NOVEL NEXT Chapter 159: Reporting the Unbelievable
The Explorer's Association building loomed over us like a modern fortress, its glass panels gleaming under the morning sun. Despite having been here countless times, today felt heavier—like the weight of the spire's secrets had followed me out of the dungeon.
Asakawa, walking beside me, kept glancing at her phone, her brow furrowed. "You've seen the trending tags, right?"
"I haven't," I admitted. "Too busy dealing with real-world consequences."
"Well, UNKNOWN, Kisaragi Tsukasa, and Asagao are all trending right now," she said, tilting her screen toward me. "Also, there are conspiracy theories about you being a dungeon AI or an alien."
I snorted. "An AI wouldn't have to deal with student loans."
Her laugh was short-lived as she scrolled further. "Still, this is big. Everyone's talking about the spire. There's even a hashtag about my stream—#AsagaoSavedLives."
I stopped in my tracks, rubbing the back of my neck. "That stream probably caused more chaos than it saved."
"Hey, I didn't mean for it to blow up like this!" she protested. "I was just trying to help."
"I know. But now we're here to clean up the mess."
The Association's lobby was a hive of activity, as usual. Explorers, researchers, and admin staff moved about with purpose, their conversations blending into a low hum. Despite the crowd, I could feel the occasional glance in my direction—recognition spreading faster than I'd anticipated.
"Let's get this over with," I muttered, leading the way to the reception desk.
The clerk greeted us with a practiced smile. "Ah, Mr. Kisaragi. The branch chief is expecting you. Conference Room 3."
"Thanks," I replied curtly, adjusting the strap of my bag.
Asakawa nudged me. "You don't have to be so grumpy. It's not like they're going to scold you."
"They might scold you," I said, earning an exaggerated pout.
The branch chief was already seated when we arrived, flipping through a tablet with a look that screamed "overtime-induced exhaustion." He barely glanced up as we entered.
"Kisaragi. Asagao. Good work on the spire," he said, his tone more functional than friendly. "Though I see you've caused quite the stir online."
I slid into the chair across from him. "If you're about to lecture me about PR, don't bother. I've already heard it from Grandma."
"Lecture? No, no," he said with a dismissive wave. "If anything, the publicity might work in our favor. Public interest in dungeon exploration has been declining—your little stunt could reignite it."
Asakawa perked up. "So you're not mad about the stream?"
"Let's call it a double-edged sword," he said, his gaze sharp despite his casual tone. "The good news is, people are paying attention. The bad news? They're paying attention to you. Expect a lot more scrutiny moving forward."
"Great," I muttered. "Just what I needed."
The chief chuckled, sliding his tablet across the table. "Speaking of scrutiny, your identity as UNKNOWN is no longer a secret. It's trending everywhere."
"I figured as much."
"Any concerns?"
"Not really. If anything, this simplifies things. Now I don't have to explain why I keep disappearing from school."
Asakawa snorted, earning a sharp look from the chief. "And you, Miss Asagao. Your stream was… unconventional, but effective. The evacuation went smoother thanks to your efforts. Just don't make a habit of live-streaming crises without consulting us first."
She nodded sheepishly. "Got it. No more unplanned heroics."
Outside, Asakawa leaned against the wall, her phone in hand as she scrolled through the endless notifications. "This is insane," she muttered. "People are messaging me non-stop. My friends, my fans… even my old teachers are reaching out."
I raised an eyebrow. "Your teachers?"
"Yeah. One of them said they always knew I was destined for greatness." She rolled her eyes. "This is too much."
"Welcome to my life," I said dryly.
She shot me a look. "You don't even check your messages."
"Exactly."
By the time we made it back to school, the whispers had already begun. Students clustered in small groups, their conversations halting as we passed. I kept my head down, hoping to make it to my seat without incident. Asakawa, on the other hand, seemed to thrive under the attention, waving and smiling like she was on a victory lap.
"Good morning, Tsukasa-kun!" she said cheerfully as we reached our classroom.
"Morning," I muttered, sliding into my seat. "Enjoying the spotlight?"
"Not as much as you," she teased, gesturing to the growing crowd of curious onlookers. "You're the talk of the school."
"Lucky me."
Before she could respond, another voice cut in. "Morning, Kisaragi-kun!"
I looked up to see Nonohara Akari, one of Asakawa's friends, grinning at me. "So, it's true? You're the mysterious UNKNOWN?"
"Y-Yeah, I guess," I said, already regretting showing up today.
Akari leaned closer, her expression turning curious. "Hey, do you think I could make it to the middle floors? I've been training a lot."
"That… depends," I said cautiously.
"On what?"
"On how much you like being alive."
She blinked, then burst out laughing. "Wow, you're blunt."
"Not when it comes to dungeons," I replied.
The morning dragged on, the weight of everyone's stares growing heavier with each passing minute. By lunchtime, I was ready to bolt, but Asakawa had other plans.
"Let's eat in the cafeteria today," she said, dragging me along before I could protest.
The cafeteria was no better. The moment we entered, conversations ceased, and all eyes turned to us. Asakawa, ever the extrovert, waved it off and led me to a table in the corner.
"Relax," she said, unwrapping her lunch. "It's not like they're going to swarm you."
"They might," I muttered.
She laughed, but her expression softened. "Hey, you're handling this better than I thought."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you're not hiding in the library," she teased.
"I'm considering it."
Her laughter was warm, and for a moment, the tension eased. But as I glanced around the room, the whispers continued, reminding me that my life had taken a sharp turn into chaos.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, I stood abruptly, eager to escape. But as I turned to leave, a familiar voice called out.
"Kisaragi!"
I froze, recognizing the sharp tone instantly. Turning slowly, I saw Ikemen-kun storming toward me, his face a mask of barely restrained anger.
"I told you not to get cocky," he growled, kicking a desk as he approached.
"Great. This guy again," I muttered.
Before I could respond, Asakawa stepped between us, her expression calm but firm. "Kurihara-kun, you're making a scene."
He scowled. "Stay out of this, Asakawa. This is between me and him."
"Actually, it's between you and school policy," she said, gesturing to the damaged desk. "Vandalism's a punishable offense, you know."
Kurihara hesitated, his anger faltering under her sharp gaze. I took the opportunity to step around him, making my way to the door.
"Let it go," I said over my shoulder. "You're not worth the trouble."
His shout followed me down the hall, but I didn't bother looking back. Some fights just weren't worth my time.