I decided to rent a conference room and discuss future plans with Shiba-san.
“First, I’d like to hear from your perspective what kind of support is needed for dungeon streamers.”
“I see. What kind of support is necessary… hmm…”
Shiba-san seemed to be lost in thought.
“It doesn’t have to be limited to the current situation. If there’s anything you think would have been helpful back when you were starting out…”
“Well, in the end, it’s not the strong who survive in dungeons; it’s those who survive who are in the right. Even if you’re strong, a lack of knowledge, preparation, or supplies can mean death.”
“I see… knowledge, preparation, and supplies… Those all seem tough for rookie dungeon streamers.”
“Yes. Some people overestimate their strength and dive into dungeons without enough of those things, only to meet their end. There may have been some who could have become great dungeon streamers if they had survived.”
Listening to Shiba-san, I realized that being a dungeon streamer is truly a life-risking job. It’s not all glamorous. My parents tried to save as many of those lives as they could.
“So, does that mean if we support them in those areas, dungeon streamers will gather?”
“For rookie dungeon streamers, yes. But attracting more experienced streamers who can manage those things on their own would be difficult.”
“What do you think we should do to attract more experienced streamers?”
I felt a bit bad for asking so many questions, but as someone with almost no work experience, I had no ideas of my own.
“Well, this is just my personal opinion, but people tend to be drawn to brand names. If Eito-san’s agency gains recognition, I think it could attract more experienced streamers as well.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“It’s about being able to offer a clear benefit to joining this agency. Many dungeon streamers are attention-seekers. If joining a well-known agency means getting more visibility, some might be interested. Also, having help with the tedious paperwork would be appreciated, too.”
“Paperwork…?”
“Being able to earn money means having to deal with more complex paperwork—especially taxes. Gathering dungeon information is also challenging. Being able to share that information within the agency would be a big advantage.”
“I see…”
My head was starting to hurt. If I tried to do all of this on my own, I’d need more people behind the scenes, not just dungeon streamers.
I thought that just throwing money at the problem would be enough, but it turns out it requires a lot more thought. Is this what management is all about? Finding talented people—how do I even do that?
Securing Shiba-san was a big win, but that doesn’t guarantee everything will go smoothly.
“Eito-san, I have a thought. Are you perhaps trying to take a shortcut?”
“A shortcut?”
“Yes. I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but it feels like you’re seeking out top talent from the start.”
“And what’s wrong with that? Hiring talented people is faster than hiring less capable ones, right?”
“That’s true, but I think that nurturing people is crucial for management.”
“Nurturing people…?”
“I survived as long as I did thanks to the Kageno couple. They taught me first aid, and that knowledge saved my life more than once. In other words, I achieved what I have because they nurtured me.”
“So, even you had a time like that, Shiba-san.”
“It’s not just me—everyone has a time when they’re still growing. That’s why, Eito-san, at the start, you shouldn’t focus too much on hiring the best. Look for rookies with potential.”
“Rookies… who lack knowledge, preparation, and supplies…”
“Yes. I can teach them the knowledge. You can support them with your funding for preparation and supplies. That’s something rookies would greatly appreciate.”
Shiba-san grabbed my hand.
“I’ve decided to walk this path with you, Eito-san. Forgive me for saying so, but you are still inexperienced as a manager. However, you have potential. And I want to see that potential grow.”
“Potential…!”
Hearing that made me feel like I could actually do it. Maybe even someone like me, who once failed, could stand back up again.
“Oh, by the way, Shiba-san, can I ask you another question? What kind of supplies should we prepare?”
“Let’s see. Generally, it’s best to prepare for survival situations. First, food and water are essential. A knife and a lighter would also be useful. There’s also the matter of compasses—dungeons often have different magnetic fields than Earth, making ordinary compasses unreliable. But, there are special compasses developed to detect the magical energy within dungeons, and it’s good to have those.”
“There’s a compass like that?”
“Yes. For rookie dungeon streamers, not knowing this can lead to them bringing a regular compass, losing their sense of direction, and meeting their end.”
That makes sense. It’s definitely something tied to knowledge.
“Dungeons are mysterious places. If their magnetic fields differ from Earth’s, does that mean touching the entrance portal sends us outside of Earth?”
“Even I don’t know that much. But humans haven’t explored every part of Earth. It’s possible that there are places with warped magnetic fields and magical creatures, and that’s where we’re being sent.”
When it comes to detailed information about dungeons, it’s best to leave that to experts. No matter how much I think about it, I won’t find an answer.
“One more thing that’s surprisingly useful is a whistle. Blowing a whistle can let other nearby dungeon streamers know where you are. It’s like a distress call. If your streaming equipment breaks and you can’t move, having one could significantly increase your chances of survival.”
“Oh, right. I need to think about the possibility of streaming equipment breaking too…”
“Yes. If your streaming equipment works, you can call for help from the entire world, but that’s not always the case. Plus, streamers currently exploring a dungeon don’t have time to watch others’ streams, so being able to signal the nearest person for help is invaluable.”
There’s a lot to think about. It’s about always planning for the worst-case scenario.
“Thank you for your help today, Shiba-san.”
“Not at all. If there’s anything I can assist with, don’t hesitate to ask. Eito-san, I see potential in you.”
“Why do you think I have potential?”
“You’re still young. And yet, you’re trying to establish an agency for dungeon streamers—most people wouldn’t think of doing that. That kind of initiative is a valuable trait.”
“Saying something like that makes me embarrassed…”
I scratched my head, feeling shy. In reality, this all just kind of happened by chance.
“Eito-san, I want to help you become a proper manager. It would also be a way to repay my debt to the Kageno couple.”
I felt bad receiving so much support from Shiba-san. The debt she felt was towards my parents, not me. I was just their son.
It made me realize that I still needed my parents’ protection to survive. But someday, I want to become someone who can stand on my own and earn Shiba-san’s support—not out of obligation, but because of my own ability. No, I will become that person!
