chapter04 · 093-ep93
Episode 90: A Surprise and Dedication to the Craft
It was decided that Karin Yamada would receive the People's Honor Award.
The award ceremony would be held on Friday evening, less than two weeks after her solo deep-layer conquest.
The news spread through every form of media in the blink of an eye and, naturally, caused a massive stir online.
【That People's Honor Award came so fast, LMAO】
【As fast as Karin ojou-sama wearing Swift Wind and Thunder lmao】
【Well, on top of the world record for soloing the deep layers, she soloed abyssal floor 1. Of course those achievements would win it】
【I feel like she caused more chaos than achieved anything, though...】
【With it happening this fast, they probably started considering it when she kept the dungeon collapse at zero fatalities】
【Ahh, so they were already preparing, then she added a solo abyss run and the Black Tiger subjugation, resulting in this speed?】
【The timing of People's Honor Awards is often pretty mysterious, desu wa ne】
【It's something they can award whenever they're ready, yeah】
【Isn't this basically a declaration that the Cabinet backs ojou-sama now?】
【Even if they'd been considering the award for a while, this absurd schedule obviously means the PM forced some major adjustments into his immediate calendar...】
【So after the police, ojou-sama now has the Cabinet backing her too...】
【↑You've got the power relationship backward, heeey!?】
【A Cabinet collab after the Metropolitan Police collab, LMAO】
【Deciding to award her is one thing, but holding the ceremony less than two weeks after the solo deep-layer conquest stream is much too fast, desu waa!?】
The People's Honor Award alone was major news, but what drew particular attention on message boards and social media was its speed.
Ordinarily, the prime minister's schedule and all sorts of other arrangements had to be considered. As people online pointed out, regardless of the achievement, a ceremony less than two weeks after the decision would be unthinkable.
There were broadly two reasons behind this extraordinary schedule.
The first was that after Karin stopped the dungeon collapse with zero fatalities, plans to grant her the People's Honor Award had already been progressing quite positively. Various preparations, including consideration of the commemorative gift, had been decided early on.
The second—or rather, despite the complicated circumstances, by far the greatest reason—was that the principle completely banning minors from exchanging dungeon materials for money could not be changed immediately.
The government desperately wanted to secure the many extraordinary materials Karin Yamada would presumably bring back. It also wanted to relax, under certain conditions, the often-criticized iron rule that "minors are prohibited in principle from taking materials out and exchanging them for money." However...
If the abyssal materials Karin Yamada would bring back in massive quantities suddenly flooded the market, enormous chaos was inevitable.
Furthermore, Karin's existence alone had a major influence on international affairs. If huge quantities of abyssal materials began circulating with Japan at their center, foreign countries currently keeping quiet out of wariness of Karin would surely not remain silent. No matter how much power Karin possessed to overthrow a nation, she was still only an individual. A major increase in the power of Japan as a whole would be a threat on a different vector and provoke its neighbors far too greatly.
Of course, the ideal arrangement would be to export abyssal materials through Japan, simultaneously earning foreign currency and soothing other countries' dissatisfaction and caution. But amid the ongoing chaos of replacing Dungeon Bureau personnel and explaining matters to foreign governments, there was no way such arrangements could be made overnight. For the time being, lifting the ban on minors taking materials out had to be postponed.
Besides, Karin Yamada was guaranteed to start bringing back enormous quantities of abyssal materials in less than four years anyway. Please, at least give us a little more time to prepare for that. Help us. Grant us at least that much of a reprieve, please... Such were the true feelings of the government's upper ranks.
But that naturally invited expected public criticism: if the restriction wasn't relaxed even for somebody as abnormally strong as Karin, then what was it for? To mitigate that criticism as much as possible, the government wanted to begin by at least presenting the People's Honor Award and demonstrating its support for Karin Yamada.
Naturally, a large part of the purpose was also to convey the gratitude that could presently be offered to Karin Yamada, who had stopped the dungeon collapse with zero casualties and contributed beyond measure to purging dangerous domestic elements. In any case, several political factors converged, and Karin agreed despite the abrupt schedule, making this extraordinarily speedy ceremony possible.
—There were all sorts of circumstances behind it, but the recipient herself had not the slightest room to think about such complicated matters. On the day of the ceremony, Karin was more nervous than ever before.
"Hoooh, hoooh..."
The Prime Minister's Official Residence.
In the ceremony hall, where a vast press corps and attendees stood before the national flag and a golden folding screen, Karin was deathly pale and groggy. She was rigid with tension, making the breathing noises of a dying tanuki.
(Wh-what IS this, desu no...!? Is this truly reality!? My image of the People's Honor Award is that it's given to incredible people who leave their names in history—I still feel completely unworthy...!? Also, the prime minister-sama is actually a real person!?)
The call from the Cabinet Secretariat after Honoka's and the daily news coverage should have made the award feel real and given her time to prepare herself. But the moment she found herself diagonally across from the actual prime minister, that preparation evaporated. Her heart was pounding as if an insane drummer were rampaging inside it.
The ceremony was being streamed both on the Prime Minister's Official Residence channel and simultaneously on Karin's. Combined, the two channels were approaching ten million concurrent viewers.
【Karin ojou-sama is more nervous than ever before lmao】
【Naturally, she's even more nervous than during the Metropolitan Police collab lmaooo】
【Ojou-sama, your face is looking dreadful!】
【That is NOT a face you show the prime minister!】
【I wish she'd shown even one-tenth this tension when entering the abyss...】
【Also, a frilly dress before the suited Cabinet members and gold screen is truly LMAO】
【Well, to ojou-sama, it's more formal than a uniform or kimono...】
【Besides Karin ojou-sama, the only people who could get away with that ridiculous outfit at a formal ceremony are Akihiro Miwa or Tetsuko Kuroyanagi】
The comment section was united in heckling Karin's extreme nervousness and outfit.
Ordinarily, the guardian or relevant party attending alongside a recipient might have eased their nerves, but—
"Ugh, that problem child is receiving such a distinguished award... But why am I attending a place like this...? I suppose it can't be helped, since Yamada's parents have already passed away... I-I feel so nervous I'm going to puke..."
In place of Karin's guardian and Mafuyu, who did not appear in public, Karin's homeroom teacher had been selected to attend. Her emotions were a wreck between nerves and joy at her problem child's achievement. She appeared useless. If anything, she looked likely to puke before Karin did.
As this went on, the ceremony began.
"We will now begin the People's Honor Award ceremony. Prime Minister Kongouji, please come forward."
Prime Minister Kongouji, a face known to every citizen and number one on the (unofficial) ranking of politicians who looked strong, approached the microphone first.
"Karin Yamada-dono."
"H-hyeees!"
Called next by the master of ceremonies, Karin leapt to her feet with a shrill response, stirring up a small gust around her as she took her place before the prime minister.
The security officers nearby—all above level 2000—twitched their cheeks slightly at the force. But even when nervous, Karin's movements would never harm those around her, and the prime minister began reading the certificate without flinching.
"Certificate of Commendation. Karin Yamada-dono. Through extraordinary effort and exceptional strength of spirit, you stopped a dungeon collapse without a single casualty and achieved the historic worldwide feat of crossing the deep layers of a high-difficulty dungeon alone. By employing your outstanding strength for the sake of others and accomplishing a historic triumph, you have profoundly moved and inspired many citizens, brought bright dreams and hopes to society, and sent a powerful message in this dungeon society. Therefore, in recognition of these achievements, we present you with the People's Honor Award. Prime Minister Takeshi Kongouji."
"Th-th-thank you vewy much, desu no...!"
FLASH-FLASH-FLASH!
Amid countless bursts from the cameras, Karin accepted the certificate in both rigid hands.
【Did she REALLY give the people nothing but inspiration, courage, dreams, and hope, though?】
【Add laughter and chaos, terror and horror】
【Those are way too unsuitable for the certificate...】
【Cut it out! The bureaucrats who wrote that certificate surely had to restrain themselves from adding despair and nightmares, overtime and endless nights (night shifts)!】
【Also not one single mention of the abyss or Black Tiger, LMAO】
【They REALLY couldn't put those on the certificate!】
【Not only the public agencies and major media, but not even a single trashy tabloid has mentioned her solo abyssal incursion, and it's hilarious (not hilarious)】
【Why is a plain award ceremony already packed with this many things to mock!?】
【Can't be helped. Ojou-sama ate the Joke-Joke Fruit and became a Human Made Entirely of Punchlines】
【It's affecting her surroundings now, so isn't that a Paramecia awakening!?】
【Superhuman type (literally a genuine superhuman)】
After receiving a commemorative shield, Karin stood with the prime minister before the cameras at the master's instruction.
A few minutes had been set aside for a conversation with the prime minister.
As if to ease the rigid Karin's nerves, Prime Minister Kongouji showed a gentle smile at odds with his formidable name.
"My sincere congratulations today. In fact, I watched your activities during the dungeon collapse and your deep-layer conquest stream. I might even call myself a fan, since I often watch your videos between official duties. It is an honor to meet Karin ojou-sama, who fought with the fury of a lion."
"Y-you watched my videos!? Hya—wh-wawa—it is an honor for me to meet Prime Minister Ojou-sama too, desu wa!"
【What is a Prime Minister Ojou-sama!?】
【Stop lmaooo. Don't make me laugh out of nowhere lmaooo】
【The PM called her ojou-sama, and she reflexively called him ojou-sama back...】
【Is she a slightly intelligent parrot?】
【Even the MC and security guards are laughing a little!】
【Could you stop suddenly turning the People's Honor Award ceremony into another event where we're not allowed to laugh!?】
【So even the prime minister checks ojou-sama's streams...】
【The prime minister checking Karin ojou-sama's streams already counts as official duty, doesn't it? (In the sense of monitoring a strategic weapon's movements)】
The comments accelerated at words Karin blurted out in such a nervous state that even she hardly understood what she was saying. Except for Karin, the mood in the ceremony hall also relaxed a little.
Prime Minister Kongouji gave the rigid girl a rather natural smile, but soon regained his serious expression. In a way, the main subject started here.
"Had we properly fulfilled our responsibilities, Karin ojou-sama, a minor, would never have been exposed to that danger. Yet despite this, you even gave us the opportunity to purge a problematic clan and the environment that enabled it. As prime minister, I feel responsible and painfully aware of our inadequacy. I apologize for saying this on such an occasion, but I am deeply sorry. And thank you."
"Fweh? Ah, oh, well, it's already in the past. I regret that it troubled my acquaintances and viewers, but Black Tiger-sama itself wasn't a threat at all, so I am perfectly fine, desu wa!"
"I-I see..."
【The prime minister's face is twitching a little lmao】
【Well yeah. Before evidence even entered the picture, they were afraid that a raid or arrests might cause collateral damage or make that strongest-class national clan go guerrilla, and she counter-crushed them without a scratch—then talks like she just took care of some pests】
【Genocide Ojou-sama isn't even trying to overturn the image, LMAO】
【No, ojou-sama is so nervous she doesn't understand what she's saying, look at her face!】
【If anything, she can barely hear what the prime minister is saying and is answering on reflex, desu wa yo!】
【I thought they couldn't put Black Tiger on the certificate, but he mentioned it here】
【It isn't all the current prime minister's fault, but somebody has to take responsibility, yeah】
【Black Tiger is confessing with frightening enthusiasm, and they say personnel inside the Dungeon Bureau are being replaced at high speed, so the PM seems pretty serious】
【Ojou-sama's influence is absurd all over again, isn't it?】
【I mean, if a nuclear weapon had a mind and went out for walks, "influential" wouldn't begin to cover it...】
【Thank goodness Karin ojou-sama is a good girl...】
【If only she could also distinguish anime from reality, she'd be perfect...】
Prime Minister Kongouji had personally experienced Karin's absurdity and regarded her for a moment like something dangerous, but quickly cleared his throat and straightened himself.
"However, even if it was nothing of consequence to you, we are sincerely grateful and remorseful. This is not precisely because of that, but for this People's Honor Award, we have decided to present you with a somewhat unusual commemorative gift."
"An unusual commemorative gift?"
Through her fog of nerves, Karin suddenly remembered.
(Ahh, come to think of it, I vaguely recall them asking whether I would accept a commemorative gift too... I was too nervous to remember properly, but there was something about a special video... W-well, whatever it is, it seems this conversation with the prime minister-sama where I haven't understood a thing is finally over. If I've passed the greatest hurdle, all I have to do now is receive that gift!)
Karin returned to her chair. Her head finally began to work somewhat normally, and she breathed in relief. But...
"Today's commemorative gift takes the form of a video. Before we give Karin ojou-sama the data, everyone, please turn your attention to the screen over there."
The moment every attendee looked toward the screen prepared in advance—
"...Fweh?"
Karin's eyes widened blankly.
As soon as the video began, an anime song that had no business playing in the Prime Minister's Official Residence started to ring through the hall.
Dungeon Alive's original opening theme.
And on-screen, with that fiery song playing in the background, was a female character holding a teacup.
She was a dignified yet Elegant ojou-sama, distinguished by a deep crimson dress, blue eyes, and beautiful wavy golden hair—
"Good evening, everyone. And Karin Yamada ojou-sama, congratulations today. I, Setsuna Kiryuuin, have made my appearance after hearing that my darling junior, who looks up to me, accomplished an Elegant feat, desu wa."
"Gweh...!?"
The person moving with Elegant grace on-screen was one of Dungeon Alive's most popular characters: Setsuna Kiryuuin-sama herself.
Caught utterly by surprise as the woman she admired spoke her name directly, Karin let out the sound of a crushed frog. While her mind stopped completely, the comment section flowed at top speed in its place.
【!?】
【Hah!?】
【Wha!?】
【Eh, wait, seriously!?】
【New footage from the Dungeon Alive anime!?】
【No way!?】
【This surprise is TOO huge!?】
【The animation is buttery smooth lmao】
【Getting new footage of Setsuna-sama at movie quality NOW is insane!?】
【A direct message with new animation from your favorite character? I'm way too jealous!?!?】
【Is ojou-sama going to be okay!? Can she retain human form until the end!?】
【I already can't, desu wa (POP!)】
【Veteran Setsuna-sama fans who weren't even the direct recipients of the message are overloading and bursting all over the country, desu waa!】
【Are they Insect Warriors turned into nasty fireworks?】
Apparently the broadcast feed had switched to the video as it began, and the comment section filled with screams.
Yes. The commemorative gift for this People's Honor Award was a special short film made exclusively for Karin by reassembling the anime's original staff.
The staff whose minds Karin had burned during the dungeon-collapse incident had already been discussing behind the scenes whether they could do something for her. Then came the government's request and budget. With the staff's motivation breaking through the heavens, the video had been completed at an unbelievable speed, even allowing for its short-film length.
"To hear that you, who admire me, protected the people and accomplished a feat that lifted their spirits fills me with heartfelt pride. It appears I did not misjudge you when I bestowed that hair ornament, desu wa ne."
"Ah... wa... hawa...!"
The real Setsuna-sama had spoken Karin's name and praised her, leaving her completely frozen as the video continued.
Setsuna Kiryuuin clenched her fist and delivered her final message.
"You are a truly magnificent explorer, desu wa. With that Elegant heart unchanged, I look forward to the day you reach the same 'heights' as us, desu no. Though I, too, must further hone my technique and spirit if I am to remain the object of your admiration... The refinement of one's fists never ends. While placing our lives first, let us both continue training toward the heights where these fists may pulverize anything and everything! Keep doing your best with your Elegant streams. Karin Yamada ojou-sama, whom I have acknowledged!"
【!?】
【Setsuna-sama, what outrageous thing did you just slip into that lovely message!?】
【Don't the "heights" Setsuna-sama means involve pulverizing the pit, far beyond even the abyss!?】
【She's trying to make Karin ojou-sama, already a monster, into an even bigger monster, lmaooo!】
【Tamago-sensei, excuse me!? You're famous for carefully supervising EVERY collaboration, so you obviously checked this one too, didn't you!?】
【You gave her perfectly sensible advice in your first superchat! Nooo!】
¥50,000 @motimotimotimoti
Eh... but that's exactly what Setsuna-sama would say...
【I see... then it can't be helped...】
【A model creator who won't permit the government itself to misinterpret her character (blank stare)】
【The world trembles again for the sake of accurate characterization】
【Tamago-sensei was hidden behind Karin ojou-sama until now, but she's crazy in a completely different direction, LMAO】
【This is the person who ignored the operatives harassing her and silently kept drawing support art for Karin ojou-sama】
【Well, there is no way somebody capable of weekly manga serialization still has all their screws...】
【Hot-blooded slander against weekly manga artists】
【Tamago-sensei aside, did the government staff not supervise this!?】
【Maybe something got missed because of the rushed schedule, or maybe production started back after the dungeon collapse, when they thought urging her onward was only barely still safe...】
【Possibility: Ojou-sama is already too much of a deterrent, so the government has given up and decided she may as well go all the way】
【The venue is getting a little restless, so this could be an accident made of ALL the above...】
【They were dealing with the solo abyssal-floor-1 clear, the item-box material, and Black Tiger's disappearance. One little oversight is understandable...】
【W-well, it's better than Karin ojou-sama thinking, "Something about this Setsuna-sama is strange..." and feeling a little sad during her celebration...】
【I too once believed the People's Honor Award was the government putting a collar on ojou-sama】
【They put a collar on her, all right. One enchanted with boosts to every stat, a colossal motivation increase, and doubled growth speed】
【LMAO】
【Also, is Karin ojou-sama okay!? That super-high-quality video and message were much longer than expected—is she alive!? She's been really quiet!】
While the comment section erupted in every possible sense—
"Ah, ah, ah..."
Karin had stared at Setsuna-sama's message without blinking once. Several seconds after the video ended, her entire body started trembling.
"Ah... hawa."
POP! SLIP—SPLAT.
As though her brain had overheated after exceeding its full processing capacity, she collapsed from her chair and fell flat on the floor.
"Sh-she's dead..."
Karin's homeroom teacher murmured at the bizarre display.
"W-wait!? Karin ojou-sama, are you all right!?"
"I told them the video needed to be less stimulating... Ah, obviously this much won't do anything to her body, so just carry her somewhere quiet. If there is an attack, she'll automatically wake up when she senses murderous intent."
Mitsuki and Honoka, who had secretly attended outside the camera's view, Mafuyu with her face concealed, and the nearby security officers all hurried over. Thus the ceremony ended in a bustle, with a punchline profoundly unbecoming of an award ceremony.
【Her teacher's deeply serious declaration of death, LMAO】
【Setsuna-sama knocked out that monster ojou-sama with nothing but her voice (message), lmaooo!】
【As expected of one of the strongest characters in the series, capable of charging to the pit alone!】
【Victory by voice alone? Is this the hypnosis bat fight?】
【This makes Setsuna-sama's voice actress the strongest person in the world】
The comment section remained wildly excited in a strange direction to the very end.
Afterward, Mika Kikunojou, the voice actress who played Setsuna Kiryuuin, became something of an internet meme as "the world's strongest voice actress," "the woman who defeated an abyss-class monster with her voice alone," and "the final weapon against Karin ojou-sama." This brought her another rise in acting opportunities, but that is a story for another time.
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
And so, while some unknown person from the message board is trying to meet Karin, I intend to intersperse a few looser stories—something like an after-story, or the aftereffects of the solo deep-layer conquest. The deep-layer arc was simply too high-calorie, desu wa!
(Incidentally, even if Karin ojou-sama had declined the honor award, she would presumably still have received the special video courtesy of the staff [and government funding], and would have been knocked out either way, desu no.)
※I also got a few questions: it appears Kakuyomu's rankings are determined by the combined number of stars and followers. (Page views and support hearts presumably aren't reflected. Those figures simply make the author happy and indicate which stories readers found more enjoyable, desu wa ne!)
So if you enjoyed it, rating it with stars and following will make it even easier for the ojou-sama to reach more people, which would make me happy, desu wa ne!