000-020 · 017-ch14

Chapter 14: The Second Request

Two days after Kanata-ojou and Akane-ojou had been left groggy by Robo's speed, and after reducing speed to half, we were able to travel for long periods, making it possible to move through eight layers per day. Even so, our daily travel time didn't even reach ten hours, making for quite a leisurely journey. At least compared to our company's usual pace.

Fortunately, no monsters appeared to interfere with our movement as I had feared. There were monsters that tried to attack us, but they were slower than Robo and couldn't approach us. Occasionally there were opponents who could get close or launch long-range attacks, but we could deal with them by having Robo dodge or me throwing a knife.

I think we're starting to get glimpses of the deep layer. The monsters' weakness also feels like we're just slightly below the deep layer. I hope to be able to reach the surface by tomorrow.

"Um, John-san, is now a good time?"

"Hm? Ah, sure. What's up?"

It was now after dinner and cleanup, and we were entering the sleeping phase. I had lent my tent to the two of them, and since I still thought it was too early to sleep, I was opening a book I bought on the surface by the campfire. Since I didn't want my appearance shown on the stream while sleeping, both I and Kanata-ojou were keeping the drone floating high up so it would film the surroundings without showing us.

Maybe because of that, Kanata-ojou and Akane-ojou, who were already preparing for sleep, were wearing casual clothes for sleeping instead of their usual light armor, which felt somewhat fresh.

"First, let me thank you. For saving me when I was injured alone before, and for saving both me and Akane-chan this time too—thank you truly. Especially this time, I'm sorry for greatly disrupting your plans, John-san. Thank you for helping us even though it meant canceling your plans."

"From me too. Thank you so much. Really. We got into a crisis due to our own short-sightedness, and you still saved us. I'm truly grateful."

"Mm, you're welcome."

I don't know how many times this makes that they've expressed their gratitude, but instead of denying it, I accept their words. Since I have indeed saved their lives, it would be strange to be humble about it. Perhaps they recognize this properly, as Kanata-ojou and Akane-ojou both express their gratitude at every opportunity, which is a bit ticklish but let's put that aside.

"In this situation where we keep receiving nothing but favors, though it may be presumptuous, we have a request for you, John-san."

"Well, it certainly is presumptuous."

The two of them choke on their words, but since I do think it's presumptuous, I don't retract my words. Both them and the ones who made them do this.

"Well, it's fine. It's not like this is your request, right?"

"...Yes."

"Exactly, that's how it is. After you've saved us this much, if we ask for anything more, we won't be able to repay the favor."

To tell the truth, thanks to my stream's viewers reporting to me, I know that various guilds are saying all sorts of things on their streams.

"So, what's the content? I'll say this now though—I won't listen depending on the content. Obviously."

"Yes, of course I understand."

"If you listen and then refuse, that's fine too."

Taking advantage of the fact that their stream isn't picking up sound, Akane-ojou grimaces and lets out her honest feelings.

"Akane-chan..."

"Well, I get that you're curious. Me too, Kana-chan, right? But no matter how you think about it, this isn't a situation where we should ask that right now."

"You two are curious too?"

"Ugh... yes. That request... is, could you show us your strength, John-san?"

How strong I am. That's what organizations that want to purely judge my value by grasping my strength, or top explorers who want to measure the dungeon's deep layer and the strength of monsters beyond that from my strength.

Or those who, out of pure curiosity or suspicion, want to see my strength with their own eyes and won't believe it without seeing it.

Those kinds of opinions are apparently being sent in large numbers as comments to Kanata-ojou's stream. Those opinions are only a minority—most are just wishing for their safety—but still, not a few people are shifting their interest toward me. By the way, I've already changed the settings of my stream to a closed, subscribers-only broadcast from the moment I learned about this.

On top of that, because I declared that I'll "do as I please," some people are even bringing up the incomprehensible theory that "even if you ask, he won't do it if he doesn't want to, so you might as well ask." Moreover, since that opinion doesn't have any coercive element, it's attracting the sympathy of many people who can't hide their curiosity.

The problem with this isn't just that their stream's comment section and social media are getting toxic, but open threats like this are being made that will push their party—no, their guild. In other words, the group called Dungeon Stars—out of connections with other guilds.

Actually, it's not quite as direct as threatening lines, but according to what Dungeon Stars' official account conveyed to the two of them in the stream's comment section, they received messages with content like "questions about seriousness in not trying to obtain information that can be obtained" and "questions about trust in information gathering capabilities"—in other words, considering relationships, they were told things like "we will hold back on cooperating in exploration." To be blunt, it's wrapped in euphemisms and excuses, but it's apparently content that explorers can normally understand the true meaning of. Cooperating with others for exploration isn't limited to just top guilds. By the way, all my stream's viewers are apparently active explorers or explorer candidates.

If asked whether this is an unreasonable threat, the content is quite gray, so it's gathering a fair amount of criticism on social media too. Conversely, since dungeon exploration is something the country spends money on and takes seriously, there's apparently also criticism for not gathering information that can be gathered there.

As a theory, I think it's interesting, but when actually dealing with it, it's troublesome as expected.

To resolve this situation and protect the guild they belong to, the two of them have come to ask me. Having understood that, I deliberately return words to make them recognize the current situation.

"You might be thinking that just asking is nothing. But do you understand that by asking that, you're effectively saying to me, 'I don't feel much gratitude for this situation'?"

"That's..."

"...I know."

Kanata-ojou chokes on her words, but Akane-ojou nods clearly. Kanata-ojou probably understands it too. It's just that her personality—one who worries about this—is showing, versus Akane-ojou who has already made up her mind.

The current relationship between me and them is employer and employee. However, that doesn't mean the relationship is completely equal. When you look at it from that relationship, in this current place, I'm in the superior position.

And now, they're trying to make a new demand. They're trying to step outside the equal relationship that was arranged through a contract on purpose.

"I'll say this upfront though. I only took on the job of escorting you to the surface, okay?"

They probably know that too.

They're weighing their gratitude to me for saving them from a place they couldn't survive alive, versus settling the commotion in their stream's comment section, and by extension, fulfilling the viewers' wishes and the future of the guild. And the scale tips toward that side.

If this were just a casual mention as part of our interactions after becoming friends with me, there would be no problem. But right now, we haven't reached that stage yet, and while they're completely under my protection, they're trying to ask for more than the contract we formed through my goodwill.

If you say that level of gratitude is just that level of gratitude, then maybe it's just that level of gratitude. The gratitude toward someone who picked you up from the bottom of life versus someone who picked up a handkerchief you dropped is different. You might be willing to offer everything you have to repay the former, but you might begrudge even treating the latter to a single meal.

The fact that I saved their lives—well, compared to the things that make them up other than their lives, like their position, social status, beliefs, and so on—it might be something insignificant.

Of course, I don't think that badly of them.

It's just that it might make me have that kind of unfavorable perception.

Thinking that, and still asking me for a favor—they are, after all, streamers, people who live in human society.

I probably won't be able to become like that.

"Like how John-san helped us this time—is hiring John-san not okay?"

"Well, that would be the smoothest approach. Whether I accept that or not is up to my mood, though."

Seeing that I wasn't enthusiastic, Akane-ojou proposed the employment relationship again. To say it again, the current relationship between me and them is those escorting and those being escorted to the surface. Showing me fighting isn't included in the contract content. So we need to determine a new contract—request and reward.

Well, maybe we don't need to think about it that strictly, but since we're getting involved in a public place like streaming, I think it's better to clearly document the relationship properly.

The two of them wait for my words, holding their breath.

"Sure. I got it. I'll show you me fighting the Dullahan, the area boss of the first area of the deep layer. Let's consider the reward included in this time's 1 billion. Honestly, I was thinking 1 billion might be too much anyway."

"Ah, thank you."

"Haa... that really helps. Really, just say anything. I'll do whatever I can."

"However."

I drive the point home firmly again to the two of them who show relief.

"From the perspective of being hired, it might be weird for me to say this. But let me say it anyway. Even if it's the result of being pressured by other powerful guilds and explorers as requested by viewers—your current request ignores the favor of having your lives saved by me. Make sure you properly understand that."

"Y-yes..."

"Thank you, very much."

Showing me fighting isn't a big deal. If they asked me personally, I might have accepted normally. I don't intend to ask for a reward just to fight at the level of the deep layer.

But they asked me as streamers Amamiya Kanata and Hachijoji Akane, as explorers belonging to one guild, in the form of speaking on behalf of viewers and related parties. Then I have to respond appropriately too. Not as friends who help each other without expecting anything, but as strangers connected by interests.

(Because I'm always thinking about things like this, I probably can't make friends.)

Because I overthink things and imagine all sorts of things, I think I can hardly interact with people directly in a completely unguarded state. I feel like the me who just talks to the streaming screen shows many times more of my true self than that. To entrust my unguarded self, to lean on someone—at least on the surface, that would be absolutely unacceptable.

(In that sense, streaming might be somewhat acceptable.)

"Ah, and also, Akane-ojou."

"What?"

"You shouldn't say you'll do anything. Consider that you're a beautiful woman."

"Ugh..."

For a moment, I saw Akane-ojou's face looking so stunned you could almost hear a sound effect, but I cut my gaze and pretended to return to reading, signaling that the conversation was over.

Actually, it's simply that I'm embarrassed by what I said, so I'm hiding my facial expression. Even at this age... but I entered dungeon life without ever having that kind of experience at all until now.

When someone says something like that, unnecessary thoughts float up, and I'm so unaccustomed to interacting with women and girls that I feel embarrassed just saying it.