A stream featuring Shiba-san and Yukiya plays on my smartphone screen.
The scene shows a cave surrounded by rocky walls. Despite the lack of sunlight, it’s mysteriously bright inside, eliminating the need for artificial lighting.
Here we go. The first dungeon stream begins.
“Hello. I’m Shiba, a dungeon streamer with Shadow Stars,” Shiba greets.
“Hey there! Hello! Nice to meet you! I’m Yukiya, the future big star. Pleased to meet you!” Yukiya says cheerfully.
Yukiya’s introduction is lively. This stream is drawing a lot of attention since it’s a beginner training session led by Shiba-san. Yukiya, please don’t do anything strange.
“Today’s project is a stream dedicated to teaching dungeon exploration basics to beginners. We’ve got Yukiya here, who’s truly tackling a dungeon for the first time, to play the beginner’s role.”
“Shiba-san, I don’t want you to think I’m just any beginner.”
“Oh? And what do you mean by that?”
“I’m a beginner among beginners! A complete newbie who knows absolutely nothing!”
“That’s hardly something to boast about. Let’s start by reviewing the basics of dungeons. Generally, you can’t bring modern weapons inside. So, instantly taking down monsters with guns isn’t possible. The mechanism is unknown, but it seems that any non-primitive weapon is rejected when you touch the entrance marker.”
“Really?”
“Of course, there are exceptions. For example, items like Japanese swords or knives, which require advanced metalworking, can’t be brought in either. However, weapons crafted using materials obtained within the dungeon appear to bypass this rule. In theory, using dungeon-obtained materials, even a gun could eventually be permitted.”
“Interesting! So, if I gather materials and get weapons made or buy some, I can easily clear the dungeon, right?”
“Not exactly. You see, materials have a kind of memory, marking their ownership. To use a weapon made from materials inside the dungeon, you need to collect those materials yourself.”
“Wait, does that mean I can’t use any of Shiba-san’s hand-me-down gear?”
“That’s right. Which is why I’m giving you this.”
Shiba hands Yukiya a stone axe.
“This roughly crafted axe should be effective enough against the monsters here. Use it to gather various materials and make your own gear.”
“So… I have to defeat enemies using only this stone axe, instead of strong gear like yours?”
“Exactly. But if you collect materials yourself, you’ll eventually be able to make equipment like mine. Don’t get discouraged.”
“Well, in that case, it’s fine. After all, I’ll just defeat strong monsters, gather powerful materials, and soon become the best dungeon streamer out there!”
Yukiya’s confidence shows through, making him a good match as Shiba-san’s partner on this stream.
“But Shiba-san, may I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“Then why are dungeon materials even sold? If only the owner can use them, they seem kind of pointless.”
“Good question. Materials owned by someone else can’t be brought into the dungeon. If you hold onto materials registered to someone else, they’ll be rejected by the dungeon’s entrance marker. Once ownership is set, it generally can’t be changed. But outside the dungeon, this restriction doesn’t apply.”
“Oh, that makes sense. So that’s why products made from dungeon materials are sold outside.”
“Exactly. The limitation is strictly on taking such items into the dungeon. So, for instance, Yukiya, you could use my gear outside. There are also a few tricks to bring others’ materials into dungeons, but that’s a topic for another time.”
“Huh? Can’t you tell me now?”
“Yukiya, look ahead. I think a monster has noticed us.”
“Huh? Oh, you’re right.”
Shiba points to a large rabbit with a horn on its forehead, about the size of a small dog.
This rabbit looks vicious, with sharp eyes and fangs. If a child who loves rabbits saw this one, they’d likely burst into tears.
“Yukiya, this is a monster you can handle. Show me what you’ve got.”
“Uh, well, I’d love to, but if that horn stabs me, I’ll die, won’t I…?”
Despite his earlier confidence, Yukiya looks terrified now that he’s about to face real combat, his face going pale.
“Don’t worry. The human body is slightly tougher in the dungeon. You should be able to block a horn like that, Yukiya.”
“E-even so…”
The rabbit hops closer, narrowing the distance, clearly targeting Yukiya. He swings his stone axe with shaking hands.
“Take that!”
But his large swing misses the rabbit, falling just short.
“Damn!”
The rabbit charges at Yukiya’s stomach with its horn, sending him flying backward. Fortunately, Shiba-san catches him, softening the impact.
“Yukiya, are you alright?”
“Yes… It hurt sharply when I was pierced by the horn, but there’s no wound… Why?”
“The dungeon is filled with magic, which strengthens the human body. There are other uses for this magic, but I’ll explain those once you’re more accustomed to the dungeon.”
“Y-yes…”
“But first, you need to take down that rabbit properly.”
Shiba-san fixes his gaze on the rabbit, which freezes as if sensing his strength.
It stays motionless, like a frog cornered by a snake. When Shiba averts his eyes, it starts moving again.
“It-it’s coming back!?”
“Yukiya, don’t be afraid. Take your time, find the right moment, and swing that stone axe!”
“O-okay!”
Yukiya closes his eyes and swings the axe, striking the rabbit’s horn. The stone axe shatters the horn, causing the rabbit to fall and twitch on the ground.
“D-did I win…?”
“It’s only unconscious. You’ve rendered it unable to fight. If you finish it off, it may drop an item.”
“…I-I see…”
Despite his victory, Yukiya’s hands tremble. He seems hesitant to kill the rabbit.
“D-do I really have to…?”
“Yes. Take a look at its horn.”
Shiba-san points to the rabbit’s broken horn, which has started to regrow.
“Wha…?”
“The dungeon’s magic doesn’t only benefit humans. Monsters also have powerful regenerative abilities, so if you don’t finish them off quickly, they heal right before your eyes.”
Swallowing hard, Yukiya approaches the rabbit with his stone axe, hands still shaking.
“D-damn it!”
He brings the axe down on the monster, ending its life. Instead of a bloody scene, the monster disappears with a “pop.”
“I-I did it… ha, ha…”
“That’s a natural reaction, Yukiya. It’s human instinct to hesitate when taking the life of a creature resembling a mammal. But as dungeon streamers, one day we have to overcome that hesitation or we’ll lose our own lives.”
“Y-yes…”
Yukiya’s face remains pale.
“When I watched streams, I always thought, ‘I could do it better than them.’ But actually doing it, I never realized just how ‘heavy’ a weapon could feel.”
For once, Yukiya’s usual bravado has vanished. I hope he’s okay. This might be harder on him mentally than I thought.
