Ch.24 The Price for The Stream Accident is The Dungueon Association Headquarters

"Phew."

I'm actually not very good at using this emergency escape device because when I use it I feel like I'm floating for a moment.

It's that feeling when you jump up as you sit on an airplane.

Well, once you're an intermediate or higher level player you'll use it all the time... yeah, once you get used to it it's only a little annoying.

However, compared to the usual, the large area with the stalls and drop buying shops was ー somehow, it seemed incredibly crowded with people.

"?"

Is there an event going on today?

"...Haru-san... you finally came out..."

"For now, please put this hoodie over your head. This is a very serious matter."

"Eh? Emi-san? Kujima-san?"

The moment I stopped diving and appeared at the entrance, Emi-san and Kujima-san are right in front of me.

... And then there are about 30 police officers around, staring at me... It's really scary.

Behind them are more than 10 police cars, and the area around them was screened off with blue tarps, the kind you often see on TV.

It has such an amazing atmosphere... what is this?

"...Did something happen?"

Scary... what a dangerous world we live in.

"... This is because of Haru-chan, you know?!"

"Uwa, Ruru-san."

I was startled by the voice directly behind me, and then from behind, Ruru-san hugged me... this feeling is definitely Ruru-san, since she has no chest.

No, there is a slight feeling of pressure.

But I'm pretty sure that they're just fake breasts, so I'll just keep quiet.

As she hugged me, the hoodie was pulled over me.

You're good at this sort of thing... but why are you guys here?

"???"

"... Haru-chan... Your stream..."

"Oh, so you watched. That's why all those strange things are happening... but huh? Isn't it a private stream?"

So that feeling i had in the dungeon... Ruru-san did send something over remotely afterall.

"... It might be my fault that all this is happening, but... but..."

"???"

Ruru-san is still clinging to me with a relaxed look on her face.

It's a little heavy... Even though her strength is increased with magical power, I'm still a little girl, so it'd be pretty heavy if an average high school student is leaning on me, right?

"Mikazuki-san, let's explain in detail later. I'm sure Haru-san is tired after conquering the 200th floor."

"Kujima-san... that's right. There doesn't seem to be any particular injuries, so let's hurry and get out of here."

"?"

200th floor ? What?

... Now that I think about it, how many floors does this dungeon have?

I think it was blocked off at the 49th floor?

I don't really understand what's going on today because of Ruru-san.

Things are already so messed up... anyway, I don't think I've gone that far yet... So is it something else?

"Yes, we managed to rescue her safely. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused everyone..."

Emi-san bows repeatedly to the police officers who approach her.

Emi-san... has it finally been revealed that you're a pervert?

Is that why there are so many police officers?

No, but it seems a bit noisy outside the blue tarp.

Besides, just having a girl's perverted hobbies revealed wouldn't have made it this far... So it could be that Ruru-san have done something again.

Yep, that's it. I can say that with certainty.

"Haru-san, can you walk?"

"Yes. Oh, I'm not injured at all so I don't need the treatment, Kujima-san. I dived as I usually do so there was no damage."

Kujima-san is wearing a nice ponytail today too.

She seems like a really serious person, so if I don't explain things properly, she'll probably keep worrying.

"Eh, well... I was watching the stream, so I understand..."

"Is that so... huh?"

Why are you guys keep mentioning my stream?

...I wonder if they can watch it if it's archived... I don't know.

Come to think of it, I felt Ruru-san's presence during the stream, but I had only invited one more person in addition to the 10 people including the Primordials.

Ah, I guess I can look for it with admin privilege... I still don't really understand.

"...I understand. Haru-san, they're going to give us a ride in this patrol car. Let's get in."

"Emi-san? Oh, I understand."

Oh, poor thing...now you too are in trouble with the police.

Leave it to me, I'll tell you with certainty that I'm not being tricked.

But I wonder why they put the perpetrator and the victim in the same vehicle.

Because we know each other?

I don't really understand.

"... I'll just say it for now. Everything you're thinking, Haru-chan, is probably wrong, okay?"

"Hmm, what do you mean, Ruru-san?"

The feeling of my hand being tugged hard.

I look tired as Ruru-san pulls me along.

"???"

... Really, what happened? The experience of riding in a police car without doing anything wrong is so rare, so I think I'll just enjoy it.

◇

The police car was exciting. And the ride was pretty comfortable.

But.

"Huh? ... The stream."

"Yes. It was indeed private at first, but then it somehow became public..."

I guess this is what it means to make your blood run cold.

Even I'm left feeling like this when I realize I've made a mistake.

"...Since when?"

"Well, long before Haru-san had lunch..."

"Eh――……"

I've done it――……

When it comes to accidents like forgetting to turn off the stream, making a verbal slip during the stream, or showing something that shouldn't be on screen, I always thought, "If you're careful, it normally wouldn't happen. If it were me, I would never do it."

But, now that I had done it... What should I do?

Well, I didn't talk about myself or show my face.

So I guess it's safe, but... I thought for sure that only the usual people would be there... so it's kind of scary.

Huh?

I see, it's just kind of scary.

Then there's no problem.

"We somehow covered the problematic parts up during the stream ... If the stream was recorded locally by the viewer though, there's nothing we can do about it."

Ah, so there was a problem... I'm sorry?

"Thank you, Emi-san. But I don't think I did something problema-"

"Alcohol"

"I'm sorry"

Come to think of it, I did say that I drink on a regular basis...it's all over for me.

"E-Emi-chan followed up right away in the comments! So unless there's a really mean person, I think it's okay!"

"is that so"

"First of all, Haru-san, everyone would know your height from the live stream. If someone the height of an elementary school student said they're drinking alcohol... I don't think most people would take it seriously."

Oh well, if that's the case then it's okay.

However, the serious Kujima-san adds, "I would like you to quit drinking though."

Yeah...that's right...my body is that of a six-year-old...

She's checking the alcohols in our hotel room every day... She doesn't say anything in particular, but she holds up the empty bottles and stares at them...

"However, legally, Haru-san is considered to be 'Soya Harumi, an adult'... Even if a minor drinks alcohol, the most she can get is a stern warning. And in the worst cases, it is the guardians who got arrested."

"... In this current situation, doesn't it mean we're the one getting arrested?"

"No, we're all minors here. Legally speaking, the guardians are Haru-san's parents... but given Haru-san's current appearance, I think a special exception regarding the dungeon would apply."

"… In other words?"

"The potentially fatal aspect of this stream is that, although there may be controversy over underage drinking, there is no legal problem."

"Thenー"

"However, it will severely impede your future development, Haru-san, so even if you can't abstain from alcohol, at least moderate it."

"Yes"

"It's frustrating that there's no way to enforce it... but suddenly stopping drinking alcohol isn't good either. It's frustrating, you know?"

All I can do is shrink even smaller with my small body.

Everything they said is true.

But I'll never stop drinking.

No matter what, absolutely.

"ー This incident is also Ruru's fault... But I think that's a good situation to be in."

"Eh?"

Emi-san is suddenly saying something strange.

"That's right... so, if anything happens to Haru-chan, we'll do something about it. Absolutely."

"Eh? Eh?"

Ruru-san is saying something weird too.

I was filled with apologetic feelings, but then their tone suddenly changed, so I looked up and saw the two of them looking just like me from a moment ago... probably.

Also, this kid's "absolutely" is kind of scary afterall.

"? Ruru-san, did you send something after all?"

"I didn't send anything! ... Or at least I want to say that, but..."

"After this incident, it's pretty much confirmed... that Ruru's curse is affecting Haru..."

"Eh?"

"I just heard about it a while ago too. But, something like that..."

"Kujima-san?"

Even Kujima-san suddenly looked serious... huh?

Ruru-san's curse?

Eh?

It's not just a joke?

The one that's often seen in her comments section?

"Haru-san, is it okay if an adult is present?"

"Eh? Ah, yes, I'm an adult man myself after all"

"Is that so... Mikazuki-san."

"Yes, I'll contact them."

This time Kujima's hand wrapped around mine and she pulled me gently.

... It's not like i care, but.

What do you guys take me for?

You guys know that I was an older, grown-up man, right?

You guys haven't forgotten, right?

Right?

◇

There were some kind of pompous uncle and grandpa in the room.

"Soya Harumi-san. We are very sorry for the terrible experiences you have had recently... and for the delay in our association's assistance."

"Eh? Ah, it's fine, I was hiding so I wouldn't be found out."

The pompous men bowed their heads.

"Soya Harumi. A 25-year-old man, he had worked for a corporation for two years after graduating from university. His academic performance, conduct, and work attitude were all good. However, last year he suddenly began to be absent from work for several days, and was forced to resign due to company circumstances... Excuse me, but this is who I am." (Showing business card)

"... Um, are you what they call the Public Security Bureau?"

"Indeed."

"My apologies as well. Here's my business card..."

"... The Dungeon Association... Chairman?"

Hah?

Public Security.

Chairman-san.

Uncle.

Grandpa.

"......????"

"... If I remember correctly, Soya-san's consciousness should still be that of an adult male..."

"She must be confused because all of this is so sudden. Even we wouldn't be able to think clearly after diving for a few hours."

"She's usually smarter than me, and she reads books that I can't read! That's Haru-chan!"

"Since you two don't normally go into dungeons, well... I guess I can describe it as being like you've just finished watching something at the cinema. That's the same feeling."

Emi-san and Ruru-san gently deny the suspicion that I have the mind of a little girl.

You guys seem really reliable right now. Yes, right now.

... Sorry, I guess you guys are usually really reliable too.

While I was still confused, one of them came up to me with a serious face and spoke to me.

"Once again, Soya Harumi-san. We are taking you into our custody."

"Eh, but I..."

"Please rest assured. If you wish, the Association has requested that the Agency will continue sending Mikazuki-san and Fukaya-san, while the Public Security Bureau will send Kujima-san to help you."

"Eh? Ah, I'm fine with that."

I know it's a bit too late now, but Kujima-san is a member of the Public Security Bureau?

Ah, I guess she had that kind of aura around her.

"Soya-san, the information from here on is not publicly available, so please excuse me, but can you sign here?"

"Eh? Ah, yes."

A pen and paper were handed to me.

... It's like a contract with lots of small print written on it.

Believing that it wasn't one of those "Sorry for deceiving you" thing, I wrote my own name with my small hands as usual.

"... Soya Harumi... Ah, Haru-chan's handwriting looks like a man's."

"So that part is still manly huh."

Um, Ruru-san and Kujima-san, please don't peek in from the side... It's hard to write like this...

"... I've confirmed your sign. Now, let me tell you about what happened with Soya-san and Fukaya-san."

Eh?

Did something happened to Ruru-san too?

"An unknown phenomenon occurring within the dungeon. We will be sharing information about this hidden phenomenon."

I was a bit surprised at the suddenness of it, but I guess that makes sense.

Me suddenly becoming a little girl, and Ruru-san having an incredible misfortune.

There must be a reason for these.

... Wait, if the people above know about this, I don't know about the curse, but... can I return to being a man?

... No, Ruru-san's curse should come first.

You see, even if I turned into a little girl, it didn't really affect my life... Okay, I did get fired from my job but... Anyway, it wasn't like that with this girl... You see. She's been in danger to the point of sending ghosts flying, so if we had to choose between this girl and me, it would be this girl.

"Haru-chan... Please don't go away."

"? Yeah, I'm right here?"

Ruru-san seemed anxious because she was facing pompous grandpa and uncle. So I squeezed her hand back.

As an older man, I should be someone she can rely on, even if only once in a while.

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