The Final Trial: Streaming Begins

"… So this is the dungeon."

Narikin stood at the entrance to a cave—one that had suddenly appeared on a hill.

He gently retrieved the box containing the Saintess from his [Storage]. Setting it on the ground and lifting the lid, he found her lying with hands folded over her chest, eyes peacefully closed.

"We've arrived."

"… … … …"

"Alka-dono?"

"… … … …"

"Are you pretending to sleep?"

"I'm pretending to be dead."

Ah, right—she did mention she admired coffins. That explained it well enough for Narikin.

From her perspective, the journey would have felt instantaneous, so she probably wanted to savor the experience a bit longer.

"Shall I drag you along, then? Feel free to stay dead a while longer."

"Since you're offering, allow me one selfish request. Please revive me with a kiss. There's a tale like that among the children's stories passed down by heroes…"

"Oh. I read something like that in the temple's ancient document room. I believe it was called… Cinderelna?"

"That's a different story, and the name is slightly off."

The Saintess corrected him while still playing dead.

He asked her to explain the story she meant.

"A snow princess is revived by a prince's kiss, you see."

"I see… Then I'll have to go find a prince."

"My my, there's one right here, isn't there, Narikin-sama? As a Papal Candidate, you could be called a prince, no?"

"Hahaha. Then I'll drag you along. There's a descending staircase at the entrance, so it'll be quite a rough ride. Brace yourself."

"How thrilling…!"

As a result, Saintess Alka climbed out of the box on her own after descending the stairs at the dungeon entrance.

"… Some dreams are better left as dreams. I thought my neck was going to snap."

"Coffins are meant for the dead to begin with, so comfort isn't exactly a priority."

"A valuable lesson learned… Though perhaps a vampire's coffin-bed might be different?"

The vampire Narikin knew slept in a futon in a room with morning sunlight streaming in, but he probably shouldn't mention that.

Now then. It was finally time for the dungeon conquest.

The dungeon was the same kind of cave as during the first stream.

"Then let's start the stream. Are you ready?"

"Yes… Oh my?"

"Hm? What is it?"

"… The scratches. The scratches are gone."

Saintess Alka ran her hand along the cave wall.

"Scratches on you, Alka-dono…?"

"No. There were scratches on the wall during the first stream. This is definitely the same spot—they should be right here. Don't you remember?"

"… I don't remember??"

Why would she even remember such scratches? Narikin had of course forgotten—no, he hadn't noticed them in the first place.

"I have a memory-type skill, you see… Narikin-sama. This cave is subtly different in various ways. I'm certain of it!"

"… Well, it is a dungeon. Such things can happen."

"Gnnn, that's true… But this is definitely the same place from that first stream, no mistake! Apart from those scratches—yes, this angle! Narikin-sama, please stand over there… Yes!! That pose! Ahhh, it's the very beginning of the legend itself!"

The Saintess was struck by something and overcome with emotion.

Narikin didn't understand. Her feelings, that is… Was it because he was a Living Armor that he couldn't grasp human hearts…?

"… That streaming magic tool shouldn't leave any recordings, yet you remember it all so clearly."

"Yes, that first scene of Narikin-sama's trial. There's no way I could ever forget."

"W-Well, time has passed, so the dungeon may have changed in various ways…"

"Ah, you're right. I should preserve my memories in a painting while they're still fresh… I've never trained in any artistic skills, but I'll do my best."

"I-I see? Well then, let's start the stream."

Narikin activated the magic tool. The transmitted image was displayed in the central plaza of Kuromaku in the Holy Kingdom.

At the same time, the scene of the people gathered in that plaza was displayed on Narikin's end.

"Mm. Everyone, can you see me? Can you hear me? I have returned to the dungeon."

"Narikin-sama! Narikin-sama's stream has started! We can heaaaar you!"

"The Saintess is with him too! Sainteeeeess!!"

"Kyaaaa! How wonderful!!"

Their voices reached him, and his reached them in return. The streaming from his first trial had returned.

"So this is how it's displayed on our end. Fufu, I'm moved."

"Indeed. By the way, we've made the screen larger on their end this time. There's a feature that projects onto a stretched white cloth—is that working for you all?"

"Yes! It is!!"

"Excellent. Well then, let's take a stroll through the cave area this time. I know the route, and we'll reach the next area by tomorrow."

They walked through the dungeon while streaming.

Based on the information he'd received in advance, the cave area wasn't the main attraction. He'd been told to proceed quickly to the forest area in the environment room.

"Ah, Narikin-sama. May we look over there? That's a path we didn't take during the stream, isn't it?"

"Alka-dono. While I did say we'd take a stroll, our destination lies deeper within…"

"But there might be a treasure chest, no?"

"We're streaming, so I'd rather not take too many detours…"

"Don't you think they'd like to see a different path too? What do you say, everyone?"

In response to the Saintess's question, the citizens watching the stream… took her side.

"I'd definitely like to see that!"

"Please, Narikin-sama! Show us the right side!"

"Please! Please! Grant the Saintess's request!"

"Mrrgh…! Fine, fine, fine. If you insist that much, let's go. But don't complain if it's just a dead end, alright?"

"Oh my! Thank you! Let's go, Narikin-sama!"

And so it was decided.

… A couple of goblins awaited them there, and nothing else—just a dead end.

"Satisfied? Now let's move on."

"Wait, can't we go through that route over there? Please?"

"… This is going to take longer than last time. Everyone, don't you want to see the dungeon's depths sooner? Right?"

Narikin appealed to the crowd.

"We want to watch more of the stream, so we're with the Saintess."

… And so it was decided.

This was going to be troublesome.