Chapter 60: Thread 7: Dungeons, Dogs, and Underwater Nightmares

597: Anonymous Explorer

Good job watching live!

598: Anonymous Explorer

Good job!

599: Anonymous Explorer

Good job.

Man, that was fun today too.

600: Anonymous Explorer

Was this board always this peaceful?

601: Anonymous Explorer

It's pretty peaceful during the live streams.

602: Anonymous Explorer

Why though?

Isn't it usually the opposite?

603: Anonymous Explorer

EX Reiman was truly an EX.

604: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞602

No idea, man.

605: Anonymous Explorer

Reiman was really cool.

606: Anonymous Explorer

Reiman gave off that traditional vibe, which was quite likeable.

607: Anonymous Explorer

Fighting with a sword and shield gave him a knightly vibe, but I don't think I could fight that smoothly.

608: Anonymous Explorer

Reiman's steady style is probably meant for team-based combat.

609: Anonymous Explorer

He kept saying that teams are the way to go.

610: Anonymous Explorer

As the guild leader, he probably values the safety of explorers first and foremost.

You could earn more by taking risks, but…

611: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞610

Yeah, but if you die, it's game over.

612: Anonymous Explorer

Is it okay if we keep calling him Reiman…? We've all pretty much agreed on it now.

613: Anonymous Explorer

When it gets confusing, just add EX to it, like EX Reiman.

614: Anonymous Explorer

Poor Aizawa-san, being called Reiman even though he quit his salaryman job.

615: Anonymous Explorer

Kisaragi-kun said it himself, though. It's because his social media is just work-related updates.

616: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞615

That part had me rolling.

617: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞615

"It's because your social media is all work updates."

"Did you know that was the reason all along? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

That had me in stitches.

618: Anonymous Explorer

The dynamic of a nephew who knows but doesn't tell, and a confused uncle—it's hilarious.

619: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞617

I haven't even seen the archive yet, but I'm already laughing.

620: Anonymous Explorer

Now we know Kisaragi-kun's relationships with each EX:

Jinguuji Kaede (Grandmother)

Kamishiro Rion (Older sister)

Aizawa Ryousuke (Uncle)

621: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞620

It's like they're family.

622: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞620

They're pretty close, huh?

623: Anonymous Explorer

Lol.

624: Anonymous Explorer

No friends, but he's got family.

625: Anonymous Explorer

Even Kisaragi-kun has at least some relatives, huh?

626: Anonymous Explorer Searᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Are you guys confusing him with some kind of divine child?

627: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞624

Stating the obvious, huh?

628: Anonymous Explorer

How exactly do you control mana?

629: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞628

That's basic stuff, man.

630: Anonymous Explorer

I can't do it if I can't do it!

631: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞628

You know that feeling when you use magic, and mana flows? That's it.

632: Anonymous Explorer

Is it true that channeling mana makes your body harder? I'm gonna try it.

633: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞631

Do you really feel something like that?

634: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞633

You must be a dungeon noob.

635: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞633

If you've been in a dungeon, used magic, and still can't feel it, then you're talentless. Quit being an explorer.

636: Anonymous Explorer

That's too harsh, lol.

637: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞635

Huh?

I'll kill you, you f***ing loser.

638: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞632

It's less about hardness and more like you create a thin layer of mana around your body. That's how I picture it.

639: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞638

How you imagine the flow of mana is up to the individual.

For me, it feels like sweat oozing out of my body.

640: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞639

Doesn't that feel super gross?

641: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞640

Yeah, it does.

642: Anonymous Explorer

Oh, so it does, huh?

643: Anonymous Explorer

Lol.

644: Anonymous Explorer

Kisaragi-kun said it feels like it's inside his body.

645: Anonymous Explorer

Basically, it should be stored inside your body.

646: Anonymous Explorer

I looked it up online, and it said to breathe slowly and focus on the inside of your body. I'm gonna give it a try.

647: Anonymous Explorer

Kisaragi-kun tried to end the whole basics lecture with just mana control, but if you can master that, you can totally dominate the upper floors.

648: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞628

When you're on the verge of dying in a dungeon, you naturally start doing it.

Source: Me.

649: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞648

Wait… what?

650: Anonymous Explorer

How to increase mana: Fight to the death with monsters.

How to master mana control: Nearly get killed by monsters.

Explorers are definitely a warrior race, huh?

651: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞650

You can't survive without fighting, so yeah.

652: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞648

I had a similar experience. I could already control mana, but when I got cocky and went to the lower floors, I almost died. After that, my mana control got way better. The guild even praised me for it.

653: Anonymous Explorer

Aren't you breaking your human limits?

654: Anonymous Explorer

So, conclusion: nearly dying is the solution, right?

655: Anonymous Explorer

No, that's not right.

656: Anonymous Explorer

Stop giving life-or-death answers.

657: Anonymous Explorer

Lol.

658: Anonymous Explorer

When you're on the verge of death, you get a surge of strength, right? After experiencing that, your mana doesn't go back to normal. So, it's like you're always in that heightened state.

659: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞658

How about not getting to the verge of death in the first place?

660: Anonymous Explorer

You've definitely surpassed human limits at that point.

661: Anonymous Explorer

Fighting makes you stronger, and almost dying makes you much stronger. We really are a warrior race!

662: Anonymous Explorer

Stop it, stop it.

People will start calling all explorers a warrior race.

663: Anonymous Explorer

But hey, we're all living off the magic stones those warriors bring back, aren't we?

664: Anonymous Explorer

That's true, but still…

665: Anonymous Explorer

[Image]

666: Anonymous Explorer

Lol.

667: Anonymous Explorer

What the heck…

668: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞665

＞＞"Next stream's date is undecided, but (semi-forced) I'll be collabing with Asagao-san."

This guy is always doing collab streams.

669: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞(semi-forced)

Why do you let yourself get pushed around?

670: Anonymous Explorer

Even though he's EX… doesn't he feel ashamed?

671: Anonymous Explorer

He's EX, super strong, and can summon gods, but at his core, he's just an awkward nerd like the rest of us.

He's weak against pushy women.

672: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞671

So, EX means he's one of us?

673: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞672

Lol.

674: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞672

Lol.

675: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞672

That's great, let's call him EX "one of us" from now on.

676: Anonymous Explorer

He's graduated from "honorary nerd" to something even better.

677: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞672

He's matching with EX Reiman now, too.

678: Anonymous Explorer

So, what about Kamishiro Rion?

679: Anonymous Explorer

A menace.

680: Anonymous Explorer

A walking disaster.

681: Anonymous Explorer

A tyrant.

682: Anonymous Explorer

A natural disaster.

683: Anonymous Explorer

So far, not a single compliment like "beautiful" or anything.

684: Anonymous Explorer

Lol.

685: Anonymous Explorer

That's just how it is.

686: Anonymous Explorer

Her sunny social media presence and that disaster energy are quite the contrast.

687: Anonymous Explorer

Now we all understand why Kisaragi-kun calls her a walking disaster in dungeons.

688: Anonymous Explorer

Asagao-chan really doesn't give up, huh?

689: Anonymous Explorer

She replied to him on social media right away. I laughed so hard.

690: Anonymous Explorer

Read the continuation on m_v_l_e_m_p_y_r

She's a hardcore Kisaragi-kun fan, huh?

691: Anonymous Explorer

She even claimed to be his top disciple the other day.

692: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞691

I saw the anti-thread go wild because of that.

693: Anonymous Explorer

Nobody needs an anti-thread about this chaotic place.

694: Anonymous Explorer

That anti-thread is so chaotic, I actually like it.

695: Anonymous Explorer

It's a mess with unicorns and trolls, so gross.

696: Anonymous Explorer

It's really fun to just watch, though.

697: Anonymous Explorer

I thought I'd just check it out casually, but it was so crazy I ended up laughing my head off.

698: Anonymous Explorer

I was more focused on how empty the Hachioji Dungeon was than the content of the basics lecture.

699: Anonymous Explorer

Isn't the Hachioji Dungeon always like that?

700: Anonymous Explorer

Have you ever been to the Hachioji Dungeon?

You should go at least once.

You won't meet anyone at all.

701: Anonymous Explorer

In a way, it's a dungeon that's kind to introverts.

702: Anonymous Explorer

Kind to introverts (but you only make about half the money you do in Shibuya Dungeon).

703: Anonymous Explorer

Lol.

No wonder no one goes.

704: Anonymous Explorer

Even though the magic stones are cheap, on top of that, there are fewer monsters, so no one wants to go.

705: Anonymous Explorer

There's a theory that no one explores the lower floors because it's just not profitable.

706: Anonymous Explorer

I saw Kisaragi-kun on social media saying, "Since no one's at the Hachioji Dungeon, maybe I'll fully conquer it next time."

Apparently, he's only gone down to the 45th floor.

707: Anonymous Explorer

That's rare for Kisaragi-kun.

708: Anonymous Explorer

He must've been really bored.

709: Anonymous Explorer

Well, the scenery never changes from the top floor to the bottom, so it's probably mind-numbing.

710: Anonymous Explorer

Seriously, that place can mess with your head. You lose track of which floor you're on. The only thing that tells you where you are is the sign put up by the Explorer's Guild at each layer transition—other than that, everything looks the same.

711: Anonymous Explorer

Isn't that like a never-ending hell?

712: Anonymous Explorer

Pretty much.

713: Anonymous Explorer

No way I'm going there.

714: Anonymous Explorer

I don't want to step on an obvious landmine.

715: Anonymous Explorer

Well, unless it's somewhere like the Shibuya Dungeon or Takayama Dungeon, where you're guaranteed to make money, the fewer people there are.

716: Anonymous Explorer

Have we talked about one of the most deserted dungeons in the country yet—Nagoya Dungeon?

717: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞716

Go away.

718: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞716

Seriously, come back when the Nagoya Dungeon is even remotely explorable.

719: Anonymous Explorer

I have no idea about the Nagoya Dungeon at all.

I'm confused.

720: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞719

It's a super valuable dungeon that produces rare metals and stuff.

You should go at least once.

721: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞720

Stop trying to throw someone into hell so casually.

722: Anonymous Explorer

Huh?

Can someone explain, please?

723: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞722

From the 11th floor down, everything's underwater.

724: Anonymous Explorer

＿人人人人人人人人人人人人人人人人人人＿

＞ Everything's underwater from the 11th floor ＜

￣Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y￣

725: Anonymous Explorer

＞＞723

Is that for real?

726: Anonymous Explorer

Yep, for real.

727: Anonymous Explorer

How are you supposed to explore that?

728: Anonymous Explorer

You can't. That's why it's a problem.

729: Anonymous Explorer

Somebody drain the water already!

730: Anonymous Explorer

Not gonna happen!

731: Anonymous Explorer

Let's have Kisaragi-kun do something about it.

He's EX, so he should be able to handle it, right? (Leaving it to him entirely.)

732: Anonymous Explorer

Let's send him a reply on social media and ask him!

733: Anonymous Explorer

"Please conquer the Nagoya Dungeon."

734: Anonymous Explorer

Has Kisaragi-kun ever even been to the Nagoya Dungeon?

735: Anonymous Explorer

Isn't the official stance basically that the Nagoya Dungeon might as well not even exist?

736: Anonymous Explorer

As someone living in Aichi Prefecture, I can confirm the Nagoya Dungeon is so bad that I just go to Takayama Dungeon instead.

737: Anonymous Explorer

You're just sneaking off to Takayama, huh?

738: Anonymous Explorer

What are we going to do if he says, "The depths of the Nagoya Dungeon are hell too"?

739: Anonymous Explorer

Considering everything from the 11th floor down is submerged, how would that even work?

740: Anonymous Explorer

I'd still want to see it.

741: Anonymous Explorer

It's Kisaragi-kun, so he could probably figure out how to breathe underwater, right? (Random assumption)

742: Anonymous Explorer

What do you even think EX explorers are?

743: Anonymous Explorer

Monsters.

744: Anonymous Explorer

Lol, honestly, you're not wrong.

745: Anonymous Explorer

Now that the basics lecture has made it easy for us to handle the upper floors, you all better get to the 20th floor of Nagoya Dungeon.

746: Anonymous Explorer

The basics lecture didn't include underwater breathing… Sorry!

747: Anonymous Explorer

Lol. Seaweed jokes for days.