At a location away from the building, receiving the smartphone from Kenji.

It's meant to indicate when and how to carry out the release.

The contact is Izuna, and I've clearly conveyed the purpose of this kidnapping to her—she understands completely, so there won't be any issues.

Even from overseas, an IP phone will work, and since it's only used via Wi-Fi, there's no problem.

"……So, this is basically a temporary pause."

"You're exhausted, aren't you? Sorry, I'm useless in situations like this."

KAREN, who had barely spoken since entering her grandfather's house, says apologetically, but it's the opposite.

I can't help in any other way, so it's only meaningful if I do this.

You'll be working yourself to death on this incendiary campaign from now on... Well, I should get started on the translation too, I suppose.

Honestly, I'm probably going to be busier from here on out.

Karen's already finished creating the translation AI, after all.

But the actual translation work is just beginning right here. And we're already behind other research teams by several hours.

To incite outrage against my brother, we'll need to set fires across the world. Karen isn't the only one who'll have to help—so I'll need to play the role of the overly enthusiastic younger sister, appearing on media with tears in my eyes, helping to stir the flames.

I sent a message from my smartphone to my team.

The first translated text has been decided.

My older brother was sent to the Ring Pill Continent. I begin translating from its official language. ◇◆◆◆◇

My brother, just

as I anticipated, became the center of a massive controversy—so much

so that the backlash in Japan was beyond imagination. I never thought someone would actually set fire to our house, but ironically, this incident ended up providing a perfect excuse for my parents to decide on moving. There were numerous

dangerous situations before my brother managed to cross the forest. Yet thanks to

the attention generated by the controversy, he ended up topping the viewership rankings, and as a result, he obtained more crystals than any other transmigrant. Though there were many twists and turns, ultimately making it through the forest was largely due to my preparations.

Of course, my brother put in the most effort.

The synergy between dark spirit magic and the favor of spirits. Above all, it was only because of my brother's unyielding spirit that I was able to pass through that long, endless forest.

That's why I managed to get through the forest.

Why I survived safely.

I had let my guard down.

I'd been tense for so long.

I thought everything would be fine now.

After all, as long as I handled the aftermath, I wouldn't die anytime soon, and I could even sustain myself using the spirit magic I'd honed in the forest—

that's what I'd been thinking.

"Ping pong paaan! It's time for the global ranking of all transmigrated viewers!"

Those words echoed from the screen.

Only the divine announcement portion uses a mysterious, incomprehensible divine language—unlike the otherworldly tongue, this one is understood by anyone who hears it.

Incidentally, it sounds like Japanese to me.

"Congratulations! Transferee Number 1,000, 'Kurose Hikaru.' You have claimed the prestigious title of first place in the first viewership ranking! As a prize for winning, you will receive three additional points!"

I listened to the announcement absentmindedly,

sipping my Marjorie Fraise tea.

I thought I'd wait a little longer to see how things develop, then finally get some proper rest after such a long time.

That was my exact thought.

"Brother's in first place. It would've been easier if you'd given me the points a little sooner."

"Yeah, totally. The gods really suck at timing."

"Mm-hmm."

To be honest, I even felt a sense of accomplishment.

Probably my brother felt the same.

Despite being utterly exhausted, he had a refreshing look on his face.

A few tears welled up from the joy of finally leaving the forest.

Seeing him laugh again after such a long time, both Kuren and I truly felt relieved.

—That was until the announcement came from the deity.

'And now! Starting today, messages from Earth's viewers can be received! A new mailbox has been added to the status board—please check it out.'

At the sudden announcement, I nearly spat out my tea.

　

'Cough, cough! No way! Why now, of all times!? Kuren!'

I shouted at my younger sister seated in front of the computer.

Kalen, who could easily type more than ten characters per second, should have been able to send a message to her older brother faster than anyone else.

I'd expected the feature to deliver messages directly to the recipient at some point.

But of all times, this one?!

Indeed, the gods must be our enemies.

I'd considered the possibility that her brother's transfer might have been accidental.

But why now—just as he'd finally escaped the forest and barely survived?—

"Kalen, did you send it!? You can send hundreds if you want, just hurry—"

Yet what I saw was Kalen frozen in place, her face flushed, sitting in front of the computer.

"S-Serikan... w-what should I even say to my big brother... 'Stay strong' or 'Be safe'...?"

"Ah, you idiot! When it comes to her brother, she completely loses it—"

She forcibly pushed her younger sister off the chair and sent a message to her brother.

Yet, on the wall-mounted display, her brother’s face was shown—opening the message and staring in shock.

There was no need to confirm what insults had been written in the message he had just seen.

"……I couldn’t make it in time……… Brother……"

"S, Serika… I’m sorry… I… I’m sorry…"

"It’s not our fault. It’s God’s fault…"

Of course, she had been aware of the risk that the messaging feature might be added without warning.

That was why 'making her brother go viral' was essentially a gamble.

The chance that her brother would die in the forest without gaining any viewers.

The chance that the messaging feature would be added before he escaped the forest.

But if it came down to messaging, she was confident she or Karen would be the first to send it.

It was a bet with a guaranteed win.

— Don't worry, I'm deliberately causing a scandal to gain viewers.

— Everyone in my family is fine, so it's all right.

— Stay alive.

That's what I intended to say.

I should have known, more than enough, that this would happen if I failed.

So it wasn't the fault of KAREN or of God—

Instead, the image of my brother, tears streaming down his face as he pleaded his case on screen, pierced straight into my heart.

I'm the one who brought this situation upon us.

It was my choice, made to save my brother.

"Big brother... did I make a mistake...?"

Staring at my brother, his face ashen with despair, stumbling forward, I couldn't even deliver my apologies.

"Serikan... older brother, you're not going to make it like this... what should I do... what can I even do? I've been sending messages... but he won't open them... what should I do... me...

It'll be alright. He's our older brother. He won't die so easily."

I couldn't bring myself to scold my younger sister.

There was no point in blaming her, and above all, I myself had been utterly drained. Even if I had sent a message, I likely would've been one step too late.

"Older brother..."

All I could do was watch my brother stagger forward, unsteady on his feet.

I was truly relieved that his life had just barely been saved.

But I never wanted him to break inside.

How could I possibly save my brother's mind?

—There's still something we can do.

"KAREN. Move. Get ready to back up your brother, so you're prepared to support him no matter what."

"Yeah, I'm planning to do that too... but what about him?"

Him—Ozawa—was supposed to be released once her brother reached a safe place, then handed over to the police.

But the situation has changed.

The messages can only be opened in chronological order. Her brother's message inbox is probably filled with unread insults. It's unlikely he'll read them all.

That means even if we release Ozawa now and send him a message of betrayal, the chances of her brother actually reading it are practically zero.

—So, there's little point in letting go of these viewers right now.

Whether God has ill intent or not is uncertain. It could just be bad luck. But once it became clear that "by chance, my brother was chosen," I began to doubt that explanation.

OZAWA should be kept on hold as insurance against malicious intent.

"Let's keep OZAWA for a while."

"Got it."

By turning him into the central figure of this century's biggest scandal, we made my brother the most-watched transmigrator.

Given the number of crystals used to escape, finishing in first place was barely possible—so this choice wasn't wrong.

But failing to clear his name by the milestone of the tenth day was clearly a mistake.

We ourselves had poured nearly all our emotional resources into the fact that my brother was risking his life, which left us unable to think clearly.

There was surely a way to turn public opinion around by releasing and arresting Ozaawa just a little earlier...

"I made a mistake... me... Please scold me... brother..."

My words will never reach my brother.