After having a meal with Yukiya, I returned home and started thinking about the recruitment requirements again.
โHmmโฆ I guess itโs all about balancing freedom and responsibility, stability and romance. That balance is different for everyone.โ
Not everyone who becomes a dungeon streamer is solely in it for freedom and romance. Some might actually want a level of stability closer to a regular job, but, finding no alternative, ended up as dungeon streamers.
Offering a balance that appeals to those people could make them jump at the chanceโฆ Thereโs potential there.
โBut how do I market that? Thatโs the tricky part.โ
I wracked my brain. Iโll try different strategies, but if none work, then so be it. For now, I want to take a chance on the possibility, however small it may be.
I canโt keep letting Yukiya and Shiba-san shoulder the load forever. I need to gather more people and build up this agency as a strong base for dungeon streamers.
โ
โAnd so, weโre back again with another stream! This is Yukiya from Shadow Stars.โ
โAnd this is Shiba from Shadow Stars.โ
โToday, weโll continue tackling the last dungeon! This time, Iโll be leading the way through it,โ Yukiya announced confidently.
โIโll be supporting you as best as I can. Iโll hold back from saying much, but if I sense any danger, Iโll be ready to stop you.โ
Will they be alright? Yukiya was determined to take the lead, which seemed a bit reckless. Shiba-sanโs presence should keep things from getting too dangerous, but I canโt help feeling worried. I wouldโve been fine if Shiba-san kept leading for a while longer.
Then again, Shiba-san seemed to think this was a good experience, so I couldnโt say anything to dissuade them.
โAlright, Yukiya, touch this mark and focus on the spot we marked last time.โ
โGot itโฆ Here goes.โ
โDo you see anything, Yukiya?โ
โYes, I can see the layout of the dungeon.โ
โAlright. It looks like there are no monsters nearby. Nowโs our chance to teleport. Letโs go.โ
โReady.โ
With that, Shiba-san and Yukiya entered the dungeon, and the autonomous camera equipment followed, vanishing after them.
โAlright, time to monitor the stream,โ I said, opening the stream on my phone. On screen, they were now inside the dungeon.
โWeโre back!โ
โYes. Letโs set this as our base and explore around here.โ
โGot it!โ
Shiba-san and Yukiya began searching around the dungeonโs entry point, knowing they could easily return to base thanks to the nearby mark. So long as they didnโt wander too far, it didnโt seem especially risky.
โOh, Shiba-san! Could you teach me magic?โ
โMagic, huhโฆ Like I said before, I donโt think youโre naturally suited for it, Yukiya. I can sense it from the way your energy flows.โ
โStill, you can use magic, canโt you?โ
โWell, yes. But thatโs only because I had to learn a variety of skills to tackle dungeons solo. But since youโre working in a party, it might not be that critical.โ
โEven so, I still want to use magic!โ
Yukiyaโs eyes were serious. He seemed really taken by Shiba-sanโs magic skills.
โAlright, then. Iโll teach you a simple spell. Focus on drawing in mana from the dungeon and gathering it in your arm.โ
โIโm not sure I fully get the feeling of mana, but Iโll give it a shot.โ
โGood, good. When it comes to this, itโs faster to learn by doing.โ
Yukiya took a deep breath, concentrating, while Shiba-san placed a hand on Yukiyaโs arm.
โPicture all the energy gathering here in your biceps, then unleash it all at once.โ
โAlright!โ
Yukiyaโs arm bulged slightly.
โW-wow! What is this?โ
โThis is Shura-Riki magic. It temporarily boosts muscle strength.โ
โHmm, I was hoping for something flashier, like shooting fire or lightning.โ
โThose spells take time to learn. They wonโt come so easily. More practice would be necessary.โ
โI see,โ Yukiya pouted, clearly wanting to learn the type of magic Shiba-san often used.
Comments:
Wow! Casting Shura-Riki right off the bat is impressive!
โWait, looking at the comments, is it really that amazing to succeed at magic on the first try?โ
โIt seems soโฆโ
Itโs more than amazing! Usually, it takes dozens of attempts to get it right!
Iโm still unable to use Shura-Riki magic!
โIs that so?โ
Shiba-san looked at the comments, clearly surprised.
โWait, Shiba-san, did you not know?โ
โWell, I succeeded on my first try too, so I assumed that was normal.โ
Casually revealing something incredible, Shiba-san, as the strongest dungeon streamer in the region, could pull that off without issue.
But whatโs surprising is Yukiya. Just like Shiba-san, he succeeded on his first try. Does he have the same level of talent?
The comments grew lively as Yukiyaโs hidden potential became apparent.
Could Yukiya become as powerful as Shiba someday?
A promising rookie, huh?
Of course! If Shiba-sanโs teaching him, he mustโve seen his talent.
It wasnโt about discovering talentโYukiya wasnโt scouted; he was a co-founder. There was no talent scouting involved.
Then, a rumbling sound echoed through the stream.
โWhatโฆ what is that sound?โ
Yukiya reacted, gripping his stone axe, while Shiba-san looked around calmly to assess the situation.
โItโs coming from over there. Do you want to head back, Yukiya, if youโre afraid?โ
โAre you kidding? Letโs go check it out!โ
Yukiya and Shiba-san headed toward the source of the sound.
What could it be? I canโt stop watching!
This is gripping!
Viewers, being viewers, are often more curious than concerned for the streamerโs safety. If Shiba-san and Yukiya had chosen to retreat, viewers wouldโve lost interest. When it comes to streaming, it seems the real value lies in showing viewers what they want to see at times like this.
At the end of a dungeon hallway, they turned right, entering a grand chamber. Inside, a blond young man faced a massive four-legged lizard.
The lizard, around two meters tall, would terrify anyone with a fear of reptiles.
โA d-dragon!โ
โNo, Yukiya, thatโs just a lizard monster. Dragons are far more terrifying.โ
Ignoring Shiba-san and Yukiya, the young man wielded a staff, swinging it at the lizard, but to no effect.
The lizard retaliated, swinging its front leg down. The man dodged just in time, and the strike left cracks in the dungeon floor. Taking such a hit head-on would be devastating, making even me, as a viewer, tense up.
โVery wellโฆ letโs see you take another taste of my lightning!โ
Lightning erupted from the young manโs staff, striking the lizard. The thunderous sound was identical to what we heard earlier through the stream.
โGraghhh!โ
The lizard blackened, collapsing with a loud thud, eyes rolled back. After a while, it vanished, leaving behind scales as loot.
โWhoaโฆ that was incredible.โ
Yukiya stood there, stunned.