Chapter 4

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In the hour of the ox, when even insects sleep, a room in the Prime Minister's Office was filled with key cabinet ministers who had been urgently summoned.

"So, Prime Minister, could you tell us the reason for this emergency summons?"

"Understood... Chief Cabinet Secretary, please explain."

"Yes."

At the Prime Minister's urging, the Chief Cabinet Secretary began to explain the circumstances leading to the emergency summons. The attendees were concerned about the Chief Cabinet Secretary's slightly pale complexion, but they decided to listen quietly to the explanation for now.

"At midnight today, multiple unusual underground structures appeared in our country and around the world."

"Underground structures?"

"Yes. Special underground structures... we refer to them as dungeons."

"‘Dungeons!?’"

Voices filled with confusion rose in the meeting room. It was understandable.

"We learned of the appearance of dungeons through an emergency communication from the United States and instructed the police nationwide to confirm. It was confirmed to be true."

"Wait a moment! Dungeons!? Chief Cabinet Secretary, are you in your right mind!?"

The Chief Cabinet Secretary, asked if he was in his right mind, showed a hurt expression but, with a look that said it was understandable, operated his terminal and projected a video onto a large monitor.

The monitor displayed a dungeon discovered in Japan.

"Fourteen dungeons have been discovered within our country, and this number is expected to increase as the search continues. Currently, the police have sealed off the discovered dungeons and are preventing civilian entry, but no fundamental measures have been taken."

"Is this really true?"

"Yes, unfortunately. According to our confirmation, dungeons have appeared evenly across the world without regard for national boundaries. Currently, the United States and several other countries have sent military forces to investigate the dungeons. The following is a rather intense video..."

The Chief Cabinet Secretary operated his terminal and projected the next video. It was footage from a helmet camera of a U.S. team that had entered a dungeon. The video showed the interior of the dungeon, with multiple team members advancing cautiously in formation. After a while, a four-legged creature about the size of a large dog appeared at the edge of the screen.

"What is that?"

"You'll see."

The four-legged creature let out a roar and charged at the team with great speed. The team members, responding to the commander's orders, opened fire, but the creature continued to move even after being hit by multiple bullets. It finally collapsed just one step away from the front of the team.

"This is..."

"This is a record of the U.S. team's internal investigation of the dungeon. The video continues for a few more minutes, but I will skip it. Various hostile creatures inhabit the dungeon and attack anyone who enters indiscriminately. Fortunately, so far, there has been no evidence of these creatures advancing outside the dungeon, so you won't be attacked unless you enter."

"..."

Silence fell in the meeting room. Everyone except the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary clutched their heads, trying to understand the situation.

"Thank you for your hard work, Chief Cabinet Secretary. This is the reason I called you all here urgently."

The Prime Minister's words broke the silence, and the ministers finally began to move.

"Although it is hard to accept, if this is what is happening, we must respond immediately. I request permission to deploy the Self-Defense Forces."

"Even so, what is the reason for deploying the Self-Defense Forces? Is it for maintaining public order? Or disaster response? So far, there have been no direct damages from the dungeons in our country?"

"That's true. For now, the police can handle the situation."

"Moreover, if the Self-Defense Forces move prematurely before the situation is clear, it could cause unnecessary alarm in other countries."

The Minister of Justice expressed concerns about the legality of deploying the Self-Defense Forces, and the National Public Safety Commission Chairman and the Minister of Foreign Affairs agreed.

"May I speak? From the video, it appears that there are unknown creatures inside the dungeons. From a health perspective, we cannot rule out the possibility of unknown viruses."

The Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare raised a hand and expressed concerns about the potential risks of contact with the creatures inside the dungeons.

Various opinions about the dungeons emerged, and the emergency cabinet meeting was in turmoil as each minister tried to protect their department's interests and potential new benefits.

After a while of heated debate, a certain conclusion was reached.

"Then, we will announce the existence of the dungeons and the restrictions on entering them to the public through a special government broadcast tomorrow. Are there any objections?"

"..."

"Since there are no objections, it is decided. Please gather information on the dungeons, and report the results at tomorrow's cabinet meeting."

With the Prime Minister's declaration, the emergency cabinet meeting ended, and each minister began their work.

---

One week after the government broadcast, another emergency cabinet meeting was convened.

"How is it going?"

"Not well. The investigation teams from the United States and several other countries have been decimated."

"I see."

The Prime Minister, with a serious expression, listened to the report from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and clutched his head.

Fortunately, due to delays in coordination among the relevant ministries, the departure of the investigation team led by the Self-Defense Forces was delayed, and while the Japanese team remained unscathed, the investigation plan hit a snag.

"Has the cause of the decimation of the investigation teams been identified?"

"Yes, roughly."

The Minister of Defense took over the report from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He operated his terminal and projected a video onto the large monitor in the meeting room.

"The cause is simply the insufficient power of the firearms currently in use. The M4 carbines used by the U.S. investigation team were unable to penetrate the defenses of the monsters after the fifth level. As a result, the investigation team fell into chaos after losing their commander to the first attack by the monsters and was decimated without being able to mount an organized counterattack."

The monitor displayed the dead body of a bear-like monster with over a hundred bullet wounds.

"As you know, the bodies of monsters killed in the dungeon disappear. This video was recorded by survivors of the investigation team before the monster's body disappeared. In other words, the bullets hit the monster, but they were not effective."

"So, using firearms to explore the dungeon is..."

"Impossible. At least, the firepower of firearms that can be carried by infantry is insufficient."

The Minister of Defense concluded that exploring the dungeon with current weapons is impossible based on the investigation results.

The other ministers sighed in disappointment upon hearing this.

"I see. Knowing this before the Self-Defense Forces' investigation team entered the dungeon, we should consider ourselves better off compared to other countries."

"Yes. We must investigate the dungeons, but at least, we should avoid delving into deeper levels until we find an effective method."

"I agree. It would be disastrous to rush in and be decimated."

The Prime Minister agreed with the Minister of Defense's proposal.

"Then, can each ministry report on the public reaction since the announcement of the dungeons?"

"I'll start."

The National Public Safety Commission Chairman began his report.

"Currently, we are mobilizing the police nationwide to search for unconfirmed dungeons, and over 50 dungeons have been confirmed, including reports from citizens. Including unconfirmed mountainous areas, there is a possibility that nearly 100 dungeons exist within our territory."

"100..."

"The confirmed dungeons are currently sealed off by the police, primarily by the riot police, but dozens of civilians have already been arrested for attempting to enter the dungeons."

"Despite knowing the results of those who entered dungeons in other countries through the internet and media..."

The Prime Minister looked distant upon hearing the National Public Safety Commission Chairman's report and sighed at the mention of the arrests.

After the National Public Safety Commission Chairman finished, the Minister of Defense began his report.

"Currently, in many countries, especially advanced nations, the trend is to send military forces to control the dungeons that have appeared. However, with the news of the decimation of multiple investigation teams, the movements of the military forces have stalled. Currently, they are focusing on sealing off the dungeons and building defensive facilities."

"Perhaps we should also build defensive positions that double as sealing facilities for the dungeons in our country. It would also help with the issue of preventing intruders, as mentioned in the report."

"Yes. The Ground Self-Defense Force's construction units can build defensive positions in a short period."

"Let's consider it."

The Prime Minister agreed with the Minister of Defense's proposal.

"Then, can each ministry report on the public reaction since the announcement of the dungeons?"

"I'll start."

The National Public Safety Commission Chairman began his report.

"Currently, we are mobilizing the police nationwide to search for unconfirmed dungeons, and over 50 dungeons have been confirmed, including reports from citizens. Including unconfirmed mountainous areas, there is a possibility that nearly 100 dungeons exist within our territory."

"100..."

"The confirmed dungeons are currently sealed off by the police, primarily by the riot police, but dozens of civilians have already been arrested for attempting to enter the dungeons."

"Despite knowing the results of those who entered dungeons in other countries through the internet and media..."

The Prime Minister looked distant upon hearing the National Public Safety Commission Chairman's report and sighed at the mention of the arrests.

After the National Public Safety Commission Chairman finished, the Minister of Defense began his report.

"Currently, in many countries, especially advanced nations, the trend is to send military forces to control the dungeons that have appeared. However, with the news of the decimation of multiple investigation teams, the movements of the military forces have stalled. Currently, they are focusing on sealing off the dungeons and building defensive facilities."

"Perhaps we should also build defensive positions that double as sealing facilities for the dungeons in our country. It would also help with the issue of preventing intruders, as mentioned in the report."

"Yes. The Ground Self-Defense Force's construction units can build defensive positions in a short period."

"Let's consider it."

The Prime Minister agreed with the Minister of Defense's proposal.

"Then, can the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry report next?"

The Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry began his report.

"The Keidanren has requested the opening of the dungeons to civilians."

"Keidanren?"

"They seem to have their eyes on the items produced in the dungeons."

The Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry operated his terminal and projected a video onto the large monitor. The monitor displayed various items recovered from the dungeons by the investigation team, and the explanation shifted from the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.

"For example, these minerals obtained from defeating monsters. After analysis, it was found that the metal content in the minerals is 99.9% of the total mass. In other words, these are pure metal blocks, even without refining. Of course, the analysis of other items is ongoing, but surprising reports are coming in."

"..."

"Keidanren likely sees the dungeons as a treasure chest with high returns, despite the dangers."

"What a troublesome calculation at a troublesome time..."

The Prime Minister clutched his head upon hearing the reports from the two ministers.

He couldn't completely ignore the Keidanren's request, but he couldn't immediately open the dungeons to civilians either.

The Prime Minister, who was struggling with the future direction, was approached by the Minister of Finance, who looked apologetic.

"Prime Minister, may I speak?"

"Go ahead."

"Inquiries have come from the landowners where the dungeons appeared. Will the government buy the land where the dungeons appeared? Will the land with the dungeons be subject to taxation? Similar inquiries have been made. What do you think, Prime Minister?"

"Regarding the purchase of land, we will need to consider it eventually. Also, since the dungeons are a supernatural phenomenon, it would be better to avoid taxing them. However, we should establish clear laws to handle these issues. Minister of Justice."

The Prime Minister, shaking his head, explained his thoughts to the Minister of Finance and then called on the Minister of Justice.

"Yes."

"Please consider drafting a special law related to dungeons. We will submit it to the Diet for deliberation and enactment as soon as possible."

"Understood. I will submit the draft promptly."

"Thank you."

After the reports and discussions, the Prime Minister, exhausted, concluded the emergency cabinet meeting.

---

"Those fools! Do they realize we are in a state of emergency!?"

Back in his office, the Prime Minister dismissed his aides and began to vent his frustrations.

"Right now, the priority is to deal with the dungeons that have appeared! Before making foolish demands, come up with solutions!"

The Prime Minister recalled the issue of civilians who had entered the dungeons and were injured or killed, which the opposition had raised in the Diet.

"Basically, why should we take responsibility for those who ignored repeated warnings on TV and forcibly entered the sealed-off dungeons and were injured or killed! It's their own fault!"

In the large, empty office, the Prime Minister vented his frustrations, which he couldn't express during the Diet session, and took deep breaths.

After calming down, he reviewed the proposal from the opposition, sighed, and threw it aside.

"Without proper legal frameworks, it's impossible to immediately open the dungeons to civilians. Moreover, even special forces with full equipment and training have been decimated. For civilians with inadequate equipment and training, entering the dungeons in the current information-poor situation is no different from suicide. The dungeons will just be filled with piles of bodies."

Even if it's just a performance to gain popularity, it's a highly troublesome act, the Prime Minister thought. While he didn't intend to completely ignore the public demand for opening the dungeons, he believed it was premature. At the very least, he thought it was better not to open them recklessly until the minimum information and environment were in place.

"Eventually, people will start entering the dungeons. But it shouldn't be done in a disorderly and haphazard manner. At the very least, the government should support it in a way that benefits the nation..."

The Prime Minister gazed at the scene outside the window, worrying about Japan's future as it entered a turbulent era due to the appearance of the dungeons.

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This time, I've provided a rough overview of the government's response to the appearance of the dungeons. I plan to write about the actions of other countries and companies in the future.