Chapter 3 – The Mysterious Guide

In a late-night family restaurant, Karasu sat face-to-face with Hisui Midori. The person sitting before him, Midori, was a mysterious being that could only be described as having an indeterminate gender. An androgynous face, with eyes that held an intelligent light. They hadn’t touched the café latte at their fingertips, merely observing Karasu in silence.

“So, you’re Kurosou Karasu? You’ve got quite an interesting look on your face. A perfect blend of despair and hatred. The absolute best.”

Midori spoke with the theatrical flair of a stage actor. Karasu tensed. Who is this person? But for Karasu, who was grasping at straws, Midori’s words felt like his only hope.

“What can I do for you?” Karasu asked, getting straight to the point.

Midori smirked.

“It seems you don’t understand just how much talent you’re hiding. True, real-life dungeons are different from games. But your mind possesses a power that can not only bridge that gap but surpass it entirely.”

Midori continued, speaking without pause about the dungeon’s inside information, the secret weaknesses of popular streamers, and the psychological techniques needed to drive viewers into a frenzy. Every piece of information was a revelation to Karasu; it was like the scales fell from his eyes.

“To be a popular streamer, it’s not enough to just be strong. They know how to stimulate the curiosity and desires of their viewers. Take King Wolf, for example. He’s built his popularity on flashy behavior and violent strength, but behind that lies thorough information manipulation and cunning strategies to entrap other streamers. And of course, he has his weaknesses.”

Midori’s words were like fresh fuel poured onto the flames of Karasu’s vengeance.

“What you need isn’t just power. It’s knowledge, and… the power to captivate an audience like no one else.”

Midori brought up a certain streamer’s channel on Karasu’s smartphone. It belonged to an unknown dungeon streamer who, though unassuming, was steadily growing a fanbase.

“Take a look. He doesn’t perform any flashy actions. But his streams are logical and meticulous, like he’s solving a mystery game. Viewers are fascinated by his intellectual strategies, and they get hooked trying to predict his next move. Your gaming knowledge and strategic eye are perfectly suited for this style.”

Midori passionately explained how Karasu’s gaming knowledge could be incredibly effective in conquering real-life dungeons. Analysis of terrain, monster weaknesses, the synergy of item combinations—these were the very strengths Karasu had cultivated in games.

“And then there are the fundamentals of streaming. You’re too sullen. Talk to your viewers more. Get them involved. Make them feel as if your plays are unfolding right before their very eyes. Don’t rush. Formulate a meticulous strategy, and then show them every single step of its execution.”

Midori even offered to provide non-public information about the dungeons. But not for free.

“There is, however, a condition. In exchange for my cooperation in your revenge, I want to witness you reach the dungeon’s deepest levels. There is ‘something’ there that I wish to know about. I’ll be testing you, to see if you can become the ultimate ‘pawn’ for my purposes.”

Karasu hesitated at Midori’s words. What could this mysterious person’s objective possibly be? But to get his revenge on Rouga and Suzuran, he needed this power.

“Fine. I’ll work with you.”

Karasu firmly shook Midori’s hand. Midori smiled, satisfied.

From that day on, Karasu’s life changed completely. After school, he would immediately contact Midori upon returning home, and they would spend hours discussing the latest dungeon information and conquest strategies. Midori provided him with all sorts of intelligence: hidden areas in the dungeon that Karasu never knew existed, special weapons for efficiently defeating specific monsters, and even methods for monetizing his stream.

Just as Midori had instructed, Karasu changed his streaming style. He cut down on the useless chatter and instead proceeded through the dungeon while explaining his meticulous strategies to his viewers. At times, he would read comments from the viewers, incorporating their opinions and creating a performance that felt like they were solving a mystery together. His “thinking” style of play gradually began to capture the hearts of his audience.

“This guy is smart!”

“It’s fun, like watching someone solve a puzzle.”

“I can’t wait to see his next move!”

Positive comments began to fill the comment section. His once-plain channel slowly started to attract attention. He was no longer just a “game otaku.” As “Kurosu Karasu,” a man with a meticulous mind burning with the desire for revenge, he began to carve a path through the dungeon’s darkness.

And as his channel’s follower count approached a certain number, King Wolf’s fans began to stir.

“Heard that guy, Black Crow, has been blowing up lately.”

“Yeah, rumor is he might even be a rival for King Wolf.”

It was still just a small rumor, but it was sure to have reached Rouga’s ears. Karasu stared at his own face reflected on the monitor. The look of despair from before was gone. In its place was a quiet, yet unshakable, resolve.

The signal fire of revenge was now, silently, beginning to rise.