chapter02 · 047-ep47

Episode 47: Berserker Stream

【WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?】

【A level 30 beat one of the strongest close-combat monsters in the middle layers!?】

【No fucking way!】

【The dungeon boar's called the middle layers' minotaur, even if it's a MUCH weaker version!?】

【And what the hell was that sharpness!? She really DID add a whole new magical function!?】

【She actually succeeded at modifying magic equipment!?】

【Hey hey hey hey! Even with ojou-sama supplying a ton of lower-layer materials, mastering modification this fast makes <Divine Artisan> way too broken!?】

【That's an advanced technique only the very best master crafters can manage!?】

【Come to think of it, a unique skill with 'Divine' in the name was never going to be weak (furiously changes opinion)】

【Forget the magic equipment for a second! How did a level 30 master high-speed combat gear on her FIRST TRY!?】

【That movement wasn't just... luck!?】

【Is Honoka-sama's potential off the charts!?】

Creating and modifying magic equipment, then killing a dungeon boar. Chat erupted at the unbelievable feats Honoka had accomplished at level 30. But nobody found them harder to believe than Honoka herself.

"K-Karin ojou-sama... Did I... did I just... kill a dungeon boar...?"

"You did indeed! Well done!"

Her voice shook. It felt like a dream. But Karin's emphatic answer and the power welling up inside her made her certain it was real.

A level-up. The dungeon's mysterious way of making people stronger when they killed monsters. The precise mechanism was still unknown, but it was believed to happen when someone absorbed mana from a monster they'd slain themselves. The accepted view was that absorption rates varied greatly from person to person.

Honoka was a crafter, so she hadn't killed many monsters; her absorption rate was probably low as well. That was likely why she'd remained around level 30. But after a solo kill of a middle-layer monster, those handicaps might as well not exist.

"...!"

She could feel her own strength surging, independent of the magic equipment. She was sure she'd be able to use the boots even better now. She trembled at the incredible sensation. Karin grinned and clenched her fist.

"Now, Honoka-sama, let's keep killing them!"

"...Yes!"

With power, there was nothing to fear. Following Karin's original plan, the <Divine Artisan> master and pupil set out through the middle layers.

""""GUGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?""""

Monster screams rang through the middle layers. But this time Karin wasn't the one making them scream.

"Amazing... Amazing, amazing, amazing...!"

Honoka Kamishiro danced through the swarms, slicing them apart with her black bladed boots. Nothing about her resembled the crafter who'd supposedly been in danger even in the upper layers.

【AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?】

【What the hell am I watching!?】

【I-is this really the girl who was crying in the lower layers a little while ago...!?】

【Is she leveling up so fast she's gotten EVEN quicker!?】

【<Divine Artisan> is terrifying!? Once she can go down to collect lower-layer materials herself...】

【Wait, after going into the lower layers and training <Divine Artisan>, how does Honoka-sama still have any stamina!?】

The boots were efficient with mana, and her repeated level-ups were probably restoring some mana and stamina too. Having killed the boar, Honoka had a feel for how to use her power—and what being strong felt like. There was no stopping her now.

"GIIIIIIIIIIH!?"

She sensed and dodged the fly caterpillar's troublesome attacks as it retreated, closed the gap by sheer speed, and kicked the middle-layer pest to death.

"Amazing... Amazing, amazing, amazing!"

Blood splashed over Honoka, but she kept fighting with a huge smile on her face.

"Ahaha, ahahahahaha! Amazing! This is amazing, Karin ojou-sama! Thanks to you, I...! Hic, I could do this much...! It's all thanks to you, so I can't really be proud of myself, but still, I... I can do so much—ahahahahahahahaha!"

ZUBABABABA!

Honoka rampaged as though venting all the frustration she'd bottled up, reveling in combat. Chat shuddered at her slightly crazed behavior and the mounting monster corpses.

【Uh, Honoka-sama's kinda SCARY!?】

【She's feeling on top of the world!?】

【W-well, anyone who went from being a level-30 kid worked to the bone by a rotten clan to mowing down middle-layer monsters would react like that. I would too】

【Yeah, but it looks like some dangerous switch just flipped!?】

【The quiet ones bottle up the most...】

【I-I think she's okay, but is this the start of a fall-to-the-dark-side arc!?】

【She isn't gonna go kill Black Shell now, right!?】

【Honoka-sama's insanely strong! Let's go kill every clan that crosses us!】

【Stop it, idiot!】

【Don't say that to someone who looks like she could actually do it—and MIGHT!?】

【Nagisa-sama! Karin ojou-sama! Shouldn't you stop Honoka-sama before she goes full berserker!?】

【This looks like a dark-side flag!?】

"It's been so long since I've seen Honoka laugh like she's having that much fun...! Hehe, now I'm getting happy too! Go, Honoka! Keep getting stronger!" Nagisa cheered through the phone.

"OOOOOH! You're doing splendidly, Honoka-sama! You're just like Towa Koganei-sama, the greatest battle maniac in Dungeon Alive! Once we're finished, why don't we make you some cosplay magic equipment as <Divine Artisan> practice!?" Karin cried.

【Oh, these two are NO HELP!?】

【Not a single sane person on this stream!】

【The terror of a stream with no straight man (for real)】

【We've got a berserker ojou-sama, and a berserker best friend who cared enough to demand Karin ojou-sama's phone in front of 700k people, so...】

【Is EVERYONE on this stream a berserker!?】

【Elegance and refinement? They died in the bathroom ages ago】

【Could you please not casually say 'cosplay magic equipment' like that's a normal thing!?】

【Black Shell, your rotten practices created Monster Number Two... Take responsibility, desu wa】

【A leg-powered monster created by an evil organization... Is she a Masked R●der?】

Chat, now over a million strong, fired off frantic retorts at the three berserkers doing whatever they pleased. But contrary to the viewers' fears—

"Hah... hah... I feel so much better after letting loose...! Fighting's fun, isn't it? I could go into the dungeon every day...!"

Even repeated level-ups couldn't fully make up for the limits of her stamina. Once the fighting died down, so did her wild laughter. Honoka was her usual quiet self again.

【Th-thank goodness... It almost feels like she AVOIDED falling to the dark side by letting loose】

【The serious ones really need a release like that...!】

【I'm a little relieved!】

【Though from the way she talks, she'll probably go berserker again next time she fights lmao】

【Personally, I love that, desu wa!】

【↑ Never misses a chance to tell us your fetish, ojou-sama】

"So you've discovered the joy of rampaging—er, dancing—through dungeons, Honoka-sama! How splendid! And your body is coming along nicely, too!"

Karin scrutinized Honoka as she stood panting and clasped her hands. Honoka's middle-layer rampage had taken her to level 150 in less than two hours. New combat skills had awakened during the repeated fights, and she could now fully use the extraordinary magic equipment she'd made with <Divine Artisan>. Karin meant to keep training her in the days ahead, but she was delighted that Honoka had gained enough strength to fight at least a little without the boots if they broke.

"Th-thank you... So much...!" Honoka bowed, overcome with emotion. "I was stuck for so long, and now I've grown this much...! It might still be hard to find a clan I can trust, but after everything you've done for me... I'll do my best!"

【I'm so glad for Honoka-sama...】

【There's a special kind of joy in watching an underdog grow and finally get rewarded... Though she grew so much it's a little scary】

【After showing off <Divine Artisan>'s potential like THAT, clans will be lining up!】

【It looks like the online ojou-samas and Attorney Mitsurugi have found a way out of Black Shell for her during training. Now she just has to find a new clan!】

【If anything, there's already a bidding war that could turn into a feud between clans lmao】

【Well, after they saw footage THAT ridiculous...】

Chat warmed at Honoka's growth and tearful gratitude, and at the news that she'd likely be able to leave Black Shell and had plenty of prospective new employers. But meanwhile—

"...Ah, finding a new clan. When you think about it, that might be a difficult problem after all."

Karin crossed her arms with a worried look.

As chat had said, Honoka's departure from Black Shell had been properly investigated. The guild had noticed the uproar and intervened, and it looked like she could force her way out immediately.

In fact, the internet's outrage had gone so far that Black Shell risked social ruin and dissolution. Karin had gotten a little frightened and tried to rein them in: "I-I understand you want to beat them to death, everyone, but that would hardly be Elegant, would it~?" But never mind that.

The problem was finding a clan to take Honoka. Karin's million-viewer influence and her plan to train Honoka had worked: apparently a great many clans had volunteered. But looking into each one carefully enough to know whether it could be trusted would be hard.

Online reviews and guild recommendations might seem enough to make a quick decision... except this had all begun with a clan recommended by Honoka's school. Being deceived by your school was a terrible shock for a minor. Knowing that, Karin couldn't just send her off carelessly.

(I suppose Mafuyu would have a good suggestion if I asked her...)

Honoka was putting on a brave face, but she still seemed uneasy. Karin wondered if there was a way to reassure her right now. Then—

"Ah."

A 'brilliant idea' dropped into her head.

"Of course! Don't worry, Honoka-sama! If we can't find a clan we can trust, I'll start a new one myself!"

"Huh?"

"Huh?" Nagisa said over the phone.

【Huh】

【What?】

【Wait】

【Karin ojou-sama!?】

【Hold on, wai—】

Honoka, Nagisa, and the chat of over a million viewers froze at Karin's sudden bombshell.

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This got long, so I've split it up. I'll update tomorrow.