Putting that issue aside for a moment, Renz refocused on the computer. He had a habit of storing important things there. Clicking on a streaming tool icon on the desktop, he noticed something troubling—it had been 67 days since his last broadcast. That meant he hadn't streamed for over two months.
Typically, contracted streamers have specific streaming hour requirements. If they fail to meet them, their pay gets docked. In fact, even their base salary could be affected if they don't meet the contract terms. Since he was a contracted streamer and hadn't streamed in 67 days, it became clear he wasn't a full-time streamer. Most likely, he was a casual one—someone who streamed when bored.
In simpler terms, he was probably a "successful person" with financial freedom, someone who didn't need to work and streamed purely for entertainment. It sounded pretty carefree.
But that was the past Renz.
The current Renz was not a "successful person." If Erina Nakiri was still managing their finances, the situation could turn very severe. If he ended up leaving Erina Nakiri, things might get truly dire.
Now, he somewhat regretted his earlier generosity with words. What if Erina Nakiri got upset and kicked him out? If he left with nothing, would he be out on the streets? He needed a backup plan. Maybe checking his stream viewership data could help—perhaps he could make a little money from it.
"Have you found anything?" Erina Nakiri asked, noticing him staring blankly. At this point, they were actively sharing information.
"I found out I haven't streamed in 67 days," Renz replied concisely. "My profession might be something like a streamer." Erina Nakiri sat down in the gaming chair beside him.
"Any other clues?" she asked, reaching for the mouse.
"Still looking."
Renz didn't hand her the mouse. Cold sweat beaded subtly on his back. Who knew what might be hidden in the hard drive? It was unpredictable. If something dangerous or embarrassing popped up, wouldn't he be socially doomed?
His self from ten years ago didn't have any particularly bad habits—but a lot could change in a decade. He'd even gotten married—married! Anything could be possible now.
Erina Nakiri clearly sensed something was off. She had honestly disclosed her situation, but Renz was acting evasive, which made her slightly displeased.
"Don't just stare at the desktop. Start looking for clues and information," she urged.
A real man doesn't fear social death. Damn it—if you're a man, just do it. If something does come up, deny it shamelessly.
With that mindset, Renz expressionlessly began navigating the hard drive. But his hand moved painfully slow, like someone new to computers. Every folder felt like a landmine—he was extremely cautious.
"There's a folder labeled 'Pictures' here. Click on it," Erina said, pointing to a folder.
She wasn't a tech expert, but she wasn't a complete novice either. Renz swallowed hard. That was a folder he had deliberately skipped over. He could only trust that his future self had been a clean and righteous man.
He clicked it open.
Boom.
In less than a second, he closed it like lightning. His reaction speed—honed from years of gaming—had already registered something he shouldn't have seen. A woman in a swimsuit. Proud curves, ample chest, perfectly posed.
It looked like... it looked like Erina Nakiri.
Wait... swimsuit photos of Erina?! If that tsundere saw them, wouldn't he die on the spot? Even if his future self was her husband, he wasn't. This was a major invasion of privacy! It was like having solid proof of voyeurism!
"What are you doing? I didn't even see it clearly yet," Erina said, surprised by how fast Renz had closed the folder. "Do you have some unspeakable secret?" she narrowed her eyes, suspicious.
"No, nothing at all," Renz replied. Admitting anything now would be like rushing a tower in a MOBA—certain death. He tried to gloss over the issue.
"I clearly saw a woman's picture just now," she said, her curiosity piqued by his nervousness. "Was it another woman?"
"It was you!" Renz retorted. "And don't go accusing people of cheating so easily, you idiot! Look at my social standing! If I ever cheated, I'd be shot and dumped in Tokyo Bay!"
"Dumping your body in Tokyo Bay wouldn't be necessary," Erina said with a soft chuckle, "but I think leaving you half-crippled would be no problem."
Are Japanese noble families really that terrifying?
Erina reached for the mouse again. "Show me. Quickly."
"It really was you, I'm not lying. What good would it do me to lie?" Renz grumbled. "Wouldn't it be better if there was more trust between us?"
"Well, even if it's me, I still want to see what my future photos look like. Can't I even do that?" she huffed. The more Renz resisted, the more she had to see them.
"Fine, let's look," Renz said, finally relenting. He reopened the folder. Page after page of images popped up—all of them Erina Nakiri.
"See? I told you, they're all yours," he said.
"And they're all personal photos," he added. He even zoomed in on one, and Erina's face instantly flushed crimson. She quickly grabbed the mouse, closed the image, and exited the folder. She even tried to shut the entire computer down.
Even though the photos were innocent, being seen like that still made her feel shy.
Meanwhile, Renz fell into deep thought. He had only glanced at them earlier, but this time he took a closer look. Erina Nakiri's figure was... exceptionally good.
"Erina Nakiri, I have a bold question," he said while looking at the photo and stroking his chin thoughtfully. "What are your measurements…? Judging by your milk supply, feeding five children wouldn't be a problem. That's seriously amazing, isn't it?"
Erina lowered her head, seemingly building up silent rage.
Renz rarely interacted with girls. In the niche professional gaming world, girls were a rare sight. Dating could also hurt performance, so he never even considered it. That's why his way of speaking to women was a bit... abstract—as if he were talking to his buddies.
Honestly, someone like him getting married under normal circumstances was a miracle. Like a planet crashing.
Thwack!
Erina's fist slammed straight into Renz's head. "Say one more weird thing like that and I will kick you out!" she shouted, fuming.
"I'm complimenting you! I really am!" Renz exclaimed, panicking. "What I mean is—with your level—raising another child wouldn't be a problem for us!"
"If you were flat-chested, wouldn't the children starve?"
"Your complimenting skills are garbage!"
Erina immediately wanted to storm into the kitchen, grab a knife, and chop him to bits. "Can't you just say I'm pretty?!"
"I have face blindness," Renz muttered, feeling wronged.
"I don't have time for your nonsense," Erina snapped, choosing to end the conversation. The more they argued, the angrier she got. Suppressing her irritation, she glared at him.
"Keep searching."
---
What do you think Renz will discover next on the computer? And how will Erina's "God's Tongue" come into play in their future journey together?
----Support with power stones