Yagami had only opened the fridge to grab a drink when the world snapped.
One blink he was staring at a carton of milk
the next, everything was gone.
A soundless boom swallowed him whole.
Cold whiteness stretched in every direction, endless and blinding. His heart slammed against his ribs as he spun around, breath trembling.
"What… what is this? Am I dreaming?"
A figure materialized before him—tall, graceful, a woman-shaped silhouette woven from light itself. Her presence pressed on him like gravity.
"Yagami," she spoke, voice calm yet absolute. "Welcome. Your path is to descend… descend… descend."
And then she vanished.
The light broke apart.
Yagami felt his stomach flip as the white space vanished under him. Something pulled him downward fast—like falling without moving. Then
Thud.
He hit the ground, landing on soft grass. Warm sunlight touched his face. For a moment, he didn't move at all. He just stared at the bright blue sky above him.
"…What just happened?"
His hands were shaking as he slowly sat up. The fridge, his house, his birthday yesterday—it all felt far away now, like a dream. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Panicking wouldn't help. He needed to think clearly.
He looked around. Wide green plains stretched in every direction. Small forests sat in groups across the land. Wildflowers moved gently in the wind. Birds flew overhead. It looked peaceful—almost too peaceful.
A soft squish sound made him turn.
A small jelly-like creature bounced near some rocks. A slime. A real slime. Yagami blinked a few times, unsure if he should be scared or confused.
"…So monsters are real here."
He checked himself quickly. He had nothing. No weapon. No backpack. No phone. Just his normal clothes.
"Spirit!" he shouted. "Can you hear me? Please say something!"
There was no answer.
He let out a slow breath. "Alright… then I need to find someone who can."
He scanned the horizon again—and far away, he saw wooden rooftops.
A village.
Yagami followed the villager who had called him over, his mind still spinning. The man spoke again—words that sounded completely alien. The syllables twisted and turned in a way that made no sense, yet every single one sank into Yagami's mind as clearly as if he'd known them all his life.
This… this is impossible, he thought. I don't know this language. I've never heard it. And yet I understand everything. And when I speak, he understands me… How odd. How fascinating.
The village stretched out before him as they walked. Small wooden houses, smoke curling lazily from chimneys, lined winding dirt paths. Children chased one another past neatly kept gardens. Chickens pecked at the ground near fenced yards. The smell of bread baking drifted from one cottage. The forest clusters looked dark and deep at the edges of the plains, hiding the distant sounds of wolves or perhaps other creatures. A small stream cut through the village, water clear enough to see fish darting below the surface. Everything felt alive, peaceful… and utterly foreign.
The man gestured toward the largest house near the center of the village. "Ferin will want to see you."
Inside, a broad-shouldered man with kind eyes set down a bundle of firewood. Ferin studied Yagami for a long moment, then nodded. "You look lost, boy. Sit."
Yagami swallowed, still trying to process the impossibility of his situation. "Can… can you tell me about this world?" he asked.
Ferin's gaze softened, and a woman carrying a steaming pot—warmth in every gesture—followed behind him. "You are in the Labyrinth," Ferin said. "A world of floors… each unique, each with its own lands, its own civilizations, its own races. The deeper you go, the more dangerous it becomes."
Yagami's mind raced. Floors… stairs… descend… "So… the only way to get answers… maybe even go home… is to go down?"
Ferin nodded. "Yes. Few return from the lower floors. Those who reach the final floor are said to gain whatever their heart desires—power, treasure, loved ones, even immortality. But every step becomes more deadly."
A villager passing by muttered, "I heard elves live on the third floor. And dragons… far below…"
Yagami's eyes narrowed with resolve. He looked at Ferin. "Then I'll go. I need to learn. I need to know how to return."
Ferin's half-smile grew fuller. "We'll train you, boy. The basics first. Then… the path is yours."
Lira placed the steaming pot in front of him. "Eat first. You'll need strength for the journey ahead."
Yagami took a breath, glancing out the window at the sprawling village, the forests, and the rolling plains beyond. His heartbeat quickened. This world was strange, dangerous… and strangely beautiful. And now, it was his world toofor better or worse.
Yagami ate quickly, trying to focus on the simple meal of bread, vegetables, and stew. The flavors were foreign, yet comforting. He could hear the soft chatter of villagers outside and the occasional clatter of tools as people worked in the fields. Children laughed, darting between cottages, while a few adults tended gardens or carried water from the stream.
Once he finished, Ferin clapped him on the shoulder. "Enough talk. You need to move. Your body will remember what your mind cannot yet understand."
Yagami blinked. "Move… how?"
Ferin grinned slightly. "Sword training. Basics first. Don't worry about style yet. Just learn to hold it, swing it, block, and keep your balance. We'll take it slow."
The wooden sword felt awkward in Yagami's hands. He swung clumsily, missed the target straw dummy, and stumbled over his own feet. Sweat ran down his face, but he didn't stop. Each attempt was slightly better than the last. He felt his muscles grow tight, responsive.
After a short break, Yagami looked at Ferin, curiosity mixed with caution. "Why… why are you helping me?"
Ferin laughed softly, a deep, rumbling sound that made Yagami jump slightly. "Because I am bored," he said plainly.
Yagami blinked. "…That's it?"
"Not everything needs a reason, boy. Sometimes… you just do." Ferin's eyes twinkled, but there was strength and sharpness behind them. "Now, back to training."
Yagami nodded, gripping the wooden sword tighter. He glanced outside at the village again—children running, smoke curling from chimneys, animals grazing. Life moved steadily here, even in a world like this. And somewhere out there, beyond the forests and plains, the stairs to the next floor waited.
He had to descend.
The first training ended with Yagami sweating through his shirt and bruised from awkward swings and trips over his own feet. Ferin wiped his hands on his trousers and nodded. "Not bad for your first day. Keep this up, and you won't embarrass yourself in the lower plains."
Afterwards, Ferin led Yagami to a wider clearing where the village chief, a sturdy man with a long, graying beard, waited. Around them, a few villagers lingered, curious but respectful.
"So, boy," the chief said, voice calm but firm. "Where exactly are you from?"
Yagami hesitated, then decided honesty was the only way. "I… come from another world. A place far away—our Earth. I don't know how I got here."
A hush fell over the villagers. The chief leaned forward slightly. "Another world… I see. Then you might know of Asta. He came from somewhere like that not too long ago. Some say he's still wandering the floors, seeking answers of his own."
Yagami's eyes widened. "Another person… like me?"
The chief nodded. "Yes. But be careful. Floors are dangerous. The forests—especially those surrounding Worno—are the deadliest places here. Packs of wolves there are strong. Brave adventurers sometimes don't return."
He gestured toward the horizon. "And if you seek to descend… there's the giant staircase. Step onto the right spot, and you're taken to the next floor. But once you leave, there's no coming back the same way."
Yagami looked thoughtful. "I see… so each floor is its own world. Civilizations, dangers… creatures. And the staircase only moves you downward."
One villager chuckled softly. "You humans always invent stories… but there's truth here. The forest isn't just trees. Monsters roam. Elementals hide in the deep shadows. Even wolves can be clever—sometimes smarter than a human."
Yagami shook his head slightly, smiling. "Back on Earth, we have cities, technology, machines… inventions that make life easier. But it's not perfect. Wars, pollution, greed… people destroy what they make."
The villagers listened quietly, intrigued but unsure how to respond. Yagami realized that while Earth had many wonders, the Labyrinth held its own dangers and beauty. And to return home—or even understand this place—he would have to go down.
The next morning, Yagami rose with the sun. Birds sang in the forest edges, and a soft breeze carried the scent of fresh grass. Ferin met him outside, wooden sword in hand.
"Day one," Ferin said. "Let's see what you remember."
The first few days were clumsy. Yagami stumbled over his feet, swung too wide, missed every target. Ferin corrected his stance, the way he held the sword, and taught him the first blocks and swings.
"Frontal swing," Ferin said. "Back swing. Dash. Step and strike."
Yagami practiced until his arms ached, sweat dripping into his eyes. At first, it felt impossible, but slowly, muscle memory began to form.
By the second week, Yagami joined the villagers in their daily chores. He helped gather firewood, fetch water from the stream, and watch over chickens. He learned to track small animals, like rabbits, while Ferin explained how hunting and survival in this world were different from Earth.
Evenings were filled with quiet conversation. Villagers shared myths: the forest was dangerous, wolves traveled in clever packs, and rare monsters hid in dark corners. The giant staircase was the only known way downward, appearing only when adventurers reached a precise step. Those who went down rarely returned, but the rewards were said to be unimaginable—whatever the heart desired, they claimed.
Yagami began sparring lightly with Tom, the boy who dreamed of adventuring. They laughed when mistakes were made, shared meals, and watched the sun set over the sprawling plains.
Three weeks passed. Yagami's swings were stronger, his stance steadier, and his mind sharper. He felt the villagers' lives around him cooking, farming, crafting, laughing, and sometimes worrying about monsters at the forest edge.
He gazed at the forest again, feeling a mix of awe and determination. The staircase was out there. Answers, dangers, and perhaps a way home awaited him below.
The sun rose softly over Worno Village. Yagami tightened the straps of his small bag, glancing at the cottages one last time. Smoke rose lazily from chimneys, children ran across the dirt paths laughing, and the gentle clucking of chickens filled the morning air. From the forest edges came the distant howls of wolves, a reminder of the dangers beyond the village.
Ferin approached, wooden sword in hand. "Ready, boy?"
Yagami nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah… I think I've learned enough for now."
"Enough to survive the first few steps," Ferin said with a reassuring smile. "But remember, the floors below will test everything you've learned. You'll face things far stronger than slimes and wolves."
The villagers gathered around Lira with a gentle smile, Tom bouncing on his heels with excitement, the chief nodding with solemn pride, and others waving or calling words of encouragement.
"Be safe!" Lira said. "Come back to us!"
"Train hard down there!" Tom shouted.
The chief placed a firm hand on Yagami's shoulder. "Remember what you've learned here, boy. And trust yourself."
Yagami felt a lump in his throat. "Thank you… all of you. I'll do my best."
He turned toward the forest, where the giant staircase emerged like a monument carved from pure light and stone. Its steps glimmered faintly, as if infused with magic. Sunlight reflected off its surface, and a faint hum resonated through the air, like the heartbeat of the labyrinth itself. Every edge, every step radiated power, promise, and danger.
Yagami took the first step, heart pounding with awe. Wind whispered around him, the world blurring into streaks of light. He felt both fear and excitement—this was his first step into the unknown.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer on Floor 1.