Solo Dungeon Streamer-I Am Overpowered

Though dungeons have become an integral part of human society, surprisingly few people actually know what goes on inside them. Sure, schools teach that dungeons provide valuable resources, but the reality is that entering one often means risking your life against deadly monsters. Even those with exceptional magical abilities can meet a quick end if they let their guard down.

Not many are willing to take that chance.

And that\'s exactly why dungeon streaming became such a hit with the general public.

Even though people learn about dungeons and their resources in school, no one truly knows the details because media outlets can\'t just waltz in and film inside. Dungeon streamers, however, capture the gritty, dangerous reality of dungeons, including crucial strategy insights and intense combat footage. Naturally, the demand for this thrilling content has skyrocketed.

Viewers, bored with their mundane lives, find an escape in the adrenaline-fueled streams.

As soon as one person found success, it was only a matter of time before hordes of others followed suit, seeking fame and fortune through ads and donations in the world of dungeon streaming.

But as more and more people jumped into dungeon streaming, viewers became spread out. So, streamers started pushing the envelope, trying new things.

Unlike with game streaming, where streamers might play niche games to stand out, dungeon streamers took a different route. They began competing to see who could delve the deepest into the dungeons. At first, most streams were from the top floors, but soon they ventured into the upper floors, mid floors, and eventually the lower floors.

This ultimately led to a stagnation in dungeon streaming.

The reason was simple:

The monsters in the mid and lower floors were on a completely different level.

One day, a popular streamer who had been fighting on the frontlines of the mid floors got cocky and ventured into the lower floors during a live stream—only to die in front of thousands of viewers. His overconfidence led to his demise as he was instantly reduced to a pile of meat by the more powerful monsters.

Since that incident, dungeon streamers have been stuck on the mid floors.

Initially, governments welcomed dungeon streaming with open arms, hoping it would lead to more resources entering the country. But after the incident where a popular streamer died in the lower floors, stricter regulations were imposed on dungeon exploration. This led to the creation of the "Explorer Rank" system, which dictates how deep one can venture into a dungeon.

Years have passed since the introduction of the Explorer Rank, and dungeon streaming has continued to stagnate.

Popular dungeon streamer "Asagao" had reached the bottom of the mid floors. For a dungeon streamer, this was the ultimate limit.

Since the death of that popular streamer years ago, no one had dared to venture into the lower floors during a live stream. It was a matter of both rank and survival.

"Alright, everyone… I\'ve finally been recognized as a C-Rank Explorer! So today, I\'m going to challenge the forbidden territory for streamers… I\'m heading into the lower floors of the \'Shibuya Dungeon\' for the first time!"

Chat:

: Is she gonna be okay?

: I\'m kinda worried…

: She\'s been handling the mid floors just fine, though.

: ↑ You\'re underestimating the dungeon, noob.

: If it\'s the Shibuya Dungeon\'s lower floors, she might manage.

: She\'s got this.

: If Asagao can\'t do it, no streamer can! lol

: The lower floors are seriously unknown territory.

Asagao brushed a lock of her black hair out of her face as she glanced at the chat comments scrolling by on her wrist-mounted device, separate from the magic stone camera that was filming her. Seeing the mix of concern and curiosity, she couldn\'t help but chuckle.

"They say the lower floors are uncharted territory, but I\'ll be fine! Hardly anyone\'s streamed from the lower floors of Shibuya Dungeon, so I know you\'re all curious, right?"

Chat:

: Yeah, can\'t deny that.

: I\'m curious!

: I mean… yeah, who wouldn\'t be?

Even though some viewers expressed concern, the allure of the lower floors was undeniable. Statistically speaking, more than half of all explorers never make it past the top floors, so the lower floors are like a distant dream.

Asagao, with her extraordinary reflexes, easily kept up with the fast-flowing chat as she smiled at the screen.

"See? You guys are curious too. So no backing out, okay?"

Chat:

: Okayyy…

: I\'m still worried, though.

: Just don\'t get hurt!

: Even if you enter the lower floors, just retreat to the mid floors ASAP.

"Alright then, let\'s go! You\'re all witnesses to history in the making—just kidding!"

Chat:

: Cute!

: So adorable!

: Too cute, I\'m dead.

: Is she not the cutest?

Asagao, a current high school girl, had gained immense popularity thanks to her good looks and her unparalleled skills as an explorer. While other streamers needed teams to conquer the mid floors, she did it solo. Even among professional explorers, few could pull off such a feat.

Chat:

: But at this point, isn\'t dungeon exploring more profitable than streaming?

: No doubt about it.

: If you\'re risking your life, it better be worth it.

Dungeon streamers rarely ventured past the mid floors, not only because of the increased danger but also because by that point, they could make a comfortable living. With the money they earned, there was little incentive to risk their lives in the lower floors. However, Asagao simply smiled at the comments.

"But where\'s the fun in that?"

Chat:

: This girl\'s got a dungeon addiction.

: It\'s like she\'s hooked on it.

: But I heard the number of explorers is decreasing.

: Yeah, you\'ve gotta reach the mid floors to cover your expenses.

: Equipment is way too expensive.

: But I don\'t wanna die, though.

: At that point, being a corporate slave seems better.

Asagao knew from the comments that she was one of the outliers. Risking your life just for money was the mark of a madman. As a result, modern people, with their focus on stability, tended to steer clear of becoming dungeon explorers.

But while modern society gravitated towards stability, the infrastructure that kept the country running relied heavily on magic stones for energy and products. This was why the government didn\'t just allow but actually encouraged dungeon streaming, despite its dangers. They hoped it would inspire more people to consider becoming dungeon explorers in the future.

Asagao, however, was in the dungeons purely to satisfy her own curiosity. Her willingness to risk her life as a high school girl made her seem unhinged to most. But her viewers knew how much resolve and dedication she had put into her dungeon exploration, which was why they kept coming back to support her—even when she was on the brink of death.

"Kuh!"

Chat:

: Are you okay!?

: This is bad.

: Run, run!

: Told you, the lower floors are no joke!

: Is this the end for another popular streamer?

: That\'s what happens when you underestimate the dungeon.

As Asagao descended the stairs from the mid floors to the lower floors, an area where almost no streamer dared to go, she started the stream with her usual upbeat demeanor. But as she ventured deeper, her confidence began to fade, and she spoke less and less.

By the time she reached the first level of the lower floors, Floor 41, Asagao was already sensing the danger to her life. Her once-beautiful black hair was matted with her own dark, red blood, and the special material of her black robe was torn in several places.

The chat was moving faster than ever, filled with people genuinely concerned for her safety, rubberneckers looking for drama, and trolls who had come to mock the possibility of someone dying live on stream. But Asagao had no time to keep up with the chat.

"…It\'s not following me?"

Chat:

: Looks like it\'s not.

: You should head back to the mid floors!

: Running back to the mid floors while being chased by a monster is bad etiquette, though.

: But they say it\'s okay if you\'re in mortal danger.

: They covered that in the explorer training.

: Lol, dungeon noobs in the chat.

: Just get out of there already!

Confirming that there were no monsters nearby, Asagao glanced at the chat before looking down at the broken spear she had relied on since she was a beginner.

As a solo explorer, Asagao had no one to help her, no assistants, and no spare weapons.

"Can I make it back to the mid floors with just magic?"

Chat:

: Take it slow and keep yourself safe.

: Just try not to get into any more fights and stay low.

: Use your ears, not your eyes, to detect enemies and move carefully.

Reading the advice from what seemed to be veteran explorers in the chat, Asagao crouched low and started walking along the wall, trying to keep a low profile.

Weak from blood loss and slightly unsteady on her feet, Asagao managed to find the stairs leading back to the mid floors, relying on her memory to avoid getting spotted by monsters.

Chat:

: Yes, let\'s get out of here.

: Hurry back to the top floors!

: There might be people at the bottom of the mid floors!

: Conserve your magic as much as possible.

"…!"

As soon as she spotted the stairs and let her guard down, Asagao suddenly sensed a presence behind her. She instinctively dove forward, not even thinking about how to land safely. As a searing pain shot through her back, she glared back and saw a half-transparent skeleton knight standing there.

Chat:

: A monster!?

: Run!

: Is that a skeleton?

: This is really bad!

"Gah!"

Asagao tried to gather the strength to run, but when she saw blood dripping from the skeleton\'s sword, she realized that she had been slashed across the back.

She no longer had the stamina to run, nor the willpower to escape. Her magic reserves were nearly depleted, and the desperate fire spell she cast merely passed through the skeleton\'s transparent body.

"…Meeting a new monster in this situation… I really have no luck."

Chat:

: Don\'t give up!

: She\'s done for.

: Came here from trending #1 ^^

: Nooo!

: Aaaahhh!

The viewers could sense the impending doom in Asagao\'s muttered words.

The skeleton\'s hollow eyes showed no emotion, only the intent to kill the human before it.

Asagao, having resigned herself to her fate, pulled the floating camera closer with a self-deprecating smile.

"I can\'t stream something this gruesome, so I guess it\'s time to end the stream…"

Chat:

: Don\'t!

: Run!

: Someone go help her!

: But no one can reach the lower floors…

: Please survive!

: No, no, no!

"…Goodbye."

As Asagao quietly whispered her farewell, her hand, weakened by exhaustion, failed to end the stream as it dropped limply to her side. As the cold sensation crept up from her extremities, she couldn\'t help but smile.

Just as the skeleton raised its sword, a crackling sound pierced the air, and a yellow wolf appeared, blasting the skeleton into oblivion. Shocked, Asagao\'s eyes widened as she watched the wolf with a symbol on its forehead lick her wounds and howl.

"Where did you run off to…? Oh, there you are—wait, is she dead? No… she\'s alive, right? You followed the scent of blood? You scared me, Raijuu."

"Woof!"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I\'ll help her, so stop barking so much."

Asagao\'s consciousness faded away to the sound of a voice that seemed far too carefree for a place as deadly as the lower floors.