Chapter 73: Game related Permission.

[[Ashen City] Today’s the last day #KaiNoIzumi #StarsFlow #AshenCity]

“First off, ha, I’m going to set a trap.”

I tried to recall everything I’d gone through in Ashen City so far.

When I hosted PK streams for fun, I got attacked by my juniors and seniors. During the war, even though I didn’t use

a nuke, I got scolded just because I was the reason the war started. And when Koga-chan played a prank on me, the

Iztomos didn’t stop her properly, and I ended up in tears. Even on my trip to Oceanos, where I just went to watch, I

was betrayed by Nacchan.

After that, everyone kept bothering me.

Koga-chan set off a bomb at my base. Namikawa-senpai shot me instead of the target in an aiming duel. At the

casino, they took all my items, which was probably because everyone except me rigged the game.

So if I quit Ashen City today, it means I’d be ending my time in the game always being the victim.

I don’t want that, no matter what.

“I’ll, I’ll make a huge trap and get back at everyone….”

• You got scolded by Suzuhachi last time for this
• Are you getting scolded by all of StarsFlow this time?

“This time’s di, different. That time, Koga-chan didn’t know anything, so I, I picked on her….”

But now, everyone, including Koga-chan, is fully adapted to Ashen City. So if they fall into my trap, it’ll be their fault, right?

No hesitation remains in me now.

“I’ll say I’m leaving, and let people take all the stuff in my storage… but if they open it, boom… it’ll be fun, right?”

• Who are you going to call over first?
• Get revenge on Nacchan for the Oceanos betrayal

“I don’t plan to personally invite anyone. By now, everyone’s so used to this that they’d get suspicious if I called them over.”

Especially with Koga-chan, who reads my mind, or Aki-chan, who’s good at games—it wouldn’t work on them at all.

If it works on anyone, maybe Kurokami-senpai.

• But wouldn’t Mei-chan offering everything for free also look suspicious?

“I already said today’s my last day, so… they might just suspect a little. And since I’m offering it for free, most would want to accept.”

Of course, it probably still won’t work on Koga-chan, but if I can catch even one person, I’ll be satisfied.

Hopefully, it’ll be Akabane-chan who falls for it.

• It’s a bit worrying, but if Mei-chan’s okay with it…
• No way you’d open the storage yourself and get blown up, right? lol

Ah, this chilly, heavy feeling, it’s a first.

After enduring endless scorn and oppression… I’ve had enough.

It’s time to return as Kai No Izumi, the pro Vtuber and record-holder of Arcana Shooter Purgatory.

• She actually prepared all that?
• Who knew there was this much to do in Ashen City without mods?

The Iztomos in the chat were busy praising me.

Well, they’d never have guessed I’d prepared this much content.

Starting with a storage room rigged to explode, a dance stage made from a speed field, a roller coaster using sliders,

and even a planetarium where you can see the stars at night.

I nearly used up all the materials I’d saved, but it’s the last day, so why not go all out?

Upon checking, I see six people currently playing Ashen City: Nacchan, Koga-chan, Akabane-chan, Aki-chan,

Utsumi-chan, and Kurokami-senpai.

Now, all I need to do is wait for someone to show up.

Who will be the first to fall?

• But how are you even pulling this off in a post-apocalyptic world?

“…It’s called a game mechanic.”

“…Too much!”

• Is it real that no one’s come in an hour?
• Now that I think about it, no one’s really visited Mei-chan’s base, even in the best of times
• Plus, it’s way up in the mountains, so naturally, it’s hard to reach

But I said I’m quitting Ashen City today!

Isn’t it fair for at least one person to come?

“OO….”

It’s already 10 PM.

For me, who usually goes to bed around 11, I was starting to feel sleepy, my eyes blinking heavily.

Broadcasting until this hour to celebrate Christmas and winter break, only for nothing to happen at all…

“…Let’s wait just 30 more minutes.”

Thirty minutes passed, yet still, no one had come to my base.

• Why don’t you just tell them to come over and hang out?
• I get the trap idea, but it’s such a waste to leave everything unused.

“Maybe… that would be better…”

But it feels like I’m admitting defeat if I ask them directly…

[Suha: Izumi, what are you up to? I know you’re online, but I haven’t seen you around today.]

Just then, a message from Koga popped up in the chat. Could this be an opportunity? I hesitated, but knowing Koga,

she’d probably figure out my plan and turn it against me. Still, I couldn’t let a chance like this slip by.

[Izumi: Just organizing items at my base.]

In Ashen City’s chat, anyone on the server could read messages, so while it seemed like I was talking to Koga, it

would likely pique everyone’s interest. And if Koga ended up coming, that would be okay too, even if it was a bit

nerve-wracking.

[Suha: Well, we’re all getting together to hunt some aliens. Want to join us?]

“Aliens…?”

Come to think of it, Aki mentioned a couple of days ago that she’d upgraded the tech to alien levels. Alien hunting

was a new feature that appeared after I’d quit Ashen City, so I’d only seen it in videos.

• Let’s show them Mei-chan’s skills!
• Getting too fixated on one thing isn’t great…
• Maybe you can do the hunt today and come back to this tomorrow.

“But today is supposed to be my last day in Ashen City…”

• Just postpone it one day.

“A real man doesn’t take back what he says.”

• But Mei-chan’s a girl.
• She’s as stubborn as her mother. Mei-chan may be more masculine at heart than anyone else!

I’d like to say I’m actually a well-built, cool middle-aged guy with the mental age of forty. But no one would believe that.

“…What should I do…?”

Since they’re all gathering for alien hunting, it’s unlikely anyone will visit my base. And after spending nearly an hour

setting this all up, I’d hate to waste it. Plus, the clock was ticking toward 11 PM, and even if I joined, I’d probably end

up dozing off in the middle.

Honestly, I’m already feeling sleepy now.

If I joined the hunt, I’d just be a burden.

But no matter how much I think about it, there’s no way to accomplish both goals.

“Guess… I’ll just do everything I set up here by myself and call it a day…”

Why did it have to turn out this way—

• I really wish you wouldn’t.
• Just save it for tomorrow.

[Izumi: I’m probably going to log off soon, so I don’t think I can join.]

[Suha: If that’s the case, then I guess there’s no choice. Good night.]

[Izumi: Good night, everyone.]

[Yukari: Farewell!]

[Ayaka: Sleep tight, Izumi-chan!]

[Nanase: Bye-bye!] [Nekoto: Rest well.]

[Hikari: Until next time!]

• Ah.
• The gods have forsaken us.

“…What now? Doing this alone… really isn’t any fun.”

• Isn’t that obvious?
• Why not just go join them now?

“But all my weapons… they’re burning up over there…”

My base was already ablaze, with all my items and resources inside, and there was no way to get them out. There’s no

way I could participate in a high-level alien hunt with basic equipment.

“Still, isn’t it kind of… nice? It feels like watching a Christmas party.”

• Not nice at all.
• Did today’s Christmas party with your classmates feel like this too?
• Stop it.
• Why does my favorite VTuber have to be like this…?

“Oh, it’s all burned up. Well, then… guess I’ll get going. Goodnight, everyone…”

• It’s okay. As long as Mei-chan was happy…
• Byezumi!

“…Gah.”

As soon as I turned off the stream, a wave of regret washed over me.

Maybe I should’ve listened to the Izutomo and joined the alien hunt after all? They’re all such kind people; if I’d

asked for permission to leave midway from the start, it probably would’ve been fine.

Hopefully, no one gets mad that I skipped out on everyone’s fun activity alone…

“Thinking back, there really wasn’t any need to burn down my whole base, was there?”

“Maybe I could’ve just dropped by occasionally for fun instead.”

“…00”

“How foolish. What on earth was I thinking? I just hope no one finds it strange…”

“Ah…”

As she sat in a moment of regret, she looked outside the window. Snow was quietly falling, blanketing the view in

pure white. It hadn’t been snowing earlier, even just before the stream had ended.

It was now 11:50 PM.

“…Well, I guess it’s technically a white Christmas.”

And with that, another Christmas came to a close.

“…Argh!”

She spent the rest of the night kicking her blanket in frustration before drifting to sleep.

[Virtual ONtuber Minor Gallery]

[Title: Summary of Mei-chan’s Broadcast Today]

[Author: ᄋᄋ]

Officially announced that her Ashen City streams would end today. Of course, it’s only her leaving, and she

mentioned that the other members would likely keep going.

Still, she promised that she’d have some fun with everyone before officially logging off, setting up all sorts of cool

things: a warehouse trap with a bomb that would explode if opened, a dance stage made with an acceleration field, a

rollercoaster using sliders, and even a planetarium crafted with telescopes.

Yet, none of the members had plans to visit her base, given how remote it was. In fact, throughout the entire Ashen

City broadcast, the only time anyone came to her base was once or twice right after she’d finished setting it up.

To make matters worse, the other members announced that they were heading off to hunt alien creatures, leaving all

the content she’d prepared completely unused.

Still, Suzuhara, concerned by Mei-chan’s absence, suggested in the chat that she could come find her, and even

invited Mei-chan to join the alien hunt. But for some reason, Mei declined.

In the end, she went through all her prepared content by herself, set her base ablaze, and concluded the stream by saying it was all boring.

Many Izutomo viewers were moved by how pitiful she seemed and suggested that she should have joined the others for the alien hunt instead.

Even at the end, she tried to keep the mood light, but her voice was so forlorn that it only brought tears to her viewers’ eyes.

[Upvotes: 79 / Downvotes: 3]

ᄋᄋ: Don’t lie.

Loo: There’s no way someone this socially inept could pull off a livestream.

Loo: Come on, she probably had a blast with everyone at the end, right? Please tell me that’s true…

Maker: Suzuhara actually offered to come over first, so why did she refuse?

└SuzuIzu: This is the end of SuzuIzu…

ᄋᄋ: Just watching today’s stream felt suffocating.

Loo: It reminded me of the time right after I’d started high school, when my classmates suggested going out together,

but I thought I’d just ruin the vibe, so I stayed behind alone.

Loo: PTSD triggered.

User: Enough, enough, enough, enough!

Villainous Lady: Mei’s fans are all losing it. LOL

ᄋᄋ: All those who mocked Mei-chan’s “dorky” fashion choices, reflect on your actions.

Loo: Today’s stream, with the Christmas party and everything… if it wasn’t real, it would’ve been impossible.

Loo: I’m emotionally wrecked just from watching it.

Loo: Why is my favorite character like this???

Commander: Mei-chan is the one you chose, so just endure it, LOL.