The Sendai Castle Ruins Dungeon was different from any ordinary Dungeon, starting with the entrance itself.
Passing beyond the area cordoned off by sandbags, I saw a hole gaping in the ground near the center of the Honmaru Ruins. I descended a ramp that appeared to have been installed by the Self-Defense Forces, finding a steep path that plunged deep underground.
Normally, a Dungeon entrance would feature stone-carved stairs. It wouldn't be a raw slope of exposed earth like a natural cave. Usually, the walls would be lined with Dungeon-structured candles, but here, there was only modern electrical lighting near the surface. Further down the slope, even those disappeared, and the interior grew so dark it was difficult to find one’s footing.
We descended the long, lightless slope with extreme caution. Eventually, a glimmer of light filtered in from the end of the tunnel. It was the exit.
We proceeded toward the opening at a steady pace and stepped out into the Dungeon.
We were on Floor 1 of the Sendai Castle Ruins Dungeon. However, the Black Obelisk and Teleportation Circle that were always present at the start of a normal Dungeon were nowhere to be found. Or rather—
"Huh!?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa...!!"
"Is this... actually inside the Dungeon?"
"Did we accidentally walk back outside?"
The Explorers arriving behind me began to buzz with confusion as they surveyed the surroundings. The only ones who didn't seem surprised were the Professor, Saito-san, and Kurage-chan.
This was because the interior was neither a cave nor an underground ruin. Generally, Dungeons were one or the other. But here, no matter how one looked at it, we were "in a forest."
Behind us, a cliff towered so high its summit was lost in the mist, and the mouth of the cave we had just exited gaped like a dark wound in the rock. In the opposite direction lay the Great Tree Forest. It was unlike any forest found in Japan; each tree looked thousands of years old, with massive, gnarled trunks and canopies that reached far into the sky.
Inside the Great Tree Forest, the trees were spaced widely enough that visibility wasn't much of a concern. The ground was cushioned by leaf mold, though the roots of the great trees writhed across the floor like a tangle of giant serpents, making for treacherous footing. Still, there was little undergrowth to obscure the view.
The scale of everything was so massive that it felt as if we had been shrunk down into dwarves.
And yet—looking up through the gaps in the leaves, I saw a "sky." It was the same blue sky one might see on the surface. White clouds drifted along, carried by an invisible wind. Between the thick scent of vegetation, the rustle of the canopy, the distant sound of running water, and the humming of various insects, it really didn't feel like we were inside a Dungeon at all.
I’ve seen Dungeons like this in manga, anime, and light novels, so I managed to keep my cool, but since every Dungeon discovered so far had been a cave or a ruin, the sight was still quite a shock.
As the others gradually regained their composure, I noticed something.
"Eh?"
As I scanned the group, I realized that for some reason, Saito-san, the Professor, and Kurage-chan were all staring at me. I turned to Saito-san, who was standing closest to me, and asked what was on their minds.
"Um, did you need something?"
"N-No, it is nothing at all, I say! This humble one prays thou wouldst pay it no mind!"
That seemed unlikely. They were clearly looking at me as if there was something very specific to worry about. I stared at Saito-san suspiciously. He put on a strained, twitching smile.
"I-Indeed! Junkie-niki-dono! Is thy physical condition quite alright!? Dost thou feel unwell... or perhaps, even better than usual?"
"...? No, I'm fine. I'm bursting with energy, same as always!"
"Is that so... It seems thou art truly alright, then....For now."
What was that about? Was he just worried about me? I didn't really understand why he was singling me out....Well, although we were only a year or two apart in age, I was the youngest person here, so maybe he felt protective.
Saito-san is so kind...
"Humph, it seems Junkie-niki-kun is doing well too. Shall we move along soon?"
"Professor-dono... indeed, I say."
Saito-san nodded as the Professor approached. So the Professor was worried about me too? They were both so thoughtful!
"However, this Dungeon is said to be quite vast, and we won't find the Dungeon Core by wandering aimlessly," the Professor noted. "I believe we should begin by scouting the area. What do you think?"
"Indeed. This humble one hath no objection. —Then, let this one check the surroundings for a moment."
Agreeing with the Professor, Saito-san offered a wry smile. I wondered how he intended to scout. As I watched, Saito-san pulled a short wand from the side pocket of his rucksack and activated a spell.
Immediately, Saito-san's sturdy body floated effortlessly into the air. This was an extremely rare Magic Skill—Gravity Magic.
It wasn't an unusual sight for regular viewers of his DungeonTube channel, but since many were seeing it in person for the first time, gasps of wonder rose from the crowd. Saito-san continued his ascent, bursting through the canopy of the great trees and soaring high into the sky. He stopped at an altitude of roughly two hundred meters and rotated three hundred and sixty degrees to survey the landscape.
Before long, he descended back into the forest. Pointing in one direction with his wand, he reported his findings.
"Mmm, I have seen it, I say. Proceeding in this direction will take us through the forest and into a grassland. Beyond that grassland lies a small mountain, and it appears a fortress has been built upon its summit. Perhaps we should head there first?"
A fortress?
Doubt flickered across the faces of many members, myself included. Who would build a castle here? Then again, it was a Dungeon; it might not have been "built" by anyone. It could be a simple gimmick or part of the field's natural structure.
"I see....Well, if there are no other noteworthy landmarks, heading there first is our best course of action."
The Professor agreed that we should aim for the fortress.
—And then, a wave of screams rang out.
"Kyahaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!?"
"W-Whaaaa-aaaaaa-aaaaaa!!"
"Noooooooon! ♡"
Hinata, Mayurin-san, and Sakura were the first to cry out. Then several of the men, myself included, couldn't help but shout.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaa!!?"
"H-He's a pervert!!"
Standing before us was a pervert—no, the Professor. The man who had been dressed in a refined suit just seconds ago had stripped completely naked in the brief moment I had looked away. Not just the suit—even his shoes were gone. The only thing he still wore was the rucksack on his back.
"Hm? Me? Ah, indeed, I am a pervert... but what of it?"
Professor Naked Armor Shinra Zenichi tilted his head, seemingly puzzled by our reaction. Hinata quickly ducked behind me, using my back as a shield to block the Professor from her sight. —Hey, Hinata!?
I understood the sentiment, though. Professor Shinra’s habit of exploring Dungeons naked was famous in Japan. Anyone who had spent time on DungeonTube had likely encountered his videos. Even on Yo!Tube, one could find his irredeemable videos, albeit with pixelation. Everyone here had expected him to strip eventually.
But still.
Imagine a man in his fifties, a gentleman with a refined face, suddenly standing stark naked in front of you. Moreover, he possessed a magnificent, muscular physique that would rival a professional bodybuilder. The fact that he was still dutifully wearing his rucksack made the sight even more bizarre—it was like seeing a naked man wearing nothing but a necktie.
Even if you knew it was coming, you couldn't help but scream when faced with the reality of it. It was genuinely shocking.
"H-Hey, you perverted bastard!!" Mayurin-san roared, refusing to look directly at him.
"Mmm, what is it?" the Professor asked calmly.
"There are cute girls like me here, so at least wear some underpants!!"
It was a perfectly valid point. However, the Professor shook his head with a regretful expression.
"I'm afraid that is a request I cannot fulfill. Even I have things that are impossible for me. My apologies..."
"Why not!? It's just putting on underpants!"
"Now, listen. People have their strengths and weaknesses. It may be easy for you, but for me, it is difficult... no, impossible. Won't you please try to understand?"
"As if I could!!"
"Good grief. It is not my intention to trouble everyone... but wearing clothes inside a Dungeon is a suicidal act for me....Mayuri-kun, what would you have me do?"
The Professor spoke like a patient teacher reasoning with a difficult student. Mayurin-san gave a blunt reply:
"Just wear underpants!!"
She was absolutely right. But from his perspective, he was also right. It was a difficult problem. As I was pondering the dilemma, Kurage-chan approached the Professor.
"Hm? Kurage-kun?"
Kurage-chan was holding a long staff, which she had likely pulled from her cute rucksack. Pointing the tip of the staff at the Professor's crotch, she whispered:
"Aqua Create — Ma-chan Junior."
In the next moment, a sphere of water shimmered into existence just ahead of the staff's tip. The sphere, which grew to the size of a bowling ball, rapidly shifted its shape and color. Seconds later, a jellyfish with a large bell and trailing tentacles appeared. It was solid white rather than transparent.
The jellyfish Kurage-chan had created floated directly in front of the Professor, obscuring his groin. Because it was opaque, nothing could be seen through it.
"Oh? This is... I see. This indeed presents no problem for me."
The Professor tried walking and even performed some high-speed lateral jumps, but the jellyfish guarding his crotch mirrored his movements perfectly, never falling behind. It seemed this creature would serve as a mobile mosaic.
"A-Amazing...!! So that's Kurage-chan's Jellyfish Magic...!!"
I had heard of it on DungeonTube, but seeing it in person made its brilliance clear. I was genuinely impressed by her skill.
Jellyfish Magic—it was the art of granting a will to jellyfish created from water and making them execute various commands. Of course, no such specific Skill existed. According to Kurage-chan, it was just Water Magic. However, ordinary Water Magic couldn't change the color of water or make it move with its own volition. It was likely a combination of Water Magic and another high-level Skill. It was incredibly advanced magic.
"Urgh... well, since that filthy thing is no longer visible, I guess it’s fine..." Mayurin-san muttered, seemingly resigned.
Hinata, hearing that the Professor was now censored, cautiously peeked out from behind me and let out a sigh of relief. A naked, muscular middle-aged man is a terrifying sight for anyone, so her reaction was understandable.
"Now then—let us all begin our drone filming or start our DungeonTube streams before we proceed, I say," Saito-san announced once everyone had calmed down.
At his word, each party began deploying their drones. At this level of exploration, the earnings were high enough that no one used simple body cameras. Hinata took a drone from her rucksack, activated it, and sent it into the air.
For this specific raid, streaming had been officially permitted. One reason was that since no one knew what might happen in an Unmanaged Area, having cameras rolling was an essential safety precaution. While the Japan Explorer Association, the government, and the police can easily access private DungeonTube footage, the government usually prefers to avoid public broadcasts of sensitive areas.
However, likely out of consideration for the mounting anxiety of the citizens in Sendai and across the nation, streaming was allowed this time. Essentially, the message was: "Please clear the Dungeon smoothly and put the public at ease."
Personally, I thought this could backfire if we struggled or were defeated, but I wasn't the one making those decisions. Since the higher-ups gave the okay, it wasn't my place to worry.
All around us, streams were going live.
"—Fuwa fuwa~. It’s Kurage~."
『Fuwa fuwaaaaaaaaa!!』『Fuwa fuwa!!』『Fuwa fuwa』『Fuwa fuwa!』『Kurage-chan is cute today too!!』『The legal loli is here!!』『Downer legal loli stream, thank you』『This is all I need today』『Prprprprprpr!!』
"Good morning to the masses, I say! This humble one shall stream energetically today as well!!"
『Virgin!』『The Virgin is here!!』『We've been waiting, Virgin!』『Beginner's Emperor!』『Eternal Virgin!』『He who is both Child and Chaste!』『The Alpha Virgin!』『The embodiment of hope and despair for the Virgin world!』
"Now, viewers! Shall we begin today's lecture?"
『It started!』『Professor!』『It's the Professor's lecture!』『I've been waiting for the Naked Professor's naked lecture!』『Wait, what!?』『Something's hiding his crotch!?』『Wait, isn't that Kurage-chan's jellyfish!?』『Wait, wait!』『Outside!』『Is the Professor outside!?』『A forest!?』『This is bad!!』『You're finally going to get arrested, Professor!!』『There's too much information, I can't keep up!!』
The popularity of the top trio—Kurage-chan, Saito-san, and the Professor—was staggering. Even though it was a weekday morning, the chat was moving at lightning speed.
Others were starting their streams as well. Hinata finished her preparations and addressed her camera.
"Good morning, everyone. Today, I'd like to stream from here, the Sendai Castle Ruins Dungeon."
"Good morning!!" I added, waving at the drone.
『Mornin'!』『Hinata-chan is here!』『It started!』『Hinata-chan is cute today too!!』『Junkie-niki lol』『His energy is so high this early lol』『Hm?』『Wait, is that outside?』『It's a forest』『Haven't you entered the Dungeon yet?』『Sendai, the City of Trees lol』『Wait, those trees are huge. Is that Tohoku for you? A hidden region...?』
It seemed the viewers didn't believe we were actually inside a Dungeon. Across the clearing, voices explaining the situation to puzzled audiences began to mingle with a flood of surprised comments.
●◯●
"Master."
"What is it?"
"Was it wise? Permitting the streaming of an Unmanaged Area..."
"Now that an Unmanaged Dungeon has been born, it was unavoidable," the Master replied. "According to the report from No. 17, the difficulty isn't that high, so there shouldn't be any problem showing it. Besides, it was going to happen sooner or later. Showing this before the Core Dungeons are born is a valuable experience for humanity."
"I see. Then it is well."
"...Is something worrying you?"
"If those who oppose you were to try something, Master, I believe there would be casualties."
"Ah... that's exactly why."
"Exactly why...?"
"They are trying to keep their identities hidden. Disposable pawns would show themselves without hesitation, but those pulling the strings are different. They won't foolishly show their faces in front of a live broadcast."
"So as long as they are only disposable pawns, it is no problem?"
"There are three Collaborators there. Even if one of them turns out to be an enemy, the others will handle it."
"I see."
"Besides, my eyes do not reach into Unmanaged Areas. I'll have those Explorers serve as my eyes instead. There are things I'm curious about..."
In a void of white, the Master sat upon his throne. Floating before him were numerous holographic displays, each projecting a different stream from the Explorers inside the Sendai Castle Ruins Dungeon.