arc3 · 200-ch200
Chapter 200: Unknown Territory
Thank you all for waiting so long. I've brought every other series of mine to completion for this one's sake. The stock has built up to a reasonable degree, so I'm resuming serialization.
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(Right. Time to restart the stream.)
I got in touch with Arihara-san and began streaming again.
"Ohhh? The stream's back up!?"
"It's here!? What happened!?"
"If it's back on, does that mean the problem's solved!?"
The comments came flooding in at once. Well, sure — cut a stream off without warning and all hell breaks loose. And the whole world just watched Queens' betrayal and Ouroboros showing up on top of it. Things must be an absolute circus out there.
Best I explain things properly.
"Everyone, let me explain the current situation..."
When I gave a quick rundown of what had happened, the commotion didn't settle one bit — in fact, the moment Sieg showed up on camera, it hit a fever pitch. Whatever. Forget the comments for now — conquering floor thirty-three comes first.
"Alrighty then — what's coming out next?"
While Kokushi Musou sharpened their vigilance, Sieg strolled along through floor thirty-three like a man out for a walk.
"Is floor thirty-three just Sieg's backyard?"
"Fighting alongside the world's strongest — oh man, I've got goosebumps."
"Could it be we get to see Sieg-sama in battle? Filmed by SS-san?"
The comment section went wild the instant Sieg's figure appeared on screen. World's number-one explorer — the man's popularity is staggering.
Just then, something pinged on my Mana Detection Radar. What's this — a monster I've never picked up before. A presence on par with the Lich or the Terror's Symbol.
"Sieg-san, something's coming from up ahead. An S-rank, most likely."
"Oh? So you can even use Enemy Search? You keep showing me how useful you are and I'll only want you more, y'know!"
I told him a monster was coming and somehow got yelled at. Wait — no, was that a compliment?
"That's our SS-san for you!"
"Praised by the world's number one! The pride of Japan!"
"No, Sieg-san! You can't have SS-san!"
Whoops — seems the viewers would rather I didn't get carried off by Sieg. Don't worry, folks — no such plans for now.
"Sieg, somethin's comin'... the hell is that?"
While I was still reporting to Sieg, the monster my radar had caught came into view. Nishikyo-san, the first to spot it, called out to Sieg. Sieg has settled right into the leader's seat for this exploration, hasn't he.
"That would be... bad news. A Soul Eater."
A black robe, a skull-like face, a huge scythe in hand — the very image of the Grim Reaper. Sieg called it a Soul Eater.
"Soul Eater? Never heard of it."
"First time seeing a monster like this. But yeah, it looks bad news."
"It's literally just the Grim Reaper..."
"Sieg-san, you know this monster?"
Shinonome-san asked, faced with a monster none of them had ever seen.
"I've seen one exactly once, in an American dungeon. Be careful — that thing has the Instant Death attribute. If that scythe cuts you, it's over. Even a graze sends you straight to the other side. It took two of my comrades..."
"Sieg has a past like that..."
"If even Sieg can't protect people from it, that's terrifying, no?"
"His comrades must have been pretty strong too."
Kokushi Musou froze at the information Sieg brought. Seriously? There's an Instant Death attribute? I've never heard of it even at university. But that attribute is bad news. After pushing through that brutal battle without a single casualty, I absolutely cannot let the members of Kokushi Musou die here.
"I'll take this one. Support, please."
My drones shouldn't have anything to fear from an Instant Death attribute. I'll draw out everything this thing has to give.
"There's our SS!"
"Resummonable drones really are cheat-tier!"
"Go get 'em! Take it down!"
"Careful — it uses teleportation. Short range, but still."
Instant Death attribute plus teleport... what a nightmarish combo. All the more reason I can't let Kokushi Musou fight it. And the viewers are rooting for me too. This is where I do my part.
I sent Hayate and Shiden at the Soul Eater.
"Kata-kata-kata."
The Soul Eater drifted closer, teeth chattering, floating along without a touch of weight. Blue light floated in its hollow eye sockets.
"First strike wins the day! Magic Machine Cannons!"
I started with the Magic Machine Cannons. But the Soul Eater's body went thinner and thinner, and its figure vanished. The magic bullets sailed through empty air.
"Careful! Short-range teleport!"
Sieg shouted as he watched. I immediately stationed Asahi in the air above the middle of the party and stood watch over every direction with the 360° camera. At the same time, I deployed the Mana Detection Radar through Hayate. It burns through mana something fierce, but this is no place to hold back. I downed one of my Magic Potions.
"Kannami-san, please get down!"
I'd guessed a teleporter would strike from behind someone, and keeping watch for it paid off. I sensed a spike of mana behind Kannami-san and asked her to drop flat at once. Kannami-san answered my call and moved instantly.
"Thunder Bullet Machine Cannon!"
My hunch had been right on the money — I caught the Soul Eater with thunder rounds the instant it emerged.
"Kiiiiii!"
The Soul Eater shrieked in a voice like metal scraping on metal.
"Nice work! Leave the rest to me!"
Before Sieg could even finish saying it, he was already behind the Soul Eater.
"Hraah!"
The right straight he loosed with that shout smashed the Soul Eater's skull to pieces. The robe and scythe, suddenly masterless, fell to the ground and faded away.
【You defeated the Soul Eater】
【You have leveled up】
【You obtained 30 Skill Points】
【Level 40 reached. A Drone Pilot skill is now unlocked】
【You obtained Automatic Mana Recovery】
【Drone Summon Count increased by 1】
Would you look at that — that battle leveled me up once, all the way to 40. I'd completely let my guard down. Who'd have thought it'd come at a moment like this.
"Just now, before it showed up, it was like you already knew where it'd appear..."
"Great field of view! And Sieg's strong!"
"SS and Sieg are the ultimate combo!"
"Hey, hey — how'd you know where it'd pop out?"
"Um... a hunch?"
"No way it's a hunch after callouts that precise. Ah, well — prying into an explorer's secrets is against the rules, so I won't ask for details. But once this is over, how about coming to America with me for real?"
"Um, I'll think about it."
We had that exchange, but my mind was somewhere else entirely. The viewers' comments, even Kokushi Musou's relieved chatter — none of it was getting through.
Hold up, hold up — Automatic Mana Recovery? Isn't that exactly the skill I needed most right now? I opened my status to check, and sure enough, my mana was creeping back up bit by bit. No way — if this skill grows, I won't need Mana Potions at all!
And sadly, no new drone was unlocked — but my summon count went up by one. Does that mean I can now summon one more of what I already have — small, medium, or ultra-small? Not something to decide in a rush. One to discuss with President Yamamoto.
Buzzing over the great new skill and my extra summon, I snapped back to reality, steeled myself, and restarted the exploration.