I Was the Supporter of a Popular Dungeon Streamer, but the Power Harassment Was Too Much, so I Quit. I’m Useless Anyway, so It Shouldn’t Be a Problem, Right? Huh? The Views Are Dropping Like Crazy? - 9-10

Chapter 9: Two Options

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“A prosthetic arm!? That must be… That must be really expensive!”

“The development cost was around 1.5 billion yen.”

“1.5 billion!?”

“Of course, I don’t need any money. I’m giving it to you for free.”

“No way! That’s absolutely impossible! I can’t accept that…!”

“It’s fine. 1.5 billion yen isn’t a significant amount to me.”

A-As expected of an S-Rank Seeker…

I heard that magic stones found in the upper layers of Amatsugahara could sell for hundreds of millions each. Maybe to these S-Rank Seekers, that amount of money really wasn’t a big deal.

“You don’t have to hold back. If you feel bad about it… Well, I’d be happy if you joined my guild.”

“…I want to ask something though. Why would you go this far for a mere Supporter like me? I’m grateful that you think so highly of my abilities, but in the end, I’m just a Supporter.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate the strength of Supporters. Hamura-kun, if you had to choose between recruiting one powerful Seeker or one highly skilled Supporter into a guild with thirty Seekers, which would you pick?”

“Well, obviously, the Seeker.”

“Most people would answer that way. But I’d choose the Supporter. Because statistically, they have a greater impact on large guilds.”

Really? That’s unexpected… I didn’t know that…

“Seekers vary greatly in abilities due to their OOPArts and what they need to learn also differs significantly. On the other hand, Supporters generally follow the same learning path. That’s why, when an exceptional Supporter joins a guild, they can become a model and raise the overall skill level of the other Supporters.”

“So, you want me to train the Supporters in your guild?”

“Exactly. I will lead the Seekers, and you will lead the Supporters. We will guide the guild together. To be honest, compared to the guilds led by other S-Rank Seekers, mine is still small and weak, but I think it’s time for us to make a move.”

And that move is me, huh.

“But I won’t force you to join our guild. Even if you don’t join the guild, the arm is still yours. For now, go home, take your time and choose the path you believe is best.”

“…Got it.”

As I was about to leave, Yun-san stopped me.

“Wait. Before you go, let us take your measurements. We need them to adjust the prosthetic arm.”

“Understood.”

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After finishing the body measurements, I returned to my rundown apartment. Sitting on a cushion, I looked up at the ceiling and pondered.

Should I stay with Fenrir? Or should I move to Odd Cat?

…

“No, there’s nothing to think about.”

They were willing to give me a prosthetic arm and on top of that, I had the chance to join an S-Rank Seeker guild. Odd Cat was ranked 9th among guilds. Meanwhile, Fenrir was ranked 109th. No matter how you looked at it, Odd Cat was the better choice.

However… I did owe the people at Fenrir for taking care of me these past six months. I should talk to Mia about this first. If she tried to stop me and refused to accept my reason no matter what, then maybe I should reconsider my choice. The gravure photoshoot should be over by now. 

I took out my phone and called Mia.

『…What is it? I’m tired.』

She picked up with a voice full of irritation.

“I have something important to talk about. I want to meet in person. Can we talk today or tomorrow?”

『No way. I have a spa appointment and a personal training session at the gym tomorrow.』

“It won’t take much time. Just 30 minutes.”

I had a labyrinth expedition scheduled the day after tomorrow. I needed to settle this before then.

『You think I’d waste 30 precious minutes of my time on you!? Can’t this be done over the phone!?』

She wasn’t willing to listen. I had no choice.

“Fine… then I’ll get straight to the point. I want to terminate our partnership contract. I’m also leaving the guild.”

『Do whatever you want. If you can actually leave, that is!』

Click. The call was cut off.

She probably didn’t believe I would actually quit. She thought I had nowhere else to go.

That settles it.

At 7 PM that night, I headed to Fenrir’s guild headquarters with my resignation letter in hand.

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Inside the laboratory.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Standing in front of the case holding the prosthetic arm, Yun questioned Abisu.

“What do you mean?”

“This prosthetic arm. It’s not just an ordinary prosthetic arm, is it?”

“We can’t reveal classified information to someone who hasn’t decided to join the guild yet.”

“But you’re going to give him the arm even if he doesn’t join, aren’t you?”

“Yes. In that case… It will simply be a regular prosthetic arm.”

Abisu smiled, while Yun shrugged in exasperation.

“A prosthetic arm created from the remnants of OOPArts, Origin. This is a weapon designed to fight against monsters. Do you really think that kid can handle it?”

“He’s the man who defeated me. He can handle it. Besides…”

Abisu ran her hand over the case containing the prosthetic arm.

“If it breaks… We can just find another one.”

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T/N: The last part is left ambiguous on purpose. Either the prosthetic arm breaks or… MC.

Chapter 10: Koyuki Kisaragi

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The Fenrir Guild Headquarters had the appearance and interior of a tavern. Day and night, guild members drank in full force, making the place constantly boisterous. I stepped into the guild headquarters and headed straight for the receptionist.

“Please process this.”

I handed the receptionist an envelope labeled 《Resignation Notice》.

“Um…”

She looked at me with eyes full of doubt.

“Are you serious? You, of all people?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, looking like that… Do you really think any other guild will take you in? Ah! Or maybe you’re quitting as a Supporter altogether?”

That’s a harsh way to put it…

“I’m continuing as a Supporter and I already have a new guild lined up.”

“Oh? There sure are some strange guilds out there, huh? Understood, I’ll process your resignation. I’ll also inform the Guild Master about your resignation.”

“Please do.”

That was shockingly easy. Now that I had finished what I had to do, I left the guild headquarters.

Yeah. I don’t feel anything about this at all. If anything, I feel liberated instead. I should sever all ties with Mia. Block her calls, reject messages on every platform. That should do it.

“Ah, um!”

I heard hurried footsteps approaching. Turning around, I saw Blackie-, no, I mean, Koyuki Kisaragi, who was working as Iizuka’s Supporter. She was running up to me.

“What’s the matter, Kisaragi?”

“Um… I heard that you’re quitting…”

She must have overheard the conversation I had with the receptionist earlier. The fact that she waited until we were outside to speak to me showed she was a considerate person.

“I… I never got the chance to say this before, but… Th-thank you!”

“Did I do something worth thanking me for?”

“Don’t you remember? About two months ago, in the labyrinth… When I was about to be taken down by that Titan, you saved me.”

“Oh, that time when you and Iizuka were in a party with Mia? You were my teammate, it was only natural for me to save you.”

“It wasn’t… ‘Only’ natural at all.”

Yeah. She had a point. Just because someone was a teammate didn’t mean they’d help. We both knew that better than anyone. Neither of us had ever really been saved by our supposed partners, had we?

“Before you go, I have one request.”

“Wh-what is it?”

“Can I see your face?”

“Huh?”

“Just for a moment. It’d feel wrong to part ways without even knowing what you look like.”

Kisaragi hesitated, fidgeting for a few seconds before nodding.

“…Alright.”

She spoke in a barely audible voice, then slowly pulled back her hood and lowered the zipper that had been covering her mouth.

“……!”

I was stunned. She was ridiculously cute. Bathed in the moonlight, her silvery hair shone with a soft luster. Her pale, flawless skin was taut and smooth. Her blue eyes looked up at me, filled with uncertainty. Her delicate, small face, fitting for her petite frame, had an endearing, almost small animal-like charm. Her slightly downturned eyebrows and faintly blushing cheeks only made her seem all the more vulnerable and in need of protection.

Why is she hiding such a face all this time? To be honest, compared to Mia,  she is far more—

“That’s enough!”

Embarrassed, Kisaragi quickly zipped her jacket back up, covering her face again.

“Ah, thanks. Um… Are you planning to stay in the guild?”

“Yes. My parents left behind a huge debt… I can’t afford to quit. Iizuka-san is strict, but… He pays well.”

The Guild Master probably had a lot of money.

“I see. Got it. Sorry for asking something so personal. Well then—”

“Ah, um!”

“Hm?”

“C-Contact information!”

“Hm? Ah, right. Now that you mention it, we never exchanged contact information, huh? Sure, let’s do it.”

I took out my smartphone and exchanged contact information with Kisaragi. When she saw my contact details, she held her phone tightly with both hands.

“Thank you…”

“If you ever need anything, feel free to reach out. See you.”

I parted ways with Kisaragi and walked down the nighttime street. After walking for a bit, I glanced back. Kisaragi was still standing in the same place where we’d said goodbye, waving her small hand the whole time.

What a kind girl. 

The thought of someone so delicate and adorable being at Iizuka’s beck and call made me sick. But Kisaragi seemed to have accepted it, and it wasn’t really my place to say anything… Compared to Seekers, there were far more Supporters. The majority of Supporters didn’t even have a Seeker. That was why Supporters couldn’t just cut ties with a Seeker so easily. If they did, there was a real chance they’d never find another partner. I wasn’t an exception either. I’d have to spend some time looking for a Seeker. Well, Abisu would probably help me out with that.

Tomorrow, I’d head to Odd Cat and officially sign my guild contract with them.

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