I, Who Was Criticized as the World's Weakest S-Rank Explorer, Am Actually the World's Strongest Explorer - Episode 74

Episode 74  

The harassment directed at Rin was orchestrated by the Association’s Public Relations Bureau.  

The internal motives behind the Association’s upper management was to reinstate me as an S-Rank Explorer.  

And the strategy we devised to counter this—including public disclosure of information.  

“So… first, we need to corner them. To do that, we have to show just how terrible the environment within the Association really is. Ideally, I was thinking Rin could record a video for that. But if it’s too much, you can just say no.”  

Having Rin speak up herself would have the greatest impact.  

But it would undoubtedly draw mixed reactions and criticism.  

She looked scared. Her expression was tinged with fear.  

“………I think people will say a lot of things if I post a video. My first video… it blew up in a really bad way. It’s scary to think about how much worse things might get…”  

…I figured as much.  

The best option would still be for Rin to address it herself.  

But staying silent is the worst thing we can do.  

“…Honestly, ignoring everything might not be such a bad idea either. When things escalate, apologizing or addressing the issue can sometimes make it worse. Often, it’s better to just let the flames die down on their own.”  

…….Indeed, that might be one of the reasons.

“…But that only works if no more fuel is added, right?”  

“…Well, yes.”  

“There’s also the possibility the Association will keep pushing Rin even harder. That’s why I think it’s necessary for Rin to firmly deny their claims.”  

Of course, there would still be mixed reactions. But if Rin could deny it clearly now and we could force the Association to acknowledge the current reality, the situation would surely change.  

But I didn’t want to pressure Rin into doing anything she wasn’t comfortable with.  

If she couldn’t do it, I’d handle it myself.  

“Well, if Rin can’t, I’ll go with the original plan. I’ll record the video and get the current situation out to the public. Yuna, could I count on you for advice and editing?”  

Yuna placed a hand on her chin. She appeared to be thinking deeply about it.  

“Of course, I’ll compensate you.”  

“It’s not about the money,” 

She said, shaking her head.  

Then what was it?  

As I wondered, Yuna seemed to gather her thoughts and spoke up.  

“For this kind of exposé.… I actually know someone who specializes in collecting information and sharing it online. How about asking them to help out?”  

“…Really?”  

“Yeah. They’re a VTuber or a streamer who focuses on exposé content. We could release the video to them and have it spread through their network. If it’s picked up by enough creators, the Association will be the one under pressure this time.”  

“Exposé content? VTuber? …Rin, do you know anything about this?”  

“…No idea.”  

Rin and I exchanged puzzled looks, tilting our heads.  

Yuna gave a small, awkward laugh before glancing at us.  

“Well, there’s a niche for that type of content. Even before dungeon streaming became mainstream, it was pretty popular. Some of those creators still have a solid following today.”  

“……..…I see. But how do you know someone like that?”  

I voiced my curiosity, wondering if it was from a prior connection.  

Yuna scratched her cheek awkwardly. She looked a bit embarrassed.  

“Well… actually, I’m a VTuber too. I mentioned we’re in the same agency, right? Some of us focus on international audiences, so Japanese pressure alone won’t do much. They primarily stream in English but can also speak Japanese.”  

“…Seriously?”  

That is….. certainly appealing.

At present, as long as the Explorer Association is backed by the Japanese government, it’s a fact that no matter how many allies we gain within Japan, there remains a sense of unease.

That’s precisely why I had considered asking for WEA’s cooperation.

But the information I currently have regarding “S-Rank Explorer Stories” from other countries mostly comes from either suspicious nations with bad reputations or developing countries. Not exactly promising prospects.

Having a media-like presence that can clearly and broadly communicate the current situation in Japan to the entire world is reassuring. Even if it’s from a wide and unspecified audience.

“But are you sure this won’t cause problems? Won’t the Association target them?”  

Honestly, the agency might not even approve it in the first place.  

…The possibility of attracting the attention of the Japanese government lingered in my mind.  

However, Yuna shook her head.  

“That shouldn’t be a problem. You see, the agency I belong to is based in the U.S. It’s not super well-known in Japan, but it’s pretty popular in other countries. Still, we can check with the agency and, if they’re okay with it, move forward from there.”  

…….A U.S.-based agency, huh?  

I was surprised by her statement. But this unexpected ally could be a game changer.  

“The U.S., huh?”  

“Yep. The agency probably won’t have much of an issue with it. Plus, spreading Rin’s story internationally could be really effective. Not just in Japan—we could even involve other countries.”  

Yuna grinned confidently. That was exactly what I was hoping for.  

“For example, would it be possible to reach out to your streamer acquaintances and have them share the video, maybe even host streams reacting to it?”  

“Yeah, I think that could be arranged. There are plenty of creators out there who’d be willing to help, even if it means risking backlash for the attention it brings.”  

“…Then there’s the matter of traditional media.”  

“…That’ll probably be harder.”  

“Maybe, but if this issue becomes a massive online controversy and traditional media avoids covering it entirely, people will start questioning why. Even if we can’t confirm whether the Association or the government is exerting pressure, suspicions will inevitably arise.”  

“………That’s true.”  

“I still want to get the media involved in reporting this. For that, I’ll need Kiryu-san to step in.”  

“…Kiryu-san?”  

“Yeah, Kiryu-san has connections. He had appeared on various programs, even at local TV stations. If we tell them that streamers will begin releasing exposé videos on a specific date, media outlets looking to boost ratings will likely take interest and start covering the story.”  

While there’s a chance some media might shy away due to pressure—whether from the Association or the government—others might become driven by the desire to capture ratings or maintain independence. And they could step forward.  

Television still wields considerable influence. If it’s feasible, we should use that avenue as well.