Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Signs of the Legend
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Myth and my parents had all left the hospital's private room.
I lay in bed and opened my laptop.
Maybe it was because I'd slept for the past seven years, but even though it had been an exhausting day, sleep wouldn't come at all.
'Huh. Come to think of it, have I slept at all since waking up?'
I pondered it carefully, and it seemed like I hadn't.
...I'd have to ask the doctor about this tomorrow.
With no sleep coming, I wondered what to do and ended up slipping into a VTuber-related gallery.
Then I searched for "Myth."
"There's a ton..."
Probably because she was the Myth who'd achieved the impossible feat of being number one worldwide, over ten thousand search results poured out in a list.
A feast of posts that were blatantly clickbait, impossible to resist.
I kept clicking and then hesitating, repeating the cycle.
"Doesn't this feel kinda stalkerish...?"
Searching for an acquaintance in a gallery.
It felt kinda creepy.
Hmm. Still, I wanted to search something.
How about this, then.
I decided to change my target.
- Myth avatar.
Even after switching to that keyword, tons of related posts flooded out.
Well, it's the avatar I made, after all.
I have the right to check this out, right?
Granting myself a free pass, I clicked on one of the posts at random.
"Oh, oh ho."
I was startled by the overwhelmingly generous praise.
I mean, sure, it felt great that a high schooler's work from seven years ago was getting such high praise, but couldn't help feeling like, is it really that good...?
After that, I read through more posts.
"Heh heh heh."
A slightly sinister chuckle escaped, but oh well.
Creators are all massive attention whores by nature.
They put out things that didn't exist before and crave the praise and attention.
My self-esteem soared, and the corners of my mouth lifted.
This must be why celebrities do ego searches.
I felt amazing.
1. Original avatar is god-tier
2. Any other outfit is downgrade
3. Can't fix without original creator.
"Was my avatar really that good?"
At this point, doubts crept in.
Was I actually some unprecedented genius who'd made a god-tier avatar, or were people pranking me on a massive scale?
I fired up my 3D tool and loaded Myth's avatar.
Thankfully, it imported perfectly even into the latest software. I narrowed my eyes at it.
"Right, she said she's doing a five-day horror game rush starting tomorrow."
Ah, past midnight now, so today.
End of December—according to Myth's Xcode, it started due to an incident in her first year, now an annual year-end event.
Thinking of it kicking off tonight, I gripped my laptop mouse.
Wonder if it'll work.
Let's give it a shot.
Honestly, time was insanely short, but I wasn't sleeping anyway.
Chance to get used to the new 3D tool, so why not.
Bright morning sunlight and chirping birds gently roused her from sleep.
Myth got out of bed, yawning hugely and rubbing her eyes.
"Fwaaaaah..."
Glancing at the clock: 11 a.m. For a streamer who often pulled all-nighters, this was early.
Average wake-up for night owls like them was 4 p.m., after all.
Even so, Myth's face went pale in an instant.
No way—I set like a dozen alarms for 7 a.m., how did I miss them all?
"Eek?!"
Myth hurriedly stripped off her pajamas and dashed to the bathroom.
I'm screwed. Screwed. Screwed.
Today was supposed to be the day I woke up before Legend and said at his side,
'You awake?'
That was my lifelong dream!!!
Three days of overseas schedule, meeting Legend yesterday—too much energy spent, plus insomnia till dawn.
Even with a strong will, this wretched body refused to wake on time.
She turned on the shower, waiting for it to warm while squeezing toothpaste onto her brush with one hand and grabbing her phone with the other.
Opening Xcode messages, relief mixed with dread—no texts from Legend.
- Myth: Legend! Good morning... well, more like lunch now. You up?
No reply for a while.
'M-maybe Legend's still asleep too?'
He'd said he went to the airport at midnight, stayed up all night and day waiting for her with eyes wide open.
Any normal person would've collapsed.
Was there still hope?
Could she arrive first and say 'You awake?' before he stirred?
Myth rushed through her wash-up.
"Lucky my hair's short."
Infinite thanks to the bob she'd kept for seven years since Legend collapsed, as she blow-dried quickly.
Long-haired friends said it took forever—she was glad not.
She dried her hair in a flash, slathered on lotion, toner, all cosmetics, grabbed clothes, and bolted out.
Down the apartment stairs, waving frantically for max speed.
"Taxi!"
Luck struck—a cab stopped right as she raised her hand.
Myth jumped in the back seat.
"Sir! To XX Hospital, please!"
"Hm? What, aren't you that girl from this morning?"
Coincidence?
It was the same cabbie from yesterday, greeting her.
Memories flooded back; she ducked her flushing head.
"Ah, driver from yesterday...! Sorry about then."
"Nah, no biggie. Young folks happen. You look in a rush though—gotta be somewhere quick?"
"I-if possible, as fast as you can?"
"Can do, but you sure? I may look it, but I'm from Busan—Seoul girls might not handle it."
The driver grinned.
Myth grinned back.
"I'm good. I'm from Busan too."
"Oh yeah? Then buckle up tight."
Skirting regulations, the cab tore through the city and hit the destination in no time.
Myth yanked a 50,000 won bill from her wallet, handed it over, and hopped out.
"Hey! Too much!"
"Keep it! I'm in a hurry!"
Out of the cab, she sprinted into the hospital.
Quick eye-greeting with the desk nurse, straight to the elevator, top floor express.
Private room in sight, Myth squeezed her eyes shut in prayer.
'Please please still be sleeping!'
Just recently begging him to wake; now pleading for a bit more sleep.
Luxurious prayer, but grateful she could afford the luxury, Myth flung open the door.
And there, staring intently at his laptop, was Legend.
'Ah, you're awake.'
A twinge of regret, but so what.
Even that melted away like spring snow the moment she saw his open eyes.
Myth crept toward Legend, careful not to disturb his focus.
A tiny, tiiiiny bit miffed he hadn't even glanced her way upon entry, but hey, deep concentration happens.
'What’s he so absorbed in?'
Mouse moving too fast for eyes to track—maybe playing a game after so long awake?
Myth sneaked behind him to the head of the bed, peeking over his shoulder at the monitor.
Might look weird staring silently, but this was payback for not turning around, she justified to herself.
"Legend~. Whatcha doi—... Huh?"
Planning to startle him, she peeked at the screen—and froze solid.
There she was.
There was Myth.
But not the self she'd seen lifelong these seven years—in new clothes she'd never worn.
Something of quality incomparable to that years-ago swimsuit.
At these signs of a new legend dawning in VTuber world, Myth swallowed hard.