Episode 364: Kudryavka's Lively Everyday Life

As we stepped inside that concrete building—

"Hey, squeal! Like a pig! You damn fatass!"

"Gwaaahhh— Gwaaahhhhh!"

A menacing voice echoed.

"Come on, come on! Say you want it!"

"I-I-I-I want... "

"A pig talking? Don't be ridiculous!"

And the crisp, crackling sound of a whip snapping.

As I open the thick door with an unsettling sense of dread, there in the middle of a quiet, utterly ordinary office, a couple is engaged in a type of intimate encounter not typically found in health textbooks.

I’ll pretend I never saw this—I quietly close the door.

"Take your time... "

"Ooooh, Kudryavka! How’s it going?"

"Ah, no, Nya-kky, don't peek!"

"Whoa! Sis, don't touch the eyeball—no, not the peephole, it hurts!"

While we fumble awkwardly, Mayoi lets out a sigh and says,

"Good work, Kodama."

"O-oh, good work, Sakurada."

The response comes from one half of the couple—a woman with a slightly childlike build, her fluffy twin tails dyed gray, unmistakable in appearance.

She, whose face nearly everyone living in this "unreal kingdom" would recognize, uploads official ranking videos every day under the name Kudryavka.

"Still picking on Taro-kun?"

"I'm not bullying him. It's love."

"Keep it reasonable."

My eyes widened at the vivid scars on the back of the man trembling in the corner of the room.

Is this really... being done with mutual agreement?

"By the way— as you can see, I'm in the middle of absorbing it."

"Get to work."

"I already finished filming and moved on to editing today's video."

"Not that. The request for audience with Reika."

"Oh... that one."

She tosses her sweat-soaked sports bra aside and, exposing her boyish upper body, pulls a new one from the closet.

Showing her body openly in front of others, with such bold confidence.

This, one might say, is the true essence of a charisma.

Incidentally, it seems this building also serves as her residence.

Just like the "Gambler" fellow, it appears everyone here has a tendency to make their workplace their home.

"Those noisy outsiders are driving me crazy, so I've been shutting down the front desk lately."

"So you've been playing around all day?"

"That's right. Unlike everyone else, I never run out of material to share. I'm just bored."

"Being in a dreamland and having no way to pass the time is quite ironic..."

"But you seem to be in the same boat, Reisen. The recent buzz has been all about those 'voice of reason' types arguing with each other, so you must be really bored."

Hmm.

So being a queen isn't quite as glamorous as it seems.

No matter how lavish one's lifestyle, it seems one eventually gets used to the same kind of excitement.

Perhaps a life without any troubles isn't as thrilling as it might seem.

"But lately, the debates have just been going in circles, you know? Things like drawing the line on sensitive content—why is it okay for men's nipples but not women's? It's always these kinds of topics that don't lead to clear conclusions, so I've decided to take a break from the 'voice of reason' role for a while."

"Then, perhaps for our queen, it's time to bring in a new conversation partner, don't you think?"

Mai gave me a wink.

"There you go. She's the savior of the 'Kingdom'."

I give a modest bow.

"Ah, um... thank you..."

"Hmm. I've been waiting all this time to see when you'd introduce her! Hello, 'Nameless JK'! I've watched all your videos!"

"Thank you so much."

"So, so? When's the next new release?"

"It's about exploring the other side of the 'Infinite Spring' door with Nanami. It should be up soon."

"That's the one Nanami said would be 'sensational'! Can't wait!"

And Kudryavka, still wearing a cheerful smile,

"Hey... Senior. It's about time you read the air and start getting ready?"

she says, her tone suddenly cold as she addresses the man in the corner—completely different from how she spoke to us.

The man looks utterly terrified, staring up at her, frozen in place.

"Hey... Come on, move already... You're just trash waiting for orders..."

Kudryavka muttered irritably as she stepped closer to him, delivering several sharp roundhouse kicks to his bare upper body.

"Come on, come on! What's wrong? Still wanting a reward, huh, senior? What a disgusting pervert!"

"Uuu... uuu..."

Each time she struck with her slender leg, fresh, vivid bruises began to form across his pale skin.

I was utterly shocked, yet neither Mayi nor Kudryavka seemed particularly bothered.

Even if it's called play, there must be limits to this... Besides, the man in question seems genuinely in pain.

"...Is this usual for you?"

When I asked,

"Probably, yeah."

Mayi looked at me with a motherly gaze, saying, "Ah, I was like that too once."

...So this is actually their 'normal' life, huh.

"I'm sorry~ I'm totally hopeless with machines. But once the senior gets motivated, I'll hook up Rika and you right away."

The expression she gives me, always facing this way, is seriously creepy—like a doting older sister who's way too involved.

She's been kind of weird in her videos too, but... I never thought it'd go this far.

"Here! Is this what you want? Say it! Say you want it! Come on, hurry up! Hurry up!"

"I... I want... it..."

Don't talk like a pig!