Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"Right! Right! I knew you'd understand me, Ming! Summer is all about soaking up the sun! Getting a natural tan and then showing off your swimsuit tan lines, just like Ah-Qing did last year!"

Qingxia, who was called out, also came out of the kitchen. She was wearing a high-slit racing swimsuit. To be honest, although she didn't show as much skin as the others, Kuroba Akira thought it was the most erotic.

Qingxia said as she took off her kitchen apron.

"I didn't tan like that on purpose... and my skin has returned to its normal color now."

Last summer, Qingxia's skin was still brownish, giving her a sporty girl vibe. But that was the result of hard work and sun exposure for competitions; it wasn't her natural skin tone.

So after a winter and a spring of skincare, Qingxia's skin has returned to its normal color.

Looking at Qingxia now, I won't mistake her for being simple-minded anymore; it seems skin color does indeed create stereotypes.

"Let's do it one more time! Ah Qing, do you even deserve the name 'Qingxia' anymore?! Your character traits will disappear!"

"My skin isn't the only characteristic of my character..."

"Hmph, I know what you're worried about. You're afraid Ming won't like it, but I can tell you with certainty that this pervert is really into this kind of thing. He even told me last time that if you're going for the hot girl type, dark skin is more suitable."

Kuroba Akira corrected him from the side.

"Wait, I only said it was more suitable, not that I liked it..."

"Hehe, but last time when I applied the brown foundation I got from Sister Hong all over my body, your reaction was even better than before, and the diameter even got bigger! Facts speak louder than words!"

"..."

The others also looked at Kuroba Akira, who looked away and whistled off-key.

Lan Yi, who was resting her chin on her hands on the table, sighed. She could tell that Zhen Cheng and Qing Xia were both interested, but she didn't want to see everyone in the coffee shop turn into brown-haired girls, so she kindly reminded her colleagues.

"Hey, don't fall for Makoto's tricks again. If everyone gets tanned, that's what it means to lose your character's traits. You all know that Akira is very fickle. Just because the first reaction is good doesn't mean the subsequent reactions will be the same. Besides, Makoto has already completely ruined the first impression. If you follow her example, the value of tanned skin will only plummet."

These words made perfect sense and immediately calmed Haruka and Makoto back to their senses, preventing them from being led by the nose by Makoto's words.

"Tch, another washed-up celebrity is ruining my plans!"

"So you admit it was for your own sake, right?"

This wasn't the first time Lan Yi had stopped Makoto.

Whenever Makoto comes up with some outrageous ideas to seduce others, Lan Yi would offer some advice. Of course, if they insisted on listening to Makoto, Lan Yi wouldn't bother to stop them.

Actually, Lan Yi didn't intend to get involved in their affairs at first.

However, she later discovered that Qingxia could remain objective and fair under any circumstances, and was even able to persuade Tongzi.

But when it comes to her own affairs, she's like a complete novice in love, easily blindly following the opinions of others.

They belong to the type where bystanders see things clearly, while those directly involved are often confused.

Lan Yi couldn't stand it, so she would occasionally offer a word of advice.

"Could it be that you invited everyone to the pool party for this reason, sister?!"

Makoto was furious and went to grab her older sister's neck, but Makoto quickly pulled her back and used her empathy to restrain her younger sister.

"Ugh...! Sister...!"

Zhencheng felt her legs were a little weak, but she managed to hold on by supporting herself on the table with one hand.

Having accumulated considerable experience, she no longer gets so easily swayed by such tricks that her legs tremble and she can't walk.

"I'm innocent! The pool party was just because it was too hot, and also because I didn't want to waste time arranging to go to a public pool tomorrow!"

"Isn't that just trying to take advantage of other people's time?"

"Because I used up all my time at the beginning of the month...hehe~"

"Trying to be cute won't work! Go to hell! I'm going to tie you up and leave you to bake in the sun so you can watch us play in the water with Kuroba-kun!"

"No way! Even if you treat me like a water gun, that's fine! But no idle play! I hate idle play!"

Zhencheng pounced on them, ignoring the effects of empathy, and launched a self-destruction offensive. The two sisters wrestled together, making for a very pleasing scene.

Everyone's used to it; if you want to deal with Makoto, you still have to get Makoto to handle it. It's become a common sight.

Actually, I wasn't so hot after eating the strawberry shaved ice, but I did sweat a lot. Kuroba Akira wanted to take a shower, so he went to change into his swim trunks.

Thinking this, Kuroba Akira took out his phone from his pocket and put it on the table, preparing to go back to his room to change into his swim trunks.

Qingxia noticed that her phone was playing a live stream and asked a question.

"Wise ruler, are you watching the new virtual YouTuber?"

"Oh... I forgot to turn it off after I finished watching it. I just wanted to check how 'they' were doing."

Kuroba Akira is also paying attention to some new virtual YouTubers, but he's not looking for promising newcomers. Instead, he's watching the 'god-like YouTubers' mixed in with these virtual YouTubers.

After Grandpa Kobayashi got the livestream venue and facilities sorted out in the other world, the gods quietly began their livestream.

There was absolutely no sound, because nobody was watching.

This was something Kuroba Akira hadn't anticipated; the gods... were completely unsuitable for live streaming.

First of all, their numbers are very small. There are not many gods who can even resemble humans, let alone make them show their faces as broadcasters.

So, not showing one's face is fine, since virtual avatars can be used now. But that would mean losing the character's distinctive features, which is similar to what Makoto just said—it would become too ordinary.

Furthermore, with the emergence of a large number of virtual streamers, streamers without distinctive features will easily blend into the crowd.

Moreover, the gods' live-streaming skills are also appalling.

He can't play games, can't create entertaining content, can't do casual conversation, his live streams are boring, and he's arrogant, acting like the audience owes him millions... It's no wonder he's popular.

The competition in the live streaming industry has become increasingly fierce. Those who have no professional skills become nothing more than ordinary people on the street after becoming live streamers, and no one cares about them at all.

The plan that Kuroba Akira had previously devised—to have the gods lend their abilities in exchange for faith support—was completely unfeasible.

Because these useless gods can't even accumulate a basic fan base.

Whether it's divine protection or divine power, it all falls under the category of a "pay first, deliver later" transaction.

Only agents can directly use the abilities bestowed by the gods; ordinary people must first offer their faith to receive protection.

But who would actually worship a virtual streamer? There are far more people with different fantasies than these cyber gods.

If there were true fans, it could at least gather some faith, but the current situation is that there aren't even any casual fans, let alone true fans.

Kuroba Akira shook his head, saying that this was even worse than those streamers who sold their bodies.

These gods are like people who are used to staying at home. When asked to work, earn money, and be self-reliant, they become completely unable to adapt to society. They are simply beyond help.

Grandpa Kobayashi came over to ask Kuroba Akira for advice. He didn't expect them to become a big hit, but at least they could support themselves.

After observing for a while, Kuroba Akira felt that it might be better to change the track.

This track is a new track that has emerged recently...

Just then, Qingxia picked up Kuroba Akira's phone and pointed at the screen.

"Kuroba-kun, look at this. Has this streamer accidentally wandered into another world? Is this in Asakusa?"

"...It shouldn't be an accidental entry; it's probably just another reckless fool who went on an adventure."

This is the new track that Kuroba Akira was just talking about: 'Spirit Detective Streamer'.

In the world where Kuroba Akira lived in his previous life, there were similar streamers, but everyone knew they were fake, created with special effects, and scripted, so once the initial curiosity wore off, no one paid any attention to them.

But this world truly has metaphysics, truly has strange phenomena and gods, and even other realms.

Those who are naturally gifted can enter other worlds, and those with a little ability can come and go freely.

Then, because Mr. Kobayashi used poisonous radio waves to connect the signals between the two worlds in the other world, these inspired people were able to enter the other world to broadcast live.

At first, people didn't believe it, thinking it was fake, special effects, or just a set.

However, given that AI technology is not yet mature, the eerie and unrealistic scene is hardly something that an ordinary streamer could create with money.

People gradually began to believe that this world had a hidden 'side,' a world inhabited by non-human beings, a place people called 'the underworld,' 'the netherworld,' or 'hell'...

That's absolutely right.

And so, by a twist of fate, the field of spirit hunting became a popular one. The gods were not yet known to people, but the otherworld was discovered first.

People have become enthusiastic about exploring the unknown aspects of this world.

However, the other world is dangerous, or rather, extremely dangerous.

There are hardly any normal creatures in the shallow layer; most of them are monsters that were once humans who disappeared and were assimilated by another world.

They have no concept of good or evil, only a twisted obsession that will kill those they target.

However, he usually only kills when certain conditions are met, or he only kills specific people. It's a bit like a rule-based mystery, and there's always a chance to escape.

Only the most powerful demons would kill indiscriminately, mainly for food; humans are rare delicacies to them.

So if you accidentally stray into the deeper layers, you can just say goodbye to this world.

However, courting death is human nature.

As more and more ghost-hunting streamers emerge, more people become aware of the existence of other worlds, and then, for some unknown reason, more and more rifts leading to those other worlds appear.

There are always fools who don't believe in evil or are ignorant and wander into another world, then violate taboos and risk their lives.

Kuroba Akira couldn't care less about their lives or deaths, but if he didn't get these idiots out, they would turn into monsters whether they were dead or alive, and then the other world would become more and more dangerous.

Grandpa Kobayashi is already debating with those in power about issues such as 'how to prevent ordinary people from entering the other world' and 'how to manage the other world.' The discussion is extremely heated, with all sorts of opinions, so there is still no clear solution to be implemented.

At present, we can only save one person at a time. If we can't save them, then so be it, but we have to retrieve the bodies.

"Asakusa..."

"It should be around there. I just saw the sign for Chizuka 2-chome."

"Anyway, it's in Taitung District... not too far from here."

Kuroba Akira scratched his head and sighed.

"Sigh... there's really no other way, I'll go over there."

Qingxia looked worried as she spoke.

"Mingjun, are you going by yourself? Just to be on the safe side, you should take Xiaoguang with you."

"Yes, I know, I will take her there."

Kuroba Akira didn't try to be reckless. Although he was already quite familiar with the shallower aspects of the other world, there were still countless unknown dangers there, and he couldn't let his guard down.