01. Becoming an Adventurer.

01. Becoming an Adventurer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The year is 2030. The world had just gone through a bout of measles.

It was all because of the ‘Dungeons’.

 

 

Dungeons, brimming with immense magic power, appeared all over the world and sent hordes of vicious monsters marching towards the cities, which was more than enough to cause widespread panic.

These monsters were incredibly difficult to deal with using ordinary modern weaponry, but the countries classified as ‘developed’, or those with strong military power, quickly managed to suppress them.

However, there were fewer than 20 such countries, and the rest had their entire territories ravaged. Afterwards, the developed countries that had overcome the dungeons, particularly the top 10, established the Dungeon Cooperation Organization and began supporting other nations.

 

 

Anyway, two years after the appearance of the dungeons.

The world barely managed to calm down, and the monsters were trapped inside the dungeons.

 

 

Ironically, the monsters that came out of the dungeons could be fought, albeit with difficulty, using modern weaponry, but the monsters inside the dungeons were immune to such weapons. As a result, any army that entered a dungeon was either annihilated or forced to retreat.

 

 

The D10, which had established the Dungeon Cooperation Organization, realized that a new countermeasure was needed and began researching, discovering in the process that the dungeons had the characteristics of a ‘game’.

 

 

Using this, the D10,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

,We have stationed management agencies and armies in the areas where each dungeon is located and are fostering adventurers.”

,…It feels like something’s been skipped in the explanation.”

 

 

Before me, a pretty Nuna is flashing a sweet smile.

 

 

She’s a guide.

She gives this kind of background explanation to those who want to become adventurers for the first time.

 

But the explanation feels half-assed.

 

 

,Hehe. Honestly, if you’ve played ‘games’ before, you’ll get the gist, right?”

 

She says such irresponsible things without a care!

 

,I might not have played games, you know.”

,Come on… you look like a scruffy game addict… no, a very diligent person. Plus, you’ve got that ‘neckbeard’ vibe.”

,….”

 

 

This Nuna is coming in hot.

She should at least use her turn signal before cutting in.

 

 

,You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.”

,Hehe. I’m just kidding. Actually, I used to be an adventurer for a while.”

 

 

She leaned in slightly and covered her left eye with her index finger.

 

,I have a talent called [Observation]. I can roughly tell what kind of person someone in front of me is and what they’ve been up to.”

,Ahem… ahem. I… I see.”

,By the way, last night you were exploring countless computer girlfriends-“

,Aaaagh!!”

 

What is she talking about!!

 

,Hehe.”

 

 

She’s laughing as if it’s funny…

 

 

,I was just guessing, but I didn’t know it was true.”

,….”

,Ah, but I can get a general sense of what kind of person you are. That part is true.”

,…Hmph, even so, skipping over the explanation like that is too careless. Isn’t that dereliction of duty??”

,I guess I’m just living life loosely.”

,….”

 

What is this woman.

That’s harsh.

I’m a customer, you know? Isn’t she being too blatant about revealing her true feelings?

 

 

 

 

,Well, let’s stop the jokes here.”

 

 

Did my feelings get through to her?

She wiped away her playful smile and revealed a serious face.

 

 

,Are you really sure you won’t regret this?”

,Yes.”

,Becoming an adventurer means being prepared to die. You can be harmed not only by monsters but even by people or trusted comrades. In such situations, the company and the country will do their best, but I can’t guarantee that they can rescue you 100%. In fact, the chances are low.”

,I don’t care. I have a dream.”

,There aren’t even any CCTVs inside. No army, no police. Only the black box that the adventurer carries will function.”

,It’s okay. I’m already prepared.”

She asked me several times after that.

She was quite kind, considering she skipped over the explanation so carelessly.

 

 

 

,Lastly, ‘Yoo Eun’-nim, you have applied to be an adventurer while being a draft dodger, and if you wish, you will be exempt from military service on the condition that you adventure for at least 2 years. Of course, if you give up before the 2 years are up, you will have to go to the military, and in this case, even if you give up after 1 year and 10 months, you will have to complete another 18 months in the military.”

,Ah. The military sounds awful.”

,Hehe… I think it’s better than being an adventurer.”

 

She laughed as if she was dumbfounded.

 

 

Of course, the military might be tough, but it might be better than being an adventurer who fights monsters with his life on the line. This dungeon thing claims several lives every day.

 

 

But I still think the military is tougher.

Why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are no women there..;

 

 

 

 

No, what more needs to be said? There are no women….

 

 

Don’t say ridiculous things like, ‘But there are female soldiers?’ They are soldiers, not women.

 

 

The military is a place without women.

And a place without fantasy.

 

 

It’s a place where you’re imprisoned,

Exploited,

Despised,

And subjected to power abuse,

 

 

A place that is of absolutely no help in life.

You might even come out of there as a cripple if you’re unlucky.

 

 

Compared to that, what about dungeons?

 

 

The probability of becoming a cripple is significantly higher,

The probability of dying is also significantly higher,

You’re ignored if your level is low,

You’re ignored if your stats are low,

You’re also subjected to power abuse,

 

 

But at least the rewards are substantial.

If you get a good item, your life will be set.

 

 

 

But the military?

 

 

Haa….

 

 

 

,I will become an adventurer for 2 years and be exempt from military service.”

,…I understand. Then I will proceed with the paperwork.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventurer registration is complete.

She led me somewhere in the building, probably for the tutorial.

 

 

Being an adventurer is a very dangerous occupation, so each national institution and company cooperates to run a tutorial program. It is mandatory, of course, and lasts for a month.

 

,You cannot enter a dungeon alone during the tutorial period. You must be accompanied by a designated guardian.”

 

Guardians are either retired adventurers who have completely changed their profession or active adventurers who act as guardians for some kind of compensation.

If you’re lucky, you can meet a good person and build a solid foundation, but if you’re unlucky….

 

 

 

 

,…I would have said I didn’t want a man?”

 

You might meet the worst possible opponent, like this woman in front of me, who is glaring with hateful eyes.

Seriously, if that’s the case, why did she even apply to be a guardian…? She could just adventure with her colleagues??

 

 

The Nuna was flustered and put her hands together as if praying to her.

 

 

,I’m sorry. I had no choice. Everyone else is fully booked right now… Could you please make an exception just this once, Yuna-nim?”

,Tch.”

 

The woman clicked her tongue and turned her head.

She has a pretty face… and a great body….

 

,Instead! I’ll give you 10% more pay!”

,…Just this once.”

 

The Nuna, looking like she had aged 10 years, repeatedly expressed her gratitude, left me with a ‘please take care of him’, and left the room.

 

 

,….”

,….”

 

Left are me and this woman.

Her age is… probably older than me.

 

 

,How old are you?”

,Huh?”

,I’m asking how old you are.”

 

 

She suddenly asked.

 

 

,Twent… I’m twenty years old.”

,…Is that so? That’s at least better.”

 

 

Her expression softened slightly.

Is she happy that I’m young?

 

 

,Now that it’s come to this, there’s no helping it. Watch and learn well. And don’t become a useless Korean man.”

,…Huh?”

 

What the hell.

Did I mishear?

 

 

,I’m only saying this because you’re still a clueless twenty-year-old. I’m correcting you from becoming a trashy, ordinary Korean man corrupted by society.”

,….”

,Ah, if you’re twenty, you haven’t gone to the military yet, right? They say you get a military exemption if you complete 2 years as an adventurer? It’s so easy these days. Well, I guess being an adventurer is a hundred times harder than being in the military.”

,….”

 

 

I’m screwed….

This woman….

She’s a radical feminist….

 

 

What’s the point of having a pretty face?

What’s the point of having a great body?

 

 

She’s a radical feminist!!!

 

 

What’s a radical feminist?

Hmm. I’ll explain it in two characters.

 

 

Nuisance.

 

 

Yeah. That’s it.

Nuisance.

 

 

 

 

,Why are you so quiet?”

,Ah… it’s nothing.”

 

I was so desperate that I swallowed my tears inside.