Chapter 87

"Alright, let me explain the rules of the game."

Dumple began to explain the rules at his own pace.

"Even if I explain, wouldn't it be a happy ending if I just kill you here and the ending credits roll right away?"

Hime said, pointing a wind demon's kunai at Dumple.

If that were the case, it would indeed be a quick resolution—

"Would you like to try? If you do, the destruction of the dungeon will be impossible forever. It would be a shame not to see the monsters released outside, but what a thrill it would be to merge with the memory of the stars, taking the lives of many humans with you."

"Hime, I think he's right."

Mikoto told me to destroy the dungeon.

She didn't say a word about killing Dumple.

Probably, killing him would be meaningless.

Not entirely meaningless, but... he's probably like a part of Hime.

"So, about the rules?"

"Right, let's get it over with quickly. Honestly, I don't expect anything from you, but the game should still be fair."

After a particularly annoying preamble, Dumple began to explain the rules.

"If you can destroy the black skull on the tenth floor, you win. The dungeon will be destroyed. If you fail to destroy it, you lose. How about it? Simple, right?"

A black skull appeared and then disappeared above Dumple's head.

Indeed, it couldn't be simpler.

"Oh, and I'll be streaming the entire process of clearing this dungeon."

As Dumple said this, countless streaming crystals floated up and embedded themselves in the dungeon walls.

"Test, can you hear me?"

Dumple called out.

After a while, text appeared.

[uematsu: What do you mean, Dumple?]

Uematsu... Uematsu?

Is this being broadcast from the Minister's account?

"Nothing, I want to stream their progress to the whole world. This is a battle between humanity and us. It's very painful that most of humanity can't witness this battle. I believe information should always be open. So, you have no right to refuse."

How selfish.

You're full of secrets too.

[uematsu: There are conditions. To protect their personal information, I want to hide their appearance and names. Japan has the technology for that.]

"Avatars, right? I've seen them before. They were a good distraction. That's fine. I'll also allow hiding their names. I'll filter the comments from the audience and not send any insults. I don't want to dampen their spirits either."

Dumple looked into the void—probably at the camera—and then turned to us.

"Is that okay?"

"You just said we have no right to refuse."

"I'm confirming that if you want, we can do without avatars and pseudonyms."

I clicked my tongue.

"Right now, the video is only being sent to the base above, but the moment you pass through that door, the video will be streamed to the world in almost real-time. I'll be observing from my room, so enjoy the challenge."

With that, Dumple disappeared.

"Streaming... I'd like to hide the skills I can hide."

"It's not that easy, right?"

"Also, I can understand what Dumple said. I think everyone outside is worried about this."

"Yeah. Thinking about it, the stream might be a blessing. If there's any information we don't know in the dungeon, we might get comments to help us."

Ayame and Milk are so kind.

Well, I agree with them too.

"I'd like to hide the secrets I can hide—"

[uematsu: I'm sorry. We'll do our best to prevent your personal information from leaking.]

Just words, but I can imagine the pained expression on Minister Uematsu's face.

He's a lot like Gyuuzou in many ways.

No wonder they're fellow disciples.

"It's not the Minister's fault. Once this is over, I'll catch Dumple here and give him the balsamic vinegar punishment."

I don't know what the balsamic vinegar punishment is, but I'll leave it to Hime.

We opened the door.

The walls on the other side of the door also had streaming crystals embedded in them.

[It's started]

[Delta and the others were chosen by Dumple!?]

[We might win this]

People who know us are watching.

There are no comments that make me anxious for now.

And the comments aren't that numerous.

Maybe Dumple is filtering and only sending us the information we can read.

"Let's start the dungeon challenge. Listeners, this isn't just a survey; it's a matter of life and death, so I might not be able to respond to comments. I apologize in advance."

[Alpha, One, acknowledged]

That means you'll be Alpha— I mentally pointed out to the audience.

Unlike a normal dungeon, we'll have to move while mapping.

A single wolf appeared.

A Bite Wolf?

No, it's different.

[Bite Wolf Leader, a 9th floor equivalent monster appears right away?]

[Bite Leaders are early risers]

Some people are making puns, but I don't have time for that.

Milk almost died from a Bite Wolf before.

If that memory has become a trauma, it could be a problem.

Dumple, why did you place such a monster right away?

"Milk, step back... Milk?"

Milk was calmly taking a gun out of her golf bag.

"Release: Gunpowder Synthesis, Release: Heat Stone Bullet"

She muttered these words quickly and fired the gun.

The bullet hit the ceiling and ricocheted, piercing the Bite Wolf Leader's neck from above.

[Gun]

[Can you bring a gun into the dungeon?]

[There was an attempt to use an air gun based on the cork gun principle in the dungeon, but it didn't become widespread due to its impracticality]

[Bite Leader left early]

[She said 'release,' so I think it's a type of magic. But, does a magic to make gunpowder exist?]

[Delta's specialty is drug magic]

[Used drug magic to make gunpowder. Did I do something wrong?]

[What was that ricochet?! Is that even possible physically?!]

[Can it fire in rapid succession?]

The comments are getting lively.

Is there no information control on new types of magic?

Come to think of it, Dumple only agreed to avatars and hiding our names.

Well, it's natural for guns to cause a stir, as it was common knowledge that guns couldn't be used in dungeons.

"This is more like a magical auxiliary tool. I made it with blacksmithing skills, so it can be brought into the dungeon. It can't fire in rapid succession."

Milk diligently answered the comments.

I wonder how many more surprising things we'll do.