Chapter 25: Stream Training

"Sorry for dragging you into this."

"It's okay... It's partly my fault too."

After dealing with the police and their questioning, we were let go fairly quickly thanks to the live stream that had captured the whole incident. Originally, I had planned to train Asakawa-san today, but since it was already getting late, we decided to postpone it for another day.

Even though Asakawa-san might have been the initial reason Kurihara-kun started picking on me, I think the real cause was my repeated refusal to meet him afterward. Skipping those meetings, even if I had valid reasons like being called away by Asakawa-san or dealing with the dungeon emergency, wasn't something I should just brush off.

"So, um... Is everything okay with the stream?"

"Huh? Oh... Well, it's already out there, so I guess it doesn't really matter anymore."

After appearing in a few of Asakawa-san's streams and the recent one filmed by Kurihara-kun's group, my face, name, and school uniform are probably all public now, but I don't really see that as a problem. I'm probably one of the few famous explorers who's managed to keep their identity a secret for this long.

"But now that everything's out in the open, I guess there's an upside, I can stream without worrying about hiding anything."

"That's a positive way to look at it."

"If I don't stay positive, I'd never stop feeling down."

Dwelling on the negatives won't solve anything, and I decided on the day I became an explorer to stop wallowing in such thoughts. For better or worse, becoming an explorer changed me from just a gloomy loner.

"So, let's practice your streaming tomorrow and continue my training!"

"...If no urgent work comes up, that is."

"I know, I know!"

I sighed, thinking how I've gotten involved in so many things lately. But honestly, since meeting Asakawa-san and becoming friends, I've found exploring dungeons to be a lot more fun, even with all the extra trouble.

As promised, the day after the incident, we started with some streaming practice and Asakawa-san's training. While she called it after school, I'd been on a mission since morning, heading to Kofu Dungeon and finishing up before coming back to Shibuya Dungeon. So, it wasn't really "after school" for me.

We're currently in the upper floors, setting up the camera for the streaming practice.

"You bought a pretty expensive one."

"An EX-rank I know recommended it to me. He said it's great for recording."

"Huh... Since there are only four EX-rankers, including you, it's a three-choice quiz to figure out who that was."

True. I guess it's her way of saying there's no point in dodging the truth.

As expected from a streamer, she could tell just by looking that the camera was expensive. I, on the other hand, couldn't tell the difference, so I just asked the store clerk for a camera suitable for dungeon use, regardless of the price. The clerk's surprised face when I said that and then paid with a card was amusing.

"Well, anyway... Your combat style involves supporting from the rear with Shikigami, right?"

"In the lower floors, I tend to fight more directly. Sometimes it's faster to act than to think."

"I see... Then, instead of tracking you closely, it might be better to capture you from a bit of a distance."

I'm not sure how good the tracking is, but even if it could keep up with me moving at supersonic speeds, the footage would likely be a blur.

"Alright, that should do it. Now, let's set it up online... and there, it's live now."

"People can watch it already?" Sёarch* The ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Nope, it's still set to private, so only you and I can see it."

Oh, I see... I didn't know there was such an option.

As a complete beginner, I barely understand half of what Asakawa-san is explaining, but I need to make sure I remember everything.

"Okay, just fight as you normally would!"

"Alright. 'Kasha.'"

Since I'd normally obliterate the upper-floor monsters by summoning a Shikigami, I'll just handle this myself. I summon Kasha and draw the sword from the cart. I didn't think I'd need it today, so I had stored it away.

"It's Goblins."

Just as Asakawa-san said, there are about ten Goblins up ahead. Unlike the black-skinned, machete-wielding Goblins in the top floors, these have red, dark skin and carry various weapons like swords and spears. They're considered a higher-ranking species of Goblin. While their official name is just "Red Goblin," explorers often refer to them as Hobgoblins, like in video games.

"Screech!"

"Well then..."

The Hobgoblin at the front noticed us, but at this distance, it's well within my reach. Before they can even prepare for battle, I take down three with a single swing, and as I continue the motion, I slice the remaining seven in half.

"How's that?"

"...Maybe I should have pulled back a bit more for a wider shot?"

Asakawa-san raised her head from her phone, where she was checking the camera settings, and gave me a wry smile. If pulling back is better, it means the footage didn't come out great. I'll have to review my own recording later.

"Even if they're Hobgoblins, you took them down in a second..."

"Once you get used to it, it's easy. Their movements are sluggish... Weren't you using a spear, Asakawa-san?"

If she's using a spear, it should be even easier for her to handle Hobgoblins. Plus, with her ability to cast ten spells simultaneously, she could probably wipe them out in an instant.

"Now that we've done the fine-tuning, let's move to the mid-level floors."

"O-okay... Watching you earlier, I'm starting to get nervous about this training."

"Huh? Don't worry... Everyone goes through it."

"That's not reassuring at all!"

Haha, well, if you want to reach the lower floors, you need the right mindset and preparation. I've reviewed your past streams during my downtime, so I'm aware of your critical weaknesses, Asakawa-san, and I've crafted a solid training plan. We might be the same age, but in this case, you'll be my disciple.

"First, I want to assess what you can currently handle, so let's start with a Wyvern."

"Wait, what?"

"Let's see how you do in a one-on-one fight against a Wyvern."

Since Asakawa-san can already take down a Frost Wyvern, she should be able to handle a Wyvern without too much trouble, even if it's considered the strongest in the mid-level floors.

Asakawa-san froze up, but I'm sure she's just excited.