Chapter 35, Your Subscriber Count Has Just Reached Four Million

Translator: Lizz

 

Two days later. I decided to try out this new exclusive dungeon.

 

Right now, I’m swaying on a train heading deep into the countryside. The scenery is amazing; I bet the autumn leaves here are stunning if you come in the season.

 

By the way, it takes hours to get here, so I’m probably staying overnight today.

 

“This is nice, feels like I’m on a trip.”

 

Hard to believe I’m about to fight in a dungeon. Honestly, this could just be sightseeing, right? Thinking that, I get off at the station and walk for a while.

 

<We’re about five minutes away from the dungeon site.>

 

“Huh? Seriously? There’s hot springs around here or something…”

 

<The dungeon is near the hot springs.>

 

What a crazy place for a dungeon. I mean, why do dungeons pop up in places like this? There are quite a few like that.

 

As I keep walking, I start getting wrapped in a hazy mist.

 

<Due to the dungeon’s influence, the terrain around here has changed.>

 

“It’s getting all rugged, like a rocky mountain. Wait, huh!? There’s already a hot spring here.”

 

At the top of the rocky hill, I find a surprisingly huge hot spring.

 

<This is it. You can unlock it using the exclusive dungeon key. Before that, would you like to start the stream?>

 

“Oh, right. Yeah, please start the stream!”

 

<Beginning preparations. Five seconds until stream starts… four, three, two… now streaming.>

 

The stream screen pops up in the top right of my goggles. This moment seriously makes me nervous lately!

 

“Hey everyone! I’m at a mountain with a hot spring today, and I’m planning to explore an exclusive dungeon here. Also, this view – crazy, right? It’s insanely beautiful.”

 

I turn around and share the view from the mountain with everyone. The chat fills up instantly.

 

: Heyyy!

: Been waiting for this!

: I’ve been on standby since the chat stream

: Glad the exploration resumed sooner than expected

: Hello!!

: Yo Kage-san!

: Such a soothing view

: A dungeon in a place like this!?

: Woah!

: Hey there

: Whoaaa!

: Looks fun

: Got high hopes for this one!

: Uooooohhh

: Been waiting!

: Heeey

: A hot spring!?

: Feels like a travel show

: Hard to believe you’re heading into a dungeon now

: Wait, did I click the wrong stream?

: Is this a walking tour show?

: Oh, a hot spring!?

 

Looks like everyone’s just as confused.

 

“Right? It’s such a peaceful place, but apparently there’s a dungeon here! Alright then, let’s try using the dungeon key.”

 

I turn around and stand in front of the massive hot spring. Then I raise the key, which looks like it’s made of gold, up to the sky.

 

“…Huh? Is it… shaking a little?”

 

<The dungeon is surfacing.>

 

“Surfacing? Wha- whoaaa!?”

 

It’s way beyond what I expected – a huge dungeon emerges right from the center of the hot spring. It keeps rising, and its exterior is a wild mix of metal and gold.

 

<The Cave of Growth has appeared. Only one person may enter.>

 

“Yeah, that’s right. This cave only allows one person inside! Not only do you need a special key, but apparently there’s a limit on who can enter. Well then, let’s go check it out.”

 

I actually thought about inviting my guildmates from Rebellion, or coming with Rena and Aoi who’ve been asking to join, but I was told ‘Only the keyholder may enter’, so I gave up on that.

 

So, I’m about to head inside now.

 

“The steam’s messing up the screen like crazy.”

 

Until I pass through the entrance, it’s just a regular hot spring, so the screen gets totally messed up.

 

Once I enter the dungeon and walk for a while, I come across a staircase. I keep descending, and finally the comment section comes back into view.

 

: An exclusive dungeon!?

: That was insane

: The effects were wild lol

: Isn’t this super rare footage?

: Only one person can enter?

: What happens if someone tries to sneak in from behind?

: Kage-kun, what kind of miracle are you showing us today?

: That cave emergence scene was epic!

: Totally breathtaking

: Never even heard of exclusive dungeons before

: Whoa!

: Can’t wait to see what’s next

: You’re going down pretty deep right off the bat

: For a cave, the floor texture looks kinda weird?

: Is it sparkling a bit?

: Yeah, this definitely isn’t a normal dungeon

: Oh, congrats!

: Whoa!?

: Already hit 4mil?

: Amazing

: So awesomeeee

: Fastest to manage it maybe?

: Your subscriber count is crazy

: You’ve finally made it this far!

: Congratsーー!

 

“Huh? Subscriber count?”

 

As I focus on descending the stairs, a comment catches my attention.

 

Now that I think about it, I knew my subscriber count was going up, but I haven’t checked it lately.

 

<Congratulations. Your subscriber count has just reached four million.>

 

My feet stop mid-step.

 

“Huh? F-Four million? Wasn’t it just one million not long ago?”

 

<Yes. The number continues to grow steadily, faster than ever before. By the way, your current concurrent viewers at the start of the stream are six hundred thousand, which is a record pace.>

 

“H-Huh… Whaaaaaat!?”

 

By the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, my mind is completely blank. Hold on, this is seriously insane!

 

But I can’t afford to panic. The exploration has already begun.

 

Trying to calm my frantic heart, I step into the first basement level.