Akatsuki Translations

Ever since dungeons appeared, I’ve always wanted to enter one and have been preparing for it. As my 15th birthday approached, a year prior, I decided not to go to high school and confessed to my parents that I wanted to become an explorer of the dungeons. 

I explained to my indifferent parents, who seemed less interested in me than their jobs, everything I’d discovered about the dungeons over the phone. But in the end, it was just child’s talk. They didn’t understand my feelings and still hoped I would at least go to a D-ranked school. 

On January 1st, five years ago, at midnight, dungeons suddenly appeared worldwide. I still vividly remember that day. 

『We interrupt this program with breaking news. A large localized earthquake has been observed in Toshima Ward, Tokyo. According to the Meteorological Agency, there’s a possibility of simultaneous large-scale earthquakes worldwide with a magnitude of 10 and—』 

Even I, who was just a child back then, was shocked by the magnitude of 10. 

I panicked, thinking the Great Kanto Earthquake had finally struck. However, the earthquake, which was supposedly a magnitude 10 in Ikebukuro, strangely didn’t affect our apartment in Kokubunji, Tokyo at all. 

Later, it was revealed that 1,000 dungeons appeared simultaneously worldwide, causing earthquakes everywhere. The Meteorological Agency was apparently in chaos at that time. 

Amidst the apocalyptic discussions, my father didn’t come home for the first time that New Year’s Eve. On that gloomy day, when I felt abandoned by my parents in 4th grade, I tried to make New Year’s Eve soba for my stepsister, who was the same age as me. 

『”Why are you so casual about making New Year’s Eve soba when even your stepfather hasn’t come home? That side of you is gross! I hate even breathing the same air as you! I won’t eat it!” 』-Imari 

My stepsister, Imari, scolded me when I was already feeling down. 

But I still tried my best to make the New Year’s Eve soba for her. Just when she knocked it off the table, the TV programs were interrupted to report the earthquakes, and the New Year’s Eve temple bell didn’t ring. 

I changed channels, but every station was reporting on the earthquakes instead of regular New Year’s programs. 

『”There’s no shaking… right?” 』-Imari 

Because the news was loudly proclaiming “It’s an earthquake!”, Imari, also in 4th grade, momentarily forgot her disdain for me and shivered with fear beside me. 

However, our apartment didn’t shake at all, making us question our senses. Later, we learned that these earthquakes only occurred where dungeons appeared. 

The next morning, 

『Breaking news on the magnitude 10 earthquakes that occurred simultaneously worldwide. Mysterious caves, or rather, some argue they shouldn’t be called caves, have appeared everywhere. Despite the appearance of these strange dimensions, surrounding buildings remain undamaged—』 

The first news reports about the 1,000 dungeons appearing worldwide were broadcast. 

As time went on, more details emerged: monsters appeared in the dungeons, there were items like in games, and even gacha systems from which even resurrection potions could be obtained. People were ecstatic. 

『”It’s become a strange world.” 』-Rokujou 

『”We must not follow in the footsteps of the South American nation which become the first country to be destroyed by explorers,” claim various Western countries who have—』 

However, there were frequent incidents where people, after leveling up in the dungeons, committed crimes due to their newfound powers. Some even opposed the police and military. Within a year, it was decided to regulate entry into the dungeons. 

I, who dreamed of entering a dungeon, watched that news with a heavy heart. But as the regulations were about to be implemented, world leaders encountered a significant obstacle. 

The dungeons had rules: 

1. No one under 15 can enter.  

2. One can only enter on one’s own free will. 

3. One can’t enter if ordered or constrained by someone. 

4. Due to the above rules, the police and military, who are under orders, cannot enter. 

These rules were realized later on. Initially, it was unclear why the police and military couldn’t enter. However, allowing ordinary citizens to freely enter dungeons was problematic. 

In the dungeons, people could level up like in games and could use mysterious powers like magic and skills. These powers were so potent that they threatened even the military. 

Leading nations, especially Western ones, introduced national exams for entering dungeons and established laws. But the moment these laws were enacted in those countries, no one could enter the dungeons. 

In contrast, countries that were slow to legislate, including Japan, still had access to dungeons. They intended to draft their laws after observing countries that had already done so. 

However, countries with laws couldn’t enter the dungeons, while those without could. The reason was evident. 

That’s why the UK was the first to abolish its laws. 

『It’s quite a mysterious story, isn’t it? It’s as if someone created it and is watching over it.”』 

From that moment, even in the UK, one could enter the dungeons. This led to the belief that the dungeons were created by someone. The state of not being able to enter a dungeon was termed as: 

『Being rejected by the dungeon. 』 

『Fear of the government being rejected by the dungeon. The voices criticizing their irresponsible responses are growing louder every day—』 

Such news was reported almost daily. However, no matter which expert appeared on TV, they couldn’t offer any effective measures against the dungeon. 

In reality, when it came to that, Japan had handled the situation better than other countries. 

Yet, neither Western nations nor socialist countries followed Japan’s lead in liberating the dungeons. They couldn’t let a place where anyone could freely gain power run wild and tried every means to regulate it. 

As a result, the rules for entering dungeons became complex. Despite the absence of legal restrictions, sudden issues where no one from the country could enter the dungeons frequently arose. 

Seeing this, Japan continued without any specific strategy against the dungeons. This led to criticism from other countries, but ironically, Japan was now considered the most peaceful. 

In Japan, valuable items obtained from the dungeon gacha were purchased by the newly established profession, “Explorers”, from the government or corporations. 

『”Imari, I think I won’t go to a D-rank, rather, I’ll become an explorer.” 』-Rokujou 

The dreamy stories of explorers were being revealed one after the other. Some discovered revival potions and became rich overnight, while others grew wings and flew. I was grateful to the dungeon for allowing anyone to enter, and since fourth grade, I’ve been obsessed with dungeons. 

“Are you really going?” -Imari 

I informed Imari that I would challenge the dungeon from tomorrow. I had also told my parents about it, but they weren’t home today. I had expected them to try and persuade me on this last day, but there was no sign of that. 

At the same time, I felt foolish hoping to see my parents who would come to persuade me. 

“Well, your cooking has improved.” -Rokujou 

Tonight’s dinner was tonkatsu made by Imari. The crispy batter, the meat’s juices, and the sauce combined perfectly. Having dinner together as step-brother and sister alone in a condo had become a familiar scene. 

“Well, I’ve been cooking almost every day.” -Imari 

“I’m really grateful.” -Rokujou 

“Come on now, cut it out. Yuuta used to be the one cooking for me until I started cooking.” -Imari 

“You shouldn’t compare my clumsy cooking to Imari’s professional-level dishes. Imari will make a great wife in the future.” -Rokujou 

“I wonder~. I’d become Yuta’s wife anytime. Anyway, are you really going to the dungeon from tomorrow?” -Imari 

Probably, only this sister genuinely worries about me. Both Imari and I know our parents don’t love us as much as typical families. They had remarried when Imari and I were 7, each bringing a child from their previous marriage. 

Shortly after, my stepmother had an affair. My father, a lawyer, came home late and hardly interacted with my stepmother. 

Because of that, my stepmother often didn’t come home. After hiring a detective agency, my father found out about the affair. Yet, worried about the social implications of a second divorce, he didn’t choose to separate but had an affair himself. 

And then, leaving behind two elementary school children, both parents stopped coming home. 

“It’ll be lonely if Yuuta goes to the dungeon and I’m left alone here.” -Imari 

“I’m just entering the dungeon. For the time being, I’ll return every night. I won’t let you be alone at night, so don’t worry.” -Rokujou 

“That’s not the point. What if you die in the dungeon? I’d lose all motivation. If that happens, I’ll follow you in death.” -Imari 

“Really, you say the sweetest things. But please don’t die.” -Rokujou 

Thanks to that, from fourth grade to ninth grade, Imari and I lived together. Normally, a sister would find her older brother annoying by ninth grade. However, this sister probably had a brother complex. She even said she’d die if I wasn’t around, which meant there might be a hint of yandere mixed in as well. 

Unlike my father and me, Imari was beautiful. 

She had a cute, well-defined face, quite different from Kiriyama-san. But what stood out the most was her chest; she was quite busty. Our stepmother was a very beautiful woman with a generous bust, and it seemed Imari had inherited those genes. 

“Forget about me. Promise me you won’t do anything dangerous in the dungeon. Promise you’ll come back alive every day.” -Imari 

“I understand. I can’t bear to see Imari cry. I promise I’ll come back safely.” -Rokujou 

The one I had the hardest time convincing about entering the dungeon was Imari. Unlike other people, she genuinely worried about me. I couldn’t dismiss her feelings, and it took over three months to persuade her. 

But her main objection wasn’t about becoming an explorer. 

“You could have waited until my birthday.” -Imari 

“We’ve talked about this countless times. I can’t wait until then, not only to convince Dad about not going to a D-Rank, but also because I need to show results as soon as possible. If I can reach Level 3, Dad probably won’t say anything anymore.” -Rokujou 

“But my birthday is on March 15th.” -Imari 

Imari would turn 15 in March. My birthday is on January 16th, so we’re siblings with only a two-month age difference. If I had waited, Imari would have joined me in the dungeon. 

“Well for now, Let’s drop this topic already. It’s been dragged out enough.” -Rokujou 

“Hmm. Then I want to sleep with you tonight.” -Imari 

“You know we’re both in 9th grade, right?” -Rokujou 

“Why should that matter? I plan to marry Yuuta anyway.” -Imari 

“We can’t get married; we’re siblings.” -Rokujou 

“Don’t you know? If it’s by marriage, even if our parents are married, we can still get married.” -Imari 

What on earth is she talking about? Feeling dizzy from the increasingly intense brother-complex exhibited by the 9th-grader, Imari. However, that day, unable to convince the genuinely worried Imari, she entered the room dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. 

“Hey, it’s mid-winter. At least wear some proper clothes.” -Rokujou 

“I am wearing clothes.” -Imari 

“You call that dressing? Aren’t you embarrassed wearing so little, being a girl about to turn 15?” -Rokujou 

It would be okay if she had a normal bust, but with her large breasts, wearing just a T-shirt is risky. 

“Why would I be embarrassed? I could be naked if it’s in front of Yuuta, but you’d get mad, so I’m wearing this, okay?” -Imari 

She climbed onto my bed and looked at me. The T-shirt was stretched tight over her still-growing bust, making it painfully obvious. Imari’s cute face was right in front of me, her round eyes staring intently. 

“It’s okay if it’s with Yuuta, right?” -Imari 

And she can say such things so nonchalantly. 

“What do you mean?” -Rokujou 

“You want me to say it?” -Imari 

“What do you mean by ‘it’?” -Rokujou 

“Never mind then.” -Imari 

“Stop being stupid!” -Rokujou 

I pushed back Imari, who was trying to hug me. 

“Hey, let’s not do this. We’re siblings.” -Rokujou 

“No. Absolutely not. If you tell me to sleep separately, I’ll cry until morning.” -Imari 

“Alright, alright. Just don’t cling to me. Just sleep next to me. I can’t sleep if you’re hugging me.” -Rokujou 

“Fine.” -Imari 

When I first met Imari, she wasn’t like this. I wanted to get along, but she seemed to dislike me quite a bit. 

However, for some reason, after going to different middle schools due to academic differences, Imari changed. She never acted like this during elementary school, but in middle school, she became increasingly clingy. 

She wants to take baths together and even sleep together. After starting middle school, her body matured significantly, and I somehow managed to convince her that we couldn’t share baths or beds anymore. But it hasn’t been entirely successful. 

Especially since she started saying she really wanted to enter the dungeon, we hardly ever slept separately. Our parents never returned home since 4th grade, so, in place of the parents who neglected their duties, I, being just two months older, initially tried hard to act as a father figure. 

So, I believe this behavior is more about seeking a father figure than a brother complex. However, I don’t understand why she started seeking that father figure in middle school when she didn’t in elementary school. 

Resigned from further persuasion, I closed my eyes, feeling tense with a girl, albeit my sister, of the same age lying next to me.