c1-c20 · 003-ch3

Chapter 3: A Savior Appears (Part 1) Perspective: Negomin

My name is Nego Kirika. I work as an explorer while also doing dungeon streaming activities as "Negomin."

That I happened to visit the Shinjuku Dungeon today, and that I encountered a monster that had escaped from the deeper floors—well, I can only say it was truly a coincidence.

"And so, we've finally made it to the 27th floor! Man, I'm beat—getting here was seriously tough. The 27th floor of the Shinjuku Dungeon has a spot where you can mine slightly valuable magic stones, so let's head straight there!"

I'm pretty sure my original goal was something like filming at the magic stone spot on the 27th floor of the Shinjuku Dungeon. Apparently, the walls sparkle and glitter in reaction to the surrounding magic energy, and that scenery is incredibly beautiful.

Viewers expect something special from us. Something that's easy for anyone to understand, and even better, something extraordinary that feels like they could potentially reach it someday. Since I don't possess exceptional combat skills or abilities that look great on video, I focus on things like mining magic stones and visiting photogenic spots—this mindset is what drives that approach.

"Unlike the damp 26th floor, the surroundings feel like an open cave inside, so it really has that dungeon-like feel, huh?"

:Yeah, for sure

:Well, duh, it's a dungeon after all

:Whoa, haven't seen this place in a while

:So the 27th floor looks like this

:Be careful

:It's chill, isn't it

I follow the flowing comments with my eyes as I walk along the path. Are there no other explorers nearby besides me? The brisk footsteps clacking against the ground echo throughout the cave.

As an explorer, I only made it to B-rank, but as a streamer, I'm quite successful.

Just the other day, my channel finally surpassed the major milestone of 1 million subscribers, and I can make a living from just the advertising revenue of daily streams and videos. All thanks to the streaming business.

"So where are we going today? I was waiting for that comment! Um, just a sec... ahem, this 27th floor is divided into 3 areas, and one of them is the Stone Treasure Area. The magic stones you can mine here are called Moonlight Stones, and when you flow magic through them, they shine like moonlight."

:You didn't know that, did you

:What did you see?

:Who?

:You suddenly became a different person

:Nice~ that's actually useful

"Useful? Thank you, Arukana-san~. Everyone else, you should take notes and leave cute comments too~. Reading from cue cards, lol... what's that~? Oh, unrelated, but Negomin is always waiting for sponsorships~♡"

I put away the cue cards I had taken out, finished my usual routine, and started walking through the dungeon again.

It was at that moment. The flow of comments, which had been trickling along, suddenly surged in speed despite nothing happening.

"Huh? What's going on, everyone?"

:Something coming?

:There's a big shadow behind you

:Hey

:I don't see anything though

:Must be trolls

:This is bad, isn't it

"Why is everyone doing this? Stop with jokes like that~"

:No, I'm serious

:Negomin's tense! Negomin's tense!

:Whoa, for real

:Ah

:Did a monster this big ever appear here before?

:I can see it too!

:It's coming! It's coming! It's coming!

By the time I could no longer follow the flow of comments, I finally noticed the presence of the monster approaching from behind me. I turn around, draw the dagger at my waist, and take a combat stance. It's okay, I've memorized all the monsters that appear on the 27th floor. No matter what appears, I can handle it!

Huh? But for some reason, the approaching shadow keeps getting bigger and bigger...

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

What appeared was a humanoid monster much larger than me. Its presence, its demeanor—was clearly abnormal.

My intuition tells me: if I fight now, I'll die.

What, I didn't know a monster like this appears on the 27th floor!

From the accelerating comment section, as if guided by fate, one particular comment catches my eye.

:That's a Blood Ogre! A monster from the deeper floors!

A-a monster from the deeper floors!? What's it doing here... no, first of all, I need to escape!

Just as I think that and try to run, the Blood Ogre's fist slams down right before my eyes. I manage to avoid a direct hit at the last second, but the impact sends me flying backward.

"Kyaah!"

:Negomin!!!

:Ah

:This is pretty bad, isn't it?

:Is Negomin going to die?

:This is impossible

:Run!

:Someone go help her

Thanks to the streamer's crisis, my viewers are more excited than ever before. Ah, if I could make a spectacular escape in a situation like this, my channel subscribers would increase even more. Then again, if I were good at combat, I probably wouldn't be doing streaming in the first place.

Meaningless thoughts race through my brain like noise. Thinking I have to fight somehow, I manage to lift my body and glare at the Blood Ogre. But it stares back at me with a cold gaze I've never felt from any monster before.

Ah, I might die.

Despite facing a life-threatening crisis before a monster from the deeper floors, for some reason my head feels fuzzy and I can't concentrate properly.

Deciding I should at least leave some last words, I look at my stream, and suddenly notice that the flowing comments have changed from negative to positive.

:Negomin, over there!

:Something's coming

:There's someone over there!

:Could it be rescue?!

:You kept us waiting

:There is! There's one person over there!

:The savior has come!

A savior?!

Seeing those words, I jerk my head up as if jumping. Then, from behind the Blood Ogre, I can indeed see one human figure approaching at tremendous speed.

T-they're here! Help has arrived! Yes! I'm going to be saved!

"...Huh?"

Just as I think that, what appears before me is an uncle wearing blue work clothes.