The White Dancer. That was the nickname of the one who started the trend of dungeon streaming, the first streamer. She was a sword dancer donned in a white dress, pioneering floor clears all while flying solo and never letting a single drop of blood stain her whiteness. She was the first ever adventurer to clear the 20th floor, the first to step into the 21st, and the only one who's done so while solo and unharmed.
Though, such tales were absurd to even think about. A single woman in an ornamental dress clearing floors while remaining unstained? It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous, but it brought forth a hope. After the white dancer stopped her streamkng activities, she became a legend. Someone so unrealistic, who redefined the entire structure of dungeon diving in her three months of activities. Yet she is undoubtedly real. After all, she's sitting right in front of Qualia, sipping a cup of coffee.
"So... are you really her? The first streamer? The white dancer?"
"...I have some nitpicks with that nickname, but I won't deny it."
The two were in a café in the city of Deahelor[1], on the surface. Out of their adventurer outfits, Yuveria was wearing a white knit sweater and a plaid black skirt, a corset on her waist enunciating her chest. Qualia was wearing the school uniform she wore under her robe. Their equipment were stored in their respective inventories, as walking around in those would cause a commotion on the surface.
"I can't believe it! I knew there were some similarities, but I thought it was all a coincidence!"
"Ahem. So... what's this about being the top streamer?"
"Oh, right!"
Qualia reached a hand into her inventory, taking out a mobile MS window that was a bit larger than most, about the size of three mobile MSWs lined up. She then began explaining, illustrating on the MSW.
The Dungeon Streamer Awards, or DSA for short, is a seasonal event hosted by the largest streaming agency in the DS industry, White Avenue[2]. It was an event originally held to commemorate the legendary White Dancer's achievements and to challenge others into doing what she has done, if not surpass them. However, by the second DSA, it became a competition between streamers to see who would be the one to take the award.
The DSA welcomes all streamers to join, whether they're veteran adventurers or rookies, if they have what it takes, they could be the one to take the award and enter into the streamer hall of fame.
The fourth DSA had just concluded, but there's already competition for the fifth award.
What does "being the top streamer" entail, you ask? It's not something as simple as being the most popular DS, or being the strongest. You need not just fame or power, but you need to become a living legend, just like the White Dancer herself.
The DSA is a competition between streamers. It's not just about who gets the largest amount of numbers, it's about who becomes the most memorable amongst their competitors. The one who takes the award is the one who people will continue to talk about for generations to come.
"White Avenue? Those guys are hosting this?"
"Oh, are you connected to them? I suppose that's only natura—"
Qualia immediately shut her mouth the moment she felt the air turn cold. She looked towards Yuveria, who was seemingly the source of the freezing air. She opened her mouth to ask a simple question, and her usual quiet and shy voice was replaced by one so present, it'd be impossible not to hear it.
"...Hey, how much does White Avenue pay their streamers?"
"Huh? Uh... I have a streamer friend who works for them, and uh... Hold on, lemme ask..."
Qualia immediately began fiddling with her window, communicating with the aforementioned friend. After a few unbearable seconds of silence, she received a reply, and gulped upon seeing the answer. She stuttered heavily when relaying it to Yuveria, who's bloodlust had reached it's maximum.
"Um... Uh, h– half... a... h– half a hun... f– fifty tes[3]... per month..."
Qualia shut her mouth and eyes tightly after that, but strangely, the freezing cold and bloodlust disappeared entirely. When she opened her eyes to look at Yuveria, she was smiling like a saintess, a warm glow emanating from her.
"I see! I'll kill them."
"Wait?!"
Just as Yuveria was about to storm out of the table, Qualia grabbed hold of her. However, Yuveria was too strong, and she ended up being dragged along as they left the café.
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"Wait, just wait! Why are you so angry?!"
Qualia had let go and was instead just chasing after Yuveria, who was briskly and calmly walking towards White Avenue's headquarters. She's been there before, when receiving the job description from their founders and because that's where a certain someone works. They weren't White Avenue back then, but they were definitely starting to form it.
"Qualia, do you know how much I spend every month, paying for my tuition, my power, water, and gas bills? My taxes?"
Yuveria asked Qualia as they walked amidst the hissing of steam and manasteam contraptions alike. The whirring of MS-powered carriages, everyday inventions created for the sake of convenience. The integration of magic into technology was something truly era-defining, and something that the researchers of White Avenue pioneered.
Qualia was taken aback by her question. Of course she had no idea what her monthly expenses were, she just met Yuveria yesterday. Yuveria spoke before Qualia could give a proper answer to her answer.
"Twenty tes."
"...Mhm?"
"Do you know how much White Avenue paid me to start the streaming trend?"
"..."
"Fifteen tes."
You can see why she's angry. To add to that, they've been marketing her after she stopped streaming, and only a small amount of the sales were sent to her as royalties.
"I'll kill them."
"I'm genuinely worried that you're serious about that!"
This continued until they reached White Avenue's base.
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"Welco– oh, if it isn't YB! It's been ages, how've ya been?"
When they entered through the front door, Yuveria and Qualia were met with an energetic receptionist.
"Qualia, this is Mana."
Mana gave a salute to Yuveria and Qualia. She had short jet black hair and purple eyes, and wore a black linen office uniform. Although, she wore it indecently, unbuttoning a few off the top. Her skirt was also shorter than the standard, exposing a lot of skin.
"Howdy. I'm Mana Theta, your friendly neighbourhood recep—"
"She's a mana broker[4]. Database's[5] most wanted."
"YB!?"
Mana shook Yuveria violently for exposing her identity, but it didn't seem like she minded. It was more like banter than it was serious. Qualia wore a clueless expression. She wasn't well-versed in the mana network or the database, nor was she familiar with the inner workings of agencies like White Avenue. She's just a high schooler, after all.
"Anyway, what brings you to White Avenue?"
"Give me my money."
Mana was puzzled at her words, then went over to behind the reception desk. She fiddled with the MSW, and began looking through some records. Eventually, Mana realized something.
"...Ah."
She immediately called for someone. Her superior, and also one of the people who hired Yuveria to be the first streamer. At the mention of Yuveria's name, the communication line between Mana and her superior dropped. After a few short seconds, panic began spreading through the lobby of White Avenue. Yuveria and Qualia were led to a private waiting room by Mana.
"Um, YB...? Don't be too angry...?"
"Why would I be angry?"
Mana, and even Qualia flinched. Qualia had just experienced Yuveria's anger earlier, even though it wasn't directed at her, and it already left a small trauma on her. What more Mana, who's known her for longer?
Mana pleaded for her boss to come faster in her heart. Yuveria normally was a joy to be with, but she's to be feared even more so than losing her job when she's angered.
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"I! Am! Sorry!!!"
She was on her knees, forehead on the floor in front of Yuveria, who had a cold look in her eyes as if she were looking at human trash. The CEO of White Avenue, Andrea White was her name. She was one of the people who hired Yuveria to be the pioneer of dungeon streaming. Though, looking at her in this pitiful state, tears and sweat ruining her make-up as they trickled down her face, in a position of absolute submission to the Yuveria in front of her... This is the CEO?
"This is... the CEO of White Avenue...?"
Even Qualia was disturbed at how sad of a state Andrea was in. Andrea White, the CEO of White Avenue. She wore an office uniform like Mana, though unlike Mana who's deliberately loosened her's to look more tempting, Andrea looked like she was in a rush to properly wear it. Creases and folds everywhere, her tie crooked, wet and sweaty from running, and there was even a wetspot that looked like water splashed on it. Her make-up was ruined, but it was only a small amount, and she was still frustratingly pretty (according to Yuveria). She had golden hair and blue eyes, just like Yuveria and Qualia. If you lined the three of them and put them in the same clothes, you genuinely wouldn't be able to tell which is which.
"Yuvi– Miss Blanc, I have no idea how this happened. I properly told sales to properly send over half of the profits from your merchandise, like the contract said... and the pay! I was sure I said fifty tes, not fifteen...!"
"This... the CEO...?"
Qualia was still dumbstruck at the reality of Andrea. She'd only seen her from afar as she gave speeches during the DSA, so seeing her like this is truly disiullusioning. In truth, Yuveria knew Andrea was not at fault. She just wanted someone at the top to complain to, and Andrea happened to fit that description. Nevertheless, she wanted compensation.
"Prune out the bad apples. Also, I want my money."
"Don't you worry your pretty face! I'll make sure of it! Here, I'll depo fifty tes right now!"
Andrea fiddled with her MSW, and a notification ping ringed on Yuveria's shortly after. She smirked at the money she was long overdue. Now if only Mana also payed her debts, but that's for another time. Yuveria cleared her throat as she put the MSW back into her inventory.
"There's another reason I'm here."
Yuveria announced. She grabbed Qualia by her shoulders and placed her in front of herself, before Andrea. Mana was the only one who felt trouble approaching.
"I'm backing this girl for the... Dungeon Streamer Awards? Yes, that. I'll be her producer."
Qualia's eyes widened as she turned around to Yuveria, who held her in place. Andrea's jaw nearly dropped, and Mana groaned as she slumped to the ground, pounding on it repeatedly with a fist. Surely, if anyone else had heard that the White Dancer, the reason the DSA was made in the first place, is personally backing a nominee, they would call it nepotism.
"Uh... Yuveria? I know I asked for your help and all, but being my producer is a bit..."
Qualia shyly called out, but Yuveria only tightened her grip on her shoulders. A dangerous cold suddenly enveloped the room, just like it did earlier with Yuveria and Qualia at the café, causing the three to shiver with a cold sweat.
"I'm a bit mad at these guys, so I'll make sure you win fair and square."
"Oh! O– okay..."
Yuveria and Qualia promptly left the building and went their separate ways, planning to meet tomorrow. The cold only truly disappeared after Yuveria and Qualia were blocks away from the building. Andrea's legs shook weak as Mana helped her to stand. She chuckled vainly to herself, causing Mana to recoil.
"Mana... I'm gonna wear a diaper next time I meet with Yuvie..."
"...You don't even care about your dignity anymore, huh?"
"My life is more important than my dignity."
It wasn't long before the White Avenue headquarters continued normal operations, but the CEO went home early that day, stopping by the mall for adult diapers before going home.
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Andrea White - The CEO of White Avenue, the biggest dungeon streaming agency. She's not an adventurer, but she idolizes them. Yuveria in particular is a personal favourite; a solo adventurer who eliminates enemies with a dancer's elegance, "so cool!" That said, she's also deathly afraid of her despite stanning her. She's not afraid to discard her dignity if it meant surviving.
Mana Theta - A receptionist at White Avenue's main office... is a front. She's a mana broker that sells information from the database for a hefty sum. At the same time, she also works for Database as a defensive mechanism against mana brokers. So which is it, really?
[1] - A supercity said to be the center of the world. The home of the adventurer's guild, and by extension, the dungeon. It is where all the geniuses of the world gather, becoming a utopia of steam and mana, interwoven to become the ideal city.
[2] The largest DS agency, formed after the White Dancer stopped her activities. Their founders were the ones who first employed Yuveria to start the trend, and it's said that the name White Avenue was taken after her own nickname, White Dancer. They're contracted with over a hundred B- to A-ranked dungeon streamers. They're also affiliated with thousands of non-streamer adventurers, and organizations unrelated to dungeons as well. They're generally known as a charitous agency.
[3] A unit of currency in Deahelor, named after a brilliant inventor. It is the equivalent of a gold coin compared to other works of fantasy. One tes is equivalent to a thousand edis, and one edis is equivalent to a thousand babbs.
[4] Someone specialized in obtaining information by infiltrating mana networks. Most mana brokers illegally sell confidential information for a steep price, but some are recruited by Database for their skills.
[5] The Mana Database is not only where information collected through the mana network is stored, but also an organization more commonly known as the information guild.