Chapter 190. [Like A Picture]

The store clerk was furious at the robber’s reasoning.

Of course, they were.

He was clearly the victim.

<<Don’t mess with me! I’ve been through a lot too. But I never resorted to violence like you! It’s not because of nationality; it’s the result of your actions!>>

<<Shut up! You’re just lucky! Why is someone like you, without any skills, able to work, while someone skilled and excellent like me can’t find a job? It’s ridiculous!>>

The robber’s arguments seemed logical but were absurd at the same time.

Because the root of the problem is not logical, that’s only natural.

First, there’s anger and resentment, and then there are reasons added later.

That’s why it inevitably turns into a heated argument.

<<Clerk, the criminal has had enough.>>

I intervened in their argument.

Then, I faced the robber head-on.

<<I understand your circumstances. Indeed, in your words, it seems you had ‘bad luck’.>>

Whether people commit crimes or whether they turn to evil is a tale akin to the debate between the inherent goodness and badness of human nature, and the truth is elusive.

That’s precisely why it has to be stopped now.

He had already committed an irreparable robbery… on the other hand, he hadn’t committed a fatal murder yet.

<<I will stop you.>>

The robber looked displeased, snorting as if mocking me.

<<Kid, what’s your nationality? Chinese?>>

<<Japanese.>>

<<Well, isn’t Japan great? Born winners! You don’t have to suffer from the country’s foolishness or face prejudice based on your nationality! Exchange places with me!>>

<<That’s…>>

<<Don’t make fun of me. I know there are things I can’t do.>>

The robber said dismissively.

But it seemed more like a leak of his desires.

<<Your country has no conflicts, and it’s peaceful, right? No need to work abroad for a living, no poverty, right? No discrimination or bullying like in this country, right? Change places with me, not in America but there…>>

<<There’s no such paradise anywhere.>>

I slowly shook my head at the robber’s words.

Tragedies exist in Japan too… no, anywhere in the world.

<<In fact, I felt it more when I came to America. It’s much harder for foreigners to live in Japan than for foreigners to live in America. At least for now.>>

<<… Is that so?>>

<<Japan doesn’t have as many foreigners as America, and it’s an island. It’s very exclusive. While there isn’t direct discrimination, there’s a lot of subtle harassment. There’s also envy.>>

Of course, not everyone experiences such things.

But there is a tendency for such issues to arise.

There are no borders in the world of children and… in the virtual world only.

Many of my viewers are foreigners living in Japan.

I often receive such concerns.

Impressions of returnees also tend to shift from “amazing” in America to “unfair” in Japan.

<<In the end, this world is just full of hell, huh? Well, I never expected much to begin with. Because I hate Japanese people!>>

<<Why is that?>>

<<Because the Japanese were the ones who pushed me into this situation! That VTuber Iroha, who’s said to have saved the world… she’s Japanese, right?>>

My name was called, and my heart skipped a beat.

At that time, I was facing the world through a screen.

And now, with time, I found myself confronting that incident again.

This time, face to face, dealing with it on a personal level.

<<It’s not like that… No. Those kids… no, they haven’t done anything wrong, right!? If anything, you should be grateful! If they had really launched the nukes, things wouldn’t be so easy for you right now!>>

<<I would have preferred that! If only I became the only unfortunate one, rather than having a world war where Americans, Japanese, and everyone from their homelands all suffer equally, that would have been better!>>

<<How can you say such a thing! Don’t you realize you were saved by those kids!?>>

<<Who asked them to save me!>>

Certainly, that’s true.

Moreover, I hadn’t even saved them.

I just wanted a future that would be most beneficial for VTubers and myself.

I didn’t care much about anything else.

In that sense, it’s not wrong for me to be blamed. So…

<<Mr. Robber, actually, I’m the one who…>>

<<What the hell is a VTuber anyway? Just a bunch of cowards hiding their faces! Don’t act all high and mighty, you’re just pictures!>>

<<What?>>

In an instant, some meter within me went off the charts.

…Change of plans.

Swaying my body slightly, I walked towards the robber.

Now, he had crossed the “line”.

<<What did you just say?>>

<<I just said the truth, didn’t I?>>

<<No way!>>

A sound resonated, “Gochin!”.

The muzzle that the robber had aimed in my direction as if on guard, received a headbutt from me.

<<Hey, what are you doing, miss!?>>

<<Ah, what the heck are you thinking?>>

Not only the female customer, the clerk, but even the robber was flustered.

Certainly, with this impact, the trigger might have been accidentally pulled, and it could have misfired.

But I was so heated up that I couldn’t make such a calm judgment.

“Like a picture”!?

This guy doesn’t understand anything about VTubers!

<<Phew, phew!>>

<<Hey, miss, calm down!>>

It didn’t matter to me how I, as an individual, was being perceived.

However, it was out of line for the entire VTuber community to be insulted by my actions!

And above all!

I shouted while my fist trembled.

<<Totally… envious!!!!>>

<<<<<<… Huh?>>>>>>

He still doesn’t know the goodness of VTubers!

The fact that he can discover that goodness from now on!

What a… fortunate thing it is!