Chapter 78 Part 2: Hiring an editor

The next day after a happy chicken dinner.

My schedule was a bit busy today, so I started the broadcast early.

-Oh.

-A surprise day stream?

-What’s up?

Perhaps because it was the weekend, a considerable number of viewers came in despite it being daytime.

After giving people about 10 minutes to gather.

Cheongha’s avatar appeared.

“Everyone, I’ve decided to start YouTube now.”

After a simple greeting, I immediately announced the channel opening.

-Oh, finally.

-This person is always bringing some news.

Hmm, I have been bringing a lot of news lately, haven’t I?

Now that I’m in Korea, there are more things I can do, so I’m trying my best to do as much as possible.

Well, anyway.

“In that sense, I’ll start with some greetings before we begin today.”

Simultaneously, Cheongha started the game she had prepared.

The game I brought today is a globally famous subculture media mix.

And it was a new game from a work that will go down in Japanese subculture history.

Because I made Kujikanesada last time, it made me think of this neighborhood after a long time.

‘Well, because of the original genre, it seemed like it was often mentioned on the internet too…’

Honestly, whether it’s a dating sim or whatever, isn’t it all good as long as it sells well?

Come to think of it, I’m also from a dating sim background, so it’s a bit awkward for me to say anything about it.

More than anything, didn’t the writer here give me a role with a free pass?

And a leading role at that!

Having received such grace, there was no way I could do such an ungrateful thing as to insult them.

So…

“From now on, any insults towards author Kaji will be considered a declaration of war against me.”

-??? Suddenly?

-Why would we insult a blonde beautiful girl author?

-We don’t care as long as the story is well-written.

-Agreed, most of us grew up watching that.

Well, that’s a relief then.

When I pressed the button, the game start screen appeared.

Then, I should start with greetings, right?

“Ah, ah, hello YouTube viewers, everyo···”

Since it’s the first greeting, a little cautiously.

The moment Cheongha, after taking a brief breath, began to deliver her lines in earnest.

[[Anonymous Supporter] has donated 1,000 won]

[=I am the Vtuber Emperor of this era, Kim Cheongha.]

Everyone bow your heads.

Simultaneously, a donation flew in and cut off my greeting.

“······.”

-lol

-The greeting got cut off lol.

-So who told you to greet so openly?

-You should have closed the donation window for a moment lol.

I stared at the chat window with narrowed eyes.

I had a feeling, but I didn’t think an interruption would actually come.

And what’s with Vtuber Emperor again, Vtuber Emperor?

They’re saying something that could get them in big trouble.

I don’t know much about the scale of Vtubers from other countries yet, but I still think they’re bigger than me.

Besides, isn’t it true that I’m the only Vtuber in South Korea?

The total population is 1, so if you call that an emperor, isn’t it too embarrassing?

“····Alright, hello YouTube viewers, everyone?”

After clearing my throat again, I delivered the greeting for the video intro.

Now, in the edited version, it will appear after a few seconds of highlights at the beginning.

“The game we’ll be playing today is [Fate: Samurai Remnant].”

-Oh.

-Fate is out.

-It’s Fate literature.

-Waaa~

-Otaku roots game.

“Then, let’s start right away.”

I started the game by pressing the button on the controller I had connected beforehand.

The setting is Japan in the past.

It begins from the perspective of a young boy attacked by assailants in the middle of the night.

The boy, who seems to be a samurai, begins to swing his sword and cut down the black-clothed assassins.

“Let’s see, looking at the sword··· It’s not Muramasa or Kanesada, at least.”

This just looks like a tachi.

-Expert appearance ㄷㄷ (shivers).

-I’m always curious, how do you distinguish those?

-The amazing thing is, he’s not wrong lol.

-Shouldn’t this person have become a blacksmith instead of a Vtuber?

“Ahem, a blacksmith, you say.”

It’s not that I’m disparaging blacksmithing, but still, isn’t it a bit much?

No matter how much I’m the type to silently endure hard work, I didn’t particularly like that kind of hardship.

Well, anyway.

Hmm, right.

This is evade, and this is counter, I see.

Just as I was continuously cutting down the black-hooded group.

Kwagwagwang-!

Purple lightning struck from the sky, destroying a nearby private house.

And from amidst the debris, a purple sword aura flew out.

The boy quickly dodges the attack.

Perhaps because he’s the main character, it seems he’s getting a proper buff.

Anyway, to cut a long story short.

The black knight who emerged from the building debris swung a greatsword at the boy.

【Survive for the limited time】

=[Time limit 3:00]

The game soon begins.

“This seems like a defeat event.”

Seeing that they set a time limit, I could tell that it wasn’t an opponent designed to be beatable in the first place.

But if I played carelessly, I’d be gone before the time limit was up.

In the first place, that opponent isn’t even human, right?

To survive with a weak human body, I had no choice but to desperately roll.

“Evade, evade, yap.”

Chaeng-

Chaeng–

Chaenggang-!

The pattern itself wasn’t too difficult.

Externally, it’s because it’s the early game, and internally, it’s probably because the opponent is underestimating me.

“Fortunately, it’s coming out easily.”

-Ooh.

-The streamer is so good.

-As expected of the boss.

-She was a game-savvy streamer.

-This person plays even games she sees for the first time above average.

-Once she finishes adapting, she’s good at anything, fr.

And so, after a smooth 3 minutes had passed.

「What power…!」

Uaaargh?!

The next story cutscene began safely.

Kwang-!

The boy is sent flying by the black knight’s tremendous power.

He managed to raise his sword mid-air to prevent his body from being cut in two by the blade, but he couldn’t avoid the impact itself.

Moonlight.

Tonight, the moonlight in the sky was unusually bright.

「I… still…!」

Cannot die!!

Simultaneously.

The red mark engraved on his hand began to glow vividly.

「I… still…!」

Cannot die!!

Red light bursts forth.

「I ask of you, are you my—」

Following that, the famous line that pierces through the entire series was displayed, and the screen transitioned to the opening animation.

“I feel this every time I see something like this, but professional voice actors are truly amazing.”

How can they stir a person’s heart so much with just their voice?

I wondered if these people might be better actors than most celebrities.

Soon, the opening song, a little over a minute long, ended.

Someone with long black hair, holding a sword, stood before the boy’s eyes.

“Is that a man or a woman?”

-Dunno?

-Isn’t that a famous Japanese person?

-Looking at the clothes, it’s definitely from that neighborhood.

-You’d know better lol.

Looking at the composition, it seems like a woman.

But since this work is what it is, I can’t tell if it’s a TS (gender bender) or not.

Since it’s a boy character, the voice actor is also female.

‘But thinking about it this way…’

It feels somewhat similar to Sion.

The fact that it’s originally from a dating sim game, and that his voice is gentle.

Lastly, whether male or female, a strange appearance that would suit them well.

To summarize in one word, it was a standard beauty, regardless of gender.

Is it because it’s originally a dating sim, I wonder.

They’re exceptionally good at drawing appearances, at least.

Still, it’s a relief that Sion is at least a male voice actor.

‘Should I buy a wig next time and make him try cross-dressing?’

It wasn’t a bad idea.

I really want to see it once before I die.

---

Meanwhile, in Japan.

“Achoo?!”

Sion sneezed for a reason he couldn’t understand.

“What’s wrong?”

Producer.

“Ugh, no.”

I think I’m just not in good condition lately····.

Sion replied to Hina’s worried words.

“Hey hey, Producer.”

You don’t have Rona-co, do you?

“You think so····.”

I wear my mask properly, you know?

At Yui’s following words, Sion looked at her with narrowed, cold eyes.

He felt a slight chill just now, and he wondered if this might be the cause.

‘Ren, I miss you…’

At Yui’s energy, famous for making people around her tired, Sion unknowingly looked for Ren.

Please do something about our maknae.

I can handle the others somehow, but that one is impossible.

The absence of the tanker who always took the aggro for them was enormous.

To the point of searching for his best friend who had already gone to the neighboring country.

Just as Sion was desperately sending a support request in his heart.

“By the way, what should we do now?”

Natsume, who had been sitting quietly on a convenience store chair, asked.

Although the contract issue they had originally aimed for was somewhat resolved, the aftermath of the situation did not subside so easily.

“I miss Ren-unnie····.”

“Just endure it a little longer, Airi.”

You know this isn’t the time for that.

Sion quietly comforted Airi, who was sighing.

If he had his way, he wanted to buy a plane ticket right now and go see her, but it was impossible until everything was resolved.

Even if everything was resolved, problems still remained.

‘There are even rumors that the country’s borders will be closed soon····.’

He was often told he was unobservant.

But looking at it objectively, Sion’s intuition was usually quite good in normal situations.

The rumor about the country’s borders closing was probably not just a rumor.

Thinking that way, it seemed unlikely he would be able to see her in Korea.

‘Should I do a group video call later·····.’

The kids would be happy if I showed them my face too.

It seemed I really needed to contact them later and make it happen.

International calls would be quite expensive, but that didn’t matter.

“Come to think of it, what do you all want to do in the future?”

Nano, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, asked everyone.

“Huh?”

“Well, that’s because····· we’ve quit now.”

I’m a bit lost about what we should do with our lives from now on.

The only things she knew she was good at were dancing and singing.

So she thought being an idol was her calling, and she poured countless hours into it.

However, the agency that would enable her to carry out celebrity activities no longer existed.

Then, what should we do with our lives now?

It seemed Nano wasn’t the only one who had such thoughts.

“Ughm··· Joining another entertainment company is····.”

“There’s no way they’d accept us·····.”

We sold out our agency, everyone will be shaking with rage calling us traitors, right?

“···The fact that I can’t even deny it is scarier.”

Whether in Korea or Japan.

The entertainment industry was an industry where veterans who had already staked their claim long ago dominated everything.

As such, among colleagues, there were always their own connections beneath the surface.

In short, they were already more than likely on a blacklist.

More than anything…

“Even if they accept us, I don’t want to go to a place without Ren-unnie.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

At Airi’s following words, everyone nodded.

Sakamiya Ren.

She meant more than just a team leader.

She, who always stepped forward and led them, had already become the very reason for their existence there.

They didn’t even want to imagine a life without her anymore.

And it was the same for everyone present.

“Ah, whatever, let’s just all do part-time jobs or something.”

“Ahaha···· For now, let’s all just do what we have to do right now.”

Clapping his hands, Sion broke the momentarily serious atmosphere.

Worrying about the future wasn’t bad, but the present was also important.

More than anything…

“For now, Yui, let’s go to school first, okay?”

With Sion’s last words, everyone’s gaze turned to Yui.

Now that she wasn’t an idol anymore, the excuse to skip school had also disappeared.

They had worked hard to send their daughter to high school, so wouldn’t her parents be relieved if she at least got her diploma?

It was a decision made thinking it might also be helpful for employment in the long run.

No matter how much she didn’t listen in class, school was school.

The moment you arrived, your energy was drained, and not wanting to go was the same whether in Korea or Japan.

“N-nooo—?!”

It wasn’t strange for Yui to have a fit like this.

She couldn’t be re-imprisoned in this jail called school.

For the sole crime of being young!

“H-hey, you’re not saying anything to Airi?!”

Yui, who had been quickly pondering, found a breakthrough.

Why, wasn’t she the only one going to school?

“Yes, so I took a leave of absence last time.”

“…Aha?”

Airi speaking confidently.

Suddenly, a forgotten fact came to mind again.

Right, that person was a college student.

Because she always spoke informally to her and the other person spoke formally, she hadn’t realized it for a moment.

In the end, it meant she was the only one who absolutely had to go to school.

“Uuu…”

As her last breakthrough disappeared, Yui’s voice trailed off.

Her mood instantly became gloomy.

“Ren said she likes going to school though?”

“…Really?”

Then, Yui’s eyes visibly wavered.

The countless celebrities on TV.

Among them, Ren was her role model.

As such, Yui wanted to imitate anything Ren did.

‘Actually, Ren’s main purpose for school was the cafeteria food rather than the classes, but…’

Well, there was no need to say that specifically.

Sion, seeing Yui’s eyes change into star shapes like in some anime, quietly shut his mouth.

There were truths in the world that were better left unknown.