The Darkness Was Comfortable for Me

“Ah, this is bad.” (Karen)

Seeing that the climax of the conversation had passed, Karen took out her cellphone and muttered this after confirming the state of Brother.

I stood up and peeked at the screen, and it was right when a giant monkey monster had jumped in front of Brother.

It is far bigger than a gorilla, and it is a size that’s far from being foughtable by a human.

“Wait, you gotta be kidding, right?! Something like that can show up?!” (Celica)

“W-What’s the matter?! Did something happen?”

“This…!” (Celica)

I turned on the tablet that was out, and the figure of Brother was shown soon after.

Seeing the giant fire monkey roaring at Brother, I felt as if my heart was being squeezed up.

“O-Onii-chan! W-W-W-What do we do?! Anything we can do… Anything…” (Karen)

Even though we are watching the screen this closely, we can’t do anything.

Only watch.

How powerless.

I, for the first time, cursed God who created this situation.

There’s various opinions as to whether that is actually God or not, but even if it is a God, there’s no doubt it is a demonic God.

The giant monkey let out a roar that made the body cringe in fear, and it rushed over to Brother.

Brother was practically standing upright, unable to run away, or even show any suggestion of fighting.

I ended up closing my eyes.

“Ah! Barrier Stone!” (Karen)

“Eh?! Ah, right!” (Celica)

The sudden appearance of a monster had made me forget it, but Brother had bought something that looked like a Barrier Stone.

In the screen, there’s text showing up saying [Barrier Stone in use. Remaining time: 11 hours and 59 minutes].

The giant monkey acted in a way as if it had suddenly lost sight of Brother, spit out fire everywhere as it ran around, and disappeared somewhere just like that.

Brother was sitting there absentminded.

A Barrier Stone seems to certainly be a useful item, and it seems like he managed to keep his life there.

But…this is…

“…Grandfather, as you can see, I think it is going to be difficult for Onii-chan to escape this forest alive. To the point that I don’t know if becoming number one in viewership…is going to serve in achieving that.” (Celica)

“Then, more reason to. No choice but to do this, right?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Grandfather.” (Celica)

The only bright element here is that the effect of the Barrier Stone is strong.

Being effective for 12 hours means that he should at least be able to hang on for today.

It is valuable time that Brother has created.

In that time, we have to do what we can.

◇◆◆◆◇

“Also, Grandfather, if we spread the fire worldwide, we as family won’t be unaffected by this either, so I think we will have to move. And when that happens, I don’t think we will be able to meet like we have before.” (Celica)

After telling Grandfather the outline of my plan, I added that at the end.

“Move? Where?”

“Most likely America.” (Celica)

“Huh? America, you say… That America?”

“Yeah. We have been called by their enterprises and research facilities there since way back. The opportunity is just right… The problem is our parents, but we can just give them money and there should be no issues.” (Celica)

Our parents are hopeless, but if I told them that they can earn money and live playing around, they will happily follow along. I actually want Grandfather to be our guardian, but we can’t do that.

Even if they are like that, they are still without doubt our parents after all.

“…Koichi is the same as always, huh.”

“Yeah, playing around as always. The pretext is that his main occupation is house-husband.” (Celica)

Our household is being supported by the night job of mother.

Of course, it is not like we can buy what we want with that, so our household has been running with the money that Karen and I earned since elementary school, and now our mother is barely working, and father is playing around the whole time. Our household is honestly a pretty peculiar case.

“Good children like you all were born from that idiot, so…good grief, I shouldn’t have exiled him and properly educated him. Because of that, it ended up causing trouble to you guys as well…”

Grandfather says as if repenting, but I can’t just go ‘exactly’, so I simply stay silent.

It is true that we have been troubled by those parents of ours after all.

Brother, Karen, and me.

It is because we had us three that we managed to reach all the way here. And it was also big that Brother fought with our mother and won the battle to have her not interfere.

“Grandfather, this is my last unreasonable request. Once we go to America, we won’t be able to come back here often, so…I think I will give the order to release the culprit from over there.” (Celica)

“Orders? You…”

“Yeah, orders. That’s why, introduce me to a person that can perform them please.” (Celica)

“Got it.”

Grandfather said this and called someone.

This residence is also serving as the…company’s offices, so there’s always gang members.

Regarding the orders, the schedule of the confinement, and what should be done at that time, it is all in my head. There’s parts that would be slightly troubling if I were to throw the whole thing onto them, so I want to give the orders and supervise it.

“Boss, did you call?”

“Ooh, Kenji. You and Izuna, hear out the request of my granddaughter here. It will be all on my ass.”

“Hoh, you granddaughter’s? I won’t be dirtying the ass of Boss, but…what business is it?” (Kenji)

“Ask her directly. There’s apparently no time.”

The one Grandfather called was a serious-looking man with a suit, and a woman in a suit too with dyed brown hair.

I explained what to do to the two.

“Hmm, I have a nice place to confine someone. The apartment building in Nishinomiya city. It is a second floor for exclusive use, so it won’t be known to the populace.” (Izuna)

“Thanks. I want to get a confession too, so I am thinking about calling him with the pretext that we will be sheltering him from the police. Before coming here, I divided my phone number and LINE.” (Celica)

The two understood the situation at once.

Most likely competent people even among the gang. It really helps me out here.

“Well then, I myself will be getting the car, so please shape up the plan with Izuna, Celica-san.” (Kenji)

◇◆◆◆◇

Karen and I were in the car Izuna-san was driving.

Kenji-san got on with 2 burly young men and drove off at high speed to the house of the real culprit.

In the meanwhile, Karen sent a LINE to the culprit.

[I am God. You have shown me your desire to go to the parallel world. I am thinking of prioritizing you on the next batch to the parallel world… But that was bad. At this rate, you will be arrested and executed. I have ordered my subordinates to shelter you. They will be arriving soon, so bring your clothes covered in blood and the knife you used, and come to the outside of your house.]

[For the people in your house, just leave a note saying that you will be going on a journey to train in order to go to the parallel world. There’s the need to gather energy for the next isekai transfer, and it takes time.]

[It is possible to trace your smartphone, so leave it behind. We will provide you with a different device on our side.]

Drowning people grasp even for straws.

The culprit replied with a ‘Got it’ and ‘Thank you very much’.

Looks like he really believed this is a message from God.

Of course there’s the chance that he gets cold feet at the end and doesn’t come out, but we can brute force it if that happens, or we could invite him to a mixer; whatever works.

“Right after that turn…he is there. That’s a relief… If he had surrendered himself, we would have been done for. Then, let’s do this as planned.” (Celica)

I was about to say ‘it is a relief he is an idiot’, but it really is the case.

The black Sedan that we were in passed by the true culprit -Ozawa Yuichi- and the white Hiace car at our back welcomed him to enter.

There’s no doubt he is truly scared out of his wits being in between 2 burly men.

Anyways, with this, we have cleared the first stage. It was important to secure him faster than the police.

The place they are going to be confining Ozawa in is an apartment complex that is seriously a place you could find anywhere. It has an elevator, but it is an old building that might be 50 years old, and gives off an atmosphere you wouldn’t want to get close to even if you had business with it.

“We have been using this place since long ago, you know? It has been soundproofed, and not only for months, we could even go for a year here.” (Izuna)

Izuna-san says listlessly.

Is this person also a yakuza? I don’t know her relationship with my grandfather, but I heard that the members of the yakuza are treated as a private business. In other words, she is most likely a related member.

“At any rate, there really is a confinement room, huh.” (Celica)

“There’s a lot of uses for it after all.” (Izuna)

We were watching inside the car how Ozawa was being escorted into the building.

There’s no pedestrians around.

It would be problematic if there were witnesses, but it looks like that won’t be a problem. He was made to wear a black parka, so there should be no worries about his face being exposed.

Whichever the case, it is fine to just have Brother be misrecognized by society as the culprit for around 1 month.

After that, we will have Ozawa be arrested by the police swiftly.

The problem is when the message system will be starting. There’s the possibility it won’t even be implemented, but I don’t know.

At any rate, this is until Brother reaches a safe place.

I take the smartphone from Kenji-san at a place further away from the building.

It is the one used for the timing of the release and to order the methods used.

The one I am contacting is Izuna-san, and she properly knows the reasons for this time’s confinement, and she understands it. It shouldn’t turn into something weird.

Even overseas, you can use IP phones, and it can only be used through Wi-Fi, so there’s no problem.

“…For now, this is a wrap.” (Celica)

“Good work~. Sorry, I am not of use at times like these.” (Karen)

Karen, who barely spoke since entering the house of Grandfather, looked apologetic as she said this, but it is the opposite.

It is because I am only useful on stuff like this that I have to be the one doing this or there would be no point.

“I will have you work to death with the burning scheme… Well, I will also have to quickly go to the translation side too.” (Celica)

You could say that I will also be busy from here on.

Karen has already finished the translation AI after all.

However, the actual translation work begins from here on. Moreover, we are already a few hours late compared to other research teams.

In the Brother burning plan, we have to go around setting fires in countries around the world. It won’t only be Karen, I will have to help out too, and I will also have to show up the face of a brave little sister with tears in my eyes to the mass media in order to heat things up too.

I use my own smartphone to contact my own team.

The first language we are going to translate has been decided after all.

The Ringpill Continent that Brother has been sent to. We will begin translation from that official language.

◇◆◆◆◇

Brother was flamed to an amusing extent just as planned.

Especially in Japan, the flames were far beyond imagination. I didn’t expect that there would even be an idiot who would set our house on fire, but that instead became a good excuse to have our parents resolve on moving.

There were actually a lot of dangerous moments before Brother could get out from the forest.

But even with that, maybe because of the fires, Brother became the top in viewership, and along came the benefits of it. He managed to get more crystals than any Chosen. It is roundabout, but my contribution must have served big in him managing to get out of the forest.

Of course, Brother was the one who worked the hardest.

The synergy of the Dark Spirit Abilities and the Affection of Spirits, and most of all, the indomitable strength of mind of Brother, were what allowed him to escape from that long long forest.

That’s why he could escape the forest.

He managed to survive.

I had lowered my guard.

Because I was on my nerves the whole time.

I thought that we would be okay for now.

Now, all that’s left is to clean things up. He wouldn’t be facing any immediate life threatening dangers, and with the Spirit Abilities he nurtured in the forest, he should even be able to solidify his lifestyle…

That’s what I thought.

[Pin Pon Pan! It is time to announce the rankings for the total viewers of the Chosen!]

Those words resonate on the screen.

The announcement from God alone was for some reason not in isekai language, but in a weird God language that allowed everyone to understand no matter who hears it.

By the way, it sounded like japanese to me.

[Congratulations, Chosen Number 1,000, Kurose Hikaru, you shone as the number 1 in the 1st Total Viewers Ranking! As a prize for winning, you have been awarded 3 Points!]

I was listening to that announcement in a daze.

I was drinking mariage freres tea.

Guess I will enjoy a long nice sleep in a while after I watch what happens here for a bit.

I even thought that.

“Onii-chan is first place, huh. If he had gotten those points sooner, it would have been a bit easier.” (Celica)

“Right-nii~. God really has bad timing.” (Karen)

“Right?” (Celica)

Honestly speaking, I even felt a sense of achievement.

That was most likely the same for Brother.

Even though he should be tired, he has an incredibly refreshed face.

He has a bit of tears falling down from the happiness of getting out from the forest.

After that, he even leaked out a smile he hasn’t shown in a while, and Karen and I were truly relieved by this.

Until the moment God announced the addition of a new function.

[And! From here on, you can get messages from the viewers on Earth! A mailbox has been added to the Status Board, so please confirm it.]

The sudden announcement made me do a spit-take with my tea.

“Cough cough! You are kidding, right?! Why this timing?! Karen!” (Celica)

I instruct my little sister who is sitting in front of the computer.

If it is Karen who can easily go over 10 characters in one second, she should be able to send Brother a message faster than anyone.

I figured the ability to send messages would be added at some point in time.

But to think it would be with this timing!

I knew it. God is our enemy.

I thought that maybe Brother had been transferred by coincidence.

But why in this very moment when he has finally gotten out of the forest?

“Karen, did you send it?! It is fine to send hundreds, so hurry—” (Celica)

But what I saw was Karen with a red face in front of the computer.

“C-Celican…what should I send Onii…? Do your best…?” (Karen)

“Y-You idiot! When it comes to Onii-chan, this girl really turns into an airhead…” (Celica)

I forcefully move my little sister aside, and send a message to Brother.

But on the TV screen on the wall, there’s Brother who has opened the messages, and is standing there, spaced out.

There’s not even the need to confirm what kind of insults he must have received from the messages he saw.

“…We didn’t make it in time…huh… Onii-chan…” (Celica)

“C-Celica… I am sorry… I…” (Karen)

“It can’t be helped. It is the fault of God…” (Celica)

I obviously had already accounted for the possibility that the message function would be implemented without any previous notice.

That’s why the ‘setting fire onto Brother’ in itself was a gamble of sorts.

The chances of him dying in the forest without being able to get viewers.

The chances of the message function being added before he got out from the forest.

But if it is messages, if it is me or Karen, I had the confidence that we could send a message first.

It was a gamble with plenty enough chances of winning.

—We are purposely setting the fire only to obtain viewers, so don’t worry.

—Our family is all doing well, so it is okay.

—Live.

That’s what I intended to tell him.

Even though I understood plenty well that this would happen if I were to fail.

That’s why, it is not Karen or God who are at fault here…

The sight of Brother on the screen in tears trying to explain was stabbing my heart.

I am the one who orchestrated this situation.

It is what I chose in order to save Brother.

“Onii-chan…did I make a mistake…?” (Celica)

That figure of Brother with an ashen face dyed in despair, walking unsteadily, ended with me being unable to send him my words of apology.

“Celican…at this rate, Onii is going to die… What should we do…? What would be the best thing to do? I am sending him messages, but…he is not opening them… What do we…do…?” (Karen)

“It is okay. That’s our Onii-chan there, you know. He won’t be dying so easily.” (Celica)

I didn’t feel like blaming my little sister.

One part because there’s no point in doing so, but most of all, I myself had been caught completely off-guard. Even if I had sent the message, there’s a high chance I would have been one step too late.

“Onii-chan…” (Celica)

I could only watch Brother staggering on his feet.

I really am happy that Brother has managed to barely keep himself alive.

But I didn’t want to break his heart.

How can I save the heart of Brother?

…We still have things we can do.

“Karen, we are moving. Let’s prepare ourselves to back up Onii-chan, in a way that we can support him no matter the situation.” (Celica)

“Yeah, that’s my intention too, but…what do we do with that guy?” (Karen)

I intended to release ‘that guy’ -Ozawa- and have him be arrested by the police once Brother had reached a safe place.

But the situation has changed.

The message system is made in a way that you have to open the old ones first and go up from there. The message box of Brother must be filled with unread foul insults. The chance of Brother opening those is low.

In other words, even if we were to release Ozawa here and messages turning their hand were to reach Brother, the chances of him opening those are unbelievably low.

—Then there’s little meaning in letting those viewers go.

I don’t know if God has evil intent. There’s the chance that it was bad timing. But with the fact that ‘Brother was coincidentally chosen’, I have been feeling like that chance is low.

I will keep Ozawa for a bit more as an insurance to go against the ill-intent.

“Let’s leave Ozawa for a bit more.” (Celica)

“Got it.” (karen)

By orchestrating the biggest fire of this century, we managed to make Brother the most viewed Chosen.

Thinking about the number of crystals he used to escape, even when he was 1st place, it was still a really close call, so the decision itself wasn’t a mistake.

But not clearing his name in the turning point that was the 10th day was a clear blunder.

We ourselves had almost all of our emotional bar taken away in the time when Brother was risking his life, and we couldn’t make a composed decision in time.

Even though…I could have released Ozawa at a sooner timing, have him arrested, and make them all turn around…

“I made a mistake… Hey, scold me…Onii-chan…” (Celica)

My words couldn’t reach Brother.