Prologue
"Onii-chan! Can we go to the labyrinth today?"
My sister Maya, the cutest in the world, asked me that question.
The labyrinth. Its entrance resembles a small hill, and inside, various monsters roam. The space within is a mysterious place, with grasslands, seas, and other enigmatic landscapes. Despite extensive research, much about its existence remains shrouded in mystery.
The labyrinths appeared suddenly a few decades ago, emerging all over the world and bewildering people at the time. However, they also brought numerous benefits, transforming confusion into joy and anticipation. Items dropped by labyrinth monsters enabled new energy sources and technological advancements, and—most astonishingly—people awakened to supernatural powers known as magic.
"Another labyrinth stream?" I asked.
"Yeah. I was thinking if you’re free, maybe you could be my cameraman..." Maya replied.
"Of course, I’m in! Maya’s requests always take top priority, no matter what!" I declared.
"Seriously, if you have something important, prioritize that instead," Maya said, puffing out her cheeks and giving me a mock glare.
Oh no, I’ve upset Maya...!
"N-No, it’s fine! I’m free all day today!" I shouted, desperate to clear up the misunderstanding.
Maya’s expression softened into a gentle smile. "Really? That’s great then, Onii-chan! I love you!"
With a beaming smile, Maya threw her arms around me. I love you... I love you... Her words echoed in my mind as I hugged her back. Truly, Maya is the world’s most adorable sister.
"Onii-chan, about the stream—it’s after school today, so shall we meet at the usual spot, the Black Dragon Labyrinth?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
Maya, my angelic sister and the cutest in the world, headed off to school with a radiant smile. After seeing her off, I stretched lightly and opened the page for her streaming channel.
In this era, where labyrinths have appeared and the profession of "adventurer" has become commonplace, many adventurers stream their battles within the labyrinths. Labyrinth Strategy Streamer—labyrinth conquest streamers—have become globally popular content creators. Their videos, showcasing labyrinth explorations, have gained such traction that they’re even featured on television, entertaining countless viewers.
My sister Maya is one such streamer, still a rookie in the adventuring world. Naturally, I’m the number-one fan of Maya’s channel! Since I’m free all day, I decided to rewatch some of her streams.
Maya is currently signed with an agency for her streaming activities. I don’t know much about the agency, but it seems they represent many student streamers, and Maya gets along well with them, enjoying herself. As long as she’s happy and smiling, that’s all that matters to me, her Onii-chan.
"Hello, everyone! Today’s stream is from the labyrinth!" Maya announced.
As promised, I took on the role of cameraman, filming her.
〈Maya-chan, you’re adorable as always!〉
〈Be careful, Maya-chan. Another streamer had an accident during a broadcast recently...〉
〈That was Cocoa-chan, right? That was rough...〉
〈She’s lucky to be alive.〉
〈Isn’t she still in treatment?〉
On Maya’s wrist was a watch-like device for streaming, displaying a window similar to those seen in video games. She used it to check comments. This device, called a Watcher, is considered essential for modern streamers. Linked to smartphones, it’s primarily used to view footage, though checking comments is a close second.
In this era of labyrinth discoveries, materials from the labyrinths have driven several technological breakthroughs. The Watcher, utilizing AR technology and 3D holograms, is the innovation I feel closest to, though I don’t understand the details. As long as Maya is happily streaming, that’s all that matters.
While I checked the comments on my phone from Maya’s streaming page, she looked concerned.
"Cocoa-san... She’s from a different agency, but I’ve seen her streams," Maya said.
In this day and age, many adventurers stream their activities, but with that comes a rise in accidents. Labyrinths are, after all, dangerous places.
〈Doesn’t Maya-chan hire escorts? Your agency has other adventurers, right?〉
"I’m fine! Today’s cameraman is my Onii-chan, after all!" Maya replied cheerfully.
〈Oh, it’s Onii-san!〉
〈Is he an adventurer too?〉
〈Please, Maya-chan, just don’t do anything dangerous!〉
"Onii-chan, is it filming okay?" Maya asked.
I gave her a thumbs-up, and she mimicked it with a bright smile.
"Looks good! Alright, let’s dive into the labyrinth!"
〈This is the Black Dragon Labyrinth, right?〉
"Yup!"
〈That’s an S-rank labyrinth, isn’t it? Is it safe?〉
"The lower floors only have monsters equivalent to a G-rank labyrinth, so it’s fine!"
With that, Maya reached for the hilt of her dagger and began her labyrinth conquest. The Black Dragon Labyrinth’s monsters grow stronger with each floor, so the lower levels, as Maya said, aren’t too dangerous. Having explored here several times before, she dispatched monsters with ease.
〈Maya-chan’s movements are so graceful!〉
〈Impressive as always!〉
〈Maya-chan, you’re super cute today too!〉
"Ehehe, that’s because Onii-chan taught me!"
Dear Mom and Dad in heaven, your daughter is an angel today as well.
As I was soothed by Maya flashing a peace sign, something happened.
"Huh!?"
...A trap!? Labyrinths occasionally have traps, but to think one would appear on the first floor—! I had let my guard down, having never encountered a trap in this familiar labyrinth before. I immediately rushed to save Maya, reaching out for her.
〈It’s a trap!〉
〈Maya-chan, get out of there quick!〉
I grabbed Maya’s hand, but in that instant, her figure vanished. It was a teleportation trap, one that transports its target to another floor. Without hesitation, I stepped into the trap to follow her.
As I opened my eyes, I heard Maya’s scream-like cry.
"Onii-chan! Th-that...!"
Glancing in the direction where Maya, pale and trembling, was looking, I saw it—a Black Dragon, right before us. This labyrinth is called the Black Dragon Labyrinth because of the monster that appears on the 95th floor. The current conquest floor is the 94th, yet the Black Dragon’s existence is known because an S-rank adventurer party that challenged the 95th floor was completely wiped out.
"GRAAAH!"
As the Black Dragon roared, its tail came crashing down. The overwhelming force and ferocious wind pressure hit us. Seeing the attack, I shoved Maya out of the way and was struck by the tail.
It’s my fault.
Pushed away by Onii-chan, I could only watch in silence, along with the smartphone thrown to the ground, as Onii-chan was crushed by the Black Dragon right in front of me.
〈Maya-chan! Run away now!〉
〈Get to the stairs to another floor!〉
〈Hurry, escape!〉
〈Don’t let Onii-san’s death be in vain!〉
〈Monsters can’t follow you into the stairways!〉
〈Run! Quick!〉
〈No way! I don’t want to see Maya-chan die!〉
Comments flooded in, but my legs... they wouldn’t move.
All I wanted was to repay Onii-chan.
Ten years ago. When monsters overflowed from the newly emerged labyrinths, my parents, who were working, died. I was only six years old, and Onii-chan was sixteen, a first-year high school student. Despite having no one else to rely on, Onii-chan dropped out of school to become an adventurer. He must have faced countless dangers to ensure I could live a normal life, raising me with all his effort.
I started streaming in middle school, hoping to repay him even a little. I wasn’t particularly talented, but my audience slowly grew. Recently, I’d been earning about as much as an average office worker, and I planned to repay Onii-chan even more from now on.
But in the end, I just caused him trouble again.
〈Maya-chan! Escape now!〉
〈Someone, go help her! Maya-chan’s gonna die!〉
〈No way anyone can! Even that legendary adventurer party couldn’t beat the Black Dragon!〉
〈The Black Dragon’s on the 95th floor... The conquest stopped at 94 because challengers were wiped out...〉
〈Do something, someone!〉
I have to escape.
But even if I did, what would be the point? Onii-chan’s gone. If that’s the case... what’s the point of living—?
"GRAAAH!"
The Black Dragon roared again, preparing to unleash its breath attack. Flames gathered. If I were engulfed by that, I’d likely die without even feeling pain.
"Onii-chan... I’m sorry..."
"Hey, you! What do you think you’re doing to Maya, you damn dragon!?"
It was then. A familiar voice rang out. The Black Dragon, about to unleash its breath, was sent flying. The attack missed me, hitting the ceiling instead, and a scorching gust brushed my skin.
"Hey, Maya, you okay!? Any injuries!?"
"Y-Yeah...! B-But Onii-chan, are you okay!?"
"Huh? Oh, that was nothing. Hang on a sec! I’ll take this thing down quick, and we’ll get back to the first floor to continue streaming. Sorry, I got distracted by how cute you are and missed the trap!"
Onii-chan stuck out his tongue playfully, like he always did at home.
〈Huh? What’s happening!?〉
〈Did Onii-chan just punch the Black Dragon!?〉
〈No way, that’s impossible, right?〉
〈How is he alive after being crushed!?〉
〈What the heck is going on...〉
"GRAAAH!"
"Shut up, you damn dragon! I’m talking to Maya here! Alright, Maya, stay right there. I’ll be back in a sec."
Waving with a grin, Onii-chan charged toward the Black Dragon.
〈Huh? What!?〉
〈What’s even happening...!?〉
〈He’s acting like he’s popping to the convenience store, lol.〉
As the Black Dragon spread its wings and took flight, Onii-chan leaped into the air. Onii-chan only has talent for attributeless magic, limited to physical enhancement and mana solidification. He’s probably using mana solidification to create platforms in the air to move... I think. He taught me about it a few times, though I’m not good at it myself.
In an instant, Onii-chan solidified a platform, stepped on it, and closed in on the Black Dragon.
"Ha! What’s wrong!? Thought flying would give you the upper hand!?"
Onii-chan.
When he fights, he gets a little unhinged. And... it’s kind of cool.
He was pretty strong when we trained in a G-rank labyrinth, but I just thought, Well, it’s only G-rank. Come to think of it, I don’t know much about Onii-chan’s adventurer activities. But he’s so cool right now... I have to capture this on camera.
Completely outmaneuvering the Black Dragon, Onii-chan found an opening and aimed for its head.
"Take this! Stop flying around! What if Maya strains her neck looking up!?"
He struck, repaying the earlier tail attack, slamming the Black Dragon into the ground. As it staggered to its feet and tried to fly again, Onii-chan landed on its wing, grabbing it.
"Alright, alright! Naughty wings trying to fly again need punishment. Time for a flower-petal game...! Love—Hate—Hate!"
Like plucking petals, Onii-chan tore off the Black Dragon’s wing and used it like a bat to smack the dragon away. Tossing the wing aside, it dissolved into mist, as monster parts do when destroyed.
〈LOL!〉
〈Onii-chan’s insane, haha!〉
〈This guy’s way too strong!?〉
〈What is this crazy Japanese dude!?〉
I noticed the viewer count skyrocketing. My previous peak was around 5,000, but now it was 10,000, 20,000... and still climbing! Like Onii-chan’s fighting prowess, it showed no signs of stopping. Comments weren’t just in Japanese anymore—English and other languages I didn’t recognize were pouring in!
"O-Onii-chan... I... I’m going viral...!"
〈It’s Onii-chan who’s going viral!〉
〈Maya-chan’s still filming like a pro, lol.〉
〈True streamer spirit, haha.〉
The comment section had calmed down significantly, a testament to how thoroughly Onii-chan was dominating the Black Dragon. As the dragon staggered up and charged, Onii-chan grabbed it with one outstretched hand and slammed it into the ground.
"What’s wrong!? Not good at strength contests? Then let’s try tug-of-war! Except the rope’s your tail!"
With a shout, Onii-chan leaped behind the Black Dragon, grabbed its tail, and tore it off. I thought the Black Dragon’s face was expressionless, but it was clearly terrified. Onii-chan closed in, and then—
"You made Maya scared, huh!? Drop dead, you damn dragon!"
"GRAA—!"
The Black Dragon opened its mouth for one final breath attack, but Onii-chan’s fist smashed into it first, snapping its neck at a ninety-degree angle. The dragon collapsed, dissolving into mist as it had appeared.
"Alright, Maya. I took down the boss, so the teleportation stone over there should work now. We can head back to the first floor and keep streaming."
"O-Onii-chan... I can’t just go back to streaming the first floor now."
"Huh? Why not?"
"...Y-Your fight was too epic..."
"What? Wait, it’s still streaming!?"
"Y-Yeah."
"...W-Well, Maya here! I beat the Black Dragon!"
Onii-chan slipped behind me, mimicking my voice in a terrible falsetto, and promptly sparked a firestorm online.
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