Chapter 82: Horror Games Aren’t Scary at All!

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Today is finally the day of the collab stream with Jia unnie!

I woke up filled with excitement.

Well, it’s not just excitement—there’s also a fair bit of nervousness.

My first collab with Chae-yoon unnie, my first offline collab with Ra-hee unnie and even the three-person collab with Yuna and Verdia-chan were nerve-wracking too.

But personally, today is the most thrilling, because it’s a one-on-one collab with my ultimate bias!

I even sprayed air freshener around the house, even though it doesn’t smell bad.

While setting up the snacks on the table, I kept feeling anxious; what if Jia unnie doesn’t like the snacks?

I mostly picked things she mentioned liking during streams.

Ah, now that I think about it, Jia unnie said she’s sensitive to the cold.

Should I turn up the heater a bit more?

Ding-dong—

“Ah…!”

While I was busy worrying, the doorbell suddenly rang, and I rushed to the door.

“Oh, unnie…! Welcome.”

“Hey, it’s been a while since I’ve seen our Da-jeong.”

“Huh? We saw each other four days ago, though?”

I was flustered by the unexpected greeting, we had a company meeting that day, after all.

“It feels like a long time to me. Do you know how much I’ve missed our youngest?”

“Hehe…”

As soon as we met, Jia unnie started patting my head and I giggled like a fool and squirmed.

For some reason, Jia unnie’s head pats feel especially tender.

It’s not that the other members’ pats aren’t nice, but… It’s like she really treats me like her little sister.

After enjoying the joy of reuniting after four days, we stepped inside the house together.

“Wow, your place is really nice. I’ve seen pictures, but…”

“Right? Manager got me such a great place. It feels too luxurious for just me.”

There are two rooms, an oven in the kitchen, and even a central air conditioning system.

For me, it’s a truly luxurious home.

“Well, what’s wrong with living in a nice place? Just work hard and repay her kindness, okay?”

“Hehe, you’re right. I’ll work harder to repay her.”

The term “repay” might not fit perfectly with the CEO, but to me our CEO is like a mother figure, so it doesn’t feel too out of place.

“Unnie, give me your coat and bag.”

“Huh? Oh, sorry. Thanks.”

“No problem! I’ll hang these up and be right back. Enjoy the snacks first!”

I took unnie’s coat and bag, scurried to the bedroom, hung the coat on a hanger and placed the bag next to it, quickly hurrying back to the living room.

“Da-jeong, did you prepare all this just for me?”

Jia unnie, who had locked eyes with me, asked with a slightly surprised expression. At first, I didn’t know what she meant but then I noticed her pointing at the table.

“Huh? Oh, the snacks?”

“Yeah, it’s all my favorite stuff…”

Cheesecake, Mont Blancs, salt cookies, and amerikaners.

These are the snacks Erin, a self-proclaimed cookies lover, mentioned liking during streams.

I don’t think she’s mentioned them in this world yet, though.

“Actually, I went to a bakery Yuna recommended today. While I was looking around, I thought of you and bought these.”

“Oh, you thought of me?”

“Yes!”

Honestly, that’s a lie.

I didn’t just think of her while I was there—I went specifically to find snacks for her.

However since I ended up buying them for her, it’s not entirely false, right?

With that thought, I nodded shamelessly, and unnie stared blankly at the table.

“Thank you… by the way, how do you always say such sweet things, Da-jeong?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, saying you thought of me and bought these. Most people wouldn’t say that.”

Jia unnie chuckled, adding, “At least, I couldn’t say something like that.”

Huh? Really?

I don’t think it’s that hard.

It’s just…

“I’m always thinking about you, unnie, so I don’t see what’s so hard about it.”

I’m always thinking about unnie— no, actually, all the members. Since I’m always thinking about them, it’s natural for me to say so. I don’t really understand why it’s considered difficult.

“Sigh…”

“…Unnie?”

After I shared my honest feelings, Jia unnie clasped her hands together as if in prayer, closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and shook her head.

“I can’t take it anymore. I need to take Da-jeong home and raise her myself.”

“Raise me…?!”

She suddenly stood up, hugged me tightly, and forced me to sit at the table— on her lap, no less.

“I’ve always wanted a little sister since I’m an only child. No, I can’t wait. Let’s go to my place after the collab today.”

“Whaaat…?!”

W-what about the place I’m living in now?! And unnie’s mom lives with her too!

What is she talking about?!

“N-no…! I can’t impose on your mom like that!”

Flail flail—

I struggled fiercely to escape unnie’s arms, which seemed ready to take me away at any moment but I was no match for her strength.

“Pfft, is that the problem? You’re okay with living together?”

“W-well…?”

“What if it’s inconvenient?”

“That’s true, but…”

Of course, living together might have its inconveniences, but more importantly…

“I think I’d be happy living with you, unnie.”

“…….”

Yes, I’m sure it would be fun.

So, tilting my head, I answered in a calm tone.

Jia unnie stared at me blankly for a moment, then suddenly buried her face in my shoulder… Huh?

Brrrrr—!

“Kyaaaah! Unnie…! That tickles…!”

She started rubbing her face against me like she was nuzzling a cat, letting out a deep breath.

W-what is this?!

Am I a cat or a baby or something?!

At least she didn’t do it to my stomach, but…!

This is embarrassing!

“It’s Da-jeong’s fault for being so cute. Who told you to say such sweet things?”

“W-what sweet things…?!”

Sniff.

Somehow, Jia unnie is starting to act like Ra-hee unnie.

Someone, save me!

＊＊＊＊＊

Despite the slight chaos, we enjoyed the snacks together and finished preparing for the stream.

“I’m kind of nervous.”

“You too, unnie?”

“Yeah, it’s my first offline collab. I’ve never done one with the other members either.”

Ah, that’s right.

Since I’ve been so active with collabs, I assumed the other members had done them with each other too.

Alright, it’s time for me to step up as the reliable one.

How well we handle the horror game today depends on me!

The responsibility is huge!

“It’s okay! I’ll lead the way as your senior!”

“Pfft, thanks. Then I’ll just follow your lead, Senior?”

“Yes! Just trust me and follow along!”

I puffed out my chest and confidently declared, “Ahem!”

Jia unnie smiled and patted my head.

Hehe, it feels like I’m gaining more strength because unnie believes in me.

I need to psych myself up before we start.

“Should I start it now, unnie?”

“Yeah.”

After getting unnie’s approval, I moved the mouse and clicked.

I pressed the button to start the stream.

Maybe it’s because we announced the collab in advance, but today, viewers seem to be joining twice as fast as usual.

Well,  Erin’s fans must be here in full force too.

Before I knew it, the number of viewers had already surpassed 7,000.

Considering how little time had passed since we started the stream, it was an incredible number.

Feeling like most of the expected viewers had joined, we exchanged glances and prepared to greet everyone, nodded once, twice, and then opened our mouths in unison.

“Hi, everyone!”

“Welcome, everyone.”

I greeted them cheerfully as usual, while Jia unnie, in her usual calm tone said her signature line.

By the way, Erin’s greeting is “Welcome, everyone.”

It might seem plain at first glance, but there’s actually a backstory to it.

Since Erin’s character is a goddess who owns a shrine, she’s used to greeting her followers this way, which is why she adopted this greeting.

That’s also why her sign-off is “May fortune be with you.”

In a way, she might be the most dedicated to roleplay among the Blue LUV members.

• Waaaaaah!
• I’m heeeere!
• Lu-ha and Eri-ha!
• Erin-chan, hi!
• Finally seeing this duo collab LOL

As soon as our greetings ended, the chat exploded with enthusiastic reactions.

Seeing that, we made eye contact and smiled.

I’m glad everyone’s so excited.

“Hehe, as promised, I’ve invited Erin unnie to my place today! It’s my first time inviting someone over, so I’m actually really nervous right now.”

I tried to act like I wasn’t nervous but when I raised my hands, which I had hidden between my thighs, you could see them trembling slightly.

Jia unnie noticed and chuckled, bringing her mic closer to her mouth.

“That’s right, Lulu was super nervous earlier. We just had some snacks together, and she kept asking, ‘Is it good? Is it good?’ because she was so anxious.”

• So cute LOL
• I can totally imagine it LOL
• So, was it good?

“Yes, it was delicious. Lulu said she went to a bakery today, thought of me, and bought all my favorite things. Especially the Mont Blanc—it was the best.”

• As expected from the cookie-loving goddess LOL
• How obsessed with cookies can you be? LOL
• Fact: Erin once said she’d eat nothing but cookies for the rest of her life if her mom wasn’t watching.
• The burning filial piety LOL

That’s right, Unnie did say something like that.

I thought it was just a joke at the time, but after seeing her eat cookies today, it might not have been a joke after all.

“Today, as announced, we’ll be playing ‘Outlast’ with Erin unnie! It’s a brand-new horror game that just came out!”

• Oh
• The trailer looked pretty fun
• Already drooling LOL
• I can already see the disastrous future ahead. Is it just me?

Tsk tsk.

Just sit back and watch, okay?

Don’t complain later if the stream gets boring!

“We’ll save the chit-chat for after the horror game, so look forward to that too, okay?”

• Sure
• Sounds good
• You’ll probably be too exhausted after the horror game to even end the stream properly LOL
• No running away, though

Hmph, no need to worry.

Sure, Jia unnie is weak when it comes to horror games, but since I’m here this time, we’ll get through it smoothly and end with some relaxed chatting.

“Wow… the, the title screen alone is scary.”

As soon as we launched Outlast, which I had pre-installed, Jia unnie grabbed my arm weakly at the sight of the starting screen.

I gave her a thumbs-up to encourage her.

“Unnie, don’t worry! I’m here!”

“Y-yeah. That’s right. Unnie will trust our youngest.”

“Hehe, yes!”

• The chaos will begin in 30 minutes.
• 30 minutes? I give it 10.
• Won’t even last 5 minutes.

Ignoring the viewers’ teasing, I clicked the “New Game” button to start the game.

I’m really curious how their expressions will change as they watch.

Hehehehe!

＊＊＊＊＊

The beginning was ordinary.

The viewers were convinced we’d scream within 5 minutes, but I knew better than anyone that wouldn’t happen.

Horror games rarely start with a jump scare right away.

They usually begin calmly, setting a creepy atmosphere and then introduce the enemy when you least expect it.

But to me, who’s seen through all that, it’s just a meaningless twist.

Come at me!

I’ve already watched enough playthroughs to not be scared of you guys!

Creak… creak…

It hadn’t been long since I made that bold declaration, but as the atmosphere grew darker and more sinister, I started to feel uneasy.

Is… is that a human leg?

And that’s an arm.

Why are those things stacked neatly on a shelf?

Scurry—

“Eek!”

Oh, it was just a rat.

I wouldn’t even flinch if I saw one in real life, but the sudden sound made me jump.

• LOLOLOLOL
• Didn’t you say you weren’t scared?
• Already trembling, huh?

“I-I’m not scared at all! I-I was just surprised because it came out of nowhere. Right, unnie?”

“Y-yeah. It’s simpler than I thought. It might end up being too boring, huh?”

“Y-yeah.”

Exchanging trembling voices, we moved the character’s footsteps out of the room.

At least there’s some light here, so it’s less scary….

Dum dum dum dum—

Huh? Why did the background music suddenly change?

It feels really tense….

Ah, I remember.

When the background music changes, it means the pursuer is coming.

Yeah, that’s right.

…Wait.

Pursuer?

After a few moments of processing, a chill ran down my spine, and I moved my trembling hand to turn the character’s perspective.

There, in the dim light at the end of the dark hallway, a figure appeared.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a toy.”

Holding a massive blunt weapon—whether it was a hammer or a knife, I couldn’t tell— the pursuer, with a grotesque appearance far beyond human, spoke.

“KYAAAAAAAH!”

“EEEEEEEEK!”

The moment we saw it, Jia unnie and I screamed in perfect harmony, as if we had planned it.