Introverted Archer 38

Test

38. Rational Cracks!

As I expected, flaws in cooperation began to emerge around the 7th floor.

"Hey! Work properly on the front lines!"

"Oh!? What's your problem!?"

Some members abandoned the conquest and started quarreling. Ironically, the camera focused on the bickering duo rather than the members fighting monsters.

"Hey, instead of doing that, help us!"

"Leave us alone. There are only weaklings here, and having more achievements is good for you, right?"

"Weaklings... Don't you understand the situation!? Cooperation is essential to fight the monsters on the 7th floor! It's dangerous to be divided like this!"

"No, it's not that big of a deal."

Mashita pointed to the adventurers fighting on the front lines.

There, adventurers with flashy appearances, brought by Mashita, were eagerly attacking the monsters.

"Letting them do as they please isn't always a bad thing. It's the competition for achievements that raises individual performance as everyone competes to claim credit."

"But, looking at the overall picture, harmony is clearly disrupted!"

"Just leave those who can't keep up. Also, the monsters on the 7th floor are weaklings. I am the man who will become the strongest streamer. I won't struggle against such weeds!"

After saying this to Mirei, Mashita returned to give instructions to the front-line members.

Mirei had an unsatisfied expression, but it didn't show on the screen. Shortly after, she returned to the front lines.

Teamwork was in shambles, but it somehow held together.

However, this was probably a matter of time.

As if my prediction was coming true, the incident occurred on the 9th floor.

"Uwaaaaaaah!!"

Sudden screams filled the air. Mirei and her group immediately looked in the direction of the sound.

There, one of the members was getting attacked by a monster.

"...Stay away!!"

Mirei rushed behind the monster, swiftly beheading it. There were no other monsters around.

"Hey! Are you okay!?"

Fortunately, the man was still alive. However, he was severely injured, lying on the ground with a pained expression and rough breathing.

"This is... really bad! Let's retreat! We need a healer..."

As Mirei tried to apply first aid to the man,

"There's no way we're retreating."

Mashita interrupted.

"...What did you just say?"

"We're not retreating. Didn't I say that earlier? Leave those who can't keep up."

In an instant, Mirei grabbed Mashita by the collar.

"...Hey, don't casually touch me. We're live, you know?"

"You... are out of your mind. If you're joking, correct it now, and we can discuss it here."

"Who's joking? It's that guy's fault for making a mistake, right? Why do I have to let the Golem escape just because of his blunder?"

At that moment, Mirei slapped Mashita. The sound echoed, and all eyes focused on them.

"I can't believe this. What do you think of human life? Planning strategies that ignore reality, just for your own views... I can't understand it."

"Hey, hey, saying you can't understand is going too far. You joined me because numbers appealed to you, right? I'm just maximizing that appeal."

Mashita didn't seem to care about being slapped and continued walking forward.

"If you want to go back, go back on your own. In return, the main force will move forward. If you want something, you have to give up something!"

The other members, who had gathered for personal gain, seemed somewhat surprised by Mashita's words but followed him.

Left behind were Mirei and a few of her viewers.

"...I'm withdrawing. I can't believe we can defeat the Golem with our current strength anyway."

"No... it's okay."

When Mirei tried to use an item to return outside the dungeon, the injured man grabbed her hand.

"I'll go back on my own. Mirai-chan, please go ahead..."

"But, with such a wound, you can't go alone..."

"In that case, I'll accompany him. I'm a healer, and it's just right."

The bespectacled man among the members, while applying healing magic to the injured man, lent him a shoulder.

"Both of you, why..."

"...It's as he said. I got injured because of my mistake. So, I should be the one to go back. But, Mirai-chan is different. Mirai-chan is everyone's hope."

"We love watching Mirai-chan's streams. Please defeat the Golem today and set a new record! Of course, we'll enjoy it too, in the archives."

The injured man and the bespectacled man used items to return to the surface together.

Mirei, with a solemn expression, remained silent for a while, then started walking towards where the main force was.

"...Let's do this. Somehow, we'll defeat the Golem ourselves!"

Mirei's choice was not to retreat.