He lays out the contents of his clinking, jingling coin purse onto the table of the run-down inn, its surface riddled with gaps.

（Ten…… twenty…… twenty-eight pieces…）

　Twenty-eight silver coins.

　He tries to spend copper coins whenever possible, so perhaps about ten or so remain in a separate pouch.

（I’ll pay the lodging fee next week, but will I have enough left for food and other expenses at this rate…）

　It’s been over ten days since he arrived in this labyrinthine street. He has absolutely no financial cushion.

　He ventures into the dungeon daily just to survive, and while he earns a surplus on good days, on bad days it’s break-even or even a loss. Overall, he’s making a small profit, but considering the danger involved, his earnings are disappointingly low.

Selling the gear of dead explorers isn't something that happens every time.

Most of the time, it was just income from rare drops like spirit stones.

Maybe it felt like I was being低价 bought out because the black market was the only one buying, but there was nothing I could do about it.

I still wasn't in the mindset to actively interact with people.

(I could always leave the inn and rent a room...)

In the long run, that might actually be cheaper.

This is an explorer's town after all—there were probably apartments for explorers too.

But even if I actually rented one, wouldn't all the various things I'm currently saving by staying at the inn start piling up on me?

Even if there are plenty of food stalls available, laundry, hot water, and furniture will still be necessary. You might even need to pay a deposit just to rent a room. It's fine

to set a goal, but with no money right now, it's difficult. Besides, there wasn't really a strong reason to live alone. "I'd rather earn

more first..." In the end, it's always about money. Without it,

you can't survive. Unless you

choose self-sufficient living, which I didn't. Since I've decided to live in the shadows, after all. "…Status open." With

those words, a translucent window resembling a

computer game materializes before my eyes

. Ever since arriving in this city, I've been checking my status screen only once every few days. Even

though I've nearly forgotten about Earth.

...No, precisely because of that, I couldn't resist the urge to know whether the number of real-time viewers was decreasing.

The status screen displays a variety of information.

Since the start of the world transfer, several new items have been added.

"Real-time viewers: 42 million"

"Total cumulative viewership: 6.2 billion"

"Favorites: 1.4 billion"

"Total crystals earned: 49"

"Total points earned: 7"

"Transferred users: 723/1000"

"Crystals held: 21"

"Points held: 5"

The number of viewers had significantly decreased compared to earlier peaks.

Still, it remained so high that the last few digits were abbreviated.

Most of my days pass in darkness, or else just sleeping in an inn—there's nothing interesting about it at all.

—Or so it should be.

"Damn it…"

There are still 40 million viewers online.

This is live, in real time. Even daily, it's still consistently over 100 million.

Over 200 transferees have already died, so the attention on those who remain may be rising relatively.

The more you survive, the more attention you attract.

I shut the screen off and sighed.

(Well, at least results are coming through. I'll keep at it steadily.)

I didn't think life could just go on like this, no matter how I lived it.

But I couldn't find a reason to actively strive for life either.

I really didn't want to use up points or crystals, if I could avoid it.

I could exchange points for money, but I didn’t want to.

It was nothing more than a feeble act of rebellion against the god who had driven me into this situation.

(I’ll just sleep now and think about money tomorrow.)

Even if it was a cheap inn, a private room was expensive.

I could’ve just slept in a cheap dormitory, crowded with others, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I was bothered by the presence of other people, and I’d rather sleep outdoors than spend the night in that noisy dormitory filled with rough, boorish men.

Normally, a low-level adventurer like me wouldn’t be able to afford a private room. Only mid-to-high-tier adventurers with money, or those considered oddballs, would stay alone in one.

In this other world, it was my only luxury—and my only indulgence.

Even now, I can feel eyes watching me as I step outside the labyrinth.

I almost hear giggling laughter coming from somewhere.

Still, I must live through tomorrow and the day after.

I shuffle into bed.

Despite being a budget inn, the mattress was pleasantly soft and comfortable.

The filling seemed to be a mix of something like cotton, something like wool, something like feathers, and straw—there was a faint chance of bugs, but I chose to ignore it, relying on my resistance to poison and disease.

(Maybe I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and go back into the labyrinth…)

　

I set my alarm, lying down and closing my eyes, vaguely thinking such thoughts.

Just as I’m about to fall asleep, a knock comes at the door—'knock, knock'—interrupting my sleep.

There's no way anyone would come looking for me.

If someone were, it'd probably be the innkeeper.

Payment is required in advance. There shouldn't be any issues—

I forced myself to sit up and creaked open the door.

"Oh my, such a cute little one, aren't you? Am I alone here?"

There, standing before me, was a woman with red hair, clad in a provocative red garment so thin it could barely be called fabric.

Could an innkeeper really have someone like this?

"I'm alone..."

"Hm, so you're renting the room by yourself? Hmm... you're well-groomed, aren't you? A well-bred young monk, perhaps?"

She scrutinized me from head to toe, as if sizing me up or prying into my business.

Then, stepping closer, she spoke.

"Shall we? Just one night. It's my first time, so I'll keep the price low, how about it?"

At first, I didn't understand the meaning of her words.

The woman sensually shifted her body, waiting for my response, but I couldn't even speak.

One night... keep it cheap...?

"Yes, for someone like you, two silver coins will do."

She took another step forward.

Closing the distance between us, she smiled with a seductive charm.

She didn't clearly say who she was, what her purpose was, or what exactly two silver coins meant.

In other words, she expected me to understand without her saying it outright.

She was beautiful.

Her chestnut-brown hair, flowing down her back, had a slight wave, and beneath the thin fabric, her figure formed alluring curves—distinctly feminine, impossible not to gaze at.

I'd never been with a woman before.

As a first-year high school student, it was normal enough, but aside from Nanami, I had no other female friends, and even Nanami was more like a sister than anything else.

Her younger sister was three years younger, brilliant in every way, but at home she was just a mischievous little kid.

Not that this was the sole reason, but I lacked the experience to handle this situation.

All I needed to do was say one word.

Yet I ended up making pitiful noises—“Ah… ah…”—and just froze in panic.

I’d never been so close to a girl, nose to nose, before.

So when she gently took my right wrist, I just let her do as she pleased.

Then she pressed my palm directly against her chest—

“Ahh… how’s that? I’m pretty confident about this, you know?”

“Ah… um…”

It felt as if an electric current had shot through my brain.

The softness I'd never experienced before, the warmth of a person I hadn't felt in ages—my very core was paralyzed by it.

"Hehe... you've never experienced this before, have you...? So cute."

Pressing my hand against her chest, she leaned in so close it was almost a hug.

Her breath brushed against my cheek.

The warmth of a living human body, pulsing through every part of me.

—I must be standing rigid as a stone statue right now, my face flushed red like a boiled octopus, looking utterly pitiful.

Yes, that was the moment I realized, with cold detachment, how I must look.

—Hehe

—Kykkyu

I heard laughter.

At the same time, piercing, curious stares.

It felt like every person in the world was looking at me.

The scene of the person who killed my childhood friend being tempted by a prostitute in another world.

I'm looking forward to it.

With a billion viewers.

— Me being seduced by a prostitute, flustered and helpless.

— Me desperately pulling silver coins from my wallet.

— Me greedily sucking on her chest.

— Me climaxing in an instant, blushing awkwardly.

　

"H-hey! Let go!"

"Eep!"

I instinctively shoved the woman away.

She fell hard on the floor outside the door.

For a brief moment, I felt guilt, but I shut the door and locked it with the bolt.

　

"Hmph! A dried-up virgin!"

I heard the sound of her kicking the door in frustration, and then her footsteps faded away.

――Kuskusu

――Aha, ahaha

The light seeping in from the hallway vanished, leaving the room sealed in darkness.

Someone was laughing at me.

Laughing, as if mocking my attempt to act carefree, while secretly longing for human connection.

――I miss you.

That’s the truth.

I had no resolve at all.

I was only fifteen.

A student who hadn’t seriously thought about the future.

How could I not feel lost and frightened in a strange world where I knew no one?

"Ugh... damn it... damn it..."

I felt exposed, as if my true emotions—long buried in darkness—had been torn open, and tears began to fall.

Even this helpless state, I suppose, is entertainment for the viewers.

My tears, my pain—everything is consumed as content.

The more I thought about it, the more tears poured out uncontrollably.

"Guh... why is this happening... stop it... damn it, damn it..."

I hated it.

This feeling of mine—was mine alone.

They couldn't possibly understand. I didn't want to be looked down upon by those who stood safely outside, watching from afar and speaking freely.

Then let them misunderstand.

It's far better to be misunderstood than to have someone pretend to understand.

"...Darkness Fog"

Spiritual energy transformed into shadowy mist, wrapping around my body.

The room, untouched by light, became utterly dark.

Only within this darkness did I feel truly safe.

Darkness—

let it cover my complaints.

My tears.

My weakness.

Everything, everything, hide them all.