Chapter 5 – Deepening Conflict and Cracks

Karasu’s stream, “Black Crow,” had become a presence that could no longer be dismissed with a word like “up-and-comer.” The viewers’ excitement reached its peak, especially when Karasu cleared a dungeon floor that Rouga had failed to conquer with brilliant skill. On social media, the phrase “Black Crow has surpassed King Wolf!” started trending, and Rouga’s fans were beginning to grow restless.

“Hey, King Wolf! Black Crow just beat your record!”

Comments like that began appearing frequently in the chat of Rouga’s stream. Rouga couldn’t hide his irritation. His hand grew rougher as he slayed monsters in the dungeon, and his impatience was becoming palpable to his viewers.

“Shut up, you scrubs! There’s no way I’d lose to some plain-looking nobody!”

Even as he spewed such insults, behind the scenes, Rouga was exhaustively analyzing Karasu’s stream. He realized that, thanks to the information provided by Sui, Karasu was skillfully exploiting his past failures. Rouga could feel the “perfectly strong” image he had built for himself being chipped away, piece by piece, by Karasu.

“Damn it… that guy! He’s copying my style!”

Rouga cursed, but it was nothing more than misdirected jealousy. Karasu wasn’t copying Rouga’s methods; with Sui’s advice, he was maximizing his own strengths: his “intellect” and “strategy.”

Next to this fuming Rouga, Suzuran stared at her smartphone with a complicated expression. Displayed on the screen was “Black Crow,” the stream hosted by Karasu.

“Hey, Rouga-kun. Black Crow is really amazing, isn’t he? To think with his head like that…”

Suzuran’s voice no longer held its former blind admiration. Instead, it was mixed with a hint of regret, and perhaps even a touch of envy. Life with Rouga was certainly glamorous and exciting. Every day was as boisterous as a party, and the envious gazes from those around them felt good. However, Rouga’s attitude grew more arrogant by the day, and he began to treat even Suzuran coldly whenever something slightly displeased him.

“Huh? What’s so great about a plain-looking guy like that? You’ve got bad taste.”

Irritated by Suzuran’s words, Rouga carelessly set down the controller in his hand. Not a shred of the kindness he once had remained in his eyes; they now held only a cold light, as if sizing up prey.

Suzuran remembered the peaceful days she once had with Karasu. The times she’d spent just eating snacks next to him while he puzzled over a game strategy. She was sure she had felt bored back then, but thinking about it now, that time was irreplaceable. Rouga was strong, no doubt. He was famous. But he always seemed to be surrounded by people seeking money and fame; it looked as if he didn’t have a single friend he could truly trust.

“Rouga-kun…”

Suzuran gently tried to touch Rouga’s arm. But he shook it off.

“Don’t touch me. You’re annoying.”

Those words wounded Suzuran’s heart deeply. Rouga treated what he had obtained as if it were his by right, never once attempting to consider Suzuran’s feelings. She was beginning to realize that she was being treated as nothing more than a “trophy.”

Meanwhile, Iwao Maki, a veteran detective in charge of dungeon-related incidents, was keeping a close watch on the recent ominous developments in the dungeon streaming community. He was especially wary of the movements of two individuals: Rouga Haitani, a.k.a. “King Wolf,” and Karasu Kurosu, a.k.a. “Black Crow.”

Rouga Haitani has a history of dangerous streams. There are also reports that he’s encouraging minors to casually enter dungeons. And then there’s this Karasu Kurosu. He appeared out of nowhere and has rapidly gained a following, but it seems like there’s something else going on behind the scenes.

Maki re-watched Karasu’s and Rouga’s streaming videos over and over. Karasu’s meticulous strategies were like those of a professional military strategist. But Maki sensed something unsettling in the cold light dwelling deep within his eyes. It was the light of humanity’s darkest emotion: vengeance.

Encounters between Rouga and Karasu inside the dungeon became more frequent. They never exchanged words, but their gazes threw sparks. On one occasion, Karasu made a point to walk right past a swarm of monsters that Rouga was struggling with. For a moment, Rouga thought Karasu might have come to help, but Karasu simply gave him a cold glance and proceeded on as if nothing had happened.

‘LMAO Black Crow just left King Wolf for dead’

‘Serves you right, Rouga!’

The comment section overflowed with ridicule. Rouga’s face twisted in humiliation. Karasu wasn’t using direct attacks; he was backing Rouga into a corner with psychological assaults.

Suzuran had noticed this cruelty in Karasu, too. The kind Karasu she once knew was gone. The only thing dwelling in his eyes now was the flame of pure, unadulterated hatred for Rouga—and for her. A bottomless anxiety spread through her heart. Did I make a terrible, terrible mistake? It felt as if the consequences for that mistake were right around the corner.

In the dungeon’s deep zone, the flames of Karasu’s revenge burned ever brighter. The crack that had formed between Rouga and Suzuran was beginning to widen to an irreparable degree. The overture to ruin had already been played.

Chapter 6 – Rouga’s Fall

Rouga’s desperation drove his actions to be even more extreme. While Karasu’s meticulous strategies were being praised by viewers, Rouga began attempting far riskier dungeon explorations. He engaged in reckless battles with dangerous monsters and tried to force his way into deeper levels. It went beyond the bold style of the old “King Wolf” and looked like nothing short of self-destruction. Comments from viewers like “That’s too reckless” and “He’s being dangerous” increased, and the fervent excitement that once surrounded him began to fade.

“Are you watching, Black Crow?! I’m way more than this!”

Rouga screamed like a madman as he pushed through the dungeon. His figure had lost all its former charisma; he looked like nothing more than a young man who had lost all control.

Sui and Karasu analyzed the situation with cold detachment.

“Just as predicted. Rouga Haitani is the type to lose his cool when cornered. This is the perfect opportunity to crush him completely.”

As Sui spoke, she handed Karasu a single data chip.

“This is a record of all the fraudulent activities Haitani has been involved with in the dungeons. There’s proof he sabotaged other streamers to monopolize certain rare items, and even evidence that he hacked the dungeon administration’s systems to access advantageous information. And this… this is proof that he deceived minors and sent them into dangerous dungeons.”

A wrinkle formed between Karasu’s brows. Deceiving minors and sending them into dangerous dungeons? That was the very act he despised most. A new flame of fury ignited within his desire for revenge.

“Use this, and his reputation will be completely destroyed. It’s social death.”

Karasu gripped the data chip Sui had given him. His revenge was not merely an emotional outburst. It was a plan to expose Rouga’s evil to the light of day and strip him of everything he had built, down to the very roots.

And so, that night, Karasu made his decisive move on his own stream.

“Everyone, what I’m about to show you now is the dark side of the dungeon streaming world… and the true face of a certain popular streamer.”

Karasu’s tone was even calmer than usual, yet his words carried an undeniable weight. One by one, he displayed the video evidence and data provided by Sui on the stream.

Footage of Rouga blocking passages within the dungeon to obstruct the paths of other streamers. Records of him setting traps in advance in areas where specific rare items would appear. And conversation logs of what appeared to be teenage boys and girls being coaxed by Rouga into entering a dangerous dungeon.

As Rouga’s misdeeds were exposed one after another, the viewers’ comment section became a maelstrom of agony and outrage.

‘Wait, are you serious?! King Wolf was doing stuff like this?!’ ‘That’s the absolute worst. I’m seriously disgusted.’ ‘And I actually believed in him… Traitor!’ ‘The cops need to get on this!’

After presenting all the evidence, Karasu spoke quietly.

“All of this information has been verified. The popularity he has built up until now was founded on this kind of fraud and on the sacrifice of others. Dungeons are dangerous places that can sometimes claim lives. I cannot forgive the fact that such despicable acts were being committed within them.”

The moment the stream ended, social media instantly blew up. The “King Wolf” hashtag was completely buried under a flood of criticism and condemnation, skyrocketing to the top of the trending list. The fans who had supported him began to leave in droves, and his sponsor companies announced they were terminating their contracts. Rouga’s brilliant career had collapsed in an instant.

At that moment, Rouga was in his streaming room, trembling with rage. Having watched Karasu’s stream in a stupor, he had finally understood the severity of the situation.

“No way… Why… how could this…!”

His smartphone wouldn’t stop ringing. Calls from his manager, contract termination notices from his sponsors. Everything was accusing him.

“Damn it, Black Crow! That bastard!”

Rouga punched the monitor in front of him. The glass shattered into a thousand pieces. His face was twisted with hatred, desperation, and despair.

And right next to him, Suzuran had been watching the same stream. The color had drained from her face. She never knew Rouga was such a cruel, despicable person. Tricking and using people for his own selfish desires. And even putting minors in danger.

“…This has to be a lie…”

Suzuran whispered in a trembling voice. The image of Rouga was no longer that of a shining hero, but of an ugly demon. She was struck by the realization of how foolish she had been to be drawn to him. And she was made to understand, down to her very bones, just how wrong her choice to abandon Karasu for Rouga had been.

Rouga was mentally broken, his eyes unable to find a focus. His pride, his fame, his money—everything had come crashing down around him.

The blade of vengeance had pierced Rouga’s heart with unerring accuracy. And it had cast a deep shadow of regret upon Suzuran’s heart as well. The countdown to ruin was accelerating. Elsewhere, Detective Maki was also watching this series of events with quiet focus.