that?! Dungeons!"
"I heard it. We were watching it together while eating, weren't we?"
While I was still reeling from the sheer weight of the broadcast, Mika stood up with her chopsticks still in hand and started rambling excitedly.
"What do you think a dungeon is like!?"
"How should I know? Based on the news, it sounds like a pretty dangerous place. Also, Mika, either sit down or put the chopsticks down. You're flicking miso soup droplets everywhere."
"Ah, sorry."
Her excitement dampened slightly, and she sat back down in her chair.
Good grief, what is she so happy about? Even if dungeons have appeared, I don't think the lives of ordinary citizens are going to change overnight. Though I suppose everything depends on what the JSDF finds during their investigations.
"A dungeon, huh... I'd like to try going once."
"Mika, stop saying such foolish things and finish your breakfast. You'll be late for school."
"Oh, right."
Mom rebuked Mika for her nonsense. It was rare for the government to go so far as to make an emergency broadcast just to ensure everyone knew a place was dangerous. Unless something extraordinary happens, it’s probably best to avoid getting involved. I don't know if that'll be enough to keep Mika quiet, but maybe it set her straight a little?
Besides, what does she even plan to do in a dungeon? The news said they're full of monsters and traps—does she have any idea how to handle that? When I hear the word "trap," I think of stuff from movies or dramas; I haven't the slightest clue how to disarm or deal with one. As for monsters, I don't know what they look like or how big they are, but how am I supposed to handle something that’s attacking me with the intent to kill? What, am I supposed to fight back and kill it? Impossible, impossible, impossible. How could someone who's never even dealt with a pest at home suddenly do something like that without a second thought?
"Thanks for the meal."
"Thanks for the meal!"
It took a bit longer than usual because of the broadcast, but we finished breakfast. I still had a little time before I had to head to school, so I decided to look into the dungeon situation. I went back to my room and booted up my PC.
"Let's see..."
I scanned the online news sites; multiple related stories were already circulating.
According to the reports, the dungeons appeared in Japan at midnight. They appeared at almost exactly the same time all over the world. Because it happened in the middle of the night, Japan didn't initially notice them, but they apparently realized what had happened after being contacted by the United States. Upon receiving the report, the government performed a quick verification and, belatedly realizing the severity of the situation, established an emergency task force at the Crisis Management Center. They dispatched police to perform initial surveys of the confirmed sites. However, while the government was considering the deployment of the JSDF, word arrived that an overseas investigation team had been wiped out during a deep-cover mission inside a dungeon. That report pushed the government to finally decide on the JSDF deployment, focusing on sealing the entrances and conducting internal investigations.
"So far, it's pretty much the same as the broadcast..."
Well, at this stage, they probably can't release anything more than the basic facts.
I wanted to dig a little deeper, but it was almost time for school. I’d have to check the rest when I got back.
I shut down my PC and started getting ready.
"Let's see, today's schedule... first period is math..."
I stuffed my textbooks into my school bag while checking the schedule. Then, I opened the bottom drawer of my study desk to grab the drawing set I needed for today's art class.
"...Huh?"
Inside the drawer, a stone-paved room about the size of a school's special classroom stretched out. The space was illuminated by the flickering light of lamps embedded in the walls. And in the middle of the room, about three meters directly below the drawer opening, an amorphous, viscous mass was wriggling about.
Closing the drawer without a word was the only logical response. I am not in the wrong.
"Okay. Let's stay calm. Um... this is my room, and this is the study desk I've been using since elementary school, right?"
I shook my head slightly, trying to organize my panicked thoughts as I listed the facts in a trembling voice. But when I opened the drawer, there was a stone-paved room inside... None of this made any sense.
I took several long, deep breaths to steady my nerves.
"Wait, could it be... is this that? Is this a dungeon?"
The only reason I could think of for the inside of my desk—which had been perfectly normal until yesterday—turning into this was the news I'd just heard.
Which meant that thing was a monster... Wait, that was a slime!
"Hold on, hold on, hold on! Why is there a dungeon in my room?! Weren't dungeons supposed to appear with those fancy decorated gates I saw on TV!?"
The images of the dungeons on the news showed dome-shaped structures covered in weird, hieroglyph-like patterns. They definitely weren't something small enough to fit inside a desk drawer.
And yet, that dungeon was right here, inside my desk, in my room. Praying it was just a hallucination, I opened the drawer again.
But...
"...It's not a hallucination."
A heavy sigh escaped my lips.
The slime was still hunkered down in the same spot as before. Observing it closely, I could see a black sphere in the center of its translucent body.
"In standard fantasy tropes, that black sphere would be the core, and you defeat it by crushing that... but I really don't want to touch it."
No matter how I looked at it, that thing seemed like it would inflict poison or paralysis just by coming into contact with it.
There was no telling what would happen if I carelessly approached or touched something with an unknown nature and biology. I'd be lucky to get away with a simple injury; at worst, I could become a carrier for some infectious virus.
I really didn't want to be the patient zero of a biohazard outbreak.
"For now, let's just pretend I didn't see it. I'm going to be late for school."
I quietly closed the drawer.
Abandoning the drawing set, I grabbed my school bag and left my room with a heavy heart and even heavier footsteps.
I dragged my feet into the living room, where I locked eyes with Mika, who was still watching TV.
"Huh? What's wrong, Big Brother? You look exhausted..."
"No, it's nothing. Just... stuff."
"?"
The TV was showing an emergency news program analyzing the government's announcement. Self-proclaimed experts were spouting incomprehensible theories and arguing fiercely with other commentators.
Just catching snippets of the conversation revealed the usual talking points: whether it was a problem to deploy the JSDF, or how it was illegal for the state to monopolize the dungeons. For someone who actually had a dungeon in his room, none of this seemed like it would be particularly helpful.
"You two, enough with the TV. Get to school or you'll be late."
"Okay—"
"Understood."
Prompted by Mom, my sister and I grabbed our bags and headed for the front door. Honestly, I was in no mood for school.
"I'm off!"
"I'm off."
Compared to my sister's energetic farewell, my voice was practically subterranean.
After leaving the house, I looked back at the building from the street. It might have just been my imagination, but it looked like something resembling a dark miasma was leaking from my bedroom window.