Chapter 1

This is something in the style of Cthulhu. (Red herring)

White, white, white—everything perceivable is covered in white, and consciousness becomes hazy as if shrouded in mist.

Not even the question of where this place is arises.

It’s as if she’s just there, as a matter of course.

It’s uncertain whether she can think clearly.

It feels like a dream.

【You will face many trials ahead.】

A mechanical voice echoes in her head.

It conveys no emotion, not even a clear gender. It’s a voice like that.

But in her hazy consciousness, only this voice is clearly etched.

【On your shoulders lies the fate of your homeland, the lives of its people, and the future of humanity on Earth.】

It feels as if she’s been burdened with something incredible, without any context.

She can’t make any judgments in her current state, but will she regret it later?

【You will challenge complex and bizarre labyrinths, ruins, great temples, and the mechanical empire.】

Labyrinths, ruins, great temples, mechanical empire? ——— The last one wasn’t quite clear, but the words brought to mind the TRPG she sometimes played with friends.

Especially the ones focused on exploration.

【What will you bring to the challenge?】

For exploration, she wants skills suited for it.

That’s all that came to mind in her muddled head.

【Acknowledged】

【Rest assured, you are not alone.】

It seems there are companions.

That makes sense; playing TRPG alone would be lonely.

【The people of Earth will always watch over you, and your homeland will support you.】

Not alone in that sense?

And the rest just watch over?

Dirty, typical of other countries, dirty.

【Do your best; we look forward to your valiant efforts.】

With those words, consciousness begins to fade.

Deeply, deeply, into the unknown.

『Skills have been granted.』

『You have obtained the 【Scouting】 skill.』

『You have obtained the 【Estimation】 skill.』

『You have obtained the 【Listening】 skill.』

『You have obtained the 【Search】 skill.』

『You have obtained the 【Psychological Analysis】 skill.』

『You have obtained the 【Appraisal】 skill.』

『Skill proficiency has been added.』

『【Scouting +9】』

『【Estimation +1】』

『【Search +1】』

『【Psychological Analysis +2】』

Year 2045, Japan

It was a sudden event.

A faintly glowing, rainbow-colored barrier appeared at the boundary between the exclusive economic zone and the high seas.

Disconnection from overseas servers.

Communication with the outside world cut off.

Link with artificial satellites severed.

A completely black image projected in the sky everywhere.

Faced with the confusion of the people, the government held an emergency press conference.

『Everything I am about to announce is the absolute, unadulterated truth.

I repeat.

Everything I am about to announce is the absolute, unadulterated truth.

Our country has just been declared war on by a world different from the one we live in, what is known as an alternate world.

As a result, our country has been cut off from all other countries, both physically and electronically.

Our country is now declaring a state of national emergency.

We ask the citizens to return to their normal lives without causing chaos and to understand and cooperate in this crisis.』

The confirmed disconnection from the outside world.

The disappearance of imports and exports.

A future of shortages in raw materials, food, energy, and everything else.

The crisis of a dying nation.

The despair suddenly thrust upon the citizens of a peaceful and prosperous country.

Japan, the second-largest economy in the world and a regional power in the Western Pacific.

This country quickly fell into resignation, despair, and chaos.

As the once-prosperous nation in East Asia slowly headed towards its end, a change appeared in the black image projected in the sky.

What was shown there was ——————

Our dungeon war, you and I.