Chapter 100: If you get caught you might get arrested

I was invited to Eunseo’s house. It was my first visit in three weeks.

After exchanging greetings, I played with Eunseo in the living room.

“Choeun, could you help me for a second?”

Eunseo’s mom came out of the kitchen and approached me. Eunseo’s dad immediately jumped up from his seat.

“You can’t ask a guest to work. I’ll help you.”

“No, oppa. Choeun asked me about a recipe last time. I was going to teach her today.”

I froze.

“…I did?”

I had no recollection of saying that. But her mom simply nodded.

“Yes, you said that, didn’t you? Eunseo, is it okay if I borrow your unni for a bit?”

After Eunseo nodded hesitantly, her mom led me to the kitchen.

She placed her hand on the kitchen counter and looked at me carefully.

“Were you surprised I called you over suddenly?”

“Honestly… yes. I don’t remember saying that.”

Her mom smiled faintly.

“I know. It was just an excuse.”

Then, her smile faded, and she continued in a calm voice. She whispered so that Eunseo in the living room wouldn’t hear.

“I saw your broadcast yesterday.”

A short sentence, but its meaning was significant. Eunseo’s mom had discovered my Vtuber channel.

“You look a little surprised? But you’re not as surprised as I was. A clip from your broadcast yesterday appeared in my Mutube recommendations, and as soon as I saw the avatar, it looked so much like someone I knew. I was so shocked.”

“I thought you might find out. You said you watch Vtubers sometimes.”

“But you see… Choeun,”

Eunseo’s mom crossed her arms and exhaled softly.

“Do you know which Vtuber I sometimes watch?”

“That’s too difficult a question to answer.”

“It’s a Vtuber you definitely know. Houka Nagi, the singing specialist. Since my husband works in music, and I’m also interested in music, I happened to hear her songs, and I liked her style.”

Ah, a senior from the 1st generation… Then it was rather late that my broadcast finally showed up in her recommendations. She really only watched her senior’s broadcasts occasionally.

“You’re a junior from the same agency, right? I couldn’t believe such a coincidence.”

The slight excitement in Eunseo’s mom’s voice quickly disappeared, and a cautious atmosphere filled the space.

I think I knew what she was going to say.

“I had no idea you were getting so much attention and caught up in controversy. Of course, you handled it confidently and resolutely, but…”

Eunseo’s mom’s voice became lower and more serious.

“After a day has passed, I’m actually more worried. You seemed fine on the broadcast, but how are you really doing now?”

I quietly looked at her.

“Honestly, facing those kinds of comments directly must leave a mark. Are you really okay, Choeun?”

Her voice wasn’t laced with curiosity but genuine concern.

It felt strange to be cared for like this, even though I was just Eunseo’s friend’s older sister. Anyway, I answered honestly.

“I’m okay. I actually feel good.”

Even after hearing my answer, Eunseo’s mom didn’t seem completely relieved and examined my face once more.

“Really? Truly?”

I smiled faintly and nodded.

“Yes. The controversy was unavoidable, and I’m relieved that it ended well.”

“I see… That’s good.”

Eunseo’s mom took out some dishes and spoke.

“Actually, I called you over to talk about this too. Your avatar is identical to you in real life, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It’s almost the same design.”

“Then… is it okay to tell my family?”

She held a cup in one hand and carefully added,

“Is it okay to tell my husband and Eunseo… that ‘Choeun is Leah’?”

I had thought about the red pill reveal before, but since I promised Eunseo’s family I’d introduce them to my original song… the conclusion was that there was no way to hide it.

Then, I had no choice but to ask for their consideration.

“Yes, you can tell them. But could you keep it a secret within the family? Vtubers need to be careful about personal information leaks.”

“I think your avatar makes you very vulnerable to leaks, but… okay. But what about Eunseo?”

“Eunseo?”

“She’s only 7. She might not fully understand the concept of keeping secrets… She might want to brag.”

“…I have a plan for that.”

After dinner, we watched the music video for my original song, “On That Day,” together with Eunseo’s family.

When the song ended, a brief silence filled the room.

Eunseo’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the screen, then she quickly turned to me.

“Unni! Did you really sing that!?”

At her voice, Eunseo’s mom and dad, who seemed lost in thought, turned their attention to me.

I smiled faintly and nodded.

“Yes, I sang it.”

Eunseo jumped up and down.

“That’s amazing! You really are a princess! A princess has to be good at singing!”

Eunseo excitedly waved her arms, then looked at the screen and said,

“But… the music video was a little scary!”

There weren’t any direct depictions of war (due to production constraints), but I thought the ruined village might be why.

I gently stroked her hair.

“It’s okay. It’s all in the past.”

“Okay!”

Then, Eunseo’s dad’s voice flowed out, low.

“…This doesn’t make sense.”

He looked at the screen with his arms crossed, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“This isn’t just ‘good at singing’ level.”

His finger pointed at the screen.

“I’ve seen some truly talented people during my work as a singer. People who give you chills just listening to them record once. People who give you the feeling that ‘only this person can sing this song,’ no matter what they sing. But Choeun, you’re just as good.”

Eunseo’s mom added,

“I agree. I was surprised by how good the emotional delivery was. Choeun, this isn’t just hobby level. You’re completely professional.”

Eunseo’s dad looked at me again.

“Honestly, I’m very shocked. Are… are you really a Vtuber? You said you were doing that, right? It’s a shame you haven’t debuted as a singer.”

Then, he started lamenting the current music market.

“These days, there’s no place to sing in your own style. To debut, you have to follow trends and go in the direction the agency wants… So, talented people like Choeun can’t find a place.”

“…I wasn’t particularly aiming for a singer debut.”

Eunseo’s dad furrowed his brows and tilted his head.

“You practiced to that level even though becoming a singer wasn’t your goal…”

Eunseo’s mom interjected.

“Oppa, you’re showing your age again. Choeun must have wanted to be a Vtuber.”

Her dad still looked unconvinced but nodded slightly.

“Well, having your own channel might be better for expressing your own style. Let’s see, subscribers… 170,000? Didn’t you say you haven’t been broadcasting for long?”

“It’s been a month.”

“Wow, 170,000 in a month… It took me years to get the 100,000 subscriber button.”

Eunseo tilted her head, listening to her dad.

“Is 170,000… a lot?”

Eunseo’s mom smiled and spread her fingers.

“Yes. It’s like… there are over 1,700 of Eunseo’s kindergartens.”

Eunseo’s jaw dropped, and she suddenly grabbed my arm tightly.

“Then unni is really famous? Can I, can I brag to my friends?”

The expected turn of events. I knelt down and met Eunseo’s eyes.

“Eunseo. Unni isn’t actually a princess.”

“No. You have to be a princess.”

“Even so, I’m not a princess. Unni is not a princess… I’m an elf.”

Her face, which had crumpled at my denial of being a princess, brightened.

“Elf! What’s that?”

“Well… elves are mystical friends who live in the forest. Their ears are longer than ordinary people, they’re fast, they can use magic…”

I spent a long time trying to explain elves to a 7-year-old.

After hearing the story, Eunseo said with conviction,

“It’s okay if you’re not a princess. Being an elf is better!”

“But, Eunseo. Elves… have to do Mutube secretly.”

Eunseo blinked her round eyes and looked at me.

“Why?”

“Because elves are very special beings. If people find out where they live, they might get caught.”

Eunseo covered her mouth with both hands, looking surprised.

“Really!?”

I nodded slightly.

“That’s why elves are afraid of their Mutube being discovered. People can’t know.”

Eunseo pressed her lips together as if in deep thought. Then, she clenched her small fists and looked up at me.

“Then… do I have to keep it a secret too?”

I put my finger to my lips.

“Yes. So, you can’t tell your friends that unni does Mutube. Can you keep a secret?”

“Yes! I won’t tell anyone! Ever!”

Eunseo’s mom, who was watching from the side, smiled and quietly put down her coffee cup.

“That’s a persuasive method.”

Yes, this was the best way to explain the red pill to a 7-year-old. But I didn’t feel good about lying that I’d be caught if discovered.

I wonder if there will ever be a day when I can reveal the red pill…

As I spent a little more time with her family and was about to leave,

Eunseo’s dad spoke at the door.

“Choeun. The song we listened to today… Could I introduce it on my program?”

“Huh?”

I don’t know much about it… but I think it’s mostly for older people. It doesn’t deal with Vtuber music, does it?