[Kanata's Perspective]

"Uh, good evening, everyone."

I started the stream and spoke into the camera.

It had been two days since the stream from the Sapphire Dungeon.

After taking a day off to rest, I resumed activities today.

However, it seemed there was something causing a stir.

"Right away, but."

I decided to bow my head for the time being.

"I'm sorry for causing a stir in the community this time."

[Here we go again, lol.]

[Starting off with a bow again, lol.]

[Classic apology start, lol.]

[This opening is one of a kind, lol.]

[It's just too funny.]

[No need to apologize, but I want him to keep doing it because it's entertaining.]

[He should just make this his greeting, lol.]

The incident that caused the stir was from a certain stream yesterday.

There was a broadcast accident during the troublesome Gouma's stream.

One of my familiars got involved with him, beat him up, and left a parting remark.

"I've come too, Kanata-sama♡"

That scene is already circulating as a horror video.

I couldn't just leave it be, so I came to pick her up.

─But before that.

A word that has been bothering me keeps appearing in the comments.

I couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Wait, are you all still using this name!?"

[Good evening, Demon King!]

[I came to see you, Demon King!]

[It's actually become established now.]

[I left work early for the Demon King's stream.]

[I quit my job for the Demon King.]

It seems that after the second stream, the nickname "Demon King" has stuck.

What the... wasn't my explanation supposed to be successful?

Moreover, the Demon King isn't the only one.

Popular streamers often have nicknames for their viewers.

For Rira-san, it's "Rira-min."

For the indomitable Atsushi-san, it's "Indomitable Ones," and so on.

And it seems that my nickname was decided without me knowing.

[I became a subordinate yesterday.]

[I'm a new subordinate. Nice to meet you.]

[You're late, everyone! If you're a subordinate, you should gather five minutes early!]

[I've registered as a subordinate.]

"Isn't that quite a dangerous name?!"

Yes, my viewers are called "subordinates."

It seems to have become a topic of conversation somewhere and spread on the internet.

Many viewers have already started calling themselves that.

[Let's go, Demon King!]

[As your subordinate, I'll be watching your performance today.]

[I'm just a lowly subordinate, but I'm cheering for you.]

"...Ugh."

If it has come to this, I have no choice but to brace myself.

A top-tier streamer responds to their audience.

I threw away my pride and introduced myself.

"H-Hello, it's the Demon King. I'll be streaming today as well."

[Whoa, the official recognition is here!]

[I'm so happy, Demon King!]

[The Demon King has officially been born!!]

[Hearing it again, it's funny lol.]

[The power word Demon King is amazing.]

[I like the vibe, no matter what.]

[I'll follow you anywhere!]

"H-hehehe."

The reaction was better than expected, and I'm surprisingly happy.

I couldn't help but smile.

─Even while thinking that, I turned around.

"Master, Kokone is deeply moved!"

"Kanata-kun has grown up so well!"

"You guys should at least deny it."

Aren't you supposed to be the former hero's familiar?

With that said, I returned to the main topic.

"Ahem. Now then, let me reintroduce myself. This is the 'Black Dungeon' where my familiar has appeared."

[It's out, lol.]

[It's being treated like a horror story, lol.]

[So it really was your familiar.]

The Black Dungeon is a C-rank. It ranks higher than the previous Sapphire Dungeon.

Additionally, it's the highest difficulty level accessible with general exploration qualifications.

"Alright, let's stay focused… huh?"

At that moment, I caught a glimpse of a faint figure ahead.

Soon after, I hear a strange chuckle.

"Hehehehe."

"..."

A bad feeling washes over me, so I draw my sword just in case.

"Karnata─"

"...."

"Master!"

"Whoa!?"

In the next moment, a figure that had been far away appeared right in front of me.

I managed to deflect the attack with my sword, which I had been ready with.

The girl landed gracefully in front of me after a somersault.

"Ahaha! It really is you, Kanata-sama!"

"...Haha, it's oddly reassuring as always."

Then, the figure's appearance was revealed.

About the same height as me.

Straight, long, light purple hair and bright red eyes.

Purple wings sprout from her back.

"─Elvi"

"Ehehe"

She is 'Elvi.'

A vampire familiar.

[Elvi-chan!?]

[Is this the girl from the horror video!?]

[The third familiar!?]

[That scared me just now...]

[Attacking out of nowhere is too scary, lol.]

[I saw it without any mosaics!]

[Isn't she a vampire?]

[So cute... but scary.]

[Especially the eyes, she's scary.]

[It's already a bit unsettling.]

[Her looks are perfect... but scary.]

But it was a bit unexpected.

"Is that one slash enough? You, the 'battle maniac'?"

"Yeah. Because Kanata-sama hasn't come back... has he?"

"! ...I see."

When she says I haven't returned, she must be referring to the seven abilities.

To grasp it just from the recent exchange.

She really can see through me frighteningly well.

Then, Elvi raised the weapon in her right hand.

"I was satisfied with the good thing I made earlier."

"...Still doing your handiwork, huh?"

"Of course."

It's a vividly red sword.

However, it's deeply stained from one end to the other.

[What is that?]

[Is that Elvi-chan's weapon?]

[It seems off for a weapon, though.]

[No way...]

Some might have noticed.

In response, Elvi held the sword like a knife.

Her eyes are losing their light.

"It's a sword made from monster blood."

[Gyaaaaaah!]

[Kyaaaa!]

[That's totally a horror scene!]

[Is everything made from monster blood?!]

[What a terrifying person!]

[He said she was a battle maniac...]

[So that's why she attacked the nuisance-type Gouma.]

[Did she just want to fight?]

[She seems the most unhinged.]

[That's scary...]

The subordinates reacted as expected.

Trying to change the atmosphere, I hurriedly shifted the topic.

"So, what happened to the defeated monster?"

"It's over there!"

"Huh? ...!"

However, at that moment, I realized, "Oh no."

Elvi turned around and extended multiple red lines from her hands.

She grabbed something far away and, like a shoulder throw, placed it heavily in front of me.

"It's a souvenir, Kanata-sama!"

"I don't need it! Ugh, I knew this would happen!"

What she placed down was a mountain of defeated monsters.

[That's why she's scary, lol.]

[As expected, it's a horror movie.]

[Is the familiar a horror movie production machine? lol]

[W-w-wait, that's a lot!]

[As expected, she's as strong as the other two, huh? lol]

"Well, her abilities seem fine, too."

"Yeah!"

The current red line was generated from blood.

The vampire Elvi can "manipulate blood."

With that ability, generating a sword from blood is a piece of cake.

"I don't really like Kokone, though."

"Neither do I, sis."

"Hey, hey."

Despite saying that, the two of them don't have a bad relationship.

They just clash occasionally.

But then, Elvi suddenly squatted down.

"...Because I was lonely."

"Huh?"

"After Kanata-sama left me, I was all alone."

"A-about that... I-I'm sorry."

Her attitude changed completely from just a moment ago.

She suddenly started to become downcast.

Elvi looked up at me with dreamy eyes from below.

"That's why I hurt you..."

"Hurt me? What do you mean?"

"...This─"

When I asked, Elvi lowered the cuffs of her clothes.

I couldn't help but imagine something unpleasant about her, who had such intense emotional fluctuations.

What came out from there was a monster's bone.

"A monster?"

"That's enough!"

I threw the bone with a clatter.

[Monsters, huh? LOL]

[I thought it was a list.]

[Once again, the monsters are being trampled on.]

[Monster: 'I don't understand.']

[And it's an A-rank Saint Wolf, no less!]

[Don't summon such a dangerous demon with bones, lol.]

[Stop defeating more monsters, please! lol.]

[The number of monsters is already zero!]

But leaving it like this would be cruel.

I couldn't help but interject, but I suddenly asked.

"So, do you want it?"

"...! Is that okay?"

"Well, I guess it can't be helped."

"Yay!"

Elvi stood up and slowly approached me.

"I wanted to be the first to taste Kanata-sama's here."

"Alright, alright, just do it quickly."

"Hehe. Well then~"

Elvi's face moved closer to my neck.

[Hey, hey!?]

[Could it be...!]

[Can we see it live!?]

Then, Elvi puts her mouth on my neck.

"Chomp."

It's a vampire bite.

[A bloodsucking!!]

[Huh!?]

[Whoa!]

[Is this going to get banned!?]

[Thank you, Demon King. I'll follow you for life.]

[You can suck mine too, ^ ^]

[My neck is also open for you ^ ^]

The pain is almost nonexistent, just a gentle nibble.

After drinking a bit of my blood, Elvi looked satisfied and let out a soft sigh.

"As expected, Kanata-sama's blood is the best!"

"That's good to hear."

"Come on, Kanata-sama! Let's hurry and go kill some monsters!"

"Hey, stop pulling me!"

Elvi suddenly brightened up, as if regaining her spirits.

Yes, Elvi becomes a cheerful battle maniac after drinking blood.

When she runs low on blood, she becomes dark and downer.

My blood is her favorite.

"Ah, I love Kanata-sama so much that I want to suck all his blood!"

"I'll just die normally."

She's truly a yandere vampire.

[Oh great, another troublesome one has come lol]

[So heavy, so heavy!]

[Such a strong character lol]

[Looks like the Demon King is well-loved]

[Is it a rule that the subordinate demons have to be mentally unstable? LOL]

[This is madness]

[You're really messed up... (￣▽￣)]

[You've gone beyond being messed up, now you're just dark]

Well, I can understand why it would be scary at first glance.

Still, she's a comrade who fought through the other world with us.

She lent us a lot of strength, so I can't just leave her be.

""What a troublesome woman.""

Kokone and Luzeria, you shouldn't say that.

Even though I think that, I return my gaze to Elvi.

"By the way, where are you going?"

"There was this really strange... presence down below. I wiped everything up to the mid-level."

"That's kind of scary."

Still, a strange presence?

If Elvi, who is on par with Kokone and the others, says so, it piqued my interest a bit.

So, I called out to everyone.

"Alright. Let's slide down to the lower levels all at once."

"Slipping, Master, is that...!"

"Yeah, breaking the wall."

With my [Super Sensory], I detect the wall's weak points and cut through it with [Spatial Disruption].

Just like what happened in the last stream, the dungeon shift technique.

"But Kanata-kun, what about the other explorers?"

"I detected them, but it seems they're not here. Good thing I called the association."

"You called?"

"Yeah. I told them not to let any explorers in because this dungeon is dangerous."

She contacted them right after watching Gouma's stream yesterday.

The people at the association hurriedly (or maybe out of fear?) agreed.

But then, Elvi's face brightened up.

"Kanata-sama! Are you worried about me!?"

"I'm worried about you getting involved with them..."

With that, preparations were complete.

I unleashed my skill downward.

"Here we go ─[Spatial Disruption]."

Chapter 14: The Third Familiar