chapter02 · 049-ep49
Episode 49: How to Prevent a World-Wrecking Clan
While Karin trained Honoka Kamishiro, the internet made a roaring campfire of Black Shell.
38 Passing-by Anon
The power of an exposé in front of a million concurrents is unreal lmao Black Shell's burning so hard this has gotten INSANE lmao
39 Passing-by Anon
All the people who dragged Honoka-sama down to the lower layers and left her there have been identified lol
40 Passing-by Anon
That was FAST!
41 Passing-by Anon
I checked, and they're ALL Black Shell officers!?
42 Passing-by Anon
Whoa, one's even an aspiring dungeon influencer with a decent following. These are actually core members
43 Passing-by Anon
Well, they managed to get a level-30 crafter into the lower layers. Figures All their officers are attempted murderers. This clan is DONE
44 Passing-by Anon
All kinds of allegations coming out, not just the subsidy milking Honoka-sama can't be the only victim. We need to keep this fire burning till everything comes out
45 Passing-by Anon
With this much uproar, the Anti-Dungeon Division and guild must already be on the case. But let's keep the fire burning! No letting up, desu wa!
45 Passing-by Anon
Black Shell's official account AND every account belonging to those who abandoned her are in flames lol Every Twiitter post mentioning Black Shell is getting over five million impressions. Karin ojou-sama's reach is unbelievable lmao
46 Passing-by Anon
Everyone, a reminder: Karin ojou-sama has asked us to be 'Elegant.' If we cause trouble, we'll stain her dress. Observe the following rules, desu no:
・No insults unrelated to the current scandal ・Do not harass entire organizations that aren't wholly to blame, like the Dungeon Bureau or Honoka-sama's school ・Stick to factual inquiries; no vulgar abuse ・Report anyone who breaks these rules on sight with a self-policing punch!
Remember: this isn't arson. It's an orderly campfire. Also, in this context 'Elegant' does NOT mean 'beat them to death efficiently and reduce them to dust.'
47 Passing-by Anon
↑ The fact people are actually following this copypasta lmao
48 Passing-by Anon
As expected of the fans (Karin Party) of the Elegant and refined Karin ojou-sama!
49 Passing-by Anon
Even aside from that, almost everyone angry about this is talking like an ojou-sama. It's weirdly refined for a massive online firestorm lol
49 Passing-by Anon
Usually some people get too aggressive in a scandal → everyone else gets put off → the crowd thins → the fire dies down. But with everyone using ojou-sama speech, this one could burn for ages lmao
50 Passing-by Anon
Now that I've joined the firestorm in ojou-sama speech, I actually feel it curbing my aggression and making me more reasonable, desu no
51 Passing-by Anon
Are you saying Karin ojou-sama's speech really WAS keeping her inner thug in check...!?
52 Passing-by Anon
Explorer circles online have been raising the subsidy-milking allegations for ages, but Karin ojou-sama's reach has finally spread the word. As someone who's been pressing them about it for a while, I'm truly grateful
53 Passing-by Anon
The smell of roasting shellfish makes the booze taste SO GOOOOOOD!!
54 Passing-by Anon
Man, this firestorm is really something Here, a summary of what we KNOW Black Shell did: ・Dragged an unwilling minor into the lower layers and abandoned her in front of an enhanced variant ・Verbally abused said minor while blaming her for everything ・Zero minors they've taken on provisionally have ever become full members (subsidy fraud under the guise of training is all but certain) ・Two of the members who abandoned her have prior convictions over trouble involving the sale of dungeon materials
55 Passing-by Anon
Even the confirmed stuff is so bad nobody's showing up to defend them for contrarian points...
56 Passing-by Anon
They STINK! Reeking worse than PUKE, I tell ya!!
57 Passing-by Anon
They're honestly worse scum than Lord Vomit. I can't even laugh
5 8 Passing-by Anon
For all his faults, that guy had the cunning not to cross certain lines...
59 Passing-by Anon
Scary how the world's full of explorers better than Puke AND trash worse than Puke
60 Passing-by Anon
Anyway, Black Shell's definitely rotten, so let's keep roasting them!
...And just as netizens were getting into one of the largest firestorms in recent years, Karin hinted that she might found a crafting clan.
889 Passing-by Anon
Hey, forget about roasting Black Shell for a second!? We need to find a trustworthy clan and tell ojou-sama and Honoka-sama ASAP, or this won't be funny!?
890 Passing-by Anon
But what do we DO!? Even if WE decide a clan is trustworthy, Honoka-sama got burned by her school. Will she trust one so quickly...?
891 Passing-by Anon
And now I think about it, a recruit with that much potential who's close to Karin-sama will trigger a fierce bidding war between clans. No way this ends peacefully... There are already suspicious posts on this board and Twiitter trying to push her toward particular clans...
892 Passing-by Anon
The information war's already begun. I can't even laugh
893 Passing-by Anon
Now even WE can't easily choose a trustworthy clan, never mind Honoka-sama!?
894 Passing-by Anon
It's over ＼(^o^)／
895 Passing-by Anon
S-somebody do something!
896 Passing-by Anon
Karin ojou-sama, help! Shatter our despair like you did in Shibuya!
897 Passing-by Anon
>>896 Begging the cause of the problem for help lmao
898 Passing-by Anon
Black Shell's the cause, damn it!?
899 Passing-by Anon
Black Shell: 'Me!?'
900 Passing-by Anon
The ojou-samas roasting Black Shell have gone from 'You exploited a minor and left her to die? And what's going on with those subsidies?' to 'Your fault a terrifying clan's about to be born! Take responsibility!' lmao
901 Passing-by Anon
The firestorm's taken a really weird turn lmao
902 Passing-by Anon
But isn't this seriously bad!? Thinking about it calmly, I don't think talking Karin ojou-sama out of it is an option anymore!
903 Passing-by Anon
And like >>891 said, even if ojou-sama DOESN'T found a clan, the fight over Honoka-sama's shaping up to turn into a feud between major clans... An age of war, desu wa!
904 Passing-by Anon
G-government! Hurry up and do something!
●
The next morning, unaware of the uproar online, Karin slept soundly at the Kamishiro house, practically going, "Zzz, desu wa!"
"...Something smells good, desu no."
Her stomach growled her awake. Honoka smiled at her from the kitchen in an apron.
"G-good morning, Karin ojou-sama."
Thanks, perhaps, to a good night's sleep for the first time in ages, the dark circles under Honoka's eyes had faded considerably.
"I made breakfast. If you'd like, please eat before my little sisters wake up."
"A-are you certain!? Your mother even prostrated herself last night and gave me an incredible dinner!"
"Yes. If I can't do at least this much in return, I won't feel right."
"I-if you insist..."
Karin washed her face and tidied herself up before sitting down to eat with Honoka. There was rice, miso soup, grilled fish, even natto. A feast for breakfast—not just from Karin's perspective, but for the Kamishiros, whose finances were tight.
Between the delicious meal and Honoka looking so much healthier than yesterday, Karin was delighted. Except—
"Is something troubling you, Honoka-sama?"
"Huh? N-no, not really..."
Honoka hurried to deny it. Karin stared at her until she gave in, laid down her chopsticks and spoke softly.
"...Um, I feel bad relying on you any more than I already have, Karin ojou-sama... Yesterday, I was so happy when you said you'd form a clan if you needed to that I said all those things. But really, it'd be best if I didn't have to lean on you any more. It might be different if there really are other <Divine Artisan> users in trouble... But I need to find a good clan soon, so I won't burden you."
"Oh, is that all? Don't worry. I don't consider you a burden at all," Karin assured her with a smile.
Still... if she really founded a clan, she'd have all sorts of bothersome obligations. There'd be endless paperwork and other things Karin hated. She'd inevitably end up begging Mafuyu for help even more, which bothered her in its own way. Honoka would probably feel guilty too.
Honoka was right: finding a trustworthy clan would likely be best. Ideally, one that could take in any other <Divine Artisan> users being mistreated as well.
(Hmm, but surely somewhere that convenient won't just pop up out of nowhere.)
Then, as Karin switched on the Kamishiros' TV with the ease of someone who'd done it for years, a conveniently perfect destination popped up out of nowhere.
"Thank you very much for coming today. Now, to get straight to the point: we, the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Division, Anti-Dungeon Division, have decided to introduce an emergency special hiring program. To address our longstanding staff shortage, we will identify and train individuals with promising unique skills. For the first phase, we are seeking users of <Divine Artisan>, a unique skill whose potential experts have previously brought to our attention. Applicants will receive the same conditions as regular officers."
""...Huh?""
The two girls froze at the live broadcast labeled Emergency Press Conference.
The Anti-Dungeon Division of the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Division was an elite police unit. It primarily investigated criminals who'd gained superhuman strength through levels and skills. For the past decade, it had featured in countless dramas and films and had a reputation for excellent pay and benefits.
Getting in was so difficult, people said you either had to serve in the police for years while reaching a high level or become an ace in a major clan and get recruited from there. And now this selective unit wasn't just opening its doors wider—it was seeking <Divine Artisan> users specifically.
"Of course, possessing <Divine Artisan> does not mean every applicant will be suited to police work. But the first necessity in arresting leveled criminals is strength. This emergency program will thus emphasize developing strength as explorers rather than as police officers. The recruits will be treated as a special unit within the Anti-Dungeon Division, with precisely the same terms of employment as regular officers—and any concealment of skill holders or interference with their changing jobs will be severely punished—for details of the hiring of minors, please consult the following materials—"
"Wh-what is this!? A prank!? Are there cameras hidden somewhere!?"
"Th-the Anti-Dungeon Division... recruiting <Divine Artisan> users...?"
For a while they could only stare at the too-perfect news. Then they both erupted in confusion. Karin checked Twiitter: it was full of posts about the press conference. The broadcast wasn't a fake being shown only in this house. If anything, that confused her even more.
"Wait, can we really TRUST this!? It's only the next day!?"
A prestigious police division that cracked down on criminal clans was about as trustworthy as a prospective employer could be. And Honoka had admired the police as well as explorers; factor in the working conditions, and there could be no better destination. Which was exactly why the timing was scary.
Karin was beginning to wonder if it was a police scam, much as she had when forty million yen in superchats had first come flying in. Then her phone rang. Mafuyu.
"Hey, Karin. Seen the news?"
"I-I just saw it! Mafuyu, what's going on!? The perfect solution dropped out of the sky! Can we trust it!? Oh, and when I called you yesterday to talk things over, you just said you were busy and hung up. I was worried—are you all right—"
"Calm down."
With two words, Mafuyu quieted Karin's panic.
"I get why you're freaking out. Such a convenient coincidence surprised me too. But the police held a press conference, so it's probably trustworthy, don't you think? If you're still worried, though—"
She gave a little chuckle, as if she'd gotten her own back somehow.
"Take that girl—er, Honoka-san—to the police station and ask them in person. If you're considering it as her next workplace, a press conference isn't enough. You need to visit, interview each other, check they've made proper preparations to train <Divine Artisan> users, and settle the details. I'll come along if you're nervous going by yourselves."
"...Hweh?"
And so, still stunned as though she'd been pranked awake, Karin set out with Honoka to visit Metropolitan Police Department headquarters.
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
A reader told me in a support comment that searching Google for 'お優雅' now brings up this work and reviews of it as the top results. Thank you!
If you'd like to help more people find it, a rating using the ☆ below or a follow via the menu in the upper right would mean a lot...!
Added note: Since a few readers seem concerned, Karin ojou-sama will NOT be joining the police! The authorities couldn't handle a bombshell like her anyway!