The Night Before

I had thought keeping watch over a fire would be a quieter job.

10:00 p.m. The middle layer of the Abyss, in the grand hall where the two-headed dragon had been. A camp circle had been set up against the rock wall, with two bonfires. Five sleeping bags were lined up around the fire in back, while the fire in front was my post for tonight.

The broadcast had switched to night mode. A fixed camera showed only one of the bonfires. The audio pickup was restricted to the area around the fire as well. I didn't believe in keeping secrets from humanity, but I had no obligation to make my students' sleeping faces humanity's property too.

【The view count is insane for a shot of nothing but a bonfire】

【A bonfire burning underground, in territory no human has ever explored. The information density is incredible】

【Tonight, all of humanity is warming itself at the same bonfire】

The world could afford to be carefree. Tomorrow, I was going to meet someone no human had ever met before. I opened my notebook and began compiling today's report—but my hand stopped at my first guest.

"...Teacher. May I speak with you for a moment?"

It was Rei-kun. His turn on watch was still a long way off.

"Go ahead. I don't have any tea, but I do have a fire."...