Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Midsummer Special (5)
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"Whoa, it's been ages, sis."
"Sara. Your Korean seems to be getting more fluent the longer you stay here."
"I live in Korea, after all. You naturally pick up more fluency just by living day to day. Now my English is starting to feel a bit rusty."
"Hehe. Making jokes now, too."
Label's studio. Myth laughed and lightly bonked Sara's head with her fist.
Not long ago, they hadn't been anywhere near this close, but spending time nearby had rapidly brought them together.
Maybe this was thanks to Legend, too.
'...Ugh. I keep thinking about Legend.'
Ever since she'd acted spoiled around Legend last time, her daily life felt more and more overtaken by thoughts of him. It wasn't a bad feeling—far from it—but it was the kind of thing she couldn't show too openly on stream, so she had to be careful.
"Anyway, this is our first time together since the concert."
"Huh? You didn't use the studio at all after that?"
"Rolling around at home and squeezing in next to you guys for streams was way more fun. The Korean viewers loved it, too. I was prepping just in case I couldn't avoid it entirely, but Legend oppa called me at the perfect time. Lucky break."
"Quit bullying us already."
"Hehe. If we really wanted to, we'd just move into your place—but you refuse so stubbornly."
"...You're not into girls, right? Not that I have any prejudices or anything, just checking."
"Nope. I like guys, too. Hmm... Does saying it like that make me sound kinda promiscuous?"
This time, Legend's project was being run officially out of the studio. Given the nature of the merchandise, only Label and Dreamlive personnel had been invited—folks with the proper setups to fully experience Legend's map.
There was a world of difference between playing in a setup this immersive and staring through a PC screen.
As Myth and Sara chatted away, someone flung open the studio door and came rushing in.
"Pl-please take good care of me, seniors! So sorry I'm late!"
Label's rookie VTuber Yui, with 30K subscribers. She mainly did art streams and illustration commissions—one of the agency's rare creator-types.
Myth was taken aback at the sight of Yui drenched in sweat, arms loaded with coffees from a cafe near the building.
"Huh? Must be the summer heat—why are you sweating buckets like that?"
"Whoa... You bought all these coffees yourself? That must've cost a fortune."
"Ah, no! I was late, so it was only right. Hehe..."
"No need to go that far for just 30 minutes... We'll gratefully accept them, though. And wipe off that sweat. Here, handkerchief."
Sweat was dripping down her jawline in rivulets. Myth hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from her bag and handed it over.
"Ahh...! I couldn't possibly use something like—!"
Yui waved her hands frantically, but Myth ignored her and wiped the sweat off herself.
At first, she'd assumed it was just heat sweat, but Yui was panting hard—not quite. As she dabbed, Myth asked.
"No way... Did you run all the way up here? We're over 20 floors up...?"
"Haha... Lunch hour, elevators were packed. Didn't want to be any later, so I ran."
"Sigh. Don't do that next time. Best not to be late at all, but no one's gonna chew you out over 30 minutes. If they do, you can tell me."
"Thank you so much, senior...!"
"I'm the one who's thankful. You got the good stuff."
Myth finished up and turned back to Sara. Yui scurried off to greet the other staff and the president.
Sara let out an impressed "Ooh~."
"Ooh~. Looking all senior-like there, Myth sis."
"I am the senior, after all. Don't tease."
"But that same sis turns into one needy little female around Legend oppa!!!???"
"Cut it out. People are listening."
Myth pinched Sara's grinning cheek and stretched it out.
She was already so hyper-aware lately that everyday life was a struggle—why go making it worse?
"Anyway, gonna be another total blowout this time. Myth sis is basically Lu Bu when it comes to horror games."
"What're you talking about?"
"No, but you are good at them."
Myth turned her head away.
Sure, that was her image, but lately? She had zero confidence in horror games.
Her stomach churning, Myth headed over to the president.
The president was busy assigning staff for the stream about to start.
"Oh, Myth. Need something?"
"Nah. Just came to check on you working so hard~."
"Yeah? Good if it's nothing."
Shin Yuri turned her head. Then let out a soft sigh.
Sensing something off, Myth narrowed her eyes. The president she knew didn't sigh openly like that in front of people.
Worried now, Myth asked her straight-up.
"President, you got some worries?"
"Hm? Nah. Just in case."
"Vague answers like that just make me more curious."
"Ah, well... It's."
Shin Yuri's eyes darted around. Picking up on her intent, Myth grabbed her hand and pulled her to a secluded spot.
Behind the props—perfect for a quiet word. Regular shoot studios were flooded with bright lights from all the gear, but the VTuber setup was dimmed way down for the horror game vibe, adding to the secretive atmosphere.
"This should be good."
"It's really nothing big. Might not even be worth hearing."
"Psh, only one way to find out."
"Well, this collab's basically a competition, right? Just worried if they might pull some dirty tricks."
Myth nodded. Fair enough.
Yeah, Legend's work wasn't your average fare.
Even a single outfit had that one-of-a-kind texture and quality you couldn't fake with normal methods. Depending on the accessories and frills, one avatar costume could be worth hundreds.
And more important than the money—
"You know how high Legend's climbed in this industry."
"Haha. He is pretty amazing."
—was the fact that this was the first time a piece from Legend—aka QWER—might leak outside.
In the VTuber world, where everyone scraped by on scraps of fleeting hype, even a momentary spotlight was huge.
"Seol-i planned this with the whole festival in mind from the start, anyway. Can't be helped."
"...Yeah?"
"Yeah. And I'll just win. No need to worry about cheating, either."
"Why?"
Shin Yuri tilted her head.
Mika—of course Shin Yuri knew all about her. The streamer who'd been Myth's subtle rival for ages, always pushing aggressive content to finally surpass her.
Across the ocean, no way to interfere—this pure trust-it-to-them setup. How could she be so sure?
As president and adult, Shin Yuri always assumed the worst—a valid question. But Myth's answer was the most irrational, illogical response imaginable.
"Just 'cause. Mika's not the type to do that, even if her company pushed her."
More than anyone, Myth knew that girl wasn't capable of it.
"She's one of the precious few who still charges straight at me to win for real—even when everyone else gave up and just looked up to me."
▶
"No way."
Dreamlive's conference room.
Mika flatly shot down the proposal her manager had brought from the higher-ups.
"Mika-nim. But the execs..."
"Execs, my ass. Before I eat the billions in penalties, flip out, and report this crap—get this disgusting paper out of my sight."
Actually, better this way.
Mika shredded the rigging documents to bits.
"But the execs..."
"Winning like this is pointless. And you know how many VTubers get buried by backhanded crap like this."
"But this time the execs—!"
"Shut up. I have zero interest in dancing to those old geezers' whims."
"Ah, Mika-ssi. Broadcast time soon."
A staffer poked their head in, and the manager clammed up.
"Yeah, heading out."
Mika brushed past without a glance.
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