Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: December 31st
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December 31st.
The last day of the year.
Snow was pouring down in Seoul, under a heavy snow warning, the cold seeping through the hospital room window and heater to prick at the skin.
I was alone in my room, sipping cocoa.
Maybe because Myth had stopped by my room before starting her stream, the cocoa carried a mix of cherry and strawberry scents over the coffee.
"Hey hey! The collab partner for today's two-player horror game is Yeona, a super ancient broadcaster from over ten years ago!"
"Aigoo, Myth. Thanks for inviting this old lady."
"Hahaha! What are you talking about, Yeona unnie? The age gap between us isn't that big."
"Come to think of it, unnie, you're prepping for your wedding, right?"
"Yeah. Super busy scouting venues and stuff. I'll send you an invite, so hit me with a fat gift, yeah?"
"Of course. But later, if it's too much, you won't ask me to take some back, right?"
"...Sorry, just make it decently generous. But what about you, Myth? No dating or anything?"
Of course, while watching Myth's stream.
She'd started a bit early today, planning to end right on the midnight bell since it was the last day. I smiled contentedly watching her.
Mom and Dad were coming up today for dinner together, so killing time like this until then should be fine.
"Wow, collabing with Yeona... that's huge."
Yeona.
A second-gen nutuber from Korea... not quite first-gen.
She was a general gaming nutuber I'd occasionally catch even back in high school.
Seeing someone I'd watched as a kid laughing with Myth while playing horror games hit me hard.
Even she only had just over a million subs, while Myth was at a whopping five million.
Of course, subs aren't the absolute measure of a streamer—Yeona's strictly domestic, while Myth uploads translated in multiple languages, so direct comparison's impossible...
Still, five million is impressive.
Myth was truly living up to her name, writing her own legend.
During those seven years I could do nothing but lie there...
"Whew. Being alone brings all sorts of thoughts."
Didn't Myth say it herself?
That her success owed something to my avatar.
The countless viewers in her stream still loved it whenever they saw it.
No weird thoughts.
It's just the cold weather. Yeah, the cold.
"Should feel better once Mom and Dad come for dinner."
Thinking of my parents, who were returning from a year-end business trip to Busan, I took another sip of cocoa.
They'd reserved a nice restaurant for dinner, no matter what.
Stuffing my belly with good food should fix me right up.
After weeks of hospital grub, just thinking about the restaurant had my mouth watering.
Of course, that was before Dad's bolt-from-the-blue phone call.
"What?!"
- There's a landslide up ahead from the blizzard, and a massive pileup—17 cars or something—roads into Seoul are jammed solid.
I hurriedly checked the news.
Landslide and 17-car pileup on the highway to Seoul.
Horrific headlines everywhere.
"Are you and Mom okay?!"
I asked urgently.
- We're fine, Seol-ah~
- Your mom's right, we're good. It happened way up ahead, doesn't affect us. But we can't wait for it to clear, so thinking of crashing at a nearby inn and heading up tomorrow. That okay?
"...Phew. Just glad you two weren't caught in it. Don't push it—stay off the icy roads in this snow, please crash there."
- Sorry, kiddo. Wanted to be together.
"...Agh. Mom, you're sure no accident? Dad sounds like he bumped his head."
- Hahaha! Your dad's been off since you woke up.
- ...This punk.
- Anyway, we'll make it up later, Seol-ah! See you next year!
"Mom. Dad. Just... be safe coming up. And happy new year."
- You too. Happy new year.
- Yeah! Our boy! Happy new year!
The call ended, silence circling the single room.
...Would a four-bed room feel less lonely?
Should've whined for them to stay instead of saying it was fine when they offered.
I was the one who told them to go.
"Ugh, seriously. Why am I like this?"
Not a kid anymore, why so sentimental alone?
Time for a walk.
I grabbed my phone, earbuds, bundled up.
Since that incident, nurses stop me if I go far, but the hospital convenience store should be fine.
Load up on snacks, order delivery later.
"Whoa, end of year—place is packed."
Even late evening, the hospital buzzed with visitors.
Sons pushing wheelchairs, grandkids hugging grannies.
The warm scenes brought a smile to my face.
"Walks hit the spot."
I listened to Myth's stream through earbuds, heading to the store.
- Whoaaaa?! Wait, no, not there!
"...What game is she even playing?"
Couldn't walk and watch.
Kids—er, adults too—remember: staring at your phone while walking is super dangerous.
Especially in a hospital.
"23,000 won."
"Here."
Loaded a bag with junk food—mostly sweets—and headed back to my room.
Still, silence greeted me.
Sigh, body feels fine.
Ask Mom and Dad to discharge me when they come.
No way I want two more months here, aftershocks or not.
Back in bed, laptop open.
"Argh! Hey, whose bright idea was this crap game? You're banned from chat for a week—remember that!"
Myth had finished the Yeona collab and moved to another game.
Doesn't look fun...
Chat was right—pure trash with awful controls.
December 31st, the year's last day, flew by watching Myth.
"Hoo! Finally cleared the crapfest! Sorry devs, but this game's pure evil."
She beat the crap game,
"Whoa... Solid story for a horror game. Short, but that's a relief too?"
Moved to a decent two-hour horror with watchable length,
"Last up, couldn't resist—this fresh release I grabbed! House of Horror 19: World's Greatest Cat, Smite the Bulgogi Demon King!"
"Haha, been ages for this series too. Already at 19?"
Last I saw was 3.
Newbies, time to taste the trash.
With that dark glee, I watched her horror marathon to the end.
"Haaa...! Masterpiece! Best in House of Horror history?"
"No, you guys were moved too when the World's Greatest Cat teamed with the Peerless Cat to block the Bulgogi Shabu Punch."
"Sigh, if you'd played House of Horror 18, you'd get it. Insane foreshadowing payoff. Fine, next time full series marathon to drill some discipline."
Myth bantering with viewers was heartwarming.
Back when it was just me in chat.
Over ten thousand viewers now, chat like a raging waterfall.
Stacking too fast to follow.
...At this speed, sneaking one in should be fine.
Tap. Tap.
I typed secretly.
But timing was off.
Waiting patiently in case Myth saw.
"Hey! QWER your buddy or what? Kidding, contact was so sudden I don't know much yet..."
Myth laughed.
Brighter than I'd ever seen on screen.
"Probably? Think we'll see a lot more next year?"
She winked.
...Perfect timing.
I hit enter on my ready finger.
Short delay, my chat appeared—then vanished in a second amid the torrent.
Myth didn't seem to catch it.
Phew, honestly relieved—kinda embarrassing.
Slight regret typing it, but I lounged in bed watching.
"Alright, just minutes till year's end!"
"Next year, yeah—spoiler, but prepping mega, ultra massive content, so brace yourselves?"
"So, everyone—what kinda year was it? Happy and accomplished? Great if so. If not, don't despair too much—tomorrow's the sunrise of a new year!"
"Hm? How was my year?"
Myth smiled brightly.
Brighter and happier than imaginable.
Her smile halted the waterfall chat for a split second.
"Best year of my life!!!"
The screen shifted; Myth stood in a black dress on a 3D map.
"Gotta end with this outfit."
Stars in the map sky ticked down as timer.
Viewers climbed endlessly, nearing 100k.
At exactly 3 seconds, Myth said,
"Everyone, get ready."
Stars gleamed in her avatar's eyes.
"This year, next year too—!!!!"
Fireworks exploded wildly in the starry 3D sky.
...Honestly, cringy line.
Made me shiver involuntarily.
But still.
Tens of thousands chanting "Myth" in every language was spectacular.
Washing away my lingering gloom in one go.
"Happy new year everyone~ Bye!"
Stream ended.
Stream off, fireworks popped around the studio.
Streamers from their rooms finished year-end streams, popping crackers their way.
Label's annual event, Myth's agency.
Every Dec 31 to Jan 1 midnight, all end streams then afterparty.
"Great job, Myth unnie!"
"16 hours 5 days straight—amazing work!"
Junior streamers praised Myth everywhere.
Some facecam, some VTubers.
"Aigoo Yuna, happy new year."
"You too, Jiwon sunbae! Happy new year!"
Not just for Myth.
Warm vibes everywhere, mutual new year wishes. Yuuri yawned over.
"Yawwwn. Good work, Myth unnie. Happy new year. Restaurant booked for afterparty—let's head out."
"Sorry, guys. Skipping today."
"What?!"
Agency buzzed at Myth skipping afterparty.
But Myth packed up quick, stood.
Yuuri stuck close, whispering.
"Legend's with his parents tonight...!"
Unspoken, but Yuuri sensed Legend connection.
Easy guess.
His name always tied to Myth's impulses.
But Myth was firm.
"Sorry, Yuuri-ya. Gotta go."
One reason.
She'd spotted one chat in the raging torrent.
Reason enough to run to him right now.