Chapter 26, It’s Already Unlocked!

Translator: Lizz

  

It’s the afternoon of the following day. I’m swaying on a train, heading toward a certain city.

 

I’m going there because of Aoi-chan’s promise to introduce me to her Guild.

 

“Ow, ow, ow…”

 

I drank too much. Rena’s been messaging me more than she used to; maybe she’s been feeling worn out lately.

 

But once you’re out in society, everyone probably struggles with stress. Is it really ok for me to continue like this?

 

I’ve gone to a few job interviews, but I keep getting rejected. Is it my background, my personality… or both?

 

Ugh… just thinking about it makes me feel sick.

 

Anyway, I need to shift my mindset. After a while, I arrive at the station and step out through the ticket gate into a sea of people.

 

Ah, I used to commute through places like this, packed into crowded trains.

 

As I recall those memories, I finally reach the Guild.

 

The sign on the building says “Explorer’s Guild Rebellion.” Sounds like the kind of name that might start an uprising.

 

“Long time no see!”

 

“Yeah, it’s been a while! Man, this Guild is seriously fancy.”

 

I step into a building so massive it feels like a fortress, and reunite with Aoi-chan after a long time.

 

She’s wearing school uniform today, and I think any guy who gets to spend his youth with a girl this cute is seriously lucky. She’s got that overwhelming idol vibe.

 

“Yes! Actually, this place is full of really famous high-ranking members. I’m going to introduce Kagetora-san now.”

 

“Ah, okay. Thanks.”

 

After that, we head to the reception desk together, explain that I was referred here, and submit all the necessary forms.

 

“Please present your Explorer’s Card.”

 

“Sure. Here you go.”

 

“Thank you. I’ll go ahead and check it.”

 

After I hand my card to the cheerful receptionist, we wait for a while.

 

We’re in a place that feels like a hospital waiting room, but the flow of people is really something else.

 

Come to think of it, Aoi-chan seems to have a lot of things she’s curious about from my streams.

 

“There are so many words I don’t know in your streams, Kagetora-san, and I’m super curious!”

 

“Yeah, I’ve been hearing that a lot lately. But I don’t really know either. It’s just stuff the AI tells me.”

 

“You mean Miria-san, right?”

 

That’s right. Lately, people have been talking about AI Miria along with me. They say her voice is cute and beautiful, and she’s super reliable. AI these days is seriously amazing.

 

“For your next chat stream, would it be okay if I joined the chat too?”

 

“You’re coming? That’d be awesome. It’d really liven things up, and you’re totally welcome.”

 

“Thank you! By the way, has HypeCha been unlocked yet?”

 

“Oh, right… I haven’t unlocked it. Actually, I might not have even submitted the request.”

 

Crap! I suddenly remember something important I had completely forgotten.

 

HypeCha is short for Hyper Chat, also known as ‘donation’.

 

Basically, it’s a super helpful feature that lets people donate money in the chat, but it doesn’t get unlocked unless you have over a thousand subscribers.

 

And on top of that, you have to submit a request to unlock it. I totally forgot.

 

I even told Miria ‘I’ve gotta submit it today!’, but seriously, I’m so forgetful.

 

“So I guess we’ll have to wait until the next chat stream.”

 

“Yeah. I’ll submit it as soon as I get home… or maybe I’ll just do it now.”

 

I log into my Utube account on my phone. The application process is a huge pain, but it should be doable from mobile.

 

…Or so I thought, but there’s some weird icon next to my account name?

 

“Huh? What’s this?”

 

“Oh, it’s already unlocked! It looks the same as mine.”

 

Aoi-chan shows me the same screen on her white phone. She’s right, it’s the same.

 

“When did I submit the request? Wait… maybe Miria did it for me.”

 

“Wow, seriously? She can even do that?”

 

“Oh, that’s right… I remember now! She asked me, ‘Should I go ahead and submit it?'”

 

I was so sleepy at the time, I forgot I even asked her to do it.

 

“That’s amazing. That’s way too convenient!”

 

Aoi-chan looks totally blown away. Just then, the receptionist from earlier comes over with a slightly flustered expression.

 

“U-uhm, Kagetora-san, may I have a moment?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Something feels off, I think, as I head to the reception desk. The receptionist is staring at my Explorer’s Card with a flustered expression.

 

“Have you been affiliated with any invitation-only Guilds before?”

 

“No, I wanted to be, but I couldn’t.”

 

“Really… with this level of skill?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Your explorer rarity is different from the previous data.”

 

“Oh, yeah! It went up.”

 

“…It went… up??”

 

This surprises the receptionist somehow, but I don’t really understand why.

 

Anyway, it looks like they’re going to proceed with the process, but it’s going to take a bit more time. The atmosphere is getting tense, and they seem to have trouble staying calm.

 

When I return to my seat, Aoi-chan looks just as puzzled.

 

“That’s rare. I’ve never seen that receptionist so surprised.”

 

“I thought maybe she found some sketchy part of my history.”

 

“Huh? Do you have some kind of shady background?”

 

“No, nothing like that… I’ve just been unemployed for a while.”

 

It’s tough showing such a pathetic adult side in front of a student. But anyway, it looks like the registration is complete, and I’ve officially become a member of Rebellion.

 

“Congratulations! There are lots of kind people here, so I’m sure you’ll have a great time.”

 

“It’s all thanks to you, Aoi-chan. Really, thank you. Well, I guess I’ll—”

 

Just as I’m about to say I should head home, I suddenly feel an intense gaze burning into me!

 

Wh-what is it!? What’s going on?