Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Midsummer Special (4)
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Myth loved horror games.
Or rather, it wouldn't be wrong to say she adored them. The thrill of shock when nonexistent monsters from reality lunged at her.
The nail-biting tension of never knowing when or where something might attack, the adventurous spirit of pushing forward through the darkness, and the sense of liberation when it all finally ended. She loved it all.
Long ago, back when Myth was still doing no-cam streams and Legend was just QWER.
"Hmm. No games that catch my eye today. QWER, what do you think about trying this one?"
- Please stop with the nick-calling. There aren't that many streamers out there doing that stuff.
"Pfft. It's a stream just for you anyway, so what's the big deal?"
- Hey, there are five other people here besides me. Even if I'm the only one chatting, if you keep saying stuff like that, you'll be stuck with single-digit viewers forever.
First year of high school.
Back when she had no clue what streaming really was, pouring all her focus into the one person who actually watched her.
Even in those immature days when she sometimes forgot about the alt accounts she'd secretly set up to pad the numbers, Myth was unusually into horror games for a girl her age.
"Ah, whoops... Right. So, what do you all think? Should we play this one?"
- Do whatever you want. Streamers who worry too much about others don't last long.
"Hmph. Well, viewers who backseat-game every little thing don't stick around either."
- ...Fair point. I'll behave.
"Ah, no need. It's fine. This is a one-man chat stream anyway, so be comfortable. Anyway, this one? You don't hate horror games, right, QWER?"
- God, stop with the nick-calling ***
"Ahhh!! You swore?! I can tell even with the censor!"
- Stop being so frustrating then
Even in her clumsy streaming days, Myth mainly played horror games because she genuinely enjoyed them.
On that first Christmas of her career, when Seol had collapsed and she was lost in despair, forcing fake cheer with dead eyes night after night, she'd planned a horror game marathon—not just to draw viewers, but also to try and boost her own mood with games she loved.
...Though she also desperately wanted to just collapse and sleep.
In reality, while Legend was out cold, Myth streamed countless horror games.
She wasn't completely immune to the fear, but horror games actually became a strange comfort for her.
The change came not long after Seol woke up, during one of those horror game marathons.
'Huh?'
Myth, who usually kept her energy up even during horror games, was reacting strangely—her body betraying her in ways that felt off.
Cold sweat trickled down, and her voice trembled slightly. She couldn't maintain her tension at all.
'No. Seol's watching.'
The joy and happiness of Seol being awake and tuning into her stream suppressed the sudden inexplicable disgust toward horror games, letting her barely hold on. Otherwise, she might have collapsed midway.
"Must be my imagination."
The year-end and New Year passed without much thought, cozy with Seol. But come spring, when she booted up a horror game for upcoming content and couldn't last even a few minutes before shutting it off in cold sweat, Myth finally realized the truth.
"...Horror games scare me now."
It was obvious in hindsight, but it hit her like a shock anyway.
▶
"So, horror games suddenly started scaring you?"
Myth nodded vigorously.
Sitting in front of me, she trembled pitifully and clung to me, refusing to let go. She really seemed terrified.
Well, sure, horror games are scary by design—but breaking out in cold sweat and nearly collapsing mid-game? That wasn't normal.
"Any guesses why?"
"...Hmm. Not exactly sure."
Myth pressed right up against me.
Our bodies were fully flush, practically glued together head to toe. I half-suspected she was angling for a hug, but since I enjoyed it too, I let her be.
She's so light and cute when you hold her close.
"When I was deep into horror game days—days without you—it brings back that pain."
That made sense.
I gently stroked the back of her head. She smiled happily, nuzzling her cheek against my chest.
"When you were gone, I'd stay up all night streaming horror games because I couldn't sleep from the agony, then crash like I'd fainted. Maybe horror games remind me of those days without you."
"...Yeah, that tracks."
Mental trauma comes in all shapes and sizes.
Like how I unknowingly pushed through insomnia with workaholic vibes.
...Nah, mine's a freak case. Myth's trauma response seems more standard.
Flashbacks pulling her back to those days without me?
"...Wait a sec."
"Hm? What's up?"
"So you've been feeling that way every single day while I was asleep."
Myth's issue wasn't conjuring new feelings.
It was more like horror games triggered flashbacks of the daily dread she'd endured back then.
Hearing that, Myth blushed and bowed her head.
"Days without you were pure hell."
She buried her face in Legend's shoulder.
In Myth's life, those seven years without Legend were when she rose to the top VTuber spot—while battling fear every damn day.
Growth pains, rival VTubers surging ahead, media scrutiny, shifting viewer sentiments.
Plenty of black marks from her early days in a crappy MCN.
But the scariest, most terrifying? Days without you—and the fear that tomorrow might be the same.
"...Seol-ah."
Myth hugged Legend tight—not a squeeze, but a full-force grip.
Stressed and triggered by our talk, she clung like she'd never let go again.
Myth must work out a lot; even though it squeezed the breath from him a bit, Legend smiled and kept stroking her head.
"Yeah. I'm right here."
"Sorry. For showing weakness. I try to hold it together around you."
Legend patted her back reassuringly.
Come to think of it, he was always the one crumbling in front of her. Myth had always been the mature one leading the way.
Had he ever seen her this vulnerable?
Not that he could recall.
It struck him deeply.
"Thank you."
"Hic... For what...?"
Her shoulder dampened.
Legend whispered softly into her ear.
"For showing me that side. Means I've become someone you can rely on, right?"
"Dummy. I've relied on you my whole life."
"Oh? Even better, then."
Sob... Sob...
Myth stayed glued to me for a while, breathing in and out quietly. She buried her nose so deep it squished against me, like she wanted to fill her lungs with my scent. It was a little embarrassing, but so endearing and grateful that she depended on me that much.
Finally, she pulled away.
Maybe because it was peak summer heat in the living room without the AC on, and two hot-blooded young folks had been pressed together? Steam practically rose between us, heat blooming whoosh.
"Whoa. I'm seriously embarrassed right now."
Her face flushed red from the heat, then again from shame—beet red, hard to distinguish from a radish. Her eyes glistened as she looked at me.
No need to play it cool here, so I chuckled and stroked her hair, over and over, just like always.
"So, wanna skip the horror map content? It's fine if you do."
"Don't be ridiculous. Skip content you made? No such option exists."
Myth snapped back to her usual composed adult self, answering firmly.
"Then tell me if there's anything you don't wanna see."
"...That'd ruin fairness."
"No biggie. I'll ask everyone. If it's trauma or PTSD stuff, we'll exclude it, no problem."
"Then I'd just end up naming the scariest thing."
"That's fine. Goal's to entertain viewers, not torture VTubers."
And one more thing.
Legend quietly kept that thought to himself.
"Okay, so what should we avoid?"
"...Blood and car accidents."
Myth answered honestly, nestling back into my arms.
I hugged her tight once more.
Midsummer swelter paling in comparison, they held each other.
Confirming, reassuring each other of their place in one another's world. Over and over. Until it sank in.