Sora-san's Dungeon Stream: The Expressionless Girl Is Actually a 38-Year-Old Salaryman - Waiting in the dungeon.

Souji stared intently at the smartphone screen. The room was dark. Outside the window, the autumn wind battered dead leaves against the concrete. Rustle, rustle, rustle. That sound alone seemed unnaturally loud. On the screen, a DM from Kanata was displayed. *"Sora-kun, I was wondering if we could meet in person sometime."* (In person.) Those words lodged in his chest like a tiny thorn. She had seen through his stream. Not out of sympathy—she had seen the calculations, the movements, the tactics. But even so. (If I take off the mask.) Small fingers gripped the edge of the smartphone tightly. The tips of his nails turned white. A thirty-eight-year-old man, in a body like this. (Will she laugh? Or be creeped out?) Either way, it would be the end. She was his one and only person who understood. He didn't want to lose that. That was precisely why he couldn't tell her the truth. Meeting in person was inefficient. Yes, it was inefficient. Souji slowly typed out a message. *"I'm sorry. Meeting in person is difficult."* Sent. It had taken several minutes just to type those dozen or so characters. (This is fine.) It was an efficient decision. He told himself that. A reply came immediately. I see. That's a shame, but I understand. In that case, let's do this. There's a safe room on the 7th layer of Twilight Hollow. Do you know it? I'll be waiting there. Souji caught his breath. (The 7th layer.) That was an A-rank danger zone, reached by fewer than twenty people a year. Even professional streamers wouldn't go near it. *"Please wait. The 7th layer is dangerous."* He typed his reply in a panic. His fingers trembled. It's fine. I used to dive there a little, a long time ago. But, if you're worried— Will you come for me? (Come for her.) In other words, she was telling him to come. This wasn't about logic. She was risking her own life just to meet him. (Inefficient.) His head thought so. But deep in his chest, something much stronger was screaming. (I have to protect Kanata-san.) Souji stood up. He picked up his white half-mask. He hung the Muse Link around his neck. He donned his black cape. His equipment was the same as always. But today, something was different. He was going to protect something more important than his own life—that resolve drove his small body forward. The entrance to Twilight Hollow felt colder than usual. He passed his license through the Dungeon Agency's management gate. An electronic beep sounded. Huh, Sora-chan? It's almost closing time, you know. And the 7th layer, of all places— A young female staff member called out to him, worry in her voice. She was another one of those people who saw him as a "poor, pitiable girl." It's fine. He answered curtly and descended the stairs. First layer. Rocky passageways. Stone Rats poked their heads out, but he ignored them and ran past. Third layer. The shore of an underground lake. Aqua Fangs leaped out at him. He dodged with minimal movement and dispatched them with a single strike from his tonfa. The monsters vanished into particles. Scales clattered to the ground, but he had no time to pick them up. Fifth layer. The darkness was deep. He sensed the presence of Shadow Reapers. But today wasn't the day for fighting. He moved along the wall, making no sound. Shadows shifted. Two, no, three of them. But they hadn't noticed him yet. He held his breath and slipped through the passage. Sixth layer. From here on, there weren't even any relay antennas for streaming. Completely unknown territory. The moment he stepped in, the air changed. Cold. Heavy. A crushing pressure that felt like it would collapse his lungs. (The 7th layer is even further down.) Souji wiped the sweat from his brow. His small hand trembled faintly. He was scared. But, more than that. (Kanata-san.) That name glowed deep within his heart. As he finished descending the stairs to the 7th layer, the view opened up. It was a massive cavern. The ceiling was invisible. Countless pale-blue crystals jutted out from the walls, faintly illuminating the surroundings. It was too quiet. There wasn't even a hint of monsters. (The safe room is—) He spotted an iron door by the wall. A plate read "SAFE ROOM 7." He rushed over. He opened the door. No one was there. ...Kanata-san? His voice was swallowed by the cavern and vanished. That's when it happened. Thud. From deep within the passage, he heard a faint sound. A small noise, like something collapsing. (Over there.) He ran. The passage was narrow and winding. As he ran, he noticed something wrong. The air was sweet. Poison. And a considerably potent one at that. Just from inhaling a tiny amount through a gap in his mask, his vision swayed violently. He held his breath and went deeper. And then, he found her. ...Kanata-san! She was slumped against the wall. Her usually sharp, dignified face was now pale. Her long black hair was disheveled, and sweat beaded on her forehead. Her breathing was shallow, and her body trembled faintly. At her feet lay a broken trap device. Purple mist was still leaking from it. ...Ah, Sora-kun. She opened her eyes slightly and smiled. You came... for me. Her voice was terribly weak. Please don't move. Souji headed for the trap device first. His knowledge as a systems engineer and the experience he'd cultivated in the dungeon began computing at high speed in his head. Activation patterns, trigger position, power source—. His fingers moved. Click. The poison mist stopped. Next, he took an antidote from his pouch. It was something he always carried in case of situations like this. He knelt beside Kanata and spoke, not through the mask, but with his real voice. It's an antidote. Please open your mouth. With unfocused eyes, Kanata opened her mouth slightly. Souji gently pressed the small vial of antidote to her lips and poured its contents in. Gulp. Her throat moved. After a moment—. ...Hah. Kanata's breathing deepened. Color slowly returned to her pale face. (We made it.) Deep inside, Souji let out a sigh of relief. But it wasn't over yet. It wasn't finished. Kanata's eyes slowly came into focus. She looked straight at the small shadow before her. White mask. Black cape. Silver hair. Sora-kun... thank you. You saved me. Souji nodded silently. Then, slowly, he raised his right hand. It was trembling. (I'm scared.) He was scared. But—. (I can't run away.) Not from this person. Not from the only person who had seen through his "calculations." He couldn't keep lying to her. His fingers touched the edge of the mask. Kanata's eyes widened. ...Sora-kun? His hesitation lasted only a moment. Souji removed the mask. The cool air of the cave caressed his bare face. He also removed the voice changer from his neck. What was revealed was long, silver hair. A small, white face. Large, gray eyes. By all appearances, a teenage girl. But. ...This is my true identity. That voice did not belong to a girl. It was his natural voice, unfiltered by the voice changer. Calm, deep—the voice of a thirty-eight-year-old man. Kanata said nothing. She simply gazed intently into those gray eyes. A silence of several seconds. To Souji, that silence felt like an eternity. (It's over.) He thought so. She would be creeped out, or angry that he had deceived her. Either way, this was—. ...I knew it. That voice was incredibly gentle. Souji looked up. She was smiling. Even with her pale face, still trembling from the poison's effects—she smiled softly, like a flower blooming. Your movements, your voice, your knowledge... everything seemed somehow mature. I always thought there was no way a child could fight with that much calculation. She slowly reached out and touched Souji's white cheek. Her hand was still a little cold. But it was warm. I don't know the details of your situation. But you've been fighting all alone, haven't you? Those words seeped gently, deeply into his heart. Well then, all the more reason—I can't just leave you alone. Something hot welled up from deep within his eyes. He couldn't stop it. He had lived for thirty-eight years. As a member of society, as a systems engineer, he had properly fulfilled his roles. But the moment his body changed, he lost everything. No one knew him. No one saw him. Only a "poor, pitiable girl" existed there, and the real him was nowhere to be found. And yet. This person. She smiled and said, "All the more reason I can't leave you alone." A single tear spilled from Souji's gray eyes. It traced a path down his silver hair, wetting his white cheek. No voice came out. Only his lips trembled faintly—. ...Thank you. With great effort, that was all he could manage. Without a word, Kanata gently pulled his head into an embrace. We'll make a place where you truly belong. She declared this in a gentle voice. Those words slowly began to melt away thirty-eight years of loneliness. Expressionless, he let fall one more tear. Deep within the quiet 7th layer, the two of them stayed like that for a while, huddled close. The light of the pale-blue crystals cast their shadows upon the wall. After some time, Kanata had recovered enough to stand. Come on, let's go home. It's too cold here. She smiled brightly, though her legs were still a little unsteady. As Souji was putting his mask back on—he suddenly stopped his hands. ...I still need the mask. This appearance causes various complications. It was an efficient decision. Hehe, you're right. Let's devise a strategy for that another time. She laughed and took his small hand. It was a warm hand. But, at least when it's just me, you can take it off, you know. At those words, Souji's mouth relaxed just a tiny bit. A faint, small smile that flickered across his expressionless face. It was the first true "expression" he had ever shown. Side by side, the two began to walk back through the dark passage. Their footsteps echoed rhythmically through the cave. The world hadn't changed at all. The problems with age verification, the problems with his family registry—none of them were solved. But—. (I'm not alone.) Deep within his small chest, Souji felt that. That feeling was the warmest thing he had experienced in his thirty-eight years of life.

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Episode 6

Name: Sora-san's Dungeon Stream: The Expressionless Girl Is Actually a 38-Year-Old Salaryman
Author: Novelia

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