Harem Streamer System: Every Crime I Broadcast Wins Me a Superheroine - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Peace and Preparations
… 19:56 p.m.

The city lights of Metro City blurred into streaks of white and gold as Scott’s GT-R raced down the highway.

… vruuu────UUUUUUM!!

The car purred relentlessly.

In the backseat, Brigid was fast asleep.

She snored softly and curled up like a caterpillar.

She was completely drained after all the endless paperwork and tests she had to endure at the Hero Agency. Honestly, if Scott and Nadia hadn’t been there to help her out, she wasn’t sure she would’ve gotten through it all.

Scott glanced at her through the rearview mirror and exhaled deeply as his grip on the wheel loosened slightly.

“I’m glad that’s over. Can’t believe they didn’t even give her a week to prepare before shoving her into an SMPE…”

Seated in the front passenger seat, Nadia kept her brown eyes on the road ahead and her chin propped on her hand.

She arched a brow at his comment.

“You know SMPEs aren’t mandatory, right? She could always sit this one out and join a later session.”

Scott gave a short, humorless laugh.

“Yeah, sure. Technically, she doesn’t have to go. But you know how it is. The Hero Agency’s already hyped about registering someone like her. Her name’s probably plastered on the list of attending newbies all across their websites. And with her powers? Everyone’s going to want to see what she can do.”

Nadia snapped her fingers like an eager student.

“Ohhh, I get it. So it’s not mandatory mandatory, but if she doesn’t show up, the fans won’t care, right? And no fans mean no sponsors for tech, suits, or… anything, really.”

“Exactly…”

Scott said with a sigh.

“So, yeah. I’ve got less than 24 hours to make her a decent super suit, design a Hero Portfolio Disc, whip up some merch, publicize her… basically turn her into a brand. And I have no idea how I’m going to pull that off.”

Nadia turned to him, her expression incredulous.

“That’s insane. Is it even possible?”

Scott shook his head as his lips twitched into a tired smile.

“No. Definitely not. But she begged me to help make her a great superhero, and this is how it starts, I guess. As much as I hate to admit it, this is the way.”

His eyes narrowed.

『For now at least… maybe Brigid can be one of the few corporate-influenced superheroes that can make the right difference in the hero industry. If Maya hadn’t done what she did… she’d have been the right choice…』

But, the small frown on his face dissolved the moment Nadia placed her slender, gentle hand on his shoulder and rubbed him almost affectionately.

“Come on, Scott. You’ve got this. You’ve done crazier things before. And hey, you’ve got me around if you need help. You’ll be fine.”

Scott turned to her briefly and smiled.

His shoulders relaxed.

“Thanks, Nadia. I don’t know why, but being around you makes everything seem easier. Kind of like… when I’m around Emma.”

For a moment, Nadia’s eyes softened and she stared at him a little longer than she should have. But just as quickly, she looked away and laughed loudly to shake off the moment.

“Pfft──!! Flattery’s not going to get you a discount on my help, Mr. Vigilante.”

Scott chuckled as he eased the car into a smooth turn.

“Fair enough.”

After a moment, he looked at her sideways.

“Speaking of Emma… do you think she’s cooled off by now?”

Nadia shrugged as she leaned back in her seat.

“Maybe. While you were busy drowning in paperwork for Brigid, I called a certain Jenna. Told her to talk to Emma. So, hopefully? I… guess?”

Scott raised an eyebrow.

“Hopefully? That’s not exactly reassuring.”

“Well…”

Nadia stifled a laugh.

“Jenna doesn’t like you, sure, but she doesn’t hate you. Emma’s never really had a boyfriend before, so if you’re the guy she’s chosen, I think Jenna will do her part to make sure this doesn’t end too soon.”

Scott laughed very tenderly.

“You have way too much insight into people, you know that? Your boyfriend must have it easy.”

A shy smile crept onto Nadia’s face, and she swept a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Uh… well… I’ve never actually been in a relationship.”

Scott blinked, momentarily distracted from the road.

“Wait, what? Really?”

Nadia looked down and gently fiddled with the hem of her overalls.

She looked so innocent… like an angel.

“Yeah. My Baba already has someone planned for me when I turn 26.”

“Arranged marriage? In this day and age?”

Scott sounded both surprised and disbelieved.

“So… who’s the lucky guy?”

She hesitated as her voice dropped to a murmur.

As though she sounded ashamed.

“Adnan… my cousin.”

Scott’s foot almost slipped off the gas pedal.

He coughed, loudly and awkwardly.

“Your cousin? Uh… that’s fairly wholesome… second cousin, maybe?”

“First…”

Nadia mumbled as she shrunk further into her seat.

『Kyaaa… somebody kill me already…』

She squirmed inwardly.

Scott stared straight ahead and his hands gripped the wheel tightly.

“Well… as long as you’re okay with it.”

“I’m not okay with it…”

Nadia muttered under her breath, but even she couldn’t hear her own voice. Then, realizing what she’d just said, she flailed her hands.

“No! I didn’t say anything!”

Scott shot her a confused glance.

He hadn’t asked anything.

“Uh… okay then.”

The car fell into a comfortable silence once more.

There was only the soft hum of the engine and Brigid’s tender snores from the backseat.

『Don’t worry, Nadia… I heard you…』

Scott’s face remained unsettlingly calm.

━ ━ ━ ━

Emma’s Mansion…

The GT-R’s engine purred to a halt as Scott parked the car in the circular driveway of the sprawling mansion. The warm glow of the house’s lights spilled out into the night as if to welcome them home.

Scott stepped out and stretched his back with a groan before reaching into the trunk. He pulled out a sleek metal suitcase and a smaller metal box, both of which seemed to hum faintly with an almost imperceptible energy.

『I always carry the Arcforge Omni-Fabricator wherever I go, not like I have a choice if I need to make quality super suits for crimes and all…』

Behind him, Nadia gently unbuckled Brigid, who groggily murmured something incoherent as she curled further into her seat.

“Come on, sleepyhead…”

Nadia said softly as she slid her arms under Brigid’s.

“Let’s get you to bed.”

Brigid stirred but didn’t wake fully, allowing Nadia to guide her out of the car. She leaned heavily against Nadia as her feet barely cooperated.

Scott glanced back as he shut the trunk. “Need help?”

“Nope, I got her!”

Nadia replied, almost like a soldier, as a slight smile pulled at her lips whilst adjusting Brigid’s weight.

The trio walked up the stone steps and entered the house.

The living room was dim.

But, the faint warmth lingering in the air suggested it had been occupied just moments ago.

Nadia looked ahead and her eyes landed on the dining table, where Emma, Jenna, and Marcus were gathered. Jenna and Emma were serving food while Marcus sat with a small chemistry textbook open in front of him, only half paying attention to the conversation.

Nadia tilted her head toward Scott.

“She’s finally out of her room. That means she’s probably not mad anymore.”

Scott exhaled as relief softened his features.

“Thanks for the heads-up.”

“I’ll put Brigid to bed…”

Nadia said as she adjusted her grip on the half-asleep girl.

“Poor girl’s got a seriously long day tomorrow. You should talk to Emma.”

Scott nodded, then watched Nadia carefully carry Brigid up the stairs.

Soon, the house fell quiet again.

『Alright…』

He made his way to the dining table.

Halfway there, Emma looked up and spotted him.

Her face lit up as she raised a pot of macaroni.

“Scott! Hurry up! You’re lucky you made it back just in time for dinner. I kept some just for you.”

There was such cheerfulness in her voice.

Scott blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her warm demeanor. His eyes flicked to Jenna, who gave him a subtle but approving nod. A sense of deep comfort caressed him and the tension in his shoulders suddenly eased.

He pulled out a chair and sank into it, sitting next to Marcus, who didn’t look up from his book.

Scott’s expression remained calm, but there was a trace of quiet happiness in his eyes.

Emma walked over with a plate in hand and dished macaroni onto it with some elegance.

“There. Now eat up.”

Scott opened his mouth to speak, to say something… anything, but before he could, Emma leaned in closer and her voice dropped to a soft murmur.

“Forget it…”

She cut him off gently.

“Don’t worry about whether I had the right to be mad or not. The truth is… I shouldn’t have been angry in the first place. Normally, I wouldn’t have been. I was just…”

She hesitated as her eyes lowered.

“I… I was uhh, dealing with a lot of stuff. Stuff I should’ve told you about.”

Scott stared at the macaroni on his plate.

“It’s the whole thing with Irina Golovin, isn’t it?”

Naturally, he kept his voice calm.

“D-, Did Nadia tell you?” Emma asked in confusion.

Scott shook his head as he offered her a small smile.

“No. I’ve seen the posts on Chirper and Threadit. But I didn’t want to bring it up. I figured you’d talk to me about it when you were ready.”

A tired smile appeared on Emma’s pretty face.

Next, she leaned down to kiss his cheek.

“Awww~ you’re sweet, you know that?”

Scott chuckled softly. “I know…”

—

… 11:46 p.m.

The house had settled into a peaceful hush.

Emma, Jenna, and Nadia had all gone to bed, and Brigid was sound asleep upstairs. The dining room was dark, and Scott sat alone at the table, lost in thought.

From the adjacent living room, Marcus’s voice rang out as he mashed the buttons of his controller.

“Let’s go! Triple kill! We’re winning this!”

Scott glanced through the archway, watching Marcus and his teammates on the screen.

“Marcus… I need your help with something.”

“Uh…”

Marcus didn’t even look up.

“Kinda busy right now. Can it wait?”

“No can do…” Scott replied, standing and walking over.

Before Marcus could protest further, Scott grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up with surprising ease.

“Whoa, whoa, WHOA! What are you──?!”

Marcus flailed as Scott dragged him away from the game.

“I wasn’t asking…”

━ ━ ━ ━

The clock ticked past midnight.

The mansion was very silent.

The only noises that could be heard were the muffled sounds coming from Brigid’s room.

Inside the room, Scott stood in front of a whiteboard, his sleeves rolled up and a shiny silver cane resting in one hand.

He looked like a general ready to rally his troops.

On the carpet in front of him, Brigid and Marcus knelt with awkwardly rigid postures, like hesitant soldiers trying their best not to get into more trouble.

On the board, Scott had scrawled large, bold letters:

[SMPE – Superhero Marketing and Promotion Events.]

Scott tapped the board with the tip of his cane.

“When a superhero signs up with the Hero Agency, you don’t just become a symbol of justice overnight. You’re entering one of the most competitive markets in the world. Standing out is not just important—it’s survival.”

Brigid and Marcus nodded together as the sting of their earlier mistakes was still fresh in their minds. After feeling the sharp bite of Scott’s cane several times before, neither of them dared to let their attention slip again.

Scott continued as he paced in front of them.

“To help heroes gain recognition, attract fans, and secure those oh-so-lucrative corporate partnerships, the Hero Agency organizes SMPEs. These events are strategically held in major cities, giving heroes a platform to showcase their abilities, connect with fans, and network with industry professionals.”

Brigid raised a hesitant hand.

“Lord Scott… what kind of abilities are we supposed to showcase? I mean, some heroes can… blow up buildings. But I…”

She trailed off, looking down at her knees.

Scott raised the cane slightly, and Brigid immediately flinched, covering the top of her head with both arms.

“Don’t hit me! I wasn’t complaining, I swear!”

Marcus stifled a snort but quickly straightened when Scott’s sharp gaze turned toward him.

Lowering the cane, Scott sighed.

“Brigid, we’ll figure that out. And for the record, I only hit you because you weren’t paying attention earlier. Understand?”

“Yes, Lord Scott…” Brigid murmured in a small tone.

Scott turned back to the board.

“Now. Marcus, since you’ve finally decided to behave, let me ask you something.”

He pointed the cane at him.

“Do you understand the stakes here?”

Marcus glanced at Brigid, then back at Scott.

“Uh, yeah. I get it. Marketing and stuff. But…”

He frowned, turning to Brigid.

“Wait, so you’re a superhero too?”

Brigid froze, her eyes darting nervously toward Scott.

“L-, Lord Scott! How can I reveal my secret identity to such a common person?! That’s simply unacceptable!”

“Hey! I’m not common!”

Marcus snapped as he glared at her.

Brigid puffed out her cheeks, mocking him.

“Huuuh?! It’s not like you have superpowers, do you?”

Marcus shot back, “Rope Girl and Nightwatch don’t have powers, and they’re still pretty strong! Even Xenon’s just a tech guy, and he’s amazing!”

Brigid hesitated, then gave Scott a sly side-eye and a tiny smile.

“I suppose he’s right…”

… thwack────THWACK!!

The cane came down on both their heads, earning twin yelps of pain. They clutched their heads and rolled on the ground like scolded children.

Scott pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

“I can’t believe I’m dealing with this…”

Walking over to Marcus, he tossed a document onto his lap.

“Here. Read this and sign it.”

Marcus blinked, rubbing his sore head. “What’s this?”

“NDA…”

Scott replied bluntly.

“You’ve signed one before, haven’t you? When you found out your aunt was Miss Mercury?”

“Oh. Right.”

Marcus calmly grabbed the papers and moved to the corner to read.

When a superhero joined the Hero Agency, their family, manager, and any friends who knew their secret identity had two choices: either sign an NDA agreeing never to reveal the superhero’s identity or take an amnesia pill to forget it entirely.

Breaking the contract wasn’t an option—if they did, the Hero Agency’s special agents would eliminate them without negotiation.

Scott turned to Brigid, who was still nursing her bruised pride.

“As for you…”

His voice was firm but not unkind.

“You’re going to learn everything there is to know about SMPEs. Start planning your live showcase now. I’ll work on your super suit and start promoting you on several platforms I know.”

Brigid’s expression darkened.

“But, Lord Scott…”

She lowered her head.

“Maybe we should just forget the whole thing. I’m bound to fail anyway. It’s pointless to even try…”

Marcus glanced up, surprised by her sudden lack of confidence. He opened his mouth to say something, but Scott was faster.

… THWACK!

Marcus yelped again. “What did I do?!”

Scott pointed the cane at him. “That’s for being an ass earlier. Now stay quiet.”

He walked over to Brigid and knelt in front of her.

Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, he spoke softly.

“Brigid, look at me.”

She didn’t.

“Come on… look at me.”

Still no response.

Scott sighed. “Please?”

Finally, Brigid lifted her gaze.

Her eyes were a dull green──showing just how little faith she had in succeeding.

Scott’s voice softened even more.

“You’re the one who said you want to be a hero, right?”

Brigid nodded hesitantly.

“Being a hero comes with challenges like this, as silly as they might seem. The Hero Agency’s made it clear—you must attend this SMPE, or your career as a hero ends before it begins. But here’s the thing…”

He leaned closer and locked eyes with her.

“We’re not doing this to show the world you’re the next big thing they want. We’re doing this to show them you’re the next big thing they need.”

Brigid’s eyes widened.

『He… He’s right…』

For a moment, she stared at him, awestruck.

Scott smiled. “So, can I count on you to give me your best for the next seven hours?”

Silence hung between them.

Then, without warning, Brigid dove forward to capture Scott’s lips in a sudden, passionate kiss and pushed him to the floor.

Her expectedly big butt pressed softly against his crotch, and her hands gripped the sleeves of his shirt as her lips gently and sensually nibbled his lips.

Scott barely had time to react before he found himself flat on his back with Brigid hovering over him.

“EEEEHHHH?!”

Marcus’s horrified shout shattered the silence.

“WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!”

Even Scott didn’t have an answer to that.

[Ding! You’ve kissed the Mindbender Heroine and have now acquired the nickname: Heroine Groomer!]