Chapter 25
Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Spilling the Tale of Delaying Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"So, what happens now?"
"What happens? What do you think happens."
"You solved the Anomalous Phenomenon. Don't you have to do interviews with all those reporters now, and go through a bunch of complicated procedures at the Awakener Association...?"
I'd seen it online before.
A scene of an Awakener who'd safely resolved an Anomalous Phenomenon giving an interview.
And right now, there were dozens of reporters camped out at the entrance.
In just a little while, my identity would be exposed to the world.
Having extended my life, now I was worrying about my identity getting out.
Guess my mind really had settled down.
But Yoo Euisul's response was unexpected.
"Interviews? Why the hell would I do that. I never got why other Awakeners bother with them. What, chasing fame and fortune?"
"Uh... Have you never done an interview, Euisul?"
"It's Euisul unnie, not Euisul. Call me properly."
"Yes, Euisul."
"...You're such a punk. Fine, let me flip it on you. Have you ever seen my interview online?"
"No. I don't think so."
"Exactly. I don't do that annoying crap. Procedures? Skip those too. I'm just handing over the item and heading home."
"But there are dozens of reporters at the entrance right now..."
"Oh, that? I already sent them packing."
"...Pardon?"
"Before I came to meet you, I told them all to scram. 'Oh, it's Yoo Euisul. You stepped in shit. Now beat it nice and quiet.' And they did."
"..."
Me.
From the moment I arrived here to resolve the Anomalous Phenomenon, it never crossed my mind that I could keep my identity hidden from the viewers.
I'd assumed that after solving it, I'd have to do interviews with reporters, of course.
I'd even planned to turn on my stream tomorrow and openly reveal to my viewers that I was an Awakener and what my abilities were.
However.
Lucky or not, I wouldn't have to worry about my identity leaking right away.
Thanks to this world's craziest person sitting next to me.
Well, no lie lasts forever in this world.
My identity would get exposed eventually.
But if possible, after my stream stabilized... after I'd built up a solid core audience.
Then I'd reveal it myself to the viewers.
I chatted idly with Yoo Euisul as we walked to the entrance.
Talking to her, I realized something.
Yoo Euisul.
She didn't seem like a bad person, surprisingly.
Her speech was just a bit rude, that's all.
Her personality wasn't completely broken or anything.
Yoo Euisul asked me.
"So, who's this Reflecting Myriad Stars? You really won't tell me?"
"It's the god I believe in."
"That's what I'm saying—I’ve never even heard of that god."
"If you're that curious, come watch my stream sometime."
"Oh? You do streams? What kind?"
Ah.
I slipped up.
Is this that leading interrogation thing?
"Answer."
"..."
"Not talking? Should I search it up? Lee Jia... Reflecting Myriad Stars... What the—it's right there. And it's a cam girl?"
"..."
Not a cam girl, it's VTuber.
Though the sync rate is suspiciously high.
Anyway, it's VTuber.
......
......
......
We arrived at the entrance.
Just as Yoo Euisul said, the dozens of reporters who'd been gathered had vanished.
If I had to guess.
The reporters probably knew Yoo Euisul's personality better than anyone.
Yeah, thinking about it.
There was that controversy in Yoo Euisul's wiki about [Abusing reporters and destroying cameras].
Yoo Euisul and I entered the Awakener Association building at the entrance to hand over the item.
The moment we stepped inside, the Awakener Association Chairman, Scheduled Hwan, came rushing out barefoot to greet us.
Well.
More precisely, to greet me.
"You've been through so much, Jia! Goodness, look at the state you're in... Are you hurt anywhere?"
"No, I'm fine."
Surprisingly.
My clothes were just full of holes.
Not a single injury on me.
Even I'm amazed at how tough my body is.
"Euisul did more of the heavy lifting, really."
"..."
Scheduled Hwan glanced silently at Yoo Euisul.
She replied in her usual rude tone.
"What're you staring at, old man? Spit it out already."
"Jia, did Yoo Euisul give you any trouble?"
"Trouble my ass—I took a sword stab protecting her."
"...Is that true?"
I nodded slightly.
Scheduled Hwan looked visibly flustered.
Whether he was flustered or not.
Yoo Euisul tossed the diffuser she was holding to Scheduled Hwan and said.
"Get the briefing from her, old man. Hey, Lee Jia."
"Yes?"
"Gimme your number."
"Ah, sure."
Yoo Euisul and I exchanged numbers.
Scheduled Hwan watched us with a somewhat shocked expression.
What's with this guy since earlier?
"Catch you later. I'm out."
"T-take care going back!"
And like that.
Once Yoo Euisul was out of sight.
Scheduled Hwan muttered.
"Yoo Euisul called someone by name. They even exchanged numbers. This... this is clearly an Anomalous Phenomenon...!"
Is calling someone by name that shocking?
......
......
......
I gave a detailed briefing on the previous situation.
How effective my ability had been in resolving the Anomalous Phenomenon.
I recited the wiki info I'd confirmed word-for-word, without a single mistake.
Fortunately, info I'd checked once could be checked again anytime.
Well, if it couldn't, calling it a wiki would be embarrassing.
After hearing my briefing, Scheduled Hwan stared blankly for a moment.
Then he let out a disbelieving chuckle and continued.
"To think you could even know the method to resolve the Anomalous Phenomenon... This... I never imagined we'd get such detailed intel."
"Glad I could help."
"Yes. It's almost too helpful. You're a precious talent, Jia. I'd love to have you just handle item appraisals instead of dangerous Anomalous Phenomenon resolutions."
"I've got this disease where if I don't write Anomalous Phenomenon wiki entries, I die."
"...That's the problem. That black smoke you encountered—what the hell was it? No info at all, it's frustrating."
Black smoke.
Well.
I don't know for sure, but it's definitely connected to Reflecting Myriad Stars somehow.
And that black smoke.
It didn't seem like a simple Anomalous Phenomenon.
No basis, just a gut feeling... but I'm convinced somehow.
Anyway.
"You don't need to worry about me too much. Turns out my body's tougher than I thought."
"Info confirmation ability on top of a body that doesn't get cut by swords. I'm a dual Awakener too, but not on your level."
To be precise.
It's not dual abilities—it's the racial trait of being a Fervent Devotee.
But who cares.
What matters is I fulfilled the Archivist's Duty.
And successfully postponed my disposal.
What could be more important?
"Anyway, looking forward to working with you more, Jia."
"That's it? Nothing else?"
"Yes, that's all. We'll escort you home. Though I'd be truly grateful if you visited the Association occasionally to help with item appraisals and such."
"That's no big deal."
"Thank you. Finally, we've decided to keep your identity under wraps from the public for the time being."
"Huh. Was that Kim Junghwan...?"
"How did you know? Yes, Kim Junghwan strongly insisted we shouldn't reveal your identity..."
Damn.
Kim Junghwan!
I hadn't trusted him at all.
Thanks to Kim Junghwan's solid understanding of VTubing.
No disaster of my identity leaking and forcing an explanation stream on viewers.
See? No bad people among Ayase stream viewers.
This is the average Ayadong.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ ARCHIVIST'S DUTY ⚙ 1. No breaks unless you're dead. If you don't stream at least once a day, you'll be forcibly returned to the Omnia Archive. 2. Write at least one new [Item] entry per month. [This month's duty completed]
3. Write at least one new [Anomalous Phenomenon] entry per month. [This month's duty completed]
4. Fail to uphold these duties, and you'll immediately lose Archivist status and be disposed of. - Archivist's Duty updates in real time. - "Ehehehe... Ehahahahaha!"
The next day.
I giggled like a maniac while looking at the newly updated entry on my Lee Jia (VTuber) wiki page.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Not the sound of retribution for blasphemy.
The neighbor banging on the wall because of the noise.
Sorry for the racket, but how could I stop the laughter bubbling up naturally?
After reading the fully updated entry.
I let out a sigh of relief that I'd survived.
And then.
"Haaaaah..."
I heaved an even deeper sigh, like the ground was caving in.
Humans are such sneaky creatures.
After dodging death, now petty worries cropped up.
Yesterday.
Right before ending stream, I'd promised the viewers.
'I'll do a 24-hour always-on stream.'
Was I insane?
No matter how urgent, who makes promises like that?
Ah.
I want to go back in time and slap past me.
...Though with this ridiculously tough body that swords can't pierce, it probably wouldn't hurt anyway. Still, I wanna slap her.
A promise between a VTuber and their viewers must be kept unless a natural disaster hits.
I've seen more than one or two VTubers fall to ruin for breaking promises.
Other VTubers have the 'rebirth' option of switching agencies and changing RP.
I can't reincarnate even after death.
I've only got one coin.
Is this how a cow feels on the way to slaughter?
Before regular stream time, I forced my eyes shut for even one more minute of sleep.
Stocked up big on energy drinks and caffeine-packed coffee milk from the convenience store.
And then.
I started the stream.