Chapter 20: If there is a fire, you must evacuate.

Around the time the “two-timing” controversy of Lunavis’s 2nd generation was sweeping the fandom.

Me, at the center of it all…

That is… Shiozaki Reina’s next schedule was.

Quite coincidentally, a Lunavis 2nd generation collaboration stream.

“Haaaah…”

A sigh escaped me as I somehow envisioned the future that would soon befall me.

This schedule itself was set quite a while ago.

But the timing… how could it overlap like this?

It’s perfect for people to flock in.

Fortunately, this time, it’s just fodder circulating within the fandom…

And in Lunavis’s case, the CEO has periodically beaten them down.

(TL Note: “Beaten them down” refers to the CEO managing the fandom and weeding out toxic elements.)

The malicious types who would cause trouble are already dead, and all that’s left are the relatively moderate “grasshoppers.”

(TL Note: “Grasshoppers” is a playful, slightly derogatory term for easily swayed/excitable fans.)

Besides, any chat that crosses the line will most likely be cut off by the manager.

…No, still.

‘…Honestly, it’s a hassle.’

Actually, as a broadcaster, I should be happy about this.

This level of interest is healthy, and it creates content for the stream…

Furthermore, it’s an opportunity to become more famous.

But me… I don’t know.

The situation I’m currently in, I somehow don’t find it agreeable.

Is it just tiring that people are flocking to see me purely?

…I don’t know.

Some people say they even enjoy situations like this.

But now that I’m the one in it, it’s not entirely welcome.

…Is it because of my tendency to do everything in moderation? It’s difficult.

…

But, well.

If I don’t like it, what can I do?

[Shiozaki Reina]

[🔴LIVE] 2nd Gen Retreat – 🙍‍♀️ 5,325

– Kittakittakittakittakitta

(TL Note: “きた” (kita) is Japanese for “She’s here!” or “It’s started!”)

– Are you here?????

– You finally crawled out

– Whoareyoudatinwhoareyoudatinwhoareyoudatinwhoareyoudatin

– You, sit down here for a sec

“…It’s a mess, just a mess.”

I have to start the stream anyway.

The company already set the schedule.

What can I do….

“Calm down a bit. What’s wrong? I have to go into Biscord right away.”

(TL note: Biscord is a parody of discord in this novel.)

“Let’s do this later, later. Okay?”

At least, a few consolations are…

The fact that I have a good excuse to postpone negotiations with these grasshoppers for now.

“…You guys, if you only mess with me today, I won’t hold it against you separately.”

“But if you keep doing the same thing during the collab… you know, right?”

– Gasp

– Yep

– Loyalty

“Good, let’s do this right.”

The reins for these guys are quite easy to hold.

…There was no real need for a warning, I just did it in case.

Well, if they only mess with me, I don’t really care.

But if that messing around spills over to the other girls… that’s a bit, you know?

It’s unlikely to happen, but there’s always a ‘what if.’

Do our girls know about my troublesome efforts?

…Actually, it’s fine if they don’t. That’s more comfortable for me too.

“Ah, ah. Can you hear me?”

After appropriately restraining the viewers who were about to stealthily go wild.

When I entered the Biscord voice chat room prepared for the collab, on time….

“Ah, she’s here, she’s here!”

“We can hear you~.”

“You’re late!!!”

Surprisingly, all three were already gathered.

Anyway, I came almost immediately after starting my stream.

Why are they so early? Isn’t there still plenty of time?

“Hey… I came before 3. What’s the problem?”

“It’s being late! You were the latest among us!”

“No, what the.”

She was spouting strange sophistry, so I immediately refuted it.

But anyway, it was true that I was the latest….

So, in the end, I decided to be the one to create the room.

---

Today’s content: 2nd generation bonding.

The game for today to accomplish that is R.O.P.E.

(TL Note: This is likely a fictional game name, possibly a parody of co-op horror games like Lethal Company or Phasmophobia.)

Let me briefly explain how to play.

While exploring various maps, you find items that can be turned into money, and then…

You safely transport them to the settlement device and earn money up to the target amount.

Of course, it’s not just simple farming.

All sorts of monsters roam the map, so you have to be careful not to get caught.

Even if one of us dies, we can spend money to revive them, but…

If all players are killed by these monsters, it’s a team wipe.

And even if you survive well, if you fail to collect money up to the target amount, it’s also a wipe.

Therefore, it was a game where strategy and cooperation were quite important.

“Hmm, should we split into two teams of two?”

Well, there are four of us.

To get used to the gameplay, I was about to proceed with the most basic method.

…Unexpectedly, a problem arose here.

“Ina-ya, then with me…”

“With me…”

Right then, Noa and Yuu.

Both of them stepped forward at the same time, saying they would go with me.

“Ina-ya.”

“…Huh? Why?”

After their words momentarily overlapped, the two naturally made eye contact.

And suddenly, they had a brief staring contest….

“Who, are you, going to go with?”

“…”

They abruptly passed the choice to me.

…Ah, seriously.

I just managed to calm down the kids in my chat.

Why are they suddenly taking the lead in fanning the flames themselves…?

…However, well.

“Then, you two go together.”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

“Why are you so surprised? I already decided who I was going with from the start.”

It’s not like I don’t have any options.

“Rio.”

“…Uh, y-yes?”

“Let’s go. Leave them be.”

If there’s a fire, is there any reason to stand around and get burned?

If there’s a fire, you have to escape. Yep.