Level-up Maniac, Level up in Modern Dungeons - Episode 28:

“You want me to call you Takeo-kun?!”

 

『You bastard! What is your relationship with Hinata-chan?!』

 

“Why is Junky-niki at a party with Hinata-chan?!”

 

　After she casually greeted him, comments flooded in from viewers of Hinata’s stream.

 

　Well, some female VTubers do get unicorn-like comments, but there’s no need to worry about it.

 

　Because everyone knows that, unlike VTubers, DanTubers need to interact with other men.

 

　After all, the explorer population is overwhelmingly male, with a tendency for there to be few females. In that environment, female streamers who continue to explore solo are as rare as male calico cats.

 

　There is a real risk to her life, and there is no way she can have a party of only women. She needs to form a party with a male explorer.

 

　Besides, Hinata-san had been at a party with three other guys until recently.

 

　Due to these circumstances, the DanTuber community is an environment where it is difficult for serious fans or unicorns to emerge.

 

　Many of the comments about unicorns are just jokes.

 

　And so, I answer the question, “Why are you at a party with me?”

 

　First, I explained that Hinata wanted to use her healing magic to repay a favor, then I explained that my HP was draining so quickly that my exploration wasn’t progressing well, and that if Hinata had her healing magic it might make things easier, so I asked her if I could form a party.

 

『Oh, I see.』

 

“By the way, are Janki-niki and Hinata-chan the only two party members?”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better if we had a few more people?”

 

“No, that would reduce your experience points.”

 

　Answer simple questions from your viewers.

 

　The truth is, we don’t want to wastefully increase the number of members and reduce their experience.

 

　After that, I answered a lot of questions, but it seemed endless, so I decided to leave.

 

“Well then, shall we get going now?”

 

“Yes”

 

“Ah, before that, Hinata-san, are you confident in your physical strength?”

 

“Stamina, you say? I’m level 11, so I think I have enough in the dungeon…”

 

　I explained to Hinata-san, who looked puzzled.

 

“I plan to ignore the monsters on the first to third floors and take the shortest route possible, but I’ll be running the whole time, so I wonder if that’ll be okay.”

 

　Well, when I say running, I mean just jogging.

 

“…But I’ll do my best.”

 

『No, are you planning to keep running the whole time?!』

 

『Given the stamina of an explorer, it certainly wouldn’t be impossible, but…』

 

“Hinata-chan is a healer, so isn’t that a bit harsh?”

 

　Hinata’s face grimaced, and the comments were filled with negative opinions.

 

　But I have no intention of backing down from my plan. If I waste time traveling, that will mean less time I can use to level up.

 

“Well, well, let’s try running it for now, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll think about it again then.”

 

“……yes”

 

　So that’s why we ran.

 

　It took about 45 minutes to cover the shortest distance to the second floor. Surprisingly, Hinata’s agility had also increased, and she reported it to be around 25.

 

　Still, his stamina was still decent, as he was breathing heavily by the time he reached the second floor.

 

　Besides, with an agility value of 25, he won’t be able to escape from a Goblin Thief on the third floor, so we shouldn’t push him too hard.

 

　Even as I made that judgment, something strange happened to me.

 

“Isn’t it strange that the number of comments hasn’t decreased even though you’re just running all the time? Isn’t it boring to stream just running?”

 

　I turn my gaze towards the drone camera and ask the viewers.

 

“Boring? Not at all! It was one of the most exciting moments I’ve ever had on a stream!”

 

“You don’t even need to ask, it’s obvious!!”

 

“What are you talking about, Junkie-niki? Are you a man?”

 

　Why?

 

『Ahh, perhaps Janki-niki didn’t notice because he was running ahead of Hinata-chan the whole time?』

 

“Junkie-niki, poor thing…”

 

“The cut-out GIFs are already on the internet, so why don’t you take a look at them later?”

 

　And then I realized.

 

　These guys have been watching Hinata’s br3asts sway this whole time…

 

　Well, since you have something that impressive, it’s bound to shake when you run…

 

“Is it okay, Hinata-san? I feel like I’m being sexually harassed.”

 

“Haaah, haaah… I’m used to it now…!”

 

　Hinata-san answers while taking a steady breath. She’s a true DanTuber. She has the mental strength not to be shaken by the blatant sexual harassment from her viewers.

 

　But well, this is the end of Hinata’s running.

 

　It seems I’ve reached the limit of my stamina, and at this rate, it will take too long to reach the fourth floor.

 

　If I ignore all the monsters on the way, I can get from here to the fourth floor in about an hour and a half, but at this pace, it will probably take me closer to three hours. The lower floors are generally larger.

 

“Hinata-san, I’ll carry you from here on out.”

 

“Picture?”

 

　I moved the backpack I had been carrying around to the front of my body and crouched down in front of Hinata.

 

“No, but… that would tire Takeo out.”

 

“It’s okay. I still have plenty of energy. But more importantly, we don’t want to waste time, so let’s hurry up.”

 

　I want to level up quickly.

 

　I forcefully urged the confused Hinata-san on, and she timidly climbed onto my back.

 

　Immediately afterwards,

 

“Junkie-niki, you bastard!!”

 

“Could that have been your aim from the beginning?!”

 

『Damn it, I’ve been defeated!!』

 

“I can’t believe that there was such a scheme, even with the keen eyes of Kongming, I couldn’t see through it…!!”

 

“All I wanted to do in life was to become Junkie Nikki’s back…!!”

 

　The comments are getting annoying.

 

　…I don’t mean anything by it, but I wish you’d stop making it sound like I was aiming for you.

 

　I explained to Hinata-san.

 

“Uh, Hinata-san. Just to let you know, I don’t have any such intentions, okay?”

 

“I know. How should I put it… I don’t get that kind of gaze that’s typical of boys from Takeo-kun. …Um, do you by any chance like that?”

 

『Huh? I see, that’s what it was!?』

 

“Junkie-niki, I’d give you my ass”

 

“Uhh! Junky-niki, do you want to do it with me?”

 

　Those idiots have started making a fuss…!!

 

「Hinata-san, seriously, please give me a break…!!」

 

“I’m so sorry, seriously…!!”

 

　It seems that Hinata-san also feels bad about making me suspect she’s gay.

 

　…There won’t be any weird titles, right? Seriously.

 

　Anyway, I carried Hinata on my back and started running.

 

　This time I’m carrying it properly, so my center of gravity is stable and it’s easy to run.

 

　Perhaps it was because I was thinking about such things that an unnecessary comment came out.

 

“Junkie-niki, please don’t let Hinata-chan fall this time.”

 

“Hinata-chan isn’t heavy!”

 

“You can’t let your stamina reach its limit halfway through and have to put Hinata down!”

 

　It was Hinata who responded to this.

 

“…Um, am I not heavy?”

 

　I replied without wavering.

 

　I’ve already rehearsed from the manga how to respond in situations like this.

 

“No, it’s light as a feather.”

 

“…………”

 

　For some reason, my cheek was pinched tightly. I don’t understand.