Chapter 73 : Reach the Ends of the Sky (10)

When the lingering echo of the song finally faded, a heavy silence settled in the concert hall for a moment. 

It felt as if time had stopped, or as if everyone had forgotten how to breathe. 

The stillness was broken by an enthusiastic cheer that came a beat too late.

“It’s insane! Did you guys hear that?” 

“Wow, the song is so good, right?” 

“Seoyeno-nim! Your singing was amazing!” 

“Ah, shit, I’m not crying…” 

“This is insane, really.” 

“She sang so gently, but it was really good.” 

“Is Argon crying right now? 😢😢😢😢” 

“Her vocal technique is on another level 🙂🙂🙂🙂” 

“What are the lyrics? Why is it so sad?” 

“Is this available as a track?” 

“Seoyeno-nim’s voice is really beautiful.”

Both streamers and viewers were deeply moved. 

The air that had been filled with doubt and awkwardness just moments ago was now completely gone. 

Only emotion and exhilaration filled the space.

After taking in the atmosphere of the stage for a moment, Yoo Seoyeno gently parted her lips, then bowed deeply and returned to the waiting room. 

She felt that any more words would be unnecessary. 

If she said anything else, it would only dilute the meaning of the song.

“Silver hair, no, Seoyeno-nim!”

The first to rush to Seoyeno was Rydel. 

With a face nearly on the verge of tears, she embraced Seoyeno tightly.

“Wow, really… I’m so moved!”

As she rubbed Seoyeno’s head affectionately, Rydel spoke,”It was such a beautiful song! The melody, the lyrics… It felt like a really sorrowful love song… but it wasn’t just any love song… I don’t know how to explain it!”

“What is she even saying? 😧😧😧😧😧”

“LOL  😊😊😊😊😊😊”

“But, the song was really good.”

“It’s a sound that clears your ears.”

Rydel, pouring out her feelings in a disorganized way, was quite different from her usual cheerful self. 

She seemed genuinely moved.

“You were so nervous before, but once you got on stage, you were like a completely different person! Your voice… it’s art, pure art!”

Seoyeno’s pale cheeks flushed red from the compliments.

“No, no, Rydel-nim, you were amazing too.”

Her voice was so quiet as she answered, it was a stark contrast to the way she had sung in front of the large audience just moments ago. 

It felt like she had returned to her usual shy and cute self.

“Eh, I was just trying to liven up the mood!”

Rydel waved her hands and laughed.

“But, is the lyrics of this song really a love song? Like wanting to see someone you love?”

“It’s more of a song that expresses feelings of longing rather than a love song. It’s similar, though.”

“Ah… I see. I kind of felt that vibe.”

Rydel, who had been lost in her thoughts for a moment, suddenly asked as if remembering something.

“But what’s the title of the song? I really loved it and I want to listen to the original version. If I search for Melong or something, will it come up?”

She was practically ready to search right away.

But Yoo Seoyeno slowly shook her head.

“The title of the song is… ‘A Letter to the Sky.’ And… I don’t think you’ll find it if you search for it.”

“Huh? Why not? It’s such a great song!”

Rydel asked in confusion.

Yoo Seoyeno just smiled bitterly, not explaining any further.

There was no need to mention that it was a song never released to the world, written only for the two of them.

***

In a small study room, Yun Hayeon was quietly watching the final stage of the concert through the screen of her laptop.

On the screen, Yoo Seoyeno was singing Yun Hayeon’s own song, ‘A Letter to the Sky.’

The depth of the emotions that Yun Hayeon herself couldn’t fully express,the girl on stage was capturing perfectly, no, even more than that.

The phone call she had with Yoo Seoyeno before the concert came to mind.

Yoo Seoyeno’s voice had been trembling with nervousness, and Yun Hayeon had gathered her courage to confess.

〈And… the song Seoyeno is going to sing today…〉

〈Actually, that song… was something I wanted to say to my parents. After they passed, I wanted them to hear it from somewhere in the sky, even just once…〉

〈I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel pressured.〉

A brief silence passed through the receiver.

Then, the trembling subsided, and a firm, clear voice answered.

〈It’s fine, really. I’m the type who gains strength when I’m nervous, like a hands-on learner.〉

Though a bit awkward,Yun Hayeon thought it was a warm joke.

But maybe it wasn’t a complete joke, as it seemed to have eased Yoo Seoyeno’s nervousness a bit.

And now, that voice was blooming like a miracle on the stage in front of her.

The song ended.

The audience’s ecstatic reaction and the compliments flooding the chat overwhelmed the screen.

But for Yun Hayeon, nothing seemed to get through.

It felt like she was about to cry, but it wasn’t out of sadness.

It was because of the gratitude and sense of liberation rising from deep within her heart.

It was truly beautiful, Seoyeno…She had lost her parents in a car accident,and the song, which she had buried deep with the sadness and longing of losing the world,was now something the world had taken from her, from Yun Hayeon.

She had lost everything that was most precious to her.

When she thought it was all over, Yun Hayeon met Yoo Seoyeno.

A girl with silver hair, like an angel.

Seeing the sheet music that she had kept like a lingering attachment, Yoo Seoyeno sang the song to the world on her behalf.

Yoo Seoyeno’s presence seemed to convey that while the world was filled with sorrow,it wasn’t just sorrow that existed.

Unknowingly, she left a deep impression on two of Korea’s top music producers and became the subject of their love calls, something she never dreamed of.

Watching Yoo Seoyeno being congratulated in Rydel’s arms, Yun Hayeon smiled quietly.

It felt as though the heavy burden that had weighed on her shoulders for so long had been lifted, and her heart became much lighter.

***

After being surrounded by streamers for a while, Yoo Seoyeno was finally pulled away by Rydel’s hand.

“That was truly an amazing performance.”

A familiar yet heavy voice.

Zeronix, the administrator and host of the finale concert, smiled and approached.

He was the actual owner of the server and the biggest variable and star player.

It was their first strange encounter.

“Silver-haired, or should I say Yoo Seoyeno now? That performance today was truly impressive.”

Zeronix extended his hand for a handshake first.

Yoo Seoyeno looked slightly flustered for a moment but soon extended her small hand to meet his.

“…Thank you.”

The silver-haired girl, up close, gave a fragile and mysterious impression, different from the enigmatic atmosphere she had conveyed through the screen.

Zeronix silently admired her.

Game avatars are typically created to fit the user’s body,to eliminate discomfort and enhance the immersion and realism of virtual reality.

So, in reality, Yoo Seoyeno’s body, like her avatar, was small and delicate.

Where did such game skills and delicate voice come from, from such a small frame?

Was it compressed muscle in real life, or compressed talent?

A phrase he had once heard came to mind: “The rarest perfume is contained in the smallest bottle.”

‘My judgment wasn’t wrong.’

Ever since this irregularity had completely twisted the server that he had been managing so steadily,and paradoxically, made it the center of attention with all the issues it stirred,it was Zeronix who had expedited her streaming approval and placed her on the finale stage.

It was a bit of a gamble, but in the end, Yoo Seoyeno created the best stage at the end of the server, raising the performance to the highest level.

“Phew, well, that’s almost the end of the streamer server.”

Rydel said with a voice tinged with regret.

“But, with such a grand buildup for the final event… Honestly, I thought there’d be some big showdown at the end. It kind of feels like it ended on a bit of an anticlimax, doesn’t it?”

Her words carried a playful tone.

But at the same time, they held a certain weight.

“…”

“…”

“I say what I have to say, Delcokola 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂.

“The fact is the fact……………” 

“Why did you even make the turret? 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂”.

Then.

It was actually a valid point.

It represented not only all the streamers watching the broadcast, but also the viewers.

It felt like having eaten plenty of tough meat, but at the end, the drink didn’t come out.

It felt like it wasn’t properly tied up.

Then, was the turret obtained as the cornerstone for the final battle just a MacGuffin?

Was it just an event to burn some gold?

It wasn’t just a complaint.

If anyone could understand this kind of dissatisfaction, it was Zeronix. 

There had to be something behind this.

Whatever it was, let’s hear about it here.

Rydel said this.

As if reading his intent,Zeronix smiled and nodded in agreement with Rydel’s words.

“Haha, as Rydel said, many people are probably feeling the same way and are disappointed.”

“Then if you know people are disappointed, do something about it.”

“Many people are probably feeling disappointed. (I know they’re disappointed, but there’s no event)”

When Rydel tilted her head slightly, questioning whether she could say that,Zeronix’s eyes gleamed with meaningful light.

“And…”

Zeronix continued,”As an administrator, I can’t just leave things as they are when streamers and viewers are disappointed.”

Snap!

He snapped his fingers briskly.

At the same time, a system message appeared across the entire server.

[The hidden final scenario, [Final Attack: The Apocalypse’s Descent] event has begun!]

[A large-scale invasion by otherworldly beings has started!]

[Objective: Defend the outer walls of the city ‘Belheim’ and defeat as many enemies as possible!]

[The streamer who kills the most monsters will receive a special reward!]

“Wait, this was real?”

“😊😊😊😊😊”

“Here it comes.”

“Zeronix always collects the bait.”

“Looks like we’ll get to use the turrets now.”

“If you had something like this, you should have told us earlier.”

The atmosphere flipped in an instant.

Yoo Seoyeno, who had been momentarily flustered, soon smiled faintly and drew her great sword.

She had briefly focused on the song, but of course, the fundamental nature of the Pixel Wars streamer server was combat.

The ending had to be like this for it to be satisfying.

“Shall we go?”

As Yoo Seoyeno moved her fingertips,following her command, a massive amount of mana began to gather in the magic turret.