Chapter 40 - Chapter 37: Grand Spoilers
Afraid of the Armor Bear, I explored the shallow parts of the western forest.
Appraisal, Presence Detection, Presence Concealment, and Gathering skills all reached Level 5.
There was a rabbit called a Forebit that immediately ran away, but Lupi attacked and killed it the moment she found it.
I got meat and skin, and the meat has a feeling of being tastier than Bicobit meat…
"What time is it now?"
"It's almost 11."
"Okay, it's a good stopping point, so I'll quit."
"Yes. Oh, Bell-buchou said she has something to discuss in the Club Room before she logs off."
"Roger. I'll stop by the Club Room."
What's the talk about, I wonder? We decided to do a livestream this weekend during club today, and Bell-buchou agreed, too.
"Shou-kun, good work."
"Good work. And, evenin'."
"Sorry to bother you right after you finished."
Mion and Bell-buchou were there, but Yata-sensei wasn't?
Well, she doesn't have an obligation to stick around while students are just playing. Even if it's a club, it's not like we're doing activities that would cause injuries.
"What's the matter?"
"We might have to cancel Saturday's livestream."
…Eh?
Wondering if I misheard, I looked at Mion,
"Cancel?"
Ah, it seems I didn't mishear.
"Um, I thought Bell-buchou was in favor of it at school."
"Of course I remember. But I can't say that anymore."
Bell-buchou opened Mion's channel and showed us.
Today's uploaded video has Lupi in it, so I expected the views to jump, but…
"Huh? The channel subscribers are over 15,000?!"
"It was about 7,000 during club activities…"
"It's still going to grow. It might go straight to 50,000, don't you think?"
Seriously…
Well, Lupi is cute. I guess cuteness is justice.
"Is it Lupi-chan's fault?"
"It is, but could you look at this?"
Next, she showed us the top of the official page, but the moment the page opened, a movie started playing. It was probably a promotional PV for the new player restriction lift and the update.
It started with a cryptic line like, "It's finally time," in a conspicuously dark room. Were they merchants and nobles talking? It looked like Echigoya and the evil magistrate…
The camera switched to the Empire? Soldiers marching. It was called 'Empire in Turmoil Arc', so is a civil war going to break out?
Next shown was a large castle gate. That must be the Kingdom's castle gate. So, Empire vs. Kingdom? The camera continued into a forest.
"Ah! Bell-buchou! Or rather, isn't that Leona-sama next to her?"
"Yes, I think it was when we happened to be together and formed a party the other day."
Hoh~, well, if they're a top-tier group, it'd be a co-op in the moment. A dual-wielding warrior and a magic-user, a 'typical' beautiful pair.
From there, it was a skillfully edited montage of various current players enjoying their gameplay. Oh? That brief shot just now looked like Natto…
"Huh?!"
"It's Shou-kun and Lupi-chan…"
Me getting my face licked by Lupi, and playing fetch on the Sandy Beach, that… that…
"Do you understand now?"
"I'm being super spoiled!"
Well, of course, people would see that and go 'What was that?', then 'Oh, that was…', and rush to today's uploaded video.
"The livestream is going to be even more amazing than I thought…"
"Yes, if you're feeling uneasy, I think it's okay to postpone it this time. Once the next video is out and the Taming skill spreads, players will probably calm down."
It's true that the part where Lupi becomes my partner will definitely be in the next video.
If that happens, the Taming skill will spread rapidly, and then the conversation will shift to 'how do you find targets?'
"Ah~, everyone is here, I see~. I thought tomorrow would be fine, but~."
"Sorry for the late hour, Sensei."
"No, no~, I never imagined being exposed officially~."
'Exposed' you say…
As for in-game footage, it's stipulated that Six Elements Software, IRO's developer and operator, is free to use it, so there's no room to complain.
Of course, the player themselves and anyone they authorize can use it freely, and commercial use is also permitted.
"If you agreed to the End User License Agreement before playing, that's how it is."
Bell-buchou had explained it to me kindly and thoroughly before. People usually don't read that, do they? No, I mean, you should read it properly.
"We were discussing postponing Saturday's livestream as an option, but…"
"Mion-san, what do you want to do~?"
"I… want to do it."
At her words, Yata-sensei and Bell-buchou looked at me.
"If Mion wants to do it, I'm in favor."
It's Mion's channel, so it's best if she does what she wants. Besides, I was actually getting motivated for it too.
Well, annihilating the goblins without livestreaming would also be an option, but…
"I'm sorry if I meddled. I'll support you from behind the scenes on the day, too."
"No, thank you for telling us, it was a great help. And… I have a favor to ask, Buchou."
"What is it?"
"On Saturday's livestream, would you mind appearing with us as a commentator?"
Huh? A commentator?
"That's a good idea~. If Shou-kun is in a situation where he can't respond, having Bell-san provide commentary would fill the gaps nicely~."
"I see. So that's it…"
Bell-buchou said, understanding. Mion was also nodding vigorously.
Something like sports commentary, I guess. Mion probably doesn't know much about regular IRO combat, so Bell-buchou would commentate on that part.
"Is it no good?"
"No, let me do it. I'd like to try a new style."
So, I thought that was settled and it was all good, but then,
"In that case~, Bell-san will have to skip her Thursday stream this week~."
"Eh?"
"There's a three-livestream-per-week limit~. Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, right~. If you appear as a commentator on Saturday~, Thursday would be over the limit~."
"Ah, yeah, that's right."
Even though she's helping out her junior, she's really strict about that, or rather, she's properly being a teacher.
"S-Sensei! Last Sunday, I didn't livestream because of maintenance!"
"No~. You were planning to, after all~."
"Then, I'll take next Sunday off! No Sunday for Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday!"
Bell-buchou pleaded with teary eyes. Well, I couldn't tell if she was actually crying because it was an avatar.
"It can't be helped, I suppose~. If you break that rule~, I'll ban you from the Club Room next week~."
"Y-Yes!"
Bell-buchou, normally, or rather, in real life, she's a sharp, beautiful woman, you know…