My Elder Lich Raid with Akachan was a seriously fun experience.

From my perspective, I just needed to somehow clear the first Gate, which felt like a major war.

Mages were basically gods in the Great War, after all.

Thanks to Akachan’s hard carry, we successfully cleared the first Gate.

After that, I really got to show my skills in the subsequent Gates.

I managed to wrap up the Elder Lich Raid successfully.

You might wonder if it was really necessary to clear it, but…

To access the next area, ‘Elderheim,’ I had to clear the Elder Lich Raid at least once.

That’s just how the story was set up, and clearing the Elder Lich Raid was essential for the future game progression.

Anyway, I got to raid with Akachan and pick up some solid clear rewards.

Thanks to that, I thought I had a pretty fulfilling day, but…

If my alternate character was possessed, Pera found herself in the center of controversy once again.

“It’s funny, isn’t it?”

I let out a chuckle while watching the posts and videos of Golden Sun plastered all over the community.

The part where he swore was all cut out, leaving only the fabricated content favorable to him.

Many people aren’t aware, but Akare’s capsule supports automatic recording.

In other words, it meant that my perspective captured Golden Sun’s outburst in its entirety.

“If I upload the original video, backlash will surely ensue.”

How much did it sting to hear that he got ahead purely by connections?

Would their intelligence really fall to that level?

What should I do about it?

Well, it didn’t take deep contemplation to figure out.

If I just upload the recording containing my perspective to Mutube and make it public…

Golden Sun would end up following a similarly uncomfortable path as I once did when I was known as a hacker and a saint who took advantage of the in-game community.

[Whisper from Suzuka: Pera]

[Whisper from Suzuka: I have something to say; could you swing by my territory for a bit?]

Just as I was searching through the recordings while logged in as Pera, a whisper arrived from Suzuka, who was likely busy preparing for the Twisted World Tree raid.

[Whisper to Suzuka: What’s going on?]

[Whisper to Suzuka: Is this another request for a collaboration?]

[Whisper from Suzuka: No, no.]

[Whisper from Suzuka: Not that.]

[Whisper from Suzuka: I have something I want to propose regarding this incident!]

[Whisper from Suzuka: I’m not streaming right now either.]

A proposal, huh…?

Was it really necessary to meet in person for that?

Couldn’t it just be conveyed through whispers?

Of course, I thought that internally, but…

In business, human relationships can’t just be simplified like that.

Did Suzuka not know my thoughts? No, she probably did.

There must be a reason she suggested meeting up.

If I laid bare my intentions, I could easily end up being the so-called ‘T-baller,’ or in current slang, a ‘T-ball lady.’

[Whisper to Suzuka: I’m teleporting to your territory.]

[Whisper to Suzuka: Please accept the entrance request.]

After sending the whisper, I opened the friend list and submitted a visit request to Suzuka’s territory.

Territory. This was a sub-content that came into play after completing the Elder Lich Raid.

Though I was bestowed a territory from the Emperor due to having accumulated contributions, separate from my support for Raven.

Did I take down one of the doom objects, the Ancient Necromancer?

That was certainly a great achievement worthy of decorating a page in history, but…

I had thus committed an act that advocated for one of the doom objects.

The territory I received from the Emperor was as blank as a white canvas.

Well, players are the protagonists of this world, after all.

Right now, I’m just the owner of a completely barren territory and a newly minted baron.

As time passes, I can expect the territory to develop and my title to rise, little by little.

“Peraaan!”

Thud—!

From a distance, Suzuka, who came to meet me, tripped over a stone.

“…Are you okay?”

“Hehe… I’m just so happy to see you after such a long time that I lost my balance.”

Suzuka quickly picked herself up, acting like it was no big deal.

Brushing off the dust, she opened the territory management window.

Manipulating the management window in midair, a portal opened right before my eyes.

Free movement within the territory. It was a convenience feature that let you teleport anywhere you wanted.

“It’s a café, huh?”

“Yeah. I just love cafes.”

Isn’t it common to start with a facility that includes important features?

It felt like finding a Starbucks in a quiet rural village.

“I haven’t been able to go outside since starting Akare.”

Well, since transitioning to being a streamer, she had soared to fame.

In fact, she was still on the rise and had plans to continue soaring.

The timing was perfect now, as the moment approached when Suzuka’s contract with Chijij would end, coinciding with Twitch’s domestic return.

Now, if Suzuka, who was the global platform’s unyielding number one in the VTuber scene, moved to Twitch, she’d likely reign supreme in the VTuber world for a long time.

After entering the café with Suzuka, we chatted for quite a while.

Catching up on news. Sharing trivial personal stories. Telling tales related to Akare…

After a long girls’ talk (2 hours), we finally got to the main topic.

“What do you think you’ll do about this incident?”

“I was just thinking of uploading the original video to the community…”

In the past, I’d once shouted out in the in-game community.

Caught up in controversy involuntarily, I had to clarify it on Suzuka’s broadcast.

It would certainly be the simplest way to clarify everything again on her stream, but…

For some reason, it felt like Suzuka didn’t want that.

If she intended on that direction, she would’ve brought it up much sooner.

So I intended to post a clarification letter directly on the Akagal, but…

Suzuka seemed to have a different idea in mind.

“While uploading the original video would solve the matter right away… doesn’t it feel a bit lackluster?”

Her tone sounded convinced that my faults were nonexistent.

That tone felt unsettling, prompting me to ask a question.

“Do you think I was at fault?”

“Huh? Hmm… If you were truly at fault, they wouldn’t have edited the video like that, would they?”

From a third-party perspective, the video uploaded with scandalous remarks seemed very natural.

If it had been obvious it was edited, the community would’ve already been flooded with criticisms, and the controversy would have quelled down.

But Suzuka already knew the video from Golden Sun’s side had been maliciously edited.

How did she come to know?

“I know what it’s like to be treated that way, several times over.”

“Ah.”

Could this be referred to as a popular streamer’s harassment?

Jealousy and envy. Unfounded malice. Simply enjoying the act of bullying, and so forth.

There are all sorts of reasons for being tormented, not just limited to internet broadcasters.

It applied to influencers, entertainers, and public figures too.

Even I, the director of Akare, have experienced my fair share of this harassment.

Being idolized as a god, being the target of despicable desires, or being unfairly caught up in nonsensical controversies.

Seeing as I was experiencing such difficulties myself, I realized I truly had become a director.

As I was lost in thoughts of the changing world, Suzuka carefully began to speak.

“Have you ever thought about doing a stream?”

“A stream? What kind of stream…?”

To me, the very concept of streaming carried just one meaning.

A bridge for communication with users as a director.

I had no intention of streaming for any other purpose whatsoever.

To be precise, I hadn’t even thought about it in that direction.

“I mean a clarification stream.”

So, Suzuka’s sudden suggestion to conduct a ‘clarification’ as a stream caught me off guard.

“You want me to do a clarification stream?”

“Yes. Why not debut here?”

With no signs of changing her mind, Suzuka revealed her true intentions.

“I believe you, Pera, can become a successful streamer.”

“I appreciate the kind words, but…”

I was going to refuse, but…

“Are you really, Pera, also known as Aurora… the director?”

Caught off guard by Suzuka’s next statement, I had no choice but to shut my mouth.

“Of course, I think of it as just a bait pushed by a certain community…”

“Yes! That’s correct! It’s just bait!”

Gasp.

I reacted way too excitedly without even realizing it.

I anxiously glanced at Suzuka to gauge her reaction.

She looked at me with an enigmatic expression and then…

Smirked—

Wearing an indescribable smile.

“Do you know why I’m suggesting this?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“I feel like Pera’s unique character and charm are just too precious to waste.”

Could it be a similar reason to why I had taught Sweet to be a mage?

There was a sincerity in Suzuka’s words that made me instinctively feel drawn in.

“And saying it out loud seems a bit cringe, but… being a streamer is really sweet. Of course, you need to have a good mentality.”

Pera has a good mentality, right?

I couldn’t possibly deny the following words from Suzuka.

If it had been an ordinary person enduring my controversies, their mental state might have been shattered.

“Ah, I’m not forcing you. The choice is yours, Pera.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

“That’s more than enough.”

After finishing my conversation with Suzuka, I promptly logged out on the spot, as if escaping.

Maybe I had depleted too much mental energy?

The moment I stepped out of the capsule, I felt an overwhelming sleepiness wash over me.

I collapsed into my plush mattress and drifted off into a deep sleep.

***

I had a nightmare.

In it, I was a streamer who suffered a penalty of tacking ‘nya’ onto the end of every sentence.

What kind of nightmare is this?

Just to be safe, I wiped my forehead with my hand.

And as expected, no cold sweat appeared.

After all, my body was nearly perfect.

“What kind of dream is that…?”

A clarification stream? Debuting as a streamer?

I had never even thought about it, not even a bit.

But after having that nightmare, my resolve became even firmer.

A stream? I only need to use it for communicating with users as a director.

There was absolutely no reason for me to stream as my alternate character.

“Goddess.”

“Akachan? What’s wrong?”

Akachan, who hardly ever comes out of the capsule, called me.

Did something serious happen while I was sleeping?

“I strongly recommend you debut as a streamer.”

“Eh?”

What on earth does that mean, Akachan?

Where would be the reason for me to debut as a streamer?

I knew she was eavesdropping on my conversation with Suzuka.

But I never imagined that Akachan would have such thoughts upon hearing it.

“If streamer Pera watches this winter’s showcase live, the theory that Pera and Aurora are the same person would become inconsistent.”

“…!”

Pera = ×××

The core claim of this ridiculous bait (not) was ‘Pera always appears when Aurora is free.’

But what if Pera was watching the live during Aurora’s stream?

As Akachan said, that would create a contradiction.

Among the controversies hindering my clever alternate character life, one would fall away if proven false forever.

“But is there really a need to debut as a streamer?”

Shaking my head—

At my logical question, Akachan shook her head.

“It’s the easiest method of proof. Any other methods would merely seem like a forced spectacle to escape from the controversy.”

A loop.

As Akachan pointed out, if I half-heartedly attempted to step forward, nothing would be resolved.

If I didn’t step up definitively, it would merely loop back again.

I could very well be subjected to even more slander like, ‘Aurora is pretending not to be Pera.’

Of course, there may be a better way to resolve this.

Yet, nothing came to mind right now, and it seemed debuting as a streamer might be the best course of action to build up my credibility.

“Consistent activity afterward is essential to avoid suspicion and completely quell the controversy.”

“That seems likely.”

Debuting as a streamer.

Yeah, I might have to seriously think about this?

Thus, Aurora became lost in thought.

So much so that I didn’t notice Akachan’s honest smile, enjoying the new developments that were just around the corner.