Chapter 50: How to Survive the Social Gathering

Tsupi’s absurd words left the people nearby with blank, dazed expressions.

America, all of a sudden? And she has business with EN Märchen?

‘Ilre…’

EN had reached out before, but I didn’t pay it much attention.

Tsupi said she’d handle it herself and told me not to get involved. It really did seem like everything was already over.

But I guess not.

“But if you’re going in winter, do you really need to know my work schedule? I’ll be done by early October anyway. Once the next project wraps up?”

“Hmm. I’ll tell you later. It’s complicated to explain.”

Well, that’s fine then. Honestly, I didn’t need to know. I only asked out of curiosity.

But still, America. I’ve never traveled abroad in my life. Heck, I haven’t even been to Jeju Island.

So this would be my first time on a plane, first time at an airport.

“What’s the exact schedule?”

Manager Park Ki-hyuk asked Tsupi as he looked at her.

“December 15. We need to leave the airport by 6 p.m.”

“I want to be back before Christmas.”

“It’s not like we’ll be there long. A week, tops?”

“That’s a bit short.”

“A week’s more than enough. And didn’t you say you wanted to be back before Christmas?”

…Is it? Is a week enough? I don’t really want to stay long in an unfamiliar place either. It’s best to come back as soon as possible.

While I was thinking that, Manager Kang So-woon raised her hand.

“But why are we going…?”

Exactly. Why are Managers Park Ki-hyuk and Kang So-woon going? I thought it was about Ilre.

“Honestly, anyone else could go, but since the PR and Recruitment departments are both here, I just brought it up. If it’s a hassle, feel free to say no.”

“Ah, no! I’d love to!”

“I’m fine too. As long as we’re back before Christmas.”

So they just got roped in by chance.

“Hing. I want to go too!”

“……”

“You two can’t.”

“Then just leave Wol behind!”

“She’s the Ilre.”

Akira whining and Kanu looking sulky. What a rare sight.

“Don’t be sad. I’m planning to take all the rookies on a trip next Lunar New Year.”

“Gasp. Really?”

“What would I gain from lying about something like that?”

“Kyaaaa!”

…Another trip? I like being home though.

But I kept that to myself since I couldn’t say it out loud. And Lunar New Year, huh. I have to go to my parents’ house for that. Just thinking about it makes my head hurt.

Ever since I went back during Chuseok, I’ve been even more reluctant to visit. I can’t even guess how long they’ll hold me hostage this time.

Anyway, Tsupi seemed to have said all she needed to say and gave me a look that said it was time to go.

I nodded at her look and bowed to Manager Park Ki-hyuk and Manager Kang So-woon.

“We’ll get going now. Sorry for dropping in so suddenly today.”

“Ah! No, not at all! Thank you for stopping by. I got to rest a little thanks to you…”

“…Take care.”

Their sad words gave me an odd lump in my chest.

Manager Park Ki-hyuk waved with a smile.

“Haha. No need to apologize. Feel free to visit anytime. I’ll treat you to coffee.”

“Thank you. See you.”

I gave a final goodbye and stepped out of the break room. Tsupi, Akira, and Kanu followed behind.

“I’ll walk Wol home.”

“Ah, then Kanu-sunbae, shall we go together?”

“I’ll go ahead.”

“Sunbae!”

Kanu really is my favorite.

——–[KREAM: Yuwol (UWAR) Fan Café]——–

[Title: I’ve been kidnapped.]-*-(731) – Posted 35 minutes ago.

Author: YuwolU_WAR (@KRmaerchen)

I went to get a health check and got kidnapped into the exchange meeting. Why am I even at the exchange meeting…

Apparently, the exchange event is split into Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1 is the exchange with KR seniors, and Part 2 involves Märchens from KR, JP, EN, ID, and CH branches. Honestly, I’m a bit scared.

They said the participants were chosen randomly, but the more I think about it, the less random it seems.

Anyway, since Part 1 starts at 7 p.m., I’ll start today’s stream at 6 p.m.

(Mongsilmongsil squashed mochi Yuwol-con)

• -Kyaaaa Märchen better release the exchange list right now!
• -This is the 7th exchange, right?
• -Yeah yeah, that’s right
• -So excited! See you later, Wol-nim!
• -Wol-con is too cute lololol
• -(So happy Yuwol-con)
• -Oh
• -(Trembling Yuwol-con) Yubang soon incoming
• -Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? Why isn’t it 6 yet? (Comment blocked)
• -Spam = ban
• -(So happy Yuwol-con)
• -(So happy Yuwol-con)
• -Tsupi ch._.p : lol I picked the names
• -lolololol
• -wait what? lololololol
• -ㄴYuwolU_WAR: ;;; You’re seriously the worst.
• -ㄴTsupi ch._.p: Want me to show you what real chaos looks like?
• -ㄴHow is that even remotely team leader behavior lololololol
• -The spirit is bullying the hero…
• -ㄴNo fabrication detected ㄷㄷ;;;
• -lolololololol
• -(So happy Yuwol-con)

.

.

.

I was kidnapped into the exchange meeting. The Märchen exchange meeting.

“…No matter how you look at it, this has to be staged.”

• -lolololololololol
• -Ah lol so what are you gonna do about it?
• -Wol-nim curses Tsupi…
• -What even is this right after joining lololololol
• -Look at the shadows under her eyes ㄷㄷㄷ;;;
• -For real, totally staged lololololol
• -Her angry face is so cute though!
• -Yuha yuha
• -lolololololololol
• -How did they even arrange this list? lololololol
• -Yuha
• -Yuha
• -lolololololololol

I turned on the stream and looked through the comments and the fan café.

Then I saw the exchange event notice post and clicked in, only to find—

The name Yuwol written right there in bold. What on earth is this?

There were tons of names listed in the exchange participant announcement.

First, the Part 1 exchange. The KR exchange gathers all the generation members.

So including myself, 46 VTubers would gather in a virtual party room for the exchange.

There’s no content or activities; it’s just people wandering around the party room, chatting and laughing with other gens. The goal is social bonding, after all.

Same for Part 2 of the exchange. But since it’s an international exchange, the number of participants is limited.

Eight members from each country. Our KR branch has eight too. And of course, I somehow ended up in that eight.

“I already feel like all my energy is gone.”

• -lololololololol
• -Why’s this baby so low on stamina!
• -Indoor crybaby hero… lolololol
• -Oh no, you can’t be drained already
• -lololololololololol
• -How did you end up on that list lololololol
• -Tsupi: ㅎ Say thanks, Wol-ah

“…Can’t I get a new manager?”

• -Tsupi: Not a chance
• -How would you even do that lolololololol
• -And your manager’s the team leader lol
• -There’s no one to even complain to
• -Um… lololololol
• -Tsupi: I’ll be your eternal spirit forever ^^

“Feeling the urge to ban someone…”

-Tsupi: Wol doesn’t talk like that!

Ugh. Seriously. What am I supposed to do?

I could feel myself heating up from Tsupi’s messages, but my naturally cold body cooled me off just as fast.

With a drained voice, I continued speaking.

“Umm. Since the exchange is soon, I’ll turn on the VR now.”

• -Tsupi: Oh wow, just gonna ignore me?
• -Can you go away lololololol

I hit Tsupi with a 5-minute ban for being a toxic troll.

Virtual world party room. It wasn’t exactly normal-sized.

If we’re just talking size, it was about the same as Runea Village from Hero’s Märchen.

‘The managers are probably all in here too, right?’

Tsupi’s definitely here. Where is she, though?

• -ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
• -Look at that ominous expression lolololololol
• -Hero is mad lolololololol
• -Heading over now
• -Tsupi: ㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌ
• -She ran away lolololol

“Where do you think you’re going.”

I grumbled and looked toward the chat box in the corner of my vision, but Tsupi’s messages had stopped.

She probably returned to her own spot.

I let out a long sigh in my head and looked around.

A lot of generation members were already inside, but the party room was dark, so it was hard to tell who was who. Luckily, nicknames floated above their heads, so that helped.

“To conserve energy for the 10 p.m. exchange, I’ll just hang out in this corner.”

• -Just a shy little room-dwelling hero…
• -Why is the hero so pitiful lololololol
• -Exchange meeting (solo edition) lololololol
• -But wait, the seniors are already arriving
• -Look at Akira running in lololol
• -Run for it!
• -Why is Kanu coming too lol

Let the true survival in the party room begin. My shoulders were already starting to feel heavy.