arc2 · 125-ch125

Chapter 125: The Second Livestream ⑤

"The delayed stream seems to be going well. How about we broadcast it to the Dungeon Agency staff as well?"

While we were moving through the corridor, I overheard Arihara-san suggesting that to the Prime Minister.

"Very well. I'd like to see the staff's reactions too. Connect it to the lower floors. Ahem!"

I passed that information on to the members of Kokushi Musou too.

"What we're doing doesn't change, so I don't mind."

Since I'd mentioned this possibility beforehand, Shinonome-san gave an easy ok. As for Nishikyo-san, he started getting pumped up to show off for the Dungeon Agency staff.

Kitora-san and Kannami-san were unfazed as always. But that's probably what made them so popular.

"Wow! The real Kokushi Musou!"

"Nishikyo-san is so damn cool!"

"Ahh, Kannami-san is so beautiful..."

"As expected, SS's footage is the best."

"So this is the 32nd floor of Tokyo Mouse Park Dungeon... the highest point ever reached."

It seemed the Dungeon Agency staff had all gathered together. Lots of voices were coming through my computer. So far, I hadn't run into any situations where I needed to blur things or cut the stream, but I couldn't let my guard down.

I double-checked how to apply mosaics and how to stop the stream before shifting my focus back to Hayate and Asahi.

About an hour of advancing while staying alert for Terror's Symbol and taking down B- to A-rank monsters, we finally found what we were looking for.

"There it is!? The stairs to the 33rd floor!"

With a joyful shout, Nishikyo-san was the first to dash toward the stairs. The other members weren't as exuberant as him, but smiles were on their faces too. While filming that with Asahi, I sent Hayate toward the stairs.

"To see the highest point being updated in real time... I can hardly believe it..."

"This is a historic achievement."

"Getting excited at my age... I can't help it."

The professor, the Association President, and the elderly researcher all seemed excited to share in this historic moment. The Dungeon Agency staff seemed to feel the same way—

"Holy crap, holy crap!"

"An unknown world that no one's ever reached before..."

"This is too amazing..."

"Shinonome-san's face is so cute..."

"Live streaming is seriously the best!"

The venue was so chaotic that I went ahead and turned the volume down a bit.

"Alright, let's go!"

The four members of Kokushi Musou descended the stairs leading to the 33rd floor, with Shinonome-san in the lead. Here, I deliberately filmed from the side to avoid overtaking Shinonome-san.

"33rd floor reached!"

The moment Shinonome-san stepped off the final stair and set foot on the 33rd floor, I heard the viewers' thunderous applause through my computer. Occasionally, there were even shouts mixed in. Everyone seemed to be sharing in the excitement—it really felt worth it to have done the livestream.

"Alright, we can't just keep celebrating. Let's start exploring the 33rd floor. We are explorers, after all."

"You bet!"

"Understood."

"Let's stay sharp."

Nishikyo-san, Kitora-san, and Kannami-san each responded to his words.

"I'll support you with everything I've got."

"Heheh, I'm counting on you!"

Shinonome-san responded to the words that slipped out of me unintentionally. Even though it was a voice coming through Hayate, it really made me feel like I was exploring alongside them. Thanks, Kokushi Musou.

Now then, the 33rd floor was uncharted territory. Terror's Symbol could appear at any time. I had to stay more focused than ever.

"Hey, would you mind filming the dungeon walls for me?"

The focus I'd just steeled... was loosened again by the professor's casual request...

I pulled myself together and sent Hayate ahead to scout the area. That's when I saw a black shadow floating at the far end of a long corridor. It felt similar to a Dead Wizard, but something was different.

Just as I tried to get closer to film it...

"‡¶†ゞ∮∋∝"

Bash!

The moment I heard an unfamiliar sound, Hayate was destroyed. I had no idea what happened. Did that black shadow do it!?

"Shinonome-san, there's something dangerous up ahead!"

I immediately resummoned Hayate and informed Shinonome-san of its presence.

"What? Is it Terror's Symbol!?"

Nishikyo-san reacted to my report, but I had a feeling that wasn't Terror's Symbol. I'd never seen one before, but it was too different from the description they'd given me.

"No, I don't think so. If anything, it was closer to a Dead Wizard. But Hayate was taken out in an instant. I couldn't even tell what happened."

The members of Kokushi Musou also heightened their guard against this unknown monster. They advanced slowly, then stopped just before the spot where Hayate had been destroyed.

"There's definitely something there. I can't see it, but I can feel a powerful presence."

A bead of sweat rolled down Shinonome-san's forehead as he said that.

"Did the temperature just drop?"

Kannami-san said that, hugging herself and trembling.

"This one's seriously bad news..."

Even Nishikyo-san, who was usually bold, was letting out a rare complaint.

"I feel pressure equal to or greater than the Ogre King."

If Kitora-san's instincts were right, then the black shadow ahead was A+ rank. When I used Asahi's telephoto camera to get a look at it, its identity was revealed from an unexpected source.

"That there is a Lich. A rare monster with almost no documented sightings in the world."

The elderly dungeon researcher told me what it was. I immediately relayed the information about the Lich to the members of Kokushi Musou. It seemed not much was known about it, but apparently it was a powerful mage that could use three attributes of magic. So Hayate really had been taken out by its spell after all.

Shinonome-san had the members fall back a bit, and once they'd put some distance from the Lich, they began a strategy meeting.