Karona Decided to Consult Someone

Karona decided to consult someone.

Of course, being scouted wasn't something she could discuss on stream. She had talked it over with Kokuyou and Sebas, but on matters like this, Secretary AIs tend to avoid committing to a clear opinion.

In the end, she was the one who had to decide. It's a human's judgment to make.

Which meant her consultation partner had better be a human. And more than that, someone trustworthy and tight-lipped.

"… And so, I've received offers from two boxes."

"I see. And that's why you came to consult us, the Dungeon Braver team."

As for Karona's consultation partners, naturally there was no one other than the members of Dungeon Braver. She explained the situation to Yamato, Yuuta, and Sakura, all three of them, and asked which they would pick.

"If it were me, I'd go with Nico Noir."

"Yeah. Same for me. They're a major, after all."

"If I had to choose between the two, I'd probably go Nico Noir too… reincarnation aside."

Unexpected! Nico Noir, overwhelmingly popular!

"… Is that so?"

"Yeah. Realistically speaking, it's questionable whether Hoshizora Production even has a future."

"Managing Director Kuroi is a little sketchy, though. From what I heard, the terms are standard. Not particularly good, not particularly bad."

"Once you factor in future prospects, it's no contest. The majors are strong. The reincarnation thing is iffy, but fans get that, and they say the real ones stick with you anyway…"

Hmmm, is that so…? Karona's heart wavered.

"That said, with a small box like Hoshizora Production, there's also the angle that you can aim to be the ace."

Sakura offered up that opinion.

"At a box as big as Nico Noir, the competition for ace is cutthroat. Hoshizora Production, on the other hand, is only three people, right? Even if they added another batch and doubled to six, that would still fit in a single party. You could definitely aim for ace."

"Ace… so there's that angle too!"

"In BCD, where dungeon-clearing is the main content, viewers do tend to concentrate on the ace team!"

Hmm, hmm. Karona nodded along as she listened to Sakura.

Sakura would have kept going, but Yamato raised his hand and spoke up.

"… But Nico Noir went so far as to design the reincarnation avatar, right? Doesn't that mean they're actually pretty serious about producing you? It also lines up with what Karona-jou wants, wishing to become an Ojou-sama."

"Y-Yamato-sama's theory is also a real possibility…! Indeed, Managing Director Kuroi's attitude was, well… ah, off the record please!?"

"I know, I know. Karona-jou's consulting us because she trusts us."

Swayed by Yamato's remark, Karona started to think he had a point too.

Watching all this, Yuuta spoke up with a weary sigh.

"You could also just not affiliate with either, and keep going at your own pace as a solo streamer, you know? Another company's scouts might come along. Or they might not."

"Eeeh!? Such a path exists!?"

"If what you don't like is that picking one will ruffle feathers with the other, then that's an option too. Besides, the way you're so easily swayed by Sakura's and Yamato's opinions… your weak will is showing, isn't it?"

"Uguuuu!! Y-yes, I'm indecisive, fine…!"

"Ah, but I'm not saying that's all bad, you know? It beats wrestling with it alone and getting stuck. And here's the most important part… in the end, it comes down to what you want to do, Karona-chan."

Not affiliating with either. She had lost sight of the fact that such a choice even existed. Karona felt the scales fall from her eyes.

"… What I want to do…!"

"Yep. What do you want?"

Prompted by Yuuta, she turned to what she herself wanted. Karona thought it over.

"… I don't want to reincarnate! But I do want to earn lots and lots and become an Ojou-sama!!"

"If earning's the goal, then I guess corporate affiliation? But Nico Noir's condition is reincarnation."

"Which means Hoshizora Production it is… Thank you very much, Yuuta-sama! Thanks to you, my heart is set!"

And thus, Karona made up her mind to affiliate with Hoshizora Production.

 

*

 

"… Yuuta actually gave serious advice… unexpected."

"Right? I didn't know Yuuta could say normal stuff like that."

"The two of you? What exactly do you take me for?"