kscans

Chapter 11 - 11

I successfully cleared the Black Dungeon on my own.

My name was the only one engraved on the stone monument in the last boss’s room, which meant I was the very first person to clear that dungeon.

When I started playing FWO in the game, I was still in middle school, and since it was released on a weekday, I couldn’t get my name on the Black Dungeon’s monument. Remembering that, a fresh wave of happiness washed over me.

By the way, I’m currently flying home using the jetpack I chose as my dungeon clear reward.

My homeroom teacher tried to stop me from entering the dungeon, but I ignored him and jumped in, so... I thought if I went out the normal way, I’d be caught and scolded, so I decided to fly home from the top floor of the dungeon.

To get out of a cleared dungeon, you can either touch the warp stone in the boss room to return to the first floor, or you can choose to fly out from the entrance/exit on the top floor.

It was great that this part of the specifications was also the same as FWO. But, I was surprised that I could choose the jetpack, which should have been a reward for clearing a Grade 3 dungeon, in the Black Dungeon. I wonder if it was a special bonus for being the first to clear it?

In any case, thanks to this, getting around will be easier.

I landed in an empty lot near my house.

The controls were slightly different from the game, and my control wasn’t stable. If I had tried to fly straight back to my room, there was a chance I would have crashed through a window or something, so I decided to land here first.

"You must be Shizukuishi Hayate-sama, correct?"

"Huh?"

As I was storing the jetpack, an elderly gentleman in a black suit spoke to me.

Several men in black suits appeared from behind him. Before I knew it, I was surrounded.

I activated my manipulators and readied my swords.

"My apologies. We have no intention of harming you. We would just like to speak with you for a moment."

The elderly gentleman said.

"...Being suddenly surrounded, it’s only natural to be wary."

They didn’t seem to have any weapons, but I’m just a high school student. It’s scary to be surrounded by adults. But on second thought, maybe pointing swords at people was not a good idea.

Could these people be police officers, here to arrest me for violating the Sword and Firearm Control Law?

"All of you. Step back."

"B-But, is it not dangerous?"

"Although he is a dungeon clearer, he is still a high school student. I would like him to listen to me calmly. Therefore, step back."

The men in black suits moved away from me and the elderly gentleman.

"How do you know that I cleared the dungeon?"

"I will explain that as well. First, my name is Todo, and I serve as the head butler to the president of the Shinonome Group."

The Shinonome Group, that’s Rena’s...

Elena was the one I last partied with in the game FWO to clear the most difficult dungeon. Her real name is Shinonome Rena.

"This is not the place for it, so could we speak in the car? We have already received permission from your parents, Hayate-sama. If you have your smartphone, please check it."

Urged by Todo-san, I checked my phone. I had a huge number of missed calls.

For now, I ignored my call history and opened my messaging app. I had received a lot of messages from various people here too, but I ignored those for now and checked the message from my parents.

"...It says to obey Todo-san. Um, you haven’t threatened my parents or anything, have you?"

"Of course not. We would never do such a thing. We did negotiate, however."

I’m curious about what kind of negotiation. But for now, I’ll listen to what he has to say.

"I understand. I’ll go with you."

"Thank you very much. Then, this way."

Todo-san led me to where a black limousine was parked.

This was the first time I had seen one up close. Am I really about to get in this thing?

"Hayate-sama, please."

Todo-san opened the door and invited me into the car.

I entered nervously, and the floor was fluffy. The seats were leather, and the sense of luxury was incredible. I had seen on TV before that some seats even have a massage function. I wonder if this car has one? There are buttons that look like they could be for it...

"Would you like to use the massage function?"

"Huh, ah, no. I was just a little curious."

So it really has one. Rich people are on another level.

"Let’s go."

As Todo-san, who sat diagonally across from me, gave the command, the limousine started to move.

I didn’t hear anything about moving.

"Um, why are we moving? Where are we going?"

"Hayate-sama, you are now a famous person for having cleared the dungeon, so this is to prevent you from being surrounded by the media. Your parents have already been invited to a hotel of the Shinonome Group."

"I asked this before, but where did you learn that I cleared the dungeon?"

"So you were not aware after all. The truth is, the figures of those clearing the dungeons had become viewable on a video streaming site."

"What?"

What is that? I wasn’t streaming anything!?

"Is this ‘Hayate’s Booth’ something you created?"

Todo-san showed me his smartphone.

On it was a video of me clearing the Black Dungeon.

"I don’t know anything about this!!"

To prove it, I operated my own smartphone and brought up my booth screen.

"H-Huh? What is this!?"

Besides the booth I had created called ‘Hayate-Style Four-Sword Style Promotion Office,’ there was another one. A ‘Hayate’s Booth’ that I had no memory of whatsoever.

"So it was you, after all."

"N-No, you’re wrong! I didn’t make a booth like this!!"

I’m being falsely accused! I don’t know what crime it would be, but still.

To deny it, I looked at the booth information again.

The creation date was this evening. Probably around the time I entered the dungeon.

I wasn’t creating a booth at that time.

While I was at it, I checked the revenue tab out of habit. Even if it wasn’t my own booth, checking this is just the nature of a streamer.

"...Huh. S-Seventy million yen?"

I was stunned by the amount displayed there.

The total amount to be paid from Super Tips and view counts exceeded seventy million yen.

It was so incomprehensible that it was scary.

I had been working hard every day uploading dungeon clear videos, and it was a good month if I made 200,000 yen... Getting over seventy million from a single dungeon clear was impossible.

"Hayate-sama, you were the first in the world to clear a dungeon. The whole world was watching. Hence, that is likely the dividend."

"The first in the world, me?"

No, that’s not possible.

"America and places like that would send in their armies to investigate."

"Indeed. The United States, Russia, and China formed special forces units and aimed to investigate and clear the Black Dungeon. Their progress was also streamed."

So dungeons didn’t just appear in Japan, but all over the world.

"Then, isn’t it strange that I was the first?"

There’s no way an individual like me could beat armed soldiers in clear speed.

"The weapons that each country’s special forces brought with them were almost ineffective against the monsters that appear on the 6th floor of the dungeon and above. The American special forces were able to climb the highest by procuring weapons locally, but even they were wiped out on the 8th floor."

"The US special forces were wiped out on the 8th floor, seriously? But it’s a beginner dungeon..."

My usual speech pattern slipped out. That’s how surprised I was.

"That concludes my explanation of the current situation. And from here is what I would like to ask of you, Hayate-sama."

"Wh-What is it?"

After looking me in the eye, Todo-san bowed his head deeply.

"I must ask you, please, save Lady Rena."