Choosing Kamisato Ayaka was not merely because of her beauty, which naturally made people want to approach her.
This young lady of the Kamisato Clan was renowned throughout Inazuma, entirely because of her personal charm.
She possessed a beautiful appearance, a noble character, a kind and benevolent heart, and the manners of a true lady.
She was always approachable to the common people, and it was precisely because of this that she was lovingly given the elegant title of Shirasagi Hime, the Heron Princess.
Choosing Kamisato Ayaka as his helper was undoubtedly the right choice.
"Tch... Tch... Dungeon opening, choosing helper... Tch... Kamisato Ayaka."
The system started up with a burst of static.
Zeyan was about to complain about the annoying noise when a sudden wave of dizziness hit him.
By the time he regained consciousness, he realized the surroundings had changed somewhat.
He looked around blankly. The chandelier above his head had gone out at some point.
He remembered that today was cloudy, and the light had been poor, so he had deliberately turned it on.
Puzzled, Zeyan stood up to turn the light back on, but as he moved, he noticed something even stranger.
The whole world seemed to have fallen silent.
It was close to noon, and just moments ago he could still hear the lively chatter of people outside.
But now, not a single sound could be heard.
Frowning, Zeyan walked over to the window and leaned out.
The streets of Ritou, usually bustling with life, were now completely empty.
The salty sea breeze blew past, carrying the scent of the ocean.
The roadside maple trees swayed under the wind, their crimson leaves fluttering through the air before scattering across the ground.
"Strange. Where did everyone go? I remember this street being very lively," Zeyan muttered, feeling a growing sense of unease.
Could it be... that he had entered the Dungeon?
The thought surfaced in his mind, and though it seemed likely, the eerie silence still made his heart uneasy.
Without delay, he turned and left his room, stepping quickly onto the street.
The sunlight outside had grown harsh, so bright it forced him to squint.
The stone-paved ground stretched out before him, and the strong wind continued to whistle through the empty streets, lifting red maple leaves into a spectacular dance.
Not far ahead, he could see the familiar stalls: masks, flowers, and snacks.
Normally, children gathered around the mask stall, the snack vendor was surrounded by customers, and only the florist might occasionally be absent.
But now, not a single soul could be seen.
"Entered the Dungeon? But system, could you at least give me a hint? What is the situation in this Dungeon? What am I supposed to do here?" Zeyan rubbed his slightly stiff face and complained weakly.
Perhaps his words had an effect.
A crackle of static buzzed in his ears once again, as if the system was trying to respond.
However, the chaotic noise hardly inspired confidence.
"Please host... Tch... explore on your own, improve your strength... Tch..."
"System damaged, system repairing..."
Zeyan was dumbfounded.
The system was damaged?
He had read plenty of system novels before transmigrating.
Even the worst ones he had read featured systems that were at least somewhat reliable.
But a system that was broken right from the start — this was a first.
He could not help but feel a little frustrated.
Standing alone on the empty street, he muttered to himself, trying to coax more responses from the system.
But no matter what he said, the system remained silent.
The situation made him feel increasingly desperate.
Was he really supposed to explore the Dungeon on his own?
Without any information?
And if the system was damaged, would it even be able to get him out of the Dungeon?
"Forget it. One step at a time," Zeyan sighed helplessly.
With no other choice, he began walking slowly along the streets of Ritou.
As he stepped on the fallen leaves, he could clearly hear the faint cracking sound they made underfoot, a sound amplified by the otherwise complete silence.
After wandering the streets twice, Zeyan decided to head toward the Far East Trade Guild.
The Trade Guild was a department under the Kanjou Commission and the highest point in Ritou.
It required climbing a long white stone staircase to reach it.
The architecture there was distinctively Inazuman, with deep purple-black tiled roofs, brown wooden pillars, paper lanterns hanging under the eaves, and banners fluttering in the courtyard.
"Even here is deserted. But where is Kamisato Ayaka?" Zeyan murmured.
He distinctly remembered choosing Kamisato Ayaka to assist him in the Dungeon.
Since this was supposed to be the Dungeon, she should have been summoned alongside him.
Why had he yet to see her after wandering all of Ritou?
"Forget it. Let's head toward Inazuma City."
Looking up from the Trade Guild, Zeyan could see two prominent landmarks in the distance.
One was Yougou Mountain, its slopes blanketed in cherry blossoms and crowned by the Grand Narukami Shrine.
The other was Inazuma City, the capital of Inazuma, where the imposing Tenshukaku stood — the residence of the Raiden Shogun herself.
Making his decision, Zeyan carefully made his way out of Ritou.
Although called an island, Ritou was actually connected to Narukami Island by a narrow stretch of beach.
Since foreigners were typically forbidden from leaving Ritou, this was his first time setting foot outside its borders.
The first sight that greeted him was the beach: golden sand shimmering under the bright sun, and waves rolling in ceaselessly.
The sound of the surf filled his ears, mixing with the sharp tang of the sea breeze.
Beyond the beach, he could see mountains, forests, waterfalls, and what appeared to be a village.
He recognized it — Konda Village.
Although he had never visited before, he had heard of it many times.
Occasionally, villagers would come to Ritou to trade.
As Zeyan started walking toward the village, a sudden voice rang out.
"Who are you?"
It was a clear, melodious voice, one that instantly conjured the image of a graceful young lady in the mind.
In the dead silence of the world, the sudden sound of another human voice immediately seized Zeyan's attention.
He quickly looked up.
Approaching him with the wind was a young girl, holding a delicate folding fan, and carrying a longsword on her back.
The person who appeared before him was none other than Kamisato Ayaka.
---