Chapter 214

Rea​d​ ​on KatRe​adingCafe

Once Again (3)

[Utoki]: The next room was built by someone else, so I’m not really sure what’s in it.

“…Really?”

Apparently everyone worked on the mansion together, but each person designed a different room, so even Koyuki didn’t know what lay beyond her own.

“So what’s the point of you being my guide, then?”

[Utoki]: Oh, come on—discovering stuff together is fun!

lololol

If she only knows her own room, that’s not a guide at all!

More like a tour buddy.

It’d be a waste to wander this huge place alone.

Since we’re here, why not have Toya tag along too?

lol

Toya is sitting right next to me, but she clearly has no intention of revealing herself to the chat.

“Okay, next room—”

Click. The door opened and the view snapped into focus.

A man stood there in a stylish fedora, crossbow in hand. Ropes, crosses, and a Bible hung on the walls.

“…Devil Hunter.”

The first game I ever streamed after debuting—the one that launched Han Yeoreum’s career as a gaming streamer. The man in front of me was the protagonist of Devil Hunter—exactly as I’d customized him.

Wow…

The quality’s insane!

Wait, Nacchan played Devil Hunter?

Pretty sure it was her first game stream, ww

Are the archives still up? I’ve watched her forever and never saw that.

Guess you don’t know the history… lol

Such nostalgia, www

“First time seeing this” salutes

Stop saluting, lol

I tried to play it cool, but my face must have slipped for a moment. Yeah… those days.

I scanned the room—“09:32:13” blinked on a timer display.

“Right… nice job.”

Yukki’s room was good, but this one’s next‑level.

They pulled this off in a single night?

Makes me want to go demon‑hunting right now, lol

Nacchan’s reaction is kinda muted.

Maybe she’s overwhelmed and can’t speak, lol

Overwhelmed—yes, but more like memories flooding back. If my hunch was right, the next room would be—

“Ah.”

[Grand Master tier achieved]

A normal room anyone might have—but on the desk the monitor showed that game screen, and the illusion shattered.

Wait, this is my old bedroom—the one from years ago.

“Legend of Heroes, huh? Whoever’s account that is, Grand Master means they’re seriously good, right?”

“Pfft.”

Oh, so Toya really was there beside her!

“Whoever it is” — sure, Nacchan, lol

Eyes darting everywhere, ww

Since you laughed, say hi, Toya!

Toya couldn’t hold back a giggle at my out‑of‑body comment. Ugh, so that’s how we’re playing?

Even trying to compose myself, the parade of memories wouldn’t stop.

“Hello~ I’m Toya, hi~”

“So, what did you build, Toya?”

“Hmm, what do you think?”

“…No idea.” There were too many possibilities—since every day of my new life involved Toya. If I had to guess at Han Yeoreum‑era memories, it might be some game we played together.

It’s Toya, lol

Figures she’d come watch Nacchan’s reactions.

I’m dying to know what Toya built.

Bet it’s surprisingly normal… or not.

“Okay, next room.”

One after another, the rooms echoed my past—games I’d streamed, special broadcasts. The April Fools TS‑avatar costume room nearly gave me a heart attack, but aside from that it was a heart‑tugging nostalgia tour.

“Everyone really worked hard on these.”

“You all right, Natsu?”

“Yeah, I’m fine—just tired, that’s all.”
I tried to sound casual, but my voice came out damp, heavy. Not a single tear, yet my tone had sunk. I forced myself to clear it—pull it together…

“I guess that was the last room.”

I’d assumed Toya’s room would make it twenty‑nine, but the mansion only had twenty‑eight. I glanced at Toya; she responded with a mischievous giggle.

Just how big was her surprise?

“There’s a staircase to the basement from the lobby.”

“…There’s a basement too?”

“Yep. It’ll blow your mind.”

I vaguely remembered some stairs—yes, over there, tucked away.

“What on earth did you build down here?”

“Heh‑heh, you’ll see.”

Descending the shadowy staircase, a flashing green emergency sign came into view. The atmosphere was downright creepy—like a horror game. I eased my avatar forward; the dark corridor gradually brightened…

…and revealed a subway station.

…A subway station?

[Get ready for Ichinose Natsu’s First Live! Coming soon!]

“…Ah.”

The figure on the poster was Ichinose Natsu, not Han Yeoreum, but the layout and design were identical to that old advertisement. And the person who built this was obviously—

“Thank you, Toya.”

I smiled; she gave me one just as warm. My heart thumped loudly in my chest.
Chat & Forum Highlights

“Isn’t this the game she played on her very first stream?”
(Clip: Room decorated like Devil Hunter)

ㄴ Yep.
ㄴ The numbers on the wall match the stream timer, lol
ㄴ They even recreated her custom protagonist!
ㄴ All done overnight?
ㄴ But did Natsu ever stream Devil Hunter? I don’t recall.
ㄴ Lol, new viewer spotted.
ㄴ Ichinose Natsu didn’t—but…
ㄴ Time for a history lesson, I see.
ㄴ Ah, the nostalgia!

“Why are the old‑school Yeoreum fans so wired today?”
(Image of someone sitting bolt upright)

ㄴ Feels good to be young again, haha. Join us!
ㄴ Cheers!
ㄴ Dude, the boomer vibes are strong in that post…
ㄴ Total Yeoreum‑fest tonight, lol
ㄴ How old are you if you watched the Devil Hunter days?
ㄴ Ask my “vintage,” not my age…
ㄴ Hey, we’re not that old, okay?!

“There’s even the Legend of Heroes Grand Master speedrun”
ㄴ The legendary 48‑hour marathon!
ㄴ How did she reach Grand Master in that state?
ㄴ She was younger then, lol
ㄴ So you’re saying she’s older now?
ㄴ Not older—feels younger than ever. She’s draining Yeoreumdan longevity, haha

“Brings back memories…”
(Photo of the Ichinose Natsu subway ad)

ㄴ I had my light stick and chant ready, then she disappeared on us—
ㄴ She’s back now, so bottoms up!
ㄴ I loved her, but I wanted a Han Yeoreum live…
ㄴ True, she’s lost that first‑concert innocence…
ㄴ (Inari anti‑pedo strike kon)
ㄴ She looks even younger now, actually.

ㄴ Korea’s first male VTuber solo live almost happened back then.
ㄴ Toya hasn’t lost her touch—smart promo; the old fans will straighten their backs in pride.
ㄴ So Toya built this? Every person made one room, and Toya’s was missing, so yeah.
ㄴ Figures. Toya was a Yeoreum fan too, after all.

Fables