ch21-ch40 · 039-ch38

Chapter 38

In a room at an S City hotel, Kagurazaka Chizuru, having been savoring a light doze in bed, was woken by the sound of someone knocking at her door.

She'd been watching footage of Hayasaka Toru over and over until around four in the morning, so she'd probably overslept quite a bit. Chizuru picked up her mobile device from beside her pillow and checked the time.

Eight forty-five in the morning.

An hour by which she was normally long awake. If she were at Anthem's base, she'd have finished her morning training and be about to step into the shower by now.

Thinking such thoughts, she snapped fully awake, got out of bed, and opened the door. The one who had been knocking was Mido Airi.

"Chizuru-chan, big news! Toru-san is on stream!"

"...What did you say?"

She was the type who woke up easily enough, but the meaning of Airi's words didn't register at first, and she found herself asking back. Looking, Airi had a mobile device clutched in her hand; she was presumably in the middle of watching that "stream."

For the time being, she let Airi into the room, and the saintess of healing magic connected her device to the hotel monitor with practiced familiarity, displaying the stream screen.

〈Once again, greetings to everyone! Thank you to all who came to this early morning stream! I am Kujo Reiko! Oh-ho-ho-ho!〉

An excessively loud voice rang from the speakers.

Chizuru also knew of this person—an A-rank explorer and dungeon streamer, the daughter of the Kujo zaibatsu. Kujo Reiko was smiling at the camera.

That in itself was neither here nor there.

The problem was that a table sat in the center of the screen, with Kujo Reiko on the left side, and Hayasaka Toru and the holy sword wielder Tia on the right.

"Toru-sama?! Why is Kujo's daughter with Toru-sama...?!"

"Wait, Chizuru-chan. I think they're about to explain that now. The stream just started. I came to wake you up as soon as I saw the advance notice for the stream."

"Th-That's... much appreciated. I'm sure I wouldn't have noticed Kujo doing something like this on my own..."

When it came to live streaming, Chizuru appeared in them through Anthem's activities, but she still didn't fully grasp how things worked. She'd been made to take SNS accounts too, but again, her understanding didn't quite reach that far.

〈Now then, since our viewers must be curious too, let's jump right in. Before me sit the two individuals currently massively trending: Toru-bro-sama and the holy sword wielder Tia-sama! Please look after us!〉

〈Uh... hey there.〉

〈Hey hey. I'm Tia. Oh, I can look at comments from Toru's phone screen, right? Hey, Toru. They're saying I'm 'cute'! Ehehe!〉

The person who had been right in front of her barely ten hours earlier was now doing a live stream broadcast to the entire world. Chizuru found it strange, but she felt the same way whenever Anthem's members appeared on stream too.

"Greetings, young lady~" "Wait it's actually Toru-bro" "Tia-chan is cute" "How did Ojou manage to contact Toru-bro between yesterday and today?"

Despite it being an early morning stream, the viewer count had already exceeded ten thousand. And this wasn't Anthem's stream—it was Kujo Reiko's. At this rate, it would probably reach thirty to fifty thousand viewers before long.

That was just how much attention Hayasaka Toru was drawing.

〈Viewers, you put me in a difficult spot saying things like that. Let me explain things in order, but first, as you all may know—yesterday, on A-rank explorer clan Anthem's stream, Toru-bro-sama and Tia-sama appeared. I was watching that footage as well.〉

"S City's 'Dungeon Rampage'" "That huge-ass hydra takedown was insane" "S-rank Ilseria was there too, so the attention was insane" "I'm an Ojou fan. Mido Airi's also my fave though"

〈And! I thought I absolutely had to meet Toru-bro-sama, and so I made this collaboration stream a reality! So this stream will be one where I chat about this and that with Toru-bro-sama! Dear viewers, if you have any questions, please write them within the bounds of common sense!〉

Kujo Reiko spoke with a loud voice, laughing cheerfully.

From her drill-shaped blonde hair—a style you'd hardly ever see in modern Japan—to her pale blue dress, she had a very unworldly air about her, yet there was, for some reason, a strangely endearing familiarity.

〈Uh... that said, Kujo-san? How exactly did you get here? From what I heard briefly, it sounded like you watched yesterday's stream and decided on a whim to come chat with me.〉

〈I knew about the S City 'Dungeon Rampage,' so I came by helicopter! As for how I found my way to Toru-bro-sama's location after that—trade secret!〉

〈Uh, right.〉

Toru's slightly distant expression and Tia's cheerful laughter made for a sharp contrast.

"The fact that she's calling him 'Toru-bro-sama' lol" "Butler didn't correct her I see" "Ojou's the type that once she inputs something, it takes time to correct" "She kept calling Gold Bear 'Old Bear'" "lmao"

〈First, regarding the reason I decided to hold this stream—I believe Toru-bro-sama is currently attracting attention from all over Japan... no, the entire world. There will probably be those who seek to use Toru-bro-sama. So, before the big powers start moving, I, Kujo Reiko, daughter of the Kujo zaibatsu, wished to ascertain Toru-bro-sama's personal intentions.〉

〈Big powers, huh.〉

〈You don't seem to have much of a grasp on it?〉

〈Uh... well. I was still a D-rank cleaner working a D-rank dungeon until just the other day—below even D-rank explorer—so I don't really have a sense of being under that kind of spotlight.〉

〈Were you not very familiar with Anthem, Toru-bro-sama?〉

〈Well, embarrassingly enough.〉

〈It's not my place to say, but they were raised as explorers with state support—elite explorers, so to speak. Their activities are recognized by the public through their streams, so in terms of recognition, they're at the top of Japan.〉

〈I'd seen them on TV and stuff, so I knew of them vaguely.〉

〈And Toru-bro-sama has come to the aid of that Anthem twice!〉

Kujo Reiko slapped the table and thrust her face close to Toru's. What an impertinent woman, Chizuru thought, furrowing her brow, but Airi, watching the stream beside her, showed no particular reaction.

〈I mean... I guess that's how it turned out...?〉

Rather than dissatisfaction or objection, Toru's tone sounded pretty indifferent. It couldn't be helped that Tia looked a little exasperated.

He was too unconcerned with his own achievements.

〈Yes, yes, indeed! In the previous Anthem stream, Saito Megumi-sama mentioned that an explorer's license... a provisional license had been issued. I'm sure a full license will be issued soon. So, Toru-bro-sama, I ask you. Will you be operating as an explorer going forward—?〉

〈Uh... well, I guess that's how it'll be. It's more of a social contribution to go into labyrinths, defeat monsters, and collect magic cores than being a cleaner at Sugai Dungeon, and frankly, it pays better than cleaning.〉

Toru's tone as he answered was very, very quiet. The answer itself was somewhat sarcastic, but that was probably just his personality.

Chizuru didn't know what kind of life Hayasaka Toru had lived. Just as Toru had no way of knowing what kind of life Chizuru had lived.

"lmao same" "but honestly tho" "if you can handle upper S-rank, you shouldn't be wasting time as a cleaner" "plus working silently for S City of all places..." "let's not do that on Ojou's stream" "Sasamori Takeshi, wonder what'll happen to him"

〈Let me say this to the viewers—the political future of S City is none of my concern. I get the sense Toru-bro-sama isn't very interested in that topic either, but what do you think?〉

〈Well, about that... yeah. I'm on the side that pays taxes, not the side that eats tax money.〉

〈What about you, Tia-sama? Will you enter labyrinths as an explorer alongside Toru-bro-sama? Or are you not particularly inclined?〉

〈If Toru goes into a labyrinth, I'll go with him. If Toru doesn't go, I won't either.〉

〈I see. Incidentally, my butler Joichiro initially hated going into labyrinths. And yet they're so fun... how strange.〉

"lmao" "there it is, Ojou's butler hardship stories" "poor guy's been dragged into Ojou's dungeon exploring since middle school"

〈Ahh, those are some bitter memories even now〉

A voice came from off-screen.

The tone was lightly flippant—it was Kujo Reiko's butler.

〈I apologize for the strange butler. Continuing the conversation—Toru-bro-sama is likely to face interference from various explorer clans, corporations, and the state going forward. I don't know for certain since I decided to take a helicopter here eight hours ago, but perhaps my father, the head of the Kujo family, may also wish to become acquainted with Toru-bro-sama.〉

Indeed—that was exactly right.

Even Chizuru, who was unfamiliar with this kind of political thinking, thought so. Hayasaka Toru had cut down an upper S-rank monster that even Ilseria couldn't instantly kill with a single swing of his blade.

This wasn't just—out of the ordinary.

Explorers were already out of the ordinary to begin with. This was several steps or more beyond even that. To put it bluntly, if Hayasaka Toru felt like it, he could probably massacre all of Anthem.

Would the world leave such a person alone?

There was no way.

〈Huh... is that so.〉

Toru's tone as he answered was far too casual.

As if he didn't acknowledge his own value at all.

"treating it like someone else's problem lmao" "I mean, you can't blame him for not imagining it when he was a normal guy till recently"

〈But! I think!〉

Kujo Reiko slammed the table and raised her voice. Toru and Tia looked genuinely surprised, which was a little unexpected to Chizuru. She'd thought he was unflappable in the face of most things.

Even after cutting down that hydra, Hayasaka Toru had made a face like it was someone else's business and complained to Tia.

Of course, not minding Chizuru's surprise at all, Kujo Reiko continued.

〈I watched Anthem's stream, and... I'm very sorry to say this, but Toru-bro-sama looked utterly bored! The labyrinth is! Dungeon exploration is! A fun thing! Of course exploration and its results contribute to humanity, but that's not the only reason we delve into labyrinths!〉

As she spoke, her excitement seemed to rise, and Kujo Reiko stood up on the spot, walking out of the camera frame.

Only her torso downward was visible on screen, and Toru looked up blankly at the standing Reiko.

〈If you're going to make such a bored face, Toru-bro-sama, you shouldn't listen to anyone's requests! You should delve into dungeons for yourself! For your own sake! No matter who asks what of you, no matter how much money they pile up, no matter what pretext they show you! You should not be moved by such things, Toru-bro-sama! Today, more than anything, I came to tell you this!〉

Since she was out of the camera frame, it was impossible to tell what kind of face Kujo Reiko was making as she spoke even louder than usual. But... Toru didn't stop her as she ranted loudly, and he didn't look displeased either. He wasn't making that bored face he'd made with Chizuru and the others.

〈——Because we already contribute to society simply by defeating monsters, helping to prevent Dungeon Rampages, and bringing various things back from labyrinths! Of course, as your explorer rank rises, you're obliged to respond when called upon during Dungeon Rampages and the like, but that doesn't mean you should dedicate your life to society—that's utterly ridiculous! I, Kujo Reiko, will not allow it!〉

What a—what a refreshing declaration.

As if she and the world were completely equal.

As if she had no inferiority whatsoever toward society.

No—they were equal, and she didn't.

Kujo Reiko sat back down with a plop, bringing her face level with Toru's.

And then, extending her right hand to the stunned Toru, she smiled beautifully and said,

〈Toru-bro-sama. Would you like to explore the labyrinth with me? The labyrinth is fun, you know. As your senior in dungeon exploration, I will teach you.〉

The labyrinth is fun?

Chizuru had never thought of it that way.

Dungeon exploration was duty. Having shown high magical affinity, Kagurazaka Chizuru was made to participate in a national project to train explorers. She considered it fortunate to have met Anthem's members. Being with them was fun, and it made her happy. Having Saito Megumi as her leader was Chizuru's pride.

But—it had never been fun.

The Kagurazaka swordsmanship becoming more and more absurd through magic—and becoming stronger by making it absurd—Chizuru... hated that.

"Chizuru-chan... are you okay?"

Airi, who had gently taken Chizuru's hand, said that.

If she was asking, then she must not look okay right now.

On the screen, after a moment of silence, Toru let out a wry laugh and extended his right hand to Kujo Reiko's right hand.

Watching them shake hands, Chizuru couldn't help but be aware of the black mud-like emotion boiling inside her chest.

A viscous liquid, simmering and bubbling—the sensation of it creeping thickly through her entire body. Her nose stung, and an unpleasant feeling like a round stone lodged in her throat. Even as her insides boiled, the tips of her fingers and toes grew cold.

This was—jealousy.

Ugly, selfish jealousy toward Kujo Reiko, the daughter of the Kujo zaibatsu.

I don't find it fun.

I want to shake hands with Hayasaka Toru like that too.

My god. My sword god. My—.

The ugliness of thinking such things made her want to vomit.

She was disgusted with herself for being like this.

〈Sure. I wouldn't mind learning from you. Likewise, nice to meet you.〉

On the screen, Hayasaka Toru smiled—just slightly.

Come to think of it, it was the first time she'd ever seen him smile.