Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: VTuber Who Underrates Herself
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The next day arrived.
Just as I'd expected, I got a call from the Awakener Association.
It was a request to appraise an item.
Stepping out of the house was a huge hassle in itself, but it wasn't a burden.
Unlike with Anomalous Phenomena, I didn't have to set foot in one myself.
I could just click my ability on whatever item they'd acquired from the Association. Easy.
This fulfilled one of the Archivist's Duties:
2. You must create at least one new [Item] entry per month.
Duty number two was off the table now.
The Association would keep asking me to appraise items from here on out.
And they had good reason— with me around, they could check an item's effects without any risk.
Even if the duty changed from once a month to twice, it wouldn't be an issue...
"..."
Nope.
Scratch that.
Silence is golden, as they say.
I didn't want to jinx it and end up with an extra duty for real. That'd be a nightmare.
Anyway, I headed out with a light heart.
Stopping by the Association and then coming home to stream made for a packed schedule, but still.
Hey, they pay.
Once you're registered as an 'Awakener,' the government sends money your way.
Only natural.
The Association's a public institution, and Awakeners are basically treated like civil servants.
They even give performance bonuses.
According to Yoo Euisul, you get one every time you resolve an Anomalous Phenomenon.
Or acquire an item...
In my case, item appraisals would come with their own bonuses too.
A bonus for one little click.
This was free money.
A real job.
Of course.
With the Archivist's Duty number three still hanging over me—
[You must create at least one new [Anomalous Phenomenon] entry per month.]
...it wasn't quite free money.
Eh, whatever.
I've got this sturdy body.
And Yoo Euisul.
After all the rapport-building I did, she'd help out next time too, right?
I headed out with a light heart.
My mood was light, anyway.
My outfit? Not so much.
I was wearing a skirt again today.
Forgot to buy pants.
Even stockings this time.
Mark my words.
Stockings are humanity's greatest invention, blending wisdom and tech.
So warm.
On a whole other level from baring your legs to the world.
...Feels a bit weird, sure.
But better than freezing.
At the Association, I met up with Kim Junghwan right away.
"Why you, though, Kim Junghwan?"
"Pardon?"
"You're an investigator, not item handling."
"I wear a lot of hats beyond that."
"...Right."
This guy.
Might be higher up than he lets on.
Makes sense.
If he were just a regular investigator, would the Chairman himself have let him into that meeting?
His ability to discern truth from lies in what people say.
Super useful outside investigations too.
Like item appraisals.
From the Association's view, verifying if what I say is true is essential.
It's not just about trust.
Items can be hugely beneficial to humanity, but misuse them and boom—disaster.
Didn't love the vibe, but I got it.
The Association building scraped the clouds.
Meaning the inside was shockingly spacious too.
Walking to the item storage, Kim Junghwan and I chatted.
He looked like he had something to say, lips twitching.
"Spit it out."
"Huh?"
"If you've got a question, just ask already."
"..."
After my bluntness, he pondered a moment.
Then steeled himself with a grim face and spoke.
"Jia, is it true?"
"About what?"
"You know, that thing."
"What thing? Say it."
Was this guy always this dense?
Just ask straight up. Why beat around the bush?
"...The Narak Show. Are you really appearing on it?"
Oh.
Right.
He was an Ayadung.
No wonder he hesitated.
I nodded at his question.
"Yeah, ended up that way somehow."
"Arrrgh... I'm so jealous, Jia! A successful Ayadung...!"
"I could die to an Anomalous Phenomenon tomorrow and have no regrets. The grace of Reflecting Myriad Stars..."
"...First part's true. Second's a lie."
"Sh-Shut up!"
What if retribution comes down? No red pills allowed.
After that, we talked more about Ayase.
Kim Junghwan was an old-school Ayadung like me, watching from debut, so we hit it off. Conversation flowed.
Naturally shifted to VTubers in general.
"Jia, hope you don't mind me saying, but... your gaming skills are rough."
"Wh-What can I do about it?"
"First VTuber I've seen who games that badly."
Yoo Euisul too.
Kim Junghwan too.
Why does everyone watch my streams so religiously?
"Obviously... 'cause they're fun."
"...Really?"
"Yep. Your streams are pure dopamine hits. The surprise prayers are fun, and the retribution bits too."
"...Thanks."
My viewership trended up daily, sure.
But internet streams being what they are.
No such thing as eternal growth.
I'd been quietly worried if I could build a concrete fanbase.
His words eased that a bit.
Glad it's entertaining.
"Knowing most of what you say on stream is RP-free truth makes it a tad heartbreaking, though..."
"...What?"
Shit.
"You used your ability watching my stream?"
"Obviously."
"Obviously? You psycho! Unauthorized red pills! That's breaking VTuber viewer code!"
"I never use it on Ayase streams."
"Then why me..."
"I'm an Awakener Association investigator."
"...So?"
"Jia. Know what the Association's pouring max effort into investigating right now?"
"The Anomalous Phenomena cycles speeding up?"
"Nope."
Kim Junghwan pointed at me.
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes. Specifically, that black smoke you encountered."
"Ah."
"Need more explanation?"
"...No."
Since Anomalous Phenomena and items appeared.
Humanity used items to contain them in 'Anomalous Phenomenon Zones.'
The black smoke was irregular.
Suspected Anomalous Phenomenon, but popped up in a regular home.
And after encountering it, I...
Changed race.
Gained an ability.
Became a woman.
I'd told the Association everything except the gender swap.
Looking at it that way.
Their focus on me made total sense.
To lighten the stiff mood, Kim Junghwan clapped his knee.
"Right, and you said you'd do a rear cam stream at 58K subs?"
"...You monitor my streams hardcore. Yeah."
"Better prep soon."
"Why? 58K's far off."
"As a VTuber expert."
"...?"
"Post-Narak Show, you'll probably hit 58K."
"Nah, that's underrating me too much."
"You underrate yourself. High VTuber knowledge aside... you're bad at self-objectifying."
"...Am I really that good?"
"Yes. That good."
Hmm.
Am I?
Dunno.
📜 ITEM ENTRY 📜 [Pell-Shred's Fountain Pen (Item)]
1. Overview
A fountain pen made by Pell-Shred, the world's greatest inventor. 2. Features (Effects)
1. Infinite ink.
2. Text written with this pen cannot be erased.
The appraisal ended anticlimactically.
"That's it?"
"Yeah, that's it."
"...Got it. Thanks for checking, Jia."
Wasted trip.
Not every item is a winner, apparently.
"Trash item, right?"
"Can't say that."
"Why? It's just a basic pen."
"This basic pen might be key to resolving some Anomalous Phenomenon."
"...With these lame effects?"
"Yes. Jia, the Association runs Anomalous Phenomenon training. Recommend you attend when you have time."
"Yoo Euisul said the same about studying up... Fine, I'll check it out later."
The diffuser from before, this pen now.
Seem like junk, but could be crucial.
Beyond my common sense still.
Wow.
Though, doodling on someone's skin with this...
Permanent tattoo city.
"Can't sell it to tattoo artists?"
"...No."
Why not.
Would fetch a nice price.