Chapter 29: Kaoru and Shiranagi and the Cleanup
Tokyo.
Bunkyo Ward.
Ruberite Studio Offices.
“Sorry for calling you in so suddenly, Moka P.”
“No, even if it was private, we caused quite a stir ourselves, so I should be the one apologizing.”
Dressed in a business suit, Kaoru bowed his head with a presence that hardly seemed like that of a student.
Facing him was the head of the Dungeon Planning Department at Ruberite Studio, the division in charge of dungeon streaming for Ozumi Dia.
“Wanihama-kun, sorry to summon you again so soon after yesterday.
You probably want to rest, butâ”
“No.
It’s not a problem.”
Standing beside Kaoru was Shiranagi Shirona.
As Ozumi Diaâs manager, she had no choice but to be present here.
The department head gestured for the two to sit.
After confirming that Kaoru and Shiranagi had taken their seats, he began speaking.
“First, let me ease your worries, Moka P.
We have no intention of blaming you or Ryo-san.
The same goes for Wanihama-kun.
From the perspective of our Dungeon Planning Department, we not only allow private dungeon dives, we actively encourage them.
Given that, what happened was unavoidable.
If anything, weâre relieved that all four of you returned safely.”
Those words unmistakably eased Kaoruâs tension.
At the very least, this department head didnât seem like the type to start by scolding people outright.
“I run a department like this, so I believe I have a decent understanding of explorers and dungeons.
I personally hold a proper license, and I still dive about once a month myself.
Thatâs why I understand that starting a live stream with future responders in mind was not a bad decision.”
Shiranagi, sitting beside him, also looked slightly surprised, so this was probably the first sheâd heard that the department head was licensed.
In any case, it was clear that he could think from both the perspective of an explorer and that of a streamer.
“However, from the companyâs standpoint, and as a management office, things are more complicated.”
“Because Ryo ended up calling Dia-san by her real name on stream.”
At Kaoruâs words, the department head nodded.
“Through Wanihama-kun, Iâve already heard the cover story.
Personally, I think itâs acceptable to a certain extent, but⌔
“After saving her in the Nakasu Dungeon, theyâve been hanging out as friends in privateâ
some people will accept that explanation, but⌔
Shiranagiâs words made the department head nod again.
“Especially since Ryo-san is a boy.
Even if neither of them intended anything, you know how it looks.”
At that, Kaoru blinked.
“Oh?
Whatâs wrong, Moka P?”
“Ah, noâŚ
Itâs just rare for someone to immediately see that Ryo is a boy.”
“True, his looks are androgynous and lean feminine, but his bone structure and the way he moves are clearly male, arenât they?”
“âŚIs that so?”
Shiranagi also looked surprised at the department headâs answer.
“HmmâŚ
Could it be that on Ryo Channel, Ryo-sanâs gender is⌔
“It hasnât been disclosed.
There were a few brief moments when it showed while saving Dia-san, but we deliberately avoided stating it outright.”
“So you were being considerate of us even there.”
“Hmm⌔
The department head let out a thoughtful hum.
Seeing that, Kaoru glanced at Shiranagi.
“You didnât mention it?”
“I did.
I reported it.”
Shiranagi replied casually, causing the department head to widen his eyes slightly as he looked at her.
“Seriously?”
“Yes.
Seriously.
At the time I reported it, it didnât seem like a major issue, so I assume it just didnât stick in your memory.”
At her words, the department head gave an apologetic wry smile.
“So thatâs why Dia-san hasnât been barging into Ryo Channelâs comments⌔
“Yes.
It would probably boost engagement if she did, but Ryo is still not used to streaming.
Before he learns how to deal with trolls and such, it would be troublesome if things blew up and turned ugly.
So I asked Dia-san to hold back, even though she wasnât happy about it.”
“So you wanted to maintain the appearance that Dia-san is just a fan of Ryo Channel as an individual.”
“Exactly.”
“I see.
I see.”
The department head nodded repeatedly, folded his arms, and looked up at the ceiling.
After thinking for a while, he returned his gaze to Kaoru.
“So, Moka P, how would you like to handle this situation?”
“Since Ryo calling Dia-san by her real name was broadcast publiclyâŚ
Given that clips of that moment are already circulating, trying to hide it now would only make things worse.”
“Thatâs true.
People who understand explorers and dungeons are praising you for breaking through that situation, but the world isnât made up of only those kinds of people.”
In fact, after the clip of Ryo calling Dia by her real name spread, fans who didnât fully understand the situation, as well as gossip sites that love to stir things up, had started fanning the flames.
“This is the double-edged sword of dungeon streaming.
While it helps spread awareness of dungeons and explorers to the general public, it also turns it into entertainment, which dulls the perception that dungeon exploration is always a matter of life and death.”
Kaoru agreed with the department headâs words.
For those close to dungeons and exploration, the battle with Drake was a continuous chain of tension and urgency, something they felt personally.
But for people far removed from dungeons and exploration, that same tension was merely entertainment.
They experienced it the same way they would while watching an anime or drama.
Of course, some viewers who felt the intimidation through the screen yesterday might experience a slight change in awareness.
But in the end, the gap between explorers and viewers was deepâ
and it likely would never disappear entirely.
“Sorry, I got sidetracked.
Please continue with what you were saying.”
The department head cleared his throat lightly and turned back to Kaoru.
Kaoru nodded once before answering.
“If we canât hide it cleanly, then I think itâs better to just come clean.
That after saving her, theyâve been friends normally, and sometimes even explore together in private.
We should also properly explain why we kept it hidden, and openly say that the real-life friend we mentioned on our stream was Dia-san.”
“That would require confirming something first.”
“I figured.”
Kaoru had anticipated that question, so he answered preemptively.
“Ryo streams with his face visible, and his name is practically his real one.
Now that the named-monster battle has gone viral, his schoolâespecially his classmatesâhave probably already identified him.”
“In that case, people will ask whether thereâs any point in hiding his gender anymore.”
“Yes.
When it becomes a maleâfemale pairing, problems inevitably arise.”
With a wry smile, Kaoru gave the answer he knew the department head wanted to hear.
“At the very least, we can handle his classmates.
Theyâre a bunch who love messing around, so theyâll cooperate.
And if those idiots lean into it, I think we can resolve several issues at once.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“This is something we can do even without involving his classmates, butâ
regarding his gender, I want to keep things as chaotic as possible.
I do feel a bit bad for Ryo, though.”
Kaoru paused for a breath, then continued.
“Even if we have to use plants, whenever the topic of his gender comes up, we make sure thereâs never a clear answer.
If, in the end, the listeners conclude that his gender isnât male or female, but simply âRyo,â
then itâll turn into a meme and people will stop making a fuss.”
At that idea, the department head let out a thoughtful breath.
“So even if it comes up, the listeners themselves will put out the fires by saying âRyo-sanâs gender is Ryo.â”
“Yes.
I wonât argue if you call that optimistic or naive.”
Kaoru said that while looking straight at the department head.
The department head met his gaze just as directly.
After a brief silence, the department head exhaled softly.
“It seems like a gamble worth taking.
In that case, is there anything you want from us?
Anything youâd like us to do.
Whether itâs possible or not is another matter, but asking is free, right?”
At those words, Kaoru smiled.
One of the quickest options had already come to mind.
“Then please approve a collaboration between Ryo and Dia-san.”
“I expected that, but what would the content be?
A post-battle review of the subjugation?”
“That too, but⌠something else as well.”
“Hmm?
What would that be?”
Kaoru glanced at Shiranagi with a small smile, then turned back to the department head.
“Since weâre at it, why donât you appear as well, Director?
Letâs all sit down and enjoy the meat of âGreat Leek Mage, Drake.â”
In contrast to the department headâs expression that clearly said, âWhat is this kid talking about,â
Shiranagi, seated beside Kaoru, let out a sigh with an expression that said, âWell, thatâs how it would turn out.â