Chapter 100: Aftermath

“It’s finally over····.”

“Oof, my whole body aches from being outside after so long.”

“Me too······”

After the cover song recording was all completed.

Dragging their exhausted bodies, the streamers safely made their way out of the recording studio.

“But is it really okay to end it like that?”

“It feels more friendly and it’s fine, right?”

Separate from the mental and physical exhaustion.

The fact that they had finally completed a task they had poured so much time into couldn’t help but make everyone feel good deep down.

However.

“Excuse me··· Cheongha?”

“Yes?”

“You, are you really not going to debut as a singer?”

While walking out of the building, Sogeumbbang cautiously asked Ren.

The reason for that was because of what she had just heard from the studio side.

‘Excuse me, do you really have no intention of debuting again?’

‘No, I don’t really have any thoughts of doing so.’

‘····I don’t understand.’

With such talent, why on earth are you doing this kind of work—.

She couldn’t hear the rest of his words properly, but at least one fact was certain.

“Well, I don’t really have any intention of debuting as a singer.”

The woman before her eyes.

Sakamiya Ren, had no intention of returning to the entertainment industry.

“I just think it’s better for me now.”

“Still····.”

“More than anything, you’re subtly ignoring it, aren’t you.”

Ren, recalling the studio staff’s words, contorted her expression.

She already had a negative view of the entertainment industry, and if they spoke like that, even if she had thoughts, they would disappear completely.

Even if it wasn’t intentional and just slipped out, doesn’t that mean they usually think that way?

Then it’s even more of a no.

Besides, Ren was an idol who did everything herself, like Sogeumbbang.

Finding a studio, choosing and scouting a composer, writing song lyrics.

Compared to the kids these days who just follow what their agency tells them to do, Ren preferred this way.

“Ah, really?”

As I answered with my own thoughts like that, Sogeumbbang spoke to me again.

A strangely pleased face came into view.

“Oh, come to think of it, is it okay for you to sing like this?”

“·····Now you ask?”

“Ah, haha··· Actually, it still doesn’t quite feel real····.”

No matter what, Ren’s identity was an idol.

Once everything was over and the tension eased, such thoughts crossed her mind.

For a Vtuber, the existence beyond the avatar, the so-called red pill, is a serious matter.

She wondered if it was okay for a Vtuber, who had to hide such a red pill, to sing like this.

“By any chance, have you heard my song?”

“Ah, right?”

“Not the Korean one, but the one I sang during my idol days.”

“Ah, that one, not yet····.”

I also realized it again after listening to the recording this time.

If the basic language changes, the intonation also changes a lot.

Unless it’s an acquaintance, and an acquaintance with incredibly sharp senses at that, they wouldn’t be able to easily recognize me.

And all my acquaintances are in Japan and don’t know Korean.

“Well, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

“Aha···.”

And those who already know are not the type to carelessly spread it to anyone.

Just as I was reassuring Sogeumbbang like that.

Someone approached from behind and spoke.

“Hey guuuys~!”

“Oh, Shim Cheong Unnie?”

Her identity was Kang Shim Cheong, one of the streamers who participated in the project.

She played the role of the perennially late rabbit from the beginning, acting as a delightful supporting character throughout the song.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, now that the project is all over.”

How about we all go for a company dinner or something?

“Huh?”

Company dinner?

“Yeah!”

Um··· Um, Cheongha, would you like to come too?

Kang Shim Cheong, cautiously avoiding my eyes while making the suggestion.

Hmm, come to think of it.

I also need to get permission to share this story on stream.

If I get permission, I’ll have more things to talk about.

Since it was a project that went on for so long, it seemed like a lot of videos would come out and it would be good.

“Yes, I’d love to.”

“Okay, then I’ll treat!”

“Oh.”

I admired Sogeumbbang, who shouted coolly.

She said she was a big-shot streamer, so she must earn a lot.

Even if it wasn’t ‘billions a month bread’…. I had no doubt she earned in the thousands.

And more than anything, isn’t it free food?

“Buffet, call?”

“Call.”

I, Sakamiya Ren.

Was not the type to refuse when someone offered to buy me a meal.

---

And so, the company dinner that began so suddenly.

Since many opined that a large buffet was a bit much for the morning, we had no choice but to move to a nearby meat restaurant.

A buffet is a bit regrettable, but we can just go later.

‘Still, this is also a buffet, right?’

It’s not a fancy brand buffet in some large shopping mall, just a regular meat buffet.

“There aren’t many people.”

“Uh, I heard that stores aren’t doing well these days anyway.”

Although the ban on gatherings itself hasn’t been lifted yet, it’s still better if there are fewer people.

Still, I thought there would be some people, so is it a relief that no one has to worry about their real identities being revealed?

‘Come to think of it, is this then the last gathering where we can legally meet?’

My goodness, it seemed I really had to make the most of today.

I won’t even be able to dream of eating out for a while.

“I’ll grill the meat.”

“Eh?”

“Cheongha will?”

“Yes, I’m good at grilling meat.”

As I spoke, skillfully holding the meat tongs, the other members looked at me with surprised eyes.

This is important, so I’ll say it again and again, but despite appearances, I’m good at cooking.

I was the one who took care of our kids at the dorm until now.

Since Sion is a guy, there were quite a few restrictions he couldn’t overcome.

So, I mostly took charge of the kids’ daily care.

“Anyway, bring whatever you want to eat.”

“Ah, okay!”

“I’ll bring spoons and other things too.”

And so, some members left to procure meat, and Sogeumbbang and Kang Shim Cheong remained next to me.

“By the way, why are you really a Vtuber?”

You’d be fine doing other things too····.

“Ah, that’s—”

Answering the questions that flew in a few times, I quietly waited for the others to return.

“We’re back!”

And not long after, people returned with plates full of meat.

My goodness, they brought such a variety.

Pork belly, bulgogi, and even marinated meat.

I looked around for yukhoe (beef tartare), but unfortunately, it wasn’t visible.

Well, there’s no way anyone dislikes yukhoe.

It seems they just don’t have it here.

“Excuse me, one alcohol here, please!”

“·····Are you going to chug a bottle in broad daylight?”

“Oh, she’s always like that.”

Ignore her.

Not long after those words, the store owner really brought out a bottle of alcohol.

‘·····That’s a good brand.’

A liquor bottle I had only seen in the CEO’s office appeared.

These people, it seems they’ve decided to spend some serious money this time.

A liquor bottle of a brand that even I, who am not interested in alcohol, can recognize at a glance, catches my eye.

“Alright!”

Our Cheongha Cheongha, want a glass too?

“Ahaha·····.”

Kang Shim Cheong… no, the heavy drinker, naturally offered me alcohol.

Hmm, alcohol….

“No··· I won’t drink alcohol.”

“Huh?”

Why?

“Just···· It’s not my type.”

“Ah, because it’s bitter?”

“Well, there’s that too·····.”

Actually, there’s a good reason why I don’t like alcohol.

When my parents drink heavily, I have to update my will every time, so how could I like it?

Anyone with alcoholic duo parents would come to dislike alcohol even if they liked it before.

Unless it’s an exceptionally happy day, I don’t touch it.

Since I couldn’t tell others such stories, I decided to just let it pass.

It’s not wrong that I dislike it because it’s bitter either.

No, actually, that’s the biggest reason.

I’m still 22 years old.

It was an age to temporarily set aside health concerns and prefer sweet and delicious things.

I tried it on my 20th birthday, but it really wasn’t my type.

I even brought Sion along in case something happened because I got drunk, but in the end, it just turned into him finishing it off.

He handles his alcohol well…

“Ughm, can’t be helped then.”

Fortunately, she seemed to understand to some extent and soon took the liquor bottle towards herself.

“My god, is she crazy.”

What is she holding from the morning.

“Hehehe~!”

“Give me one too.”

“Here you go~”

It seems like it would be fun to go on a trip to a pension or something with these people.

No, then would I not be able to keep up because I lack stamina?

Physical fatigue might be one thing, but mental fatigue seemed like it would be hard to endure.

“Then, one, two, three.”

-Cheers!

Anyway, after everyone received their drinks and finished their toasts, the after-party officially began.

Oh, for reference, I’m having Zero Coke.

It’s a truly good food that takes care of both sweetness and conscience.

“Oh, come to think of it.”

There was something I wanted to ask.

“Hmm?”

What’s wrong?

How long had it been since the after-party started?

I brought up something I had wanted to ask Sogeumbbang for a while.

At that, Sogeumbbang looked this way with puzzled eyes.

A slight tension was visible around her eyes.

Well, it’s not that big of a deal…

“Um, can I talk about doing the cover song on my broadcast?”

“····You haven’t talked about it yet?”

At those words, Sogeumbbang looked at me with slightly dumbfounded eyes and soon explained.

“You can talk about doing the cover song as much as you want.”

It’s good promotion too.

“Ah, really?”

My goodness, I thought there would be a confidentiality clause like for dramas or songs.

Fortunately, it seems there isn’t.

“Oh, still, it would be better to share the stories after the release, right?”

“Uh, why?”

“To share stories, you need a lot of floating viewers for that—”

Come to think of it, there are about 5 days left until our cover song is released, right?

Today is a day off, so I should talk about it tomorrow.

Anyway.

After listening to various pieces of advice about broadcasting like that, and watching others chug bottles to their heart’s content.

The cover song project ended in the truest sense.