Chapter 80 – The Director-General Arrives

“It’s mе.”

“Аh, Dirесtоr-General Dаikуo! Welсome tо mу hоmе…”

То my surprisе, Directоr-Gеnerаl Dаikуо Тsuguyа of thе Labyrinth Мinistrу hаd сome tо visit my hоme!

I had beеn nоtified in advancе thаt he would be coming, but I nеvеr expectеd him tо arrive аlonе.

Не wоre a hat pullеd low, brand-nаmе sunglаsses, and а light bluе рolo shirt.

Нis exрosed uppеr аrms were thiсk.

Тhis wasn’t thе muscle оf a typiсal Diеt mеmber.

His height was abоut the sаmе аs mine.

Тhat is to sау, аround the mid-180сm rangе.

Yеt, thе shееr bulk of his рhуsiquе was оn а completely different level.

“You must be Little Black Pepper Spice. Well, you were in the form of a girl back then, so from my perspective, this is our first meeting.”

The Director-General smiled warmly.

Hmm, being such a handsome man, even slight changes in his expression greatly altered his impression.

He might actually be a more approachable person than I thought.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s been a while, Director-General.”

“Ah, pleased to meet you! I’m counting on you. We’ve been having you handle cases related to Witches intensively, after all. They’re dangerous matters that the Labyrinth Ministry can’t get around to, and where clumsy staff might even end up being manipulated instead. You’re a great help.”

“Ah, no, no. You’ve helped us in various ways too… Ahem. It must be hot outside. Please, come in and cool off.”

“Much appreciated! I’m actually drenched in sweat.”

With another manly smile, the Director-General stepped inside.

My home has carpet laid over the flooring, with a large chabudai low table presiding in the room.

I have him sit using cushions as he pleases.

Incidentally, my streaming PC is actually on this low table, and I’ve been doing my streams while sitting on the floor.

For Spice, this is the most comfortable size.

Now then… what does a sitting Diet member drink?

We don’t have any fancy tea like that in my house.

“Director-General, is zero-calorie cola okay for now?”

“Sorry to make you go to the trouble. That’s fine, thank you.”

As a light refreshment, I also bring out some mizu yōkan jelly I received from Mashiro’s family home.

I hear it uses salt, making it the perfect summer sweet.

For a while, the two of us silently ate the mizu yōkan.

This is delicious.

“As for the reason I came here, I believe Murakami-kun mentioned it.”

“Ah, yes. That you were coming to observe a stream… Director-General, are you interested in streaming?”

“As a former active streamer, it would be a lie to say I’m not interested… I wonder, is it better to stream while wearing a cute Avatar?”

“Don’t you think you have your own way of doing things, Director-General? I mean, streaming while still being a sitting Diet member?”

“My term has about a year left… I want to entrust the Labyrinth Ministry to a reliable successor… But within the party, I’m still considered quite young, you see…”

Well, he’s still in his forties.

“Is today your day off? Ah, Diet members don’t really have days off, do they?”

“Ah. During one’s term, it’s pretty much work all the time. I’m confident in my physical stamina, it’s not a problem. But… not being able to spend time with my child is a bit of a concern.”

That must be tough.

So, it was decided that to help the busy Director-General Daikyo take his mind off things, I would show him how I stream.

“The Witch of the Mind is probably watching my streams and launching attacks based on them, so I’m planning to use that to lure her deep into the mountains. Specifically, somewhere like Lake Okutama or the Otherworld, where the damage seems relatively minor…”

“I see…! That sounds like a good idea. We’ll coordinate in that direction as well… So, could you show me your stream?”

“Understood. I’ll send out the notice for a guerrilla stream. Um, is it okay if I mention that the Director-General is here?”

“That’s fine.”

“Then I’ll get into character for a bit, excuse me. Flota.”

‘…Master, this guy is dangerous! He’s a Hero-class in the flesh! The same type as that Yatagarasu from the other day!’

“You really become meek when strong people are around, huh.”

With a grumbling Flota floating above my head, I transform with a “Metamorphose!”

Spice has appeared!!

“I’ve transformed! Alrighty then, I’ll announce a guerrilla stream starting in broad daylight! A surprising guest will appear!!”

Once I posted it on Tsubuyakix, reactions came flooding in.

※ ‘Who’s the collab with?’ ‘Looking forward to it!’ ‘Someone who looks good next to Little Spice would probably be a cute type, right?’ ‘Is it Little Shiroko?’

Hahaha, it’s the Director-General of the Labyrinth Ministry, of all people!

As expected, once the chat stream started, astonished voices spread through the comment section.

※ ‘It’s the Director-General!!’ ‘A spontaneous collab with a Diet member!?’ ‘Black Pepper Spice has some mysterious connections lol’

“I see, so this is how you stream… This is educational. Ah, hello everyone, listeners. I’m Daikyo Tsuguya, Director-General of the Labyrinth Ministry. Today, I’m visiting Ms. Black Pepper Spice’s home and having her teach me about streaming.”

“That’s right! The Director-General is Spice’s streaming disciple!”

※ ‘Treating the great Daikyo Tsuguya as a disciple lol!’ ‘He’s a Hero who once saved an entire city!’ ‘Little Spice has really grown up, huh…’ ‘She’s still a tiny little girl though!’

“Yeah, yeah, Spice hasn’t grown at all in height… Shut uuup!!”

“Hmm, hmm, so this is the back-and-forth banter… I see, I see…”

※ ‘He’s really studying!’ ‘He’s taking proper notes, I’m dying lol’ ‘This is a stream where we’re making the actual Director-General experience streaming’ ‘This stream is gonna stir up controversy’

“Alright then, we’ll take questions for the Director-General! We won’t pick any political ones, though!”

※ ‘A stream asking a sitting Diet member non-political questions!?’ ‘This is unprecedented lol’ ‘This guerrilla stream is insane!!’ ‘What’s your favorite food?’

“Favorite food… Let me think. When I was young, my wife worked part-time at a family restaurant… No, both my wife and I were Labyrinth Conquerors, doing something similar to what you’d call Adventure Streamers nowadays. It was her stance to work further to earn extra pocket money afterward, and I used to visit often. The doria, pasta, and meat salad I ate there are still memorable favorites of mine.”

※ ‘A bittersweet memory of youth has surfaced!’ ‘Isn’t this kind of a first-time revelation of info!?’ ‘So even the great Daikyo Tsuguya was a human like us after all…’

The reaction is better than I expected!

Occasionally inviting the Director-General for collabs might be a good move…!

I’ll add that to Spice’s plans.