I could barely even contain my feelings seeing all these weird and confusing things happening all at once.
First, I was nearly hit by a car, only to then find out that someone who looks suspiciously like me ended up in an accident in an almost mirror-like manner.
Then everyone completely ignored me like I don't even exist whenever I asked them about what happened here — like I didn't fucking exist! Come on, man!
And my hand passed right through that guy — I mean what the fuck was with that??
But worst of all…
'Am I fucking dead!??'
That guy on the ground was clearly me! Not some doppelganger, but really me!!
Then, as if to make my confusion reach its limits, a line of glowing blue text appeared in my vision.
[Would you like to be a Dungeon Explorer?]
All I could do was stare. I mean, how else could I react to such a thing? Not only did I just found out that I was likely… dead, but this weird thing had to appear out of nowhere as well?
"???"
Things just kept getting weirder and weirder…
Not even my hand phasing through another person weirded me out as much as this thing did.
Finding out that I was most likely dead definitely still took the brunt of most of my shock though…
'What the fuck am I supposed to do in this type of situation?? Is there some sort of heaven I'll be going to? Reincarnation? …Hell? I haven't exactly been the best or kindest of people in my life, but I also wasn't just some abhorrent criminal or anything like that. Unless there are some stringent requirements to enter heaven, I doubt I'll be sent to hell…'
As soon as the thought came across my mind, as if to reiterate some sort of point, that same, weird screen appeared before my eyes once again.
[Would you like to become a Dungeon Explorer?]
'This thing again… What exactly is it?'
Of course, this wasn't just the only thing going through my mind at this time — as one might expect it to be quite hectic due to the circumstances, which it most definitely was.
But for some reason I felt strangely… cool headed.
It wasn't out of character for me to be acting such a way — in a normal situation. But even I'd expect myself to be quite shocked and scared considering the circumstances.
Thinking this, I was once again reminded of the weird screen asking me if I wanted to become something called a 'Dungeon Explorer'.
'It probably has something to do with this…'
'First off, what even is a Dungeon Explorer? What even merits me to become such a thing when I have absolutely zero information about it? Like, for all I know if I just ignore this or decline, I'll be sent to the afterlife, which I presume exists now that I've been shown definitive proof of the existence of a soul, right? I assume that's what my current state is, at least.'
[Time left to answer: 00:00:59]
[Warning: If you do not accept or give an answer within the time limit, your soul will be extinguished.]
'…'
'Well I guess that answers that then!'
Not even bothering to question anything any further, the first thing I thought was 'Yes! Of course I'll become a Dungeon Explorer!' trying to summon my best form of enthusiasm.
'…'
The fuck else am I supposed to do? Decline it and cease to exist? Am I dead? Yes, most likely. But does that mean I wish to stay that way, or end up even worse? Fuck no!
'I don't know what a Dungeon Explorer is, but it beats being truly dead!'
The next moment after I answered, everything turned silent. Well, nearly silent. Not because my hearing was suddenly taken away from me, but because the environment had completely changed. The constant panic and disrupting atmosphere of the scene of the accident had been replaced by nothing but the constant echo of a fire lit torch.
Nothing seemed to have changed other than the environment, but I could instinctively tell that I wasn't just a metaphysical 'soul' anymore, and that I was once again 'alive'.
It wasn't like I had some sort of special power that could tell me such a thing, but more like the information had subconsciously been planted inside my head that this was the case. It's actually quite a scary prospect, that such a thing could be done…
'I'm definitely not dreaming… This whole thing has been way to real so far for it to be the construct of a dream.'
I found myself in what looked like a medieval castle's dungeon hallway. In fact, now that I think about it, perhaps this is the 'Dungeon' this weird screen was talking about?
'Is this the dungeon I'm supposed to explore?'
Like my mind was being read, right as I'd figured out where I might be, another screen popped up before my eyes — different from the first one.
[Nick Balls - Rank 9 Apprentice Dungeon Explorer has entered the Dungeon.]
'Tsk. It just had to rub it in my face, great.'
Nick Balls. That's my name all right. Has been ever since birth.
As one might expect, I was the object of ridicule all throughout my childhood due to my last name, and still am now, sometimes even in adulthood.
Thanks to my unfortunate last name, I'd long given up introducing myself to people with my full name, only referring to myself by Nick, my first name. Of course, even this rarely happened due to how everyone practically ignored my existence anyway.
My last name has probably contributed partly to why I'm so socially inept, but there's no use complaining about that now.
…Unless this weird system starts announcing it to every person I meet from now on.
…If I do ever encounter another person willing to talk to me.
[As this is your first time in the Dungeon, a welcome package of 10 Lowest grade healing potions has been sent to your inventory.]
Surprisingly, the messages from what I'd adeptly coined 'the System' continued, breaking me out of my depressing thoughts.
'Potions? Is this place some sort of fantasy world or something!? Just what kind of fucked up shit have I found myself in?'