The Darkness Was Comfortable for Me

er that was having its branches and trunk whittled away by the many insects raised a roar and shook its branches.

“Wa…What’s going on…?” (Hikaru)

A new presence from the surroundings…no, more precisely, I am hearing what seems like the cries of something. 

“Could it be that…it has called its comrades…?” (Hikaru)

That feeling of mine turned out to be correct, and 2 big men holding giant clubs were heading this way from the other side of the mist. 

I knew plenty well that a development like this could happen if I were to get stuck too long in battle. 

(Should I run? But…) (Hikaru)

Fortunately, they are monsters that are not too fast.

If I were to run away while shooting around abilities, I should be able to escape without any issues. 

Running away; that option is naturally available.

But…what would it achieve?

I came here alone prepared for death.

I decided to get 1st place.

That resolve shouldn’t be so frail that I would turn tail and run away from this. 

I came here alone.
I even got lost on purpose. 

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It was definitely not for the sake of running away when I fell into peril.

I came all the way here seeking a situation like this. 

“I can somehow move my left arm now.
3 is a lot, but…I will do it.” (Hikaru)

After reaching that decision, it felt as if a switch flipped inside my head. 

I ignore the tree monster for now and run towards the giant men.

(Darkness Fog works on them.) (Hikaru)

I spread the range of the darkness at once, jump the instant their movements were sealed by Shadow Bind, and stab into their weak points. 

I did that twice in a row and finished the giant men. 

My body moved so well it surprised even me. 

My concentration might have increased by being conscious of death.

I leave the fallen Spirit Stones that fell from the giant men just like that, and head to the tree monster. 

No matter how hard the monster, in the end, it is a tree. 

I had the Phantom Warrior attract its attention, I myself moved to the back, and attacked after sealing its movements with Shadow Bind. 

Using 3 abilities for 1 attack is pretty rough, but I don’t know any other method.

If Rifreya were here, I could have been able to fight with only Darkness Fog, so doing this alone really is pushing it a bit. 

But that’s what I signed up for.

It is because of the danger that I am doing it. 

It is because it is dangerous that it is good.

On the 3rd exchange of attacks, my shortsword finally managed to penetrate. 

The tree monster turned into a Spirit Stone. 

It was a monster I had terrible affinity against, but thanks to that, I managed to get over 400 million viewers. 

Not bad.

“I have been wounded a little bit, but this has been good battle experience.
Now, let’s go to the next one.” (Hikaru)

I make a face of being fine even if I have to force it out. 

My body is beginning to heat up because of using Spirit Energy too much.

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It is impossible to do more strenuous fights like this one. 

After that, I walked around searching for the exit, and defeated: 15 goblins (big), 8 zombies, 5 small fiends, and 5 giant men.

It seems like tree monsters don’t show up that often, so none have shown up after that. 

For the other monsters aside from that, Darkness Fog was effective, and if that’s effective, it is possible to reduce their battle power greatly.
I just have to calmly take their lives. 

Of course, there’s the need for quite the effort, but that is giving me a good amount of experience.

By defeating monsters, I take in Spirit Energy bit by bit, and I could feel that the power in my body is increasing. 

“I think I am getting the hang of how to fight with Dark Spirit Abilities.
Don’t know what would happen if even stronger monsters were to show up, but I am beginning to understand why Rifreya asserted that it would work in the 3rd Floor.” (Hikaru)

I talk as I go up the 10 step stairs that I remember seeing before.

I walk straight ahead just like that, and see the opening where the stairs leading to the 2nd Floor were. 

It is true that I got lost, but I actually have a lot of confidence in my sense of direction.

If I know the whole time in what direction I came from, you basically can’t get lost for real.

But from the perspective of the viewers, it should have looked like I luckily got back to the stairs. 

“It is the exit! What a relief… I was close to my limit, but it looks like I can go back alive.” (Hikaru)

Even while commenting, I myself felt that was shameless. 

Calling me an actor would be an insult to the trade.
I am sure that I will be found out by the sharp viewers, but well, commenting in itself is basically just an extra. 

In the end, I just have to show by action.

“Now then, today’s solo exploration ends with this.
I will be exploring with a party from tomorrow on, so please look forward to it.” (Hikaru)

I ended the commentary with this.
I cover myself with darkness, and run through the dungeon.

Honestly speaking, getting lost and wandering an unknown floor was taxing in both body and mind. 

The fact that I managed to despite that might have been because I felt ‘death right by my side’ the whole time in that forest. 

Anyways, let’s splurge today and eat something tasty. 

Today’s exploration was done mostly in the darkness while commenting, so it might not have been that fun to watch, but I managed to get over 500 million viewers in the end. 

I am now in spot 14 on the tentative rankings.

As expected, I wasn’t wrong. 

Me putting my life in danger becomes an explosive, and it allows me to rise in the rankings greatly. 

And…this result is also proof that my death is desired.