In an office within the EU Headquarters Building, a man serving as a Cabinet Minister from a certain nation listened to an oral briefing from his subordinate, a Secretary, while scanning the report he had just been handed.
“The number of refugees flowing into Europe has dropped significantly?”
“Yes. It appears the emergence of the dungeons has caused the conflicts in the Middle East to de-escalate.”
“I see... So we have the dungeons to thank for this.”
“It is still unconfirmed, but there are reports that ceasefire negotiations are taking place behind the scenes.”
“Ceasefire negotiations? Is that true?”
The man looked up, casting a skeptical gaze at the Secretary.
“Yes. In fact, for the past month, neither side has engaged in any combat operations. Initially, we suspected a temporary disruption in the chain of command due to the appearance of the dungeons, but given how long the silence has lasted, the rumors of negotiations are likely more than mere hearsay.”
“Is that so... If it’s true, there could be no better news.”
In recent years, the massive influx of refugees generated by Middle Eastern conflicts had become a severe social crisis for European nations. The costs of support increased daily, straining government finances, while the friction caused by differing lifestyles led to endless trouble between refugees and citizens. The refugee crisis had spawned an uncountable number of issues.
Hearing that the situation was finally easing—even if it was due to the dungeons—the man let out a small sigh of relief. If the influx decreased, even temporarily, there was at least a prospect of improving the status quo.
“On that note, what is the status of the dungeons near the borders that the government failed to blockade? Previous reports suggested that local volunteers had organized vigilante groups to seal them off...”
“Ah, well, regarding that matter...”
The Secretary faltered, seemingly finding the topic difficult to address. The Cabinet Minister’s expression clouded for a moment, but he quickly steeled himself and urged his subordinate to continue.
“According to the latest reports, many of the vigilante groups that were supposed to be blockading the dungeons have begun collecting fees and allowing people inside.”
“...What? I thought they were closing them off.”
“That was the case initially. However, due to the government’s slow response and the spread of information regarding the high prices fetched by dungeon drops, their objective shifted. They began taking money from those wishing to enter. Currently, these sites are being treated as tourism resources for regional revitalization.”
“...You can’t be serious.”
The Secretary’s report left the man speechless.
While dungeons in urban areas were cordoned off by police and military forces, those in rural or border regions had been left to local municipalities that simply couldn't keep up. And this was the result.
“What about regulations?”
“Impossible under the current circumstances. There are no laws governing the handling of dungeons, and many of the sites are located on private or municipal land. If they were on national land, the state could exercise its authority, but...”
“But surely people are being injured or killed? Couldn't we regulate them on those grounds?”
“The practice of charging entry fees only began after the dangers were widely publicized. Upon entry, participants are required to sign a death consent form and waive their right to compensation, which makes it legally impossible to pursue liability. Furthermore, because the media has made the risks clear, public outcry regarding the moral responsibility of those who pay to enter is minimal. Without the formal passage of the Special Dungeon Act...”
The Secretary shook his head and looked down, lamenting the situation.
The general consensus was that aside from the very early stages, anyone who died now was someone who had walked into a danger zone because they were blinded by greed.
“I see. But drafting a bill will take time, and getting it through parliament...”
“...Will require even more time.”
“Yes. It would be a different story if the European Council could issue a directive... but even then, coordinating between member states takes forever.”
The sluggishness inherent in a union was proving fatal here.
When dealing with anticipated problems, member states could move in quick, treaty-bound coordination. But for unforeseen crises, new treaties had to be forged. That required reconciling the conflicting interests of various nations and drafting a proposal—something that was impossible to achieve in just a month or two.
“In any case, we need time.”
The man let out a soft sigh and moved on to the next report.
As he listened to the Secretary’s briefing, his eyes widened in shock.
“...Some member states have enacted domestic laws encouraging dungeon conquest?”
“Yes. Their respective government agencies are already in motion. By the end of this month, authorized civilians will be allowed to dive into dungeons at will.”
“Why on earth would they do that...?”
Dumbfounded, the man scanned the report he had been given.
“The countries passing these dungeon bills are all nations suffering from high unemployment rates within the EU.”
“Unemployment?...Ah, I see.”
“Yes. Those who dive into the dungeons—the explorers—will be classified as hunters.”
The role of an explorer, which anyone could adopt by registering with a designated agency, was a perfect job-creation opportunity for nations with mass unemployment. The potential profits were attractive to the state, and for the explorers, it was a way to make money by defeating monsters with very little initial investment. Provided one managed the risks, it wasn't a bad job. In fact, it was quite enticing.
Most of the unemployed were the youth. They weren't idle by choice; there simply were no jobs. Now, a career path had been created—one that involved magic and skills, things that naturally appealed to young people, despite being high-risk and high-reward.
“They intend to send the youth to their deaths for political convenience...”
“In those countries, unemployment was a critical social issue. Reducing the number of unemployed increases tax revenue and provides a foothold for rebuilding national finances. Besides, the items brought back from the dungeons, such as recovery potions, are incredibly attractive to any government.”
“Even so. At the very least, dungeon exploration should be limited to trained military personnel. We shouldn't be letting untrained civilians get involved...”
The Cabinet Minister looked down as he countered the Secretary’s detached tone.
“I agree. However, given that we haven't even been able to submit a bill to the European Parliament regarding dungeons, what can we realistically say to the nations that have already moved forward?”
“...You’re right. Because the union failed to show any clear policy, they took matters into their own hands.”
“Yes. I believe this is the result of them losing patience with the union’s slow pace.”
Faced with the Secretary’s logic, the man felt a wave of powerlessness and fell silent.
The man glanced at a newspaper article, then slumped back into his chair, staring up at the ceiling.
“Once it reaches this point, there’s no stopping it.”
On the front page of the newspaper was a headline announcing Japan’s success with Core Crystal power generation.
This announcement, coming right as the value of dungeons was being recognized despite the danger, was a crushing blow to the man, who had maintained a stance against civilian entry.
“High-output, non-polluting clean energy... If such a thing can be extracted from dungeons, the government will have no choice but to relax regulations on civilian access.”
The move away from fossil fuels. The domestic production of energy resources. These were incredibly attractive on their own, but combined with the mandate to reduce greenhouse gases and overhaul the energy structure of Europe, the announcement was irresistible.
“Future power demand is certain to rise. Since the accident in Japan, public opinion has turned against nuclear power. It’s obvious we need a stable, high-output alternative. If this news is true, it’s the next generation of power. The government will permit civilian diving just to secure the fuel...”
He shook his head.
He realized that while he couldn't change the overall trend, there were still details he could influence.
“Then, at the very least, I must work to ensure that no civilian enters a dungeon without proper training...”
The Cabinet Minister slapped his cheeks with both hands to refocus himself.
The man listened to the Secretary’s report and let out a long sigh.
“It was expected, but seeing it play out exactly as predicted is still...”
“Worsening public order, the black market trade of prohibited items, a surge in crimes committed by explorers, and the revitalization of the mafia... It is precisely what was forecasted during the consideration phase.”
“Yes, and the situation is particularly dire in the countries that pioneered the explorer system. It’s an understatement to say the security forces can’t handle it.”
“Upon investigation, those early adopters were supposed to conduct document screenings and interviews during registration, but the process was never strictly enforced. To keep up with the volume of applicants, they barely checked the paperwork and granted nearly unconditional authorization after perfunctory interviews.”
The man sighed at the Secretary’s words.
“They brought this on themselves. All because they wanted to save some effort...”
“Indeed. Furthermore, because the system was implemented so hastily, there is almost no difference in level between the security maintenance force and the explorers. The security forces lack the strength to act as a deterrent, so they aren't functioning effectively. Consequently, the rate of explorer criminals being shot and killed has become abnormally high.”
“I see.”
The Cabinet Minister nodded grimly.
As the Secretary pointed out, because their levels were similar, any attempt to apprehend a violent explorer criminal without injuring them resulted in heavy casualties for the security maintenance force. As a result, they had resorted to long-range gunfights with firearms, leading to a constant stream of deaths among criminal explorers.
“The early adoption of the explorer system has been a disaster for everyone involved.”
“Yes. It would have been wiser to wait until the security authorities were strong enough to serve as a proper deterrent. The fact that so many member states folded under public pressure and adopted the explorer system by default was a massive failure.”
“The split between countries that adopted it and those that didn't was also a mistake.”
Interests hadn't been reconciled in time, and the EU-wide Special Dungeon Act was still in limbo. In the end, other member states had simply followed the lead of the early adopters by default.
“The black market trade of prohibited items is also an issue. You’re aware of the mass death of animals from dungeon-sourced toxins two weeks ago?”
“Yeah. The case where an underage explorer threw poisoned bait into a stray dog colony, right?”
“Yes. That toxin was supposed to be incinerated and never reach the market. Yet, there it was.”
“Either the checks failed or it was siphoned off... Either way, the system is a shambles.”
The man let out another sigh. That incident was actually one of the better ones since there had been no human casualties. Items leaking through illegal trade were causing incidents like this constantly.
And the ones controlling that trade were an even bigger problem.
“Furthermore, it has been confirmed that profits from these trades are becoming a major source of funding for the mafia.”
“Are we making any progress with crackdowns?”
“Some. But we’re only catching the bottom-tier dealers. We haven't been able to touch the mafia leadership.”
“I see.”
Because the registration process was a joke, many mafia members had registered under false identities. The police couldn't lay a finger on them easily, and the result was an endless game of cat and mouse.
“In the end, we chased immediate profit and failed.”
“Yes. Unfortunately, that is the only way to put it.”
The Cabinet Minister and the Secretary sighed in unison.
The man slammed the newspaper onto his desk.
“I’ve had enough!”
The crumpled paper carried the headline that conflict in the Middle East had reignited.
Exhausted from trying to restore order and solve the illegal item crisis, the Cabinet Minister finally exploded.
“On top of all these problems, the refugees are coming back!? How many more crises are we going to face!?”
His pent-up frustration poured out in a never-ending stream of complaints. Fortunately, his office was soundproofed for confidentiality, so his shouting wouldn't be heard by anyone outside.
Well, except for the Secretary, who was quietly processing paperwork in the same room.
“...Have you calmed down?”
“Yes. Sorry. That was unsightly.”
Seeing that the man had vented his frustration, the Secretary handed him a bottle of water. The man downed it in one go.
“...So the conflict has resumed.”
“Yes. And apparently, explorers are participating as soldiers...”
“So I heard. Infantry with heavy weapons running across the battlefield as fast as armored vehicles.”
The man glared resentfully at the newspaper on his desk.
“Refugees will come flooding into Europe again.”
“Inevitably. And likely in numbers far greater than anything we’ve seen before.”
“If infantry firepower and mobility are enhanced, the battlefield expands deeper into urban areas. Residents who stayed put until now might finally start fleeing toward Europe.”
“And that will lead to more chaos than ever...”
The two men looked at each other and sighed, sensing that the second act of Europe's trials, triggered by the dungeons, was just beginning.