Chapter 1
Let me say it straight—I, Akagi Hideo, am a genius.
My post-graduation plan, as someone graduating from a decent university this year, is this:
Use the extra student loans I took out as capital to multiply that amount by a million through investments. Thanks to borrowing extra, I already have 2 million yen saved up. Heh, pretty genius, right?
This way, I won't have to bother with stupid job hunting, and of course, I won't have to work five days a week—I'll become a millionaire in one fell swoop.
——Or so I thought.
"Huh? The 2 million? Ah, I thought you weren't using it, so I spent it."
"No way... Bro... Please tell me you're joking... Like when you say dumb lies like 'I won today!' after losing at some store opening raffle like always..."
"Well, money goes round and round, y'know? Like they say, old folks hoarding money stalls the economy. So I think we should spend money freely. Yeah! As proud Japanese citizens! Me spending 2 million was for the economy's sake. You should follow my example—"
I punched him down without hesitation.
That day, I understood what it meant to awaken to the ripple of murderous intent. Not with my head, but with my heart.
"You damn mammoni, die and apologize, you shitty bro!!"
"Th-that's harsh! Dad! What's the difference between me and Hideo?! Even his beloved investments are just like pachinko, right?!"
"Alright, both of you shut up."
My dad, being a steady salaryman, often stays neutral, but even he took my side this time.
Mom sided with Dad, my little sister sided with Mom, and before we knew it, my brother was gone from the house.
Not that I care about that guy anyway.
"This is the worst... the absolute worst... My perfect plan... Wait, am I the one who has to pay back the 2 million debt?... I shouldn't have borrowed it... This is the worst!!!"
"Big bro, you're so noisy."
Having lost 2 million yen, I had no choice but to return to the hellish job hunt, crying all the way.
Crying while writing resumes, crying while heading to interviews, crying while passing interviews, crying while inevitably failing.
I decided to die.
"There's no god in this world... Yeah, even if I had 2 million, without a god, there's no way to make money... Heheh, yeah, the world's so cruel because there's no god... Ehehe."
I tried jumping off the balcony into the yard to kill myself, but it just hurt.
No one in the family even worried. "Hideo's always been weird," Mom said—that's kinda harsh. Love your kid more, maybe?
"Here, big bro."
My little sister tossed me an envelope without a word.
It was from the international organization 'Dungeon Foundation.'
Dungeon Foundation.
If I recall, it's some rich organization that manages dungeons where rare resources like crystals and anomalous substances from other civilizations are found.
I opened the envelope.
"Akagi Hideo... Dungeon... Explorer... Explorer? Huh?"
It said I had the potential to be a dungeon explorer.
Not just anyone can become a dungeon explorer—only one in a thousand people have the genes to adapt to dungeon environments.
So, I'm one of the chosen?
What is this, my story's totally starting here!
"Father."
"That face tells me you're about to say something outrageous again, Hideo."
"I'm going to become a hero."
"...Do whatever you want."
"Ahem. Father, the nearest active dungeon is in Gunma..."
"I'm not lending you money."
"Please!! Father!!"
And so, I bowed deeply and got travel and lodging expenses loaned to me.
I've already earned all my university credits, so I'll graduate in a few months even if I do nothing.
Gunma Prefecture.
It felt slightly more civilized than the images suggested.
Following my preliminary research, I headed to the village—no, town—where the dungeon had appeared. I found a cluster of tents that looked like something you'd see on disaster news.
After submitting my Dungeon Explorer certification from the Dungeon Foundation, my driver's license, and my ID number, I completed the procedures and was given a dungeon brooch. It had something written in English—probably "Rank E." Not sure, though.
I've never worn anything as fancy as a brooch before, but damn, that pin hurts?!
"This shows your explorer rank and also has an ID chip, so absolutely, positively don't lose it!"
A cute girl about my age told me.
I straightened my back slightly and replied pretentiously, "Yes, of course."
She was really cute. What's her name...? Ah, Shurado. Fitting for Gunma, the land of monsters and spirits. Probably the daughter of the most ruthless chief among Gunma's twelve tribes or something. Makes sense.
"Oh, a new face."
The one who spoke was a white-haired mass of muscles.
His bulk looked like it could crush an apple just by greeting someone.
"H-h-hi..."
My voice caught. If this guy's into men, I'm done for today.
"Don't shrink back like that. A fine man like you shouldn't waste it."
"...(Please let me go.)"
"You're a new explorer, right? Welcome to the dungeon. Too bad this one's about 80% cleared already."
Hoping I wouldn't get hit on, I asked the buff mister, "So there's nothing left inside?"
"Pretty much. The crystals are mostly mined out by now."
According to him, dungeon resources are finite—once the dungeon boss is defeated, the dungeon disappears.
Most are cleared within a week to a month.
Dungeons vary in difficulty and resources, but even the lowest-tier ones yield crystals worth hundreds of millions of yen.
The Dungeon Foundation buys all the crystals.
Only the higher-ups know what they're used for.
Rumors say they can be converted into any material or serve as next-gen energy replacing electricity, but it's all speculation.
"Try opening your status. If the Dungeon Foundation certified you, you should have awakened a skill."
Following Shurado's instructions, I whispered "Status" and stroked the brooch.
──────────────────
Akagi Hideo
Level 0
HP 10/10
MP 10/10
Skills
'Finger Snap'
──────────────────
Finger Snap?
Like, snapping my fingers?
"Tch, 'Finger Snap' huh..."
"That look says it's the strongest ability, right?"
"Nah... Well, it's all about how you use it."
"What's with that reaction?"
"Skills awaken based on techniques you've mastered, special experiences, or various causal chains... Well, uh, you can snap your fingers, right?"
"Yeah."
I snapped my fingers proudly.
Back in middle school, I seriously believed mastering finger snaps could create sparks and ignite things. I still haven't given up on that.
So this is easy. Heh.
"That's a crisp, good sound."
"Thank you."
Being praised made me a little happy.
"You'll understand once you try it. Let's head into the dungeon."
"Tch."
So that's it.
It's totally a fire ability, right? (Confident)
That's why I can't test it here with so many people, right? (Certain)
Passing through the pitch-black gate surrounded by tents, I descended into the dungeon.
"Hey, lucky you. There's a surviving first-floor monster over there."
Immediately, I took aim and snapped my fingers.
The tiny monster's nose, like that of a Chihuahua, *snapped* with a flash of light.
"Huh?"
"It's over."
The monster ran away.
"Uh..."
"It's over. That's what 'Finger Snap' is."
Status.
──────────────────
Akagi Hideo
Level 0
HP 9/10
MP 10/10
Skills
'Finger Snap'
──────────────────
Somehow, my HP's gone down...
"'Finger Snap' is colloquially known as the weakest skill. It snaps your fingers to startle the enemy with a spark. Oh, and the funny part is, it's an HP-consuming skill, not MP."
"Damn, what a useless skill."
I slumped my shoulders in defeat.