Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The People Who've Been Waiting for You
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- Ziiiiing...
- Kakao!Kakao!
- Text alert! Text alert!
- Bzzz! Bzzz!
The world's most unwelcome symphony assaulted my ears.
"...What the hell, why are there so many calls on my day off?"
Myth's manager and editor, Yuuri, dragged herself awake in her cramped studio apartment bed.
She'd been crashing in Myth's suite in Japan, sharing meals and beds, so the musty studio smell and tight space hit her even harder now.
Yeah, this was what they called reverse culture shock.
"Ugh. No point dwelling on the past."
Anyway, who the hell was blowing up her phone?
She wasn't exactly the social butterfly type, so it wasn't like a horde of friends were begging for drinks on her day off. No doubt, this was work-related.
And someone hunting her down for work on vacation? That was never—never—a good sign.
It meant a massive screw-up that even the team monitoring Myth couldn't handle.
"Sis... what did you do this time?"
Myth.
The VTuber under her care—the one who'd single-handedly built a 5-million-subscriber empire—had a surprising knack for causing trouble.
Nothing major, controversy-wise. Mostly her self-destructive streaming marathons, neglecting her health.
She'd called 119 for Myth collapsing mid-stream who-knows-how-many times, smacked her neck to knock her out during overlong sessions just as often. Couldn't even count anymore.
Especially after those epic streams, she'd still drag herself out for daily hospital visits and faint on the way. How many times?
Yet she'd bulldoze through those visits no matter what. It was beyond admirable—straight-up terrifying.
"How does she wait seven years for a guy she met once? If that's a sickness, it's one hell of a disease."
The Japan tour schedule had been a mess from the start.
Normally, after that grueling lineup, you'd stick around Japan a few extra days to recharge. But flying straight back to Korea for a stream? What was that about?
Definitely not missing that suite.
Yuuri sighed, snatching her trembling phone that practically begged to be picked up.
Yeah, time to stop escaping reality.
"Agency, fellow editors, other VTubers nearby... ugh, what a flood."
One lesson from managing Myth: the more urgent the crisis, the calmer you stay.
A disaster had clearly blown up already, but freaking out wouldn't fix it. The world wasn't that forgiving.
Before diving in, she grabbed a British teabag gift from Myth out of the fridge and steeped it in hot water.
Savoring the rich red hue bleeding into the clear water, she unlocked her phone and started checking messages one by one.
"...What mess did you cause, Legend?"
Sorry for suspecting you, Myth sis.
I checked the flood of messages one by one, firing off mass replies: "No clue here either, looking into it."
Of course, no fancy bulk-send feature, so I typed them out manually.
What good are STEM nerds if they can't code a bulk sender ahead of time? Or maybe it exists and I don't know—still their fault for crap marketing.
Messages sent, I pulled up Myth's Nutuber channel.
So what bomb did Legend drop to set my phone on fire?
"Ha."
I snapped the phone shut.
Black silhouette on an empty background.
And below it: 'Welcome Back QWER'.
Now I got why everyone was losing it.
Oh, my head.
Domestic VTuber communities were probably in chaos without me checking.
Black tea, save me. My head's gonna explode.
Then, the message I'd been waiting for popped up.
Riiiing. Riiiing riiiing.
I snatched Myth's call ASAP.
- Our baby... I know it's your day off, but you okay?
"Sis... please give me a heads-up on stuff like this. My heart can't take it."
- Sorry. I just got it too.
"So, what do I need to do?"
- Can you whip up a quick video? Just wanna slip in a tiny effect before the new avatar reveal!
I checked the clock.
3 PM. Hours until her stream, and she wants a video now?
"What vibe?"
- Something ~~~~~~~ like this! Doesn't need to be long! 5 seconds tops for the effect.
"Fancy directing in 5 seconds ain't hard, but don't expect masterpiece quality."
- Yup yup! Just for impact. Pretty please?
"Got it, sis. Stream hard, but don't push the horror rush too far—ring the quit bell if it's rough."
- Will do. Super sorry, but make it snappy! Oh, and special service just for us! Preview of my avatar incoming—tweak the effects after seeing it!
Ding.
Fine, whatever.
Compared to past incidents, this was tame.
Especially since I didn't have to throw on track pants and floor the pedal right away.
Whipping up a few-second clip at home? Piece of cake, under an hour.
I checked the fresh outfit file in my email.
"...Has it really been days since I woke up?"
Pretty sure he was bedridden right up to the Japan tour.
Made this in between? Chills.
"...Monster couple."
If he hadn't been down for seven years, Myth really would've been an untouchable monster in the VTuber scene.
Musing that, I settled in.
...Gonna put some extra effort into this video.
No way I wanted to tarnish this avatar's debut.
"Not like I'm driving or anything."
I was revving up for more hustle when another call from Myth hit as I booted the PC.
More to say?
I picked up without thinking.
- Oh, Our baby! Forgot one thing.
"What?"
- Looks like I need the studio—tell the agency to book it? And super super sorry, but I got tons of gear to haul...
"What all you bringing?"
- Downloaded dozens of horror games on my PC. To reveal the new outfit at studio then stream right away, gotta lug the tower...
Ah.
I pinched my forehead.
Ugh, fine.
What was the point of moping alone at home like a cheapskate on New Year's?
Better watch the horror rush live next to Myth, snag some late-night snacks.
"Order pizza and chicken for snacks, and I'm there."
- Hehe. Deal. Heck, here's my card—eat whatever.
Guess I needed to wrap editing and throw on track pants pronto.
December 27th.
The night, exactly five days before Myth's 7th debut anniversary.
The long-awaited stream finally went live.
The chat, usually buzzing about Myth's horror game rush, was screaming in near-madness over something else entirely.
The topic? Obviously, reactions to QWER's comeback announcement and Myth's new avatar.
Even for Myth, famed for ultra-high-quality modeling, viewers had craved fresh changes after nearly seven years.
The 4.5-anniversary swimsuit fiasco had just forcibly suppressed those urges.
Fans of comparable big-league VTubers loved mocking Myth's fandom over outfit count gaps.
Myth was VTuber industry's top dog, sure—but rivals existed.
Several overseas giants topped 3 million subs, including Japan's #1 hot on Myth's heels and the English-sphere queen.
Their fans' prime target? The brightest star.
Myth.
Stand out, get shot down, right?
Myth's fans desperately shielded her, but even they yearned for new outfits.
What could you do?
Eyes raised too high—mid-tier avatars wouldn't cut it anymore.
At least dodge a 4.5-anniversary swimsuit disaster repeat.
That's why they'd avoided pressuring her, skipping new outfit mentions on stream. But damn.
Myth dropped one first.
Made by the original creator, QWER!
Viewers flooded in, shattering her usual opener peaks.
Not just core fans—VTuber pros worldwide tuning in.
Industry top streamer's collab with the legendary 3D modeler.
Everyone watched with hype... or dread. But the stream stayed black-screen silent for ages.
Eerie silence, spine-chilling.
Myth just sitting quiet, but viewers felt off.
Then, her voice echoed from the dark screen.
"Yeah. Sinha. Sinha. Hello... everyone. Today too."
Chat freaked over the unfamiliar staging.
Myth's voice returned from the void.
"Okay, heads-up. For a bit... now. There's... a jump... scare... coming."
Five seconds out.
Warning countdown on screen—anyone scared of jumpscares, exit or close eyes.
Blunt jumpscare alert roiled the chat.
In the bubbling chat, Myth's final warning synced with the countdown.
Old-film style reel countdown.
Except... not numbers.
And.
- BOOM! Red light flooded the screen.
Viewers blanked at first.
Star-like crimson glow.
Took seconds to clock: Myth's eye.
"Hel...lo."
Like peeking through an old peephole sans intercom.
Fisheye lens warped the view—outfit unclear.
Just the eye color shift visible.
Even rushed production landed solid reactions.
One more day, could've amplified x10.
Regret tinged inwardly, but Myth spun the camera.
"Yay. Hello everyone. Sinha Sinha~."
Her voice echoed in a slightly Halloween-ish map.
One agency VTubers used for Halloween.
Myth invisible, voice only booming.
Chat churned, hyped for the full new outfit drop.
"Alright, shall we reveal it nice and slow?"
Myth lunged into frame.
"Slow" was a joke—new outfit flashed so fast, chat froze solid.
No time to type; eyes glued to Myth.
"Whew~. Way more revealing than my usual dresses, kinda embarrassing. Whaddya think? Looks good?"
First hit: bright red, nowhere in her black dress era.
Thigh-up maniac bandages wrapping her body, Christmas ornaments doodled everywhere.
Always-hidden skin blazed bare, flesh waves clashing gorgeously with red wraps.
Avoid skin? Eyes hit modesty bandages. Dodge those? Straight back to skin.
No safe gaze—pure boundary-pushing gear.
Prim space idol gone; seductive Santa mummy in her place.
"Hehe. Cute, right?"
Plus Myth beaming brighter than usual.
Impossible for lesser avatars: natural joy.
Myth's hyper-refined model beamed unfiltered bliss to viewers.
Chat erupted like a waterfall.
Myth grinned wider at it.
"How's it? Getting a good look?"
These people—all of them who've been waiting for you.