《Solo Dungeon Camping》


 1. Shahzad鈥檚 Chill Solo Camping Stream #584

    "Good morning, it''s Shahzad. I''m looking forward to another day of solo camping. I always say hello, but I wonder if anyone is really watching me? I only brought an analog clock, so I don''t know if it''s day or night. It''s two in the afternoon now, right? Oh, I should say hello, not good morning."


    ---


    Comments:


    - "It''s the middle of the night."


    - "There are so many people watching you man!!"


    - "It''s the middle of the night and there are already over 30,000 people watching you!"


    - "And this is what happened right after the release without any prior notice. There will be more to come."


    - "Good evening"


    ---


    "Um... I just woke up, and while I was there I went down about four floors to look for some drinking water. So I think I''m on the 42nd floor of the Dhaka''s Center S-class dungeon right now."


    ---


    Comments:


    - "Unprecedented lol"


    - "Wait, isn''t this the first time in the world that someone has made it through forty floors of an S-class dungeon?"


    - "That''s obviously a lie."


    - "This person often makes mistakes, but he doesn''t lie. Thousands of people have tested and proven it."


    ---


    "My food supplies are running low, so I want something to eat... Ah, there''s a Gonohottya Mushroom. If you''re about to enter the dungeon for the first time, be careful of this thing. The thing that has killed the most people in the dungeon isn''t a vicious monster, it''s this Gonohottya Mushroom. It has a really fragrant smell, and if you smell it on an empty stomach, you can''t help but eat it, even though you know it''s poisonous. Then the corpses are used as seedbeds to increase their numbers. It''s a terrifying mushroom. Well, I don''t think there''s any need for me to warn you about it now. It seems to be an ironclad rule that one member of the party must always be eating something. If there''s no one to stop them, they''ll seriously be wiped out. It''s also bad that they''re growing all over the dungeon. Ah, I''m hungry... This looks delicious."


    ---


    Comments:


    - "Oh no, no, no, no!"


    - "Imagine reaching the 42nd floor and then dying to a Gonohottya Mushroom!"


    - "No, this isn''t funny; stop him!"


    ---


    "Actually, not many people know this, but there is a way to eat Gonohottya Mushroom safely. The stomach acid of green slime has the effect of neutralizing the toxins of Gonohottya Mushroom. Slime doesn''t have a stomach, so stomach acid would be strange. What is it? Digestive enzymes? Anyway, you put a stone or something with the smell of meat on it and feed it to the green slime. Once the slime has swallowed the foreign object, it will spit it out along with the digestive enzymes. All you have to do is dip Gonohottya Mushroom into the digestive enzymes and you''re good to go. The color will change from white to reddish brown in a few minutes, so it''s easy to tell when it''s ripe. Then just cook it to be sure, and it''s safe and delicious to eat."


    ---


    Comments:


    - "This info is groundbreaking. This is why I can¡¯t stop watching his streams."


    - "If this is true, it¡¯ll revolutionize dungeon food logistics."


    - "Forget that¡ªit¡¯ll flip dungeon strategies on their head!"


    ---


    ¡°But, you know, at this level, you hardly see slimes anymore. What should I do¡­?¡±


    ---


    Comments:


    - "He''s frozen in place, staring at Gonohottya Mushroom!"


    - "No, no, no! Shahzad, don''t do it!"


    - "Why does this person always just broadcast one-sidedly and never read the comments!?"


    - "Shahzaaaad!!!!!"


    ---


    "Ah, zombies! Look, look, look, everyone! There are zombies! Wow, they''re roaring with energy today too."


    ---


    Comments:


    - "Phew, he threw away the mushrooms. Thank goodness..."


    - "Shahzad''s stream is really nerve-wracking..."


    - "This guy is like a baby and I can''t take my eyes off him"


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ---


    "They say that if you get bitten or scratched by a zombie, you''ll be infected with the zombie virus and turn into a zombie yourself! So, while I''m here, I''ll try getting bitten a little, just to see. Ouch, that hurts! Ahahaha! So Lively.... Ouch, that hurts, that hurts! Ahahahahahaha!"


    ---


    Comments:


    - "Terrifying."


    - "What are you doing?!"


    - "What do you mean, ¡®just to see¡¯?!"


    ---


    "Don''t worry. If you get bitten, you won''t turn into a zombie. It''s just the name and appearance of the zombie that has caused the rumor to spread.... But, you should be careful because a zombie¡¯s mouth has 2,000 times more bacteria than a stray dog¡¯s. You¡¯d definitely die of an infection if bitten.¡±


    ---


    Comments:


    - "¡®Be careful,¡¯ he says while being bitten!"


    - "No, seriously, stop looking at us like that."


    - "How can he give a straight-faced warning while being bitten by a zombie?!"


    ---


    "That hurts... I was bitten quite deeply. But it''s better to be safe than sorry. I have medicine prepared for times like this. It''s a medicine compounded from materials found in the dungeon, and it''s an excellent medicine that will heal a wound of this magnitude in just a few minutes. Plus, the materials are all easy to gather. Everyone, make sure you''re prepared the next time you go into a dungeon."


    ---


    Comments:


    - "Tell me the recipe!"


    - "Isn''t that a better healing potion than Lal-Potion?"


    - "Just by patenting the formula, he could make hundreds of thousand."


    - "Are you stupid? It''ll be in millions ."


    - "Are you going to be okay, Shahzad? The pharmaceutical companies are gonna try to kill you now..."


    "They learned their lesson after the Kaiser incident. They messed with Shahzad, and one of the world''s leading guilds was destroyed."


    "Rumour has it that now, every major guild is fighting to recruit him, or so the rumors say."


    ---


    "Another misconception about zombies is that they are rotten. The rottenness of zombies is like the dirt on humans. They are only dirty on the surface. When you open them up... look, the inside of the body is a beautiful pink color, right? This meat is surprisingly delicious."


    ---


    Comments:


    - "AAAAHHHHHHHH!!! GROSSSSSS!!!"


    - "This is a real food crime¡­"


    - "I can¡¯t eat meat for three days¡­"


    - "What even is ''three days of Meat Academy'' supposed to mean?"


    - "Sorry, I can¡¯t eat meat anymore¡­"


    ---


    "Interestingly, the anatomy of zombies isn¡¯t at all like humans. They don¡¯t have organs, bones, nerves, or even a brain¡ªjust a solid chunk of meat. But they take a humanoid form, which is fascinating. A lot of monsters fear humans, so I¡¯m sure this is part of their survival strategy. Oh, by the way, do you know the difference between monsters and beasts? Some people think it¡¯s about appearance¡ªhumanoids are monsters, and animal-like ones are beasts. But actually, the distinction in survival is whether they¡¯re edible. Beasts are those you can eat, and monsters are those you can¡¯t. It¡¯s not an academic classification, just a surviving cultural. That means zombies aren¡¯t monsters but beasts."


    ---


    Comments:


    - "Even his knowledge is also entertaining."


    - "But you''re the only one eating zombies, Shahzad¡­"


    - "Whoa, the stream just hit 50,000 concurrent viewers."


    "Look at all the international comments rolling in now."


    ---


    "Well then, let''s start cooking! First, for safety''s sake, we''ll cut off the head and limbs. That''s it!"


    ---


    Comments:


    - "What was that? The Nine-Headed Dragon Slash?"


    - "Can someone explain how he just decapitated and dismembered it in one strike?"


    - "Easy. You just strike five times in one blow."


    - "Got it."


    ---


    "Since the meat on the head and limbs is tough and not very tasty, let''s discard it. Oh, but be careful¡ªit¡¯ll keep moving for about three days even after being cut off. It¡¯s safer to toss it far away or crush it under a rock. Now, onto the main part: the torso. Here¡¯s a critical point to note: in the area equivalent to the human solar plexus, there''s a zombie core. As long as this core remains intact, the zombie will regenerate endlessly. See, this is the core. It''s easier to identify because it¡¯s redder compared to the surrounding flesh. Zombies are a valuable food source, so after taking the meat you need, it¡¯s best to leave the core untouched and release it."


    ---


    Comments:


    - ¡°Does anyone know the details about this guy?¡±


    - ¡°All we know is his name.¡±


    - ¡°We¡¯re not even sure if ¡®Shahzad¡¯ is his real name.¡±


    - ¡°He did say in an old stream that he¡¯s self-conscious about the name, so it¡¯s probably his real one.¡±


    - ¡°He also mentioned disliking flashy names that stand out.¡±


    - ¡°Shahzad isn''t flashy, but his last name must be rare.¡±


    - ¡°He did say he¡¯s never met another Bangladeshi person with the same surname as his, so it¡¯s probably extremely uncommon.¡±


    - ¡°Why did he specify ¡®Bangladeshi¡¯ though?¡±


    - ¡°Maybe because the sound of his surname resembles a foreign one?"


    - ¡°So, he¡¯s in his late twenties, about 175 cm tall, named Shahzad and has a super rare surname (possibly foreign-sounding?). That¡¯s all we¡¯ve got?¡±


    - ¡°With such a rare surname, you¡¯d think someone could figure it out¡­¡±


    ---


    ¡°Zombie meat contains a unique component called Bhalo Laga, which apparently doesn¡¯t exist above ground. It¡¯s said to not only boost energy but also have beauty-enhancing effects. The reason I¡¯m so energetic despite spending months in dark dungeons might be thanks to this substance. But still, Bhalo Laga, seriously? Zombies and Gonohottya Mushroom (Massacre Mushrooms) both have such ridiculous names. Above ground, new species are usually discovered by academics or professionals, so their names are more respectable. But in dungeons, adventurers find new species all the time, and the names become chaotic. They call it the ¡®Dungeon Glitter Naming Problem.'' There was talk of an international organization standardizing the naming process, but adventurers protested, so the idea was scrapped. Personally, I don¡¯t care much, so if someone else names things for me, it¡¯s a relief. But still, Bhalo Laga¡ªhilarious, right?¡±


    ---


    Comments:


    - "...If I remember correctly, Shahzad was the one who named both Gonohottya Mushrrom and Zombie..."


    - "It''s not like he named it, but rather that this person started calling it by a random name during a stream, and that became the official name."


    - "By the way, the name "Bhalo Laga" was first mentioned by Shahzad on a stream about three years ago, where he said jokingly, "When I eat zombie meat, I feel energized. I wonder if it contains some strange nutrients? It''s like there is a bhalo laga (good feeling) component inside the meat, lol," and it was later adopted as the official name of the component."


    - "What even is this guy...."


    ---


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s cut off some meat for cooking. I¡¯m starving, so maybe a little extra¡­ Hey, stop squirming. This sword is made of Orichalcum, which is great for hunting monsters but not ideal for delicate work like cooking. That¡¯s where this comes in¡­ Ta-da! The reverse scale of a Three-Headed Dragon! It¡¯s the best tool for precision cutting, and I swear by it.¡±


    ---


    Comments:


    - ¡°Orichalcum!?¡±


    - ¡°And a Three-Headed Dragon¡¯s reverse scale!?¡±


    - ¡°He just casually mentioned two legendary-class items¡­¡±


    - ¡°That reverse scale looked flawless. I¡¯ve never seen an intact one before.¡±


    - ¡°Most of the ones in circulation are old, fallen scales. Even those are super rare. But the one Shahzad has, has vibrant coloring. Could it be¡­?¡±


    - ¡°Wait, did he actually hunt a Three-Headed Dragon? Solo? Even A-rank parties retreat when they encounter one¡­¡±


    - ¡°Also, why is he using such a legendary item as a cooking knife¡­¡±


    ---


    ¡°Oh, by the way, I didn¡¯t hunt it. No way I could take down a Three-Headed Dragon. I just snuck up on it while it was sleeping and plucked the scales. Three in total. It got super mad after that. Haha, well, they¡¯re called reverse scales for a reason.¡±


    ---


    Comments:


    - ¡°Phew, I¡¯m relieved. Shahzad is still human after all.¡±


    - ¡°No, he¡¯s still ridiculous.¡±


    - ¡°Anyone would be furious if you plucked three scales off them, reverse scale or not.¡±


    - ¡°If Shahzad can¡¯t hunt a Three-Headed Dragon, then no one can.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Here¡¯s a fun fact: everyone thinks the Three-Headed Dragon is a single entity, but it¡¯s actually a family¡ªa father, mother, and child fused together. The heads are the male, female, and their offspring. When the offspring mature, they split off, pair with another dragon, and form new families. That¡¯s how they reproduce. Interesting, right? And you know the Two-Headed Dragon? They¡¯re often seen as a weaker subspecies of the Three-Headed Dragon, but that¡¯s a huge misunderstanding. Two-Headed Dragons are actually elderly pairs of dragons that can no longer reproduce.¡±


    ---


    Comments:


    - ¡°More information that sounds like it belongs in a scholarly paper¡­¡±


    - ¡°That explains why Two-Headed Dragon materials are lower in quality compared to Three-Headed Dragons.¡±


    - ¡°They¡¯re just worn out with age. Humans can¡¯t tell how old dragons are anyway.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Before I realized this, I used to eat them every time I encountered one. The central head regrows after being severed, so I thought it was fine. But it turns out the central head is the offspring, and regrowing means they¡¯re just having another kid. Once I figured that out, I couldn¡¯t eat them anymore¡ªjust taking a reverse scale is enough.¡±


    ---


    Comments:


    - ¡°So that¡¯s the reason, huh¡­¡±


    - ¡°Yep, definitely not human.¡±


    - ¡°Calling it ¡®eating¡¯ instead of ¡®killing¡¯ is so casual, it¡¯s terrifying.¡±


    ---


    ¡°By the way, I didn¡¯t need all three reverse scales. I kept one and stashed the other two in a treasure chest on the 38th floor along with some other items. I should remember to retrieve them later. All right, the meat is neatly prepared. I¡¯ll steam it with some herbs, and it¡¯ll be done. My hands are bloody now, so I¡¯ll go wash up. I¡¯ll release the zombie too. Please wait a moment!¡±


    ---


    Comments:


    - ¡°Ah, Shahzad¡¯s signature treasure chests!¡±


    - ¡°Shahzad¡¯s signature? What¡¯s that?¡±


    - ¡°Shahzad has a habit of storing materials and treasures he can¡¯t carry in empty treasure chests. But he always forgets about them. Those chests become way more valuable than unopened ones. That¡¯s why they¡¯re called ¡®Shahzad¡¯s signature chests.¡¯¡±


    - ¡°He¡¯s like a squirrel.¡±


    - ¡°Are people allowed to take from those chests, though? Aren¡¯t they technically his?¡±


    - ¡°It¡¯s a legal gray area. By dungeon law, the contents of a treasure chest belong to the first party that finds it. But no one ever anticipated someone would use empty chests as storage and then forget about them.¡±


    - ¡°Well, Shahzad doesn¡¯t seem to care, so I guess it¡¯s fine?¡±


    - ¡°Dungeon law is still incomplete. There are lots of issues, like disputes over marked but unopened chests.¡±


    - ¡°Laws can¡¯t keep up with someone like Shahzad.¡±


    - ¡°Honestly, Shahzad¡¯s antics are probably speeding up legal reforms.¡±


    - ¡°Wait. Why is no one mentioning the boss? If Shahzad is on the 42nd floor, doesn¡¯t that mean he soloed the boss on the 40th floor? That¡¯s insane.¡±


    - ¡°Well, yeah, but¡­¡±


    - ¡°Are you new here? If that shocks you, you¡¯re in for a rough time.¡±


    - ¡°According to Dr. Nishat, Shahzad could solo clear S-rank dungeons up to the 60th floor. There¡¯s no proof, but it¡¯s believable after watching his streams.¡±


    - ¡°Even now, he¡¯s playing it safe. He considers this a ¡®solo camping trip.¡¯¡±


    - ¡°...I know this has probably been said a million times already, but can I just say it again?¡±


    ¡°What even is this guy, is he really a human?¡±

 2. Solo Camper, Shahzad

    My name is Shahzad Noor Arthur.


    Despite the surname, I''m 100% Bangladeshi.


    I¡¯m a so-called honeymoon baby, conceived when my parents were on their honeymoon in France.


    Caught up in the excitement of their newlywed bliss, they decided to name their fully Bangladeshi son ''Arthur'' on a whim.


    And that¡¯s how I, Shahzad Noor Arthur, came to be.


    ---


    I go by Shahzad and stream my solo camping adventures.


    How I ended up here is a bit complicated, so let me explain.


    To do that, we have to go back to my childhood.


    The root of everything was my name.


    Having a surname like "Arthur" as a pure Bangladeshi kid was, as you can imagine, an endless source of teasing.


    From as far back as I can remember, I was ridiculed.


    It wasn¡¯t full-on bullying, but it was emotionally draining.


    Eight years of enduring this, by the time I hit my 8th Grade, I¡¯d had enough.


    ¡°I just want to be alone.¡±


    Exhausted by human interactions, I began taking solo trips on weekends, eventually falling in love with solo camping.


    A space just for me.


    The calming embrace of nature.


    Nobody knowing who I am.


    Forgetting, even if just for a while, that I was Arthur.


    But over time, dissatisfaction crept in.


    Even in solo camping, true solitude was hard to achieve.


    Other campers were always around at campsites, and even if I had the place to myself, there was always a manager nearby.


    Campsites themselves started to feel off.


    Nature, but managed and curated by human hands.


    Could that really be called nature?


    During the summer of my 9th Grades, I ventured deep into the mountains in search of deeper solitude.  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    I attempted a self-sufficient lifestyle there.


    But this was a huge mistake.


    It wasn¡¯t camping anymore; it was survival.


    Constantly facing the threat of death, frightened by the presence of wild animals, I spent sleepless nights in hunger.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t what I want¡­¡±


    What I loved was camping¡ªnot surviving in extreme conditions.


    Should I settle for the artificial solitude of campsites?


    On the twelfth night of my survival stint, driven by hunger, I ate an unfamiliar mushroom.


    It turned out to be poisonous.


    I spent the entire night writhing in pain, my body burning up and my throat unbearably dry.


    When the agony passed, all that remained was my fading consciousness.


    The wind, the beasts.


    The stars spinning and falling.


    Caught between life and death, I came to a realization.


    ¡°Oh¡­ It¡¯s simple. If I can become strong enough to enjoy camping even in harsh conditions, that¡¯s all I need¡­¡±


    Morning came, and light streamed in.


    By sheer luck, a group of hikers found me and got me to a hospital.


    Dehydration was the real issue, far worse than the poison, and I ended up hospitalized for three days.


    After being discharged, I dedicated myself to training.


    From then on, every day, I did 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats, and ran 10 kilometers.


    It¡¯s a wonder I didn¡¯t go bald, given how intensely I pushed myself.


    I also acquired every possible survival skill and piece of knowledge.


    I decided not to go to school.


    I didn¡¯t see any value in what I could learn there.


    My parents didn¡¯t object. In fact:


    ¡°Well, sure, why not?¡±


    That was their reaction.


    These were, after all, the same people who named their son Arthur. Their mindset was on another level.


    However, there was one problem.


    I had a much younger sister named Nadia, who hated my camping obsession.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Nadia. I¡¯ve trained and learned a lot since last time. I won¡¯t make the same mistake again.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Apparently, my near-death experience had traumatized her.


    I couldn¡¯t just ignore my little sister¡¯s tearful pleas.


    So, I sat her down and had a proper conversation.


    We reached a compromise: I¡¯d check in regularly.


    It¡¯s a convenient age we live in.


    No matter where you are, you can connect through video calls.


    Though I didn¡¯t love bringing digital devices to my camping trips, I didn¡¯t have the conviction to argue against it.


    Eventually, I began traveling overseas, enjoying the camping life while hopping from place to place.


    But sometimes, trouble found me.


    I stumbled upon a suicidal person deep in the woods, listened to their life story for hours, and even helped them get revenge.


    I nearly got killed after wandering into a drug cartel¡¯s plantation.


    I rescued a girl who had been abandoned in the wilderness and raised by wolves.


    I accidentally witnessed a kidnapping and ended up helping free children from a human trafficking ring.


    Ironically, I found myself entangled in deeper relationships than I ever had in the city.


    I had a bad habit of resetting my social connections, running away to new places whenever ties grew too strong.


    That¡¯s partly why I was constantly on the move around the world.


    In the end, I realized one thing:


    ¡°Humans are everywhere.¡±


    The true rulers of Earth.


    No matter where I went, I couldn¡¯t escape the influence of humanity.


    But that was okay.


    I was reasonably content with my camping lifestyle and planned to continue it.


    Or so I thought.


    ---


    Seven years ago, just after I turned 21, something was discovered: a Gate.


    In northern Alaska, a French tourist who¡¯d strayed off a hiking trail stumbled upon it.


    Three meters tall and fifty centimeters wide, it was¡ª


    A crack in the world.


    There¡¯s no other way to describe it.


    Beyond the crack lay a vast expanse.


    A dungeon.


    Soon, gates started appearing worldwide.


    Panic ensued.


    Dungeons teemed with unknown flora and fauna, forming unique ecosystems.


    People feared the potential harm they might bring to the surface world.


    But true to my parents¡¯ legacy of impulse and spontaneity, I snuck into a dungeon in Dhaka¡¯s Central Area, where security wasn''t high due to Dhaka''s Glorious over-population problem, in fact, the central area of Dhaka was kinda abandoned due to this sudden appearance gate....


    It was paradise.


    Untouched wilderness, free from human interference.


    Though the dungeon was harsh, that didn¡¯t matter.


    I just needed to grow strong enough to handle it.


    For the first time, I was truly alone.


    That was enough for me.


    Back then, there were no dungeon links, and communication with the surface was impossible.


    But I kept my promise to Nadia by recording videos and sending them to her.


    ¡°Nadia! Look at this! A giant lizard cow! What even is this? Haha!¡±


    Unsurprisingly, she was furious.


    ¡°Are you an idiot?! What if you get caught?! How can you go somewhere full of unknown creatures?! Get back here, you idiot Shahzad!¡±


    ¡°It''s like I¡¯m a demon''s brother or something, Haha...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you say to your angry sister?!¡±


    At the time, civilians were strictly prohibited from entering dungeons, and they were undeniably dangerous.


    Nadia had every right to be angry.


    But even for her, I couldn¡¯t give up this ultimate camping experience.


    I explained everything to her in detail.


    That dungeons weren¡¯t as dangerous as people thought.


    That I was genuinely enjoying my time there.


    Whether it was my passion or her resignation, she stopped asking me to come back.


    Instead, she said:


    ¡°Well, then I''ll upload these videos online!¡±


    Two years later, dungeon links were established, and I began streaming my adventures.

 3. The Town, The Park, and The Error

    "It''s getting developed more and more... Humans are amazing..."


    A genuine thought slipped out of my mouth.


    Dhaka Central S-Class Dungeon, first level.


    ...But, is this really a dungeon?


    I can''t help but question it.


    "Would you like to try some magic experience? We''re having a special discount for first-time customers!"


    "Come on over and see! We''ve caught a skeleton python from the 10th level and brought it here alive!"


    "You can try monster cuisine here! Why eat something just like what you can get on the surface when you''re already in the dungeon?"


    "Looking for an exciting tour experience? A team of five adventurers, including C-class, will safely guide you through the first three levels!"


    It feels like a blend of a department store basement and a festival stall.


    The dungeon''s rocky walls are exposed, and although it''s not as dim as the deeper levels, it''s still dark.


    But if you were told that this is a commercial facility with such a concept, it would make sense.


    Dungeon Park.


    Now it''s not something unusual anymore.


    You can see scenes like this in any dungeon, although the scale may differ.


    "Hey, you there!"


    A man in his forties calls out to me.


    "We sell crafts made from materials obtained in the dungeon. If you''re interested..."


    The man suddenly stiffens.


    "...Ah, right, I completely forgot. I need to go restock."


    He quickly turns around and heads back into his shop.


    The bustling atmosphere seems to dissipate just as suddenly.


    (Just now it was so noisy, but now everything feels oddly quiet¡­)


    "Who¡¯s that¡­"


    "Idiot, don¡¯t point!"


    "Why so quick¡­"


    Whispered voices float around.


    (Ugh, I hate this¡­ Thanks to the trauma of being teased as a kid, I feel like everyone is talking about me¡­)


    I know it''s an overreaction, but it¡¯s hard to avoid those feelings, rooted as they are in past pain.


    I glance around, but no one meets my eyes.


    (See, I knew it. I¡¯m just overthinking¡­)


    In fact, it feels more like people are deliberately avoiding looking at me.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Maybe that''s just another paranoid thought, though.


    Despite all the people here, the crowd parts in front of me.


    It feels almost as if I''m being avoided, but could this just be another mistake in perception?


    (No, this doesn¡¯t feel like a misunderstanding¡­ Is it my smell after all? I¡¯ve tried to stay clean¡­)


    I sniff at my clothes, but I can''t tell if I smell bad or not.


    This time, I returned earlier than usual after a week-long camp, so I figured I¡¯d be fresher than normal.


    But even so, people still seem to avoid me just like always.


    (At this point, maybe it¡¯s not just about not showering for a week¡­ maybe I do stink¡­)


    It stings a little.


    Just a few years ago, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.


    (Could it be¡­ body odor? No, but I¡¯m not that old¡­)


    As I walk through Dungeon Park, I often see people camping.


    (What¡¯s the point of setting up tents here? They¡¯re not even experiencing the fun of camping.)


    As someone who loves camping, I can''t help but think this way.


    But from their perspective, it¡¯s probably none of my business.


    After all, they¡¯re not camping here because they enjoy it.


    Dungeon Parks don''t have accommodations.


    The reason for this is a bit complicated.


    The history of Dungeon Parks comes into play.


    Six years ago, two years after the first dungeon appeared, the Dungeon that emerged in Last Haven, Pennsylvania, is considered the birthplace of Dungeon Parks.


    As expected of America, they were quick to develop dungeons, and you might think it¡¯s progressive.


    But the reality was different.


    Last Haven was one of the worst slums in America.


    It had once thrived from steel and coal industries, but when those industries collapsed, it became a ghost town.


    As a result, the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry even issued a warning not to visit, it had deteriorated so much.


    Crime rates, the number of gangs, and homeless people were all the highest in the world, on a per capita basis.


    Life was said to be heavier than a penny but lighter than a dollar bill.


    That was the state of the land.


    The people of Last Haven chose to live in the dungeon rather than on the surface.


    Inside the dungeon, it doesn''t rain.


    There are no seasons, so you won¡¯t freeze or suffer from the heat.


    Of course, monsters existed.


    But who cares?


    In Last Haven, murders were committed over scraps of bread.


    It was better to kill monsters than people.


    It was better to be killed by monsters than by people.


    More importantly, dungeons offered the chance to strike it rich.


    The resources were abundant, and there was no competition over them.


    Well, that logic aside, the truth is they probably didn¡¯t want to hurt anyone.


    They had no choice but to take from others to survive, to protect their families.


    They chose to help each other inside the dungeon.


    Of course, there were those who tried to profit at the expense of others.


    They claimed ownership of gates, charged tolls, or extorted others for money.


    But those who did such things were seen as weaklings who couldn¡¯t fight for themselves.


    In the dungeon, guns couldn¡¯t be used.


    The same went for bombs.


    Even if a curious person brought in a flintlock gun or dynamite, it wouldn''t work.


    Only primitive weapons like knives and blunt instruments were effective.


    The dungeon was a place where pure strength mattered.


    Gang bosses who were once on top above ground became weak in the dungeon.


    It was a complete reversal of power.


    But gangs didn¡¯t stay silent.


    There were many incidents where they ambushed people just as they left the dungeon, gunning them down and stealing their valuables.


    It was a cruel irony that it was safer in the dungeon than outside of it.


    But that too eventually calmed down.


    It turned out it was more worthwhile to go into the dungeon than to continue gang activities above ground.


    Gang members increasingly flowed into the dungeon, and the gang bosses who had been top dogs vanished without a trace.


    Did they escape because they felt threatened? Or¡­?


    As an outsider, I can''t say for sure.


    In fact, this whole story is just something I heard.


    My little sister has a friend who¡¯s obsessed with dungeons, and they tell me all sorts of things.


    One of my favorite stories is about a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy who was pointed at by a gang boss with a gun and just said, "So?" in response.


    But whether that actually happened, I can''t say for sure.


    In any case, the Last Haven Dungeon flourished this way.


    People built homes inside the dungeon and lived there.


    The first level functioned as a full-fledged town, eventually becoming known as Dungeon Town.


    But one day, a tragedy struck.


    It would later be known as the Dungeon Error disaster.


    In the seven years since the first gate was discovered, only a handful of such incidents had been observed.


    But one thing is certain: the event in Last Haven was the first and worst Dungeon Error.


    The people of Last Haven lived peacefully in Dungeon Town.


    Even if monsters appeared, they had a system of mutual assistance that made it easy to deal with them.


    After all, the monsters in the first level were relatively weak, and the numbers were overwhelmingly in their favor.


    But then¡­


    On the 16th of February, in the third year of the dungeon calendar, a powerful group of monsters suddenly appeared and attacked Dungeon Town.


    The number of casualties exceeded a thousand in a single disaster.


    The incident shocked the world and reminded everyone of the dangers of dungeons.


    The number of people entering dungeons plummeted, and my little sister firmly forbade me from going.


    "If you want to camp, you can do it on the surface," she said.


    She doesn¡¯t understand anything.


    Once you¡¯ve experienced the joys of dungeon camping, you can¡¯t go back to regular camping.


    But after my sister said, "If you go into a dungeon without permission, I¡¯ll cut ties with you!" I had no choice but to reluctantly obey.


    Time passed¡­


    Humans are resilient, or maybe they just forget things easily.


    Or perhaps it¡¯s the dungeon''s magic that draws people in.


    Now, this is the reality.


    Of course, measures have been put in place to prevent another tragedy like the one in Last Haven.


    Going into a dungeon for just a day isn¡¯t realistic.


    I can comfortably camp for weeks, and sometimes stay more than a month.


    But what caused the Dungeon Error in Last Haven?


    No one knows for sure, but there¡¯s a theory: it might have been because people settled in the dungeon.


    The dungeon allows invasion, but it doesn¡¯t tolerate conquest.


    That¡¯s probably the dungeon''s law.


    For that reason, building homes or accommodations inside the dungeon is prohibited.


    Bringing in bedding is restricted, and only up to 30% of the floor area can be developed.


    International Dungeon Law established these rules.


    The name "Dungeon Park" was adopted for the same reason.


    It¡¯s a park, not a town.


    And so, they insist they haven¡¯t settled there.


    But¡­ who are they insisting this to? To the dungeon itself?


    Bangladesh has strict laws and regulations, but there are rumors that powerful people and celebrities in other countries secretly own vacation homes inside dungeons. [A/N: If people can buy lands in moon, then why not dungeons :D]


    For now, no other incidents like Last Haven¡¯s disaster have occurred.


    (But that doesn¡¯t guarantee safety in the future.)


    It could happen at any time¡­


    Suddenly, a high-pitched scream of a woman pierces the air.

 4. Nagin

    "Nagin has escaped! Someone, an adventurer, help!"


    A deep, urgent voice called out.


    The commotion came from the circus troupe.


    It seemed a magical beast they had captured for a show had broken loose.


    Realizing it wasn¡¯t a dungeon error, I heaved a sigh of relief.


    ---


    ¡°Hey, you go handle it. You¡¯re a B-rank, right?¡±


    ¡°No way, I¡¯m off-duty today¡­ Besides, I can¡¯t take on a monster that strong alone¡­¡±


    A whispered exchange.


    Everyone hoping someone else would act.


    I tore through that indecision and ran toward the source of the chaos.


    ---


    Nagin.


    A magical beast with a human upper body and a massive snake lower body.


    Her skin was a dusky grayish-brown, and her face grotesque and vicious.


    You could barely tell she was female from her build.


    Looking closely, her hair was made of countless small snakes. While she didn¡¯t have the power to petrify, her appearance screamed ¡°Medusa.¡±


    (Who the hell named her Nagin instead of Medusa¡­?)


    Considering how the name ¡°Zombie¡± spreads rumors about infectious properties, I guess it wasn¡¯t the worst decision.


    If she¡¯d been named Medusa, people would¡¯ve assumed she could petrify others.


    (Still, Nagin is taking things too far¡­)


    I shook off the thought¡ªthis wasn¡¯t the time for jokes.  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Nagin was lunging at a woman.


    Just before her sharp claws could tear the woman apart¡ª


    I sliced through Nagin¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Phew¡­¡±


    That was close.


    Even though she wasn¡¯t particularly strong, a magical beast was still a magical beast.


    ---


    ¡°Th-thank you¡­ You saved me¡­¡±


    The woman sat on the ground, her legs seemingly giving out beneath her.


    She was a beautiful older lady¡ªor so I thought. She was probably younger than me, but with my teenage mindset, she seemed older.


    I instinctively stepped back from her.


    Then I noticed her outfit: a cute clown-themed dress. She was likely a circus employee.


    (Ah, crap! In the heat of the moment, I killed Nagin¡­ But she was the circus¡¯s property. Even if she¡¯s a magical beast, they might make me compensate them¡­)


    I was in trouble.


    I was dirt poor.


    I had no idea how much Nagin was worth, but I definitely couldn¡¯t afford it.


    (Should I go catch another Nagin to replace her? But considering the cost of training her, that might not even come close¡­)


    Panicking, I fumbled through my belongings and pulled out a ring I¡¯d picked up during a solo camping trip.


    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±


    I handed it to her, unsure if it was worth anything, as a gesture of atonement.


    Before she could say anything, I turned my back and started walking away.


    ¡°Wait! Please wait!¡±


    Of course, she called out.


    But I didn¡¯t look back, vanishing into the crowd.


    (I¡¯m sorry. That¡¯s the best I can do¡­)


    With guilt weighing on me, I headed toward the dungeon exit.


    ---


    Near the gate stood a large building, like an airport security checkpoint.


    Officials from the Dungeon Bureau managed the comings and goings of people there.


    A long line stretched ahead of me, and I joined the end of it.


    As people remembered errands or lost patience, they trickled out of line. Before long, it was my turn.


    (This kind of thing happens a lot¡­ Like when I walked into a restaurant out of curiosity, only to realize I was the only customer left. Could it be¡­?)


    I didn¡¯t want to believe it, but there was no other explanation.


    (Am I really that smelly!?)


    Incidentally, that restaurant had advertised ¡°exotic monster cuisine.¡± But the food turned out to be ordinary, just unavailable above ground. I¡¯d wondered how they got away with such false advertising.


    ---


    ¡°Excuse me¡­¡±


    A female inspector¡¯s voice brought me back to reality.


    Even though I brushed my teeth regularly, I worried I might smell.


    Wordlessly, I handed over my tourist pass.


    I placed all the items I¡¯d gathered in the dungeon onto the desk.


    ¡°This is¡­ an Orichalcum¡­¡±


    I nodded.


    There were also dragon king fangs, scales from a three-headed dragon, mithril ore, a treasure sword, a massive mysterious key, a phoenix feather¡ªet cetera, et cetera, et cetera.


    The young inspector swallowed nervously, clearly overwhelmed.


    She looked to be about twenty years old¡ªlikely new to the job.


    Her inexperience reminded me of when I worked at a convenience store during my teenage years to save up for camping. My first time working the register had felt much like this.


    Resolved to be a cooperative customer, I nodded encouragingly.


    ¡°Are you submitting all of this?¡±


    I nodded again.


    That was the rule.


    With a tourist pass, you could only take out as much as fit into the pouch they provided.


    I held up the pouch, branded with the Dungeon Bureau¡¯s logo and their mascots, Adil and Tareq.


    ¡°It¡¯s regulation, so¡­¡±


    Then I noticed her hesitation.


    She didn¡¯t seem to believe that I had handed over everything.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ a body search¡­?¡±


    I¡¯d never been body-searched before.


    I¡¯d assumed such things were handled casually.


    I only carried minimal supplies, so there wasn¡¯t much I could smuggle out even if I wanted to.


    But since she was new, maybe she was intent on following the rules strictly.


    (Oh no¡­ If she searches me, she might think I smell bad¡­)


    Having a young, cute woman think I stink would destroy me.


    ¡°N-no! Not at all! Please, proceed!¡±


    Relieved, I left the checkpoint quickly.


    (I probably came across as a rude customer¡­)


    During my convenience store days, I¡¯d dealt with plenty of rude customers.


    Most customers, in fact, were like that.


    There were even some who completely ignored me¡­


    (That¡¯s why I always tried to be polite. I can¡¯t believe I blew it¡­)


    But being a slightly rude customer was nothing unusual.


    I consoled myself with the thought that I might have provided at least some experience points for her.


    ---


    In any case, I passed through the gate.


    For the first time in a week, I was back on the surface.

 5. Keyas Morning Routine

    Carefully leaving the bedroom without waking Nadia, I head out.


    I go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, drink room-temperature water with electrolytes, and take care of my face.


    Then I switch on the coffee machine and boil water with the electric kettle.


    While the coffee brews, I stretch and do some light exercises.


    I pour the coffee into a large mug and dilute it with hot water.


    I always go for an Americano in the morning.


    Sitting on the sofa by the window, I sip my coffee little by little while browsing dungeon-related news on my digital device.


    It''s my usual morning routine.


    I feel like a health-conscious woman in her late twenties. Even I think so.


    And how many times have I been told, "You don''t seem like a high schooler"?


    But this is just who I am, so it can''t be helped.


    ---


    "Hm?"


    What caught my eye first was an official apology from the Ministry of Dungeons.


    I skim through it.


    Apparently, a staff member from the Ministry made an inappropriate post on social media.


    What surprised me was that the Ministry fully acknowledged their fault and issued a formal apology.


    *(All this over a simple staff post?)*


    Even more unbelievable, the post had only gone up this morning.


    *(Their response is so fast¡­)*


    Anyone else might have missed this entirely. But this¡­ This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ---


    "This reeks of Shahzad."


    I launch "T" (a very popular app).


    The original post had already been deleted, but screenshots were circulating everywhere.


    ---


    Post:


    "This is insane! You know that person who''s always trending online? I was the one in charge of inspecting his gate, and it was terrifying! He barely spoke, and when he did, it was all mumbled, like, ''Touch me, and you won''t get away with it,'' just oozing threats! There''s no way he''s normal. I''ve seen clips from his streams a few times, but he''s totally faking that laid-back vibe. Can''t say who, but everyone should be careful!"


    ---


    "Oh dear."


    At least they seem to have some basic net literacy and avoided naming names.


    "But anyone could figure out who they''re talking about."


    In no time, the poster''s affiliation and name were identified based on their past posts.


    They must''ve posted it without much thought, never imagining it would escalate this far.


    "The internet is a scary place."


    I feel a bit sorry for them, but this was a mess they created themselves.


    "And still, just how scared is the Ministry of Dungeons?"


    I can kind of understand, though.


    Shahzad evokes two polar opposite reactions.


    ---


    One group is made up of viewers of Shahzad''s streams, his fans.


    Despite the booming popularity of dungeons, only a handful of daredevils actually attempt to become adventurers.


    For most, strolling around dungeon parks is as far as they''ll go.


    With dungeon streams so widespread, why take risks when you can enjoy a simulated experience from the safety of your home?


    *(That popularity has caused its own set of issues, though¡­)*


    For instance, "Death-baiters".


    These are people who deliberately post comments designed to lead adventurers into danger, causing real trouble.


    Some rookie adventurers have even lost their lives because of it. There have been arrests overseas, and while regulations have tightened significantly, the problem persists.


    *(Well, he doesn''t look at comments, so it doesn''t concern him.)*


    For these casual viewers, Shahzad''s streams are simply entertaining.


    Flashy, novel, thrilling.


    They''re aware of Shahzad''s abnormality, but his tendency to stumble into trouble¡ªseemingly by accident¡ªmakes him all the more appealing.


    To his viewers, Shahzad is nothing more than a fascinating streamer.


    ---


    But for adventurers, the perspective is entirely different.


    For those who actually delve into dungeons, Shahzad''s abnormality isn''t just theoretical¡ªit''s something they feel firsthand.


    The laid-back atmosphere of his streams only heightens his otherworldly nature.


    *Awe.*


    To adventurers, Shahzad is akin to a supreme entity, or a demon.


    Dungeon parks attract many tourists. Some of them are undoubtedly Shahzad''s fans.


    But no one ever approaches him.


    The unsettling aura exuded by the adventurers around him intimidates even his fans into keeping their distance.


    As if by unspoken agreement, everyone steers clear of him.


    ---


    A year ago, things weren''t this extreme.


    Back then, Shahzad''s strength and abnormality were well-known in the community, but only to a niche audience.


    It was one particular incident that propelled him to worldwide fame.


    The Kaiser Incident.

 6. The Kaiser Incident and the Tourist Pass

    Kaiser used to be the largest guild in Bangladesh.


    Yes, ''used to be''. That''s a thing of the past.


    One year ago, Kaiser was destroyed.


    By a single individual.


    Kaiser had always had a terrible reputation.


    Monopolizing hunting grounds, stealing, sabotaging other guilds, harassment, and aggressive poaching.


    Their behavior was so egregious they were even referred to as "Dungeon Mafia."


    Complaints poured in, but the Dungeon Agency largely turned a blind eye.


    It later came to light that some bureaucrats and politicians were receiving large sums of money from Kaiser, but at the time, Kaiser was practically untouchable.


    They dominated the dungeon business in Bangladesh and did whatever they pleased.


    Kaiser set their sights on Shahzad.


    They launched a full-scale smear campaign against him.


    Why was Shahzad targeted?


    Political reasons? Involvement in vested interests? A love triangle? Publicity? A desire to control him?


    Many rumors circulated. The truth, however, is still unknown now that Kaiser has been obliterated.


    But I think the main reason was likely simple: their pride was hurt.


    Among adventurers, it was often said:


    "They act all high and mighty, but even if they all gang up together, they couldn''t beat a hair of Shahzad alone."


    Using someone else''s name like that is cowardly and pathetic.


    But it was undeniably true.


    And that''s probably why Kaiser couldn''t just ignore it.


    (He must have found it so annoying.)


    It all started with mild provocations.


    ---


    "He''s not as great as the rumors say."


    "There''s a lot of fake news mixed in."


    "He''s just a fraud with good theatrics."


    "Eating worms? That''s seriously gross."


    ---


    Shahzad, however, didn''t respond at all.


    He completely ignored them.


    That probably hurt their pride even more, so their harassment escalated.


    They burned papers printed with Shahzad''s face, made life-sized dolls of Shahzad and tore them apart.


    Eventually, they even put a bounty on his head.


    This excessive behavior finally prompted the Dungeon Agency to issue a warning.


    "The bounty was just for information about Shahzad. We never intended to cause harm."


    Kaiser offered such a ludicrous excuse.


    They even took advantage of the backlash to stir up hate speech. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ---


    "Why is he so intent on hiding his identity?"


    "Doesn''t he have something to hide?"


    "Criminal!"


    "For the sake of the public, we should thoroughly investigate his background."


    "He should come out of the dungeon and explain himself to us."


    ---


    Ignoring their own actions, they treated Shahzad like some kind of public menace.


    And unbelievably, the Dungeon Agency sided with Kaiser.


    Despite everything Kaiser had done, they faced no repercussions.


    Instead, the agency issued a public statement urging Shahzad to turn himself in.


    And the consequences of that decision¡­


    Well, everyone knows what happened next.


    Kaiser was utterly crushed like ants.


    Their branches across Bangladesh were attacked one after another, and their headquarters were reduced to nothing.


    Their various misdeeds were exposed, leading to numerous arrests, including bureaucrats and politicians.


    Thanks to that, the current Dungeon Agency has reportedly become much more transparent and functional.


    The person who attacked Kaiser remains unknown.


    Despite the scale of the incident, not a single piece of evidence was left behind.


    But honestly, the only one capable of such a thing is¡­


    (Now that I think about it, I''m related with someone who can single-handedly destroy one of the world''s largest guilds¡­)


    But knowing what kind of person he is, I don''t feel scared at all.


    After all, it was Kaiser who picked the fight in the first place.


    (It''s completely excessive self-defense¡­ No, it''s probably not even self-defense at this point.)


    Kaiser already had a terrible reputation.


    I''ve heard that while the executives enjoyed the spoils, the lower-level members were exploited and barely scraping by.


    Considering that, taking down Kaiser could almost make him a hero.


    But that''s not how it turned out, and there''s a reason for that.


    The existence of the Tourist Pass.


    For ordinary people to enter a dungeon, they must either join a guild and become adventurers or purchase a Tourist Pass.


    Tourist Pass holders receive a small drawstring pouch.


    Except for items purchased from shops or craft stores, only items that fit inside this pouch can be taken out of the dungeon (and they must be obtained by the individual themselves).


    The items from the upper floors of dungeons aren''t anything particularly valuable.


    While the rule is officially in place to allow tourists to take home souvenirs, the real purpose is largely to combat tax evasion.


    Adventurers are required to appraise their items at market value and pay a 20% tax to the government.


    On top of that, they must pay a cut to their guild.


    The exact terms depend on the contract, but adventurers typically take home 50-60% of their earnings, sometimes less after expenses.


    Because of this, there was once a trend of using tourists to smuggle items and evade taxes.


    Many adventurers are dissatisfied with the current system.


    But for now, becoming an adventurer remains the most advantageous option.


    You get support from your guild, surprisingly good benefits, and, most importantly, it''s easier to find comrades to entrust your life to.


    If you''re serious about dungeon diving, there''s no alternative to being an adventurer.


    And yet¡­


    Shahzad still hasn''t registered as an adventurer.


    He doesn''t belong to any guild and always buys a Tourist Pass.


    Why would he do something so inefficient?


    Becoming an adventurer would be far more beneficial.


    With Shahzad''s reputation, he could join the biggest guilds under the most favorable terms.


    Some might even offer huge signing bonuses just for the prestige of having him.


    There''s only one¡­


    Just one advantage of the Tourist Pass:


    You don''t have to reveal your identity.


    You can dive into dungeons without anyone knowing your background or name.


    But even so¡­


    Imagine it.


    Hardened adventurers gearing up, forming parties, strategizing, and preparing extensively to face the dangers of dungeons.


    Even then, there''s no guarantee of survival.


    Yet Shahzad casually strolls in lightly equipped, dives solo into the deepest levels, and returns with rare items.


    Then he hands everything over to the government without hesitation.


    Even though he has a history with the Dungeon Agency due to the Kaiser incident.


    Why go to such lengths to conceal his identity?


    That overwhelming strength¡­


    Maybe Kaiser wasn''t destroyed because they picked a fight with him, but because they tried to uncover his identity.


    What do people see when they look at someone like Shahzad?


    ¡ª Take the items. Just don''t pry into my business.


    That''s more than enough to terrify people.


    Not just adventurers, but even government agencies.


    (Well, honestly, it''s just that he doesn''t see himself as an adventurer. He still thinks of himself as just a camping enthusiast.)


    He hands over items simply because he''s not attached to them.


    In fact, he probably thinks it''s only fair since they provide such a great camping spot.


    (That''s why he diligently brings back items, even though they don''t benefit him. He''s too kind.)


    Then my eyes caught another piece of news.


    A captured Nagin had escaped, and a woman was saved just in time from its attack.


    Shahzad didn''t accept any thanks or praise; he simply left.


    But before leaving, he gave the woman a ring.


    A ring worth over 2 million BDT .


    The woman''s interview, uploaded just minutes ago, showed her glowing with excitement, as if she''d just been proposed to.


    On her left ring finger was the ring in question.


    "It looks like he proposed¡­ What is he doing¡­ He really is hilarious."


    But I can''t let Shahzad see this news, I thought, just as the doorbell rang.


    Who would visit this early in the morning?


    Then I realized there was only one person it could be.


    I got up and headed to the door, still not fully awake from the lack of caffeine.


    When I opened it, sure enough¡­


    "Welcome back, brother."


    Standing there was just a camping enthusiast (albeit the strongest in the world).

 7. Big Brother Shahzad

    "Sorry, Keya. Coming over so early in the morning like this."


    "Oh, no, don''t worry about <u>it</u>. But... you have a spare key, don''t you?"


    I wondered if he had lost it, but since he had already passed through the apartment''s auto-lock, that couldn''t be the case.


    "Yeah, well¡­ But it''s early morning, and I felt weird just letting myself in with the key. I figured you''d already be awake, so I thought it¡¯d be better to ring the doorbell."


    "You don''t have to be so considerate."


    I opened the door wide.


    "Come on in."


    "¡­"


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Uh, well¡­ You go in first. I''ll open the door myself."


    "Huh? Uh, okay¡­"


    Following his request, I stepped away from the entrance and moved into the hallway.


    Shahzad followed me inside, but I got the feeling he was keeping his distance from me.


    (He¡¯s probably misunderstanding something again¡­)


    "Ah, can I borrow your shower? My internal clock is completely off by half a day, and the bathhouse wasn¡¯t open. I went out thinking it was still night."


    "Of course, go ahead. You must be tired. I can heat up the leftover bathwater from yesterday if you''re okay with that."


    "Nah, no need for that."


    "Don''t be so considerate."


    Arguing about it wouldn''t get us anywhere, so I quickly went to the bathroom and pressed the reheat button.


    "Just relax in the living room until it¡¯s ready. Want some coffee?"


    "No, I''m good. Thanks."


    We moved to the living room together.


    I brought my half-finished coffee to the low table and sat on the sofa facing him.


    And yet, Shahzad¡­


    "Uh¡­ I told you to make yourself comfortable, didn''t I?"


    "¡­Yeah, you did."


    "Then why are you just standing in the corner?"


    "Well, you see¡­ I just got back from a dungeon, and I might be dirty."


    "I don¡¯t mind. Besides, you¡¯re not even dirty."


    "No, seriously, I''m fine like this."


    "You say that, but standing there makes *me* feel awkward." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Shahzad seemed to choke on his words.


    People who are overly considerate often hate making others feel the same way.


    "Well, um¡­ the thing is¡­"


    Shahzad¡¯s face turned red.


    "I think I smell bad¡­"


    "Smell bad?"


    "At the Dungeon Park, people kept avoiding me¡­"


    "Oh. Well, that¡¯s¡­"


    They probably *were* avoiding him, but for a completely different reason.


    (So that''s what the weird tension at the entrance was about¡­)


    "Not long ago, this never happened¡­ But I guess now that I¡¯m getting older, it¡¯s like, body odor or something¡­"


    "Body odor? You¡¯re only twenty-seven, Shahzad."


    "But people are actually avoiding me¡­"


    "¡­"


    That was true, which made it tricky.


    Realizing words wouldn''t convince him, I stood up.


    Then, I strode straight toward him.


    "Wait, Keya!?"


    Shahzad stepped back, but since he had been standing in the corner of the living room from the start, he quickly bumped into the wall.


    He tried to escape to the side, but I blocked him with my hand.


    With the other side being a corner, he had nowhere to go.


    "Wait, seriously, please don¡¯t¡ªstay back¡­!"


    Shahzad¡¯s face turned pale.


    He really hated the idea of being told he smelled bad.


    Since we were almost the same height¡ªthough that was because I was tall, not because he was short¡ªit probably looked fine from the outside.


    But thanks to his reaction, there was no romantic tension at all.


    Instead, it felt like a scene from a horror movie.


    (*I¡¯m literally cornering the strongest man in the world¡­*)


    A sadistic urge rose in me, but if Nadia saw this, it would be a disaster.


    I leaned in and sniffed Shahzad.


    He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth.


    "Yep, you don¡¯t smell bad at all."


    "¡­What?"


    "There were times when you spent *way* longer in dungeons, and I never thought you smelled bad. So, it''s just in your head."


    "No, you¡¯re just being nice¡ª"


    "It¡¯s the opposite. In these situations, honesty is kindness."


    "Huh? So¡­?"


    "You don¡¯t smell bad. I guarantee it."


    Shahzad''s face lit up instantly.


    (*He¡¯s so expressive. Like a kid.*)


    But his face soon clouded over again.


    "Then why was everyone avoiding me¡­?"


    "Ah¡­"


    And we''re back to this.


    "Maybe they just don¡¯t like you?"


    "Oh, that makes sense¡­ I never thought of that¡­ I have been going to that dungeon for a long time¡­ Haha¡­"


    I had meant it as a joke, but it hit him hard.


    (*Sorry, Shahzad¡­*)


    He understood that he wasn¡¯t smelly, but he still remained in the corner of the living room.


    To change the subject, I spoke up.


    "Oh, right. I saw something on T."


    "T?"


    "Dungeon¡¯s SNS - D. They changed the name recently due to some trademark issue."


    T (formerly D) was a social media platform originally made for adventurers to exchange information.


    It eventually grew beyond that and now had over two billion users worldwide.


    Since it was acquired by Dungeon Link, it specialized in dungeon-related topics.


    "I saw that there was trouble in the dungeon you were in. Something about a *Nagin* escaping from the circus?"


    "Oh, yeah, that. It''s already spreading? That was fast. I kind of got involved in that, actually."


    "Really?"


    I sounded innocent, but of course, I already knew.


    The reason it was a trending topic in the first place was because *he* was involved.


    "So, what happened?"


    "A woman was about to be attacked by Nagin, so I jumped in and saved her. But I panicked and ended up killing it."


    "And?"


    I didn¡¯t see why he looked so apologetic.


    "Well, you know¡­ Even though it was a beast, Nagin technically belonged to the circus. So I thought I¡¯d get in trouble¡­"


    "Ahh¡­"


    He saved someone and still worried about things like that.


    (*He¡¯s either too kind or just too negative¡­*)


    "I gave them a fancy ring as compensation, just in case."


    "I see¡­"


    So that¡¯s how it happened.


    "Still, Nagin, huh¡­"


    "What?"


    "Just thinking¡­ Who named a Medusa-like creature *Nagin*? It has to be a Bangladeshi person. Then again, given its popularity overseas, maybe not. The name does have that kind of *internet humor* feel to it¡­"


    "Eh?"


    "Hm? What?"


    "Nothing¡­"


    The one who named it was Shahzad.


    In an old stream, he had found a monster resembling Medusa and had gone,


    *"Wait, what¡¯s this called again? I know it! Nagin? No, not Nagin¡­ Uh¡­"*


    But he never remembered Medusa¡¯s actual name and kept calling it Nagin.


    By the time he finally remembered, it was too late.


    The name had stuck.


    (*Shahzad doesn¡¯t like his own name, but his naming sense is just as bad. Maybe it runs in the family?*)


    Just as I was lost in thought, the bedroom door suddenly slammed open.


    Nadia burst out in her pajamas.


    "Good morning, everyone!"

 8. Little Sister, Nadia

    The bedroom door burst open with a loud *BANG!* and Nadia, still in her pajamas, came flying out.


    "Good morning, everyone!"


    "Oh, good morning, Nadia."


    "Keya!"


    From where Nadia was standing, she probably hadn''t noticed her older brother standing in the corner of the living room.


    As soon as she spotted me, she leaped at me.


    Nadia has these days, about twice a month, when she wakes up in an unusually high-spirited mood.


    Unfortunately, today just happened to be one of those days.


    "Keya, Keya, Keya! Ahh, my dear friend! Why must you be so beautiful? Keya! I love you!"


    "Ah, wait, Nadia, Nadia¡ª"


    "Hm? What?"


    "Big brother''s back."


    "Huh?"


    "Ah, I''m home, Nadia."


    "¡­¡­"


    Nadia stood up as if nothing had happened and silently walked back into her bedroom, leaving behind a horribly awkward atmosphere in the living room.


    "¡­¡­"


    "¡­¡­"


    "Um, I think the bath should be ready now."


    "Oh, right. Then, I''ll go ahead and take one."


    Shahzad headed toward the bathroom.


    Some time later, the bedroom door burst open again with a loud *BANG!*


    Dressed impeccably in the new clothes we bought together last week, Nadia stepped out with a model-like pose.


    "¡­¡­Huh?"


    "Oh, your brother''s in the bath. It''s yesterday''s leftover water, though."


    "Oh, I see."


    Looking a bit deflated, Nadia sat down next to me.


    "Hm? Wait a second. Yesterday¡¯s leftover water?"


    "Yeah, that''s right."


    "*What?!* My brother is bathing in *our* leftover water?!"


    "Are you the type to care about that?"


    "No, I mean, we''re siblings, so it''s not *that* big of a deal¡­ but, Keya, doesn''t it bother you?"


    "Hmm¡­ not really."


    "Really? If you''re okay with it, then whatever, but¡­ I dunno, doesn''t it feel kinda *criminal* for a guy to be bathing in water used by two high school girls?"


    "Yeah, it does."


    "Then why didn¡¯t you stop him?!"


    Her ears turned bright red.


    So cute.


    "More importantly, how long do you plan to keep fooling him?"  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    "¡­What do you mean, ''fooling''?"


    "Not telling him that his streams have become a global sensation."


    "I''m not *fooling* him¡­ I''m just not *telling* him."


    Nadia averted her eyes.


    "Hey, look at me."


    "¡­¡­"


    "I''m really getting tired of covering for you."


    "¡­It''s not like I *want* to do this. My brother isn¡¯t good with attention. If he finds out the truth, he''ll probably stop streaming altogether."


    "Well, yeah¡­"


    He did say he gets nervous even in front of a hundred viewers.


    "Then at least clear up the misunderstanding. You *do* know that he''s feared by other streamers, right? That no one dares to approach him because of it? He was really hurt by that, you know?"


    Technically, he thought it was because he *smelled* bad and got depressed about it.


    (That was a little sneaky of me, maybe¡­)


    Nadia''s expression turned pained.


    "That¡¯s¡­ "


    "Or is it because you don¡¯t want other girls getting close to him?"


    "Wh-why would you even say that?!"


    "Because, Nadia, you *love* your brother."


    "You''re wrong! That¡¯s not it at all! It¡¯s¡ªuh, branding! Yeah, branding!"


    "Branding?"


    "It''s *better* if people fear him. It makes the streams more exciting, and that means more money!"


    "Money, huh?"


    "That''s how it works! The only reason we can live in such a nice apartment is thanks to my brother¡¯s streaming career. He needs to keep going!"


    "Hmm. Oh, right, big brother got a message earlier."


    "A message?"


    I turned on my device and read out the message from his streaming account.


    "*Shahzad, I love you, love you, LOVE YOU! Marry me! I¡¯m a 19-year-old university student in Tokyo, G-cup! My contact info is¡ª*"


    *"BLOCK HER, YOU STUPID SHIT! GET AWAY FROM MY BROTHER!"*


    Nadia snatched the device at the speed of light.


    "¡­¡­"


    "Huh?! W-wait! This is¡­!"


    "Nadia, you¡¯ve also set the stream chat to block all romance-related words, haven¡¯t you?"


    "That''s just¡­ branding too! Filtering that stuff out makes the channel more profitable!"


    "Then this is perfect timing."


    "What do you mean, ''perfect timing''?"


    "You want money, right? Big brother taught me a potion recipe the other day. If we use it, we could make *billions*."


    "Well, that¡¯s¡­ but¡­"


    "But what?"


    "There are a lot of people who *need* something like that¡­ And besides, if my brother gave it away for free, wouldn¡¯t his reputation skyrocket? That would boost his streaming revenue even more¡­"


    "I doubt it would bring in *billions*."


    "But¡­ my brother would do it. If it could help people, he would."


    "¡­Heh. You really understand him, don¡¯t you?"


    "Huh?"


    "He already gave me permission. He said it¡¯s fine to release it for free."


    Nadia¡¯s face instantly turned red.


    (Oh no¡­ I made her mad¡­)


    "Keya¡­"


    "Sorry, sorry. I wasn¡¯t trying to tease you."


    "¡­Then what?"


    "I''ve been thinking for a while now. Do we even *need* to keep streaming?"


    "Why not?"


    "Because there''s no clear purpose. Big brother doesn''t *want* this. And you¡ªyou''re just coming up with excuses. Why are we lying to him just to keep this going?"


    "¡­Do you hate it?"


    "I don¡¯t hate it. I¡¯d never have the guts to dive into dungeons myself, but I love them. Being part of big brother¡¯s streams is really exciting for me. But¡­"


    I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts.


    "At first, it was just video calls, right? No public streams, just the two of you. Why not go back to that? If there¡¯s useful information, we can post it anonymously. That way, big brother won¡¯t be in the spotlight. He won¡¯t be misunderstood and feared. Gold-diggers won¡¯t swarm him. And we won¡¯t have to keep lying to him. Even without streaming revenue, I can support both of you financially."


    "But that¡¯s not fair as a friend¡­"


    "Yet you¡¯re fine deceiving your *own brother*?"


    Nadia fell silent.


    But eventually, she shook her head.


    "¡­I don¡¯t want that."


    "Why?"


    "I don¡¯t want other girls near my brother. But I also don¡¯t want him to be avoided because of a misunderstanding. And I hate having to lie to him¡­"


    Nadia¡¯s voice grew more intense.


    "Then¡ª"


    "*But!* More than anything, I hate when people underestimate my brother!"


    "¡­No need to cry over it."


    "I-I''m not crying!"


    "Oh, you totally are. You¡¯re full-on bawling."


    "Ugh¡­ B-but he¡¯s amazing! And people just laugh at him because of his weird foreign name! He got so sick of people that he shut himself away in the dungeon! He¡¯s incredible and they don¡¯t even see it!"


    "Alright, alright. I get it. I¡¯m sorry."


    I pulled the sobbing Nadia into a hug.


    "If that¡¯s how you feel, then I¡¯ll keep supporting the streams."


    "¡­Thanks."


    "But you should be more honest about your feelings. We¡¯re friends."


    "¡­Yeah. Sorry."


    "It¡¯s okay."


    As I gently stroked her head, she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me back.


    Just as we were reaffirming our friendship, the living room door opened, and big brother walked in.


    The moment he did, Nadia *shoved* me away.


    "Man, that was a great bath..¡­Wait, Keya, what are you doing?"


    "Don¡¯t mind me."


    "I do mind. You look like you just got suplexed onto the floor¡­"


    As for Nadia, the one who had just been bawling like a child¡­


    She was now sitting on the couch, legs crossed, playing with her hair, inspecting her nails¡ªacting like one of those "high-class ladies" you see in TV dramas.


    "¡­Nadia, what is this act of yours lately?"


    "Huh? Act? What are you talking about? This is just how I am."


    "¡­¡­"


    What the hell is wrong with this girl?


    ***


    [A/N: Keya is Nadia''s best friend and so Keya also calls Shahzad big brother!]

 9. Birthday, the Jolonto Problem

    Keya''s POV:


    I pushed myself up as if I¡¯d been hit by a German suplex and returned to Nadia¡¯s side.


    Shahzad, looking refreshed from his bath, settled himself on the sofa opposite us without any resistance.


    "Nadia, would you like something to drink?"


    "Sure. I think I''ll have a coffee."


    Even though she never normally drinks coffee, it was clearly some sort of signal.


    "Is it okay if I finish what I was drinking?"


    I swallowed my comment about how she¡¯d probably just leave it anyway.


    "Yes, that''s fine."


    Nadia took a small sip of the now-cold Americano.


    "¡­"


    (That looks terribly unappetizing¡­ she really should have just made a new cup¡­)


    "Well, that¡¯s quite a presentation."


    (Don¡¯t bring rustic elegance into an Americano.)


    Nadia immediately set her mug down.


    ---


    "By the way, you''re back surprisingly early this time. You usually don''t come back for at least two weeks. Did something happen?"


    "Did something happen? Well, it''s¡­ you know, that thing."


    "That thing?"


    "Well, today¡¯s your birthday, Nadia."


    "Huh?"


    In all the morning chaos, she had apparently completely forgotten.


    "Oh, was that so? At this age, birthdays tend to feel pretty meaningless."


    At this age, or rather, during her adolescence, she was just being her usual self. I remembered having that same detached attitude during my high school years.


    "Oh, right... Anyway, I bought you a present."


    "¡­Well, I suppose I can accept it. Might as well, since it''s a special occasion."Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "Thank you. Here, this is for you¡­"


    Shahzad handed Nadia a small paper bag, looking apologetic.


    "Sorry, I''m pretty broke, and I just don''t really understand what girls like¡­ I thought about it a lot."


    Out of the paper bag emerged a small teddy bear.


    (Really¡­)


    It was clearly a cheap mass-produced toy. Honestly, as a gift for a high school-aged sister, it was¡­ well¡­


    (But she seems super happy!)


    Though she was desperately trying to keep a poker face, her ears were turning red and her mouth was twitching into a smile. For Nadia, the fact that Shahzad had cut his camping trip short just to celebrate her birthday was more than enough.


    (...She should just be happy about it¡­ What¡¯s with this attitude lately¡­)


    "¡­Thank you."


    "Also, here¡¯s something else. Sorry for the random find."


    Shahzad then produced a drawstring bag from his pocket¡ªthe famous one distributed by the Dungeon Authority.


    "Go collect some nice gems and ores."


    Inside were Rubies, Fairy stones, Flame-silk) crystals, Spirit crystals, Witch¡¯s tears, Energy stones, Demon ice gems, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera¡­


    At retail prices, the total would be absurdly over a billion taka. Still, as a gift for a high school-aged sister, it was definitely the wrong choice.


    [A/N: Currencies are all mentioned in BDT!]


    "Ah, thanks, I guess."


    It seemed Nadia preferred the stuffed toy.


    Shahzad sighed in relief.


    "Now then, where should I set up camp next?"


    No sooner had we celebrated Nadia¡¯s birthday than he immediately turned back to camping. Truly, the only things on his mind were camping and his little sister.


    "Aren¡¯t you moving your base? I quite liked Dhaka Central one." Keya pointed out.


    "Well, it seems the locals there have started disliking me¡­"


    "Oh, about that¡­"


    I quickly changed the subject.


    "Have you decided which dungeon you''re going to explore next?"


    "Not yet. Honestly, I''d really like to dive into one of the overseas dungeons after so long."


    "There are just so many complications, aren¡¯t there?"


    Dungeon-related laws differ dramatically from country to country. But one thing remains universal: no country is fond of foreigners exploring their own dungeons. The dungeon industry has now become so significant that it can even affect a nation''s power, so no country is likely to welcome outsiders.


    (After all, Shahzad¡¯s only goal is camping; he has no interest in the loot, so they might actually welcome him¡­)


    It was frustrating not to be able to share that insight.


    "But do dungeons really vary so much depending on the country?"


    "They do. Every dungeon seems influenced by the area around its gate. Even within the same country there are regional differences. Dungeons in cities tend to be plain, almost lacking any quirks. But in the countryside, monsters often appear that are based on local folklore."


    "In overseas dungeons, monsters unknown in Bangladesh show up frequently."


    "Exactly."


    "But creatures like Medusa or dragons aren¡¯t originally from Bangladesh, right?"


    "That probably comes down to recognition. For example, take Jolonto."


    "Ah, Jolonto."


    Among dungeon researchers, this phenomenon is known as the Jolonto Problem. After it became a hot topic on social media, Jolonto suddenly gained widespread recognition. And then, in subsequent gate appearances, Jolonto began showing up inside dungeons¡ªeven though it had never been sighted before.


    "Before and after Jolonto, things are referred to differently, aren¡¯t they?"


    "It really depends on recognition."


    "It¡¯s fascinating, really. That¡¯s the charm of dungeons."


    As we were deep in our dungeon discussions, Nadia began fidgeting beside us.


    I had tried to be inclusive in the conversation, but as soon as I directed water her way, she immediately straightened up.


    "What do you think, Nadia?"


    She probably wanted to join in the conversation, yet when spoken to, she returned to her usual indifferent state.


    "Nothing in particular."

 10. A Benefactor, Something You Love to Madness

    Shahzad let out a big yawn.


    "Come to think of it, you mentioned your internal clock was <u>messed</u> up."


    "Yeah. When you''re diving into dungeons, it''s inevitable."


    "Why don''t you get some sleep?"


    He yawned again.


    "Maybe I will."


    He started lying down on the sofa.


    I pointed toward the bedroom.


    "Use the bed. You don¡¯t mind, right, Nadia?"


    "Do whatever you want."


    "No, it''s fine. I usually sleep in dungeons anyway. Compared to that, a sofa is like heaven."


    "We¡¯re the ones who feel awkward if you sleep there."


    "¡­"


    Since Shahzad tends to be overly considerate, this was the best way to convince him.


    "Like I¡¯ve said before, why not just set up a room for yourself? Right, Nadia?"


    "Do whatever you want."


    "Well¡­ but I only come back occasionally, and I head off to dungeons right away. Having a room made just for me seems unnecessary."


    "You''re way too considerate¡­"


    Since dealing with this was a hassle, I made up my mind to set up a room for him before his next visit.


    "Anyway, get some proper rest. You just got out of the bath, so nobody can say you¡¯re dirty or smelly."


    "Alright then, I¡¯ll take you up on that¡­"


    Looking a little reluctant, Shahzad headed into the bedroom.


    "Fii~"


    Nadia let out a breathy sigh and collapsed onto my thigh.


    She must have been keeping up quite a front because she was completely drained.


    "Seriously, what¡¯s with you lately? Acting like that until you¡¯re this exhausted."


    "It¡¯s not weird. It¡¯s my choice."


    "But behaving like that is rude to big brother."


    "Huh? Rude?" You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "Of course! Acting all grumpy like that. And what was with that ¡®do whatever you want¡¯ attitude? It even made me feel bad."


    "No, I really just meant ''do whatever you want''..."


    "Oh, really? Then do whatever you want too."


    "That hurts so much!"


    "Right? Big brother is broad-minded and kind of oblivious, so he doesn¡¯t seem to mind, but under normal circumstances, you¡¯d probably be disliked for that."


    "Disliked¡­ but¡­"


    Nadia glanced toward the dining table.


    On it was a fashion magazine she had recently started subscribing to.


    "Ah!"


    When I suddenly stood up, Nadia, who had been using my thigh as a pillow, toppled over.


    But compared to a German suplex, it was nothing.


    I walked over to the magazine.


    "Ah! No, don¡¯t!"


    Nadia rushed after me, trying to snatch it back.


    But there was nearly a fifteen-centimeter height difference between us.


    My reach was even longer.


    I held Nadia back with one hand while flipping through the magazine with the other.


    My eyes landed on a page with a folded corner and sticky notes attached.


    It was an absurd article titled "Special Feature: How to Be an Attractive Woman!"


    "Five Reasons Why Cool Beauty Is Adored"


    "Do Not Show Your Smile Recklessly"


    "Gestures That Instinctively Attract Men"


    "''Do Whatever You Want'' Is a Magical Phrase"


    "The Charm of Stoic Women Will Captivate Any Man!"


    The content was just as ridiculous as the title.


    "Nadia¡­"


    "N-no! It''s not like I was influenced by this article or anything!"


    "Nadia."


    "I-I mean, sure, I admire cool women a little¡­ but it''s not like I was trying to appeal to Shahzad! You know, it¡¯s just¡­ practice for someday!"


    "Wait, Nadia. I¡¯m serious about this. Listen carefully."


    "Huh? Serious about what¡­?"


    "I¡¯m not teasing you or making fun of you. I¡¯m being completely serious. Stop this immediately. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll stop being your friend."


    "That extreme!?"


    "This is bad. At first, I thought it was kind of cute, like you were just trying too hard, but now it¡¯s unbearable."


    "Unbearable¡­?"


    "It¡¯s painfully awkward."


    "Painfully awkward!? What kind of awful massage description is that!?"


    Saying this outright was the kind thing to do.


    "Painfully awkward¡­ you¡¯re being too harsh¡­"


    I had dealt a serious blow.


    She looked like she was about to cry.


    (But if I don¡¯t say this clearly, she won¡¯t understand¡­)


    Watching Nadia now, I was reminded once again that she and Shahzad were definitely siblings.


    They both act normal on the surface, but something about them is always a little off.


    Sometimes, they don¡¯t even seem like regular humans.


    (Well, that¡¯s part of their charm¡­)


    "Ugh¡­"


    "Don¡¯t cry. Listen, Nadia. You often try to act tough or hide your true feelings, right? Like how you never even told me the real reason you started streaming."


    "That¡­ I¡¯m sorry about that¡­"


    "I¡¯m not blaming you. What I want to say is¡­"


    I crouched slightly to meet Nadia¡¯s eyes.


    "The real you is the cutest. So there¡¯s no need to try too hard or act tough. Understand?"


    "¡­"


    Nadia nodded.


    "Good."


    I ruffled her hair.


    Nadia looked up at me with a resentful glare.


    But with tears in her eyes, it had no impact whatsoever.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "¡­Hey, Keya. Did you forget?"


    "Forget what?"


    "That I¡¯m older than you! I¡¯m a year ahead of you!" Nadia said pridefully.


    "Oh, really?"


    "Yes! And since today¡¯s my birthday, that makes it a two-year gap for now!"


    "Ahaha. I was just joking. Of course, I didn¡¯t forget. I could never forget what you did for me, Nadia."


    "What I did¡­? You¡¯re exaggerating¡­"


    "It¡¯s not an exaggeration. It¡¯s the truth."


    If I hadn¡¯t met Nadia, I¡¯d probably still be a shut-in.


    Nadia is truly amazing.


    She¡¯s responsible, reliable, strong-willed, intelligent, athletic¡­


    She¡¯s my benefactor and someone I admire.


    And yet, the moment Shahzad is involved, she turns into a total mess.


    (She¡¯s just like Shahzad in that way.)


    Shahzad is usually calm, a mature and wonderful man.


    But when he¡¯s camping, he turns into a complete fool.


    His excitement skyrockets, and he does reckless things for no reason.


    Like a little boy on summer vacation.


    (For Nadia, Shahzad is like camping is for him.)


    I felt both exasperated and envious.


    Because I didn¡¯t have something I loved to madness the way they did.

 11. Question Box

    "Shall we have breakfast?"


    "Oh, it''s my turn today, right?"


    "It''s fine, since it''s your birthday."


    I stopped Nadia with my hand as she tried to stand up.


    "Just relax. A simple meal is fine, right?"


    "Yeah, thank you."


    I glanced at the clock.


    Today, I was planning to go out with Nadia to buy her birthday present.


    (To be honest, I doubt I can surpass her brother¡¯s teddy bear...)


    I prepared breakfast for the three of us.


    Paratha, a flaky, pan-fried flatbread, with aloo bhaji (stir-fried potatoes) and a side of masoor dal (light lentil soup). A simple dim bhaji (omelet-style egg).


    Along with that, a cup of cha(tea) for everyone.


    (I said I¡¯d make something simple, but I ended up making a proper meal anyway.)


    After saying "Bismillah," we began eating.


    "Oh, right, Nadia. I have something to discuss."


    "What is it?"


    "Lately, your brother''s streams have been getting a bit chaotic."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah. You know how he just streams one-sidedly without looking at the comments, right? Some people actually like that aspect of him. They find it entertaining to watch him do whatever he wants. But at the same time, there are some who are unhappy about it."  Stolen story; please report.


    "Hmm. So, who?"


    "Who?"


    "I mean, who do you want me to get rid of?"


    "No, it''s not that kind of conversation..."


    "If it¡¯s Keya, she can quickly track down their personal information, just like before."


    "I mean, I could do that, but..."


    Whenever it involves her brother, she completely loses her sense of restraint.


    "That''s not what I¡¯m talking about this time. So, I was thinking, what if we set up something like a question box?"


    "A question box?"


    "Since your brother can''t do Q&A streams like other streamers, we could collect questions in advance. Then, if he answers them, it might help reduce the dissatisfaction."


    "I think that sounds good¡­ but wouldn¡¯t managing the questions be a hassle? I bet they''d flood in from all over the world."


    "That¡¯s why I plan to use AI. It can go through all the submitted questions and pick out the ones that would satisfy the most viewers. That way, language won¡¯t be a barrier, and it¡¯ll be efficient."


    "AI can do that too? I thought it was just for generating images for novel covers...."


    "No, not at all¡­ If anything, this is more of its main function."


    "Well, do whatever you want."


    "This girl..."


    She just got scolded earlier, yet now she''s already making it into a joke.


    Nadia smirked mischievously.


    This kind of wit was what she truly enjoyed.


    "So, we¡¯re going ahead with setting up the question box?"


    Without realizing it, my hand had already reached for my device.


    Nadia shot me a disapproving look.


    I quietly put the device back down and returned to my meal.


    (Seriously, when her brother isn¡¯t involved, she¡¯s actually really level-headed...)


    In our relationship, Nadia usually takes the initiative.


    It¡¯s not that there¡¯s a hierarchy between us, but our personalities, as well as the fact that we first met as senior and junior, play a big role.


    But whenever she enters her "clueless mode," the roles temporarily reverse.


    (Ah, I miss that side of her...)


    I sipped my tea cup, feeling a bit nostalgic.


    Of course, I like the usual Nadia too, but it''s because of her occasional clueless moments that we were able to bond beyond our senior-junior relationship.


    (In that sense, I owe it all to her brother...)


    After finishing our meal, Nadia picked up my dishes along with hers to take to the sink.


    "Oh, I¡¯ll do the dishes too."


    "It¡¯s fine. You should focus on what you want to do."


    She must have noticed how restless I was and was being considerate.


    "Thanks."


    Taking her up on her offer, I opened my device.


    In my mind, the plan was already complete.


    It wasn¡¯t a complicated system to begin with.


    I¡¯d set up a question box and write a program that lets AI automatically read and analyze the submitted questions.


    The AI would then process and compile them, outputting the most suitable ones.


    That was all there was to it.


    By the time Nadia finished washing the dishes, I was done.


    "As always, that¡¯s amazing."


    Nadia never failed to be genuinely impressed.


    She had been like this ever since we first met.


    "This is about the only thing I¡¯m good at."


    Nadia frowned.


    "I thought you finally got over that."


    "Oh, no, that¡¯s not what I meant¡­ Sorry..."


    "You don¡¯t have to apologize, but still."


    Thinking about the past made me slip back into old habits.


    Thanks to Nadia, I had started to like myself a little more.


    I had gained confidence, and my habit of putting myself down had improved.


    "Really, thank you."


    Nadia tilted her head and casually replied,


    "You¡¯re welcome?"


    That unconscious similarity to her brother was uncanny.


    "Alright, let¡¯s get ready to head out."


    To hide my embarrassment, I quickly changed the subject and stood up.

 12. Side Chapter: Shahzad Picking The Kaiser Incident! Whats The Real Story?!

    "Alright, since we¡¯re here, I think I¡¯ll answer some questions. I appreciate it. The fact that there are people who not only watch my streams but also take the time to ask questions¡­ Thank you. But honestly, you guys have way too much free time, lol. Don¡¯t you have better things to do?"


    ---


    - "Classic Shahzad. Picking fights with his millions of viewers."


    - "Well, from Shahzad¡¯s perspective, even if we all ganged up, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference to him."


    - "Why did he suddenly set up a question box?"


    - "Probably because negative comments have been increasing?"


    - "Shahzad actually cares about that kind of thing? Kinda disappointing."


    - "It¡¯s your fault."


    - "Seriously, people who complain about everything¡ªhow were they even raised?"


    ---


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Let¡¯s see¡­ ¡®Please tell us about the Kaiser Incident.¡¯"


    ---


    - "Ehhhhhh!?!?"


    - "All of a sudden!? Why!?"


    - "This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!"


    - "We¡¯re hearing it from Shahzad himself!?"


    ---


    "Hmm, let¡¯s see¡­ Kaiser¡­"


    ---


    - "Whoa, viewer count and comments just shot up!"


    - "The server¡¯s gonna crash at this rate. Is this okay?"


    - "It¡¯s turning into a Balus-level event."l


    - "Shahzad: ¡®Kaiser.¡¯"


    - "Well, it *did* get wiped out for real."


    ---


    "Kaiser, huh¡­"


    ---


    - "Please don¡¯t crash! I don¡¯t care if I fail my entrance exams, just hold on!"


    - "If you¡¯re watching dungeon streams during exam season, you probably weren¡¯t gonna pass anyway."


    - "*gulp*..."


    - "What¡¯s he gonna say¡­?"


    ---


    "Hmm¡­ What was Kaiser again?"


    ---


    - "Terrifying."l


    - "There¡¯s no way *you* don¡¯t know¡­"


    - "I got chills."


    - "What is this? What kind of message is he sending?"


    - "Is this about the recent increase in negative comments?"


    - "Like, ¡®Remember what happened to those who underestimated me¡¯?"


    - "Shahzad usually jokes around, but when he gets serious, his presence is overwhelming."


    - "¡­I don¡¯t know if this is the right way to put it, but I think I finally understand why some women fall for abusive guys."


    - "I get it. My heart is racing right now."


    - "I love this."


    - "I guess the Kaiser Incident was a taboo afterall...."


    ---


    [Related Videos Page]


    [Shahzad Clip] Forgot to End the Stream. Shahzad¡¯s the type who looks thinner in clothes. Careful girls, his muscles are too sexy!


    ---0---


    [Clip Compilation Video] Shahzad¡¯s Nine-Headed Dragon Slash Moments! [Shahzad Highlights]


    ---0---


    [D-S Rank Clip] Casually slashing through high orcs!

 13. Birthday Gift & S-Rank Adventurer Riya!

    We get ready to go out.


    "Should we wake up your brother and have him come along?"


    "It''s fine, let him sleep."


    "Yeah, you''re right."


    Neither of us is particularly concerned about our appearance, so we finish getting ready quickly.


    We cover the food for Shahzad with plastic wrap,


    And leave a note:


    "This is for you, big brother."


    Otherwise, knowing him, he¡¯d hesitate, unsure if the meal was really meant for him. (?_?)


    But after much deliberation, he would end up eating it.


    Because if it were meant for him and he left it untouched, he would feel like he was hurting the one who made it.


    And even if it wasn¡¯t meant for him, the worst that could happen is he¡¯d embarrass himself.


    That¡¯s just the way he thinks.


    We leave the house and head to the main streets to look for a Taxi.


    Since we live in a convenient location, it takes less than twenty minutes to reach downtown.


    Nadia and I wander around the shopping mall.


    After looking at various things, Nadia picks out a mug.


    A cute one with a small cat illustration on a white background.


    "I want to get used to drinking black coffee. This will help motivate me to train for it."


    "Coffee isn''t something you should force yourself to drink."


    "Of course it is. Everyone forces themselves. That black, bitter liquid¡­ Keya, do you really drink it because it tastes good?"


    "Um¡­ If you ask me whether it¡¯s delicious¡­"


    "See?"


    "But I still like it."


    "That¡¯s just addiction talking."


    "But really, are you sure something this cheap is okay?"


    "Huh? This is 2,000 taka, you know?"


    "Yeah, but for a mug, that¡¯s pretty expensive¡­ Still, you got me a coffee machine worth around 40,000 taka for my birthday, remember?"


    "But I like this one. Besides, from now on, I''ll be using that coffee machine too."


    Nadia smirks smugly.


    "Well, if you''re happy with it, then that¡¯s fine."


    Even when it comes to money, we''re similar.  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    I take the mug to the register and have it gift-wrapped.


    Once we''re outside the store, I hand it to Nadia.


    "Here, happy birthday."


    "Thanks!"


    "From today for the next three months, you''re two years older than me, so keep that in mind and try not to get too carried away."


    "I know, I know. This morning was just¡­ unexpected, so I panicked a little¡­"


    "But when you''re around your brother, you¡¯ll lose control again, won¡¯t you?"


    "Umm¡­ yeah, probably¡­"


    "You can analyze yourself so well, yet¡­"


    "Yeah, it''s weird, huh?"


    It¡¯s still just past noon.


    We leave the shopping mall and stroll around, discussing what to eat.


    "I''m not really that hungry."


    "Yeah, we had a late breakfast. Should we just go home?"


    "Already?"


    "Let''s wait for your brother to wake up and eat together."


    It¡¯s Nadia¡¯s birthday, after all.


    Eating together would be best.


    Even though we had prepared a meal for Shahzad, he could just eat it tomorrow instead.


    (Or¡­ should I let them have time alone together?) (A/N: It''s a sibling agle!)


    That way, the meal wouldn¡¯t go to waste either.


    I consider it for a moment but don¡¯t say it out loud.


    Nadia would definitely get mad.


    "Yeah, let''s go home."


    "Okay, let''s do that."


    If we get back too late, Shahzad might head out for his camping trip before we see him.


    We start walking towards the main street road.


    The bustling downtown crowd.


    I¡¯m so engrossed in my conversation with Nadia that I don¡¯t notice the woman in front of us until the moment we pass each other.


    (Such beautiful silver hair¡­)


    I unconsciously follow the woman with my eyes.


    And the moment we pass¡ª


    She suddenly grabs my arm roughly.


    "Huh?"


    She forces me to turn around.


    A strikingly beautiful woman with Nordic features stares at me intently.


    I freeze in shock.


    She¡¯s just over 170 cm tall.


    I¡¯m taller than her, but she has an overwhelming presence that makes me feel small.


    She leans in close and sniffs me.


    "Shahzad¡¯s scent¡­"


    Wait.


    Does Shahzad actually smell?


    Does his scent cling to others that much?


    Was it just my nose that had gotten used to it?


    If so, I¡¯ve done Shahzad a disservice.


    I think of these silly things just to avoid facing the shock.


    People around us give us annoyed glances as they move past.


    "Hey, what¡¯s with you all of a sudden?"


    Nadia steps between us, thinking I¡¯m being harassed.


    Then the woman leans in toward Nadia and sniffs her too.


    I can¡¯t believe the thing Shahzad did to us this morning is coming back to us like this.


    "W-what are you¡ª"


    Nadia¡¯s face turns red.


    Meanwhile, I must be turning pale.


    "Shahzad¡­ and a scent similar to Shahzad¡¯s?"


    The woman tilts her head.


    "Who are you to Shahzad? Acquaintances?"


    "Who even are you?! Sniffing people out of nowhere¡­"


    "Me? I''m Riya."


    Her Bangla is fluent, though somewhat peculiar.


    "And you two?"


    Her phrasing is odd.


    It doesn¡¯t sound polite, more like she¡¯s saying "you guys" instead of "you two."


    She¡¯s unbelievably beautiful, yet she refers to herself as "Riya"¡­


    Such a strange contrast.


    "You know Shahzad?"


    "Shahzad is Shahzad."


    "That doesn¡¯t tell me anything. It¡¯s a common name. Oh, you mean the dungeon streamer Shahzad? He¡¯s famous, but¡­ why are you asking us?"


    "¡­"


    "Excuse us, we have plans. Let¡¯s go, Keya."


    "Oh, okay¡­"


    Nadia pulls my arm and starts walking.


    "Nadia¡­ Shouldn¡¯t we have pretended not to know him?"


    I can hear the tremor in my own voice.


    "What are you talking about? Given how famous he is, it would have been weirder if we both claimed not to know him."


    "Yeah¡­ You¡¯re right, that makes sense¡­"


    Nadia really is reliable.


    It¡¯s not that I¡¯m flustered because a foreigner suddenly spoke to us.


    I¡¯m shy, but not to this extent.


    (Why is she here¡­? And Shahzad¡­?)


    "Hey, who was that woman? Do you know her? ¡­Keya, this is seriously bad."


    Nadia looks at me with concern.


    Her kindness helps me calm down a little.


    "She¡¯s not an acquaintance¡­ but I know who she is."


    "A foreign actress or something? She was really pretty, but¡­"


    If that were the case, I¡¯d be surprised, sure¡ª


    But I wouldn¡¯t be this scared.


    Maybe it was just someone who looked similar?


    No, maybe she didn¡¯t even look that much alike.


    When I watch foreign dramas, I often struggle to tell actors apart.


    If they change their hairstyle, I¡¯m completely lost.


    (So maybe this is all just my imagination¡­)


    But I know that¡¯s just wishful thinking.


    She introduced herself as Riya.


    And more than anything, that overwhelming presence¡­


    It¡¯s no surprise Nadia didn¡¯t recognize her.


    Nadia only cares about her brother.


    But¡­


    "¡­She¡¯s an S-Rank adventurer. The youngest one ever."


    Nadia¡¯s eyes widened.


    There are only twelve S-Rank adventurers in the world.


    And she¡¯s one of them.

 14. United Dungeon, Strange Reference & Extraterritoriality

    "Why would someone like that be interested in my brother?"


    "I don''t know, and that''s why I''m panicking."


    "But is it really something to overreact about? Sure, she''s S-rank, but it''s not like she''d attack my brother out of nowhere."


    "That''s true, but..."


    Nadia was right.


    Panicking like this without even knowing the other party''s intentions was pointless.


    "...But she was recently scouted by UD..."


    "UD, as in *that* UD?"


    I nodded.


    United Dungeon.


    The world''s only *international guild*.


    Something like that shouldn''t even exist.


    Dungeons are treasure troves of resources. No country would be okay with outsiders plundering them.


    But UD crushed that barrier with sheer force.


    Its financial and military power is said to rival that of small nations, and its influence continues to expand even now.


    Even though it''s called an international guild, it''s more accurate to call it a stateless guild.


    It has bases all over the world, yet it belongs to no country, completely independent from any nation.


    That¡¯s precisely why it has maintained its current position.


    Had it aligned with any country, it would have become the spark of war.


    There are countless justifications for taking down UD.


    But that hasn''t happened.


    That delicate balance, that political finesse¡ªthat, too, is UD¡¯s strength.


    (Well, even if war did break out, there''s no guarantee UD would be destroyed.)


    UD might be the one to win.


    Its opponent might be the one to fall.


    Even if that opponent were a great power.


    UD possesses enough strength to make people believe that.


    That¡¯s why no country dares to make a move against it.


    (Has UD finally set its sights on Shahzad?)


    If they went out of their way to send an S-rank adventurer, they must be serious.


    If it''s just recruitment, there''s no issue.


    But what if, just in case, their intentions were hostile?


    "...No matter how strong big brother Shahzad is, he can''t afford to make an enemy of UD."


    "Yeah."


    Nadia nodded solemnly.


    Kaiser was nothing compared to them.  This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    No, the real problem wasn''t UD itself but rather...


    "Anyway, Nadia, I might just be imagining things, but... isn''t someone following us?"


    "Shh! Just pretend you don''t notice."


    "Hey, you two."


    Crap, they spoke to us.


    "Do you really not know Shahzad?"


    "I mean, we know of him. But why are you asking us?"


    "Because I can smell Shahzad on you..."


    "That''s..."


    Nadia thought for a moment before replying,


    "Oh, that! In Bangladesh, Shahzad is super popular, you know? They even sell Shahzad-scented perfume."


    (...This girl just took the easy way out.)


    Nadia was always like this.


    She only cared about her brother.


    (There''s no way they''d believe such a ridiculous lie...)


    Or so I thought, but the woman¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    "I want one too!"


    "It''s a limited edition."


    "But you just said they sell it."


    "Figure of speech."


    "Then sell me yours! I''ll give you five hundred million taka!"


    "I already used it all up."


    Too careless.


    "Well then, if you''ll excuse us."


    "Wait, why are you in such a hurry?"


    "Because it''s her birthday today."


    "Do you have plans?"


    "Not yet, but..."


    "Then come with me! Let''s celebrate together!"


    "But we just met..."


    I tugged on Nadia''s sleeve.


    "What?"


    "Uh, Ms. Riya..."


    "Just call me Riya."


    "Then, Riya."


    Normally, I¡¯d be too reserved to go along with this, but this time, I decided to follow along.


    A certain *jack-of-all-trades* kept flashing through my mind.


    "Can we talk in private for a moment?"


    "Sure, go ahead."


    I pulled Nadia away to a spot where Riya wouldn''t hear.


    "What''s up?"


    "I think we should accept her invitation. If we refuse, she might follow us home, and we still don''t know UD¡¯s intentions."


    "But..."


    "Besides, she doesn¡¯t seem hostile, right?"


    That didn¡¯t mean we could let our guard down.


    Her intentions and UD¡¯s goals were two separate matters.


    That¡¯s why approaching her ourselves wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    "Mm... but..."


    "What¡¯s bothering you?"


    "The way she refers to herself. She calls herself ''I'' like a guy would. Isn''t that scary?"


    "Let''s just leave that alone..."


    I also used to refer to myself that way once, more like a boy.


    The boys in my class mocked me so hard I stopped immediately.


    A memory I¡¯d rather forget.


    "Well, I guess you''re right, Keya."


    "See?"


    "I can''t let such a beautiful woman get close to my brother."


    "Ah... Well, that¡¯s not quite what I meant, but sure, let¡¯s go with that."


    We returned to Riya and agreed to her invitation.


    She smiled like a blooming flower.


    She genuinely seemed happy.


    (She really doesn¡¯t seem hostile...)


    All that fear I had earlier felt silly now.


    "Hold on, I¡¯ll call a car."


    Riya made a call, and within five minutes, a sleek black car pulled up.


    "...A Benz."


    I wasn¡¯t a car expert, but when a black luxury vehicle like this arrived, it was usually a Benz.


    "Keya, this is a BMW."


    "...My whole world just turned upside down."


    Riya took the front seat, and we sat in the back.


    She spoke to the driver in English.


    A white man in his mid-thirties replied,


    "Yes, sir."


    (He actually said *sir*...)


    And he was as bulky as the car itself.


    I had started to let my guard down, but this reminded me, Riya and I lived in entirely different worlds.


    "Now that I think about it, I never asked for your names."


    As the car started moving, Riya asked.


    I hesitated, but¡ª


    "I''m Nadia."


    Nadia answered first, setting the stage.


    "I''m Keya."


    Using a fake name felt wrong, but I wasn''t ready to share my full name.


    Besides, she only introduced herself as Riya, so it shouldn¡¯t be rude.


    "I see."


    "Um, can I call you Riya too?"


    "Of course. No need for formal speech either."


    "Okay, Riya. Why do you refer to yourself as ''I'' like a guy?"


    "Hey, Nadia!?"


    "What? Someone should point it out. Maybe no one around her dares to correct her."


    "Still..."


    That reasoning did make sense, but...


    This was a sensitive issue.


    Depending on how she felt about it, it could leave a scar that never heals.


    "Is it weird?"


    "Not exactly weird, just... unusual."


    "But it suits you! You''re a cool, handsome type of beauty, so it fits!"


    I blurted out an awkward attempt at reassurance.


    Half of it was directed at my past self.


    "I see. People often say that. But it''s fine, I am who I am."


    She turned back with a proud expression.


    "Wow... This is an S-rank adventurer... I gave up so fast, but she''s completely different..."


    "That''s not where you''re supposed to be impressed!"


    Before we knew it, the car reached its destination.


    When Riya said, "Come to my place," I thought we''d be visiting her home, but....


    Of course, she was a foreigner here.


    She had no home to invite us to.


    (But still, this place is...)


    A fortress.


    That was the only way to describe this heavily guarded facility.


    One of UD¡¯s bases.


    "What¡¯s wrong? Come in."


    Riya beckoned us in front of a massive gate, like the entrance to a dungeon¡¯s boss room.


    No, this gate was probably designed to resemble one.


    The taste was terrible, but it was the perfect intimidation tactic.


    "Come in," she said, but...


    A UD base was practically a consulate.


    Meaning, beyond this gate was "extraterritorial territory".


    Bangladeshi laws did not apply here.

 15. UD Base & A Royal Feast for Birthday Celebration!

    Was it a trap from the very beginning?


    They must have already known about our relationship with Shahzad¡­


    (But if it was a trap, the way we met was way too sloppy¡­)


    She suddenly grabbed my arm and sniffed me.


    I couldn¡¯t imagine that being part of a well-thought-out plan.


    But maybe that¡¯s exactly why we followed her this far.


    If our meeting had been more natural, more carefully staged, we would have been much more cautious.


    (Was Riya¡¯s seemingly straightforward attitude all just an act¡­?)


    Realizing how shocked I was, I became aware that I actually liked Riya.


    Thinking about it, the whole thing was strange.


    We just met, and yet she wanted to celebrate Nadia''s birthday together.


    There had to be something behind it.


    (But after coming this far, it¡¯s too late to turn back¡­ Ah, my Bangladeshi blood that can¡¯t say "no" is acting up again¡­)


    While I was panicking, Nadia stepped forward without hesitation.


    "Wait, Nadia. This place¡­"


    "I know. But isn¡¯t this perfect? They¡¯re inviting us straight into the tiger¡¯s den."


    Nadia casually said, "Excuse us," and followed Riya onto the premises.


    (¡­So cool.)


    Then all I had to do was trust my friend and follow along.


    The UD base was a concrete building.


    Its exterior was extremely plain.


    It looked like the kind of boxy structure a beginner in Minecraft would build.


    But that was probably intentional, to keep people from guessing its internal structure.


    In fact, I couldn¡¯t even tell how many floors it had.


    I had just decided to trust my friend, but I was starting to feel uneasy again.


    I whispered to Nadia.


    "Nadia, are you really sure this is okay?"


    "Yeah. If anything happens, my brother will come save us!"


    "¡­Huh?"


    "If I get captured, he¡¯ll desperately run around trying to rescue me¡­ Hehe."


    "¡­¡­"


    Ah, this was that.


    Her usual thing.


    I didn¡¯t expect her to flip her switch into airhead mode at a time like this¡­


    (I should¡¯ve just gone home¡­)  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    But it was too late now.


    We had already stepped inside the building.


    The interior was unexpectedly elegant, completely different from the rugged exterior.


    That rough look was definitely intentional.


    I felt like we weren¡¯t just stepping into a tiger¡¯s den, but into the tiger¡¯s jaws.


    We were led into the living room.


    A building of this scale, being a guild¡¯s base, surely had a reception room.


    Yet we were brought to such a private space¡­


    I wasn¡¯t sure how to interpret that.


    (It¡¯s starting to feel like everything has some hidden meaning¡­)


    Nadia and I sat side by side on a two-seater sofa.


    Across the low table, there was another identical leather sofa.


    "Have you two had lunch yet?"


    Riya asked.


    "Not yet."


    "Then let¡¯s order something. Anything you can¡¯t eat?"


    "Not really."


    "Got it. I¡¯ll just order something random."


    "Thanks. I was starting to get hungry."


    Nadia answered normally, but I was in no mood to eat.


    My stomach was too tense with nerves.


    Riya left the room briefly to place the order.


    I wanted to use that moment to discuss things with Nadia, but she came back almost immediately.


    She must have left the ordering to some staff member.


    Then, instead of sitting on the opposite sofa, Riya sat down next to me.


    "¡­Huh?"


    "What?"


    "Um, there¡¯s a sofa right there¡­"


    "Eh, this is fine, isn¡¯t it?"


    Fine¡­?


    This was a two-seater sofa.


    There was no way three people could sit on it comfortably.


    "Oh, then I¡¯ll move over there¡­"


    As if being pushed out, Nadia moved to the opposite sofa.


    "Hehe."


    For some reason, Riya looked pleased.


    (I really can¡¯t tell what she¡¯s thinking¡­)


    About twenty minutes later, the food arrived.


    "What¡¯s with this amount¡­?"


    The low table was completely covered with food.


    It was like a Nobabi Bhoj,  the Royal Feast of Bengal.


    "It¡¯s Nadia¡¯s birthday today, right? Gotta celebrate."


    "Well, yeah¡­"


    "Alright, let¡¯s eat."


    Riya reached for the food but suddenly remembered something and clapped her hands together.


    "Let¡¯s eat!"


    Nadia and I followed her lead.


    Both Nadia and I eat more than the average person.


    Riya, on the other hand, was an unbelievable glutton, stuffing food into her slim body without hesitation.


    But no matter how much we ate, more dishes kept arriving one after another.


    It was physically and mentally exhausting.


    By the time we finished about 70%, Nadia and I were at our limits.


    Riya still seemed to have room for more, but she stopped eating at a perfect point, just the right amount before getting too full.


    "I can¡¯t eat anymore¡­ I¡¯ll throw up¡­"


    "Me too¡­"


    "You don¡¯t have to force yourselves."


    "I know, but¡­ in Bangladesh, leaving food is not considered good manners."


    "Oh, really?"


    "Yeah."


    "Then I guess we can¡¯t leave any."


    Riya rolled up her sleeves.


    "What do they call this? Something like ¡®go-go-go¡¯?"


    "When in Rome, do as the Romans do?"


    "That¡¯s it!"


    Riya was trying to respect Bangladesh culture.


    In that case, we had to respond in kind.


    Even though our stomachs were already bursting, we forced more food down.


    Our maxed-out blood sugar levels started glitching.


    "¡­I¡¯m getting sleepy."


    "No, Keya! If you sleep, you¡¯ll die!"


    "Ahh, don¡¯t shake me¡­ This is a snowy mountain¡­ A snowy mountain, I tell you¡­"


    After an hour of struggle, we somehow managed to finish everything.


    "¡­Anri, are you alive?"


    "Dead."


    "Same."


    Even Riya seemed to be at her limit and collapsed onto me.


    "Hey, Riya! Get off, I¡¯m really gonna throw up!"


    "Oh, I forgot about the cake. Should I order it now?"


    "No way, no way, no way!"


    "The cake¡¯s already reserved. We¡¯ll pick it up on the way back."


    I refused with all my might.


    Nadia stood up.


    "Sitting down is pressing on my stomach¡­"


    "Me too¡­ I need to walk a bit."


    "Oh, then why don¡¯t we explore the house?"


    Riya¡¯s words reminded me that this was UD¡¯s base.


    "Is that okay?"


    "Not really, but I¡¯ll make an exception. It¡¯s Nadia¡¯s birthday, after all."


    "That has nothing to do with it¡­"


    In the struggle to eat, I had almost forgotten our goal, to learn about UD¡¯s true purpose.


    Riya¡¯s suggestion was more than welcome.

 16. Riyas Connection with Shahzad!

    Riya is giving me a tour of the base.


    "This is the kitchen. This is the dining hall. This is the guest room. This is the training room. This is the bathroom. This is the shower room. This is the torture room. This is the storage room. This is the <u>studio</u>. This is the archive room. This is the safe room. This is the nap room. This is the experiment room. This is the staff room. This is the meeting room. This is..."


    (...I feel like I just saw something I wasn''t supposed to...)


    While showing me around, Riya stuck close to me.


    At first, I thought she just had a small personal space, but she didn¡¯t cling to Nadia like this.


    If anything, she seemed to keep her distance from her.


    "Keya, isn''t it like Riya really likes you?"


    "You think so too? I wonder why."


    "On the other hand, I feel like she kind of dislikes me..."


    "I don''t think she hates you, though..."


    She made an effort to celebrate Nadia''s birthday in her own way.


    And she talked to her normally.


    Yet, there was still a physical distance.


    (...Or maybe it''s the opposite? Maybe it''s just that her sense of distance with me is weird.)


    We only met a few hours ago, but the way she clings feels like a couple who just started dating.


    (...And the weird thing is, I don¡¯t really mind.)


    At the end of the corridor, there was even an outdoor pool.


    "Wow, this is amazing."


    "Since we''re here, want to swim? Good exercise after eating."


    "But I didn¡¯t bring a swimsuit."


    "It¡¯s just us girls, no need to worry."


    Before I could react, Riya stripped completely and jumped into the pool.


    "What are you doing? You two should come in. Feels great!"


    She¡¯s right, it''s just us girls here.


    And there¡¯s a wall around the pool, so no one can see in.


    But...


    There¡¯s another reason I can¡¯t just strip and join in.


    "... Wow Riya. Are all foreigners like that?" Nadia said, staring at Riya''s body...


    Her body was on a whole different level.


    Her bone structure itself was different. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Even after eating so much, her stomach remained flat.


    Her rock-solid abs were keeping everything in check.


    Nadia gulped.


    "That''s an S-rank adventurer for you..."


    "Rank has nothing to do with it."


    This time, it was my turn to step in.


    Nadia shot me a sharp glare.


    "Keya, you''re acting all smug just because you have a good figure."


    "That¡¯s not it."


    "Hmph. I¡¯ll grow up to be like that too!"


    "Uh¡­ no, I mean¡­"


    "What? You don¡¯t know that."


    "It¡¯s not that¡­ Riya is younger than you."


    "...Huh?"


    "I think she¡¯s only fourteen or something."


    That¡¯s why she¡¯s the youngest S-rank adventurer.


    Nadia stared blankly at Riya, who was happily floating on her back.


    Two large floating islands.


    "Um¡­ Riya?"


    "Hm? What is it?"


    "Are you really fourteen?"


    "Yeah, I think so."


    "''Think so''?"


    "I was raised by wolves when I was little, so I¡¯m not exactly sure. But it should be around that."


    Raised by wolves?


    That sounded ridiculous, but Riya wasn¡¯t joking.


    "But my birthday is January 22nd. That¡¯s for sure!"


    "Why¡¯s that?"


    "Because that¡¯s the day I met Shahzad."


    Riya grinned, showing her teeth.


    "Ah..."


    "What is it, Nadia?"


    "Now that I think about it, my brother used to say something like that... about rescuing a girl who was raised by wolves. I thought he was just hallucinating from eating weird mushrooms again, so I ignored it..."


    So, Riya was telling the truth?


    "Shahzad even gave me my name."


    Riya looked proud.


    "¡­Wait, does he even know the meaning of this name?"


    "¡­ I don''t know, and if it''s from Shahzad, it''s best even if it''s the worst!"


    "Oh, you''d definitely not wanna know what that means...." Nadia muttered while keeping up a wry smile in front of Riya.


    "Hey Nadia, your brother hated his own name, Shahzad Noor Arthur, right?" Keya asked.


    "Yeah."


    "And yet, he gave a foreigner a straight-up Bangladeshi name." Keya sighed.


    "...Sorry." Nadia instinctively apologized to Riya.


    "Why are you apologizing?"


    "Seriously, my brother..."


    "So bad naming sense runs in this family. I haven¡¯t met their parents yet. They travel around the world, so even Nadia and her brother rarely see them. Now I¡¯m even more curious about what kind of people they are." Keya muttered.


    (So Riya was telling the truth after all...)


    "Hey! What are you two doing? Come swim!"


    She has no idea how much damage her body does to a girl¡¯s self-esteem.


    But Riya looked so genuinely happy swimming.


    If we were wearing skirts, it¡¯d be easier, but both Nadia and I had pants on.


    Since Riya was already completely naked without shame, our sense of embarrassment started to lower as well.


    We took off our pants and sat on the poolside.


    The warm water felt nice on my feet.


    After a while, we decided to go back inside.


    "Wait, Riya! You can¡¯t just go inside soaking wet!"


    "Oh, but I don¡¯t have a towel."


    "I¡¯ll get one!"


    My feet were wet too, but Riya was completely drenched, even her hair.


    I tried to shake off as much water as I could and headed to the washroom for a towel.


    (This is the UD base¡­ and I¡¯m walking around alone...)


    And worse, I wasn¡¯t wearing my pants.


    Thanks to my oversized shirt, my underwear was covered, but I looked like one of those k-drama girls wearing a boyfriend¡¯s shirt to look cute.


    (Let¡¯s not think about it...)


    I threw a towel over Riya, who was waiting completely naked in the corridor, and started drying her off.


    She let me do it without complaint.


    (She¡¯s like a big dog¡­ Maybe it¡¯s because I know about her past now.)


    Suddenly, Riya hugged me.


    "Whoa!? Riya, wait¡ª"


    She had always been clingy, but getting hugged by a naked girl was too much.


    "Hey, what are you¡ª"


    "Hehehe."


    Riya took a deep breath and smiled happily.


    That¡¯s when I understood.


    Riya had no ulterior motives.


    She wasn¡¯t trying to trick us or take advantage of us.


    We were just overthinking things.


    (This girl¡­ she just misses big brother Shahzad¡¯s scent.)


    My chest tightened.


    I suddenly felt an overwhelming affection for her.


    "Hey, Riya."


    "Hm? What?"


    "Do you¡­ want to see Shahzad?"


    "Of course! I¡¯d love to¡ª"


    She stopped mid-sentence.


    "¡­Huh? What¡¯s wrong, Riya?"


    "¡­I don¡¯t want to see him."


    "What!? Why not!?"


    "¡­I don¡¯t know. Why?"


    "How am I supposed to know?"


    This was a problem.


    If Riya had said she wanted to see Shahzad, I would have told her the truth and taken her home.


    Now that Nadia knew about her past, she wouldn¡¯t also oppose it.


    Even though she¡¯s obsessed with her brother, Nadia has some common sense¡­ probably.


    ¡­Hopefully.


    I want to believe in my friend.


    But since Riya herself said she didn¡¯t want to see him, there wasn¡¯t much we could do.

 17. Muscle Discussion, Cake, and Friends

    A half-naked man was displayed on the large monitor.


    "It''s gotta be the back. Look at the thickness of those lat muscles."


    "I get it, but for me, it''s gotta be <u>the</u> abs. Look, right here! The obliques when he twists his body!"


    "Oh, not bad."


    "And the shoulders are hard to ignore too."


    "Agreed."


    (...I can''t really keep up with this.)


    Back in the living room, we were engrossed in a discussion about Shahzad while watching clips of him.


    Since we were keeping our relationship with him a secret, we spoke purely as fans.


    (To be honest, there''s no real need to keep it a secret anymore...)


    Now that I knew about Riya''s background, staying silent even felt a little wrong.


    (But she said she didn''t want to meet him...)


    In the end, I never found the right moment to tell her, and here we were.


    "What do you think, Keya?"


    "What do I think about what?"


    "Look, right here!"


    Nadia paused the video.


    On the screen, the title appeared:


    [Shahzad Clip] Forgot to End the Stream, Shahzad Looks Thinner in Clothes [Warning: His Muscles Are Too Sexy For Girls!]


    "I''m telling you, it''s all about the abs."


    "I''m not really knowledgeable about muscles..." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "We want a beginner''s opinion."


    Even Riya was getting into it.


    (A beginner...? Are they professionals or something?)


    "Uh... maybe the butt?"


    I said it just to go along with them, but both of them turned red.


    "Keya, you..."


    "...You''re so indecent."


    I didn''t understand their standards.


    Besides, his firm, toned butt was pretty cute, in my opinion.


    [A/N: Ummm... I can explain that guys...]


    The two of them kept talking about Shahzad, leaving me a bit out of the loop.


    I mostly just nodded along.


    "Haha, yeah, Shahzad does have that kind of vibe."


    Calling him by his name felt strangely new.


    "...Hey, Keya."


    Riya peered at me curiously.


    "What is it?"


    "Do you like Shahzad too?"


    "Huh?"


    The two of them were the ones getting excited. I had barely contributed to the conversation.


    So why was she suddenly asking me that?


    "Why are you asking that out of nowhere?"


    "Because when you say his name, it feels like there''s a sweet scent in the air."


    Nadia''s gaze made me a little nervous.


    I waved my hands.


    "No way. I mean, I''m a fan, so if you''re asking whether I like him or not, sure, but not in *that* way."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah."


    Riya didn''t look completely convinced, but she nodded.


    The conversation kept flowing, and before we knew it, the sun had set.


    "Oh, right," Riya suddenly remembered something.


    "Didn''t you say you ordered a cake?"


    "Oh!"


    Nadia and I exclaimed at the same time.


    "Crap, the store''s gonna close!"


    We hadn''t even started cleaning up yet...


    The mess in the living room was enough to make me dizzy.


    "It''s fine, it''s fine. Neha will clean it up."


    "Who? Who''s Neha?"


    Riya practically shoved us out of the hideout.


    "But still, we should at least clean up..."


    "Neha doesn''t need that kind of consideration."


    "Who is Neha...?"


    That was more worrying than anything.


    "It''d be sad not to have a cake on birthday."


    "Well, that''s true, but..."


    "Hey, Riya," Nadia joined in.


    "Why don''t you come have cake with us? You should come over."


    "Oh, thanks, but I''ll pass. I think things like this are better with just friends. Sorry for dragging you both into this today."


    "What are you talking about? We''re already friends, aren''t we?"


    Riya''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Then, she smiled back happily.


    "Thanks. But I have plans to meet someone after this."


    "Neha?" I asked.


    "Yeah, exactly. So don''t worry about me."


    Riya offered to get us a car, but we declined and hailed a rickshaw instead.


    "Hey, are you sure about this?"


    Once we got into the rickshaw, I asked Nadia.


    "About what?"


    "Inviting Riya over."


    "Well, after hearing that story, how could I not? I want her to meet my insecure and anti social brother."


    "...Yeah, you''re right."


    "But we exchanged contacts, so there''ll be plenty of chances."


    "...Sorry, Nadia."


    "Huh? Why are you apologizing?"


    I felt ashamed that I hadn''t fully trusted my friend.

 18. Mont Blanc and Shahzads Scent

    I barely made it before closing time and picked up the cake I had ordered.


    By the time I got back to the apartment, Shahzad was already gone.


    The meal I had prepared in advance had been completely eaten.


    The dishes were washed and properly put away in the cupboard.


    On the note that said, "This is for you, brother," he had written in the blank space, "It was delicious. Thank you for the meal."


    That was just like the meticulous Shahzad.


    There was another note as well, stating that he had gone camping at the Bashundhara Dungeon in Dhaka.


    "It looks like we just missed each other."


    "Well, it can''t be helped. My brother only has camping on his mind. More importantly, let''s eat the cake."


    "..."


    "What''s wrong, Keya?"


    "This morning, I told you to stop pretending to be strong, didn''t I?"


    "It''s not like I''m pretending..."


    Nadia''s words trailed off.


    After a moment...


    "...But at least on my birthday, I wish he could have stayed with me the whole time."


    She said it weakly.


    "That''s fine. If you ask him, he will definitely listen to you."


    "...Yeah."


    "Honestly, I think the reason he left so quickly for camping was because of some weird consideration on his part. He probably thought staying at home too long would be an inconvenience. So for his sake too, you should just tell him what you really want."


    Since we had eaten so much at lunch, we skipped dinner.


    But cake was a different story.  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    I cut the fruit-covered cake into pieces.


    Since eating the whole thing between the two of us would be impossible, I decided to put the rest in the fridge,


    "¡­Nadia."


    "What?"


    "Let''s save this cake for tomorrow."


    "Huh? But won¡¯t it go bad? We should eat it soon."


    I took a paper box out of the fridge and showed it to Nadia.


    It wasn¡¯t there this morning.


    It was from a small, privately owned bakery in the neighborhood that specialized in simple, traditional cakes.


    Since the prices were reasonable, I often bought from them even on ordinary days.


    For the birthday, I thought I should get something a little more expensive, so I had placed an order at a famous shop, but...


    Even though it was something we ate regularly, this one was special.


    "You''re right... Since he went out of his way to buy it for me¡­"


    Nadia looked embarrassed but also happy.


    When Nadia opened the box, there was a shortcake and a Mont Blanc inside.


    "Ah¡­"


    "What''s wrong, Nadia?"


    "Nothing. It''s nothing."


    Nadia transferred the cakes onto plates and carried them to the table.


    Keya brewed decaffeinated coffee, drinking mine black, and made caf¨¦ au lait for Nadia, pouring them into their brand-new mugs.


    (Nadia: My brother... He remembered that I like Mont Blanc¡­)


    After finishing the cake, Keya took a quick shower.


    ---


    Keya''s POV:


    So much had happened since the morning that I didn''t have the energy to clean the bathtub.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t even midnight yet, we were both exhausted and naturally drifted off to bed.


    Our bedrooms were separate.


    Since it was an apartment meant for families, that was how the layout was designed from the start.


    With a walk-in closet in the center and the beds placed apart, it suited me just fine, as I preferred to keep my bedroom a private space.


    Besides, Nadia and I weren¡¯t the type to be overly mindful of each other.


    "Good night, Nadia."


    "Good night~"


    We exchanged goodnight wishes and slipped into our beds...


    But in the next moment, I jumped up.


    I lost balance and tumbled out of bed.


    "Wh-what happened, Keya? That was a really loud noise..."


    "It''s nothing! It''s really nothing! I just slipped a little¡­"


    "Really? If you say so¡­"


    Holding my pounding heart, I climbed back into bed.


    Wrapping myself in the blanket, I took a deep breath.


    (Shahzad¡¯s scent¡­)


    Now that I thought about it, Shahzad had never entered our bedroom before.


    So there was no way he could have known which bed was Nadia¡¯s.


    (Then why didn¡¯t he just ask¡­?)


    Knowing him, he must have worried about something strange again.


    I could easily imagine him flustered, pacing back and forth in the room.


    "Which one is Nadia¡¯s bed? I can¡¯t exactly use Keya¡¯s bed¡­ But if they didn¡¯t specify, does that mean either one is fine¡­? Should I go back and ask? But wouldn¡¯t that seem weird¡­? Like I¡¯m too conscious of it or something¡­? I mean, she probably doesn¡¯t see me as a guy at all¡­ But if I start overthinking this, wouldn¡¯t that be even worse¡­?"


    I could picture him getting caught up in his own thoughts, hesitating, and pacing.


    The image made me laugh.


    Not wanting Nadia to notice, I buried myself under the blanket.


    Wrapped in Shahzad¡¯s scent, I continued to chuckle to myself.


    For five minutes. Ten minutes.


    That was how I desperately tried to look away.


    From this ache in my chest.


    Because I wanted to stay friends with Nadia forever.

 19. Bonus: Shahzad in the Bathroom

    Shahzad cut his camping trip short after just a week to celebrate his younger sister¡¯s birthday.


    That was an unusual thing.


    Normally, once he entered a dungeon, he wouldn¡¯t return for at least three weeks.


    But this wasn¡¯t unusual for Shahzad himself.


    It was unusual for the people around him.


    Everyone adjusted their expectations to match Shahzad¡¯s dungeon cycle.


    They would mentally prepare themselves, thinking, ¡°It¡¯s about time for Shahzad to come back.¡±


    By doing so, even if they ran into Shahzad, they wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard.


    However, since he returned much earlier than usual, it caused a stir among those around him.


    Because of their reactions, Shahzad mistakenly thought that he smelled bad.  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    He even wondered if he had already started to develop an old man¡¯s smell¡­ but thanks to Keya, that misunderstanding was cleared up.


    Following Keya¡¯s suggestion, Shahzad stepped into the bath.


    One of the reasons Shahzad regularly returned to the surface was for the bath.


    Shahzad loved bathing.


    But of course, there were no baths inside the dungeon.


    He was always on the lookout for a hot spring somewhere, but so far, he hadn¡¯t found one.


    Occasionally, he would come across a healing spring, but the water was lukewarm and hardly worthy of being called a bath.


    Keya had mentioned that this was leftover bathwater from yesterday, so no one else would be getting in after him.


    That meant there was no harm in jumping into the tub before washing his body.


    (That would probably feel amazing¡­)


    Even as he thought that, Shahzad first washed his head three times and his body twice, carefully and thoroughly.


    That was just the kind of person he was.


    After scrubbing away a week¡¯s worth of grime, he finally settled into the tub.


    Yet, his face was unusually tense.


    It was his beloved bath, the first in a week.


    He should have been melting away in bliss.


    Shahzad rarely ever wore such a serious expression.


    He had a naturally easygoing demeanor, always carrying an air of relaxed carelessness.


    Even when delving into dungeons, even when facing powerful monsters, he never seemed tense.


    So why now¡­?


    ¡°¡­Hmm.¡±


    With a furrowed brow, he was deep in thought.


    His gaze was fixed on something floating in the water, a single, curly hair.


    (¡­Whose is that?)


    Even if he didn¡¯t smell like an old man, at that moment, Shahzad reeked of crime.

 20. [Shahzad] Was the world created five minutes ago? Shahzad reveals the secrets of the world [Clip

    "Alright. Now, let¡¯s play a game where I explain the ''Five-Minute World Hypothesis'' for more than five minutes."


    ¡ª "What¡¯s up with this all of a sudden?"


    ¡ª "Did he eat some weird mushrooms?"


    ¡ª "This is just Shahzad being Shahzad."


    "Do you all know about the ''Five-Minute World Hypothesis''? As the <u>name</u> suggests, it¡¯s the idea that the world was created just five minutes ago. Sounds ridiculous, right?


    Because we have history.


    The universe was born 13.8 billion years ago, the Earth 4.6 billion years ago, life 3.5 billion years ago, humans 5 million years ago, and dungeons connected to our world 7 years ago.


    Even without such a grand history, just look around.


    There¡¯s dust accumulating in the corners of the room, wanted posters fading in color, my favorite novel still on hiatus, and that jar of pickles I bought on a trip, expired and sitting at the back of the fridge.


    But what if all of that was created five minutes ago in exactly that state?"


    ¡ª "I''ve heard of this before."


    ¡ª "It¡¯s an interesting thought."


    ¡ª "I learned about this in middle school and couldn¡¯t sleep that night."


    "And what about your own existence? You might have been born five minutes ago with all your memories and experiences intact.


    It¡¯s an absurd hypothesis, but it¡¯s impossible to disprove. The only one who could deny it is Allah, the one who created everything.


    [A/N: People from different religion, please don''t mind me for this...]


    So, for example, if you¡¯re eating instant noodles right now, you were born into this world in the state of ''waiting for your cup noodles to finish cooking.'' Kinda funny to think about, right?"


    ¡ª "I just took a bite of my cup noodles, and now I¡¯m freaking out."


    ¡ª "Being born in the middle of waiting for cup noodles¡­ that¡¯s peak background character energy."


    ¡ª "Maybe my dull life is because of this. It all makes sense now."


    ¡ª "I was just boiling water in a kettle when I came into existence, so I¡¯m different from you guys."


    ¡ª "Calm down. It¡¯s just a hypothesis."


    "Well, it¡¯s just a thought experiment. No one takes it seriously. Even the person who came up with it probably meant it as a joke. But still..."


    ¡ª "Why is he suddenly talking about this?"


    ¡ª "Maybe he¡¯s feeling unstable?"


    ¡ª "I mean, anyone would go a little crazy after solo camping in the deep dungeon layers."


    ¡ª "If you¡¯re solo camping in the deep layers, you weren¡¯t normal to begin with, so it¡¯s fine."


    "Maybe it¡¯s because of video games, but some people seem to think that monsters in dungeons just spawn out of nowhere and drop items or money when defeated. But reality is completely different.


    Dungeons have proper ecosystems. Monsters don¡¯t just appear out of thin air.


    Like animals on the surface, they mate and reproduce.


    There¡¯s a food chain, symbiotic relationships, territorial disputes, and even social colonies among certain species."


    ¡ª "Watching too many dungeon streams really messes with your sense of reality."


    ¡ª "Especially Shahzad¡¯s streams, they¡¯re so flashy."


    ¡ª "I actually prefer when Shahzad just talks like this."


    ¡ª "Same here."


    "For example, take this little rock. I don¡¯t have much knowledge about geology, but someone who does could probably see the history within this single stone.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Dungeons have real history.


    That¡¯s why it¡¯s now commonly accepted that dungeons existed somewhere in the distant past, whether at the edge of the universe, in another dimension, or in a different world altogether.


    Somehow, they got connected to our world through gates.


    Though, there¡¯s still debate about whether the gates connected the dungeons or if the connection itself created the gates.


    But that¡¯s just a ¡®chicken or egg¡¯ kind of argument."


    ¡ª "Wait, so it¡¯s not that simple?"


    ¡ª "I love these kinds of discussions."


    "I don¡¯t intend to deny that theory. It makes sense, and I¡¯m not a scholar. But¡­ have you heard of the ''Jolonto Problem''?


    After the Jolonto legend became widely recognized, dungeons that newly appeared started having Jolonto monsters in them.


    That caused quite a stir.


    People debated about synchronicity, collective consciousness, and all sorts of theories.


    But that¡¯s not what caught my attention.


    The first time I saw a Jolonto was in the Swabin Tel Dungeon in Sylhet.


    [A/N: If ykuk :)]


    I heard a new gate had appeared, so I got up early and lined up to enter."


    ¡ª "Lining up for a dungeon like it¡¯s a new kacchi restaurant opening¡­"


    ¡ª "I watched that stream."


    "Technically, dungeon passes aren¡¯t issued until safety is confirmed and a dungeon park is established.


    But in reality, the rules are pretty lax. They just let people in."


    ¡ª "No, that¡¯s just you."


    ¡ª "Why doesn¡¯t Shahzad register as an official adventurer?"


    ¡ª "Search ''Kaiser Incident'' and you¡¯ll understand."


    ¡ª "Oh wow, this brings back memories. I started watching Shahzad for the entertainment, but then I got sucked into the abyss."


    ¡ª "When you gaze into Shahzad, Shahzad gazes back into you."


    ¡ª "Stop, that¡¯s not funny."


    "I think I set up camp around the 15th floor that time."


    ¡ª "Isn¡¯t that kinda shallow?"


    ¡ª "Shahzad¡¯s goal isn¡¯t clearing the dungeon¡ªit¡¯s camping. He usually stays in the upper layers until adventurers push deeper."


    ¡ª "Even 15 floors down is insane, though."


    ¡ª "An A-rank party takes a month to clear that, but Shahzad just goes ¡®yeah, I¡¯ll set up here¡¯ in a few days."


    "Near my camp, I found a Jolonto nest.


    Since they weren¡¯t particularly aggressive, I just observed them while camping."


    ¡ª "Did¡­ did he eat a Jolonto?"


    ¡ª "Public Service Announcement: Jolonto are actually dangerous. Do not approach them carelessly based on Shahzad¡¯s words. Also, please do not eat them."


    "Then I realized something.


    Jolonto had a history.


    They weren¡¯t creatures that just popped into existence overnight.


    They had survived in the dungeon for decades, maybe even centuries.


    Their bizarre appearance wasn¡¯t just for show, it was the result of evolution.


    And that¡¯s when I thought, ¡®Something doesn¡¯t add up¡­¡¯"


    ¡ª "Is he applying for a detective''s job?"


    ¡ª "Physically unbreakable, mentally unhinged."


    ¡ª "But yeah, that is weird."


    ¡ª "Jolonto didn¡¯t exist in dungeons before they became famous, right?"


    "There could be all sorts of explanations. Maybe it was just a coincidence.


    Or maybe dungeons exist in infinite numbers.


    And when Jolonto became widely known, a dungeon that had Jolonto was ¡®pulled¡¯ into our world.


    That would explain why dungeons have regional traits.


    From countless possible dungeons, our world connects to the one most suited to its location.


    That actually makes the most logical sense.


    Someone must have already proposed this theory.


    I mean, if I could think of it, surely others have too.


    Yeah¡­ yeah, that¡¯s probably it. That makes the most sense.


    ¡­But when I saw the Jolonto, for some reason, the Five-Minute World Hypothesis came to mind.


    And I couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡­


    Maybe I was born into this world in the middle of explaining the Five-Minute World Hypothesis."


    ¡ª "So we were all born listening to this explanation?"


    ¡ª " We are the ultimate background characters."


    ¡ª "Depressing."


    ¡ª "Shahzad¡¯s perspective is so unique. No one else would have the time to study monster ecology in a dungeon."


    ¡ª "Or even care about it in the first place."


    ¡ª "He¡¯s really more of a camper than an adventurer. Not just a self-proclaimed one¡ªhe actually is."


    ¡ª "I know this isn¡¯t real, but¡­ I just got chills."


    ¡ª¡ª Outro ¡ª¡ª


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