Outside the Tower – The Change:

  All the followers of Chutubits began roaring at the sky. The hype from their new ToS had transformed their economic reality for the better. Before, they had to grind the souls of snails and fish just to maintain an income equivalent to a single human soul. Days were hard, and the labor never-ending. But now, the monthly subscription model had been resolved.

  They could finally perform manual labor like proper employees, just moving tea and crumpets with promotional banners, they are normal people again!!!

  The new frenzy made the stragglers stop looking at the ground for slugs and start promoting in earnest. Evil was winning the fight!!!!

  Then—the Saintess, receiving information from her moderators while rushing to the second floor, gives the go-ahead to initiate Contingency Plan 5.7C: Promotional Hero Underwear Subathon.

  This change gives the needed morale boost to hold the line. The thirsty followers, now frenzied anew, start promoting merch with holy vigor.

  The city is in ruins, echoing with the roars of frenzied lunatics.

  At the Second Floor:

  Hajime-san argues:

  "Hey love, I’m actually fine! It’s just that I need this for... cough, cough... research purposes!"

  Caladblock, jealously:

  "You don’t need this!!! Was everything you said about ads a lie?!"

  Hajime responds:

  "Don’t get me wrong—I hate ads with the core of my soul! But… streaming… it’s something I need in my life!"

  He holds the miasma sword to his face like he’s powering up for the final battle pose.

  Caladblock:

  "I won’t let you be corrupted! You will remain pure!!!"

  She holds firm, denying the happiness of her “husband” like any true wife.

  Hajime tsk’s:

  "I will push that button if it’s the last thing I do!"

  The futile rebellion of a house-husband trying to grow a spine—but it’s not enough!

  He prepares to let go of Caladblock to free his fingers… but something unexpected happens.

  Miasma chains bind Hajime’s hands.

  "We will not be apart. Not now. Not ever!!!"

  Hajime starts sweating bullets.

  "Shit, how the hell do I escape this?!"

  Then Valiant says:

  "Good assist... ahhh, my power is waning!!!"

  The button stops glitching.

  The promotion becomes available again.

  But only a wall of black fire now denies Hajime his chance to sub.

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  He screams:

  "Please help me!!!"—a desperate gaze thrown toward Tentacle-san.

  The being responds:

  "Hold on, Subscriber-san! We’ll get you the best service!!!"

  It starts punching the fire wall in a menacing rhythm.

  Caladblock screams:

  "You traitor!!!"

  Hajime, with resolve:

  "I’m being true to myself! Don’t dare deny me this!!!"

  The hero party—Whalescalibur, Elnora, and Merry—arrive at the chamber.

  It’s truly a hellish scene: an abomination of unimaginable power is bashing against a wall of dark purple flame. The hero, with an enraged face, sweat pouring, neck veins bulging, stares at the monster in a heroic pose and screams:

  "Pleaseee help MEEE NOWWW!!!"

  Whalescalibur declares:

  "This is my moment… The hero will finally appreciate this holy compass—cough cough—sword!!! Yes, sword!!! For the utility and reverence I deserve!"

  She daydreams: him wielding her while falling asleep together, asking when the next Hero Polish Ex-Ad stream would drop, smiting small whale-themed daggers by her side as she imbues them with holy Polish ad-labbies.

  Merry, shocked:

  "Our hero!!! If only he had premiumed more promotions before this encounter! Let us rectify this before he is lost!"

  Whalescalibur:

  "Yes, wield me and let’s save the hero!!!"

  (She mumbles nervously to herself: Note to self, warn about…)

  The Saintess, Elnora-san, clutches her heart:

  "We cannot let him become a martyr—not yet, fans!!!"

  (She definitely hasn’t scored yet… totally not the reason.)

  She continues:

  "Let his heroics be the example we should all aspire to foster in this monetized holy order!!!"

  A monologue for her stream begins.

  She points dramatically:

  "Pleaseee supersub to save the hero!!!"

  A million chorus dings echo in response—each one holding the thirst and dreams of males and females who haven’t touched grass.

  The sword is empowered for one magnificent slash.

  Whalescalibur screams:

  "Cha-chingggggg!!!"

  And the world turns to gold.

  His hidden desperation awakens the fight-or-flight response all humans are born with, granting him latent strength beyond normal limits.

  The chains from Caladblock, weakened by the entity’s intrusion, start to snap.

  Caladblock:

  "NOOOO!!! You are forbidden!!!! No, no, no, no, no…!"

  She chants in a broken tone.

  Hajime, veins bulging, finally frees one hand.

  He desperately reaches toward the subscribe button of the entity!!!

  New chains materialize from Caladblock, strangling Hajime’s freed arm, trying to guide it back to her hilt— to his beloved sword.

  It’s an intense battle for the purity of our hero!!!

  Just as the firewall breaks, the entity moves its tentacle—offering the Sub Button like the artpiece of Man touching the Finger of God...

  Then—

  A gigantic cha-ching sound roars.

  Golden light blinds the room.

  The entity disappears in the light, leaving behind only a small cash-sign eye on the ground.

  Half the tower collapses sideways in a clean diagonal cut.

  Hajime looks at the cash-sign eye…

  He drops to his knees… a small smile on his face…

  A single tear slips out of his eye as he collapses into the “just-in-time backup hero” pose.