Chapter 3 – An Artificial Bad Habit

◇《POV: Renma》

───I’m a validation-craving monster.

That feeling of satisfaction when people praise me and recognize what I’ve done is worth more than anything.

I’m aware of my own talent, I keep piling up effort, and I stand at the front of everyone else.

It means something because it’s me—not anyone else—who pulls it off.

Yeah, in other words, I just really, really want to be fawned over.

Unlike when I was in elementary school, I can’t operate out in the open anymore.

And yet my more mature mind is even more dominated by that need for validation—hungry for it, starving for it.

After saving all the children, I gathered the yakuza in one place and tied them up.

I’d crushed the Shogan-gumi itself the other day, but I didn’t think there were this many remnants lying low.

“Still… why would they have a cursed tool like that……?”

If it can affect even viewers through a screen, it has to be a cursed tool of a seriously high grade.

“Yuuri, investigate where this came from. It’s gotta lead to someone big.”

“Yeah…… this smells like it’s going to be a pain.”

“Order as much Shoujouen as you want.”

“Understood.”

-our usual solo-monologue time

-wait, is he saying this to us?

-he’s buying us Shoujouen yakiniku for real?

-every time I wonder—who’s Yuuri?

-hyahha!!

-he keeps saying cursecraft stuff but from a normal person’s POV I don’t get anything

No way I’m letting a massive “content moment” like this slip by.

I started this channel to satisfy my need for validation in the first place, but lately it’s been getting stale, and even the viewers’ reactions haven’t been doing it for me.

About time I got a big, explosive pop again.

“……Oh. That was close.”

I pick up the lighter that fell on the ground.

The flame’s out, but the casing is covered in oil, and if it lit by accident, I’d probably burn myself.

For now, I’ll stash it in my pocket.

Right—back to it. The reason I do all this is entirely because of my need for validation.

So while I’m streaming, I make sure I look as composed as possible and never stop playing to the audience.

If I can make myself look cool, it’s easier to win support from viewers who just wandered in for the first time.

───Yeah. First-timers.

To be honest, only first-time viewers will give you pure compliments.

The reason’s simple: anyone who keeps watching past the second time already knows.

They know my bad habit.

They know the one moment my roleplay disappears.

“Um…… excuse me!”

When I turned around, there was a girl who looked like she was in middle school.

And behind her was a boy about a head shorter.

“Good. You woke up safe.”

“Yes! Thank you so much!!”

The smile she gave as she thanked me was overflowing with joy—so pure you’d never guess she’d been crying.

“Mister, thank you! I feel like I’m even healthier than before!!”

What I gave the boy behind her—Haruta—was, basically, the yakuza’s life force.

Maybe it helped that I gave him extra, just in case, because the deathly pale look he had earlier was completely gone.

-what a good story

-can’t see because mosaic but it’s probably a great smile

-thank god they’re okay

-streamer did good too

-hyahha!!

-[weekly] what’s the streamer’s name?

“I can’t thank you enough! I was a little scared at first, but you were so cool—and you were kind, too……”

“Thank you for saving us!”

“Big bro was so cool!!”

“Thanks, weird mask man!”

“Thanks, weird mask guyyyy!”

Before I knew it, the other kids had surrounded me too, forming a huge circle.

In the flood of praise pouring in from every direction, something warm started bubbling up from deep inside me.

Excitement—activated by the stimulus of gratitude.

Pleasure—born from my validation being satisfied.

A magma of emotion hot enough to burn my heart to ash.

“K-Kee……”

A voice leaks out of me.

A certain sensation starts taking over my brain.

Little by little, I can’t hold the impulse back anymore.

Where it leads is…… a massive eruption.

“……?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Mister, are you okay?”

-ah (he’s doing it)

-it’s coming……

-poor kids

-PSA: praise time is over

-hyahha!!

-from here on, viewer discretion advised

“N”N”G”H”H”H”H”HHHHHNNNNN—!!!!!!!!!”

I throw my arms wide and arch back like I’m staring up at the heavens.

“The praise of pure, innocent boys and girls!! It’s like an angel’s trumpet!! That melody that beckons you skyward drags my heart to the heights of supreme ecstasy!!!!”

My trembling won’t stop—my whole body twitches and spasms like that yakuza earlier.

The bizarre movements and screaming that practically radiate “life itself” slowly bring confusion to the children’s faces.

“Uh…… w-what?”

“Supreme…… what?”

“H-Hii……!”

“Umm……”

My head goes hazy under pleasure so intense it feels like my brain is melting.

Who cares what people think…… I’m hiding my identity right now anyway!!!

“One hundred percent pure sincerity with zero impurities!! Truly a divine panacea that cures eight million ailments!!! To be prescribed by doctors this incredible—what kind of blessed man am I!?!!”

-……yep.

-there it is

-this really is the thing

-my reason for living

-hyahha!!

-I’m subscribed solely to witness this

In cursecraft, you can strengthen yourself to a higher stage by placing restrictions on yourself.

And those restrictions don’t even have to be directly related to cursecraft itself.

Three years ago, I placed a restriction on myself: “Become a validation-craving monster.”

And then, overwhelmed by a sudden surge of impulse, I went out of control.

Trying to show off my power as hard as I could, I ended up releasing enough cursed energy to blanket an entire prefecture.

Luckily, nobody died—but ordinary people started dropping with sudden illness, and taking responsibility for that, my father retired as a curse sorcerer.

And I was disowned and kicked out of the house.

That’s the truth behind the incident from three years ago.

By the way, online it’s treated as one of the Special-Grade cursecraft incidents.

“Fuu…… Such☆a☆refreshing☆feeling!!”

I’d gone statue-stiff, utterly absorbed in the wave of pleasure chemicals.

“My Master, the police will arrive shortly. Prepare to withdraw.”

“O-kay!”

I wiggle my body back into position.

The children had backed away from me and were huddled up, staring with guarded eyes.

“Sorry for confusing you. It’s… that kind of habit. I’m not going to ask you to forgive me.”

“……”

“The police will come pick you up soon. I’ll leave without harming anyone…… Oh, right—those yakuza over there are the ringleaders of the kidnapping, so make sure you tell the police properly.”

The rain had stopped, and silence settled over the abandoned building.

The children didn’t say a single word—just waited, desperately, for me to disappear already.

Yeah. That tracks.

Even I think it’s pretty bad.

Running into the police at the door would be a problem, so I put my foot on the window frame instead.

“M-Mister!”

The voice came from that middle school girl.

Her body was trembling—it was obvious she was forcing out her courage.

“Even if you have a weird habit, it doesn’t change the fact that you saved us! Thank you so much!!”

As she bowed, the fear in her expression had faded away.

“……Yeah. Hearing you say that makes me happy.”

After confirming Yuuri had returned to the shadows, I leapt out the window and crossed onto the next building.

When I glanced back, she was waving—and the other kids were, too, showing their own little signs in their own ways.