New Game Plus! ~The Struggles of a Popular VRMMO Livestreamer~ Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Collaboration

The “Crafting Room” built into Aran’s samurai style Home House, it was a place that would make streams of drool flow out of any production-main player’s mouth.
On the lacquerware shelves placed in this tatami room, there were, of course, comprehensive recipe books commonly sold on the market. But there were also Legendary Class ingredients and key-items like the「Dark Element (Blood of Black Kin)」 that was dropped by a Boss Mob on the same level as the High Dragon Drake. Rarely sold recipe books like 【Secret Crafting Techniques for One-Hand Katanas】 and ones that can produce the highest grade of lightweight armors【Secret Book of Krista Armor Crafting】; a large collection spanning all genres of Recipe Books lines the shelves.

「…… Now then, today we have the【Secrets to Elemental Armor Creation】, however…」

The elegant bamboo blinds swayed as a soothing breeze blew through the 2nd story of the samurai abode.

What was reflected in his view, was the all so familiar livestream interface.
Today’s livestream had a slight change of pace, Aran decided to broadcast himself crafting from a legendary class recipe book that he obtained some time ago.

「Oh, this is…… So it’s a recipe for crafting heavy armor huh」

『When you say heavy armor, do you mean for Knight and Fighter classes?』

Hearing Aran’s explanation the comment window began to flare up.

As the name implied, Heavy Type equipments were thick armors that covered your body.

Lightweight Type equipment were primarily composed of armors crafted from light materials like scales and leather. Compared to Heavy armors their defense was lacking, but they didn’t minus your speed and dexterity. On the contrary, they could even be given extra effects like「Increased Dexterity」 and 「Reduced Stamina Consumption」.

Cloth Type equipment had even less defensive power than lightweight types. Though their ability to prevent damage was said to be practically non-existent, Cloth equipment could have even more powerful enhancements than lightweight armor. There were a myriad of magic enhancements such as「Increased Intelligence」and「Fire Magic Damage Up」, so the magic classes of Wizard, Cleric, and Summoner preferred to use this equipment.
Incidentally, Cloth types came in plenty of designs. There were a lot of so-called「Fashion Equipment」, and many players would equip them so that they would be smartly dressed when going out to town.

In Dragon’s Krone, a player was free to choose both their Skill Build and their equipment type, which led to a wide range of different playstyles.
For instance, if you were a healing class Cleric and wanted to play Solo, then you could wrap yourself in the highest defense Heavy armor. If you did that then it would be possible to play solo by repeatedly hitting Mobs with a rod. Similarly, if you were a Fighter than you can nimbly dance around Mobs if you used status boosting lightweight armor. There were many possible playstyles that completely overturned a class’s typical image.

「If it’s an Elemental class armor then…, it’s an armor related to the Dark Element’s name huh. Oh, this is…… It’s the armor of that『Dark Knight: Black Moa』that I defeated some time ago. I have all the ingredients so for now let’s──」
「Aran-sama」

And, as Aran was about to take out the necessary ingredients while holding the recipe book in one hand, Sonya’s soft voice brushed against his ear.

If he were to engage in too much pointless chit-chat then, in terms of content, the quality of the stream would fall. After all, it would affect the viewers who watched the broadcasts later when they were turned into archives.

In other words, it was for something considerably important.

「Aah, umm」

Aran sent a quick glance to Sonya, and for a moment he couldn’t understand why she had called out to him.

It means that another player other than himself had come to visit.

And, there was only one Player that Aran gave that permission to.

「I’m sorry everyone. It appears a customer has arrived. I’ll stop the stream for now and, let’s see, I’ll restart the stream in 30 minutes」

It was a customer so important the Aran even suspended his livestream.

The Listeners began to shout lines of「Is it your girlfriend!?」「Go explode!」.
However, when the reflection of a man came into Aran’s view, the comment window became rowdy for a ‘different’ reason.

「Like hell that’s how it is. The person who came is my precious sponsor. It’s Igarashi-san from DICE」(Aran)
「…… Everybody, pardon me. Now then, Adeus!」(Igarashi)

The man standing next to Sonya stole Aran’s usual line, and lightly waved to the camera.

He was from the apparel maker that sponsored Aran, the head chief of DICE’s advertisement department.

「Oh my, I’m sorry. I seem to have interrupted your stream」
「You don’t have to worry about that. But still, it is rather unusual for you to come unannounced」

Changing the stream status to ‘offline’, Aran led Igarashi to the first floor living room as he began asking questions.

Is there some sort of urgent business?

「Huh? You didn’t receive an email?」

「Indeed. Aside from the email that was received one month prior from Igarashi-sama regarding the sales of the【Blizzaria Series】, no other message have arrived」

Following the two from behind, Sonya immediately searched through the mail box and responded.

「…… Is that so, I apologize. It must’ve slipped my mind」

「Yea. This is off-the-record, but because of the site managers at the『TOKYO Summer Collection』, there seems to be some disputes between the sponsors and the management committee you see. There’s been a major time schedule change. And because of that I’ve been cooped up in the office as of late」

Igarashi let out a deep sigh.

The many apparel makers who sponsor Dragon’s Krone livestreamers would be participating, and of course this would include DICE.
Thinking back, the lead sponsor for this year has changed, so there was likely different opinions between them and the management.

「How should I say…… It seems quite troublesome」
「Well, we are only a participating corporation, so I don’t think we have it too bad. I’m sure the people who have it the worst are the management committee. I personally think it’s best to leave management to the professionals though. It seems like trying to get by with only political connections isn’t working out so well」

“That said, we’re apparently really swamped,” Igarashi spoke in an incredibly weary tone.
As the high-school that I am, the specifics are somewhat over my head.

「And so, Igarashi-san. Why did you come today?」

「Hmm, and what might that be about」

「……? Yeah, of course that’s fine with me」

Aran tilted his head at Igarashi’s request.

Incidentally, among the original designed equipment that DICE sold within the game, there were some clothing designs that DICE were sold in real life too.
When Aran was photographed as a model for those designs, it was said that many people would wear it if it was distributed.

「However, this time it will be slightly different. We will be collaborating with another brand that is also participating in the summer event」
「A Collaboration, is it」

“Collaboration”──
In other words…… I will be having a photo shoot together with another player, is that what he’s trying to say?

「I see. It’s to enhance the popularity huh」

「?? Who might they be?」

Igarashi was a bit hesitant to speak but Aran continued to press the question.

「Well you see…… It’s『Tinker Bell』」
「…… Eh?」

Aran was blindsided when he hear that name and only stood in surprise.

And, the livestreamer that Tinker Bell sponsored, Aran knew full well which Player it was.

「I’ve been told this isn’t part of some scheme. If we and Tinker Bell were to work together, I believe it will be beneficial to us」
「No, that might be true but…… But, well, it will be popular, that’s for sure」

Aran nodded his head in a slightly uneasy manner.
His hair swayed, rays of sun shining into the living room illuminated the beautiful silver strands.

Even if I knew about that Player, I had never once met them face to face.

But, considering the current state of affairs, there’s the possibility that they might have some feelings of hostility for me.
If they do then it will be a bit…… No, it will be considerably troublesome.

Even if they knew each other, even while being conscious of each other, their two paths have never crossed──

Ever since Aran had appeared on the scene, She is the female player who has always tasted the bitterness of being 2nd place in stream rankings.

Chapter end