After Accidentally Helping a Famous Streamer Who Forgot to Turn Off Her Dungeon Stream, I Began to Go Viral as a Legendary Explorer ～ The Introverted Me Accidentally Dominating with My Mysterious Skill 'Ignore Rules' - Chapter 30: Karma - The Given Punishment

Chapter 30: Karma – The Given Punishment

“Ahem~”

The principal cleared his throat, resetting the subtly tense atmosphere.

“Kento Goyama, let’s talk about your disciplinary action once again.”

The principal’s expression tightened considerably.

“Hii…”

A deep wrinkle carved into his face involuntarily drew out a sense of dread in Goyama.

“You should know. Due to your inappropriate actions, the reputation of our school has hit rock bottom. Even now, the teachers are overwhelmed with handling phone calls. Your foolish behavior has made it nearly impossible to operate the school normally.”

“…”

“According to Article 51 of the school regulations, if a student disobeys the school’s commands and engages in actions that go against public morals, the school can administer disciplinary actions. These actions can range from reprimand, suspension, to expulsion.”

After finishing reading the document he had in hand, the principal’s piercing gaze fixed onto Goyama.

“…Therefore, Kento Goyama, I have decided on your punishment.”

“…”

“Effective today, Kento Goyama, you are suspended for one year. Take this time to reflect on your foolishness.”

“Ah…”

Suspension.

That was one of the last words Goyama wanted to hear.

If he got suspended, naturally, he wouldn’t be able to live a regular school life with his current classmates. He would be demoted to the same grade as the underclassmen he’d been stepping on and would have to go through life a year behind.

For Goyama, this was the ultimate humiliation.

“I did consider expulsion, you know. However, we also share some responsibility in this matter for overlooking the bullying. We can’t place all the blame on you.”

Is that so…

All he did was kill time on a whim. All he wanted was to enjoy seeing Kirishima’s distressed face.

While entertaining these thoughts, Goyama turned his eyes towards his mother—Yayoi—who was sitting next to him.

“M-Mama…”

However, Yayoi seemed uninterested in the ongoing conversation and lazily directed her gaze at the principal.

“…So? Are we done here?”

“Huh?” 

The principal looked puzzled. 

“What are you saying? Weren’t you here to listen to this discussion?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Given how much this has blown up, disciplinary action was inevitable. There’s no way I would come just to confirm something so obvious.”

“…Then what brings you here?”

“It’s obvious. I’m talking about Tsukushi Kirishima, who’s at the center of this uproar. How about we bring him down together?”

Silence filled the principal’s office.

Even the principal, who had maintained his dignity until a moment ago, was visibly stunned for a few seconds.

“I apologize, but I don’t quite understand what you’re suggesting…”

“Oh? Are you pretending to be ignorant now? You surely know who I am, don’t you?”

At that moment, Yayoi took a business card out of her pocket and placed it on the desk.

— Dungeon Administration Ministry, Explorer Training Division, Division Chief, Yayoi Goyama 

“…What is this supposed to mean?”

“It’s simple. Using mass media, manipulating public opinion is easy. Right now, all we can do is suspend Kento, but with time, we can frame Kirishima as the villain. Doing so would not only restore the school’s reputation but would also positively affect your career, wouldn’t it?”

“H-however…”

The principal paused, taking a deep sigh. Slowly rising from his seat, he looked down at Yayoi.

“Yayoi Goyama-san, if you are so obsessed with Kirishima-kun, does that mean the information published in old weekly magazines was true?”

“Oh? I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

“In that case, let me put it bluntly.”

The principal looked straight into Yayoi’s eyes.

“The death of Tsukushi Kirishima’s father is still being treated as an unfortunate accident. The cause of death was said to be a series of attacks by Emergency monsters. However, the skill you possess was… ‘Summon Monster,’ right?”

[Postscript]

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