Behind him, the desk suddenly exploded—he didn’t know what it was, but Kazamidori trembled, sweating profusely, thinking, “This is bad.”
He honestly didn’t know why it was bad. He just knew it was bad.
…No, he knew he shouldn’t have talked about being a spy, but he had to get through this somehow, because it was scary. Kazami rubbed his head against the floor of his apartment and apologized to his smartphone.
“I was ordered by the president to investigate Brother-san!”
“Reason?”
“I really don’t know! But our president—ah, the president of Re:Trys, Gouyoku Hoshio-san, he’s super greedy. He wants to collect everything he wants? Like a collector. And when he finds a streamer he’s interested in, he keeps hitting on them.”
“And listen to this, I got into debt because of him!
When I said I wanted to be a streamer, he told me to get good equipment first. Two million!
And I even got targeted by loan sharks, but the agency still hasn’t let me debut…
Well, I’m sure I’ll get a million channel subscribers as soon as I debut… Anyway!”
“I’m a victim too! So, what should I say, I’m sorry…!”
“Can you send me all the internal information you know about Re:Trys?”
“Yes! I’ll send it right away!”
In times like these, it’s best to just tell the truth!
So Kazami sent a list of the streamers belonging to Re:Trys that he knew.
Kazami’s skills were low, but he was talkative and friendly, and although his seniors found him annoying, they often took a liking to him, so he had connections.
“Oh, and Brother-san, President Gouyoku is hanging out with the ‘Gyokuryu Society.’ Do you know about the Gyokuryu Society?”
“Hmm. If my memory serves me correctly, they’re a fraud group that mainly operates within Dungeons… I wonder if it’s a good idea for a streaming agency to be connected to antisocial forces, even the rank and file know about it.”
“Well, they’re called the ‘Gyokuryu Society,’ but I don’t know everything about them…”
Since Dungeons were opened to the public, fraud and crime related to Dungeons have naturally been on the rise.
The obvious examples are “Dungeon hunting,” where people lie in wait for those who come to explore unpopular Dungeons and rob them of their equipment and items, and “transporting,” which involves trading illegal items.
The police and the Labyrinth Agency are also taking measures, but—in a world where individual skill, such as levels and Skills, is everything, it’s not hard to imagine that cracking down on them is not easy.
“Do you know where they are?”
“I don’t have it on hand right now… but, if it’s okay with you, I can tell you what I know…”
“That’s a good attitude. I know it’s just coming from your shallowness, but the fact that you answered honestly is a small plus for me.”
“That’s good. So you’re worth keeping alive.”
Whispered in his ear, Kazami didn’t know whether to be happy or not, but he nodded like a parrot.
…Oh, I’ve got a good idea. I’m a genius after all!
“Hey, Brother-san. I have a proposal. …Should I report on the president’s movements?”
“Hmm. You mean a double agent?”
“That’s right! Knowing that president, even if I stop bothering you, someone else will end up messing with Brother-san. Wouldn’t it be easier if I was in the middle?”
Double agent. It has a cool ring to it!
Killing two birds with one stone, it’s a perfect proposal. Damn, I’m so smart as always…
“Indeed. I can eliminate you after that matter is settled, but…”
“Right? Right? Eh, eliminate?”
“However. There’s an important prerequisite for that conversation. …Do you understand?”
“Eh. …No, what is it?”
Anything is fine, just end the call quickly, so I can be saved…
“The guarantee that you won’t betray me and that you won’t lie.”
“っ—!?”
Kazami froze, not because he was surprised by what was said.
The voice that should have been heard over the phone, for some reason.
…Through both the call and reality, it echoed stickily in his ear.
…From behind? No way. But. Why?
Kazami shuddered, but… he didn’t turn around. He couldn’t turn around.
Because—
Confirming what was behind him now… was too much, too much.
“I don’t tolerate lies and I prefer accurate information. In that respect, you have provided me with accurate information. It matches the information I obtained through other routes.”
“Y-yes, of course…”
“In light of that, I will let you off this time. However, on the other hand, I don’t trust you. …A person who so easily betrays their employer and blurts out information will eventually betray me as well.”
Tap, tap.
A hand was placed on his shoulder, Kazami lost his breath, and desperately returned the words while twitching his throat.
“…N-no, I wouldn’t do that… I always keep my promises…”
“Therefore, a warning.
One is to continue to provide accurate information in the future.
Two is to not harm me or my disciples in the future.
If you keep the above promises for the rest of your life, I will never appear before you again.”
A voice stuck to Kazami’s back, who couldn’t move a finger.
As if a grim reaper was placing a scythe right against his neck…
“…J-just to be sure. What happens if I break the promise…”
“Shall I show you?”
“N-no, that’s okay! I-I understand, I understand!”
“I would like to use a ‘contract’ but there are a limited number of those, and I’m not irritated enough to use it on someone like you. Not yet.”
The man’s presence faded slightly behind him.
Kazami didn’t turn around, but just listened to the man’s voice.
“You just have to do what you’re told. Like a ticket gate at a train station, like a car stopping at a red light, follow the rules I set. Even a kindergartener can do it, so there’s no reason why an adult like you can’t, right?”
“O-of course! I’ll put my heart into it…”
“There’s no need for spirit or guts. Just keep your promise, that’s all. —Do you understand why I’m telling you this so persistently?”
“…W-why?”
“Because you stink.”
“…”
“You have the unique smell of a liar, the scent of a coward is deeply ingrained in you. Everyone thinks you’ll betray them—or rather, they even expect it.”
“………………”
“Even so, I will follow my pride and let you off this time. Even if your mentality is minus 2000 points, the +1 point added by your slight good deed supported you. …Never forget that you are standing on thin ice.”
Leaving only those words—the pressure disappeared from behind him.
The suffocating breath eased slightly, and Kazami stumbled.
…I-I’m saved?
No, wait, is this the pattern where they calm me down and then trick me again…? And how did he get into the room?
I don’t know, I don’t know anything, Kazami sweated profusely…
Waiting for a few minutes.
Finally, he turned around…
“…………”
A ghost, an evil spirit.
It was so easy to mistake it for something wrong, there was no one there, but certainly, only the table blown away by the explosion and the shattered assortment set were scattered on the floor.
…Kazami endured the nausea and fiddled with his smartphone.
His heart was pounding, and the gushing sweat still wouldn’t stop.
Anyway, he wanted to talk to someone and calm his mind—so he called his partner on his smartphone.
“…H-hey Bakamaru! I was bothered by that Salaryman guy earlier… well, he was a weird guy, or, um,”
“Bro. I’m quitting being a streamer.”
“Huh?”
“Y-yesterday, when I got home, my grandma told me. Who did you meet, you’ll be cursed to death if you stay like this!!! My grandma is over 80 years old, but she has amazing spiritual powers.”
“Wait, wait, what do you mean quit? That’s why you’re called Bakamaru, you know? Think again, spiritual powers are—”
“I-I’m stupid, but I know this much. …H-he’s no good. You can’t get involved with him… I’m going back to my hometown to farm… I won’t earn much, but that’s fine for my life…”
Sorry, bro, thanks for everything.
…Hey, bro. If you’re going to run, I think now’s the time…?
Only that strange warning remained in Kazami’s ears—and Kazami never saw Bakamaru again.
…No. Even if he’s scared, he’s quitting streaming.
The path to becoming a super famous streamer is open right in front of him, you know? And suddenly breaking the contract, what about the penalty…?
“Seriously, what’s with the stream… that idiot. Ugh, should I try calling Zamasu-sama?”
He didn’t answer.
It wasn’t just that he couldn’t get through right now…
That pink mohawk who laughed boisterously with an “Ohohohoho!” never responded to his calls or SNS messages again for some reason—but Kazami had no way of knowing that now.
“…What the hell? What’s with everyone? It’s just a scare tactic, that’s all… right?”
Forcing a dry laugh, Kazami left his house as if escaping reality.
That’s right. He had a date with Michiko-san today. First, he’d go see her, spend some fun time, and then think about it!
His table at home might have been blown away, and he thought there was a weird guy in his house, but…
It was a bad dream. It had to be.
It’s okay. If he just lives his life as usual, life will be happy.
Even if he gets caught up in some debt or weird old guys, as long as he’s alive, he can always figure something out—
*
And so, Kazami arrived at the café where he always met his mistress.
And there.
Michiko-san was trembling with a pale face, and an unfamiliar man was shaking with anger.
Next to them, an old man with a sunflower and scales badge glared at him and handed him a document.
“Alimony. We’re claiming 2 million.”
…Huh? Eh, eeeeeeeh!?