Orario.
The city of dreams. The city of hope. The city full of monsters, gods, and—don't forget—opportunities to die tragically in various dramatic poses.
And that's where I'm headed.
The sky above looks like liquid silver, beautifully gleaming but offering no shade from the heat that's been burning the back of my neck since morning.
The dirt road I'm walking feels longer than usual, even though the scenery is... well, the same as always: grass, rocks, and occasionally a wild lizard that stares at me like it's saying, "Why are you walking, dude?"
My name? Hmm. I guess... I'm still not entirely sure which name I should use. In the old world, I had a name, obviously. But now I more often call myself Kaen. Simple, easy to remember, and slightly cool—at least I think so. Besides, who's going to make a big deal about it? A god?
...Oh. Right. This is Danmachi. Maybe they would.
It's been seven years since I became aware in this world. Back then I was only ten years old, and I woke up in a small village near the southern border. My memories came like rain that started as a drizzle, then suddenly turned into a storm. This world, the familias, the dungeon, Orario... everything just appeared in my mind. I knew this wasn't just some weird dream. This was reality. *That* world.
It took time, honestly. The first week was just spent crying, missing the internet, and hitting trees while screaming "why me?" like an anime character who failed an audition.
But after that—something inside me changed. Maybe because living in this world meant one thing: survival.
And survival, it turned out, meant having to be strong.
I started training my body every day. Morning, noon, night. Swinging wooden swords until my palms bled, running around hills until I passed out, lifting big rocks like some desperate Neanderthal. I even tried punching a cow once. The result? I apologized to that cow for two full weeks.
But all of that shaped me.
My body now is more than adequate for an ordinary young man. My muscles aren't flashy, but they're firm. My skin is somewhat sun-burned, my brown hair is messy but still looks... cool? I mean, maybe. At least, the village kids say so. My eyes are brown too, look ordinary, but I think there's a glint of "I know something you don't know" in there. Whether that's a plus or minus depends on who's judging.
And today... today I'm walking toward the center of the world: Orario.
---
As soon as the city gates came into view from a distance, I stopped for a moment. Not because I was tired—though these legs are having a debate with my tongue about the definition of "not tired." But because that sight...
...was extraordinary.
Orario rose like a dream built with stone and magic. Its city walls were tall, solid, decorated with symbols that even I didn't know the meaning of. But above everything—floating, defying the sky, defying logic—was Babel.
That giant tower stood in the center of the city, so tall its peak touched the clouds. And I knew, beneath it, lay the craziest place in this entire world: the Dungeon.
I took a long breath.
"Well, Kaen," I muttered while dusting off my pants. "If you die later, make sure your corpse's pose is cool. At least one hand pointing to the sky."
My steps quickened as I approached the gate. Several guards stood with spears and expressions that said I'm-too-lazy-to-chat-with-poor-people. But they let me in after I showed my permit from the village, official stamp, and—of course—the sweetest smile I could manage.
"Oh, good kid face, huh?" said one of the guards with a suspicious tone.
"Usually told that," I replied while continuing to smile. "But usually before I steal some widow's underwear."
He didn't laugh.
Personal note: don't joke with gate guards.
---
Once inside, I was greeted by the hustle and bustle of city life.
The smell of warm bread mixed with the aroma of sweat, metal, and... something that could be horse manure. The sound of merchants shouting, children running, adventurers in gleaming armor passing by while laughing—everything merged into one symphony that somehow felt alive.
I walked toward the building I was aiming for: the Guild.
The place where adventurers start everything. The place where dreams are born and... well, also where dreams die. Depends on how you fill out the forms.
The Guild building looked elegant. Gray stone, large windows, and a wooden plaque reading "GUILD" like reminding us all that "Yes, you're in the right place, kid."
I entered, and was immediately greeted by cool air from inside. Some kind of magical air conditioning? Who knows. But I immediately wanted to hug the floor.
Behind the front desk stood a young woman with light brown hair tied neatly. Her emerald green eyes sparkled gently but sharply—like a patient teacher who could explode if your homework was empty for two weeks.
I knew who she was. Eina Tulle.
In the world of Danmachi, she's a kind-hearted Guild advisor, half-elf race, and... a little too worried for someone who's never entered the dungeon. But she's also the most reliable person.
I approached while taking a breath, calming myself.
"Good morning," I greeted, trying to sound calm and not like a fanboy.
She nodded politely. "Welcome to the Guild. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes. I want to register as an adventurer. I just arrived in Orario."
She looked me over briefly from top to bottom. I was sure my facial expression was like a cat pretending to be nonchalant but actually half-dead with tension.
"Name?" she asked while starting to write.
"Kaen," I answered. "Don't have a familia yet."
"Alright, Kaen." She smiled. "Since you don't have a god overseeing you yet, you need to submit a request to one of the Familias. We have a list you can take and consider."
She took a long sheet of paper from inside a drawer, then handed it to me. My eyes quickly scanned the list: Loki Familia, Hephaestus, Hestia, Miach, Ganesha... and many more.
"If I may ask," I said softly, "usually... do they accept just anyone?"
Eina looked at me seriously, but still gently. "Not all Familias are open to accepting new adventurers. Some are very selective. But... there are also those actively looking for new members. It all depends on the decision of each god."
I nodded, trying to hide the fact that I already knew all this. But part of me felt strange—even though I knew the direction of the story, I still didn't know where I'd be accepted. This world could change.
She then said, "You can come back tomorrow and tell us which Familias you've visited. If you haven't been accepted yet, we can help find alternatives."
"Alright," I replied, then stood up. "Thank you, Eina-san."
She looked at me for a moment. "You know my name?"
Oops.
"Ah... I heard it from the gate guard earlier," I answered quickly.
She forgot that there was a name tag on Eina's chest.
She looked a bit suspicious, but didn't discuss it further. "Be careful out there, Kaen. The adventurer's world... isn't like fairy tales."
I smiled while walking out. "Then I'll be the one writing the fairy tale."
With light steps—which were more from nervousness than coolness—I stepped out of the Guild. In my hand, the letter containing the Familia list felt like a ticket to the future... or a death pit.
But at least, I was here.
In Orario. In the place where everything begins.