I woke up to the shrill sound of an alarm blaring beside me. Groaning, I fumbled for my phone, my hand slapping the ground until I finally silenced the noise. As I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, something felt… off.
The room was unfamiliar—too trashy, too smelly. The bed was softer than I remembered, and my body… my body felt heavy, like I was carrying a sack of rocks. I looked down and froze.
A bloated belly stretched the fabric of my shirt, and my hands—my hands were pudgy, unfamiliar. Panic surged through me as I stumbled out of bed, my legs wobbling under the unfamiliar weight.
"Huh? Wha- what?"
Urgently, I get out of bed as fast as my heavy body would allow me to the nearest bathroom. Once inside I quickly turn my attention to the mirror and to my horror, I was not myself.
The face staring back at me was rounder, fatter. My hair was a mess and my eyes… my eyes were tired, so much so my super-hero name would have been Raccoon Man.
"Who is this?"
As I stand in the middle of the bathroom trying to remember who I was memories flooded my mind—fragmented, disjointed. A fortune-teller. A wish. A truck.
I was returning home from another day of back-breaking work, while walking I remember a weird fortune-teller asking me if I have any wish. Despite it being midnight, I thought I'll humor them so I told her I wish to be reborn again in another life full of dungeons and magic, hearing this the fortune-teller ask if there was anything else I wish for. While still treating the whole conversation as a joke I stupidly reply back.
"Since I'm, living such a rich and fun life while everyone respect and loves me so much, I hope I get to be poor, ugly, and fat, while being hated by almost everyone with a bad reputation."
After those words left my mouth, the fortune-teller said nothing, instead snap his finger before telling me.
"Your wish is granted."
Hearing this, I could not help but laugh to myself as I turn my back and walk across the street in hope of catching the last train. Unfortunately, while walking I failed to take notice of a truck that for some strange reason did not slow down nor did it alert me as it runs me over and continue on like nothing. As it drives off I felt my body getting cold and my eyes getting heavy before finally I closed my eyes only to wake up to a loud alarm before getting here.
"This can't be happening right now. Did I really die? Who am- or rather, who was I? More importantly, Dungeons!?"
Sitting down on the toilet, I try remembering.
My name is Ryota Kurosawa, a 16 year old boy who was just accepted to Tochi no Gakuen, a dungeon focus school that is open to all as long as you meet their strict requirements, I am not like by many and looking through these memories I can see why, or rather, I can see why not. From stalking and sexually harassing any females that encounters him to badmouthing and looking down at everyone, going so far as to get jealous when someone is successful or anyone grabbing the spotlight he would bring attention to himself by hurling insults and demeanor the victim.
"Jesus, this guy is so distasteful. I see nothing redeemable about him or a root cause to his unlikable personality."
Looking deeper, Ryota wanted to join Tochi no Gakuen because the girls there were extremely attractive.
"Can you think with your head and not with your- never-mind."
Continuing on, Ryota barely has any relationship with anyone, his parents are too ashamed of him to talk or even look at him, his friends he once had were disgusted by his behaviors and decided to all distance themselves from him.
"Good."
To cope with the lack of connection Ryota would spend all of his allowance on snacks in hopes of eating away the loneliness.
"You brought this upon yourself, you ain't getting any petty points from me."
Looking further my mind becomes slowly turns blank.
"I guess this is all worth seeing. This guy was trash from the beginning."
Checking the phone, it is now 5:00 AM, I notice that the first morning assembly starts at 7:00 AM.
"I guess this is my life now? Better not waste a second chance, I guess."
I quickly get ready before heading down into the kitchen to create breakfast for myself. While eating I took a look at the local news.
Reading through I was still shock to see that Dungeons actually exist in this world.
"I can't believe she actually grant me that dumb ass wish. I should've wish for a stress free happy life instead."
Feeling depress about my wish, I finished up eating and washed the dishes before leaving for school.
"This feels so weird, this new life is both new and familiar at the same time. Must be due to my previous and current memory overlapping one another."
Walking through the quite early morning neighborhood felt nice, I felt a bit nostalgic as I breathe in the cool air of April.
Riding through the train, I was able to see the Dungeon entrance, a large white rectangle block with no windows or sign saying it's the entrance but the number of people entering and leaving was a dead giveaway.
Exiting the station and now in front of Tochi no Gakuen, a massive simplistic architecture design with plenty of windows on all sides.
I was impress by how massive the school property was.
Checking the time, 5:50 AM, I still had plenty of time before the assembly starts.
I start walking around the campus, I took note of where the cafeteria, gym, staff building, track-field, pool, and training ground were.
"This place is amazing."
After walking around for a short time I was starting to feel tire and heavy.
"God. This body is extremely out of shape. How did he manage to enter a school like this that focus more on dungeon?"
I found a bench nearby and plump myself down to rest while checking my phone, 6:20 AM. The sun was now slowly waking up. I resume reading the news.
'Let's see, this week, S-rank Delver, Kaito "The Void", has returned back and was able to breakthrough the 66th floor to 67th but not without loss. 50 Delvers enter but only 10 Delvers return, the families of those who were lost were mourning. When question about what he saw in the 67th floor, Kaito did not comment but instead walk past the mourning families apologizing as he goes before being transported away.'
Reading the article, I started questioning myself if entering the Dungeon was really something I want, despite the fact I wished for it.
"This is what you wished for so why are you having second thoughts?"
Looking up, I question whether this new life was really a blessing or a late misfortune.
My phone started buzzing, when check, the time was now 6:55 AM.
'Shit, I better get going.'
Walking past the entrance I was given a watch of some kind before joining the Freshmans.
I could not help but noticed the staring, laughing, mocking, and comments.
"It's the piggy…"
"I heard he was stalking all the females that talks to him."
"Look at that face, he's like an Ogre from the 20th floor."
"Nah, I would say a Goblin from the 3rd floor. Hehehehe."
'These people sure are good, gotta give them that.'
Checking the watch I was surprise to see while walking to my spot it was calculating, registering, and grading my body.
[HP: 10 MP: 0 STR: 1 AGI: 1 INT: 1 PER: 1 LCK:0]
[Class: D00 Seat:00]
Suddenly a loud announcement silent the room as the Headmaster enter the Gym.
The Headmaster was a senior with scars on his face but he was still strangely approachable.
"Welcome little ones, I am Mr. Yusida, as a fellow Delver, I am happy to see that the future is in good hands and honor that you chose Tochi no Gakuen as your first step to being a Delver. In these grounds, we hope to bring your ambition and dream to fruition by giving you the best mentors and training facility caters to your needs and requirements. I know the next National Delver will be one of you as you learn and grow within these walls while venturing forth into the Dungeon. We expect you to show us your efforts, in return, we will show you the direction. Once again, I thank you for choosing our school and I hope you enjoy your memories here. Please head to your homeroom as stated on the watch you were given."
Once the speech was over everyone clapped before walking off to their respective homeroom.
"Where is D00?"
Feeling lost, I spotted a teacher prompting me to walk up casually.
"Excuse me, do you know where D00 is ma'am?"
The female teacher looked at me and tried to hide her disgust before pointing at the last room down the hall.
"Thank you ma-, ma'am?"
The teacher did not say anything but instead quickly walking away.
Ignoring the reaction, I quickly walk into the D00.
Upon entering, everyone's eyes was on me but their eyes weren't showing curiosity but rather ferocity, disgust, and annoyance.
I pay no attention to their gaze and instead looked for my seat placement as I mumble my number.
"00, 00, where is 00? Hmm, oh."
It was the furthest seat in the back-row near the windows.
Sitting down, I quickly get ready for class.
Looking up, I noticed there were still stares stabbing me.
I let out a small wave in attempt to kill the negative mood but that caused everyone to look away.
Letting out a sigh, I place my head on the desk.
'This is going to be a rough life.'
Suddenly, the classroom, door was slammed open.