Harem Streamer System: Every Crime I Broadcast Wins Me a Superheroine - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: The Konrad Kain Show, Religious Heroine!
It was 8:00 p.m. sharp, and the glow of the TV screen illuminated the cozy living room.

Scott leaned back into the couch with his legs stretched out lazily while the TV blared the latest news from The Konrad Kain Show, a widely-watched current affairs and opinion program on Ironclad News Network (INN).

The opening music rolled in.

… Doo-doo-DOOO!

It was a tense, dramatic tune like every other night, letting everyone know that K. Konrad Kain, the man himself, was about to make his grand entrance.

Emma slid onto the couch next to Scott with a bowl of popcorn in her lap. She tossed a handful into her mouth and kept her eyes fixed on the screen the whole time.

“K. Konrad Kain? This guy hates you.”

Scott tilted his head slightly to look at her.

“That much?”

“Yeah, pretty much…”

Emma replied, barely looking away from the screen.

“The whole thrashing Nightwatch thing these days is really good for content and high viewership too.”

She popped another piece of popcorn in her mouth.

Scott’s head fell back against the backrest as his expression became one of annoyance.

“So he’s just doing it because he’s an absolute dick after money, then?”

Emma shook her head, then tossed a few more kernels into her mouth.

“Not exactly. I mean, sure, the money’s nice, but a lot of people feel threatened by what you’re trying to do. Yunno, the whole trying to bring back the golden age of heroism, and a lot of people don’t like that. They twist everything you do to tear you apart in the media. They know you can’t defend yourself because… well, a real hero wouldn’t care about all this media nonsense.”

Scott nodded dully as he munched on some popcorn.

“One of these days, I’m hoping I accidentally kick his ass into one of them into a lab fire.”

“Pssh—loser.”

Emma snickered as she nudged him with her shoulder.

They both turned their attention back to the TV, where the colorful, high-definition footage of K. Konrad Kain sitting behind his desk flashed across the screen.

The camera focused on him: a handsome, well-dressed, dark-skinned man in his 40s with a strong jawline and a cold, intense stare. He adjusted his tie with face as hard and the polished desk before him.

The camera then shifted to a wider shot of the studio, and Kain smiled—like a predator who had just caught a whiff of prey.

Then finally, the dramatic intro music faded.

“Welcome back to The Konrad Kain Show.”

The host announced.

“And our top story tonight: It’s gotta be Nightwatch. An overbearing, edgelord internet personality and so-called ‘hero’ whose recent actions have been outed as nothing short of an anti-heroic extremist, causing mayhem across the northeastern United States. This so-called hero has been spotted wreaking havoc in Metro City, Meteor City, and just two weeks ago—New York City.”

A grainy, terrible picture of Nightwatch flashed on the screen—a shot where his face was partially obscured by a hoodie and the lighting made him look like a shady criminal instead of a hero.

Scott frowned deeply and shook his head.

“Why does everyone use that picture?”

Emma grinned as she spoke in her soft, teasing voice.

“Aww, but you look cute!”

Scott raised an eyebrow at her. “Really?”

“Psssh──Nah, bro. Not even close.”

He grumbled under his breath and stuffed another handful of popcorn into his mouth.

Konrad Kain continued, but more heated this time.

“Nightwatch. This man—or rather, this boy—is a menace to society. I can’t imagine the average American adult being so foolish as to go around vandalizing everything that our real heroes have worked so hard to build. Don’t believe me? Watch these footage, folks.”

The screen cut to a dark but watchable clip taken from Nightwatch’s livestream.

It showed him hurling a throwing needle at E-Porner and hitting him in the crotch.

Then, it cut to another scene: Nightwatch, using a stun baton to take down gang members—except the way it was edited made it look as though he was assaulting civilians.

The last clip showed an unmasked Nightwatch drop-kicking a bomb out of a building just before it exploded.

“Imagine if that bomb collapsed before it exploded?!”

Konrad Kain shouted and slammed his fist on the desk.

“Hundreds, maybe thousands would be dead. But make no mistake, that’s what Nightwatch intended—to harm innocent civilians!”

He pointed to the screen with a scornful look to emphasize the severity of the claim.

Scott rolled his eyes as he rubbed his temples.

“I can’t believe this…”

Konrad Kain’s voice softened into a mocking tone.

“And yet, there are still people defending this man’s actions. Saying he’s some kind of hero? Ridiculous! But then again, perhaps that’s what Nightwatch wants—an army of defenders willing to fight for him. Maybe he’ll silence me next for saying this… but don’t worry, we’ll see what happens. We’ll see.”

Scott sighed again, his hand pressed against his face.

“I swear, if I ever meet this guy…”

“Relax, babe…”

Emma said with a small smirk and gently pat him on the head as she giggled.

“His sorry ass would probably start crying the second you give him a stern look.”

The camera shifted as Konrad Kain turned to his right as his usual smug grin plastered across his face.

“But tonight’s guest, ladies and gentlemen, is someone who’s risen above all this chaos. A true symbol of American heroism. Let’s welcome, the newly promoted S-tier hero—The Peak!”

The applause from the studio audience echoed, loud and overwhelming, as The Peak stood up from his chair and waved at the camera. His new, even flashier super suit shimmered under the lights, and the medal of honor given to him just a week ago gleamed around his neck.

『Finally, I got on the Konrad Kain Show! The huzz are gonna love this!』

He continued to wave and smile.

Emma let out a dramatic sigh as she tossed the last of her popcorn into her mouth.

“Great. This guy…”

Scott shook his head tiredly.

“Can’t wait to hear him talk about how ‘honorable’ he is. Maybe he’ll talk about how he saved the world from a fake disaster he created.”

“Keep dreaming…”

Emma laughed with a mouthful of popcorn.

“He’ll probably try to sell you a new premium market cologne while he’s at it.”

“Word…”

The two casually bump fists.

Konrad Kain leaned forward in his chair as his eyes sparkled with admiration when he looked at The Peak.

The was such a wide grin on his face, much like a baby when they learned how to smile.

“I can’t believe this…”

He adjusted his tie and let out a light chuckle.

“Ladies and gentlemen…”

He turned his attention back to the camera.

“Look at this man, this icon of American heroism. The Peak. The man of the hour. The one who saved every superhero in existence just a couple of weeks ago during that terrifying ordeal at the Blue Garden Hotel. Tell us, Peak…”

Konrad said as he turned to him.

“… how were you able to do it? How did you rise above the chaos and save everyone from that mysterious red gas?”

The Peak chuckled softly as his hand hovered near the medal of honor resting on his chest. He cleared his throat dramatically and leaned forward into the camera with an air of unearned confidence.

“You see, Konrad, it wasn’t easy, not by any means. I mean, sure, there are a lot of heroes out there trying to rise to the level I’ve surpassed…”

He deepened his voice with some humility.

“… but, hey, let’s not pretend they didn’t give it their very all, right?”

He flashed a smile.

“Everyone’s doing their part. Even… uhh, what’s his name… Nightwatch, ah yes, him…”

Konrad’s face twitched as he leaned in and his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Of course, I expect a selfless hero like you to give credit where it’s due, even to failures like Nightwatch, who are desperately trying to achieve the same level of fame you have. But I’m sure you don’t mind giving him a little recognition, huh?”

The Peak snorted lightly as he adjusted the shiny medal around his neck for the camera to get a perfect view.

He grinned wide.

“Oh, absolutely. Nightwatch, he’s… well, he’s a special case. I… don’t know what more to say.”

The Peak paused for effect, then softened his face to look more sympathetic.

“He’s trying to do the right thing, but, uh, it’s just in the wrong way, y’know?”

Konrad leaned over the desk.

“Oh? And how is that exactly?”

The Peak’s face twisted, almost like he was in pain rather than deep in thought. He rested a hand on his temple, like he was struggling to recall something that really bothered him.

“Well… this is a little difficult to say on live TV…”

He lowered his voice and looked around the studio as if it were a secret.

“But, uh… I kinda… I gotta say this. I don’t want people to think I’m bragging, you know? I’m known as a kind and humble hero, and I don’t want to tarnish that reputation. But, uh…”

He winced dramatically.

“I was kind of the one who inspired Nightwatch to become who he is today.”

All the popcorn fell from Scott’s mouth. “What?”

“PFFFFT────HAHAHAHA!”

Emma burst out laughing.

“BAHAHA──AHA *cough* HAHAH!”

She fell off the couch and clutched her stomach as she rolled around like a mad dog.

Konrad blinked at The Peak.

“What? You inspired Nightwatch?”

The Peak nodded solemnly, though his face looked like he was holding back a grin.

“Yeah. I mean, haven’t you noticed, Konrad? I was the first hero to start live streaming and spreading awareness of heroism, showing that it isn’t dead. That was me, back in early February. Nightwatch? He just, uh… followed suit, y’know? That obsessive need to be wanted and accepted by society. Sigh~ it’s tragic.”

The Peak shrugged, like it was no big deal.

“But it’s cool. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m taking credit for his success. It’s his thing, after all.”

Konrad blinked and processed the information, before nodding sagely.

“Hmm, yes, that does make sense. You heard it here, folks. The Peak was the inspiration behind Nightwatch, and perhaps many other heroes. What a revelation.”

He turned to the camera and held up a finger.

“It’s because of heroes like The Peak that this new generation of heroes is able to rise to such great heights.”

The Peak sighed dramatically, not loud enough for Konrad to hear, but loud enough for Scott to roll his eyes.

Still laughing uncontrollably, Emma wiped a tear from her eye, barely able to catch her breath.

“This is… this is gold. Ohahaha!”

Konrad was too busy engaging the audience to notice The Peak’s exaggerated sigh.

The hero of the hour squeezed his face.

『What the fuck──?! Can’t he hear me sighing?!』

He then sighed dramatically… again…

Finally, the host turned back to the hero and his face suddenly became more serious.

“But I can see it in your eyes, Peak. You feel… responsible for Nightwatch, don’t you?”

The Peak suddenly grabbed his face with both hands and slicked back his mohawk as if he were some tragic, misunderstood figure. He looked into the camera with a fake, heartbroken expression.

“Y’know, Konrad, I do. I really do.”

He sighed again and this time even more heavily.

“I mean, it must be so difficult for him, trying to live up to the standards I’ve set. He’s just trying to do the right thing, but, uh… the pressure, it’s gotta be unbearable.”

He leaned in toward the camera and his voice lowered with the concern of a parent.

“So, if you ever need help, Nightwatch… if you ever need someone to talk to… I’m here for you, buddy.”

The studio audience burst into applause.

… Clap! Clap! Clap!!

Konrad nodded approvingly.

“You see that, folks? This is what true heroism looks like. This is why we need heroes like The Peak. It’s because of heroes like him that we wake up every day knowing we’re in safe hands.”

The Peak placed his hand dramatically over his heart and kept his face solemn, but also humble.

“Ah, shucks, Konrad…”

He nodded like he wasn’t completely full of it.

“It’s the least I can do.”

Still on the couch, Scott suddenly shouted.

“This is absolute dog shit!”

He tossed the empty popcorn bowl aside in frustration.

Emma laughed even harder as she continued to roll around on the floor while gasping for air.

“Oh my god, I can’t breathe! This is too much! What is this nonsense?”

It was time to move on to the next segment.

Konrad gave The Peak an appreciative nod.

“Thank you again, Peak, for being such an awesome inspiration to us all.”

The Peak flashed a toothy grin.

“Anytime, Konrad. Anytime.”

He leaned back in his chair and adjusted his medal again so the camera wouldn’t miss it.

━ ━ ━ ━

Asteroid City…

It was 8:00 p.m. sharp when Brigid MacLeighlin sat perched on her swivel chair in an Asian squat and nibbled thoughtfully on a sandwich.

The intro music of The Konrad Kain Show played softly from her speakers.

She was still in her school uniform: a navy-blue blazer over a neatly pressed white button-up shirt, paired with a black tie. Her plaid skirt seemed a bit too short, especially given how noticeable her thick thighs were for someone her age.

Her sandwich paused mid-air as K. Konrad Kain launched into his nightly tirade.

“Nightwatch. This man—or rather, this boy—is a menace to society…”

Brigid’s sharp green eyes narrowed.

Her brows squeezed deeper with each word as her grip tightened on the innocent sandwich. She didn’t care much for Kain’s theatrics. What really grated her nerves was the blatant slander against her prince, her savior—her Nightwatch!

By the time the show transitioned to its next segment and introduced The Peak, Brigid had had enough. With an exaggerated sigh, she set her sandwich aside, hopped off her chair, and stretched her arms overhead.

“Ahh~”

Her joints popped lightly as she loosened up from her crouched position.

“Unbelievable…” she muttered under her breath.

As the dramatic applause for The Peak echoed from her speakers, Brigid took off her blazer, untucked her shirt, and loosened her tie.

『My name is Brigid MacLeighlin. I’m eighteen years old. I like anime, reading—especially BL mangas. They’re my favorite. I mean, what’s better than a good romance between two guys? Bonus points if one of them gets pregnant! That’s always the best twist. Absolutely top-tier stuff!』

Her cheeks turned red a bit.

She couldn’t stop from picturing herself as a man and carrying Nightwatch in her arms.

『Soooo good~』

She could already feel that sweet spot between her legs getting hot.

『B-, Back to what I was saying──hmph ♡!』

She fought back her dirty thoughts.

『Dislikes? I don’t really have many. I mean, who has time to waste hating things when you could be reading? But… if I had to pick, I’d say modern heroes. Ugh, they’re so overhyped. All flair and no substance. Oh, and obviously, anyone who disrespects my blue-eyed prince—Nightwatch. Glorious, untouchable, perfect Nightwatch!』

Her eyes sparkled as she rested her hands on her chest and shrieked like a true fangirl.

It took a few seconds to pull herself back.

“Right, focus, Brigid. Focus.”

Her skimpy, navy plaid skirt swayed as she tiptoed toward the door.

She pushed the door open a crack and peeked into the hallway like a thief.

Her eyes darted left, then right.

『I’m a student at Skyfort Academy. It’s uhh, this world-renowned international school run by the Hero Agency. The place where future superheroes are made. And, lucky me, I’m in my third year. Just half a year left until graduation, and then… the real work begins.』

She felt some anxiety creep up her back.

『Everyone says I’ve got a bright future ahead. Teachers, mentors, even my classmates. They all expect big things from me. And, well, being the Class Rep of 3A—the top class in the northeastern U.S. branch—doesn’t exactly lower the bar.』

She sighed and slumped slightly as her shoulders drooped.

『Talk about pressure.』

Her sharp eyes flew around again.

The coast was clear.

She sighed in relief and carefully shut the door behind her, then locked it for good measure.

Brigid stepped back into her room, and the serious look on her face completely vanished.

Instead, it was replaced by a huge, excited grin that stretched from ear to ear, with a bit of drool gathering at the corner of her mouth.

At first, she let out a soft giggle, but it quickly grew louder… and undeniably creepy.

Her bare feet padded across the floor as she approached her wardrobe.

She threw it open dramatically to reveal neatly arranged clothes and—hidden among them—a prototype superhero suit decked out in advanced tech.

It was a gift from Crowe Enterprises… a company that, out of several others like MegaCorp, TitanTech Industries, Volkner Dynamics, and the more recent Black Industries, seemed the most invested in helping her grow as a superhero.

『Lady Adira Crowe…』

She smiled faintly.

『What a nice woman. Even when I used my powers to… you know, peek into her mind and her past, there wasn’t a single thing to make me suspicious. She’s so clean it’s kind of scary, but at least it means I can trust her.』

Her face grew sad.

『Not that I trust people easily anymore.』

The memory rushed in, just like it always did whenever she let her guard slip: her family, her home, the blood, the screams.

Her fists clenched tightly against her thighs.

『When I was little, my entire family was murdered. Brutally. And me? I was almost sold off to some twisted organization like I was a piece of property. But then…』

Her face softened and her fists relaxed.

『Silver Sentinel saved me.』

She clutched her chest tightly.

『A golden-age hero if ever there was one. He took me out of that nightmare and enrolled me here, at Skyfort Academy. I owe him everything. Without him, I wouldn’t even be alive, much less chasing my dream of becoming a hero.』

Brigid nodded to herself.

『For the longest time, I thought Silver Sentinel was the greatest superhero I’d ever see in my life. I mean, how could anyone top that? But then…』

Her cheeks flushed and blood trickled down her nostrils.

『Then I saw him. The greatest man in history. The epitome of perfection. My prince… Nightwatch!』

She reached for a hidden latch inside the wardrobe and her fingers skillfully found the spot. With a soft click, a secret compartment swung open to reveal the true treasure of her room.

The shrine.

Dozens of photos of Nightwatch covered the space.

Some were candid screenshots from his livestreams, while others were blurry captures of his missions.

Around the edges, candles flickered softly and their melted wax dripped onto the wooden surface below.

To one side, tapes and USB drives containing his greatest exploits were stacked in a tidy pile.

At the center of it all was a hand-drawn heart-shaped frame surrounding his face, with the words “My Glorious Blue-Eyed Prince!!” messily written in glittery gel pen.

Brigid dropped to her knees as her hands clasped tightly together in prayer.

“Nightwatch-sama…”

She whispered fervently.

“Today marks the 39th day of my humble devotion. I know you’re busy protecting the innocent, thwarting villains, and being… well, you. But I believe—no, I know—you will answer my messages one day.”

She paused and looked at her phone where the app for Nightwatch’s donation streams was still open.

“I’ve spent over $5,000 on message requests so far. But it’s okay. Money is just an earthly tether I gladly give away for your attention. My allowance may be gone, my savings might be empty, and my virginity might be shaking at the thoughts of what you do to me when I dream, but my spirit is full of your light.”

Her eyes sparkled as she pressed her palms to her chest and a dreamy sigh escaped her lips.

“You’ll see me one day, my prince. And when you do, you’ll know I’ve always been your most faithful follower. Not like those fake fangirls who only care about your looks. I’m here for your soul.”

A louder giggle escaped her.

“Now… for my nocturnal rite!”

Brigid stayed kneeling as she grabbed a photo of Nightwatch from her shrine as well as a voice recorder. She pressed the recorder gently to her chest and took several deep breaths.

“This is a necessity!”

After a moment, she set the recorder on the ground and placed the photo of Nightwatch on top of it, tapping it softly. Taking another deep breath, she sat down on the recorder, feeling self-conscious about her big butt, which she often felt insecure about.

“Hup──!”

As she sat down, her butt accidentally pressed the record button and she uttered a quiet, almost sad mumble, like a lost puppy.

“As if Lord Nightwatch likes a big-butted disciple.”

Suddenly, the voice recorder played.

[You’re a naughty little one… aren’t you~?]

It was Nightwatch’s voice but one created by AI.

She tightly gripped the floor then drove her butt back and forth against the voice recorder, which sensually pressed against the space between her ass cheeks.

[You’re a naughty little one… aren’t you~?]

“YES, LORD NIGHTWATCH~!”

[You’re a naughty little one… aren’t you~?]

“Y-, YES, LORD NIGHTWATCH~ ♡!”

[You’re a naughty little one… aren’t you~?]

“YES, LOR────AHHHHNNN~ ♡♡!”

She continued to ride the recorder and Nightwatch’s picture like it was a horse until she finally stained her skirt and the photo with a strange, thick fluid.

But she didn’t stop.

It went on into the night, and soon, some of her classmates began stepping out of their dorm rooms, curious about what was going on.

“Ah, the Class Rep must be at it again…”

“Prayers?”

“Uhh, more like a nightly ritual.”

“Oh, well, she’s uh… really devoted, isn’t she…”

They stood in the hallway and looked at her door, wondering what was happening this time.

One of the students, hearing the sounds, slowly reached down toward his crotch, but the student next to him quickly slapped his hand away.

“WH-, What────?!”

“…”