"I'm getting a bit tired. Should I head back home or push forward a little more?"
Thanks to my stamina stat, my body doesn't tire easily now.
But there are still limits.
After running around the dungeon, I'm starting to feel the strain.
"I can still keep going, but..."
Exploring and testing things out is starting to get fun.
If I wanted, I could keep pushing deeper into the dungeon.
But that's a recipe for a tasty disaster.
When you're tired, you always make mistakes.
In a dungeon, mistakes can lead to severe injuries or even death.
I'm here in the dungeon by my own choice.
I can leave or rest whenever I want.
"Wait, I can rest whenever I want...? That's a fresh perspective!"
Huh?
When I think about it, that's obvious, isn't it?
No, no, no! My mindset's getting too dark!
I've gotten too used to the idea that long hours are normal.
"I can still do this."
"I have to do it, even if it's tough."
"If I can't do it, it's because I'm not trying hard enough."
That's what I've been told. It's what I've believed.
But that's just empty grit.
It doesn't fit with modern values. It doesn't work.
Forcing that on others is unthinkable.
It's outright harassment.
Doing it to yourself isn't recommended either.
It breaks you down. It wears out your body and mind.
I'm glad I realized this.
For anyone pushing themselves too hard, I'd suggest taking a moment to pause and think.
In any case, in a dungeon, your life is on the line.
I can't afford to mess up by overdoing it.
Overdoing it is a bad idea!
I got carried away with testing my skills and wandered too far.
I've been roaming the dungeon for hours.
Without a clock, I can't tell the exact time.
As usual, my smartphone won't turn on.
Maybe electronic devices don't work in the dungeon.
The cave is vast, and I haven't explored it all in such a short time.
There were a few forks along the way, but I always turned right.
To get back, I just need to keep going left.
It's the right-hand rule for mazes.
I shouldn't get lost on the way back, or so I thought...
"Have I been down this path before?"
It should be right, but I feel an odd unease.
The path looks different going back than it did coming in.
It has to be right. I'm not lost. I keep telling myself that.
Even if I did get lost, it's not that complicated. It'll be fine, it'll be fine...
Eventually, I reach a familiar room and breathe a sigh of relief.
"Phew. I made it back safely. For a moment, I thought I might die lost in here..."
It was a nerve-wracking experience.
If I want to explore deeper, I should bring paper and a pen.
I might need to draw a map to avoid getting lost.
Next time, I'll need to bring food and water too.
You never know when you might not be able to get back quickly.
I dove into the dungeon unprepared... but there's a real chance I could get attacked by monsters and die.
Even without that, if I broke a leg and couldn't get back, I'd be done for anyways.
No rescue team is coming in a strange dungeon hidden in my closet. So I need to be careful.
Well, if I died, no one would really care.
But still, I don't want to die. If I died, I'd be the one in trouble.
Valuing my life is only natural.
For now, I plan to only explore as far as I can safely return to the entrance.
There's no reason to risk my life delving deeper into the dungeon.
From today's exploration, I've learned a few things.
Goblins aren't much of a threat.
I can handle them.
My stats and skills are solid enough to be useful.
I don't know if I'm strong enough to dominate, but I can hold my own against goblins.
In games or anime, skills are flashier, more overpowered.
The ones I've got so far are just mildly unusual.
I feel a bit underwhelmed.
"But... if you think about it realistically, it's pretty amazing!"
Take my jumping ability, for example, it's incredible.
I can leap high and fast.
In some sports, I could probably set world records.
By real-world standards, it's plenty overpowered.
But this is a dungeon.
I can't let my guard down. I can't get cocky.
What if there's a dragon or a minotaur, something really strong?
Could I win with my current skills and stats?
No way.
I need to assume those kinds of monsters are out there.
In the deeper levels of the dungeon, they're probably waiting.
I'm just a rookie ninja. My level's currently low.
If I level up and gain more skills, I should get stronger.
My immediate goal is to get strong enough to survive.
"Guess I'll call it a day and head back for now!"
I stand in front of the entrance connecting the dungeon to my apartment.
The black surface ripples eerily.
I'm glad it's still here!
Without it, I'd be stuck.
I don't want to be trapped in this cave.
I reach out toward the black surface... wait, what?
"Huh!? I can't get through? It's pushing me back!?"
I should be able to pass through by touching it!
I try again and again to push my hand through.
But it keeps getting repelled.
What's going on!?
Is it... a time-limited portal or something?
It looks the same as when I came through.
No, looks don't mean anything.
How am I supposed to judge this weird object?
This is really bad. I'm trapped!
If I'm stuck, starvation or dehydration is a real threat!
Cold sweat runs down my back.
"Come on, this isn't funny! Is there some condition?"
I pace around the room, racking my brain.
Think...
The surface looks the same as when I arrived.
There's no visible sign of it opening or closing.
It's like a black pool of water, faintly rippling.
I circle around it, but it looks the same from every angle.
An oval-shaped black hole.
No matter where I look, it's like a flat, rippling surface.
The black substance is hard to perceive in three dimensions.
If there's a condition... is it time? Does the dungeon have business hours or something?
"Today's operating hours are over"?
No way.
I try again after a short wait, but it still won't let me through.
When I reach out, it repels me.
Like trying to push two magnets with the same pole together.
It's like it's refusing to let me out.
"I got in just fine, so it's something that changed after I arrived? If it's my level or skills, I'm screwed...!"
What's different from when I came in?
Experience points?
...That's tied to my level.
Items?
Something I didn't have when I came in...!
"Wait!? Could it be, this!? The magic stone from the drop!"
I pull the magic stone out of my pocket.
I set it on the ground and reach for the black surface again.
No resistance!
My hand touches the black surface, and a soft sensation envelops me.
"I'm through!"
My vision goes dark.
When I come to, I'm back in my familiar apartment.
Phew, that was close!
I almost got trapped in there!
So, I can't take items out of the dungeon?
If that's the case, a warning message would've been nice.
This dungeon is kind of inconsiderate.
Man, I was freaking out.
That was the biggest crisis yet!