Dungeon Ticket
After hearing the harsh truth about this isekai world, I followed the staff member's guidance in a daze toward some building.
It was about a ten-minute walk from the Management Office.
The exterior was a three-story building, and the staff led me to the door marked Room 202 on the second floor.
"You'll be staying here for the time being. We've already paid a month's rent in advance, so no worries there."
"And this is for living expenses in the meantime. The guidebook has approximate prices listed, so check it out."
"Oh, and the owner of this place comes back late at night, so try to stay up and greet them if you can."
"Once you awaken your ability, come straight to the Management Office and report it. If you have any other questions, just come find me there. Alright, I'm off."
The Management Office staff rattled off everything like a machine gun, then headed back the way they came.
I stood there alone in front of the door, snapped out of it, and looked around.
"...An isekai one-room apartment, huh?"
The door to 202 wasn't locked. Inside was a barren scene with just a desk and a bed.
A single key sat on the desk.
One notable thing about the place.
"Whoa, it has a bathroom?"
Whoosh—cold water came out of the faucet.
"...So, what now?"
I lay on the bed, flipped through the guidebook, got bored, and set it aside.
"No fun."
Instead, I opened something else.
[Isekai Survival Gallery]
"Hmm... What I'm curious about right now..."
I couldn't do anything about the reason the world went to hell even if I knew it...
Better to check out the dungeon situation I might have to dive into soon.
Luckily, I didn't even need to search. Dungeons were the gallery's main hot topic.
Checking another post.
Hmm... I kinda sensed it, but the situation's really bad...
I searched 'dungeon' in the concept posts instead of recent ones.
Found what I was looking for.
It was from 5 years ago.
Even if I explain in detail with jargon, low-IQ noobs won't get it, so simple summary of key points.
3. Completed ones spacious enough, expanded post-build. But real issue after.
4. Way more people flocked to dungeons over time—no real jobs available.
5. Dungeons gather ley lines, store energy to produce resources/monsters. Built-up energy lasted 2-3 years of heavy hunting.
6. But we sucked them dry too long—ley line power depleted, resources bottomed out.
7. Deep uncharted areas still have stuff. Mining there buys time, but needs growing noobs to join high levels.
8. Everyone stuck, can't level without monsters. Pushing talented transmigrators/noobs with mob trains, but absolute shortage slows growth too much.
9. At this rate, dead in 10 years. Deep mining temporary. Real fix: right-size shelter pop. Send out/execute 90%.
10. Disagree = we all die.
"Whoa, no dreams, no hopes..."
Putting the posts together, this world was on the brink.
5 years ago, 10-year limit meant—if no changes—only 5 years left for the shelter.
Over capacity, needs way more resources than dungeons produce. Hanging on for now, but balance won't last.
Probably get worse as deadline nears, then infighting to cut numbers.
"Haa... How'd this happen."
What should I do now?
Even with transmigrator perks for power, scarce monsters make growth tough.
Clearly gotta hustle harder than ever to survive.
"My rich NEET dreams... sob..."
Imagining a diligent, honest life ahead, my vision blurred with huge tears.
"Waaahhh!!!"
Not crying over a doomed world. The pain of having to work to live was the real killer...
"Kuhuuung!! I had a full year's living expenses left!!!!"
Could've NEETed another year.
But god wants me productive, I guess.
Soaking the pillow in despair over my future—
You have become the Living Dungeon Master.
"Sniff... Living Dungeon...?"
Crying like a newborn, a glow gathered before my eyes, forming a shape.
Its body was blue and looked super squishy.
"Hek hek..."
"Gasp... Kkomangi!!"
No doubt—texture and color differed, but the form matched the puppy from my childhood perfectly.
"Hek hek..." [Feed me, pat pat]
"...?"
Like in the isekai community, a blue window appeared over Kkomangi.
"Kkomangi wants food? You understand me?"
"Hek hek..." [Feed me]
I tried talking more, but no real communication—just blue messages demanding food, reflecting its state.
"Hmm... Food, huh." Come to think of it, I'm getting hungry too. Go buy some and think.
"But do they sell dog food?"
I headed out, grabbed food from a nearby street vendor.
Back in the room, the slime pup greeted me.
"Hek hek..."
"Sorry, Kkomangi, no dog kibble... Let's share this."
No surprise—isekai shelter wouldn't sell dog food.
I set the food on the desk, picked up wooden chopsticks.
Steam rose—
What I bought was... monster cuisine!
Guidebook said monster ingredients are shelter staples.
This one's Slime Noodles.
Wide noodles like Chinese glass noodles—probably sliced slime stir-fried in sauce.
"Oh... right."
"Hek hek..."
I eyed Kkomangi. Dog-shaped, but obviously slime.
Can it eat this?
Dunno... Eat first, think later.
Slurp—
"...!!"
Insanely bland!! Just konnyaku texture, zero flavor. Saw sauce added—what even was it? Why bother?
"...Hmm."
No biggie for me. Lived months on cheap spaghetti to save cash—ate to survive, not enjoy.
"Wanna try, Kkomangi?"
Not sure if feeding slime slime-noodles is right.
Held a chopstickful to its mouth—whoosh, inhaled instantly.
"Oh... good ea—"
Squelch
Then it pooped right after eating.
Slime waste? Jelly-like.
"Ah..."
One second after eating...
But the jelly poop glowed, transformed.
"...Dungeon Ticket?"