The Darkness Was Comfortable for Me

“Uwaaa! Once we got out of the tunnel, we arrived at an underground city! I am getting excited~~.” (Worigami)

I don’t know if it was a dramatized reaction, or if the amazement came from the bottom of his heart. 

His legs seemed to have gone a bit weak, so it might be the latter. 

A dungeon is a place where monsters prowl around. Even if the 1st Floor only has skeletons, there’s no doubt that they are hostile towards people. 

After finishing the overall explanations at a place where there’s no monsters, Worigami-san stopped his content creator mode and spoke to us. 

“Well then, Hikaru-kun, I am thinking about finally going to fight.” (Worigami)

“I would say that’s fine. Let’s get a feel of it by defeating ones that don’t have any weapons first.” (Hikaru)

Worigami-san got the basic item assortment or something like that, so he already had a short spear and a short sword already. He also has a leather chestplate and leather gloves, so you could say he is equipped plenty well for a 1st Floor explorer.

Well, in terms of the weapons, the rod is better than the sword or spear, so he currently has the iron rod we got yesterday though.

“Speaking of that, you didn’t bring the body armor for the brought item when you transferred, Worigami-san?” (Hikaru)

All Japanese Chosen were given the super high performance body armor made from America. 

But there’s nothing that looks as such in the equipment of Worigami-san.

“I refused the body armor. You could say I prioritize my own identity… I wanted to bring this no matter what.” (Worigami)

“Ah, I see.” (Makoto)

What Worigami-san brought out from his bag were the origami that were the origin of his name. There was a box of around a hundred, stuffing as many as possible. 

“I am Worigami after all. Without this, there’s no me.” (Worigami)

Worigami-san is famous for the origamis he makes, and within those, the fantasy origami series was the most popular of them all by far. Even in this world, origami of dragons and goblins should be able to gain popularity. 

Even while talking, he was skilfully folding origami.

What he made in the blink of an eye was a paper crane. 

“If it is okay with you, I would like you to take this. A commemoration of our new bond.” (Worigami)

“Woah, is that okay? Even though it was just paper a second ago… That’s incredible. It is cute.” (Rifreya)

“This is a bird from the homeland of both me and Hikaru-kun. It is called a crane. I folded it from red paper today, but the actual thing is white, and it is very beautiful.” (Worigami)

A folded crane made from Worigami-san himself. It is something I would want myself, but for Rifreya and the natives of this world, this is truly a culture that they have never seen. 

I definitely would like her to treasure it. 

“Now then, I will fight that skeleton! Everyone, please cheer me on!” (Worigami)

The 1st Floor is a floor where deserted houses are lined up and it is like a ruined street. Skeletons roaming around aimlessly. It is a pretty harsh place for people who aren’t good with ghosts, but it looks like Worigami-san has no problems there. 

He finds a skeleton and prepares for battle while doing commentary. 

My hand holding the camera tightens its grip.

“…Rifreya, if it looks as if it is going to get dangerous, please go save him.” (Hikaru)

“Uhm, that’s fine by me, but I don’t think he would be losing to a skeleton, right?” (Rifreya)

“No…who knows. He does seem like a person that hasn’t done any fighting.” (Hikaru)

Worigami-san is a kind person. He probably doesn’t want to fight monsters like this either. 

Even so, this is a world where you have to live strong in order to survive, so he is pushing himself to act stout-hearted.

I noticed that he has been trembling the whole time since entering the dungeon.

“That even you say he is kind must mean that he is super kind?” (Rifreya)

“…Well, I am just a fan, so it is not like I truly know him though…but I can tell.” (Hikaru)

I make sure I am ready to activate Shadow Bind at any moment while watching Worigami-san defeat the Skeleton. 

His legs were shaking, and he ended up dropping his weapon, making it a pretty hard battle but, even with that, he somehow managed to defeat the Skeleton on his own.

Worigami-san picks up the Spirit Stone and shows a smile. 

This is most likely what’s ‘normal’.

Jeanne really is an abnormal case, and I am also a bit of an abnormal case myself. 

After that, we watched Worigami-san who was fighting barehanded Skeletons while adding commentary. 

“Man, the attention you get when fighting monsters really is a different beast. My viewers have shot up too. I might be able to go over the 100 million.” (Worigami)

“Eh?” (Hikaru)

After defeating the 4th Skeleton, Worigami-san said that with a smile, and I ended up letting out my voice unconsciously. 

Even Worigami-san has less than 100 million viewers. That’s what he meant with those words.

My viewers are above 100 million almost every day. At the time when I was cooped up in the dungeon, my viewers did decrease, but it has been that way the whole time since I began partying with Rifreya. 

(…So it really is me having a lot of viewers…?) (Hikaru)

Worigami-san is quite the famous person in Japan. 

If even he rarely has 100 million, that I still am at the top of the viewership must be a collateral of the flaming. 

After Nanami was brought back to life…all the way until the 2nd Chosen group came, my viewers have decreased slightly, but it is still considered a lot. 

I still maintain a number of viewers not that different from Jeanne’s.

Just that fact alone tells me that there must be some sort of special something that’s bringing the people in. 

There’s of course the point that I am living together with Jeanne and Rifreya, but I originally have no points that would bring attention.

It is not like I am doing anything interesting, and at present, I am mostly just living my life. I am not catering to the viewers. 

Did Nanami really not manage to prove my innocence? At the very least, there’s no doubt my viewers should be lower than Worigami-san.

Anyways, I really should forget about it just like Jeanne says. 

I have finally been able to apply that lately…

Excluding one thing.

“Hey hey, Hikaru, what are we eating tonight?” (Rifreya)

“Hikaru, did you know that rather than pushing oneself in clearing the 4th Floor, it is safer to hunt monsters in the 5th Floor?” (Rifreya)

“Hikaru, don’t you think that house is a bit too cold at night? Is it because it is too big?” (Rifreya)

“Aah, it has been a while since it is only the 2 of us, right?” (Rifreya)

“Love-Love Twin Birds is back!” (Rifreya)

Rifreya was talking to me the whole time by my side. 

Since reuniting with her, I haven’t been able to interact with her well. 

No…I am interacting with her normally on the surface. 

…I think I am… I am not really confident about that.

At the time when I was using her to win the Viewer Count Race, I was trying to utilize even her feelings. I am the worst, but I was desperate, and in a sense, I could see her straight on because of that. 

But I presently am not facing her properly. 

Even though I understand her feelings towards me. 

However, I also understand that I shouldn’t keep being like this. 

Today we are alone…with Worigami-san, but I should tell her properly at this time when Jeanne is not here.

“Hey, Rifreya.” (Hikaru)

“What is it?” (Rifreya)

“Uhm…” (Hikaru)

The words got caught in my throat when she directed those shining eyes at me.

Since she came back and we began living together…we haven’t had this kind of conversation once. It must be because Jeanne said ‘love is prohibited’. I think she must have been avoiding those kinds of topics as well.

That’s one of the reasons why I could interact with her normally. 

“U-Uhm…you see…” (Hikaru)

I don’t know how to ease into the topic. 

I have been living with her for 2 weeks as if normal in a way so that I wouldn’t have to have this kind of talk, and yet, I am digging back the love talk at this point in time; this is too high of a hurdle for a love beginner like me. 

I could feel her unchanging love towards me in her every action, but we distanced ourselves, came back…and we haven’t made things clear.

This is difficult…

“E-Eh? What’s the matter, Hikaru? Fidgeting that much… Could it be a love confession? We are alone after all!” (Rifreya)

Seeing that I was finding it hard to speak, she must have misunderstood it, her eyes shone and she said this. 

“It is close to that…but not exactly. Since you came back, it has turned into a development where we try to pay each other back, but we are living together. I have been thinking the whole time if it is okay to stay like that.” (Hikaru)

“Hikaru…you were thinking something like that?” (Rifreya)

“Of course I would… I was thinking about not meeting you anymore after that time, and…uhm…even though you were showing me affection, I rejected it. You should understand that my circumstances haven’t changed since then, right…? That’s why…” (Hikaru)

“Aah, well…right. I of course understand that matter. Of course I do. I have also consulted with Jeanne-san properly, and I have thought it over myself, so it is okay. Just go with the feeling as if you are riding one big ship!” (Rifreya)

Rifreya says while putting a hand on her chest.

I feel like we aren’t on the same page here…

“What was that consultation you had with Jeanne?” (Hikaru)

“Secret. You just have to think that you are riding on a big ship, and let yourself be carried by it. You only need to stay as you have been!” (Rifreya)

“Uh, hmm?” (Hikaru)

Rifreya is strangely emphasizing this big ship thing, but it seems like she herself doesn’t have any worries about our relationship. 

If she is fine, then that’s okay…right? I feel slightly uneasy about this, but it can’t be helped. 

Anyways, it must mean that she is fine with the current state of things.

Jeanne invited Rifreya, and we are acting together as a party. That’s how you can wrap up our current state. My relationship with Rifreya is left to the side for now. That might be what she means. 

While we were doing that, Worigami-san defeated another Skeleton.

Skeletons are weak monsters to begin with, but it must be an easy opponent against an adult man who has taken Physical Strength Up.

“It seems like you have gotten used to it, so how about trying your hand against a skeleton with a weapon? It is just as slow, so I don’t think it will be that difficult.” (Hikaru)

“No, I will stop here for today. Even though I have only done this for 2 hours, I am incredibly tired…” (Worigami)

Worigami-san’s expression is bright, but he seems to be somewhat disheartened.

Even when fighting against a weak monster, it doesn’t change the fact that it is a battle that could lead to death.

If you get used to it, it is barely a pain. I think of it as something similar to ‘if you ride a bike, there’s the chance for injury or death’, but it is true that it is scary when you are not used to it. 

I might just be strangely used to it now.