It was five years after the Dungeon Break when the first Awakened appeared. They’d be hit by a sudden headache, and then – a small screen would pop up in the corner of their vision, showing their name, level, and something called “Gaia Points.”
At first, it made people uneasy. What was happening? But as those who ventured into Dungeons began to defeat monsters, they noticed that their levels and Gaia Points actually went up. It started to be seen as a kind of benefit for Dungeon explorers. Later, the phenomenon came to be known as “Status,” and they discovered that by speaking or thinking the words “Status Open,” the screen would appear before them like a hologram.
Those who displayed this symptom came to be called the Awakened.
The gap in monster-fighting power between those with Status and those without was like night and day. The government began to encourage and favor the Awakened, urging them to dive into Dungeons.
By the way, my own Status looks like this.
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Kondo Isamu (こんどういさみ)
Age: 14
Level: 1
Gaia Points: 377/377
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It’s said that defeating stronger monsters raises your level, which represents your overall strength. Nobody really understands Gaia Points – they’re thought to be earned like experience points. Some say higher Gaia Points boost your durability, but that’s still unproven.
Now then, let me tell you about me – Kondo Isamu (こんどういさみ).
My name isn’t real. Twenty-five years after the Dungeons first appeared, the Fuchu Dungeon suffered a Break. Fuchu City and Hachioji City were devastated.
At that time, I was taken in as an orphan. I didn’t even know my own name. When they asked how old I was, I held up three fingers, so they decided I was three. I didn’t know my birthday either, so they made June 6 – the day I was rescued – my birthday.
It’s a common story in areas hit by Dungeon Breaks. The government provides subsidies and has set up many orphanages. Right now, I’m living at the Fourth Aien Orphanage in Hachioji City.
My name was just… given to me by the staff. Whether the person who named me was a history buff or just a Shinsengumi fanboy, I have no idea… but I don’t have a big face or a big mouth! If I had to be named after one of them, I’d rather have been Okita Souji.
I’m still Level 1, probably because the only Dungeon I can access is the Hachioji Dungeon, which is said to only have slimes. I awakened when I was twelve, and I’ve been diving into Dungeons, but the only one I can reach while staying close to school and the orphanage is Hachioji.
Right now, only the entrance to the third floor has been explored. There’s nothing but slimes down there, and it’s considered a low-reward Dungeon, so nobody’s bothered going deeper. I’ve been exploring the Hachioji Dungeon for over two years, but I’ve only been able to take down the regular slimes on the first two floors. I haven’t gained a single level – just Gaia Points.
Summary:
The narrator, Kondo Isamu, introduces the world’s post-Dungeon Break status quo, explains the Awakened and Status system, and reveals his own lackluster Level 1 stats. He recounts his orphan origin story and jokes about his namesake. The chapter establishes his two-year stagnation in the low-level Hachioji Dungeon, setting up his underdog position before any major plot development occurs.
Trivia:
- The Hachioji Dungeon only has slimes and remains unexplored past the third floor entrance.
- Kondo Isamu has been diving for over two years but remains Level 1.
- His name was arbitrarily assigned by orphanage staff and references the Shinsengumi.
- Fuchu City and Hachioji City were devastated by a Dungeon Break twenty-five years ago.
- Kondo Isamu’s given birthday (June 6) and age (14) are both estimates based on his rescue.
Translation Notes:
1 ↩ A historical Japanese special police force from the late Edo period. Kondo Isamu is named after Kondo Isami, the Shinsengumi’s captain, known for his large build and strong features. The narrator’s joke plays on the contrast between his own small stature and his namesake’s imposing appearance.
2 ↩ A Shinsengumi captain renowned for his exceptional swordsmanship and youthful good looks. The narrator wishes he’d been named after Okita instead of Kondo Isami, highlighting his dissatisfaction with his assigned name through historical contrast.