Ch.264[Episode 264] Interlude

“Ah, you’re so good at this game! You’re making me give you nothing but praise!”

-Why did you choose a walking character? lol

-Yeah, doesn’t Sir Dominic lack a mobility skill? Isn’t he a walker?

“Hey. You’re banned. I can tolerate you making fun of me, but I can’t tolerate you making fun of Sir Dominic!”

Star I’m Not Little was streaming today, communicating with her viewers.

Today’s game was “Half-God,” a filial piety training game where teammates ask about your parents if you make even a small mistake.

The concept was that after the absence of the Prophet, sects claiming to be the Prophet’s successors put forward their holy knights as champions, deifying them to fight for the Prophet’s position. Naturally, I’m Not Little only played as Sir Dominic, who had been recently updated.

Other characters required too much effort, and Sir Dominic was the best fit for I’m Not Little, who lacked confidence in her control skills.

“But it’s time for the late-game power spike, right? Now that I’ve got Legion’s Glory, it’s Sir Dominic’s turn, right?”

I’m Not Little opened the shop window while looking at Sir Dominic, who was recovering at the base after being attacked by three champions.

Sir Dominic was a pick aimed at the late game.

Although Sir Dominic lacked mobility skills, he was a versatile champion who could steadily push a lane or block the enemy’s main damage dealer in team fights.

He had the disadvantage of being highly item-dependent due to continuous nerfs, but conversely, once he had his items, he became stronger than any other champion.

“Oh? Everyone, just a moment. I have a call, so I’ll be right back after answering it.”

I’m Not Little’s phone suddenly started ringing while she was happily planning her next moves.

She was going to ignore the call since Sir Dominic was about to respawn, but she changed her mind when she saw the caller’s name.

I’m Not Little turned off her streaming microphone and camera and sighed.

Well, it’s nice to get a call, but why now of all times?

With that thought, I’m Not Little pressed the answer button.

“Hello, Astromus. What’s going on?”

I’m Not Little answered the phone with an artificially sweet voice and a fake smile.

She was not only personally acquainted with him but also the head of the same constellation, so her attitude was even more respectful.

“Yes. Yes. A collaboration stream? Oh my! Of course I’d love to! By the way, did you say five people? Could I know who they are in advance?”

From the receiver came a magnificent language that mortal ears could not hear and mortal brains could not comprehend.

Any mortal would have been either moved or driven mad by that voice, but I’m Not Little continued the conversation normally, as if she hadn’t won her Star seat with a trump card.

“Yes. Oh, I see. Yes. Understood. Then I’ll connect to GachaCode at that time. Yes. No, I should be the one thanking you. Yes. Yes. Understood. Goodbye.”

I’m Not Little pressed the end call button and sighed.

“Looks like another new editor ran away.”

I’m Not Little said with near certainty.

As one of Astromus’s former editors, she knew his personality well.

Astromus’s strength and weakness was his personality—he was obsessively detail-oriented.

Subtitle bars had to be adjusted at the pixel level, effects had to appear at precisely the right timing down to the frame, and even screen transition times had to be calculated frame by frame to satisfy him.

Editors who grew tired of his obsessive attention to detail couldn’t handle his madness and fled in terror.

In that situation, I’m Not Little was the one who had worked with Astromus the longest.

While other editors changed every three days, she had endured his obsessive details for a full three years and two months.

Moreover, she only quit editing because she wanted to start streaming herself—if she hadn’t started streaming, she might still be Astromus’s editor.

Astromus knew this fact.

However, while Astromus regretted losing her talent as an editor, he also wanted her stream to succeed.

Astromus was well aware of his own personality and had a fondness for I’m Not Little, who handled it well.

Perhaps that’s why, whenever an editor ran away, he would call I’m Not Little to arrange collaborations or advertisements to help grow her channel, while also having her help with editing, satisfying both his desires at once.

I’m Not Little, who never went outside anyway, thought this was fortunate and circled the collaboration date on the calendar next to her computer with a red pen.

At that moment, I’m Not Little suddenly realized she had forgotten something.

“Ah. The game.”

I’m Not Little hurriedly returned to the game screen, but the word “Defeat” was already displayed across the screen.

When she clicked confirm with trembling hands, the results screen appeared, and the chat corner was filled with filial messages asking about parents.

“…I’m doomed.”

I’m Not Little glanced at the stream chat.

-Intentional AFK, right? Trolling, right?

-To! Hell! To! Hell!

-Abusers and hackers get out~ Now it’s AFK time~

-Yeah, try your best~ Just leave your seat and it’s over~

Ah, as expected.

I’m Not Little sighed as she looked at the chat messages from viewers excited at the prospect of tearing into her.

…

The Stars gathered for a meeting after a long time.

And it was through a live broadcast on GachaLive.

It was the first time since the server reset disguised as regression.

Of course, not many Stars attended since it had been less than a year since the last meeting.

Even though that meeting had been online through GachaCode.

“Hello everyone! This is Astromus, the GachaTuber who always shows scale beyond imagination.”

-Wow! Astromus!

-Show us trapping a planet in a slime wind balloon again!

“Unfortunately, I have different content planned for today. Today, I’m planning to do a collaboration stream.”

-A collab?

-Please do trapping a planet in a slime wind balloon! Try 2!

“Please ban the person who keeps asking me to trap a planet in a slime wind balloon. Anyway, I’ll introduce today’s guests—”

[Enormous Cluster has donated 1000 Gacha Stones!]

[Hello, GachaTube puppies.]

“Cut! Cut! We can’t use this for the video! Let’s go for take 2. Take 2.”

Astromus, the giant with the universe in his body, began introducing the guests again.

“Nice to meet you, GachaTube viewers. This is Astromus, the GachaTuber who always shows scale beyond imagination. Today, I’m planning a collaboration, and I’ll introduce everyone one by one.”

Astromus paused for a moment before calling each name in order.

“A hot beauty GachaTuber who’s recently expanding into gaming as well—’Incarnation of Beauty.'”

“Hello! I’m Incarnation of Beauty.”

“Next is the number one instructor in Gacha-dong who uploads math lecture videos on GachaTube—’Negative Polygon.'”

Astromus began introducing each Star one by one.

I’m Not Little had to struggle not to sigh.

In truth, although he called it a collaboration, all the people here were Stars she already knew.

They all lived in the same constellation, so it was impossible not to know them.

I’m Not Little tended to get uncomfortable doing collaborations with people she didn’t know, so Astromus must have remembered this and arranged it with people she knew.

I’m Not Little noticed that Astromus was introducing everyone in order of GachaTuber subscriber count.

She had gathered information in advance after getting a hint from Astromus about today’s collaboration members.

That meant I’m Not Little would be introduced last.

The GachaTubers gathered here all had over a million subscribers at minimum, and Astromus alone had over 130 million, making him an enormous GachaTuber.

With only around 150,000 subscribers despite her recent growth, I’m Not Little felt somewhat inadequate among them.

“Finally, I’m Not Little.”

“Hello. I’m I’m Not Little. I run a small gaming channel, and I’m looking forward to today’s collaboration!”

I’m Not Little immediately delivered her prepared line in response to Astromus.

“Ah, some people in the chat recognize her. That’s right. I’m Not Little is one of my former editors. She edited about 1,200 videos for me.”

“Really?”

Incarnation of Beauty looked at I’m Not Little.

“That’s why she was invited to join our constellation.”

“I didn’t know that. When I became friends with her, she had what, 50,000 subscribers? That was after she’d grown quite a bit. I didn’t know about her past.”

The Star Negative Polygon chided Incarnation of Beauty.

Of course, this was all an “act.”

They had agreed to do this for on-stream chemistry.

“Anyway, as everyone here knows, I invited you for a collaboration but haven’t mentioned the topic yet.”

“That’s true. I was so excited about meeting up that I just accepted.”

“That’s why people call you an empty can with only a decent appearance.”

“What?”

Negative Polygon and Incarnation of Beauty started bickering with each other.

Regardless, Astromus naturally continued with the proceedings.

“Actually, I considered doing this alone, but I wanted to hear various opinions, so I invited all of you.”

-? Is something big coming?

-Is something big coming?

Astromus briefly checked the chat’s reaction.

The chat was expecting something big based on Astromus’s attitude.

“Stop building suspense and just tell us.”

The Star Entwined with Vines, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.

“Don’t raise expectations unnecessarily.”

“I’ll do that.”

Astromus nodded as if agreeing with the Star Entwined with Vines.

“It’s nothing special.”

Astromus displayed a PowerPoint presentation beside his camera with a calm tone and demeanor.

As if it really was nothing special.

“Let’s call it a preview of the next update.”

“Huh? That’s actually a big deal.”

I’m Not Little was so surprised by Astromus’s statement that she blurted out a curse word.