chapter05 · 128-ep128
Episode 121: The Kind of Curse You Can Never Escape Once You Get Involved
"Messing with Karin Yamada is dangerous... No matter how you look at it, it's dangerous..."
Some time after the backlash from Kisaragi Dungeon's collapse incapacitated her subordinates—
Yoko had somehow secretly transported them to an underworld doctor she knew and kept them alive. Finally able to look reality in the face again, she muttered with a horrified expression.
No, she'd known from the start that Karin Yamada was dangerous.
But everything had a limit.
Not only had Karin identified an escape method anyone could use, but she'd pulverized the other-dimensional dungeon itself with her fist, without so much as using the spatial-magic equipment she'd presumably made from an abyssal boss. Then the backlash(?) incapacitated Yoko's subordinates far away. From an enemy's perspective, Karin's very existence had become a horror story. Stop casually discovering functions not even the developers know about.
"This is impossible... If I interfere any further, something terrible is absolutely going to happen... The likelihood that it'll impede the plan is extremely high, but at this point, I'd better change my fundamental approach."
Having seen her subordinates remotely cursed to death (they weren't dead), Yoko sensed and became convinced that directly eliminating Karin was not merely impossible—it would endanger Yoko herself.
Indeed. Until now, they had been far too fixated on eliminating Karin Yamada.
The objective of their sabotage force was, ultimately, to complete the invasion plan.
In other words, so long as that monster's continued existence did not interfere with the plan's final stage, they had no problem.
If completing the plan let them destroy that detestable 'seal,' Karin Yamada would cease to be a threat, and ruling this world would become easy.
The reason they considered Karin Yamada dangerous was her good nature and combat power.
In other words, it was extremely likely she could prevent the 'wide-area destruction in Japan' required during the invasion plan's completion.
In that case, they only had to prepare to lure Karin Yamada and the Dungeon Queen away from Japan on the day when every other preparation was complete. Meanwhile, they could focus further on their 'current dungeon research' and ensure they could overwhelm the country with enough numbers that even Karin Yamada's hands would not suffice.
Yes, it was simple.
That would be far more constructive than challenging the impossible task of eliminating a monster like her.
...Well, even that would be extraordinarily difficult. They'd concluded that early elimination was their only choice because Karin Yamada could grow even more powerful while their research—only now truly able to begin after completing the groundwork—progressed... But was there anything in the world more difficult than eliminating Karin Yamada with the cards they currently held? No, there was not. (Rhetorical.)
"Well, 'the invasion sabotage force's No. 2 operative assigned to Japan' has more experience in dungeon research than I do, so if I focus only on that, it'll be difficult to make the achievements my own... but how I maneuver from this point will decide that. Securing ample funding, controlling how matters are reported... There are endless ways to claim a subordinate's accomplishments as my own."
Besides, perhaps because 'that person' had fallen into a slump, they had produced no significant results for the past several years. In contrast, after laying the foundations by expanding the Inukai Group and sabotaging Japan's national power, they could now begin focusing on research in earnest. It was far easier for Yoko herself to produce results than it had been before. Whatever else, focusing on dungeon research was unquestionably a hundred times better than trying to eliminate Karin Yamada.
Furthermore, progressing the dungeon research required for the plan would surely generate all kinds of by-products that could lead to Karin Yamada's elimination. Probably.
Therefore, there was only one possible policy from now on: focus entirely on research.
That was the sole path offering any possibility of glory.
After reaching that conviction, Yoko Inukai addressed the close aide standing beside her—a subordinate who also served as vice president of Inukai Industries.
"For the time being, I'll be spending more time at the hidden dungeon in F City—or rather, the 'laboratory.' Inukai Industries is running smoothly, so I'll claim health problems and leave you as my acting replacement for now. Directly tailing Karin Yamada is suicide, so have subordinates monitor her streams and social media. Inform me if she makes any move we cannot ignore. The mere sight of that dress makes me feel sick..."
At this point, she would advance the research no matter what it took and tear apart the country where Karin Yamada lived. Harboring that pitch-black vow of revenge, Yoko Inukai began moving with firm resolve toward the laboratory that had once produced Kisaragi Dungeon by accident and would surely create many more deviant magical technologies in the future.
※
"Umm... Good day to you all, desu no."
The day after Karin pulverized Kisaragi Dungeon and escaped—
She streamed in her usual dress.
But she looked visibly dejected.
"Um, well, once again. I am truly sorry for making everyone worry yesterday, desu wa.
"Naturally, this includes the tremendous commotion that brought the police and even Sharie-sama to the scene, but causing all of you such anxiety was as far from Elegant as an act can be. Making you appropriately nervous through combat is part of the appeal of dungeon streaming and Elegant battles... but I shall be sure not to make such a careless mistake again, desu no."
【One second into the stream, and it's painfully obvious Best friend-chan or somebody scolded her. Lmao】
【Well, I mean, she deserved to be scolded for yesterday lololol】
【How strange. I can see the placard even though it isn't hanging from her neck. Lmao, desu wa】
【Another scolded-dog-caught-raiding-the-fridge stream is seriously lol】
【The cycle between scolded-dog streams is way too short, desu wa lololol】
【Only on Ojou-sama's channel can you watch someone apologize despite pulverizing a vicious irregularity and establishing(?) a strategy against it!】
Indeed. Afterward, just as the viewers predicted, Karin received a thorough scolding from Mafuyu, who had been extremely worried while watching the stream (though she did not show it on her face). Mafuyu had felt confident that Karin would probably be fine, but Kisaragi Dungeon was a first-class apparition so severe that the dungeon-advanced nation of America spearheaded a full-scale cover-up. Karin also spent a comparatively long time without clearly saying she'd found an escape, so even Mafuyu had been on edge.
As Mafuyu put it: "You obviously aren't responsible for encountering an irregularity, but that carelessness was unacceptable." Karin had absolutely no excuse and deeply reflected on her actions.
And so, just like when she charged into the abyssal layers, she opened the next stream with a formal apology.
That said, Karin's carelessness had resulted from concentrating her detection abilities to an unprecedented degree so she could help other people escape if they were ever trapped. Moreover, although its reproducibility remained unconfirmed, she truly did establish an escape method, then pulverized the dangerous irregularity and returned safely. For those reasons, the viewers' reactions were overwhelmingly positive.
And those were not the only reasons Karin's apology was so readily accepted.
【If you're safe, then everything's fine!】
【Everything is fine, desu wa】
【Nothing matters more than Ojou-sama's safety, desu wa!】
【It was certainly bad for the heart, but all's well that ends well, desu no!】
【Even so, please be more careful in the future!】
【One way or another, Ojou-sama created a sales boom for us, so I've got no complaints, desu wa!】
【The way dungeon-streaming cameras are sold out across the board thanks to that broadcast is seriously Lmao】
【If someone encounters THAT and yesterday's escape method doesn't work, having streaming equipment means Ojou-sama might detect an escape route through the video. That's the idea, lololol】
【Yamadaaa! Our cameras are selling like crazy in this boom! Thanks, Yamadaaa!】
【It's seriously lol that instead of a temporary increase, they're selling fast enough to become essential explorer gear】
【One stream is increasing camera demand not only in Japan but worldwide. What kind of earth-shattering disaster IS she? lololol】
【This might seriously become the catalyst for every explorer carrying a streaming camera, reducing crime inside dungeons lololol】
【This ojou-sama destroys common sense and restores public order every second】
【She's already that kind of god】
【A god of destruction and creation... Shiva Yamada, perhaps?】
Indeed. Karin encountering Kisaragi Dungeon on her channel and teaching an escape method had now created a surge in demand throughout the dungeon world.
Historically, explorers who did not stream rarely carried recording equipment.
With interpersonal trouble possible inside dungeons, keeping a camera running like a dashcam did offer benefits. But cameras frequently broke in fierce battles on floors where explorers maintained no safety margin, and the continual costs and hassle of replacement outweighed those advantages. Their poor durability made constant filming impractical, and explorers still had smartphones in emergencies.
But yesterday's stream had transformed the situation.
Much of the impact had resulted from the misunderstanding caused by Karin's carelessness, but "the malformed dungeon that made even Karin Yamada wander for more than an hour" left a powerful impression. Demand exploded for dungeon-streaming cameras that could record video while leaving both hands free in an emergency—floating cameras capable of filming from an overhead perspective, sturdy body cams like the one Kagerou had worn, and similar devices.
One original reason countries promoted dungeon streaming was to increase the number of explorers, but that wasn't all. Streams gathered information about sudden irregularities and created the possibility that conditions inside dungeons, where security cameras could not be installed, were constantly being broadcast worldwide—thus reducing crime within them. In that sense, Karin had provided at least some benefit in every direction, and her apology was quickly accepted.
"H-hearing all of you say that is a relief, desu wa."
Karin looked at the comment section and sighed in relief.
"That said, I am truly reflecting on my actions this time, desu no. So, you see, after the incident yesterday left me curious, I researched various urban legends about dungeons—"
Though Karin had finished apologizing, she straightened herself and continued, "That aside."
"There are far more stories like Kisaragi Dungeon than I realized, desu no. A great deal of internet information must be questionable, but there are scattered rumors within Japan that sound slightly dangerous."
【There certainly are quite a few, desu wa ne】
【Dungeons are enclosed spaces with tons of mysteries, so all kinds of rumors have existed for ages】
【They're the perfect environment for creating ghost stories】
【They're one of the standard genres on scary-story forums, desu wa ne】
【Still, some things thought to be fiction turned out to be real irregularities, so you can't always laugh them off】
【Like Kisaragi Dungeon yesterday】
【That one was so abnormal I felt sure it had to be fake...】
【Like the severed head in Southern Chiba Dungeon, or the female ghost calling for help in Kushiro Dungeon. The news later reported that they were vicious enhanced variants, desu wa ne...】
【There was also that old ghost story about a woman in a dress carrying a bat in a middle-layer Tokyo dungeon】
【↑Someone genuinely posted that around two years ago. Lmao】
【See? This ojou-sama IS classified as an apparition!】
The topic of dungeon ghost stories stirred up some excitement in chat.
Amid it all, Karin said, "And now for the main point."
"So, while I would not call this atonement for yesterday, I would like to incorporate streams where I visit dungeons with such rumors, investigate the truth, and—if anything truly exists—discover a countermeasure as I did for Kisaragi Dungeon, desu no!"
She clenched a fist and made the lively declaration.
【Eh?】
【Eh?】
【Eh?】
As the unexpected words made the viewers' eyes widen, Karin continued.
"I never believed such internet stories before, but if cases like Kisaragi Dungeon exist, they cannot all be entirely fictional, desu no. And now that I know such incidents truly occur, even someone as inexperienced as I am should Elegantly help resolve them!"
Additionally, one concern with streaming was videos growing repetitive. Mafuyu had long advised Karin to add some variety to her Elegant broadcasts so more viewers could enjoy them for longer. Thus, Karin had proposed a new exploration policy that also contributed to society.
"Well, if a rumor truly involves an irregularity, the guild or police will surely have addressed it before someone as inexperienced as me, so almost every trip will likely come up empty. I also wish to retry my interrupted Elegant deep-layer revenge soon. This merely means that on some future streams, where possible, I may attempt Elegant conquests under the concept of investigating rumors."
Karin watched for the viewers' reaction to the new streaming policy she hoped to incorporate.
The viewers appeared slightly taken aback for a moment, then—
【Does that not sound rather good?】
【For an instant I wondered whether it's safe, but after soloing abyssal floor 1 and defeating Kisaragi Dungeon, it's a bit late to ask that of Karin ojou-sama!】
【Karin ojou-sama touring haunted dungeons!?】
【This basically means Karin ojou-sama will charge into horror spots】
【Apparition-san: "Eh? Eh?"】
【So there's a chance of another battle of apparitions... is that it!?】
【I want to see a stream that throws Godzilla into a haunted location, desu wa!】
【A stream where Godzilla vs. Sadako might break out? Nothing BUT demand!】
【I bet she'll encounter another dangerous irregularity!】
【No irregularity more dangerous than Ojou-sama exists, so surely everything will be fine!】
【Well, just as Ojou-sama said, the guild will probably have dealt with any real rumor first. She likely won't encounter anything THAT dangerous, so this should be relaxing to watch】
【↑Hey, stop raising B-horror-movie flags, desu wa】
【My heart can't withstand being shown abnormal growth every single time, so a laid-back conquest of a haunted dungeon could provide nice variety, desu wa!】
【(What does "laid-back" mean in a haunted dungeon...?)】
【If you want to retry the deep layers soon, Ojou-sama, you could kill two birds with one stone by visiting a high-difficulty dungeon with a ghost story!】
【That could work too, desu wa ne!】
Overall, the viewers reacted positively to the new strategy.
They trusted Karin's strength and encouraged her, reasoning that any location visited often enough to develop rumors probably went no deeper than the lower layers and would be fairly safe. And if Ojou-sama might pulverize a ghost-story-like irregularity or spread information about it, that could even reduce explorer accidents!
"My, there seems to be more demand than expected, desu wa ne...! In that case, to announce my new exploration policy, I shall immediately hold my next Elegant stream in a dungeon with one of these rumors, desu no!"
Karin declared energetically.
Moreover, among the comments flowing at speeds impossible for an ordinary person to perceive, she discovered one saying, "If you want to retry the deep layers soon, Ojou-sama, you could kill two birds with one stone by visiting a high-difficulty dungeon with a ghost story!"
(Indeed! Its monster appearance patterns will differ, but if I fail to discover an irregularity matching the rumor, I could switch to an Elegant conquest of its high-difficulty deep layers! In that case, among the strangely rumored dungeons I briefly researched, I should challenge one of the few possessing abyssal layers... The nearest to Tokyo is Head Mound Dungeon in F City, which seems ideal, desu wa ne!)
Revealing the dungeon in advance would be unwise, so Karin did not say its name. Instead, she privately decided which dungeon would next receive an Elegant thrashing.
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When you think of haunted locations, names like A City and H Castle Ruins come to mind, desu wa ne! So I tried using that kind of notation. (Dark Gathering is entertaining, desu no.)
Incidentally, until now, Ojou-sama has been too broke to travel and has primarily entered dungeons within Tokyo, desu wa. Now that she's monetized, it seems her range of activity will expand. She still isn't used to spending large sums (by Ojou-sama standards), so there will surely be limits.