Chapter 99: Into the Abyss
: A little distant, but we can hear you.
: What's going on?
: I'm not sure, but it seems cool, so I'll take it.
: Can't wait, just move ahead already!
Thinking about it calmly, I realize that I'm probably the only person who has ever had the chance to carefully observe the underwater scenery of the Nagoya Dungeon beyond the 11th floor. I'm starting to feel a little excited.
"I'm not sure if it's because we're underwater or because we're still in the upper levels… Either way, there aren't many monsters here. The only ones I see are small fish."
: Small fish?
: Those fish look like they're tens of centimeters long… Are they still considered small fish?
: How does the lighting work in a submerged dungeon?
: Won't the deeper levels have issues with water pressure and lack of light?
: You mentioned water pressure, but is that not a problem for you?
: Well, he's been down to the 34th floor before, so it should be fine, right?
Yeah… with the water pressure, it's absolutely impossible for normal people to dive this deep. In my case, Tenko cuts off any effects related to water, so it's not an issue. If I had to face the water pressure, I'd be crushed to death.
"But, surprisingly, the human body is quite resilient. If the pressure increases slowly enough for the body to adjust, humans can withstand up to about 30,000 hectopascals. That's 30 atmospheres."
: No way!
: Are you serious?
: 30 atmospheres… that's equivalent to about 290 meters deep in the ocean, right?
: Even with the slow adjustment condition, I didn't know humans could handle that.
: I had no idea.
: Is my body really that strong? No way.
: People with low confidence in their bodies, take note!
Well, the condition about the pressure increasing slowly enough is pretty unrealistic, but it does make you realize that the human body isn't as fragile as you'd think.
I'm not sure where the light is coming from, but at the 11th floor, it's bright enough to see everything around. I can see seaweed swaying gently, and there are some monsters visible in the distance.
Suddenly, a question pops into my head… If I were to sprint full-speed in this state, how fast would I go? Since I'm unaffected by the water, would I still move at full speed? And what about my magic—how does it work underwater? I'm curious to find out.
: Whoa, you're fast!
: Stop accelerating without warning!
: I'm getting dizzy.
: That's terrifying!
: Please stop speeding up so suddenly!
: Don't brake so hard!
: Even roller coasters don't ignore inertia like that!
: What's up with your body, man?
"…I can run just fine underwater. Now, let's try magic."
: Shooting beams underwater? You're insane.
: Poor fish… This makes me sad.
: Let's have a moment of silence for the fish that died for the sake of science.
: They're just monsters, you know.
: So, can you really operate underwater as normal?
: This is OP… Just head straight to the lowest floor!
: You're the only one who can do this, so might as well reach the bottom.
: Yeah, I don't think anyone else could conquer this dungeon, so you should go as deep as possible.
Looks like magic works fine, too.
However, I won't be able to set the floor on fire with my usual fire spells, and I probably can't just shoot electric currents everywhere to carpet-bomb the place. So, my combat options will be limited to physical sword attacks and beam-type spells focusing on speed… I'll probably have to rely on my Shikigami, too.
"Well, I'm not interested in the upper levels, so let's move ahead quickly."
: Didn't you already sprint once?
: I'll go get some motion sickness medicine.
: I'll just look away from the screen.
: I'm taking a quick break.
: I'm running away because I don't want to puke.
: I'll keep watching intently, though.
: Why would you willingly walk into such a nightmare? Is this curiosity or fearlessness?
This happens a lot on my streams. Dungeons are just too big, so you have to move fast to get through them. Well, we're still in the upper levels, so it's not that vast yet, but once we get to the lower levels, it's a different story.
Even with the best camera setup, it can't keep up with me when I'm moving at full speed, so I'll probably have to let Tenko handle it. Shikigami can move with me without falling behind, so it shouldn't be a problem… hopefully.
"Hehe… Everyone, please bear with me, alright?"
: Is she the camera operator now?
: If my cameraman looked this good, I'd die of joy.
: She's too beautiful.
: Wait, Kisaragi conjured up this beauty just from his imagination? His fantasy powers are so strong, I don't think I can compete.
: Fantasy powers, lol.
: I mean, yeah, Shikigami are basically projections of his imagination, but wow, the way that's phrased…
You're not wrong, so I won't deny it. When I was creating the Twelve Heavenly Generals, I imagined them all as beautiful goddesses, especially Tenko, Tenkuu, and Kijin. It's not my fault! I mean, when you're creating a goddess, wouldn't you want her to be stunning? The inner being that possesses the body is separate, but the outer appearance is totally my personal preference.
That's why all the female members of the Twelve Heavenly Generals are well-endowed… I won't go into details, but let's just say that's my taste. Or rather, it's a biological instinct I can't fight. Okay, I tried to make it sound cool, but yeah, I like girls with big chests.
: When you're zooming around underwater, it looks so surreal on camera.
: Honestly, it just looks like Kisaragi is swimming really fast.
: Is he a killer whale?
: Seaweed.
: Just because you're in Nagoya Dungeon doesn't mean you should spam seaweed jokes.
: Seaweed multiplies like crazy, huh? I put one in my goldfish tank, and suddenly I had ten.
: Who asked?
: Why are we even talking about seaweed?
Step by step, I find the stairs leading to the 12th and then the 13th floors. The further down I go, the darker it gets. By the time I reached the 34th floor last time, I could barely see a meter ahead of me… I hope the camera can capture this properly.
I don't have any spells that can light up the dark, but I should be able to manipulate my magic to help with visibility. I should also prepare a few water-adapted mythical creatures or spirits as backup options. Honestly, it might be fun to break my usual style and summon mythological beings from other cultures, like legendary beasts or fairies from overseas.
: Kisaragi's the only one who can conquer this dungeon, but if he does, it'll mean he single-handedly completed it, right?
: Dude, isn't that obvious?
: Are we just repeating the same point over and over?
: Just setting foot beyond the 11th floor of Nagoya Dungeon makes you a monster.
: At this point, it feels like we're dealing with something beyond an explorer. .net
: This is a case where no one else can even try. It's only Kisaragi who can do it.
: What a broken dungeon.
: I live near Nagoya Dungeon, and honestly, I'm hoping that once Kisaragi conquers it, the water will drain out or something.
: Do you think this is a video game?
I'd be thrilled if that happened too.
After all, it's kind of a waste that I'm the only one who gets to see this dungeon. Maybe there's some kind of hidden mechanism to drain the water. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.