chapter02 · 048-ep48

Episode 48: A World-Wrecking Clan

"Of course! Don't worry, Honoka-sama! If we can't find a clan we can trust, I'll start a new one myself!"

Honoka, Nagisa on the phone, and the chat of over a million viewers froze at Karin's sudden bombshell. Oblivious, Karin went, "Oh, of course!" and continued.

"If I'm starting a clan anyway, why not invite other people with <Divine Artisan> and make it a crafting clan centered on the skill? There may be others besides Honoka-sama being treated poorly because of me... perhaps? Yes, the more I think about it, the better the idea sounds! I'd meant to wait until I was stronger before joining a party or anything, but if all of us with <Divine Artisan> work and improve together, perhaps one day we'll even make item boxes other people can use! That's not a bad idea at all!"

【No no no no NO!】

【Hold on, this is BAD!?】

【Ojou-sama even HINTING at a clan is huge news, and now she's aiming to make item boxes anyone can use? I can't even laugh】

【If you make a clan like that, the whole WORLD will target Japan!?】

【That's a world-wrecking clan, not a crafting clan】

【I'm an ojou-sama who's been mocked for my <Divine Artisan> at work... I know that clan would be dangerous, but if she actually starts it, I'd quit my job and move to join】

【↑ And THIS is why you shouldn't make fun of other people...】

【This is seriously bad!】

【Forget the item boxes: a clan gathering <Divine Artisan> users after THAT demonstration of the skill's potential could destroy a country on its own lol】

【Karin ojou-sama alone is enough of a natural disaster...】

【I want to believe Honoka-sama's just unusually talented, but if Karin ojou-sama trains ALL the <Divine Artisan> users she recruits...】

【The world might seriously come after us!?】

【Honoka-sama! Please talk some sense into her!】

【Karin ojou-sama took a Fist Fuck to the knee and now barely believes anything we say online!】

Chat dissolved into chaos at Karin's proposal. Some even appealed to Honoka, who was there in person. But—

"I-I didn't realize how far Karin ojou-sama was willing to go...!" Honoka said, trembling. "You'd fight the whole world for all the other <Divine Artisan> users being mistreated too, not just for me...!"

"Hm? The world?"

"I was wrong to be content with being the only one you helped! If you really form that clan... I'll devote my life to working for you, Karin ojou-sama! Even if we have to make enemies of the whole world!"

"I-if it comes to that, I'll gain some levels and help too! I probably won't awaken <Divine Artisan>, but I'm part of why all this happened...!" Nagisa said.

"Hm? I'm not quite sure what you mean, but that's the spirit! 'Even if we make enemies of the whole world'... Hehe, that sounds like something out of Dungeon Alive! How exciting. We haven't decided whether to form a clan yet, but if we do, I'll be counting on you!"

【Honoka-sama and Nagisa-sama are BOTH on board!? It's overrrrrrr!】

【Oh riiiiiiight! Everyone on this stream is a berserker!】

【Wait, isn't Honoka-sama talking nonsense!? Is she panicking even more than we are!?】

【Well, the person who saved her life AND trained her just suggested starting a clan that the world might target, for HER sake...】

【Karin ojou-sama doesn't even REALIZE she might turn the world against her!? What was with that vacant 'huh?' look!?】

【Don't just agree when you don't understand what you're agreeing to, Karin ojou-sama!?】

【WHAT is going on!? If I were a Cabinet ojou-sama, I'd collapse foaming at the mouth!?】

【Even a civilian ojou-sama could faint from this】

【Black Shell's exploitation of a minor suddenly seems like a footnote lmao】

【I've never seen a Rube Goldberg machine this horrifying!】

【We're way past just bringing down Black Shell!】

【Japan's in trouble because of that shitty clan!?】

【Black Shell: 'ME!?'】

【Seriously, we need to find a home for Honoka-sama NOW or Karin ojou-sama might actually start that nightmare clan!?】

【But where's a trustworthy clan that can take Honoka-sama as she is now!?】

【M-maybe White Knight, one of the country's top clans...?】

【Any decent clan, PLEASE hire Honoka-sama!】

【Uh, guys... Shares in Japanese dungeon-related companies are all rising...?】

【I thought we were half joking, but ojou-sama so much as hinting at a <Divine Artisan> clan is already affecting the world for real...】

While chat raised a tremendous fuss, Karin remained carefree.

"Well, Honoka-sama seems to have reached her limit, and I've had a good idea, so that will be all for today's stream! I'll let you know if there are any developments with the transfer or forming a clan. For today, Otsukarin desu wa~. ...Phew. It's a relief to know we have a backup plan if no clan turns up!"

With Karin's easygoing farewell, the stream ended. She'd seen comments suggesting Honoka's safety might be at risk, so she escorted Honoka home that day and stayed the night.

　　　　　　●

"That idiot...!?"

At her apartment, Mafuyu Sasaki was speechless. A small errand had delayed her opening Karin's stream. By the time she tuned in, Karin was training a girl Mafuyu didn't know and declaring she might form an outrageous new clan.

The commenters' talk of Japan being targeted and the world being in danger was exaggerated. But if Karin really started a <Divine Artisan> clan, there was no question it would cause a massive uproar. The calls from Public Security coming in at a furious pace proved as much.

"Damn it... She said she wasn't planning to form a clan for a while, so I let my guard down. I never thought she'd bring it up so suddenly..."

She bitterly regretted not at least impressing on Karin what an audience of five million subscribers meant for her influence. But what was done was done. She had one job now: find and recommend a trustworthy clan so Karin wouldn't need to make one.

Except things weren't that simple.

(I know a few clans I can trust. The problem is how much Honoka Kamishiro's value has risen.)

Honoka's rapid growth on-stream was extraordinary even after accounting for Karin's help. She could contribute immediately, and her future potential was immense. Getting her into any one clan would set off a fierce contest.

And Honoka wasn't the only prize. The clan that took her would inevitably forge a strong connection with Karin Yamada. That was worth more than anyone could measure; choosing Honoka's destination could even ignite a major conflict among clans.

Even good clans that cooperated with the police Anti-Dungeon Division to crack down on explorer crime might go to any lengths to recruit her—

"...Wait."

Holding her aching head, Mafuyu remembered what Honoka had said on-stream about what she'd admired.

"...Of course. A clan isn't Honoka Kamishiro's only possible destination."

Her family's financial circumstances left her few choices, but not only clans. Mafuyu thought again of Honoka's sudden growth on-stream.

"I always thought Karin's abnormal growth was entirely down to her own aptitude... But Honoka Kamishiro grew a lot in the lower layers too, even if she's nowhere near Karin. Could it be...?"

Perhaps it wasn't just that Honoka had the greatest aptitude for <Divine Artisan> after Karin. Mafuyu had no proof. But if training <Divine Artisan> in the lower layers really could accelerate its development...

"That detection specialist must've watched the stream too. It's worth proposing. If it works, I might even make those nagging police types owe me a favor, retired or not."

It would also be easier to warn off Public Security, which seemed keen to use Karin. With a slightly wicked smile, Mafuyu finally answered one of Public Security's incessant calls. She had an aggressive proposal that could make everyone but the corrupt clan a winner.