Chapter 70: Running to the Edge of the Sky (7)

“Seo-yeon, you’re the closing act for the concert!”

The voice on the other end of the line was noticeably more excited than usual.

But the words didn’t register right away.

Like hearing a foreign word for the first time—the sound entered her ears, but her brain couldn’t process the meaning.

Finale stage.

The last performance.

In other words, the highlight of the concert.

“…Huh?”

A dazed reply escaped her lips.

“Finale…? Me…? The final act…?”

Kim Ha-yoon continued excitedly, unaware of the confusion on the other end.

“Isn’t that amazing?! The concert finale! That’s the main event!”

“Everyone’s looking forward to it the most! And you’re the one doing it!”

It sounded like a sincere congratulations.

And it made sense.

Every streamer would want that spot.

But…

The weight of the word “finale” in a concert isn’t something light.

It’s the moment that wraps up the entire performance, the part that should leave the strongest impression on the audience.

Out of all the performers, it’s the biggest spotlight,

Where all attention and expectations are concentrated.

Usually, it goes to a top-tier guest singer,

The most popular streamer,

Or a symbol of the entire event.

But now…

That monstrous position was being handed to her?

It was hard to tell whether this was reality or a dream.

Sure, she had made some waves in the server.

But she had just been approved to stream.

She hadn’t even started yet.

And now, she was performing the finale act of a streamer concert watched by hundreds of thousands?

‘Aaaaugh…’

Her mind blanked out.

She had planned to perform in the middle of the lineup, to blend in.

Even if she messed up a little, the next performance would help cover it.

But the finale?

There was no next act.

The pressure was on another level.

She was scared.

‘I just wanted to blend in… quietly sing and disappear!’

She had agreed to perform in the concert because she thought it would be just one of many acts.

This was something she had never expected.

What if she messed up?

What if she ruined the whole mood?

All sorts of negative thoughts clouded her mind like black smoke.

“Seo-yeon? Hey, are you listening?”

Kim Ha-yoon’s urgent voice pulled her back.

In the end, she resorted to her most familiar and effective coping mechanism.

“Ah, yeah… Sorry, I’m gonna hang up for now. I’ll call you back later…”

As soon as she ended the call, she tossed her phone onto the bed.

Then she dove under the covers.

She burrowed deep under the blanket, pulling it up over her head.

Wriggle wriggle.

Like a small rabbit hiding from danger in its burrow.

Darkness and warmth.

Her one and only refuge from all the noise and stress of the world.

‘Ah… so warm…’

The overwhelming anxiety that had been raging moments ago began to settle, just slightly, behind her tightly shut eyelids.

Finale stage.

She’d think about it later.

Somehow… it’d work out.

Yeah. It’ll be fine.

Slowly…

She drifted off into an escapist sleep, leaving behind the weight of reality.

---

“…The day has finally come.”

She muttered drowsily as she opened her eyes.

Time had flown by.

It was now concert day.

The dearly wished-for “somehow” had not happened.

No meteors, no alien invasions, nothing to cancel the concert.

(Predictably.)

It was the day of the Pixelwars Streamer Server Finale Concert.

Her head swam.

It felt like her vision was spinning.

Still, she had at least managed to prepare for the stream,

Even while wandering through semi-delusional panic.

Despite her near-breakdown over the finale news,

She had finished everything necessary for her debut stream.

‘…At least I did what I had to.’

Not that much needed doing.

She had no webcam, no VTuber avatar yet.

All she needed was her voice.

Just setting up the mic and checking the audio interface.

Even while running away from reality, she somehow got the basics done.

Maybe her personality—pushing through the bare minimum even when cornered—helped in moments like this.

‘First things first… log in.’

She turned on her computer and logged into Soopjijik.

The [General Streamer] tag sparkled beside her username.

It had taken so long to get here.

The clock in the bottom corner showed 6:05 PM.

According to her plan, this was the time she should be eating dinner to recharge.

But her stomach churned too much to eat anything.

Truthfully, her appetite had long since disappeared.

Ignoring the rumbling in her belly, she hesitated before picking up her phone.

‘Maybe… I should call Ha-yeon.’

She needed someone to calm her anxious, trembling heart.

She found the saved contact and pressed the call button.

Riiing… Riiing…

After just a few rings, a calm, soft voice answered.

“Hello? Seo-yeon?”

It was Yoon Ha-yeon, the composer of her concert song.

“Yeah… It’s me, Ha-yeon.”

“Oh my, what’s the occasion? The concert’s about to start, isn’t it?”

Her usual warmth carried a playful undertone.

“Are you calling because you’re that nervous?”

Bullseye.

Unable to lie, Seo-yeon chuckled weakly and admitted it honestly.

“Yeah… Big time…”

A quiet laugh came through the phone.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry too much.”

Ha-yeon’s next words were filled with sincerity.

“I believe in your voice, Seo-yeon. I really do.”

“When I first heard you sing… I got chills all over.”

“Your voice… I don’t know how to describe it, but it shakes people’s hearts more than any voice I’ve ever heard.”

“I believe everyone who hears you tonight will feel the same. Just like I did.”

Seo-yeon’s cheeks flushed at the heartfelt praise.

A shy smile bloomed, along with a flutter of courage.

After a pause, Ha-yeon added, her voice lower and more serious.

“And… about the song you’re going to sing tonight.”

Her words made Seo-yeon hold her breath.

The meaning behind the song.

Now she understood.

Why Ha-yeon still carried that sheet music, even after her singing career ended.

Why she couldn’t let it go.

Just how special and deeply personal this song was to her.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to pressure you.”

“N-No, it’s okay. I actually perform better under pressure.”

Her joke made Ha-yeon chuckle.

And honestly, Seo-yeon did feel a little less nervous.

‘Let’s do this.’

If there was no way to escape, she had to face it.

And if someone was waiting to hear this song,

Then she had to give it her all.

Fwoo.

She exhaled sharply, steadying herself.

Her nerves settled slightly.

“By the way, I want to watch from your stream this time. Mind sharing your nickname?”

“Aren’t you going to watch Argon’s stream?”

“Hehe, I want to hear your voice directly.”

Ack.

The pressure ticked up.

“So your streamer name is still Silverhair? Or did you come up with a new one?”

Nickname.

Like a martial arts title in wuxia novels.

You might forget a name, but titles like Sky Dragon Emperor or Absolute Divine Sword stuck in your memory.

Streaming was the same.

In the world of internet broadcasting, a streamer’s nickname was more important than their real name.

She looked again at the name displayed beside her username.

Most streamers agonized over what name to use.

But not her.

She had decided the moment she resolved to stream.

If she was going to go official, there was only one name for her.

“My nickname is…”

---

[Entering Finale Concert Hall]

After a short loading screen, the fog cleared.

A breathtakingly beautiful virtual concert hall appeared.

‘Wow…’

It was so well made that she couldn’t help but admire the detail.

Dazzling lights, a grand stage, and empty seats awaiting the audience.

The quality was top-notch.

Thinking about having to close that kind of stage made her stomach hurt.

The concert started at 8 PM.

When she entered the dressing room, it was quieter than expected.

Still some time left before the concert began, only a few streamer avatars were inside.

Since it wasn’t a physical concert, there was no need to arrive early.

‘Well, I logged in early because I was nervous.’

Groups chatted in fancy outfits or checked their avatars in the mirror.

The invited singers hadn’t arrived yet.

Amidst the bustling calm, one familiar avatar stood out.

“Silverhair! You’re here early!”

Raidel waved enthusiastically upon spotting her.

Then her eyes locked onto the name floating above Seo-yeon’s avatar.

Where the usual nickname [Silverhair] should have been,

Three completely different characters were now clearly displayed.

[Yoo Seo-yeon]