The Unremarkable Man Who Fell Into The Dungeon's Pit Survives By Acquiring A Plain But Useful Skill, and Through Persistent Effort While Enduring The Absurdity, He Gradually Rises to Success - Episode 1

“Eeek! Ah, eek! Guhii!”

In the dim, cold cave, Shogo Nakamura was running.

The air I desperately inhale is humid, but it does not quench my thirst, and my breath is heavy and labored.

Because of the sweat that has broken out, the bangs sticking to my forehead make my already unremarkable 22-year-old face look even more pathetic.

A lean body that doesn’t easily gain muscle isn’t very good at exercise. Nevertheless, it was running with a speed and determination never seen before in its life.

“Where is the exit portal…?”

I was just supposed to be gathering dungeon grass in the Shibuya Dungeon as usual.

No matter how much I think about why I’m facing a life-threatening situation in a place like this, I can’t find an answer.

More importantly, I need to move my feet and escape from the approaching monster behind me, or I’ll die here.

Behind the fleeing Shogo, the luminescent moss growing on the cave ceiling revealed the figure of a goblin.

It’s a monster that shouldn’t appear in the Shibuya Dungeon.

He is taller than the Shogo I saw in the reference video and has a face that exudes intelligence.

However, it was something that contained pleasure and evoked sadism, and it did not give Shogo any hope.

Even though the body color was green in the reference footage, this little goblin is gray.

It was supposed to be described as a scrawny physique, but the muscles in the limbs are robustly developed.

If I got serious, I could easily catch up to Shogo in one breath, pin him down, and stab the knife I was holding into his body.

However, this little goblin, enjoying Shogo’s flustered state, lets out gleeful cries of “Gya, gya, gya” and deliberately chases him slowly.

“Pl-please! Tell me where the exit portal is!”

Shogo taps the WD watch device on his right wrist as if pleading.

“The map for the 533rd floor of the Shibuya Dungeon is not created.”

Shogo somehow managed to keep running despite feeling like he was about to lose his strength at the voice coming from the device.

The Shibuya Dungeon only goes down to the third basement floor… the device is broken… What should I do to survive—

If you’re going to dive into a dungeon, the WD Watch Device is essential.

What Shogo had was company-issued equipment, and the map of the entire three underground floors of the Shibuya Dungeon registered in the device was indeed displaying correctly until the moment Shogo fell into a hole that inexplicably appeared during work.

“Huh?”

The reason I understood why a foolish voice that interrupted my thoughts came out of my mouth was because of the intense pain in my right leg.

“Ughhh!!”

The body collapses forward, the backs of both hands, which were used to shield the head, are scraped against the rocky ground, and blood is oozing out.

I don’t have the courage to find out why my work pants feel wet.

“Grugugugugugugugugugugugugugugug”

Joy.

The gruesome sound coming from behind him was filled with the joy of capturing prey, and Shogo gasped.

“Eek…”

Why am I going through this?

If I’m going to die without understanding the reason, then I might as well just get through my usual tasks and be treated like the useless person who can only do that.

Mom… I’m sorry. I wanted you to keep living even if there was no hope for recovery… It must have been painful for you… I’m sorry.

No, I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.

Why——

“Detected special wavelength. Skill acquired.”

◆

It has been 35 years since dungeons appeared all over the world.

In the early days of its emergence, amidst the chaos and turmoil where many nations fell and new ones rose, humanity had seemingly succeeded in managing the resources obtained from dungeons as assets to achieve a more convenient life.

◆

Shogo Nakamura works at Dungeon Resource Development Co., Ltd., a company headquartered in Shibuya Ward that primarily engages in the extraction of dungeon resources commissioned by the government.

“Then, let’s begin the morning meeting.”

In the area of the Procurement Section 3 on the third floor of the headquarters building, Manager Kyouko Sayama’s calm voice resonated throughout the department.

“Last month’s accidents in the dungeon, including minor ones, were zero. Let’s aim for zero again this month. Confirming the slogan! In the dungeon—”

“Don’t rush. Don’t run. Don’t shout.”

“The watch device is—”

“Always wear it, check the operating hours, and follow the device’s instructions during work and, of course, in emergencies.”

The ten field workers from the Procurement Section 3 all speak in unison.

“Yes, then everyone, please work safely today as well.”

After the morning assembly, the field workers of Procurement Section 3 began preparing to head to the dungeon.

Shogo also begins checking the operation of the watch device and inspecting the work clothes for any damage, just like everyone else.

Then, Sayama called out to Shogo.

“Nakamura-kun”

“Y-yes!”

A woman. Moreover, Sayama is a beauty who turns heads wherever she goes. With a brilliant past as a former hunter, she is also a talented individual who was appointed as a section chief at the age of 24.

If he were an ordinary man, his joy and ulterior motives would have shown through. However, following his bitter experiences, Shogo instinctively turned his face away.

Sayama felt guilty, knowing that it wasn’t true.

“You’re aiming for the surplus bonus with this month’s dungeon herb gathering, right? Do you think you can keep it up?”

“Ah, um, y-yeah, maybe, I’m fine, yes.”

“Really? You need an extra week in just three days? You need to submit an overtime request, right?”

“…E-excuse me.”

Shogo bit his lip, thinking he had messed up again.

It would have been fine if you had just said from the beginning that you intended to apply for overtime.

Shogo actually intended to do that, but whenever he talks to someone, it always ends up like this. No, it’s especially noticeable with women.

While clenching his molars, thoughts that wouldn’t come together swirled in Shogo’s mind.

If I don’t work overtime, I won’t reach the amount needed to receive the extra bonus. I know that. So, I have to apply for overtime.

However, this happened because my colleagues pushed me into an area where the main resource of the Shibuya Dungeon, the Dungeon Grass, doesn’t grow much, telling me not to interfere.

Indeed, my work is slow. My colleagues finish their tasks quickly and even have time to spare.

But that’s because we properly check the quality of the dungeon herbs indicated by the watch device, and if we take too many, they won’t grow back, so we gather them evenly by spreading out.

The company has also instructed me to do so.

I just said I would follow the instructions. Why am I being treated like such a nuisance… I might indeed be a troublesome person with no growth, but—

“Nakamura-kun? Are you listening?”

At Sayama’s slightly reproachful tone, Shogo looked up.

“Y-yes!”

“Alright… here you go. The application time is within two hours, okay? Keep up the good work with the surplus bonus this month too.”

“Understood.”

Shogo filled out the necessary information and signed the application form handed to him by Sayama.

“I’ll take care of the rest. Nakamura-kun… it would really help if you could share your thoughts a bit more.”

“……”

If I could do that, I would have done it a long time ago.

If only I could gain skills without any growth… No, even then, can I really change? When exactly did I become like this…?

The words that couldn’t even come out from the back of his throat churned and groaned within Shogo.

Even though Sayama is one of the few people who treats me kindly despite my flaws, my heart is further worn down by the shame of not being able to respond properly.

“It’s time to leave. Nakamura-kun, can you spare a little time after your shift today?”

“Eh… ah…”

What could it be for? Could it be a department transfer? Sure, I do stand out in the department, but anywhere else—

“You said you wanted to hear more about the fluctuations in the evaluation of the collection status, right?”

Shogo lifted his downcast eyes and looked at Sayama.

As I thought, this person is different. They really see me…

“Ah, um, thank you—”

“Nakamura! We’re leaving you behind! Hurry up!”

“Oh, later, when I get back, I’ll come by!”

Tensing up at his colleague’s loud voice, and unable to properly respond to Sayama, Shogo bowed his head and left the scene.