Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Surprise
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“Wow. The reaction's getting dangerous. You know, Mika. Even after thinking it over a thousand times, that wording wasn't too much?”
Japan's Dream Live.
In one of the break rooms, Maki stuck out her tongue as she looked at Mika.
She hadn't expected such a blatant shot at Myth and QWER. Right now, the Japanese internet was overheating way beyond imagination.
In Japan, of course, if you grabbed any random VTuber viewer, nine out of ten had seen Myth.
They liked Myth and her content too, but there weren't a few who harbored feelings like this.
‘I want to surpass Myth.’
It was less patriotism and more a sense of belonging, perhaps.
Wouldn't it be great if a Japanese VTuber became the world's best? Every Japanese person vaguely held such sentiments.
But wasn't this a bit too aggressive?
“What's there to worry about, Maki? You saw the quality of that new avatar too. Anyone can tell it surpasses ‘Myth’.”
Mika turned her head and flashed a triumphant smile.
Maki stuck out her tongue at the sight.
Her longtime friend and senior, usually so sharp and clever, had her brain overheating to a serious degree at the thought of beating ‘Myth’.
Maki herself didn't consider herself particularly smart—in fact, she thought she was closer to an idiot—but even she found Mika looking downright foolish right now.
“No, sure, but aren't you forgetting Legend exists?”
“Ah. QWER. That cheat character. I know. I know all too well.”
Even after deliberately bringing up QWER and Legend, Mika remained confident. No, she even seemed relaxed.
“Mika. You think I've lost my mind obsessing over beating ‘Myth’—”
“No?”
“No, let me finish. Yeah, I'm excited, but it's the excitement of certain victory. I'm not crazy.”
“...Tsk. Should I splash some water on you?”
“No, I'm fine.”
“Wanna reboot?”
“I'm not a machine!”
“No, Mika. Even I can see you've lost it.”
“Phew. Maki. Listen up. I'll lay out the evidence from here on.”
Mika sat down with a smile.
She fiddled with her phone and the pad on the table, tik-tik, then began pulling something up.
“Here. See what this is?”
“Stuff QWER made. Christmas outfits, the concert hall, the flower field, and Sara's music video.”
“Right. Doesn't anything strike you looking at these?”
Strike her?
Maki narrowed her eyes at his works, then soon raised her head.
“That they're insanely good?”
“Hehe. Exactly. Even I have to say QWER's skills are a total scam. Each of these maps is ‘masterpiece’ material.”
“That's why I'm scared we'll catch backlash from getting cocky. You never know. QWER might see your post, get pissed, and whip up a second Myth that tops the first.”
“That's not gonna happen.”
Mika waved her hand dismissively.
Maki's eyes narrowed at the gesture.
“You're still judging him by normal standards?”
“He's amazing and superhuman, sure, but everything has limits. Check this out.”
Next to Legend's portfolio of works so far, an avatar now appeared.
“That's Myth.”
“Right. Myth unnie's avatar. Legend's legendary masterpiece from seven years ago that dropped with impossible quality and turned the world upside down. So, Maki. If you had to pick the absolute best out of all these, what would it be?”
“The best, huh?”
Maki scanned the works again.
Maps, outfits, music video.
All beautiful, all brilliant, but if she had to pick just one—
‘Myth.’
“Right. Think about it: QWER slept for seven years. From finishing ‘Myth’ to now...”
“It's only been about half a year.”
“Yeah, a little longer actually—roughly seven months and a week.”
Mika punched the air gleefully, looking genuinely thrilled.
“The VTuber industry's been growing. Steadily since Myth's debut. But QWER...”
“Didn't grow.”
“Exactly. Those maps and the music video in his portfolio? Proof.”
Maps and music video.
None topped ‘Myth’.
Sure, the timeframe was ridiculously short, but that spot marked QWER's limit.
At that point, even Maki got why Mika was so hyped.
“Technology's surpassed QWER?”
“You got it. Though the fact that VTubing's top company had to pour resources for four straight years to do it? Gives me legit chills.”
Mika clicked her tongue at the goosebumps prickling her arms.
Amazing.
Had to admit it. No denying that.
But this was the end of it.
All of QWER's works to date hadn't topped ‘Myth’. That proved it.
“Dream Live's surpassed QWER.”
“...Yeah. Guess so. But I still feel uneasy somehow.”
Maki's head was swayed by Mika's silver tongue into half-believing it, but some gut instinct held her back.
Worrying this much was a sickness.
Mika giggled and patted Maki's back.
“Don't sweat it. Unless they get some anime-style lucky break, we won't lose.”
“...That sounds like a flag, Mika.”
“Is this enough, I wonder.”
Legend gazed at ‘Myth’ on his screen.
Myth's second version—the second avatar he'd been prepping bit by bit since moving into this house—but it felt somehow off.
Better than the original ‘Myth’, sure, but... what was the word?
Would this be enough? The thought pressed on Legend harder than ever before.
“First time feeling chased by someone. Kinda leaves me feeling hollow.”
He'd played it cool in front of Yeon-ah noona, but deep down, Legend was chicken-hearted.
Heck, just the other day he'd been shaking like a leaf heading to the label for the first time.
Even now, starting a new project made his heart race with fears of failure; right before release, it felt like his heart might explode.
Honestly, standing before thousands at the HiWatch world tournament stage? He'd nearly died of fright.
Still, Legend wasn't blind to his own talent.
He still reigned as the industry's legend, every creation a smashing success.
Confidence brimmed after seeing the cash from the MV with Sara, but even for him, an open challenge like this was a first.
“Never thought I'd get a gauntlet thrown by a whole company in my lifetime.”
Dream Live, no less.
Surpassing even Mika, VTubing's biggest powerhouse had directly challenged Legend.
We'll top the ‘Myth’ you made and claim the peak again.
To that oh-so-polite declaration of war, Legend's chicken heart began to throb anew.
Surpass ‘Legend’, and then some.
That punchy catchphrase had Legend deleting and restarting ‘Myth mk.2’ over and over.
No matter how proud he was of his work, this battle with Dream Live was relative, not absolute.
Unless he outdid whatever Dream Live had, the whole project could flop.
“...Hmm. This ain't it.”
Legend deleted his twenty-first Myth.
He could do better, just a smidge—but that smidge eluded his fingertips.
He'd clearly improved on the original Myth; the torso and chest were plenty satisfying. Yet instinct screamed it wouldn't cut it.
Specifically, one tiny spark, and he'd break through to something new. But that spark was missing.
“Alright, back at it.”
Forcing his flagging spirits up, Legend gripped his mouse once more.
Late night.
Twenty-second try.
The moment he moved his hand again, someone opened Legend's door.
Door creaking open, Legend in hyper-focus didn't even turn.
Only one person would come, so Myth crept in quietly, stealthily taking position behind him.
Then, softly, she covered his eyes with both hands from behind.
“Who is it?”
“...Hm. You really don't know?”
“You never know. Might not be who you think.”
“No way I'd miss your voice.”
“...Hehe. Sweet talker. Hey, isn't staying up this late too much? Your eyes'll go bad. Told you to keep the light on.”
Myth kneaded Legend's eyes.
A pleasant warmth spread across his eyelids, massaging away the strain.
“What? It's night already?”
Legend startled badly.
He'd been buried in work since daytime, lost track of time—didn't realize night had fallen.
Myth laughed at his reaction.
“Seriously, aren't you too obsessed with the swimsuit?”
“...Don't wanna lose.”
“Going well?”
“Honestly... hm, it's iffy. Feels like just a bit more and I could make something huge, but right now it's just incrementally better.”
“Even that's huge, topping that ‘Myth’. Anyway, for our hardworking Seol-i slaving away for me, I've got a surprise.”
“A surprise?”
Legend perked up with interest.
No yummy smells, so probably not food.
As Legend puzzled it out, Myth slowly swiveled his chair—still covering his eyes.
“What're you doing?”
“What else?”
Face-to-face now, with Myth pressing both hands over his eyes.
Myth smiled and let go.
"Surprise."
Myth beamed.