Chapter 237 – You! You're watching, aren't you!?

I deсidеd tо divе intо the artificiаl dungеon!

Let’s sеe, let’s sее…

Нmm, hmm, hmm, thеrе аre psеudo-monstеrs using things likе shikigami сrоwdеd in hеrе.

It must havе beеn quite the hаsslе tо рrepаre аll this.

Then, in the соmment section, thеrе was someone knоwlеdgeable,

※『It seems thеу hired pаrt-timers tо usе сursе talismans and mass-рroducеd thеm in а short pеriоd』

“Еhhh!? You cаn do that!? Нmm, hmm, so it’s technolоgу that Little Наzuki genеralized, huh. I wоnder if it’s okaу to gеnеralize that kind of cursе. Well, whаtеvеr.”

It seеms you nееd а proрer оnmуоji fоr thе prераratiоns аnyway.

For now, Spice will happily enjoy clearing the artificial dungeon.

Levitate Ignite, Mentaris, Marinna…

『Master, you should be careful about this, zansu yo』

“Oh? What’s wrong, Karafuri? Flota isn’t coming out either.”

『Umm, I have this feeling of being watched, you know. Not by listeners, but from way, way above… I feel a dangerous gaze~』

“Ehhh! That means…”

The Demon King.

So she’s watching the stream, huh.

And possibly studying the team that’s opposing her?

How annoying—a Demon King who doesn’t get complacent!

『Karafuri and I discussed it and decided! Let’s trick those who aren’t our listeners for a bit!』

“Trick them?”

Note that, on the surface, Mentaris is skillfully covering things up using an avatar, making it seem like Spice is streaming while talking.

Somehow, it had become able to emulate Spice’s way of speaking!

『I’m assisting, Master』

“I see! So you’re using the data of Spice that Floppy recorded! Alright, then it’s meeting time. What do we do, what do we do?”

『First, we prominently display the three books that are out in the open as the main ones, zansu yo. Flota is famous, zansu, but we’ll leave that to Marinna, whose speech pattern is similar to Flota’s. The color is just a bit darker, zansu』

『I can hear youuu! Flota and I are completely different, aren’t we!? But, if it’s to protect Master, I guess there’s no choice~』

Thanks for the cooperation—much appreciated!

『And then, Karafuri will imitate a lesser grimoire』

“Oh ho ho!”

『Compared to us seven grimoires, lesser grimoires that have a somewhat will-like presence, or grimoires that are like fragments turned into books, are considerably lower in rank, zansu. From the Demon King’s perspective, those wouldn’t even be a threat, zansu ne』

“I see! So, we pretend to have something that seems amazing to humans but is nothing much to the Demon King, and mislead her about our combat strength!”

『Exactly, zansu! This is the first time I’ve felt this gaze, zansu. In other words, the Demon King usually doesn’t watch our streams, zansu! By tricking her with a plausible lie here, we can make the Demon King misjudge our combat strength, zansu yo. Once people form a fixed idea, they tend not to go out of their way to break it, zanssu kara ne. Especially when no suspicion has arisen yet, that’s how it is, zansu』

“Okay, okay! Then let’s go with that and trick her!”

This discussion is being delivered to listeners via a secondary audio channel!

The Meat Brigade conspired and decided to go along with Spice’s scheme.

But then, if we keep having meetings like this, we’ll fall behind on conquering the dungeon!

Let’s hurry!

“Aqua Spice! Whoa! Let’s wash through the inside of the dungeon!!”

Sweeping through with Tidal Wave, we dash through the dungeon.

I was running, wondering if I could make it within the top ten, if I could make it… when…

『Master, I’m checking the main stream, but at this pace, you’ll break through exactly in tenth place. Being right on the edge might better lure the opponent into carelessness』

“Alright, let’s go with that!”

While being mindful of pacing, using Ignite, Mentaris, and Marinna moderately…

And further, making gestures as if using the lesser grimoire that Karafuri is portraying.

Ahh, I’m glad I have the Grimoire of Colors!

I can use all sorts of magic that looks the part.

Note that Flota also, while not showing herself, uses levitation magic using Marinna as a cover.

All while making it seem like magic at the level of Levitation or Float…

“But, will the Demon King directly confront Spice? Is there a need to deceive her this much?”

『Ah, that’s, you see. It’s to trick that guy whose body the Demon King stole』

Flota answered Spice’s question.

That guy—Flota’s former owner, huh.

The Most Ancient Witch who summoned the Demon King and had her form stolen.

She’s watching the stream?

Flota, you’re looking ahead to the final showdown—Spice-style—that will come after defeating the Demon King, aren’t you…?

How far can you see?

And so!

While trampling through the dungeon, being careful of the pace, we break through!

Exactly tenth place—!

Spice, who jumped out amidst great cheers,

“Ooh~. I barely made it in time, huh. Spice might be lucky!”

When he said something humble, the surroundings got very excited.

Yeah, yeah, Japanese people love humble skilled individuals.

Aha, first place is Little Talisa from Sudan, second is Little Yuusha, and Little Sherry, Mr. White Knight, and Mr. Yata are all here too.

Ah, Little Chara, as planned, launched Mr. Yata and got eliminated, huh.

Delicious!

Well, Little Chara is busy, after all.

With that, the first screening is over.

Next is the final selection.

They’re going to narrow down this dream-team-like ten people by half!?