The Player One
It had been two days since the dungeon raid in Shibuya.
Yuu nervously scrolled through his phone, frantically searching for articles related to the raid.
His eyes darted across the screen as he quickly read through the headlines.
"Knight in Shining Armor: Hero Saves Shibuya From Goblin General's Wrath!"
He scrolled down.
"Epic Raid in Shibuya: Mysterious Warrior Emerges Victorious Against Dungeon Boss!"
He scrolled again.
"Was the Knight Who Saved Shibuya a Player from the System?"
He scrolled again.
"Is Shibuya Safe Now? The Rise of a New Hope in the Fight Against Monsters."
He scrolled down once more.
"Shibuya and L.A. defended the raid, while the Philippines, Bhutan, China, and Nepal's Mount Everest were fully taken over by the monsters—"
Yuu paused, reading the last one before muttering to himself.
"It seems there are no articles about the damage or fines... I guess I'm really safe now," Yuu muttered, letting out a sigh of relief. "Finally, I can play some games."
With a grin, he turned to face his gaming PC, his sanctuary from the chaos of the real world. He adjusted the volume on his brand-new speakers, a recent indulgence he'd picked up on his way back after defeating the Goblin General. Oddly enough, the battle had reminded him how much he missed the immersive sound effects of his games.
As the first sounds of hack-and-slash action blasted through the speakers, the extreme volume caused his newest plushie, Kyumiki-chan—a fox girl with oversized ears and a mischievous grin—to tilt slightly on its perch.
"Oops," Yuu chuckled, reaching out to steady the plushie. "Sorry, Kyumiki-chan. Guess I got a little carried away."
He settled into his chair, the world outside forgotten as the intense soundtrack of swords clashing and monsters roaring filled the room.
Yuu had been hiding in his room, avoiding going out ever since he defeated the Goblin General during the Shibuya raid. He was terrified of being fined for the damage caused during the battle.
---
In a livestream forum of streaming site youstream.
CrazyCamz:
"Yo, guys! We're talking all about the Shibuya raid today! What a crazy day that was! Drop your thoughts in the comments!"
---
[Viewer: PixelMaster123]:
"Your editing skills are top-notch, CrazyCamz!"
---
[Viewer: SakuraStorm]:
"It's real, guys! Japan just released an official statement about the raid—everything that happened is true!"
---
[Viewer: QuestGrinder101]:
"Who else has been grinding on those daily quests? Feels like the whole world is now a Player!"
---
[Viewer: Speedy_Slayer]:
"Me! Been leveling up non-stop!"
---
[Viewer: TechWizard_01]:
"For real, though—everyone's a Player now that the countdown ended. The system's in full swing."
---
[Viewer: KnightWatcher]:
"Let's talk about that knight! Player One, he's so strong! He saved us all!"
---
CrazyCamz:
"Haha, for real, guys! Goblins are terrifying, and don't even get me started on their looks. I thought I was done for! But hey, I was on the track team back in middle school, so I outran those monsters like a champ!" laughs
"Honestly, though, Shibuya was total chaos. I mean, you all saw my livestream that day—there were bodies everywhere! But then—THAT HUGE CREATURE appeared. That thing had to be the dungeon boss, right?"
"But, thank God, we had Player One, the knight who showed up to save the day. I thought it was the end of the world when that monster appeared, but he took it down single-handedly. Look, I've still got the footage right here. Check it out!"
CrazyCamz shows a video of the battle between the Goblin General and Player One.
---
[Viewer: MysticFury]:
"That knight was amazing! But why is everyone calling him Player One? Is he some kind of pro or just a regular player?"
---
[Viewer: AlphaWarlord]:
"Who knows? No one really knows who he is yet, but everyone's calling him Player One since he's the first to show us how powerful the system can be. Pretty wild, huh?"
---
[Viewer: SilentStormX]:
"Yo, CrazyCamz, your livestream was lit! The moment Player One stepped in, the whole battle changed."
---
CrazyCamz:
"Right? I still can't believe how strong he was. Makes me wonder what the rest of us are gonna be able to do with the system. Anyway, stick around, I'm gonna keep showing some more footage and breaking it all down for you guys!"
JDF Headquarters
Japan Defense Force Headquarters
In the somber atmosphere of the conference room, General Hayashi stood before a group of government officials, his expression stern and voice filled with frustration.
"This massacre was avoidable," General Hayashi declared, slamming his hand on the table. "We lost an entire team in Shibuya because we failed to act decisively. If action had been taken when that structure first appeared, this disaster would never have happened!"
The officials remained silent, their faces grim and conflicted. Their lack of response only fueled General Hayashi's anger.
"If we had neutralized that area immediately instead of containing it, we might have stood a chance!" he continued, his voice rising. "America faced a similar situation, but they acted swiftly. They made the hard choice, and now they're prepared."
One of the officials finally spoke, his tone defensive. "General, America's response was to destroy the entire area—Los Angeles was practically wiped off the map. No evacuation, no mercy. Are you suggesting we should have done the same? Sacrificed all of Shibuya just because we didn't understand what we were dealing with?"
General Hayashi paused, momentarily silenced. The official's words carried a heavy truth, but his frustration remained. "No," he replied firmly. "We can do better than that. But if we'd acted when the structure first appeared, we wouldn't have been forced into this position. We lost lives because of our hesitation."
Suddenly, Dr. Haruto Ishikawa, head of the International Institute of Advanced Science Research, spoke up from his seat. His calm voice cut through the tension.
"This all happened because we neglected the System," Dr. Ishikawa stated plainly.
General Hayashi turned to him, his eyes narrowing. "Dr. Ishikawa, this is not the time to discuss your theories. We're dealing with monsters, not systems."
Dr. Ishikawa didn't back down. "The monsters and the System are connected. You can't separate the two. And let's not forget Player One—he's living proof of the System's potential."
"Player One?" General Hayashi scoffed. "You mean that knight? The one who destroyed half of Shibuya with his so-called heroics? We don't even know what his intentions are. For all we know, he might be another monster, given his devastating power."
Dr. Ishikawa met the general's skepticism with an unwavering gaze. "You mean the knight who defeated the Goblin General and saved what was left of Shibuya? He's the hero in this story, General. He used the System to fight those monsters. That much is clear."
General Hayashi's voice hardened. "And do you have evidence that it was the System?"
Dr. Ishikawa nodded firmly. "Yes, I do. I've studied the phenomenon extensively, which led me to confirming the existence of the System. I became a Player myself, and the System revealed to me that the structure that appeared in Shibuya is actually a Dungeon. That's why Player One was able to come and fight—because he, too, confirmed the System and prepared for the raid."
General Hayashi's expression darkened. "If you had this evidence, why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"I tried," Dr. Ishikawa said, his voice rising in frustration. "I tried to warn you, to warn the government. But no one listened. They called me crazy, dismissed my research. And now, this is the price we've paid—countless soldiers dead, Shibuya in ruins."
General Hayashi's shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of the truth pressing on him. Deep down, he had wanted to believe Dr. Ishikawa's findings. But the officials had ignored the warnings, and he had followed their orders.
After a long pause, he straightened, his expression resolute. "Dr. Ishikawa is right," he said, turning back to the officials. "We can't ignore the System any longer. If another raid happens—and it will—we need to be ready. My men need to be ready. We need to understand this System and learn how to use it. It's the only way we can fight back."
The officials exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the decision bearing down on them.
"This isn't just about Shibuya," General Hayashi continued. "It's about the survival of our country—of humanity. We don't have the luxury of time. We must act now."
Then the official stated and asked Dr. Ishikawa to join forces with the JDF and assist General Hayashi in understanding the System and training their men to follow it.
Dr. Ishikawa adjusted his glasses and nodded with a determined expression. "I'd be honored to assist the JDF. If we're to stand a chance against these dungeons and the monsters they bring, we must understand the System fully. I'll do everything I can to help train your men and ensure they can utilize its potential."
General Hayashi crossed his arms, his gaze steady as he addressed Dr. Ishikawa. "Your expertise will be invaluable, Dr. Ishikawa. I may not fully trust the System yet, but if it's the key to fighting back and protecting our people, then I'm ready to work with you. I look forward to having you on our side."
Dr. Ishikawa extended his hand with a small smile. "Then let's make sure we're ready for whatever comes next, General."
Hayashi shook his hand firmly, a rare glimmer of respect in his eyes. "Agreed. Let's turn this tide together."
The room fell silent again, but this time, the tension was accompanied by a sense of grim determination. The stakes were clear, and there was no room for further hesitation. The fight against the monsters—and the mysteries of the System—had only just begun.
As General Hayashi's eyes fixed on the glowing exclamation point hovering in his vision. With renewed resolve, he raised his hand and tapped the [ ! ]. The interface reacted immediately, displaying a series of notifications.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
> You failed to confirm your participation within the designated time limit and were unable to take part in the Dungeon Raid.
---
The words burned into his mind, a reminder of the negligence that had cost his men dearly. He gritted his teeth, realizing too late the importance of the System. If he had acted sooner, things might have been different.
But then, another notification appeared, its tone different—more matter-of-fact.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
> Due to your failure to manually confirm participation and the lack of an option to decline, you have been automatically registered as a Player upon the expiration of the designated time limit.
---
Before he could fully process the implications, the text faded, replaced by another notification. This one carried an ominous yet undeniable sense of finality.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
> You are now officially registered in the System.
Designation: Player
While you did not confirm your participation, the System has assigned you a role to ensure humanity's survival.
> Prepare yourself, Player.
Your initial stats and skills are now being generated. Stand by...
---
General Hayashi's chest tightened as the weight of the System's decision bore down on him. This wasn't an honor; it was a reminder of his failure to act decisively. Yet, in the depths of his regret, he felt a spark of determination.
If the System could truly be used to fight back against the monsters, then as a Player, he would seize this chance to ensure such a disaster never happened again.
"This time," he muttered under his breath, "I won't fail."
Two days earlier, after Player One had defeated the Goblin General...
Panicking over the destruction he had accidentally caused while defeating the Goblin General, he quickly glanced left and right, scanning the battleground to check for any witnesses. He wore a guilty, nervous expression, his unease obvious.
"Crap! Crap, crap, crap! I'm gonna get blamed for this! I... I didn't mean it at all!"
He muttered these words while Kyumiki-chan, the fox girl's plushie, rested on his chest.
As he scanned the area for any witnesses, a sudden system notification appeared.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[DUNGEON CLEARED]
GOBLIN GENERAL HAS BEEN SLAIN
[+10,000 EXP.]
[+5,000 Gold Coins]
The SHIBUYA RAID is now secure. Remaining enemies disintegrating.
---
He watched as the remaining goblins in the area collapsed and disintegrated into particles, as if swept away by the wind, vanishing from existence.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[MONSTER JOURNAL]
[GREEN GOBLIN Registered]
[SPEARMAN GOBLIN Registered]
[HOBGOBLIN Registered]
[GOBLIN GENERAL Registered]
[MONSTER JOURNAL Updated]
0.2% Completion.
---
[TITLE UNLOCKED]
You have acquired the Goblin Slayer title.
[GOBLIN SLAYER]
[Equip] [Detail] [Close]
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[DUNGEON REWARD]
You have received a Dungeon Chest as a reward.
[DUNGEON CHEST]
[Open] [Detail] [Close]
---
Despite the notifications, Player One ignored them. His top priority was to leave the area before anyone noticed him. He had no desire to face any fines or blame for the accidental damage.
He leaped to the nearest building to escape the scene. Jumping from building to building, heading back home, he suddenly remembered something.
"Wait, I think I forgot something... Oh, that's right! I need to buy a speaker."
He scratched the back of his head and laughed, recalling the struggles he faced while commuting in his armor.
"Better unequip my armor first. People might think I'm a weirdo," he muttered to himself, still chuckling.
He stopped, landing on top of a building to take a moment to change.
---
[SYSTEM MENU]
▶ Player (New) [!]
▶ Equip
▶ Quests (New) [!]
▶ Collection (New) [Monster Journal] [!]
▶ Skills
▶ Inventory (New) [!]
▶ Map
✖ Hide Menu
---
A faint yellow exclamation mark and new icons appeared, indicating new updates in the Player, Quest, Inventory, and Collection sections of the menu. He didn't pay much attention to those and tapped gently on Equip.
---
[PLAYER EQUIPMENT]
Weapon: Longsword
Helmet: Iron Helmet
Chestplate: Iron Chestplate
Leggings: Iron Leggings
Boots: Steel Boots
Gloves: Iron Gauntlets
Accessories:
Earring: — (Empty)
Pendant: Simple Pendant
Bracelet: — (Empty)
Ring: Copper Ring
---
"Okay, how do I unequip this?" he muttered to himself.
He tapped on the Longsword option.
---
Longsword
▶ Unequip
▶ Detail
▶ Sell
▶ Drop
---
"Okay, that's simple enough." He tapped Unequip on each item, one by one.
After closing the system interface, his body glowed for a moment, and then the glow faded. His armor and weapon vanished, popping out of existence like bubbles bursting.
"Alright, I think I look like a normal citizen now," he laughed, feeling a sense of relief.
His once-imposing knightly armor was replaced by his usual black tracksuit, making him look like the simple, laid-back hardcore gamer he truly was.
"Okay, now let's buy what we need and pull an all-nighter playing games."
The strongest Player was, after all, a hardcore gamer NEET.