Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Late Summer Horror Special (3)
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"Mm. Myth was cute today too."
"Eww. You still simping for a VTuber with a boyfriend?"
"Yeah. Buzz off. Boyfriend doesn't count, husband does."
"They're not married yet."
"If those two don't tie the knot, the word 'marriage' won't exist in this world."
Truly peaceful and serene.
A tranquil day where the community showed no signs of catching fire whatsoever. Just the kind of day where you enjoy your favorite VTuber's stream and head to bed happy.
Kugugugugu—
With a crushing pressure that tore through the air and split the clouds, it plummeted into the community like a massive meteor from the heavens.
Label. Myth's agency—and in Korea, a massive MCN company with considerable influence thanks to riding on Myth's popularity. After absorbing Sara from the recent US blow-up and bringing her to Korea, it had faced teary complaints stateside but cheers back home. Now, Korea's biggest VTuber company had posted a notice.
One fearless community user sauntered over to the meteor embedded in the ground and checked its contents.
Several community users set out to uncover the notice's contents—and didn't come back. By that point, the community was in total chaos.
What kind of notice could keep even the scouts from returning? Was it good news? Something terrifying? Or regrettable?
Impossible to tell if it was positive or negative, but too lazy to check personally, everyone was just milling about anxiously when, miraculously, someone who had returned scraped the notice for all to see.
The scout pulled out the notice.
The VTuber community erupted into a frenzy once more.
Still, at QWER's hand, as always.
The once-quiet community was now ablaze.
"Whoa. Never dreamed an insane plan like this would actually go down."
A certain café in Japan. Maki shivered pleasurably as she scooped up some parfait. Was it too sweet? Or just that delicious? Mika, who had zero sweet tooth, couldn't tell.
"Lately, feels like us three hanging out more. Nostalgic, but kinda awkward too? Though as streamers, probably looks like we're just having a blast to outsiders."
"QWER was laser-focused on the kills, suspicion nearly blew up? If Myth sis and QWER hadn't stepped in with that 'it was fun' post on Inbyeol—which they don't even use—we'd have been toast."
Maki teased Mika once again. After that day's string of Legend murders, the near-exploding suspicion had been defused solely by one post from Myth and Legend: "It was fun."
"…Can we drop that now?"
"Hehe. Anyway, back to what I was saying. Collabs with Sara, Myth, or you became impossible at some point."
"Yeah."
Slurp. This time, Mika took a sip of her bitterly acrid espresso and shuddered. Watching her, Maki stuck out her tongue. How did she drink something that bitter? It was incomprehensible to Maki, who adored sweets to an extreme degree. Sure, she didn't hate bitter things, but that was beyond bitter—it was an assault.
"Me, Myth sis, and Sara—we had this rivalry thing going, knowingly or not. Not exactly the vibe for collabs."
"Hehe. True. Though it wasn't real rivalry between us, just something the viewers cooked up."
"World's Top 3 VTubers, split across different countries and agencies. Weird if viewers didn't stir up some rivalry."
Just like that Christmas at Tokyo Dome. Unless it was an event that massive, getting all three together was next to impossible. Back when none had skyrocketed yet—all under a million—they could hang out freely, chat openly. But once they all hit the top? Paradoxically, they drifted further apart. Those at the summit drew every eye. VTubers whose careers could shatter on a single slip in reputation, scandal, or viewer sentiment had no reason to push risky collabs. Plenty of others to play with—no need to tap-dance on a tightrope of controversy, neck outstretched, begging, "Kill me please."
"Only someone out-of-spec like QWER makes a project this big possible. Rounding up all three Top VTubers? Other agencies—even Dream Live—are too scared. Who'd risk the backlash with something that nuts?"
"Avatar collab's the perfect excuse. Skipping out would look weirder. And it's not just any avatar—it's QWER's custom outfit."
"Outfit, not full avatar redesign, but yeah, point stands. Viewers are all hyped like, 'Please score that outfit!' pushing their backs."
Mika let out a smirk. Yeah. Everyone's gotta be craving one of QWER's divine outfits. Worth a shot, at least.
"Bet Myth sis's eyes are sparkling over there too."
"She could snag one anytime if she wanted. Why bother?"
"Reward's not the point for her. You might think it's her usual wrong guess or some delusion, but hear me out?"
Mika bowed her head with a self-deprecating chuckle. Maki jolted so hard her heart nearly leaped out, screaming as she shot to her feet. Ignoring every gaze in the café, she narrowed her eyes at the bitterly smiling, coffee-sipping Mika like she was some lunatic.
"…Hey. Why so defeated? I almost dumped this parfait on your head from shock."
"Shocked enough to dump parfait on my head? Idiot."
Mika took another sip of espresso. The bitter tang lashed her back pleasurably, mockingly mirroring her reality. Outsiders would think, World #2 whining about what? Mika's gaze drifted out the window. Her view of downtown Tokyo just happened to point straight toward Korea.
"So, what're you getting at?"
"Nothing big. Just my hunch, but… Myth sis is terrified of horror games."
"Eh?!"
Maki whipped her head in utter disbelief.
Meanwhile, in Korea. Myth had been clinging to Legend's waist, whining nonstop for over three hours already.