Among over 700 transmigrants, this is how I'll become the best.

The only way I could think of was putting myself in mortal danger.

　

Just living normally would only make me repulsive. No one would want to watch something like that.

Simply going on a fulfilling adventure wouldn't be anything but annoying. But that very annoyance could become a way to attract attention.

And so, me, getting cocky, venturing alone into the perilous lower levels...

It's exactly what viewers who wish for my death have been waiting for.

A solo journey through the labyrinth's deadly lower levels, where I could die at any moment—this is bound to draw a high viewership.

Bringing Nanami back to life—if that's possible, risking my own life is a natural choice.

Right now, I'll turn even the gaze from Earth and any mockery into power to move forward.

I'll descend all the way to the second floor, check my equipment in front of the staircase leading to the third floor.

Short dagger and a spare short sword. Armor: only the Nightshade Gauntlets.

Still the same defenseless setup, nearly zero defense.

But this is my style.

After confirming no one is around, I clear my throat once, then speak.

"Alright, I'm about to go down alone into the third floor's 'Mist-Ensnared Great Garden.' I don't have much prior knowledge, but I'll try my best to provide live commentary, so please bear with me!"

I've never done live commentary before, so I'm not sure how to sound. Maybe I should be even more blunt.

I kind of understand that I should create my own character, but putting it into practice is hard.

"Also, the rank of Dark Spirit Magic has increased to level 3, and two techniques have been upgraded. One is unassuming—Shadow Bag has changed into Shadow Storage. It seems the capacity has increased."

It's unimpressive on the surface, but it's become incredibly convenient.

The storage capacity has increased by about eight times.

Now I can store multiple sets of armor and shields.

I can keep spare weapons, bandages, food, and potions—no need to worry about breaking anything while carrying them around.

Other explorer parties hire porters quite often, but there's no need for that in our party—thanks to me.

"The other one is a Shadow Runner. It's now called a Phantom Warrior. Let's test it out on nearby monsters."

By the way, here's our current rank and proficiency level.

It seems all spells upgrade when they reach the third rank.

【 Shadow Spirit Magic 】

First Rank Spell

・Void of Darkness 【 Shade Shift 】 Proficiency 89

Second Rank Spell

・Sight of Darkness 【 Night Vision 】 Proficiency 94

・Coffin of Darkness 【 Shadow Bind 】 Proficiency 58

・Call of Darkness 【 Summon Night Bug 】 Proficiency 42

Third Rank Spell

・Transformation of Darkness 【 Phantom Warrior 】 Proficiency 0

・Shadow Storage [Shadower Storage] Mastery Level 1

Fourth-Rank Technique

・Shadow Manifestation [Darkness Fog] Mastery Level 79

Special Technique

・Shadow Return [Create Undead] Mastery Level 1

The level had risen nicely, perhaps because I was using it in actual combat, or maybe because I had companions.

Shade Shift was still hard to level up, as I rarely used it, but Shadow Bind and Summon Knight Bug were steadily improving—soon they’d reach the third rank.

Incidentally, even when learning higher-tier techniques, lower-level ones remain usable.

After walking a short distance, I spotted an ogre.

Lucky me—it was alone.

"An ogre. I’ll fight it to test out my new weapon. Since Refreia isn’t here today, I’ll have to be careful."

I concealed myself within the darkness fog and cast a spell toward the ogre.

"Phantom Warrior"

The spiritual energy transformed into darkness alongside the spell, gradually taking on the shape of a human... a warrior.

Clad in armor and a helmet, holding a shield in his left hand and a large sword in his right, the warrior stood firm.

It wasn't pure darkness, but rather a mimicry of a human hidden within shadows, similar to Shade Shift. It was so perfectly crafted that even monsters might not distinguish it from a real person.

The Phantom Warrior advanced step by step toward the ogre, striking his shield with his sword to draw attention.

The ogre raised his weapon, assuming a defensive stance.

I minimized the Darkness Fog and, blending into the shadows, drew my sword and crept around to approach the ogre.

"GAAARRR!"

The ogre swung his axe at the Phantom Warrior.

But the shadow warrior is merely an illusion—his blade slices through empty air, and the Phantom Warrior remains unharmed. With loud clanging sounds, he mimics attacks, but of course, he has no real body and inflicts no damage.

Taking advantage of the ogre's complete focus on the Phantom Warrior, I plunged my dagger into the back of his neck from behind.

The ogre fell dead in one strike, and a spirit stone the size of a fist clattered to the ground.

　

"Phantom Warrior, excellent technique. As always, your attack power is zero, but it should prove useful for holding down multiple enemies."

I resume the live commentary after lifting the Darkness Fog and picking up the spirit stone.

In truth, this technique is far more practical in actual combat than Shadow Runner ever was. That one merely made shadows dart about to distract slightly, but Phantom Warrior is unmistakably a warrior. It should be difficult to ignore, whether against humans or monsters.

"Well then, since we've tested the new technique, let's head down to the third layer. I'll do my best not to die!"

I descended the stairs while maintaining the Darkness Fog.

The staircase is quite long.

The first layer feels less like underground and more like semi-underground, gradually descending until it opens into the twilight district of the underworld.

The staircase leading to the second floor was roughly the length of two flights of stairs in the building. Since the Underground Prison of the Hungry Beasts wasn't particularly tall, that made sense.

And now, this staircase had already surpassed a hundred steps.

(Still... what was it? Calm, I guess... comfortable...)

It was different from being with companions.

Being alone in the darkness, I felt a strange sense of ease.

When forming a party, you always had to think about your teammates.

Were they injured? Were they pushing themselves too hard?

Navigating the labyrinth was constantly tense.

At least more so than when I was alone.

And there was one more thing.

Since joining a party, I'd limited blending into the darkness to only battle times.

In short, I was essentially exposing myself.

(Maybe I was the one forcing myself...)

I aimed to top the ratings.

I'd decided to do anything for that.

Yet, the laughter and stares didn't vanish.

I pretended not to hear.

I pretended not to feel.

I kept telling myself that those sounds and glances were spirits' blessings—the mark of being "loved," just as Reflair had said.

That might indeed be true.

But whether I could accept them as something different, or harmless, after once hearing them as such—that was another matter entirely.

The laughter saying I could never possibly win first place.

The curious glances at me using others for my own goals.

I kept it all hidden from view.

Could I have done it brightly and cheerfully? I thought I'd get used to it. In fact, I already felt myself beginning to adapt. Yet, I'm still not there. At the slightest moment, my vulnerable spot is gently brushed by something—

—

—

——(—)—(—)—

. But in the darkness where voice and gaze can't pass through, I can be my natural self.

Broadcasting is painful, but hiding in the darkness feels like whispering to myself.

I told myself I was doing it for the viewership, but maybe I was just seeking it for myself.

Going down alone to the lower levels is truly frightening.

My legs tremble as I descend the stairs, and goosebumps remain on my skin.

Yet, the trust I had in the 'Darkness'—which had saved my life countless times—softened the fear.

Through the deep darkness of the Dark Fog, I could feel the presence of the spirits against my skin.

Whether due to the spirits' favor, I sensed a warm, comforting will—something that wished to help me, to lend me strength.

That’s why, though I was alone, I wasn’t truly alone.

In the pleasant drowsiness resembling pitch-black darkness, I even found comfort.