I was just another ordinary salaryman, living to work and working to survive, trapped in a miserable routine that barely left room to breathe. My life was pure garbage — a repetitive, meaningless cycle.
One night, during one of those heavy drinking sessions with friends — the kind where we drank until we dropped — my body started giving warning signs. A sharp pain in my chest, shortness of breath... something was wrong. Before I could react, weakness overwhelmed me, and everything went dark.
There was no time for help. I felt my body go numb, my eyes growing heavier, like they were made of lead. It felt like I was being pulled into a deep, irreversible sleep. A paralyzing fear took hold of me, but it was useless.
Then came total darkness.
Just when I had accepted the inevitable, a light appeared. Not just any light — it was intense, blinding, almost divine. The infamous "light at the end of the tunnel" people always talk about.
When the light consumed everything, I opened my eyes... and found myself in a completely different world.
Before me stood a city surrounded by towering stone walls. At its center, a massive white tower pierced the sky, radiating an almost sacred aura. There was no doubt: I was no longer in my world.
I was in line to enter that city.
The line was long, giving me plenty of time to process everything. Strangely enough, I wasn't nervous. On the contrary, I felt a strange excitement growing inside me. It was as if, for the first time, I had the chance to do something meaningful.
— Orario... — I whispered softly, finally realizing where I was.
I was really in Orario, the city where gods walk among mortals. Or rather... I was in the world of DanMachi.
A very popular anime that, at first glance, seemed like just another adventure and romance story about an innocent boy exploring dungeons and winning hearts.
But this world was far darker than it appeared.
This city is chaos disguised as civilization. Practically a giant free-for-all, a never-ending battle royale. Not because there's a rule enforcing it, but because no one here can be trusted.
Even now, I've probably walked past dozens of serial killers — people who aren't even wanted because, frankly, no one here cares about the dead.
In Orario, you can kill whoever you want, whenever you want, and as many as you want — as long as no one notices. And if no one cares, nothing will be done.
A massive nest of vipers and shameless worms.
'I guess I can understand a little now why Freya ended up the way she did...'
Freya... the goddess of beauty and desire. A figure as fascinating as she is dangerous. Living in a city as rotten as Orario is already hard for an ordinary person — but for someone who can literally see into people's souls?
Probably maddening. For the first time, I felt something close to pity for her.
But pity wouldn't stop me from worrying. She was an unpredictable threat.
On one hand, maybe I didn't have to worry too much. Freya had her eyes set on Bell Cranel, the "pure-souled boy." But on the other hand... she didn't seek Bell specifically, but rather anyone with an untainted soul — one not corrupted by the Dungeon or Orario's decay.
And what about me?
The question echoed in my mind. Am I innocent?
In a normal world, that would be easy to answer: no. I was just another average man, full of flaws and vices. My browser history alone could prove that.
But here... the standards were different. Compared to this place, maybe I was the purest soul Freya would ever find.
'Damn,' I thought. 'I hope she doesn't come after me.'
But Freya wasn't my only concern. There were still the Evilus — the terrorist organization spreading chaos through Orario — not to mention the constant feuds between the Familias. And I hadn't even mentioned the monsters in the Dungeon.
'I need to get strong.'
That was the only conclusion I could reach. If I wanted to survive here — truly live, be happy — then I had to become strong. There's no other way. And in this world, strength is only gained one way: by facing the Dungeon.
I looked up at the city before me. The massive white tower at its center seemed to reach the heavens, glowing with an almost divine light.
— Alright then, Dungeon. Let's see what you've got — I murmured, trying to muster courage while fear gnawed at my insides.
Orario was even more impressive than I'd imagined. The streets buzzed with life, packed with merchants shouting about their goods, adventurers in extravagant outfits, and a constant cacophony of voices. The whole city felt like it was alive, pulsing with a vibrant, almost overwhelming energy.
Despite all that, my goal was clear. I walked through the streets until I reached the imposing Tower of Babel — the heart of the Adventurers' Guild. It was the place where I could start my journey... or so I thought.
Upon entering the lobby, I was greeted by a nearly chaotic sight. Adventurers of all kinds hurried around, carrying gleaming weapons and gear that looked straight out of a fantasy tale. The sound of conversation echoed off the high walls — a whirlwind of words I could barely follow.
But something was wrong. It wasn't just the noise that made understanding difficult. The voices around me sounded... strange. A language I didn't recognize.
'Calm down,' I thought. 'They must just be talking too fast.'
I kept walking through the lobby until my eyes found who I was looking for: Eina Tulle.
There she was, sitting at a service desk. Her expression was calm but focused, her bright green eyes scanning the documents in front of her. Her brown hair was neatly tied, and her thin-framed glasses gave her an air of professionalism and confidence.
'Finally, someone trustworthy.'
With a sigh of relief, I approached her desk and said:
— Excuse me, could you help me?
She looked up, clearly surprised by the interruption, but her expression quickly softened into a welcoming smile.
— ᚻᛟᛊ ᛒᚩᚢᛏ ᛟᛞᚱᚩᚦ ᛊᛏᚩᚩᛒᛏ? — she said.
I froze.
— Sorry, what? — I asked, trying not to sound desperate.
Eina frowned, visibly confused.
— ᛏᚱᚪᚾᛊᛚᚪᛏᛖ ᚪᚾᛞ ᛒᛖᚷᛁᚾ ᛞᛁᛊᛜ?
Every word that left her mouth was a mystery. It made no sense. I couldn't understand a single thing. It was like she was speaking an entirely alien language.
My heart started racing.
I had decided to become strong and live a fulfilling life, but the moment I faced my first obstacle, a harsh truth hit me: things wouldn't be as easy as I imagined.
Discomfort spread through me — a growing sense of disorientation. I knew I needed to find a solution, but right then, I had no idea how.
'Why didn't I think of this before?'
I was in another world. Another world! Of course they wouldn't speak the same language I did!
Eina looked at me, clearly noticing my confusion. Her hesitant smile tried to convey calm, but her eyes showed concern. She spoke again, this time slower, trying to be understood.
— I... don't understand — I muttered, my voice lower than I'd like, pointing to my mouth and then to my ears, trying to communicate my problem somehow.
Eina blinked, visibly puzzled, but quickly grabbed a piece of paper and a quill, as if trying another way to communicate.
But of course, the paper was filled with indecipherable symbols, resembling ancient Norse runes.
'What do I do now?'
Doubt flooded my mind, but I had no time to freeze. I took a deep breath and tried to focus. I couldn't let panic win. I was in a new world — but that didn't mean it was impossible to adapt.
'I don't know the language, fine. I'll learn it. Whatever the problem is, I'll overcome it. I refuse to let this chance to truly live slip through my fingers just because of the first obstacle in my way.'