Going home felt impossible. Facing Misaki with this look wasn't an option.
Instead, the rain drove me into a net café by the station, half seeking shelter, half seeking somewhere to disappear. The dim booth's reclining chair swallowed me whole.
There was nothing I could bring myself to do. The job site glowed on the monitor, lines of empty promises scrolling past. "Forties, no experience welcome." As if such convenient jobs actually existed.
Then a banner ad in the corner caught my eye.
"Day-labor adventurers, no experience welcome. All you need is courage."
...That was shady as hell.
But right now, the words stuck with me strangely.
Three years ago, mysterious structures suddenly appeared in the world's major cities—commonly called [dungeon].
A demonic land where those awakened to [Skill] dove in, chasing dreams of striking it rich.
No matter how much governments and scientists investigated, the cause and structure were a complete mystery. The only known facts: inside lurked strange beings called [monster], and hidden within were [magic stone]s and [Drop Item]s that defied modern science.
The [magic stone]s produced from dungeons became a new clean energy source, and the materials sparked revolutions in medicine and industry. It was no exaggeration to say the world now revolved around [dungeon].
And it was the [adventurer]s who awakened to [Skill] that brought those blessings to humanity.
Of course, not everyone became a hero. Top rankers were billionaires, but beneath them were countless bottom-rung [adventurer]s risking their lives for daily wages.
My [Skill] was [Rearrangement (Change)]. A useless trash skill with zero combat ability.
But... whatever.
I'd lost my job and my place in society. If I was going to waste away like this, maybe before I died, I should at least see with my own eyes the world I'd only watched on TV.
And if by some miracle I picked up a [Drop Item], it might cover tonight's lodging.
Yeah. Recklessness suited me now.
I searched on the net café PC for the beginner dungeon that said "easiest." It was called the "Forest of Goblins." Luckily, it was only a few stations away by train.
* * *
The dungeon entrance yawned like a giant cave in one corner of the town.
Around it, people gathered—maybe aiming for riches, maybe just to scrape by. Each one had proper gear: swords, staves, armor.
Meanwhile, my gear was just work gloves from home, a flashlight from the 100-yen shop, and a water bottle. Way out of place.
But I had no intention of turning back.
I steeled myself and stepped into the dungeon entrance.
The instant I set foot inside, the air changed.
Chilly damp air, the smell of earth mixed with mold. And a sharp killing intent stabbing at my skin.
Not like on TV. This was a real death trap.
I regretted it immediately. I never should've come here.
I should go back. That's what I thought—right then.
From down the passage, multiple ugly voices echoed.
Crap. Too late.
Around the corner came three goblins, green-skinned and carrying clubs.
Nothing like the mascot-like monsters on TV. Their murky eyes glistened with clear killing intent and hunger.
When they spotted me, drool dripping, they crept closer, step by step.
There was nowhere to run.
It was over. I felt it in my gut.
The day I got laid off, I was going to get eaten by goblins? What a pathetic life.
Misaki's face flashed in my mind as I braced for death.
"...Sorry..."
At that desperate moment.
I was reckless. If I was going to die anyway, I might as well try anything.
In my heart, I shouted the name of that trash skill.
[Skill: Rearrangement (Change)].
Then my vision shifted.
The goblins in front of me were outlined in blue light. "Goblin A," "Goblin B," "Goblin C."
Not just them. Points in the passage lit up: "Pebble," "Tree Root"... and on the ground a little further away, like a black stain, the words "Pitfall Trap" floated up.
My body moved before I could think.
I pictured the ground beneath the leader-looking "Goblin A" and the "Pitfall Trap" at the edge of my sight.
Then I willed it in my mind.
Swap them.
In the next instant—
The goblin that had been right in front of me vanished with a shriek.
And where it had stood, a deep pit gaped wide.
From the bottom came the muffled death cries of the goblin.
"...Huh?"
I couldn't process what had just happened.
I could only stare back and forth between the sudden hole and the stunned remaining goblins.