Harem Streamer System: Every Crime I Broadcast Wins Me a Superheroine - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Be Casual, Perhaps?
Woodhull Private Hospital – Elevator Ride…

Emma walked into the hospital elevator, holding two big white nylon bags that swayed a little as she moved. Both bags were packed full of food, and the warm, sweet smell of freshly baked goods filled the air around her.

As the elevator doors slid shut, Emma giggled softly to herself as her lips curled into a soft, genuine smile.

“I bet he’ll light up like a kid on Christmas when he sees this. He’s been stuck in here long enough. A feast like this will definitely cheer him up.”

Her thoughts lingered on Nightwatch, imagining his reaction when she handed him the bags. The mere idea brought another giggle to her lips.

… Tee-hee ♡!!

But just as the elevator began its slow ascent, her phone buzzed in her jacket pocket.

Frowning slightly, she shifted the bags to one hand and pulled out her phone. The screen lit up with a name that immediately made her heart skip a beat.

Isaac Volkner.

She hesitated for a moment before swiping to answer.

Raising the phone to her ear, she let out a measured…

“Hello?”

A familiar, deep voice came through the line.

“Hey, Em.”

The moment his voice reached her ears, Emma’s entire body seemed to react. Her spine straightened, and a faint, unexpected prick crept up her stomach. It was as if Isaac Volkner himself had stepped into the elevator beside her.

“Uh, hi…” she replied, her voice quieter than usual.

On the other end of the line, Isaac was stepping out of his mansion, fishing his car keys from his pocket. His perfectly tailored suit glimmered under the morning sun, but his attention was momentarily diverted as his team of maids descended upon him.

One deftly plucked the phone from his hand, holding it to his ear as the others began their routine. One combed his beard, another adjusted his lapels, and a third smoothed out invisible wrinkles in his suit. Two more worked in tandem to style his hair, all while Isaac stood motionless and stared out at the sea of luxury cars parked in his massive compound.

When Emma didn’t immediately respond, Isaac’s voice took on a teasing lilt.

“Uh, Emma? Are you there? Don’t tell me you’re ignoring me. Not cool.”

Emma’s grip tightened on the phone and her nerves prickled as she forced herself to respond.

“No! No, I’m here…”

She spoke very quickly.

Almost as if she was panicked.

“What… uh, what seems to be the problem?”

Isaac chuckled lightly. “Why are you talking so weirdly? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.”

Emma’s soft features shifted into a small frown, unsure of what to say. She felt a wave of disappointment, realizing she might have forgotten something that clearly mattered to Isaac.

『What the fuck was it…』

Her mind raced desperately to recall anything she might have missed.

But, it seemed pointless.

“Forgotten… what, exactly?”

She asked cautiously, feeling bad even as she spoke.

Being the chill guy that he was, Isaac laughed softly.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. I was just calling to remind you about the tech event tonight. You know, the one Aaron Black’s hosting? I managed to score a VVIP invite for you. A few well-known heroes will be attending, and according to my sources, Black Industries plans to start working with heroes by providing advanced technology, offering lucrative contracts, and even setting up sponsorship deals.”

Emma raised an eyebrow and shifted the weight of the bags in her hands.

“A tech event? That’s… interesting. But isn’t it a bit weird for you to show up? Black Industries is one of your biggest competitors.”

As the final maid planted a quick peck on Isaac’s cheek and stepped back, he chuckled and ran a hand gently through his perfectly styled hair.

“True… but Anthony, Aaron’s son—and my childhood friend, mind you—invited me personally. It’d be rude to turn him down.”

Emma let out a noncommittal hum. “Fair enough, I guess.”

The elevator dinged to announce her arrival.

The doors slid open, and Emma stepped out, her sharp eyes darting around the busy hallway. Nurses and patients bustled past, but she stayed locked in on her conversation.

Isaac’s voice turned warmer.

“So, where are you now? I’ve got a dress picked out for you. Thought you might want to be my plus one tonight.”

Emma froze mid-step.

Her face twisted into an awkward grimace as she looked down at the bags in her hands.

“I don’t know, Isaac… You’d probably have a better time taking four or five hot models instead of me. I’m kinda busy right now.”

Isaac’s tone softened, losing some of its usual flavor.

“Emma, I want to go with you. I’ve been patient, haven’t I? I’ve done everything to show you that I’m serious about us, but… you haven’t given me the time of day. Do you just not like me?”

Emma let out a sigh and closed her eyes briefly as she stopped in the middle of the hallway.

“Isaac…”

She sighed very heavily.

That alone made it clear how tough the topic was… and how often it seemed to come up.

“Can we not do this right now? I’m at the hospital.”

The concern in Isaac’s voice was immediate.

His personal feelings could always wait.

“Hospital? Are you hurt?”

“No.”

Emma replied quickly.

“I’m just here to visit a friend.”

A pause followed, and Emma could almost picture Isaac’s frown on the other end.

“Please don’t tell me it’s Jenna or Nadia…”

Emma snorted. “Definitely not.”

Isaac’s tone grew more curious. “Then who is i—”

Before he could finish, Emma ended the call with a heavy sigh. She lowered the phone and stared at it for a moment before shoving it back into her pocket.

Her shoulders slumped slightly as she glanced down at the bags once more.

“Great…”

She muttered under her breath and resumed her trek down the hallway.

“Just what I needed today…”

Her pace quickened as she focused on her goal.

『I-, I should get to him… I’m sure he’s waiting…』

━ ━ ━ ━

Scott’s Room – Morning…

Scott sat shirtless on the bed as his toned body was highlighted by the morning light streaming in.

He was currently focused on the holographic interface floating before him.

Beads of sweat clung to his skin from an earlier workout.

He flicked his hand to swipe through the floating files in front of him, while his sharp eyes focused as he scanned the information.

Each file displayed detailed data on the assassins who had ambushed him the night before: their aliases, combat styles, weapon preferences, and known affiliations.

After checking Threadit, he discovered that someone with the username @H4XorLord69 managed to hack into the GSI’s Most Wanted list and leak the names of the 25 most dangerous assassins.

However, the information was limited—it only included their names and mugshots.

Shortly after, the post was wiped from the Internet.

Some users on Threadit complained that they had taken screenshots and saved the post, but the images mysteriously disappeared from their phones after a mandatory government update.

The information was out there, but no one had a way to prove it—until now.

[Alias: Trickshot]

[Real Name: Ivan Makarov]

[Nationality: Russian]

[Age: 29]

[Threat Level: 3]

[Specialization: Ballistic manipulation, sniper combat]

[Profile: He is a sharpshooter with a unique ability to control the trajectory of bullets using magnetism. Armed with a modified sniper rifle and dual pistols, Trickshot’s powers make his attacks nearly impossible to predict or evade. Known for his cocky attitude, he often leaves mocking messages at the scene of his assassinations.]

[Affiliations: Independent; occasionally hired by organized crime groups.]

[Notable Crimes: Assassination of North Ilkania’s former president, Eliminated an entire convoy of armored vehicles escorting a key diplomat in Geneva without missing a single shot.]

[Additional Notes: Prefers custom tungsten bullets resistant to electromagnetic interference.]

—

Scott nodded understandably.

“Alright, bring up full information on Dark Elf…”

[Unavailable. Now running level 10 search on Dark Elf across all databases…]

Scott’s lips thinned into a hard line.

“Hm. Figures…”

He muttered as he dismissed the file with a swipe.

Leaning back, he folded his arms.

“System.”

The familiar disembodied voice responded immediately in its calm and precise tone.

[How may I assist you, Master Scott?]

Scott tilted his head as his brows furrowed slightly.

“I’ve been thinking. Is it possible those assassins tracked me because my stream was live? I mean, if that’s the case, this whole streaming thing is kind of… idiotic.”

[Negative. The stream is designed not only to enhance the Host’s capabilities but also to safeguard your identity and location. Multiple failsafes have been implemented to ensure your security.]

Scott raised an eyebrow. “Failsafes, huh? Like what?”

[For example, should your government name be mentioned during a stream, it is immediately censored to prevent exposure. Additionally, the System alters your facial appearance in the stream. Any attempt to run facial recognition software on your likeness would result in an inconclusive match.]

Scott nodded, now more interested.

“Alright, but what about the location? If someone’s got enough resources, couldn’t they figure out where I am just by watching?”

[The System ensures that the live stream is inaccessible to any individuals flagged as threats. Villains cannot view the stream in real-time. The only way they might acquire your content is through third-party clips, which are similarly scrubbed of sensitive data.]

Scott smirked, leaning forward slightly.

“So, in other words, they can’t watch me live?”

[Affirmative.]

[The Host may also experience the stream from a viewer’s perspective to observe the additional protective measures. These include audio distortions for sensitive conversations and visual overlays to obscure environmental clues.]

[Rest assured, Host, your safety is paramount.]

Scott let out a low whistle, impressed.

“You’re really going all out for me, huh? Guess that means you’re loyal.”

It wasn’t something he expected a response to.

But, the System replied regardless.

[The System does not process loyalty. However, it has been programmed to dedicate its existence to the Host. One could argue that this surpasses loyalty. The System exists solely because you will it to.]

Scott blinked, then rubbed the bridge of his nose with a half-smile.

“You’re getting weird again. Tone it down, will you?”

[Understood.]

The holographic interface faded as Scott stood up and grabbed a towel from the nearby chair. He slung it over his shoulder and stretched his arms.

“Guess I’d better grab a shower before she shows up.”

He headed toward the bathroom.

━ ━ ━ ━

Hospital Hallway – Moments Later…

Emma paused at the sight of a young woman in a white coat who gripped a clipboard with trembling hands.

The resident—Gina, by her badge—was still flushed.

Emma tilted her head slightly, observing her with faint curiosity before stepping closer.

“Excuse me…”

Emma kept her voice low and smooth. It carried a weight that immediately caught Gina’s attention.

“There was a man brought into the ER last night. I checked the ward earlier but couldn’t find him. Could you point me toward the nurse taking care of him?”

Gina blinked rapidly, clearly caught off guard, and clutched her clipboard tighter.

“Oh, um, the man from last night? You mean the one with, uh, the bandages on his face?”

Emma’s eyes narrowed just a fraction. “Yes. Him.”

Gina swallowed hard as the memory of Scott’s sweat-glistened physique rushed back with a vengeance. Her cheeks grew impossibly redder, and her fingers fumbled awkwardly with the clipboard.

“T-, That’s… Nurse Kelly’s patient…”

She stammered as her voice rose an octave.

“H-, He uh-, He… um, he’s been transferred to Room 301 on the third floor.”

Emma nodded slowly with a face that gave away nothing.

“Thank you.”

Turning on her heel, she started walking away.

Gina let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and leaned against the wall, pressing a hand to her burning cheeks.

—

Emma walked briskly through the corridors, her face set in a calm, almost unreadable expression.

But inside, her thoughts churned.

『Why do I feel so… agitated?』

Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced down to see Isaac Volkner’s name flashing on the screen. She sighed heavily and hit decline for the second time that morning.

“Sorry, Isaac…” she murmured. “I’ll make it up to you.”

A message pinged through almost immediately:

[@Volkner ☑ : I’m not mad. Just pick up next time, okay? Will you be in New York for the event?]

Emma bit her lip as her slender fingers hesitated over the keyboard before typing:

[@MercuryOfficial ☑ : I’ll think about it…]

She stared at the screen and her heart sunk slightly.

『I’m not one of those indecisive girls in cheesy romance stories. I know what I want…』

Her grip on the phone tightened as she mentally steeled herself.

『I want Nightwatch. He’s the only man I want.』

But how could she tell Isaac the truth? That she didn’t see him that way? That her heart was already set on someone else?

She sighed again, then lifted her head just as she turned the corner. Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt when her pretty, yellow eyes landed on him.

Standing in his room, towel draped over his shoulder, was Scott. His lean yet muscular frame seemed to glow under the soft light, and every inch of his indescribably sexy body screamed strength and power.

Emma’s eyes wandered downward.

『Please, oh please, tell me he’s naked… I just wanna get a look at his peen just once. I’ve never seen one in real life, I wonder how it tastes…』

She was already drooling.

『I wonder how his taste… I want it raw…』

Her face turned beet red as her eyes locked onto his defined V-lines. Steam practically shot out of her ears like a cartoon locomotive.

『He’s wearing pants… but I can see the shape… it looks like a fat eggplant, heh~』

Scott glanced up and quickly noticed her presence through the partially open door.

“Are you… Miss Mercury?”

Emma froze as her mind scrambled for coherent thought.

『V-lines. He has V-lines. Why does he have V-lines?』

Her body snitched on her.

Her cheeks burned hotter as she stammered.

“I-, I was just… uh…”

Scott tilted his head, his brow quirking slightly.

“You alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. It’s me… uh, Nightwatch, remember?”

“Nope! Fine! Totally fine!”

She squeaked and spun on her heel.

“I’ll, uh, come back later!”

Scott watched her retreat, mildly amused.

“No you don’t have t──”

“I have to! You have nice nipples too! NO! I didn’t mean to say that, I mean, uh… I’ll be back for fuck’s sake, some pressuring me you handsome son of a bitch!”

Scott raises an eyebrow. “I’m not pressuring y──”

“Of course you aren’t──?!” Emma panicked.

“Huh?” Scott tilted his head.

“I’m so fucked…”

Emma took the walk of shame away.

Shortly after, she leaned against the wall and fanned herself furiously.

『Pull it together, Emma. You’re not some flustered schoolgirl, you’re a fuckin’ superhero! A famous, rich and damn right sexy one, alright?! Don’t let the average charms of a that vigilante guy make you look stupid…』

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get the image of his body out of her head.

『Maybe I am…』

She groaned softly, resisting the intense feminine urge to scream into her hands.

Emma pressed her back more against the cold wall then buried her face in her hands as her heart raced. A deep, mortified groan escaped her lips, muffled by her palms.

『What is wrong with me? I’ve waited months to meet Nightwatch in person, and the first thing I do is… comment on his perfectly sculpted nipples?!』

She slid down the wall into a crouch and her body folded as if she could somehow shrink herself out of existence. Her fingers tugged at her hair as she groaned again, this time more guttural.

“I literally just told the man he has nice nipples… and not even in some slick, offhand way. I squeaked it out like a perverted fangirl.”

Her face burned with embarrassment as she replayed the encounter in her mind. His plain, unreadable expression as she rambled on made her stomach cry.

『He probably thinks I’m some desperate weirdo. Great first impression, Emma. Really nailed it.』

She slapped her forehead, muttering under her breath.

“I’m doing it again. Just like in the chats. Acting like some obsessed idiot… and why the hell was the first thing I noticed about him the size of his…”

She clenched her fists then groaned loudly.

“Damn it, I really do regret getting addicted to porn.”

Her thoughts spiraled further as she remembered more details.

“Oh, God… I really fuckin’ told him he’s got sexy nipples… and I meant it.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“They’re so… kissable. I wouldn’t mind just once──”

She slapped her cheek hard to cut herself off.

“No! Stop! Focus, Emma!”

Her voice echoed in the empty hallway, and she glanced around, cheeks burning.

After a moment of silence, she exhaled heavily.

“Okay. Calm down. Breathe.”

She placed her hands on her knees and steadied herself.

“The only reason I even recognized him is because I remembered that tiny birthmark near his nipple from when I saw him shirtless after looking at his chest earlier today.”

Her face flushed deeper.

“But wh-, why did I have to mention it?!”

She groaned again and buried her face in her hands.

“This is worse than the time I accidentally liked that thirst tweet about his biceps. I’m never going to live this down…”

She brought out her phone and searched for the tweet in question, but remembered a certain face.

『Tch, that fuckin’ bitch Bella Trevors… I remember she also commented on that post which made it blow up. It had about a million likes the last time I checked… which, was, well uh, this morning…』

She put her phone back in her pocket.

Her thoughts faltered as her eyes drifted toward a patient room opposite her. A sickly young boy sat in bed, his mother feeding him carefully. The sight sobered her for a moment, and she sighed softly.

“He does look young, though… like, suspiciously young. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was still a teenager.”

She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“But he’s gotta be at least 23, right? Not bad… though I’d kinda prefer him to be older. Maybe forty or so. Then I could call him Daddy—”

Her lips curled into a mischievous smile before she stopped herself.

“Nope. Nope. Not going there.”

She shook her head violently, trying to dispel the thought.

But her eyes drifted upward again as she imagined him in civilian clothes.

“He’d look so good in a nice, clean taper. Honestly, that emo hair over his eyes is not doing him any favors. If it were up to me, I’d clean him up real nice. Maybe a button-down… Ooh, or a leather jacket—”

She froze mid-thought as a shadow fell over her.

Slowly, she glanced up… and her heart stopped.

Scott stood right in front of her, arms crossed, his sharp eyes fixed on her with an unreadable expression. The faint scent of his soap and cologne lingered in the air between them, and her throat went dry.

“Miss Mercury?”

Emma squeaked as her body stiffened like a board.

“Ni-, Nightwatch! I-, I didn’t… uh-”

Scott tilted his head slightly, then stepped closer. His towering presence was impossible to ignore, and Emma instinctively pressed her back against the wall.

“You left me standing there like an idiot… what’s got you so panicked?”

He sounded very smooth and casual.

Emma’s eyes darted to the side to avoid his blue eyes.

Her mouth opened and closed, but no coherent words came out.

Finally, she managed to stammer.

“N-, Nothing! I was just… uh…”

Scott leaned in closer, and his hand rested on the wall beside her head. His face was inches from hers now, and his sharp eyes searched hers intently.

“You don’t need to hide it… I already know.”

Emma’s heart pounded in her chest as her mind scrambled to process his words.

“Kn-, Know what?”

A small, teasing smirk dragged at Scott’s lips.

“That you’ re a freak.”

Her eyes widened in horror, and she let out a strangled gasp.

“W-, What?! I’m not──!!”

He chuckled softly and pulled back just enough to give her space to breathe.

“Relax. I’m kidding.”

But his words didn’t stop her from spiraling internally.

『Oh, God. He knows. He definitely knows. He probably thinks I’m some crazy bitch now.』

Scott’s smirk softened into something more genuine as he straightened up to give her a quick once-over.

“You’ re not what I expected, though.”

Emma blinked, caught off guard. “I-, I’ m not?”

“No.” He paused, then added, “You’ re… weirder.”

She gaped at him, torn between offense and mortification.

Still, the amusement in his eyes made her knees weak.

『Is feeling a strong compulsion to bend over at the sight of the man you’ve been stalking for months normal?』

As Scott turned to leave, he glanced over his shoulder.

“By the way… thanks for the compliment earlier. About my… uh, nipples.”

Emma’s jaw dropped as he walked away.

“They’ re flattered.” He finished.

She slapped her hands over her face and screamed.

… KYAAAAAAAAAHH~ ♡♡!