After Accidentally Helping a Famous Streamer Who Forgot to Turn Off Her Dungeon Stream, I Began to Go Viral as a Legendary Explorer ～ The Introverted Me Accidentally Dominating with My Mysterious Skill 'Ignore Rules' - Chapter 02: Mysterious Skill "Ignore Rules"

Chapter 02: Mysterious Skill “Ignore Rules”

—Dungeons.

They were cave-like structures that suddenly appeared in various places around the world.

Inside them, there were monsters, magic, and items that science couldn’t possibly explain…

Initially, people felt terror at the emergence of these dungeons. However, as the mechanics of these otherworldly spaces became understood, that panic started to fade.

First, monsters didn’t come out of the dungeons.

Second, only when entering these dungeons would humans also gain supernatural abilities.

Third, dungeons were brimming with valuable resources: magic stones that continuously emitted energy, healing stones that could instantly cure even the most difficult diseases, and so on.

Once it became known that valuable resources were hidden within the dungeons, many people began venturing into them. If they could bring back valuable items, they could sell them for a high price.

Governments, too, were actively supporting these challengers.

They would buy beneficial items at high prices or provide essential weapons and armor for dungeon exploration…

Though the history of dungeons appearing worldwide was still short, people were gradually becoming accustomed to them.

—However, not everyone could enter the dungeons.

The first time someone stepped into a dungeon, they would be granted a “Skill.”

For instance, if it was Attack Power Up (Low), they would gain the ability to slightly increase their attack power.

If it was Agility Improvement (Low), they would gain the ability to run a bit faster.

Different people could gain different abilities.

Most of these skills turn out to be “dud skills,” making dungeon exploration a distant dream for those who receive weak abilities. Entering a dungeon without a skill is exceedingly difficult, so only those with sufficiently strong skills can venture inside.

Goyama’s influence in school is also actually due to the fact that he possesses a strong skill.

His skill, as far as I know, is Attack Power Up (High)—.

With the ability to easily knock out even large monsters, he’s defeated numerous creatures despite still being a high school student. I heard that he recently teamed up with a famous dungeon streamer for a collaboration, showcasing his abilities to the world.

So, the people who admire Goyama aren’t limited to just my high school.

With people nationwide respecting him, it makes sense that my opinion hardly matters.

As for the skill I possess, it’s something called “Ignore Rules.”

It’s a skill that doesn’t make sense, and nothing happens when I try to use it. To activate a skill in the dungeon, you usually just have to chant its name or simply think it. But even so, no significant changes occur, and in my eyes, it had become a “dud skill.”

Of course, I’ve tried researching it on the internet myself.

However, no matter how much I search, I can’t find the information I’m looking for, leaving me genuinely frustrated. I don’t know if no one else has received “Ignore Rules,” or if they’re too embarrassed to share any information about it. I suspect it’s the latter.

“Sigh..”

In any case, the skill I possess is bottom-tier. I’m not even at the level to properly explore a dungeon, but the “herbs” that grow near the entrance fetch a decent price when sold in bulk. The specifics aren’t clear, but these herbs keep growing almost indefinitely, no matter how many are picked.

For the financially struggling Kirishima family, this income is invaluable.

To ease my mom’s life even a little, I was diligently gathering herbs in the local dungeon again today. Since it’s near the entrance, other explorers occasionally pass by. Feeling embarrassed, I pick herbs while hiding behind rocks.

But it’s a curious thing, isn’t it? This place is an excellent spot, and yet nobody else comes to pick herbs.

If I keep picking for about an hour, I can earn around 1300 yen, which is far more lucrative than a part-time job. Either there’s a literal money tree deeper in the dungeon, or no one has noticed this opportunity.

No, in this internet society, the latter is impossible. This dungeon isn’t even deserted.

Just then—

[ROOOOAAAAARRR!!]

A sudden, ghastly roar echoes throughout the dungeon, making me instinctively tense up.

This must be—an emergency intruding monster. These so-called “emergency monsters” are known for having combat abilities far superior to regular monsters.

For example, a slime is a weak monster that even beginners can defeat. But an emergency monster version of a slime becomes a formidable foe that even intermediate-level explorers struggle against.

However, the rewards for defeating such a monster are astounding—.

Not only do high-end items appear in abundance, but you can also obtain materials for crafting even stronger weapons and armor.

Moreover, due to their overwhelming strength, they often become the subject of much discussion. Even streamers sometimes attack them, hoping to boost their view counts.

—But well, that has nothing to do with me.

Only the top-ranked explorers, who are frequently discussed on forums, can actually fight these emergency monsters. Someone with outlier skills like me would likely be killed the moment we confronted one.

“Ugh…”

“It hurts…”

Sure enough, about thirty minutes later, a team of four explorers returned, beaten and battered. Judging from their condition, it was clear that they had lost to the emergency monster.

This dungeon may resemble a game, but it is undeniably the real world.

If you die, it’s a one-way trip to the afterlife. There’s no coming back to reality.

So, retreating without pushing too far is considered common sense in dungeon exploration.

“Hey, isn’t that…”

Observing the men from behind the rocks, I inadvertently let out a surprised voice.

Those guys were, if I’m not mistaken, a party led by Yuya Kawazaki. With their overwhelming achievements, they were reputed as S-rank explorers on the forums.

They had defeated difficult dungeon bosses one after another, even vanquishing sudden appearances of emergency monsters multiple times…

They were supposed to be a well-known, elite party where only those with top-tier skills gathered.

Even though they’re so strong that people on forums say things like, “a gathering of monsters” and “the real monsters are these guys”…

Could it be that the Kawazaki’s party actually retreated? What kind of monster is lurking deeper inside?

“Not good… I need to focus on gathering herbs instead…”

My thoughts got that far before I snapped my attention back to picking herbs.

While it’s true that I’m curious about the defeat of the Kawazaki’s party, it’s beyond the level where someone like me could interfere. Rather than poking my nose into other people’s business, I should stick to gathering herbs as usual.

Making that decision, I continue to pick the ever-growing herbs on the ground. Then, thirty minutes later—

“Haai~! So this is the dungeon where the emergency monster appeared, right? ☆ I was nearby, so I got here right away!”

Once again, a familiar voice echoed through the area, making me catch my breath.