Keya's Morning Routine

Carefully leaving the bedroom without waking Nadia, I head out. 

I go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, drink room-temperature water with electrolytes, and take care of my face. 

Then I switch on the coffee machine and boil water with the electric kettle. 

While the coffee brews, I stretch and do some light exercises. 

I pour the coffee into a large mug and dilute it with hot water. 

I always go for an Americano in the morning. 

Sitting on the sofa by the window, I sip my coffee little by little while browsing dungeon-related news on my digital device. 

It's my usual morning routine. 

I feel like a health-conscious woman in her late twenties. Even I think so. 

And how many times have I been told, "You don't seem like a high schooler"? 

But this is just who I am, so it can't be helped. 

---

"Hm?" 

What caught my eye first was an official apology from the Ministry of Dungeons. 

I skim through it. 

Apparently, a staff member from the Ministry made an inappropriate post on social media. 

What surprised me was that the Ministry fully acknowledged their fault and issued a formal apology. 

*(All this over a simple staff post?)*

Even more unbelievable, the post had only gone up this morning. 

*(Their response is so fast…)*

Anyone else might have missed this entirely. But this… 

---

"This reeks of Shahzad." 

I launch "T" (a very popular app). 

The original post had already been deleted, but screenshots were circulating everywhere. 

---

Post:

"This is insane! You know that person who's always trending online? I was the one in charge of inspecting his gate, and it was terrifying! He barely spoke, and when he did, it was all mumbled, like, 'Touch me, and you won't get away with it,' just oozing threats! There's no way he's normal. I've seen clips from his streams a few times, but he's totally faking that laid-back vibe. Can't say who, but everyone should be careful!"

---

"Oh dear." 

At least they seem to have some basic net literacy and avoided naming names. 

"But anyone could figure out who they're talking about." 

In no time, the poster's affiliation and name were identified based on their past posts. 

They must've posted it without much thought, never imagining it would escalate this far. 

"The internet is a scary place." 

I feel a bit sorry for them, but this was a mess they created themselves. 

"And still, just how scared is the Ministry of Dungeons?" 

I can kind of understand, though. 

Shahzad evokes two polar opposite reactions. 

---

One group is made up of viewers of Shahzad's streams, his fans. 

Despite the booming popularity of dungeons, only a handful of daredevils actually attempt to become adventurers. 

For most, strolling around dungeon parks is as far as they'll go. 

With dungeon streams so widespread, why take risks when you can enjoy a simulated experience from the safety of your home? 

*(That popularity has caused its own set of issues, though…)* 

For instance, "Death-baiters". 

These are people who deliberately post comments designed to lead adventurers into danger, causing real trouble. 

Some rookie adventurers have even lost their lives because of it. There have been arrests overseas, and while regulations have tightened significantly, the problem persists. 

*(Well, he doesn't look at comments, so it doesn't concern him.)* 

For these casual viewers, Shahzad's streams are simply entertaining. 

Flashy, novel, thrilling. 

They're aware of Shahzad's abnormality, but his tendency to stumble into trouble—seemingly by accident—makes him all the more appealing. 

To his viewers, Shahzad is nothing more than a fascinating streamer. 

---

But for adventurers, the perspective is entirely different. 

For those who actually delve into dungeons, Shahzad's abnormality isn't just theoretical—it's something they feel firsthand. 

The laid-back atmosphere of his streams only heightens his otherworldly nature. 

*Awe.*

To adventurers, Shahzad is akin to a supreme entity, or a demon. 

Dungeon parks attract many tourists. Some of them are undoubtedly Shahzad's fans. 

But no one ever approaches him. 

The unsettling aura exuded by the adventurers around him intimidates even his fans into keeping their distance. 

As if by unspoken agreement, everyone steers clear of him. 

---

A year ago, things weren't this extreme. 

Back then, Shahzad's strength and abnormality were well-known in the community, but only to a niche audience. 

It was one particular incident that propelled him to worldwide fame. 

The Kaiser Incident.