When I returned from exploring the dungeon to save the world, I found out that my lover had been stolen, and I was blamed for the failed expedition. Enraged, I quit Japan's strongest party—only for them to self-destruct on their own. - Chapter 1

“Someone has to take responsibility. Unfortunately for you, Okita, that someone is you!”

“Screw this! I’m done with this place!”

I know this is sudden, but my name is Koichi Okita.

I was once a top-ranked explorer under the Japan Dungeon Association and a member of the well-known explorer party Myoujou.

Well, I was.

As of this moment, I’ve left both the Japan Dungeon Association and Myoujou. I’m now a free explorer. Nice to meet you.

And the reason for all this? Betrayal—pure and simple.

Seven years ago, a meteor shower rained down on the world, and where the meteors landed, dungeons formed.

Some people gained magical abilities, and naturally, the world was thrown into chaos. But I’ll skip over the history lesson.

During that time, a prophecy emerged, claiming that this phenomenon had been foretold. According to the prophecy, the world could be saved if all the high-level dungeons were cleared. This claim came from the World Dungeon Association, which based it on an ancient stone tablet discovered a hundred years ago.

In the years that followed, each country established its own dungeon association, and countless explorers were born.

I was one of them.

I had talent.

After my parents passed away, I was raised by my uncle. Using a strange sword he gave me, I rampaged through dungeons, slaughtering monsters without mercy.

Why? Because monsters killed my parents. It was the fate of all explorers, but that didn’t make it any less painful.

In Japan, the Dungeon Association conducted a nationwide magic aptitude test. Those who were found to have potential were trained as explorers, regardless of their background. It was a bold move, considering Japan had no conscription system. But with a high-level dungeon forming within the country, there was little choice.

The World Dungeon Association declared that each country was responsible for clearing its own high-level dungeons.

A ridiculous demand, right?

But when the U.S., China, and Germany—who had monopolized dungeon loot—agreed to this arrangement in order to keep other nations’ explorers out, Japan had no choice but to follow suit.

Thus, the Japan Dungeon Association assembled the most elite explorers in the country to form Myoujou, a party dedicated to conquering Tokyo Dungeon—one of the world’s seven high-level dungeons.

We began our descent into Tokyo Dungeon.

Then, out of nowhere, China announced that it had successfully conquered its own high-level dungeon.

The nations possessing high-level dungeons—America, China, Germany, Brazil, India, Australia, and Japan—had formed a coalition known as D7 to share information and provide mutual support. But China’s sudden declaration caught everyone off guard.

Panicked by this, the U.S. hastened its own dungeon exploration and pressured Japan to do the same.

That was six months ago.

Wanting to prove itself, Japan launched an all-out expedition into Tokyo Dungeon, confidently sending Myoujou and other top parties into its depths.

Little did we know, we were walking straight into hell.

We progressed smoothly until the 70th floor.

But beyond that, it was nothing short of a nightmare.

Rivers of molten lava. Poisonous air. Swarms of monsters filling the sky and land alike.

We pushed forward with everything we had, but we hit our limit on the 96th floor.

By then, all the other parties had retreated.

The only ones left were Kotone Numakawa, the warrior; Ayaka, the mage; Haruka Miyanaga, the priestess; myself, the magic swordsman; and Natsuki Yokota, the knight.

All of us were battered and bruised.

Then, disaster struck—Kotone suffered a fatal wound.

She had taunted a massive dragon by launching a fireball at it, drawing its deadly retaliation.

To make matters worse, our leader, Hideaki Kazuno, was absent due to a so-called “injury” sustained in a prior expedition.

In that situation, I made the call—I declared a retreat.

No room for argument. I dragged everyone back to safety.

Kotone, unconscious, didn’t resist.

Haruka, my childhood friend, complied without question.

Natsuki, ever the silent one, followed along without issue.

But of course, the little brat with the oversized chest threw a tantrum, hurling insults like “coward,” “weakling,” and “pathetic excuse for an explorer.” It was annoying as hell.

I had cut the expedition stream before the retreat, but her verbal abuse was so extreme that I made sure to record it. Just in case.

And then, when we finally returned—

“Tough luck, Koichi.”

“That’s what you say to someone who barely made it back alive with his team?”

What a bastard.

Hideaki Kazuno was always a piece of sh1t.

On the surface, he was a charismatic, handsome leader with a large fanbase.

In reality, he was rotten to the core.

Now, with our injured teammates sent to the infirmary and no witnesses around, he took the opportunity to spew his venom.

“You call that protecting your team? You came back unscathed, while the others were covered in wounds. Kotone was nearly killed. Tell me again how you kept them safe?”

“You little—”

We made it to the 96th floor.

That’s further than any Japanese team had ever gone.

The Japan Dungeon Association’s optimistic predictions were completely off.

“With your skills, you should be able to clear the 100th floor with ease,” your father said? Let me punch that smug face of his.

“Oh, how scary. Japan’s number one explorer, Koichi Okita, failed to protect his team, lost his temper, and lashed out at his leader, who was unfortunately injured and unable to participate.”

“Do you have a death wish?”

“Guh—”

I was exhausted, but his provocation was too much to let slide.

I unleashed my magic.

That bastard buckled under the pressure, falling to his knees.

Pathetic. This was our leader?

“Go ahead. Hit me if you want. Tomorrow’s headlines will be all about you. But don’t worry. A little prison time won’t be so bad. Oh, and don’t trouble yourself over Akane… or Haruka, for that matter.”

“If you lay a hand on them, I’ll kill you.”

“Oh? Playing the protective boyfriend now? Akane felt real nice in my arms, you know.”

“You—!”

“Gah!”

I punched him.

I held back—barely.

The bastard pissed himself as he passed out.

And then his piece-of-sh1t father—Akihito Kazuno—had the audacity to tell me to take full responsibility for the mission’s failure.

Like hell I would.

The entire situation was their fault.

They funneled money into an expedition we weren’t ready for, all to compete with China’s so-called dungeon conquest.

If I had gone alone, I could have made it further.

This was their failure, not mine.

The government and the association can go to hell.