Chapter 135
Chapter 135
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Sorry for Being Cute
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Three Awakeners sat down to eat.
One of them was a Fervent Devotee boasting a 99.99% sync rate with her VTuber avatar, complete with pink bobbed hair.
Another was a seven-year-old cutie who exploded with popularity among men, women, and children alike.
They couldn't eat at a regular restaurant.
With such a flashy trio showing up, it'd be like screaming, "Please notice us!"—practically advertising themselves.
In the end, the three Awakeners opted for the cafeteria inside the Awakener Association headquarters.
Yoo Euisul wasn't thrilled about the situation.
As she'd said countless times, she basically had zero interest in other people.
No matter how adorable Kim Mincheol looked, Yoo Euisul paid him no mind.
Yoo Euisul's sole focus was Lee Jia.
So, naturally, she wanted to enjoy a cozy meal alone with Lee Jia.
But then an unwelcome intruder crashed the party, and Yoo Euisul's mood tanked as a result.
...Of course, the intruder hadn't forced his way in.
For some reason, Lee Jia herself had invited Kim Mincheol to join them.
At this point, even Yoo Euisul couldn't shake the rational suspicion brewing in her mind.
'Does she like kids or something?'
Look at that.
Lee Jia's expression as she leered at Kim Mincheol with those shady eyes.
That wasn't the innocent gaze of an average adult looking at a child.
It was seriously impure.
And somehow, pervy as hell.
In Yoo Euisul's view, Lee Jia showed zero interest in men, unlike women her age.
Was it because she was a VTuber who'd sworn an oath of celibacy to her viewers?
Or because she was a Fervent Devotee, not quite human?
Either way, Lee Jia had remarkably little interest in guys.
So what was this?
Lee Jia was suddenly showing interest in Kim Mincheol.
'This feels like a dangerous fetish.'
Of course, Kim Mincheol's looks were so irresistibly cute that anyone—regardless of age or gender—would want to scoop him up in a hug, making Lee Jia's reaction perfectly normal.
But Yoo Euisul, who basically despised humanity as a species, couldn't comprehend that cuteness.
In the end, Yoo Euisul arrived at an utterly ridiculous misunderstanding.
'This crazy bitch is a total shotacon.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We began our meal at the Awakener Association's cafeteria.
Nom nom.
Munch munch.
The chubby-cheeked kid's face puffed out like a balloon from the food in his mouth.
"Hmph..."
So. Freaking. Cute.
A burning urge welled up to poke those cheeks with my fingers.
As I watched him happily munching away and making weird little noises, Yoo Euisul muttered,
"Ugh, you crazy bitch. Lee Jia, I hoped it wasn't true, but you really are a pedo..."
"Ah, come on, it's not like that!"
I shrieked in protest at Yoo Euisul for spouting nonsense right in front of the person in question.
Anyone in the world—bring 'em here—and they'd all gawk with jaws dropped at that kid shoveling food into his mouth.
He was that cute.
If anything, Yoo Euisul treating him like a cow or chicken was the psychotic one.
"So."
Kim Mincheol, who'd been watching our back-and-forth, suddenly set down his spoon and looked at me.
"May I ask what this is about?"
Serious tone, serious expression, and a face that was anything but serious—just pure cuteness.
At Kim Mincheol's question, I scratched my head and hemmed and hawed.
"Uh, well, I don't even know where to start..."
Explaining everything from one to ten would take all day and then some.
So I stuck to the key points.
To restore Kim Mincheol to his original appearance, he shouldn't chase Anomalous Phenomena or items.
He needed to track down Fervent Devotees.
The Wiki doesn't lie.
It clearly stated that only the Fervent Devotee of [CENSORED], who is [CENSORED], knows what Kim Mincheol must do to regain his original looks.
In other words, no one except that censored Fervent Devotee held the key.
If some item or Anomalous Phenomenon could fix it, the Wiki wouldn't phrase it as "only [CENSORED] knows."
Of course, I had no idea who that censored Fervent Devotee was.
If my Archivist rank went up, I might access the censored parts.
But not yet.
Kim Mincheol pondered, stroking his chin after hearing me out.
No beard, yet he stroked his chin anyway.
Dying of cuteness.
After a long think, he nodded and spoke.
"Thank you, Jia. At least now I have a lead..."
"Yeah, but in the end, there's nothing you can actually do."
"Gasp."
I gasped at Yoo Euisul's blunt stab at the heart.
Kim Mincheol gave a wry smile, agreeing as he continued.
"Still, no need to waste energy on dead ends anymore."
"Right. Just sit tight till she figures it out for you."
"That's not what I meant."
"What do you mean 'not'? You just gotta wait till you can access the censored part."
"Th-that's true, but..."
Why was she so cold today?
Did she eat something bad?
...No, Yoo Euisul had the exact same menu as me.
She just didn't like this situation.
Makes sense—she hated conversing with anyone but me.
Unfortunately, Kim Mincheol was sharp as a tack.
He started packing up to leave.
No, wait...
I haven't even petted his head yet.
Damn you, Yoo Euisul—you keep giving him the hint.
As he tidied up, Kim Mincheol said with evident relief,
"At least I have a lead now. Honestly, I'd half-given up already."
Impressive—Kim Mincheol was unbreakable.
Even in this hopeless kid-body nightmare, he'd only half-quit.
I'd fully surrendered, though.
My hope of turning back into a guy shattered on day one.
And for good reason.
Reflecting Myriad Stars herself—the god, the Great Being—had changed my gender.
Fervent Devotees exist to enact the Great Beings' will.
She'd given me two duties.
First: streaming.
Second: Anomalous Phenomena.
Fine on the phenomena, but VTubing worked way better in a woman's body, so that's why she switched me.
Going back to male would tank my streams.
...So I had zero chance of returning to my old body.
Unlike me, Kim Mincheol still had a sliver of hope.
I'd help him out, body and soul.
Solidarity among the body-less.
When I promised ongoing support, Kim Mincheol bowed his head.
"I truly appreciate it, Jia...! If you ever need anything, just say the word..."
"Oh, then can I give you a hug?"
"...Pardon?"
"Crazy bitch."
Ah.
Screwed up.
My unfiltered thoughts blurted out.
Face burning red, I waved my hands frantically.
"I-I misspoke!"
"Ah... Sure..."
"..."
Kim Mincheol affinity mission: total flop.
Damn it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I'm not a shotacon.
For real.
I swear on Reflecting Myriad Stars—I'm not some lunatic with weird lust for little boys.
Kim Mincheol's just that cute.
Yeah, that's all it was.
No joke—his looks were like God maxed out the cuteness slider in the character creator.
Even earlier at lunch, other Association staff blushed just looking at him.
So I'm not the weirdo—Yoo Euisul is.
She has zero human empathy; that's why my normal reaction stands out.
...Anyway, I'm not a deviant.
Hmm.
But still.
Ever since the gender swap, maybe I am a deviant?
I don't even know what turns me on anymore.
Definitely not guys—death before that.
But girls? Not sure there either.
Have I even felt horny since the change?
"..."
Wait.
Actually, yeah, I think so.
Just moments ago, even—a faint twinge.
No hiding it.
Three months in, and I still blush every time I stand naked in front of the mirror post-shower.
Is it the busty female body exciting me, or my body?
Dunno.
If the former, hey—at least I like women.
If the latter...
Um.
Narcissism or whatever?
Whatever.
Gender swap overnight—identity crisis is par for the course.
Speaking of which, perfect timing.
The ultimate content for this identity mess: maximum fun.
"Today, let's play a dating sim."