Chapter 40, Michimune-Kun! What on Earth Is Going On?

Translator: Lizz

 

On a certain day, the Rebellion Guild is in an uproar.

 

In the Guild’s social space, several large TVs are set up, constantly streaming popular broadcasts.

 

Most of the time, these streams play as background noise, but one draws unprecedented attention. It’s Ryuga Kagetora’s stream.

 

“What is that dungeon?”

 

“Oh whoa, those monsters are obviously insane.”

 

“How does that explorer land hits so easily?”

 

“You can tell he’s getting stronger even in this short time. Who is he?”

 

“You don’t know? Kage Channel’s been number one on the Utube trending rankings forever.”

 

“Oh, so he’s that streamer! But I didn’t expect this level.”

 

Explorers are always looking for skilled partners to explore dungeons with.

 

Of course, they know about Kagetora too, but most think he’s just a passing trend and will fade from conversation soon.

 

But that’s not the case. Far from temporary, the exploration scene stays buzzing about him. Now, in Japan’s online world, almost no one doesn’t know Kage Channel.

 

The surprised explorers of Rebellion all start trying to get in touch with him.

 

Among the commotion is Aoi, who has interacted with him before.

 

She stares at the broadcast on the TV screen like a child, completely absorbed. Occasionally, she sends comments on his stream.

 

(This is the most exciting stream I’ve ever watched!)

 

She is with her friends, but her gaze stays fixed on the stream. And she thinks:

 

(I want to explore a dungeon with Kagetora-san. But… would I just be a burden?)

 

Aoi starts thinking constantly about what would happen if she explored with Kagetora.

 

At the same time, she worries she might just get in the way.

 

(I want to become like Kagetora-san too…)

 

Before she knows it, she has begun to admire him.

 

And she starts sending chat messages more often than before, her heart pounding each time.

 

◇

 

It’s almost nine o’clock.

 

On the ninth floor of a high-rise building in Tokyo, she wrestles with her PC. Most people have already left, but she still can’t go home.

 

“Rena, good work! You’re really pushing through.”

 

“Oh, Section Chief! Thanks for your hard work!”

 

“Sorry to drop this on you now, but if you don’t mind, could you prepare the materials for the next regular meeting? It’d be a big help if it’s done by tomorrow.”

 

“Sure. No problem at all.”

 

“You’re more serious than you look. Alright, I’m heading out. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

 

With those parting words, her boss quickly heads home.

 

(Damn it, if you think it’s tough, don’t dump work on me last minute.)

 

Rena Kirisame lets out a sigh, stands up from her chair, and stretches her body. As a first-year working adult, she’s doing well.

 

Ever since her first month, requests from her boss and other departments have kept piling up. It shows how much they trust her, but honestly, she’s starting to feel the fatigue.

 

(I need to blow off some steam… maybe grab a drink with Tora.)

 

Just as she’s about to send a message, she suddenly remembers the buzz on social media.

 

(That guy’s trending like crazy again today!)

 

She checks the news feed and, sure enough, Kagetora’s name is there. She knows he’s been going viral these past few days, but she’s surprised he’s still gaining traction.

 

(I never thought that Tora would get this famous. You really never know.)

 

Rena and Kagetora were classmates in college and stayed friends for four years.

 

At first, she didn’t pay him much attention. But one day, when she was being hassled by a shady old acquaintance, he stepped in to help her.

 

That moment sparked their connection, and for her, it was a turning point.

 

She remembers that time vividly. The guy was a well-known brawler in their hometown, and countless people had suffered at his hands.

 

Rena, who wanted nothing to do with him, ended up getting tangled with him by chance. At that moment, Kagetora, whom she barely knows, spoke up for her.

 

As expected, Kagetora got dragged into a fight, but a few minutes later, it was the guy who boasted about his fighting prowess crawling on the ground.

 

Then, when the police arrived, for some reason Kagetora pulled her along and they ran away together. Now, it’s become a fond memory.

 

(His name keeps getting bigger and bigger. Dungeons, huh… I really do want to explore with Tora at least once!)

 

After that, she forgets about work for a while and calls Kagetora. Though she bothers him, his reaction hasn’t changed since the old days.

 

For Rena, who feels a bit lost in the working world, that makes her really happy.

 

◇

 

“Damn it… damn it, damn it, damn it!”

 

Thud! Slamming his desk in frustration is Michimune, the President of Team Dead End.

 

Nothing is going right. The company is clearly in decline. Ai and Noel Arisugawa have made a complete mess of things.

 

Speaking of Noel Arisugawa, the female employee who had been aggressively promoting him has quietly resigned. Apparently, she used a resignation service.

 

But that’s not the issue right now. The Chairman has just called.

 

<Michimune-kun! What on earth is going on? What was that stream? Those girls are the face of our company! Isn’t this just a disgrace?>

 

“Ch-chairman, that was just a fluke. Ai wasn’t feeling well, that’s all. Normally, they’re—”

 

<Silence! I don’t care about their usual streams. This time, you’ve brought shame that can’t be wiped away. As the company’s representative! How do you plan to take responsibility? This will definitely lead to a major loss in revenue!>

 

The Chairman is furious. As the former President, he can clearly see the company’s poor condition. With no other solution in sight, he lashes out at his disappointing successor.

 

“I deeply apologize. However, we still have Dungeon Fest. I will make sure Ai and the others achieve great success this time. Surely, you understand the benefits of taking first place in each Dungeon Fest ranking, don’t you, Chairman?”

 

<Dungeon Fest, huh…>

 

“Yes. I, Michimune, swear I won’t fail a second time. Ai’s true strength is far beyond what you saw. She’ll be standing shoulder to shoulder with top-ranked players soon. Just a little more. Please be patient.”

 

<Alright, I’ll trust you. It’s in your hands.>

 

After hanging up the receiver, Michimune screams, “That damn old man!”

 

He’s already on the verge of losing his mind with rage.

 

But even now, the crisis keeps growing. Though he passionately talks to the Chairman about Ai and the others’ potential, the truth is, Michimune doesn’t trust them.

 

“At this rate… I need a move. I have to act.”

 

He must avoid the worst-case scenario – total collapse of the company.

 

At that moment, he suddenly remembers the man who’s been all over the online news.

 

“I guess I have no choice…”

 

This is the one move he never wanted to use. But for someone who’s drowning, he’s the one person he desperately needs.

 

Holding his head, Michimune sends a message to Kagetora, whose contact info he still hasn’t deleted.