The Hero's Streaming Life with the Saintess-Chapter 41: Another Rival(?) Targeting the Hero

For a while, I’d been getting my life energy (?) sucked out in dreams... and as usual, I was streaming.

“Nah, hard peaches are 100% better than soft ones!”

[This dumbass doesn’t know shit]

[Hard peaches are just sweet radishes, bro]

[Top guy should just boil up a beef hard-peach soup, lol]

And just like that, today’s broadcast—normally chill—got hijacked by yet another Peach War.

The topic: Peaches.

[SaintessFootTowel just donated 10,000 watts!]

– The Saintess is obviously Team Soft Peach, right?

“Hmm... I personally like hard peaches!”

[SaintessFootTowel: From now on, anyone who says ‘soft peach’ is a heretic.]

[This guy’s lost his goddamn mind]

[Streamer and chat are both certified insane LOL]

↳ This comment has been temporarily muted.

[Tell me how this isn’t a digital witch hunt, wtf]

↳ This comment has been temporarily muted.

“Wow, the mod’s actually doing their job for once.”

Then, a familiar username popped up with a massive dono.

[Takamine Reina just donated 3,000,000 watts!]

– Um... when are you going to get back to me?

[Back to you...?]

[That username’s a total K-drama heroine name...]

[Wait, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ bro, you told us you’ve never dated. You been lying to us this whole time?]

Takamine Reina...

I was sure I’d heard that name before, but I couldn’t place it.

Still, anyone who drops that kind of cash has to have some kind of connection to me, right?

“Sorry, but... who are you?”

[SaintessFootTowel just donated 10,000 watts!]

– You moron, she’s that S-rank from Japan, the one at the auction

“Why the hell is she watching our stream?”

“Wait... huh?”

[Could be watching for the Saintess, you know...]

[Didn’t Max donate too? LMAO]

“Okay, sure, fine, she’s watching. But what does she mean, contact?”

Click, click...

Lyla moved the mouse and clicked Reina’s username, opening a private message window.

[Takamine Reina: Um... you said you’d get back to me last time, but I never heard anything...]

“Did you really have to say that on stream?”

[Takamine Reina: I realized I gave you my business card, but I never got any contact info from the Hunters. So I had no choice but to come here.]

“Ah, I see.”

Lyla’s expression suddenly brightened again.

Was she distinguishing between professional business and streaming?

[Takamine Reina: I’m in a bit of a rush, so I came here.]

“Alright, I’ll DM you my number. Contact me after the stream ends.”

I wrapped it up casually and continued the broadcast.

Right before ending with the usual sign-off...

[Takamine Reina just donated 3,000,000 watts!]

– I’m Team Soft Peach.

****

We ended the stream and got in touch with Reina privately.

Of course, over speakerphone.

“Do you remember when I said we needed Crimson Fruit?”

“Yeah, I remember that from before.”

“...The truth is, our family needs items with strong firepower. That’s why we joined the auction in the first place.”

“...”

“Of course, for the additional request, we’re ready to compensate accordingly.”

“So you want me to bring you more Crimson Fruit?”

“No. We need something with even greater firepower. Something similar to the monster near Mount Baekdu...”

“Are there even monsters with that kind of firepower?”

“Yes... there’s one near Mount Fuji.”

“Mount Fuji? I haven’t heard anything about a Baekdu-style Gate there.”

“...We needed it badly. So we paid a high price to keep it hidden.”

Is that so?

My mouth was already watering.

Didn’t even have to think about content—another country was handing it to me on a platter.

“I’d like to explain the details in person. We’ll handle the flight and accommodations, of course.”

****

“So you’re both flying to Japan? Just like that?”

“Yeah. They said they’d cover everything, so we just have to show up.”

The moment I said it was just the two of us going, Mom and Dad gave us this weird look.

Seriously... do they still think we’re kids?

“Lyla... make sure you come back safe, alright?”

“Yes! Don’t worry!”

We got into the luxury sedan they’d sent and headed for the airport.

Lyla, sitting beside me, had her arms crossed and was staring out the window, deep in thought.

Come to think of it... this might be her first time on a plane.

“Hey, Lyla, what do you think their request actually is?”

“Hmm... If it needs firepower, maybe it’s related to the Frostblood Syndrome?”

“Probably, right?”

Before long, our car pulled into the airport’s private terminal.

Unlike the usual passenger zones, this place was quiet and almost eerily empty.

“Welcome.”

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

A flight attendant in a crisp suit was waiting at the gate.

“Hmm...?”

Roughly two hours later, we landed in Japan.

Sure enough, Reina’s people were already there waiting for us.

“Whoa... what kind of house is this?”

“Seriously... it looks like a palace.”

Lyla looked around wide-eyed, clearly fascinated by the place.

Then a group of guards in tailored suits stepped forward.

“Apologies, but we need to do a security check before you enter.”

“Security check?”

“Yes, and we’ll be holding on to your weapons while you’re inside. We’ll return them afterward, of course. Thank you for your cooperation.”

I didn’t really care.

Weapons weren’t essential, and even if I was disarmed, it didn’t mean I was powerless.

But that’s when it happened.

“Stop right there!”

From inside, Reina came rushing out, dressed in a kimono.

“What kind of rudeness is this toward our guests!?”

The guards froze, clearly flustered.

But Lyla and I just waved them off like it was nothing.

“They were just doing their jobs. Don’t be too hard on them.”

With her leading the way, we followed her inside.

She personally brought out the tea and started talking.

“Sorry for dragging you all the way out here.”

“It’s fine.”

My eyes were glued to Reina.

It was the first time I’d seen someone wearing that kind of outfit in real life—outside of a video or cosplay clip or whatever.

— Squeeze...

“Lyla?”

“It’s nothing.”

That outfit, though...

If Lyla wore that, she’d look insanely good...

“Haaah... The head of the family is in critical condition.”

“Is it the Frostblood Syndrome?”

“No... It’s the opposite. He’s on the verge of being consumed by too much firepower.”

“And yet you still need more firepower?”

The Takamine Clan.

Back in the day, they were said to have divine sight and exceptional spiritual power, making a fortune working with high-ranking officials and corporate elites.

And once the Gates started appearing, their power became even more valuable.

And now the head of that family... is on the brink of death?

“We need the heart of the monster that resides in Mount Fuji.”

“You’re planning to offer that heart as a sacrifice to the god you worship?”

“Yes... That’s correct.”

“Well, I assume you’ve done your research. You already know money doesn’t mean much to us.”

“We’ll give you an artifact.”

My brows furrowed.

Artifacts didn’t really hold much value to me either.

“It’s an artifact that governs fertility, prosperity, conception, and abundance.”

“I mean... It’s not like I’m running a farm or a company or anything...”

“We’ll take it.”

Lyla, who had been quiet this whole time, suddenly lit up.

...Wait. Was she interested in starting a business or something?

“You know you can’t back out of this later, right?”

Lyla’s eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp.

****

Before Song Hun and Lyla arrived in Japan...

Reina had been in a private meeting with her mother.

“Mother, are you really okay with giving away that artifact?”

“Yes.”

“But that artifact is... so important to our family—!”

“There is nothing more important to this family than its patriarch.”

Reina squeezed her eyes shut.

Her father. The family’s artifact.

She couldn’t possibly weigh one against the other.

“And... about the Hunter named Song Hun.”

“Yes, Mother?”

“Isn’t there any way to bring him into our family?”

Reina shook her head firmly.

He was a beast. One that refused to belong anywhere.

A truly free beast.

Trying to force a leash onto someone like that would only get you mauled.

“Reina, did you not understand what I just said?”

“But Mother, you know just as well—he can’t be persuaded—!”

“Even wild animals change when they start a family. When they have children...”

Was she seriously suggesting I seduce him?

Reina already knew, deep down, that the fairytale kind of love and marriage just wasn’t in the cards for her.

Not with her position.

“But... there’s already a woman named Lyla at his side—”

“Reina, you do know your father has multiple women, don’t you?”

“Yes...”

“There’s nothing wrong with a strong, capable man having multiple women. That’s why I said nothing even when your father was with others.”

Reina couldn’t understand her mother.

How could you watch the man you love hold another woman in his arms... and be okay with it?

“He always came back to me. After all, I’m the one who gave him his most exceptional child.”

“...”

“For the sake of this family, for the sake of an heir... we will bring that man into our bloodline.”

“...I’ll do my best.”

****

“Stop right there!”

The Takamine family’s guards had nearly tried to search the guests they had personally and respectfully invited.

Thankfully, Reina stopped them before it turned ugly.

“Sorry for making you come all the way out here...”

“It’s fine.”

Reina greeted Song Hun and glanced at the woman standing next to him—Lyla.

But when she met Lyla’s eyes... she saw something else.

She saw the abyss.

Mother... I don’t think this is going to work at all...!