Chapter 42: Honorary One of Us
"So, about that… I've been learning a bit more about dungeon streaming lately, but what do regular streamers even do?"
: Hold on, I'm still savoring the crab.
: High school boys sure can eat a lot.
: Just watching made me full.
: I eat like that too. By the way, I'm 36.
: Hello, fatty.
: Fatty checking in.
: I can't eat that much anymore.
"All you guys want to talk about is crab, huh?"
You must really like crab… Well, I like it too.
"High school boys don't eat a lot just because they're growing. Explorers consume a lot of magic power, so it naturally increases their appetite. Other explorers should understand this."
: Yeah, I get it.
: I thought my appetite was dropping in my 20s, but when I started exploring, it came back.
: So magic power burns calories?
: Apparently, though no one fully understands it.
: Is the explorer diet going to become a trend?
: No way.
: You can only burn that many calories in the mid to lower floors.
"You can easily lose weight by fighting non-stop for a few hours in the upper floors too."
: That's just because you're moving around so much!
: Isn't it more about fearing for your life?
: You'd lose weight even without burning magic power.
Doesn't seem like it'll catch on.
As an EX explorer, I wish more people would become explorers, but it looks like the explorer diet won't become popular.
"So, what do regular streamers do?"
: This guy doesn't give up.
: Persistent, huh?
: No idea.
: I only watch dungeon streams.
: Virtual streamers, maybe?
: Probably gaming?
Virtual streamers… I suppose starting out as a virtual streamer has a lot of advantages these days.
"I've never watched a virtual stream, so should I check one out?"
: Switching to a reaction stream, lol.
: From strategy meeting to cooking, now to video watching.
: Is there anything he won't do?
: He can handle both the lower and deep floors.
: He'll do anything, huh?
I've learned from my two previous streams that I can ignore 90% of what the viewers say. These people are here for entertainment, so you don't get many serious answers. That's not necessarily bad, but if you want serious responses, it's better to ask on social media.
"Do you guys know any famous virtual streamers?"
: Nope.
: I don't watch them.
: Maybe Torimomo Sasami?
"…What kind of delicious-sounding name is that?"
Pick a lane—are you thigh meat or breast meat?
: You just ate some way better crab, didn't you?
: Hurry up and watch a clip.
: A thigh meat stream?
: I like thigh meat.
"The fans are called 'Thigh Meat'? So, it really is meat!"
: She's a bird-themed virtual streamer.
: She's a bird.
"So, it's meat!"
: Stop saying that.
: Torimomo Sasami, now being called meat by a newbie dungeon streamer.
: Can't help it.
: Even her viewers call her meat.
Now I'm curious… A streamer who even her viewers call "meat"?
"Should I just watch a clip from one of her chat streams?"
: Her chat content is completely different from yours.
: Wise elder!?
: Who's that?
: Your chat streams are all about crab or dungeons.
: Not many streams talk about dungeons.
'I really love dungeons! I wanted to be an explorer, you know.'
"…Are there a lot of people like this?"
: I think there are.
: That's me.
: I wanted to be one too.
: Being an explorer ranks second in elementary school boys' dream jobs.
: What's number one?
: Doctor.
: The harsh reality.
Honestly, I've always thought that dungeon exploring isn't a popular career at all. Most people quit after just dipping their toes into the upper floors. Whether it's a lack of talent or fear for their lives, the reasons vary, but the people who stick with it are pretty unusual.
'But I completely lack the talent to use magic, so it's really funny that I couldn't even get an explorer's license and had to give up.'
"Talent, huh."
: Oof.
: I cried.
: This stream made me tear up.
: Kind of a downer.
"Saying 'talent can be overcome with hard work' might sound a bit arrogant."
: That's what people with minimum talent say.
: Well, those who are considered talented are usually building on top of that with hard work.
: It's hard to understand, but geniuses work way harder than average people.
: But it's still about talent.
: Isn't your magic talent-based too, Kisaragi-kun?
"Yeah, true. My Shikigami techniques are talent-based magic, so I'm definitely relying on my natural talent."
No need to sugarcoat it. I have talent, and that's why I can use Shikigami techniques and became EX. I can't lie and say that talent doesn't matter.
: But you've had a lot of close calls, right?
: Geniuses and average people will never understand each other.
: It's a job where lacking talent could get you killed.
: But you're sacrificing yourself for the infrastructure, so thanks for that.
'But you know, there's that UNKNOWN everyone's been talking about lately? Someone like that is really inspiring, you know?'
"…"
: Oh, is he going to ignore that?
: That's a pretty recent stream.
: This was before Kisaragi-kun started streaming.
: How do you actually get stronger?
"I spent every spare moment in dungeons since my first year of high school… because I didn't have any friends."
: Oh.
: Oh.
: We're…
: We're the same.
: I'm starting to feel a connection here.
: Are you the type to sit in the corner of the classroom reading?
"And what's wrong with reading? Yeah, I'm just an introverted, socially awkward loner."
: He's our beacon of hope.
: Does this mean we can become EX too?
: I'm starting to feel hopeful.
: We…
: But he's better looking than us.
: So, he's not really like us.
: Traitor!
"Could you not just randomly decide I'm your comrade and then call me a traitor?"
My looks are pretty average. Not too good, not too bad… at least that's the one part of my appearance I'm confident about. I'm not as muscular as you'd think.
: How tall are you?
: Being an explorer probably keeps you in shape.
: Yeah, he's not like us after all.
: He's got a beautiful friend like Asagao-chan, so he's not one of us.
: Damn.
: I guess it all comes down to money in the end.
: Let's just make him an honorary member of us.
"I'm around 170… maybe 171 or 172 centimeters."
: Average.
: Average.
: Are you mocking me for being under 170?
: Oh? I'm 158, I'll just watch from below.
: A height inferiority complex parade, lol.
"I don't know what to say. I haven't grown much since I started high school."
: Hitting 170 in middle school is like being a hero.
: It's not that big a deal.
: You think?
What was this stream supposed to be about again…? I'm still watching Torimomo Sasami's stream, but it seems like the comment section has lost interest. I appreciate that they're focusing on me, but since I'm showing a pro's stream, they should watch that instead.
In the end, after watching a few more clips and chatting about random things, the stream wrapped up. I didn't get to do the strategy meeting I initially planned, but I feel like I've gotten better at connecting with the viewers, so I think that's a good sign.
Even if they've given me the ridiculously unflattering title of "Honorary One of Us," if it means I'm getting along with the viewers… well, I guess that's okay. If I did a stream about introverted, socially awkward experiences, I bet they'd relate.
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