A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 232

[Konomi Eri]

[Today, I’m doing an ASMR MaicaRong Broadcast with my partner streamer, Rene!]

[Talk | 10348 viewers | 00:56:25]

【If the two of us end up gaming together after today, what game do you think we’ll play?】

【I’m looking forward to it since you both have different game genres that you’re good at.】

Gaming together?
I don’t think I have games that I’m particularly good or bad at.
If I had to say, I generally struggle with computer games, but….

[…I like those puzzle adventure games, you know? What genre do you like, Rene…?]

“I like pretty much any game…”

[…Ah, I see… Then maybe we should talk about this later…]

─Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it! [Message deleted.]

─Please, just say something…

─The most annoying response in the world: Anything. [Message deleted.]

─Eri, did you and Rene fight before the stream today?? [Message deleted.]

─What in the world happened before the broadcast for it to spark this kind of power struggle???

The chat window started blowing up with accusations again.

Eri and I haven’t fought, yet they keep speculating that we did.
They’re even saying strange things about me being in a power struggle with Eri.
Why do they keep sending chat messages that could make others uncomfortable?

[Um, excuse me, Rene…? Is there really nothing I’ve done wrong? If I accidentally made you upset, please let me know….]

─Gasp.

See? Because of your chat, Eri misunderstood and said that.
We’re just trying to have a normal broadcast, why do you keep making it awkward?

“Haah…”

─Gasp, lolololol.

─Now she’s even sighing…

─I’m really sorry, Eri. I think I’m at my limit. This is too scary.

─Mom, I’m scared! ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

─Are you all just trying to mess with us? Please say that’s true.

─Eri, if you did something wrong, let’s just close our eyes and apologize… [Message deleted.]

─Stop with the power struggle during the collab, you beast! [Message deleted.]

─Even sighing is getting applauded, lol.

─Is it acceptable for a streamer to act like this during a collab? Damn it?

─Wow, women’s power struggles are no joke, lol!

─Why are you acting this way toward me? Please stop. I just want to watch the broadcast and have fun.

Of course, I know.
Once you start responding to those annoying chats, they’ll keep coming in like a flood.

Those malicious viewers might think, “Oh, if I type chats like this, the streamer will pay attention to me!” I was told by Tuni that we should never give them the attention they crave.

So the best response to those chats is to ignore them and delete them.
And if it gets too over the line, just ban them from the stream and call it a day.

…but this is way too much.
Eri is struggling to run the broadcast properly because of this.

Sure, if I jump in now, the issue could escalate much more, but… right now, I have no choice but to step up.
After all, those nasty comments are all aimed at me anyway…

“Everyone… I know you keep making strange accusations and assumptions in the chat, but I really wish you would stop now…? We’re facing issues in the broadcast because of those chats…? Eri is getting anxious because of you….”

[Rene…?]

─??? Are you crazy??? [Message deleted.]

─Lolololololololol.

─Do you seriously think that person is acting that way because of the chat? Are you nuts? [Message deleted.]

─I feel dizzy. I think I need to go to the hospital and say a crazy person sent me. [Message deleted.]

─Is this some advanced roundabout criticism? Why can’t you just apologize and stop blowing up the chat? Are you trying to point out Eri? [Message deleted.]

─Power struggle master, crazy lady, for real. [Message deleted.]

─What in the world happened…?

─Interpretation: Why are you all so perceptive? [Message deleted.]

─If only someone hadn’t started a power struggle in the collab… haha; [Message deleted.]

─Info: This is the first collaboration for these two…

…Why is it that, despite saying all this, the chat atmosphere doesn’t change?
Most of the tension comes from the believers.
But you guys, it wasn’t always like this, was it?
In my broadcast, you usually know where to draw the line, so why are you acting like this now…?

“Haah…”

I felt sorry for Eri.
I think it’s because I’ve been too easygoing with the believers that this happened.
“I’m sorry, Eri….”

[…Huh?!]

─Wow, was this really a roundabout criticism? [Message deleted.]

─Was she really crazy…? [Message deleted.]

─Why is she acting so cold today? Is it that time of the month? [Message deleted.]

─Info: The beast woman tends to get stronger during that time. [Message deleted.]

─No, it’s definitely not that time! [Message deleted.]

─I really chose the wrong collab partner, didn’t I? [Message deleted.]

─Eri, next time, pick your collab partners more carefully… [Message deleted.]

─Does the Sirius Team really pick partners with this kind of personality? [Message deleted.]

─The chat is just a bloodbath, lol.

[Wait a minute, hold on! Everyone, calm down! Please just calm down for a second! Let’s start from the beginning! Let’s discuss how this situation ended up like this step by step!]

Eventually, Eri raised her voice and turned off the ASMR microphone amidst the increasingly overwhelming accusations in chat.
Did the believers want to wreck the broadcast this badly…?

[First, Rene!]

“Um, yes…?”

[First question! You’re not even a little angry with me, right? Please make that clear. There’s really nothing that bothered you, is there?!]

“Yes, I’m really not angry… Right now, I actually feel sorry for Eri…”

[No, no, no! Let’s not talk about that now! Just hold on! First, let me speak! Believers, please calm down and listen! I have a hypothesis forming in my head right now! I’ll talk about that first! So please, calm down!]

─Shh.

─Let’s calm down first, everyone.

─No matter how hard I try to think, I can’t explain this situation. Is this normal?

─So most of you agree?

─Eri, is it possible to change this situation…? I genuinely have no clue…

[Everyone! Before we started today’s collab, I talked to Rene, of course. But what I sensed there was that Rene is a truly authentic communication-challenged person. I’ve seen quite a few VTubers and streamers who had communication issues, but she’s genuinely one of them.]

─That’s true…

─What? Is this yet another “beast woman” issue?

─What does communication-challenged mean?

─It means having serious issues with communication skills, lol.

…Huh?
Eri?
Why are you suddenly attacking me?
Aren’t we supposed to join forces to stop those chats…?

[Rene. Here’s the second question. You deliberately answered with short responses, right?]

“…Huh? Ah, yes….”

[Why did you do that…?]

“Since we’re streaming on Eri’s channel, I thought if Eri filled in the audio, the fans might enjoy it more….”

─???

─What the heck does that even mean? Can someone explain?

─My head is spinning…

─Then why even do the collab in the first place, you numbskull?

─I need someone to explain who this person is…

─The fact is, most of the believers don’t understand this numbskull’s rationale either, lol.

[Everyone, hold on! I think I know why Rene thinks that. I’ll explain it all, so no saying anything mean to her, okay?]

Huh? What is it? Why?

Suddenly, the chat’s mood completely shifted.

Until a moment ago, the messages seemed furious, but now there’s a sense of relaxation.
What changed after my conversation with Eri…?
Shouldn’t the believers be angrier in this situation?

I suddenly got called out by my partner for being communication-challenged during the collab?

Huh?

Of course, I’m not saying to get mad for real…right?

[Rene. The third question, was the reason you thought that because of what we talked about before the stream?]

“…Yes.”

[Ah… Ha, huh…]

From the headphones, it sounded like Eri was making various sounds filled with emotions.
What was the issue…?
I have no clue.

─What on earth did you two talk about to cause this? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Um, let me explain, everyone… First off, I need to clarify that I’m not trying to pinpoint blame. So, this came up when we were discussing what to do in the collab….]

★

【Even so, if communication doesn’t flow between us, the collab would lose its meaning…】

“…Ahah.”

─Ahah, right? Lol.

─Eri is going through a lot…

─You really should ask around if you have any further questions, you numbskull.

─I can finally breathe now…
─Eri’s probably regretting picking the wrong partner for the collab, lol.

[Yes, everyone. That’s how it happened… Again, I’m stressing that I’m not blaming anyone. In fact, nobody did anything wrong, okay…?]

─There seems to be just one person who’s to blame, though, lol.

─Damn it, numbskull, lol.

─Our Rene is just a bit of a numbskull, and she’s not a bad person, everyone… Just give her one more chance…

“Exactly… Nobody had any malicious intent…”

─Damn it, lol. [Message deleted.]

[I think I somewhat understand the feelings of the believers…]

…Huh?
Wasn’t this supposed to wrap up on a good note…?

─What kind of life have you believers been living…?
─Shake, we’ve lived like this until now. ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

─Finally recognized! ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

─Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri! Eri!

─From today onward, we start to exalt Eri!

Collaborating really is a tough gig…