Chapter 1 It seems like it went viral
It was the morning after we safely completed Maya’s stream. According to Maya, her smartphone had been buzzing non-stop with notifications. The cause? Me.
We sat across from each other at the table, her phone placed between us.
“Maya, what should we do in a situation like this?” I asked.
The notifications flooding Maya’s phone were from Twotter. Apparently, it had been like this ever since the stream ended yesterday.
“I don’t know either! I mean, it’s gone viral in a way that’s just not normal…” Maya said.
There wasn’t a single adventurer in Japan capable of defeating the Black Dragon—at least, not until now. As a result, Maya’s channel had shot to the top of Twotter’s trending list, and clips of that battle were still being shared everywhere.
Conquering the highest floor of the Black Dragon Labyrinth was a major goal for Japan’s adventurers. I’d personally reached the 100th floor before, but announcing that here would probably draw even more attention.
“Well, going viral’s a good thing! I always knew your cuteness would take the world by storm, Maya!” I said.
For me, this was great publicity for Maya’s channel, but she gave a wry smile.
“But it’s you who went viral, Onii-chan. I didn’t do anything! And yet, my channel’s subscriber count keeps climbing—it’s already past 190,000!”
Maya’s channel originally had 100,000 subscribers. The fact that it nearly doubled overnight was cause for celebration.
“Wow, that’s amazing! Way to go, Maya!”
“All the recent comments are about your fight! I mean, I’m happy my awesome Onii-chan’s getting attention, but hasn’t my channel basically been hijacked at this point?”
“Nah, you’ve got 100,000 fans, right? Even if 90,000 of the 190,000 subscribed because of my fight, that means 100,000 are still your fans… right?”
“Yay, we just hit 200,000! It’s still growing, Onii-chan!”
“See? They’re all drawn in by your cuteness. Who’d subscribe for a 27-year-old average guy’s fight?”
“That’s exactly why we’re in this mess—because so many people did!”
Even if I was the trigger, anyone watching Maya’s streams would surely become her fan eventually. She’s great at engaging her audience, and above all, she’s cute. Cuteness is justice.
As I reached for the breakfast Maya made, her phone vibrated. A call. I dug into the food, paying it no mind, but I noticed Maya glancing at me.
“Y-Yes… Onii-chan… Yes. Um, you want to discuss something?”
It sounded like the conversation involved me. Who could it be, and what was this about? I was puzzled as Maya hung up.
“Onii-chan, do you have any plans today?”
It was Saturday. As an adventurer earning a living, I didn’t have fixed days off or workdays. In other words, I was free year-round. My only real plans revolved around supporting Maya’s streaming activities.
“Is something up? If anyone’s causing trouble for you, Onii-chan will give them a piece of his mind!”
“It’s fine. My manager wants to talk about yesterday’s stream and has something to discuss with you too. Could you come with me to the agency?”
“So… it’s basically a date, right?”
“I’m not sure how you reached that conclusion, but sure?”
“Of course I’m going!”
Maya let out a relieved sigh as I grinned. “Alright, let’s head to the agency after breakfast!”
I nodded, finished my meal, and left the house with Maya.
---
I hadn’t thought too deeply about it, but… was the agency calling me in to demand an apology? Maya’s streaming schedule, dates, and frequency were all managed by her manager to avoid clashing with other agency streamers. They were pretty meticulous about planning. Since I wasn’t interested in anyone but Maya, I might have messed up her channel by causing that commotion. They could very well demand an apology.
Should I start with a bow of apology when we get there? Also, I came in casual clothes, practically loungewear. Was that a mistake? Maybe I should’ve dressed more sharply.
Lost in thought, I arrived at the agency with Maya. “Little Garden”—the agency where Maya and other female streamers were signed, if I recalled correctly. I vaguely knew about it since Maya occasionally collaborated with others from the agency, but I had zero interest in anyone but her.
“This is your second time here, right, Onii-chan?”
“Yeah.”
I’d come once before when Maya signed with the agency. Since she was still a minor, parental consent was required. Our parents died in a labyrinth-related incident years ago, so as the adult at the time, I accompanied her to hear the details. That was about two years ago.
Maya, who visited the agency occasionally, walked in confidently. The office was on the sixth and seventh floors of the building. At the sixth-floor reception, a sharply dressed woman in a suit was already waiting.
“Manager-san, it’s been a while,” Maya greeted.
“Yes, Maya-san, it’s been some time. And you, Onii-san… it’s been a while as well,” the woman said.
She was probably the one who explained things to me two years ago. Her name was…
“It’s been a while, Oosaki-san,” I said.
“It’s Kirisaki. Kirisaki,” she corrected.
“Oh, right, that’s one way to read it.”
“It’s the only way to read it.”
Kirisaki-san let out a small sigh, and I immediately dropped to my knees in a deep bow.
“O-Onii-san!?”
“Onii-chan!?”
“I’m so sorry! Maya did nothing wrong! The stream got derailed because of an unexpected incident! It’s all my fault! If you’re going to scold anyone, scold me…!”
“N-No, please, get up! People are watching! Besides, we didn’t call you here to reprimand you!”
“Really? …Wasted a perfectly good bow, then.”
“You’re saying that out loud in front of me?”
“Sorry, I’ll keep it quiet next time.”
“After hearing that, your whole apology sounds fake!”
“Don’t worry about it. So, if it’s not for an apology, why was I called here?”
I couldn’t think of any other reason they’d summon me.
“Well… as you know, Maya’s channel has gone incredibly viral because of yesterday’s stream. No, ‘viral’ doesn’t even cover it. Did you see this morning’s news?”
“We don’t have a TV at home…”
“That’s not uncommon these days. Anyway, the news this morning was all about you, Onii-san.”
“Huh? …Why?”
“Because you defeated the Black Dragon! Did you know Japan’s top guild, ‘Thunder Roar,’ was preparing to take it down? There was even a weekly documentary following their progress. And you, a solo adventurer, took it down so effortlessly. Of course it’s drawing attention!”
“…Was that dragon really that strong?”
I turned to Maya, and Kirisaki-san did the same.
“Um, Maya-san… does Onii-san lack common sense?”
“Completely. But that’s part of his charm!”
Maya gave a big thumbs-up while Kirisaki-san clutched her head.
“…Anyway, let’s get to why we called you here. First, the news. We’ve been flooded with inquiries about you—TV stations, guilds, even the Adventurer’s Association. They’re all asking, ‘Who is he?’ and ‘Can we arrange a meeting?’”
“Onii-chan, you’re a celebrity now!”
“I don’t care about being popular with anyone but you, Maya.”
“Then you’re fine. You’re my number one, Onii-chan!”
“Got it, got it!”
“Um, could you please not interrupt? We’re trying to move the conversation along,” Kirisaki-san said, glaring at us with surprising intensity. Maya and I shrank back, chastened.
After a small cough, Kirisaki-san continued. “As for the inquiries, our agency has no direct connection to you, Onii-san. However, if we outright dismiss them, it’s likely that people will try to track down your home to get information.”
“I see,” I nodded.
“So, here’s the thing… Onii-san, are you interested in becoming a streamer?”
“Not at all,” I replied flatly.
The next moment, Maya’s eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, “Onii-chan, are you going to join the agency as a streamer!?”
“That would be the case,” Kirisaki-san confirmed.
“Yay, Onii-chan! We’ll be together!” Maya cheered.
“But I’m not really interested, and it sounds like a hassle…” I started.
“I want to see Onii-chan stream!” Maya insisted.
“Then I’ll do it,” I declared.
“Isn’t your decision-making process a bit… off?” Kirisaki-san interjected.
But, well, if Maya wants to see it, I have no choice but to do it. Seeing her happy is more than enough reason.
“Kirisaki-san, you said you wanted me to do it, right? So it’s fine, isn’t it?” I asked.
“Well… if you’re willing, that’s great. As an agency, we can handle things like declining interviews or arranging them on your behalf. That’s why we wanted to discuss you joining Little Garden,” Kirisaki-san explained.
So that’s why they called me here.
“I get it. Honestly, I was planning to scare off anyone who showed up at our house, but if they bothered Maya, that’d be a pain,” I said.
“Please don’t casually threaten people,” Kirisaki-san sighed. “But yes, people are desperate for information about you. We thought it’d be best for you to take control by sharing it yourself.”
As long as it keeps trouble away from Maya, I’m fine with anything. I nodded, and Maya tilted her head as if remembering something.
“But… Onii-chan’s a guy. Is that okay?” she asked.
“Maya, have you suddenly awakened to extreme gender discrimination?” I teased.
“No, that’s not it! Our agency only has female streamers, and the audience is mostly that demographic. Having a guy join could cause issues,” she explained.
“So, you’re saying I should cross-dress?” I asked.
“That doesn’t change your gender,” Maya pointed out.
“Then take it off?”
“You’re taking it off?”
“If Maya asks me to… I’ll be your Onee-chan!” I declared.
“You’re already acting like it’s done. No, just stay as Onii-chan. Manager-san, is it really okay?” Maya asked Kirisaki-san with a worried look.
Kirisaki-san’s expression turned serious. Was it really such a big deal?
“We’re aware of the concerns,” Kirisaki-san said. “But the agency is looking to expand. We plan to include male streamers eventually, and starting with Onii-san seems like a good opportunity.”
“That sounds a bit casual, doesn’t it?” I remarked.
“Well, I’ve decided this approach is better for my mental health,” Kirisaki-san admitted.
Our household thrives on vibes and momentum, so I’d say Kirisaki-san’s already adapting to our style—she’s got talent. But one question nagged at me: why were they so cautious about adding male streamers?
“I was thinking, does having one guy really change that much?” I asked.
“It does, Onii-chan!” Maya exclaimed.
“Really?”
“The audience gets uneasy when male streamers are added. They start worrying about behind-the-scenes connections or relationships,” she explained.
“Connections? What’s the issue? They’re not dating the viewers. People watch because the streams are entertaining, right? As long as the content’s good, who cares what happens off-screen?” I argued.
“You can’t just say that, Onii-chan! Imagine if you thought I was secretly dating someone from the agency staff. Could you still watch my streams normally?” Maya countered.
“What!? Is there someone you’re dating!? Bring them here! Onii-chan’s ready for a duel!” I shouted.
“It’s just an example!”
“…Even as an example, that’s bad for my heart. I was already drafting a wedding speech…”
“You’re already okay with a wedding? Don’t worry, there’s no one like that,” Maya reassured me.
I let out a relieved sigh, feeling like I might collapse from the stress. Her example helped me understand a bit, though.
“So, basically, fans don’t want to watch their favorite streamer with weird assumptions in mind?” I summarized.
“Exactly, Onii-chan. Adding male streamers makes fans anxious, especially since our agency does a lot of collabs between streamers,” Maya said.
“But there are male staff members, right? Is that fine?” I asked.
“…That doesn’t come up much, does it?” Maya asked Kirisaki-san cutely.
Kirisaki-san gave a wry smile. “It happens more than you’d think. Other agencies have had scandals over male managers, for example.”
“Really?” Maya said, surprised.
I was a bit shocked too. Were they really okay entrusting this to me, knowing it could spark issues?
“Random thought, but… is the agency using me as a test subject?” I asked.
“Not at all,” Kirisaki-san replied. “We believe you’re in a unique position, so it’s unlikely to cause a scandal.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re… exceptional, to put it mildly. With all the messages flooding Maya-san’s channel, this could help calm things down.”
“I was worried about causing Maya trouble, so if this helps, I’ll do anything,” I said.
“O-Onii-chan… thank you…! I’ll definitely watch your streams!” Maya said, her eyes shining.
“Leave it to me! I’ll make sure to plug your channel too!” I promised.
“…Alright, since you’re on board, let’s move forward,” Kirisaki-san said. “We’ll start preparations. How about streaming tomorrow at 8 PM?”
“Sounds good. I’m in,” I replied.
“Great, thank you,” Kirisaki-san said.
Maya was happy, so it was all good.
---
Labyrinth Streamer Agency “Little Garden” Discussion Thread 89
176: Anonymous Adventurer
Yo, guys, looks like “Little Garden” is debuting a new adventurer!
177: Anonymous Adventurer
For real? Wait… a guy?
178: Anonymous Adventurer
What? A dude? What’s going on?
179: Anonymous Adventurer
No chance it’s a girl who just looks like a guy, right?
180: Anonymous Adventurer
Huh? HUH? Are they serious?
181: Anonymous Adventurer
I’m definitely protesting this.
182: Anonymous Adventurer
Update: It’s Maya’s brother debuting.
183: Anonymous Adventurer
LMAO
184: Anonymous Adventurer
Seriously? lol
185: Anonymous Adventurer
Maya-chan’s brother? You mean that monster Onii-chan everyone’s talking about?
186: Anonymous Adventurer
LOL
187: Anonymous Adventurer
If it’s that Onii-chan, I’d actually watch.
188: Anonymous Adventurer
Maya’s brother is the one who trashed the Black Dragon, right? Some people are saying it was staged. Thoughts?
189: Anonymous Adventurer
No way it was staged lol.
190: Anonymous Adventurer
If they could fake a Black Dragon that convincing, I’d wanna know about that tech lol.
191: Anonymous Adventurer
Then why’s a guy with that kind of power bothering to stream? With strength like that, he doesn’t need to earn money from streaming, right??
192: Anonymous Adventurer
Streaming feeds the ego, you know? Maybe that’s why.
193: Anonymous Adventurer
People who think he beat the Black Dragon barehanded lol. Too gullible. It’s obviously fake. No way a guy who can solo a Black Dragon would join an agency and stream. It’s all staged nonsense.
194: Anonymous Adventurer
Could just be that Onii-san doesn’t overthink things.
195: Anonymous Adventurer
That Black Dragon was 100% real. Even the top guild “Thunder Roar” said so.
196: Anonymous Adventurer
Yeah, exactly. Compare it to the footage of the party that got wiped out by the Black Dragon. It’s the same.
197: Anonymous Adventurer
But why debut now?
198: Anonymous Adventurer
The guy who said “debut” got it wrong. It’s not a full debut. “Little Garden” is just having Maya’s brother answer questions because they’re getting swamped with inquiries about him. It’s on their official site—he hasn’t officially debuted as a streamer yet.
199: Anonymous Adventurer
But he’s joining “Little Garden,” right?
200: Anonymous Adventurer
He’ll probably keep streaming, no?
201: Anonymous Adventurer
No clue, but it makes sense for “Little Garden” to handle him as an agency member. Easier to manage.
202: Anonymous Adventurer
Yeah, if it’s about handling the administrative hassle, joining the agency makes sense.
203: Anonymous Adventurer
I’m totally against this. No guys needed.
204: Anonymous Adventurer
I’ll crush him during the stream.
205: Anonymous Adventurer
…Some “Little Garden” fans are seriously unhinged.
206: Anonymous Adventurer
The agency’s partly to blame for marketing them like idols.
207: Anonymous Adventurer
The hardcore fans are legit scary. Compared to them, Maya’s channel has fewer of those types.
208: Anonymous Adventurer
That’s ‘cause Maya’s always going on about “Onii-chan, Onii-chan” all the time…
209: Anonymous Adventurer
If she didn’t, her channel would be even bigger.
The next day, I overslept.
I’d taken a nap, thinking I had plenty of time before the meeting, but forgot to set an alarm. The stream was scheduled for 8 PM, with a meeting at 7 PM at the “Little Garden” agency office. That’s where we’d discuss things before going live, but… I’d probably just barely make it.
I quickly changed, hopped on a train, and arrived at 7:50 PM.
“Safe?” I asked.
“Out, obviously,” Kirisaki-san replied, her cheek twitching.
“No extra time or anything?”
“Of course not… Anyway, Jin-san, have you ever worked a job before?”
“Does part-time count?”
“Yes, let’s say it does.”
“Then, no.”
“So that question was pointless? …Look, we don’t have time for chit-chat. Let’s make this quick. First, are you showing your face? I prepared some masks just in case,” Kirisaki-san said, showing me a few.
“Masks seem hot, so no thanks.”
“…Fine, face reveal it is. Your face is already all over the place anyway.”
Yeah, that’s true. After the Maya Channel incident, I’ve become quite the topic. Even neighbors have started talking to me, and I’m half-tempted to move.
“For the flow, if you run into trouble, I’ll step in, so just rely on me. I’ve done this a few times with Maya’s channel,” Kirisaki-san added.
“Oh, that’s why your voice sounded familiar! You’ve got a great voice, Manager-san.”
“Uh, thank you.”
“Not as good as Maya’s, though.”
“…Maya-san really is your number one, huh? Anyway, if you’re stuck, pass it to me. I’ll handle it.”
“Got it. Can I hit the restroom real quick?”
“Just be back on time…”
No need to worry—I’d be fine. I used the restroom, grabbed a drink from a vending machine, and returned.
“One minute left!” Kirisaki-san called.
“Still got a whole minute, huh?”
“What’s with you? Living in a different time zone!?”
Kirisaki-san dragged me to a chair—a pretty comfy one. I spun around in it until she snapped, “We’re starting! Stop playing! Are you a kid!?”
Oops, showtime. I faced the camera, its monitor showing my live feed. Whoa, it’s really on. I gave a little wave.
“Camera good?”
“…Already checked. Start with a greeting,” Kirisaki-san muttered.
Comments started rolling in.
〈Here he is!〉
〈Maya’s Onii-san!〉
〈What’s with this guy already…〉
〈He’s acting like he’s at home lol〉
MayaChannel〈Onii-chan, it’s started!〉
〈Yo, Maya-chan’s here!〉
〈Other agency folks are watching too!〉
〈Hitting 10,000 viewers right off the bat is insane lol〉
〈This guy’s getting crazy attention lol〉
〈Already over 10,000 subscribers!?〉
Spotting Maya’s name in the comments, I lit up. “Maya! You’re watching!? Awesome! Everyone else, whatever. Uh, hi, I’m Jin, Maya’s brother, her number-one fan. Click the URL below to check out Maya’s channel—Manager-san, can we put that on-screen?”
“…Save the plugs for later. After the intro, explain why you’re streaming today,” Kirisaki-san scolded.
Busted. Her glare left me deflated.
〈LOL〉
〈This guy was like this on Maya’s channel too—his head’s totally unhinged〉
〈Thought it was just in fights, but he’s kinda wild〉
〈Is this about the media coverage?〉
Right, the comments reminded me. “Why I’m streaming today… First, I wanted to promote Maya’s channel—oh, wait, no? Okay, okay. Also, Maya’s Twotter and the agency are getting flooded with messages about me, so we’re doing this stream to address that.”
〈What’s that mean?〉
〈Explain it better〉
Nice, clear comments. Real-time feedback helps me think. “Basically, people are asking about me, so I’m here to set things straight.”
〈Ooh, hyped〉
〈TV’s been all over this guy〉
I don’t watch TV, but a quick search showed I’m trending. My only gripe is Maya’s name barely comes up, but I’ll let it slide for now.
“Lots of requests are coming in, but I’m turning them all down! I’m too busy watching Maya’s streams. I’m only here today because Maya was overwhelmed with messages. No TV appearances, no interviews, no joining guilds. That’s it! That’s why I’m streaming. Any questions? None? Cool, we’re done.”
〈No way lol〉
〈Hold up!〉
〈We’ve got tons of questions!〉
〈How are you so strong!?〉
〈What’s your best magic!?〉
〈What was that air-solidifying thing!?〉
“Whoa, too many questions! And they’re all about me? Nothing about Maya? Like, when did she stop wetting the bed?”
〈Super curious!〉
〈Tell us, Onii-sama!〉
MayaChannel〈Spill that, and I’m done talking to you〉
“…S-Sorry, Maya! No way I’d share our precious memories! These are mine, you hear me! Nobody gets them!”
〈This Onii-chan’s creepy〉
〈Call the cops on this guy〉
〈Thought Maya-chan was the ultimate brocon, but her brother’s worse〉
I think I’m perfectly normal. These commenters probably just don’t have cute sisters.
“So, questions… what were they? Best magic?”
〈Yeah〉
〈What did you use to beat the Black Dragon?〉
“Physical enhancement. I’ve only got aptitude for non-elemental magic.”
〈…Huh?〉
〈What? Then how were you jumping in the air?〉
〈Analysts said it was wind magic!〉
Wind magic? If I had that, I’d fly way smoother. “Nah, it’s non-elemental magic. You solidify mana and use it. I just made platforms to jump on. That’s all I can do.”
〈That’s nuts lol〉
〈You trashed the Black Dragon with that? lol〉
〈This guy’s insane〉
TreasureLuca〈This guy’s even crazier than Maya-chan said〉
〈Yo, Luca’s here!〉
〈She’s not just here, she’s cackling live〉
〈Onii-chan, Luca-san’s watching!〉
“Who?”
〈Your agency senior!〉
〈You don’t know her? She’s a Maya fan and collabed with her!〉
〈She’s a C-rank adventurer!〉
“Sorry, only Maya sticks in my memory… Oh, yeah, she did collab a few times. Very cute, right, Senpai-san?”
TreasureLuca〈Ruined by your first comment〉
Luca’s appearance sent the comments into a frenzy. Some were harsh toward me, but I can’t know someone I don’t know.
“Don’t know her yet, so maybe next time… if I’m free… I’ll check her out. Catch you then.”
TreasureLuca〈Total ‘not watching’ vibe〉
〈LOL〉
〈Onii-chan’s too free-spirited〉
〈This guy’s wild〉
“Hold up. Stop calling me Onii-chan or Onii-san! That’s Maya’s thing. I don’t want random nobodies using it.”
The comments kept throwing around “Onii-chan” and “Onii-san.” When I called them out, they doubled down.
〈Onii-chan〉
〈Onii-chan, I love you〉
〈Onii-chan, kiss kiss〉
“Those who wrote that, read it aloud to your parents. So, no more questions, right? Anything else?”
〈Is this a chill stream? No combat?〉
“No plans for either.”
The stream’s goal was already met, so honestly, I could end it now, but Kirisaki-san hadn’t signaled anything. Scanning the comments, another question popped up.
〈How’d you fight the Black Dragon in the air with just non-elemental magic?〉
“Like this.” I solidified mana into a platform on the spot. It’s basic non-elemental magic, meant for attacking, but you don’t have to launch it. Mana solidification doesn’t last long, so you can’t rely on it too much. With practice, you can hop through the air, but it’s not like flying freely like the Black Dragon—just a neat trick.
〈Huh!?〉
〈That’s insane lol〉
〈Isn’t that too crazy…?〉
They seemed shocked.
〈Anyone else pull off that level of solidification and enhancement?〉
〈First time seeing it…〉
〈That’s practically unique magic〉
〈Non-elemental magic’s usable by anyone with mana, right? Maybe I’ll train〉
Nice, some folks are motivated! “Exactly. Train, and anyone can do it. But while training, picture Maya and subscribe to her channel. That’ll make you stronger!”
〈No way〉
〈This monster was born from sisterly love…?〉
〈Sneaky plug lol〉
Busted. I released the magic and sat back, checking the comments.
“Done with combat questions? Nothing else, right?”
I wanted to wrap up, but questions kept pouring in. I’d just pick the easy ones.
〈What’s your daily life like?〉
“Daily life? I lounge around watching Maya’s archives. Oh, and Maya cooks breakfast and dinner. Jealous, huh?”
〈Ugh, this guy’s annoying〉
〈Even if we ganged up, we couldn’t touch him…〉
〈What kind of star was this guy born under?〉
I feel that. No matter how many lives I live, I’ll never be this lucky again.
〈Wait, are you unemployed?〉
“Unemployed, unemployed. Well, technically an adventurer? I dive into labyrinths occasionally, sell magic stones or items to the guild, and live off that.”
〈Basically a shut-in…〉
〈Living off occasional hauls? What kind of loot…?〉
〈Probably S- or A-rank labyrinth materials〉
〈Right, he did curb-stomp the Black Dragon〉
〈Hold up. His life’s too perfect: watching Maya’s streams, eating her cooking, living together… What!?〉
〈This guy’s infuriating〉
〈So unfair〉
The comments started getting heated, but I didn’t care. Let them vent—it just shows how many fans find Maya amazing!
As I enjoyed the jealousy, another comment appeared.
〈Which labyrinths do you usually hit?〉
“Black Dragon Labyrinth. That dragon’s like my best buddy.”
〈Best buddy?〉
〈Weird phrasing again〉
“We’ve fought a bunch of times, so it wasn’t my first rodeo. That’s why I could handle it.”
The comment section and Kirisaki-san’s staff gasped.
〈LOL〉
〈It wasn’t your first time!?〉
〈So you could’ve escaped without fighting?〉
“By myself, sure. I could’ve used a teleportation stone to warp to the first floor. But what about my angel?”
Labyrinths have teleportation stones, usable only after clearing a floor. On the 94th or 95th floor, Maya couldn’t warp to the first floor without clearing one. So, I took down the Black Dragon—quickest solution. Maya didn’t fight, but being there let her travel between the 95th and first floors.
〈That’s creepy〉
〈Angel’s true, but still creepy〉
〈Yeah, the Black Dragon could’ve hurt Maya-chan〉
“Exactly. Didn’t expect Maya to keep streaming, though. I figured we’d escape and restart from the first floor.”
〈No way lol〉
〈Onii-chan, how’d you get so strong? Were you always this powerful?〉
Another question. Hmm, how to answer… Honestly, I started adventuring ten years ago as a G-rank rookie, scraping by for me and Maya, nearly getting hurt daily, sometimes actually getting hurt, slowly learning to fight. Mana grows with use, and your body strengthens through combat. I kept at it, risking my life every day…
But I can’t say that. Maya’s watching. If she heard about my struggles, she’d feel guilty. So, I’ll skip the painful parts.
“I was weak at first. Level 1 trash, getting beat by slimes.”
〈Seriously?〉
〈Then how’re you this strong now?〉
“How? To spoil my adorable Maya, obviously! Get strong, earn cash, buy her anything she wants!”
〈What kinda reason is that lol〉
“Seriously, if you wanna get strong, dive into labyrinths and fight daily. If you’re signing up for Maya’s guard squad, that’s the minimum.”
〈Don’t enlist us lol〉
〈Daily dives won’t get me to your level lol〉
It’s about how desperately you train. For me, our survival was on the line. Digging up old memories is rough, so I stopped there.
“It’s been, like, an hour, right? I’m getting… not bored, tired. Time to wrap up?”
〈This guy’s too honest lol〉
〈After everything, you saved Maya-chan, so thanks for that〉
〈Yeah, true. Keep streaming〉
〈Waiting for combat streams!〉
〈Subscribed! Please do conquest streams!〉
“Alright, if there’s demand. One last thing: you guys remember today’s goal?”
〈The TV stuff?〉
〈Oh, yeah, you mentioned that〉
“Nah, who cares! Subscribe to Maya’s channel! Later!”
〈That’s not it lol〉
〈Thanks for the stream! Do it again!〉
〈I’ll be back!〉
〈Want combat next time!〉
I glanced at Kirisaki-san. The stream ended, and the monitor went dark.
---
I stretched, done with the broadcast. “Phew, exhausting. Thanks for everything, Kirisaki-san!”
She’d been frozen with a strained expression but snapped out of it with a wry smile. “…I barely did anything after the start. You’re so… free-spirited, or maybe just reckless, Jin-san. You’ve got a knack for owning the room.”
Not sure if that’s praise or shade. “I’m like that at home. I hit the goal, so no issues, right?”
“Fair enough. It went fine… More than fine—your subscriber count’s already over 100,000. The attention’s unreal. Nearly 100,000 concurrent viewers. It was a perfect debut.”
“Cool, but how’s Maya’s channel doing?”
“It’s surged too. Over 500,000 now.”
“Yes!” I did a little dance, and Kirisaki-san gave another wry smile.
“That’s great, but… I’d like to discuss your next stream, if possible…”
“Hm? Oh, yeah.”
It sounded like a hassle, but then I realized—this is a chance. My streams boost Maya’s subscribers, so if I keep going, her channel will grow too. Depending on the plan, I might be in.
“What’s the vibe?”
“Next Saturday, 8 PM… How about a labyrinth stream?”
“From a labyrinth?”
“Yes. There’s demand for combat, so showing you fighting would be ideal. You can focus on battling, no need for much else.”
“So, I can just talk about Maya’s charms the whole time?”
“That’s… an issue in a way, but fine.”
“Then I’m in! Title it ‘All About Maya’s Charms.’”
“That’s too vague, so I’ll add ‘Labyrinth Stream’ too.”
“Sure, do whatever. I’m heading home now.”
“Thank you for today. I’ll follow up with details via LUINE.”
“Got it.”
I waved to the staff and left the office, catching a train home. Navigating the night city, I reached our place, where Maya greeted me.
“Welcome back, Onii-chan!”
Her smile melted my face into a grin, but I was a bit worried. It was past 10 PM. “Maya, you’re still up? Don’t you have school tomorrow?”
“It’s not that late. Oh, I watched your stream! You were so popular! You were super cool, Onii-chan!”
She praised me! Swelling with joy, I replied, “I plugged your channel like crazy!”
“Thanks! Want dinner?”
“There’s leftovers in the fridge, right? I’ll eat those. You can rest.”
“I’ll heat them up, so wash your hands, Onii-chan.”
“Got it.”
I didn’t want to burden her, but her happy offer was hard to refuse. I washed up and headed to the living room, where dishes were piling up. I sat, and Maya took the seat across, tilting her head cutely.
“How was streaming? Tough?”
“Nah, I just did my thing.”
“Haha, totally Onii-chan style. Oh, is your next stream set?”
“They mentioned a labyrinth shoot.”
“You’re doing it!? Yay, I’ll watch!”
She looked thrilled. Good call not refusing. Thanks, Kirisaki-san, I thought, mentally snapping pics of Maya’s smile.
“But, Onii-chan… how strong are you, like, as an adventurer?”
“Hm? Never measured exactly, but strong enough to protect you from bad guys.”
“Dunno what that means, but… you’re crazy strong, right? Be careful, okay? Labyrinth streams are dangerous.”
“I know.”
I did miss that trap because I was distracted by Maya’s cuteness. Gotta stay sharp.
“If anything happened to you, I’d cry, Onii-chan.”
“I know! I’ll never let you cry!”
I answered with all my heart, and Maya nodded with a beaming smile.
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