Chapter 142
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Behind the VTuber (2)
While Myth was diligently singing away in the recording studio, she realized Legend had vanished exactly twenty minutes after he left the room.
She knew he had gone to the bathroom, but when he didn't return after twenty minutes, an uneasy Myth went to check the men's restroom herself. She discovered he wasn't anywhere on the entire floor.
"Hmm. He's really nowhere to be found."
Myth had scoured the whole floor and even personally checked the first-floor restrooms. She smiled as she said it.
Mika broke out in a cold sweat at the sight.
Legend was gone, yet Myth was smiling. It was definitely not a smile in the ordinary sense.
"...Mika."
"D-don't look at me like that. Even I couldn't follow him into the men's room just because he said he was going there."
Good lord.
The person was smiling, yet it was this terrifying.
Pone was trembling like a leaf right in front of that smile. Was it really that scary just from a smile?
If you could see the black thing rippling behind her back, you'd never say that. In this modern age, was there really a Stand user among us?
"H-hic... Can I just go home?"
"No way. I don't have even a shred of confidence in enduring that pressure alone."
This was seriously life-or-death. Sure, she probably wouldn't die physically, but DreamLive had personally invited Legend and Myth, and now Legend had suddenly gone missing?
The moment this hit the press, it wouldn't end quietly.
『Disappearance in the Heart of Tokyo. DreamLive Removing the Competition?』
『Mika's Ugly Ambition. 'No Need for Costumes'—Is This What She Meant? Police Investigation Underway.』
'Oh man. This is really bad.'
Mika started sweating bullets.
What if her recent bold declaration of beating big sis Myth backfired? No matter how tabloid-y the media, would they really spread such baseless slander?
Don't underestimate Japan's press. From gossip rags and reckless bloggers to all sorts of nonsense, they could bury a person in rumors with ease—that was Japan's media for you.
What to do?
Should she start preparing to flee Japan? Just as Mika thought that, Maki came rushing back from the security office, panting heavily.
"Mika, wait. I found out who took Legend."
"Took him? You don't mean—"
Those executive pig bastards finally pulled something. Mika clenched her fists, ready to charge back to the top floor, when Maki grabbed her shoulder.
"It's not the execs."
"...Then who? No regular employee would have the guts to drag him off."
An ordinary staffer? Even if Legend was mild-mannered, he wouldn't just follow along.
Huh. As that thought crossed her mind, Mika's brain started spinning at full speed.
Legend didn't speak Japanese, so he wouldn't follow someone who didn't speak Korean so easily. And even if DreamLive had pulled some shady stunts before, they weren't so reckless as to stage a physical kidnapping in broad daylight inside their own building.
'Someone fluent in Korean inside the company, with enough status that Legend would go along willingly, and who doesn't have to tiptoe around him.'
There was only one person.
"Asahi."
"Yeah. President Asahi chatted with him briefly in front of the restroom, then they left the building together."
Damn it. Mika hurriedly pulled out her phone and called President Asahi.
And, as if to mock her, it went straight to voicemail. She barely resisted the urge to hurl the phone across the room.
'At least Asahi won't do anything directly harmful.'
That scrawny guy probably couldn't even throw a punch. She was confident she could take him in a real fight.
He'd probably come back without issue. Busy as he was, he'd return in about thirty minutes, like their usual lunch breaks.
That wasn't the point, though.
"So, Mika."
"...Yes?"
"How do you want to die?"
The real issue was how to appease this super-strong big sis with veins bulging on the back of her hand and survive until the president returned.
Vowing inwardly to snap that damn waist of his in half when he got back, Mika racked her brains at maximum speed to stay alive.
"Uh... That 'like'—"
"Not in a sexual sense. It's more that I was drawn to the idea of expanding the spectrum of kids who could shine."
Legend blinked at Asahi's words.
The spectrum of kids who could shine. It was a bit hard to grasp at first. Noticing Legend's expression hinted at his imperfect Korean, Asahi mentally rephrased in his head.
How could he explain it more simply? He'd lived immersed in Japanese at work, so pulling out Korean after so long made his brain spin.
"Put it like this: You can create popular streamers without being bound by superficial traits like looks."
"Ah. That makes sense. VTubers really aren't limited by their real appearances."
Asahi nodded at Legend's agreement.
"That's the charm of VTubers that captivated me. Long ago, the emergence of 'Child' was a major turning point in my life."
Asahi casually brought up Child.
Watching him talk about his dream, I felt an inexplicable discomfort.
'This is weird. It's nothing special.'
A story about dreaming after seeing the pioneer VTuber Child—nothing remarkable, almost beautiful—yet it tightened around my throat.
An indescribable unease and stickiness. I'd never felt this toward a person before; my breath caught.
Did he not notice my expression? Or did he know and not care?
President Asahi continued.
"So I wanted to create a company for them. A place where talented people could fully showcase their abilities under the VTuber umbrella."
I nodded.
Compared to old-school streamers, modern VTubers trended toward freakish professionalism. Dancing skills, encyclopedic history knowledge.
People who'd once scoff, "These specs doing VTuber?" were jumping into the industry one by one.
With no camera needed, avatars filling broadcasts richly, and ironclad anonymity—it was a win for everyone.
"That's a great dream."
It really was great, beautiful even.
Yet my heart wouldn't settle as I nodded along. Why? Why did this man make my chest feel so tight?
Nothing wrong with his words, but the swelling frustration made me sip the ice-cold water Master had given me.
"Why did you get interested in VTubing, Legend?"
"Because Myth wanted to become one. I didn't know much about it before."
Thinking back to when that TV girl suddenly declared she'd VTuber and take side gigs—it was hilarious.
Of course, the guy who'd obsessed over one avatar for three years after that one comment wasn't normal either.
"I figured as much."
The president nodded calmly.
Anyone who'd seen his work would nod. His creations brimmed with pure love; missing that would be weirder.
"After Koloron's global invasion... indoor activities spread worldwide. Streaming boomed especially."
"Yeah, I know."
"VTubing benefited most. Harsh as it sounds, without Koloron, VTubers would've lagged five years behind."
Unable to meet people outside, they sought connection online.
As Myth once told me, or as the president, Sara, and Usi said, Koloron and VTubing were inseparably linked.
But what came next was completely unexpected.
"And without you, the industry would've lagged another ten years."
"Me?"
The president nodded.
"Being top-tier matters more than you think. People see the top 10% average as the industry average, not the true mean."
Was I really that big a deal?
Sure, my avatar 'Myth' shone brightest, but I'd never arrogantly thought it accelerated the industry's growth.
Just then, Master arrived with two perfectly made omurices in hand.
"Here are your two orders of omurice. Enjoy."
"Whoa... They look amazing."
Such cute omurice in this classy bar.
Master seemed to get my offhand mutter and bowed.
The president eyed the omurice expressionlessly for a moment, then scooped a bite and said to me,
"Eat first. We can chat over tea after."