Game Divers

Chapter 1

Looking out the classroom window, I couldn’t help but worry about my future. There were only a few more days before graduation, and all ten examinations were done; we already had our results. I had achieved excellent scores, but they weren't sufficient for any scholarships. Richmond was my only foreseeable future, one filled with constant combat. I wondered how others would have reacted to this when they were my age, back when the system didn't exist. Would they have found this unacceptable? Would they cry in a corner, knowing their life could end with the next delve?

But that wasn’t even the worst outcome. I was destined to become a corporate slave, delving day after day, only receiving a fraction of what I should be earning. Still, I had to be thankful to our government. At least during school, I was taken care of and wouldn't be forced into debt slavery. When the exam results came back, I cursed and cried. I wished I had done better, hoping that I could redo it all, study more. But I had to accept the facts: I just wasn’t that academically inclined. Unfortunately, sports scholarships had been banned long ago.

Public school housed many orphans. Some didn't even have any memories of their parents. I didn’t know if I was fortunate or unfortunate to remember mine so vividly. They were corporate slave delvers, and one day, they didn't return. I loathe admitting this, but being a government orphan actually provided me with a better life than they did. Grappling with such a reality was a strange experience for a 12-year-old child who had just lost their parents.

Becoming a corporate slave wasn't guaranteed, even for me. The 20% who managed to truly level up and earn credits usually achieved this through sheer luck. Perhaps they acquired a rare skill or drop that helped them cover the expenses associated with delving. But on average, there were 80 million new delvers every year, and 80% of them ended up in such immense debt that they became slaves. This was a fate I desperately wanted to avoid. I could try to get a regular job, but those typically required connections. While I did have a part-time job, there was no chance they'd hire me full-time.

This situation did allow me to devise a plan. Either I would succeed and regain some control over my life, or I would die a free man. Either outcome was acceptable to me. Regardless, I was determined to give it my all. I pulled out my smartphone and began to double-check everything I had prepared. Most of the items were back in my room, but the list I had was marked with checks after every item. I had saved all the money from my part-time job, and while I did purchase some inexpensive items, I believed I had enough.

My biggest concern was my ticket to Earth. It was a 17-solar-system journey that I had booked almost a year ago. If that got canceled, I'd be in trouble, as it would cost too much to buy a ticket for a ship departing in the next few days. I believe if I shared my plan and destination, I'd be deemed insane. While Earth was renowned as the most profitable place for delvers, it was also notoriously deadly, boasting a staggering 60% casualty rate within the first year.

This was because Earth was unique. Not only was it the cradle of humanity, but we had also devastated it. This destruction transformed it into one of the universe's wonders. However, it wasn't a benign wonder; it was one of the deadliest places within a thousand solar systems. Thankfully, it was slightly less perilous for humans. Earth, with its unique rules and delving methods, seemed to remember us. In most of the system-controlled territories, dungeons were the primary delving sites. But on Earth, you delved into games, specifically game save files.

From these save files, you could extract items and bring them into the real world. When this was discovered, we were finally able to fend off other civilizations from encroaching on our territory. Now, we've even managed to sign non-aggression pacts, granting them access to Earth in exchange for peace. This has ensured a stable environment for all citizens. Humans have always been explorers, and now we venture into the vast universe, comforted by the knowledge that our homeland is secure.

I've always wondered how long this could continue. I expected that other civilizations would try to conquer Earth for their own benefits. However, I suppose that would lead to constant warfare with every other civilization, so it's simpler to leave us alone while still gaining access to the resources our planet offers.

The class finally ended, and while friends usually chatted with each other, today no one was in the mood. We all knew our carefree lives were about to change. Back in my dorm room, I had been packed for a week, but I still rechecked everything. After dinner, I continued trying to learn as much as possible about game diving. However, not all information was readily available. The reason I even knew this much was because I had paid an underground information merchant a significant amount of credits.

Sleep eluded me, but I eventually forced myself to drift off. I dreamt of being shackled and thrust into dungeons, barely escaping with my life, only to be forced back in again because I hadn't retrieved enough items to meet my quota. This nightmare recurred every night for the past week. Each morning, I felt more drained, doubting if I even had the will to try. But on the last night in my room, my dream changed. I wasn't shackled. I was still fighting, but I was smiling. For the first time in a long while, I woke up feeling refreshed.

It seemed I had made a decision: I would fight. I'd heard rumors that some orphans couldn't return to their rooms after graduation. Not wanting to take any risks, I carried with me a "backpack of holding." Inside was my entire life, and I wasn't about to let it out of my sight. The graduation ceremony was unremarkable. They simply read out our names, and we walked up to accept our diplomas. "Henry Holstein?" I finally heard my name and rose to receive my diploma. The director shot me a disapproving look because of my backpack, but I didn't care.

I didn’t even wait until the end of the ceremony, and I wasn't the only one. I moved quickly, hoping that my public transport card would still be valid, and fortunately, it was. That saved me 100 credits and would get me to the west side of the city. From there, I'd need to take a transport shuttle to the spaceport, which was a bit over 100,000 kilometres away. It was hard to concentrate, but as I gazed into the sky, I saw many flying vehicles and wondered where the people inside were headed.

I lived in a vast city, and I always believed that there must be at least one job out there suitable for me. However, four years of searching and trying to make contacts yielded nothing. Now, I was left with this audacious plan. When I disembarked from the train, I attempted to use an electric scooter, but my card was declined. This meant I was now officially a graduate and an adult in the eyes of the law. Not wanting to spend even a single extra credit, I walked the 45 minutes needed to reach the shuttle station.

The shuttle station was expansive. I had to wait in line for about 30 minutes before I could present my ticket and be allowed further inside. With my explorer-level ticket, I had access to a decent area complete with food service and shops. Thanks to my ticket, I received a complimentary meal, which turned out to be one of the tastiest I've ever had.