Chapter 60: Busan Tourism

#[So Anyway]

=When is Kim Cheongha coming?

=Isn’t she doing a half-cam today?

-Seriously…

-Cheongha open the door Cheongha open the door Cheongha open the door….

-Streamer, do you really want to die?

 

#[But honestly from a viewer’s perspective]

(Image of Cheongha fainting after seeing the Pale Alien)

=Shouldn’t we be worried she actually died, not just ran off with the money?

-Ah lol

-Come to think of it, that’s true, damn it.

-Let’s not forget, she really fainted playing Alien.

-The fact that it’s a real possibility makes it more unnerving ㄷㄷ

-Damn it, that was acting, logically, does that even make sense?

ㄴ We thought so too, until we saw her not get up for 5 minutes.

ㄴ Yeah, the V-tuber fans’ shielding is disgusting.

ㄴ Otakus, just all get out lol.

ㄴ Even the air you breathe is a waste.

ㄴ This is a V-tuber fan cafe, where are you telling us to go, damn it.

ㄴ You guys get lost quick, you crazy bastards.

-But isn’t this Kitsune Airi’s fan cafe?

ㄴ That person is on a long-term hiatus right now…

ㄴ The ad board changed because of that.

 

#[Real-time Japanese Idol Industry Chaos Update]

=The Japanese idol industry is in chaos lol

=A named group snitched on their own company, damn it lol

(Cornelia’s exposé live stream)

(Exposé content analysis video)

Looks like word is spreading in Korea too since they’ve performed here.

-Is this f*cker causing trouble here too?

-He was just spamming it on every cafe.

-Damn it, who cares what happens to Japanese idols.

-Kim Cheongha isn’t coming.

-Still, isn’t it better to stan real idols than a non-existent V-tuber? ㅋㅋ

ㄴ This son of a

ㄴ There’s a person inside!

ㄴ Yeah, well, their face is still ugly, so long.

 

#[Snap out of it, otakus lol]

=You were just cash cows, sucked dry and abandoned.

-No no, that’s definitely not it, she didn’t earn that much money.

-Fact) She didn’t even have money to be sucked dry.

ㄴ Even if you combined everything, it wouldn’t even be 1 million won, how could she abandon it? ㅋㅋ

-Should I be angry about this or not…

-All her earnings so far don’t even cover the avatar cost, yet she’s “taking a break” my ass.

ㄴ Guess you’re not considering what she earns from YouTube? ㅋㅋ

ㄴ She doesn’t even have an account, what are you talking about?

ㄴ This is just some loser who wants to see people get triggered, don’t give him attention.

 

#[Captain Cheong’s announcement is up]

(Live Stream announcement image)

=She said there was an accident the day before the half-cam, and she has something important to do now, so she’ll stream later.

=She says we won’t be disappointed, at least.

-Damn it, I believed in you.

-Oh no, an accident!

-What on earth happened today that she’s taking a break?

-Isn’t she moving or something?

-Is she really coming to Korea now?

ㄴ No way ㅋㅋ

ㄴ Otakus’ delusion mode on.

“Still, it’s a relief that it doesn’t seem to be anything serious….”

Looking at the freshly posted apology on Live Stream.

Jumin thought.

Someone who used to stream every day without taking breaks.

Hadn’t she disappeared for almost a week without any contact?

Separate from the frustration about her suddenly going silent, worry came first.

After a week passed like that, Cheongha returned.

Moreover, hadn’t she said she would bring news we could look forward to?

She had run quite hard until now.

As a fan, he could barely let that slide.

‘Anyway, something important.’

What could she be talking about?

She would probably explain it on her personal stream someday, but he couldn’t help but be curious.

Perhaps most of the viewers felt the same way.

A few hours passed like that.

[I actually met Cheongha-nim…!]

Her current status could be confirmed on Baekro’s unexpected stream.

---

Immediately after grasping the state of my stream.

I quickly posted an announcement on Live Stream.

This should be enough to put out the most urgent fire.

“Hello, I’m here to apply for a foreigner registration card.”

“Ah, this way….”

Alright, now it’s time to seriously go through the procedures.

Looking at the application form placed before me, I thought.

‘First, I need to get a foreigner registration card.’

A foreigner who is not a citizen of the Republic of Korea and intends to stay in Korea for more than 90 days needs a separate registration card that serves as an ID.

I need that to get a room, set up my computer.

And to stream, right?

Besides, I might live in Korea permanently from now on.

It was an absolutely necessary item for me.

With that in mind, I headed to the immigration office first to apply for the registration card.

“Here, I’ve filled it all out.”

“Yes, it will probably take about 2 weeks.”

The application submission itself was accepted quickly.

It’s not like I committed any crimes in Japan or anything.

Still, perhaps because it’s an official document processed by the state.

They said it would take a few weeks because of the review period.

‘Then I can’t stream until then.’

I thought about a week would be enough.

Ren fell into thought as the review took longer than expected.

If I add the time to find a studio apartment later, it might take over a month.

Should I start looking for rooms online in advance?

“….First, let’s drop off my luggage.”

There was nothing I could do by worrying now.

I decided to go to the hotel I booked and drop off my luggage first.

It’s not just one or two bags.

Huh?

Am I crazy enough to wander around Busan with three suitcases?

I didn’t want to become famous online as the ‘Busan Suitcase Woman’ on my first day in Korea.

“Wow….”

Going up to the hotel room, the surrounding scenery, along with a sweeping view of the ocean, came into sight.

Well, it’s not like this is a super high-end hotel or anything.

I just picked a hotel with reasonably good reviews, but to think it would be this good.

“….Now what do I do.”

Now I really have nothing to do.

If I had my way, I’d set up a computer here and stream.

Unfortunately, there was no space for that here.

‘Should I just go sightseeing?’

Honestly, it’s my first time in Busan; isn’t it a bit much to just stay cooped up in the hotel wasting time?

The concert in Korea wasn’t very long, and in my past life, I was an Incheon native.

So it wasn’t a bad choice.

The moment I picked up my phone to look for tourist spots.

Tiring-!

[Unnie, are you feeling okay?]

A Discord message expressing concern for me arrived.

Well, you probably guessed from the moment someone called me ‘Unnie’ on Discord.

The sender was, of course, Baekro.

‘But why all of a sudden….’

The moment I questioned it internally.

I suddenly realized.

Right, she said she would watch my stream.

I was reminded anew that my emergency hiatus had inconvenienced many people.

[Oh, thankfully I’m fine. Sorry for worrying you.]

ㄴ[That’s a relief! I was worried when you suddenly no-showed back then.]

No-show.

Baekro’s words, hitting a sore spot, made a corner of my heart ache.

Hmm, right.

Since I took a break without notice, this counts as a no-show…..

[Come to think of it, do you happen to know any tourist spots in Busan?]

Come to think of it, Baekro lives in Busan.

Since we started talking anyway, I decided to ask her about some decent tourist spots.

[Huh? Busan? Are you coming to visit?]

ㄴ[Oh, I’m planning to stream from Korea now. I’m in Busan.]

Baekro immediately asked for the reason.

I told her the news that I had come to Korea.

Then.

[Then Unnie, I’ll be your guide! Meet me!!]

A reply came back shortly after.

“A guide…?”

Ren’s eyes widened at the unexpected offer.

A guide.

It certainly seemed much better than just getting information via chat.

It’s not like this is regional prejudice or national prejudice, or anything like that.

But what if someone tries to rip me off because I’m a foreigner?

As a Korean in my past life, I had no intention of being easily duped, but it’s better if such troublesome things don’t happen at all.

Thinking about it that way, it really seemed better to have someone accompany me.

I wondered if it was okay to use a 450,000-subscriber YourTuber merely as a guide.

But she volunteered herself in the first place.

It probably doesn’t matter.

The only remaining concern was my face.

Meaning, the red pill…

‘What’s the big deal about revealing my real face a little?’

It’s not like this is going out live on stream.

It’s just meeting an acquaintance and hanging out, so it probably doesn’t matter much.

Since Baekro herself is a no-cam streamer, she probably wouldn’t feel repulsed by the real-face culture.

I was confident she wouldn’t go around spreading it everywhere.

[Okay, then see you tomorrow.]

The meeting place decided upon was Busan Station.

Since I just arrived in Korea by boat.

I should just rest today and start sightseeing tomorrow.

“Haaah…”

At the feel of the hotel bed, which seemed to relax her body just by lying down.

Ren let out an unconscious moan.

Perhaps because she had been very tired.

Her eyes slowly began to close, and her mind started to grow hazy.

‘Come to think of it, this bed feels exactly like Sion’s bed…’

Is his family earning a lot of money, or is the hotel just going for cost-effectiveness?

No, it’s probably both.

Anyway, I’ll be able to sleep really soundly tonight.

---

April 3rd.

The day after Ren’s ship, the Camellia, arrived at Busan Port.

“Gyaaaaak?!”

Baekro, having overslept, woke up with a scream.

Switch streamer Baekro, real name Park Seohyun.

She had a restless night due to nervousness and ended up like this.

‘I’m so nervousss….!’

Baekro muttered, pacing around inside her soundproof booth.

And for good reason; what she was about to do was a real-life meeting.

‘Uwaaah! I impulsively suggested it!’

It was too late for regrets now.

Cheongha was the image of her ideal older sister.

Looks and such were entirely secondary.

What mattered was personality.

She could talk to streamers she just met without hesitation after a brief analysis.

In terms of broadcasting experience, she was a complete junior, but through that personality, she even led senior broadcasters.

That was also the image Baekro ultimately wanted to emulate.

Besides, from an otaku’s perspective, being a Vtuber was also a plus.

And her voice is good too?

That’s an instant clear.

Additionally, the anticipated view count and video potential that would follow.

The result created by the desire to see the face of someone she was interested in was tremendous.

She had blurted out the suggestion impulsively.

But what could she do about what had already happened?

Moreover, Cheongha had already indicated her intention to leave immediately, so she couldn’t back out now.

‘Ah damn, what do I do?!’

Although she had pre-selected some candidates.

There wasn’t enough time to pick them out one by one now.

“Mom! Help me!!”

Baekro eventually asked her parents for help.

If you can’t avoid it, you might as well enjoy it.

At the very least, she couldn’t greet her guest wearing strange clothes, right?

The response to her request for assistance was.

“A friend? You?”

“…….”

Baekro couldn’t say anything to her mother’s words.

Yes, this is my karma.

I’m sorry, Mother, that this unfilial daughter has no friends.

After a brief, silent exchange of glances between them.

“Hmm, it’s been a while since you wore this…. How about this?”

“Ah, then I’ll go with that.”

Perhaps her mother was secretly pleased that her daughter had a friend.

Her expression softened, and she immediately recommended an outfit that would suit her.

“Then I’ll be going!”

And so, Baekro quickly departed for Busan Station.

Considering the distance from her home to the station.

It was highly probable that Cheongha would have already arrived by the time she got there.

Although not particularly recommended for safety reasons, there was only one way.

“Taxiii!”

Baekro quickly hailed a taxi.

---

Vroooom-!

“Ughhh….”

Thanks to the frenzied speed characteristic of Busan taxis.

Baekro was able to arrive at Busan Station as quickly as possible.

Even for a Busan native, this kind of speed was dizzying.

Clutching her bewildered mind, Baekro got out of the taxi.

Busan Station was right in front, so she just needed to walk a little further.

Although she couldn’t avoid being late.

She couldn’t just not go, right?

“Hmm?”

This place was never quiet.

But there seem to be a lot of people today for some reason?

Just as Baekro was parting the surging crowd and moving forward.

“Waaah….”

A sight that instantly captivated her unfolded.

Although she was a dedicated otaku deeply immersed in animation and subculture, she was also a proper member of society.

She watched famous movies and OTT dramas to some extent.

And naturally, she had seen the various actors who appeared in them.

‘So pretty.’

Even in her eyes, it was tremendous.

An unbelievably beautiful woman was standing in front of the station.

Her distinctive dark blue hair added a mysterious touch.

The off-shoulder top revealing her shoulders highlighted her feminine charm.

Overall, it felt like looking at the dawn sky.

That wasn’t all.

Her mere presence, blurring the surrounding background, was like that of royalty from some nation.

A scene like looking at a well-made game illustration.

Even though her face was deeply hidden by a black hat and mask.

The sight was enough to draw the attention of passersby.

The cold atmosphere she exuded simultaneously seemed to block people’s approach as if a barrier had been erected.

Just as Baekro, too, was lost in the sight for a long moment.

Tiring-

A Discord message arrived.

[Where are you?]

The sender was Kim Cheongha.

Baekro unconsciously looked down at her smartphone.

At that moment.

‘Eh, eh?!’

The woman who had been looking around slowly walked towards her.

At her rather aggressive approach, Baekro unconsciously stepped back.

A voice she had heard once before.

More precisely, a voice she had heard through Discord, flowed from the woman’s lips.

“…Baekro-ya.”

“Y-Yes?!”

At Ren’s sudden appearance.

Baekro let out a dazed sound.

Before she could even fully register the voice.

Ren continued.

—Do you want to die?