chapter02 · 033-ep33

Episode 33: Saiga Kagerou's Revenge

【Huh!? Puke!?】

【What's he doing here!? He showed up in person!?】

【Is it really him!?】

【He started a livestream right before approaching Karin ojou-sama! It's really Puke!】

【He figured out her dungeon from its monsters!?】

【Creepy!】

【What the hell's he doing showing up!?】

Karin was about to end her ornament-making stream when Kagerou suddenly appeared. Chat was understandably alarmed. Arriving unannounced was bad enough, and he was a nuisance streamer known for broadcasting his own misbehavior.

And Kagerou himself?

"You... You don't remember the great Saiga Kagerou-sama...!?" Trembling, he scowled at her 'who are you?' reaction.

"Oh! Kagerou! Kagerou-sama!? N-no, I remembered your name perfectly! It's just..." Karin looked aside awkwardly. "Back then I punched you so much that your face looked like Anpa○man... I never got a good look at your normal face."

【lol】

【Anpa○man lmaooo】

【Puke's face WAS swollen up like a gag manga character lol】

【No wonder she didn't recognize him lol】

【Congrats, Puke! Another nickname!】

"You...!? You ARE making fun of me!"

"Eh!? How did you reach that conclusion!? I wasn't mocking you at all! If anything, I've wanted to apologize for going too far!"

It was true. Karin had worried about him ever since that day. Attempting to detonate a blast stone in the lower layers had been dangerous, but beating him so badly he needed days in hospital had probably been excessive. She'd even felt uneasy about her channel growing so quickly before she could apologize.

"I tried contacting you several times, but couldn't get through... If there's anything I can do to make amends, I'll do it now!"

"...Oh? You said it."

His eyes narrowed like a wolf spotting an opening.

【Puke... I'm disappointed in you】

【Didn't know you went after minors】

【Disgusting...】

【You've sunk to a new low】

【I've lost all respect for you...】

【Puke, you speak Japanese? She said 'anything I CAN do'】

【Kagerou... Thought you were a scumbag, but a scumbag smart enough not to cross THAT line... That's a minor, man】

【Even other inmates despise sex offenders, Puke...】

"I HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING YET! Quit talking crap, you internet losers!"

Kagerou shouted at the outrageous accusations on his own stream. Some of Karin's viewers were watching both streams at once, and his chat was in chaos. He took a breath and turned back to Karin seriously.

"If you'll do anything to apologize—fight me for real."

"Eh?"

"A public match, streamed live. No fuckin' sneak attacks on either side this time. Face-to-face, fair and square, I'll show you our real strength."

Kagerou issued his challenge directly. Chat's mood changed instantly—mostly into concern for him.

【Huh!? Is he serious!?】

【Puke... You weren't a good guy, but I never wanted you dead (past tense)】

【Don't do it, idiot! She'll turn you into furniture!】

【You'll end up like the Jewel Turtles and Sheep's Killers!】

【Lord Vomit's so lucky! I want to be Karin ojou-sama's chair too!】

【Me too!】

【I'll be her footrest...】

"Why're you all worried about ME!? And quit talkin' about that creepy shit!"

【Why do YOU think you can win!?】

【Did you ignore every video link we sent you showing Karin-sama's insane feats!?】

【She punched a deep-layer monster to death too, you know!】

【Did Karin ojou-sama punch your ability to think right out of your head!?】

"Hah. Amateurs." Kagerou sneered at his chat.

(Even if it ain't fake, there's no way she's that strong on raw power alone. Every top-tier monster's got tricks and secrets.)

Their base abilities were naturally high, but many at the top relied on skills or items potent under specific conditions, among other factors. You couldn't easily dismantle those conditions—that was why they were top-ranked—but, like powerful dungeon bosses, they weren't impossible to counter.

(And I've figured this brat's tricks out completely. From her archives and that ridiculous crafting stream.)

He'd prepared countermeasures too. Otherwise, he wouldn't challenge such a monster head-on.

"So what'll it be, ojou-sama? If you wanna apologize, you'll take me on, yeah?"

"This is one of the few places on the surface where explorers can use their powers openly without anyone complaining," he continued confidently. "The three-hundred-meter construction-restricted zone around the dungeon. They hold public matches between explorers here too. Perfect spot."

"If that makes amends, I don't mind, but..." Karin sounded worried. "Are you certain, Kagerou-sama? You've only just left hospital. You'll be hurt again."

【Natural-born trash talk LET'S GOOOO!】

【Lmaoooo】

【lol】

【Well, she's right lol】

【Karin ojou-sama's a master of mic work too!】

【Combat, crafting, winning arguments... She can do anything except learn common sense!】

"...! Yeah, fine. Injuries come with the territory."

"Then I accept. I don't quite understand, but if it'll put your mind at ease..."

She looked relieved. A dungeon guard tried to intervene—"H-hey, you two!?"—but stopped under Kagerou's glare. The strongest young explorer was also a major member of Black Tiger, one of the nation's most powerful, politically influential clans.

The two faced each other again in the vast open space in the heart of the city.

【Wait, we egged them on, but are they seriously doing this!?】

【Kagerou challenged her, so Karin-sama'll be fine... but streaming it might cause trouble】

【The restricted zone's used for joint explorer training. Broadly speaking, is this training...?】

【A Black Tiger-level technicality】

【Then we're good! The Dungeon Bureau will overlook it!】

【Whoa, concurrents shot up to 200k! Is this actually okay!?】

【Explorer disputes draw viewers, but that's a scary number...】

As chat buzzed, Kagerou drew a training sword.

"Why not take off that ornament? It's precious to you, right?"

"No need. This is my pride, given to me by Setsuna-sama."

"Aight. Don't regret it later."

"And you... truly wish me to fight in earnest?"

"Yeah. I'm goin' all out too. And using every tool you've got—that's what 'serious' means to explorers who risk their lives every day."

The corner of his mouth rose. WHUM!

An unusual mana spread throughout the area.

Then—

"...!? Eh!?"

It was as if the magic effect had disappeared from her dress. Its color dulled, and Karin's hair returned to its natural black.