Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: I'm a Fan
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Inside an unidentified company building.
I was sitting there, led by Myth without even knowing what was happening.
"...Is it really okay for me to be here?"
No, why was I actually here?
I clearly remembered everything up until almost getting intimate with Myth at my house, only to be rescued thanks to Sis.
But when I came to, I was already sitting here.
Entertainment company. Label.
Myth's agency. Sis's workplace.
Of course, I'd wanted to visit at least once, but this was way too sudden.
Myth's hand gently overlaid mine as I sat there trembling in this mysterious conference room.
"Nervous?"
"A, a little."
Someone might say what was there to be so scared about, just visiting a company. But mentally, I was still twenty—basically a high schooler who hadn't even started college yet.
For someone like me, who felt like I'd just taken the college entrance exam two months ago and still reeked of high school vibes, being forced to attend a company meeting was no small deal.
Asking me not to be nervous was an impossible request.
Maybe sensing that, Myth kneaded my hand as she spoke.
"It's fine. They're all good people. And if even the president treats you rudely..."
"Treats me rudely?"
"Curious?"
Myth flashed a bright smile.
For some reason, that grin terrified me, so I quickly shook my head.
She chuckled softly and kept fiddling with my hand.
...Come to think of it, since when had she started treating holding my hand and playing with it so casually?
I swear, just a few days ago at the mall, she'd been embarrassed to even hold hands.
Our distance has gotten way too close.
Well, it wasn't a bad thing.
I nodded to myself.
"Anyway, this is a pretty big company. Hard to believe it's an MCN."
"It is an MCN, but we're trying a lot more than that."
"A lot more?"
"Like virtual variety shows and stuff. I'll have you subscribe to our company channel on your phone later—tons of fun stuff. I usually do my 3D lives from here too."
"You stream here too?"
"Of course. What, you only watch the ones I'm in?"
"Yeah."
I nodded.
It was obvious, after all.
"I haven't even finished your seven years of backlog on YouTube. No time for anything else."
In fact, these days—except when working to keep my skills sharp—I'm only watching Myth's YouTube every day.
The live streams are out of the question with that much backlog, so I'm only doing the edited videos, and I've barely scratched a third of a third of a third.
How hardcore had she been streaming for those seven years?
"...Company. Company. Company. Company. Company."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothing."
I asked because Myth was mumbling under her breath, but she shook her head, denying it.
I wouldn't pry if she said it wasn't her, but was it my imagination that her grip on my hand tightened just a bit?
After waiting alone with Myth in the conference room for a bit, someone entered.
"Hi, Myth. And hello, QWER-nim."
"Hello, President."
"Hello!"
I shot up and bowed to the woman Myth called "President."
She was surprisingly young for a president.
Super slender build, crisp white blouse, black skirt, stockings—like the epitome of an office lady straight out of a fantasy.
The only odd thing was the sunglasses indoors, but I didn't ask.
She must have her reasons.
...Right? She wasn't some psycho wearing shades inside for no reason.
Man, she looks young for a president.
At a glance, late twenties, but that couldn't be. Probably mid-thirties who looked youthful.
Myth tugged my sleeve, signaling it was fine, and pulled me back down.
"Please, sit."
"Still..."
"Haha, feel free to relax, QWER-nim. Honestly, I'm the most nervous one here right now."
At her gesture, I sat back down.
The president smiled warmly and took the seat across from me.
Myth was beside me; the president opposite.
Nervous? Her, the president?
"When Myth said she was bringing QWER-nim today, I thought my heart would stop. As you know, you're the talent the entire VTuber industry has been dying for."
"Mm, yeah."
I hadn't said a word, but Myth nodded vigorously.
Not knowing what to say, I stayed quiet.
"Before we get into details, shall we do proper introductions? Of course, if you'd rather not share your real name, that's fine too..."
"It's okay."
"In that case. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Shin Yuuri, president of Label, the company dreaming of ushering in the next generation of broadcasting."
The president bowed briefly to me.
And handed me her business card.
There were proper etiquette rules for receiving cards, but what did I know?
I took it awkwardly and bowed back.
"Hello. I'm Legend, the one who goes by the nickname QWER, creator of the 'Myth' avatar."
"Ah, right. A legend in the industry."
The president smiled her business smile.
She'd taken my name as a compliment.
Heat rushed to my face.
"Ahahahahaha!!!"
Myth burst into laughter.
Her name was Myth too—what was so funny? But honestly, thinking about it, the situation was hilarious to me too.
I'd have laughed if the president weren't there.
Since she was, I desperately held it in.
"Wh-what? Myth, did I mess up?"
"Ahahaha! Ah, ahaha!"
I sighed as Myth kept laughing uncontrollably.
"M-my name is Legend. Surname Jeon, given name Seol."
"...Huh?"
"Ahahahahaha!!!"
One laughing hysterically, one blushing in embarrassment, one making a dumbfounded noise in confusion. Total chaos in the conference room.
I clutched my head against the incoming headache.
▶
"I'm truly sorry."
The president bowed deeply to me.
Her forehead nearly touched the table.
"...It happens all the time. Really, it's fine."
"I have no face to show you..."
"It's okay, President. Seol wouldn't get mad over something like this, right?"
Myth chimed in perfectly timed, so I nodded.
Yeah, living with this name, it wasn't the first or second time. It really was fine.
"Yes, President. I'm truly okay, so please don't worry."
"If you say so, then shamelessly, let's move straight to business."
Business? What business?
What the hell was going on here?
I turned and whispered to Myth.
Hey, at least tell me what's going on.
Hehe, don't worry. It's no big deal.
No big deal my ass—at least tell me what it is.
She tapped her cheek with one hand, grinning when I shot her a look.
Do that, and I'll tell you.
Myth beamed.
It was obvious what she meant.
Hey.
Even so, not in front of people.
This wasn't the place for that anyway.
Basically, she wasn't gonna tell me.
I gave up and decided to go with the flow.
"One moment, please."
The president fiddled with her phone briefly.
Wondering what was up, I waited—then another woman entered, laptop in one hand.
"Ah, hellooo..."
The mystery employee was tiny.
Visually, early 150s cm, but hard to say for sure.
With her baby face, she could pass for middle or high schooler.
Wait, was this company all women?
I whispered to Myth just in case.
Is this place all women?
How'd you guess? Our president's a bit quirky and only hires women.
For real?
Kidding. There are male staff downstairs, I think?
You think?
Honestly, no idea. All the ones I know are women.
What the...?
The president wasn't some unicorn collecting virgins, was she?
I shook off the thought.
Why was I worrying about their gender ratio?
"This is Han Sua, our company's map designer."
"Pl-please take care of me... I'm Han Sua, who joined Label this year as a 3D map designer..."
"Nice to meet you. I'm the streamer and VTuber Myth."
"M-Myth-nim in real life...! Oh my god. You're even prettier than your avatar...!"
"Aw, thanks. Glad to hear it, at least."
Myth and the map designer Sua exchanged greetings.
Sua seemed shy; her tension was practically vibrating through her words to me.
Should I greet her too? As I tilted my head, Myth nodded at me.
Go for it?
She nodded again.
I stood and bowed to Sua.
"Hello. I'm QWER, creator of Myth's avatar."
Better keep the real name hidden, just in case.
No need for more misunderstandings and drawn-out explanations.
As I introduced myself, Sua gasped and swallowed hard.
And then—
Thudthudthud. Whoosh.
Sua, who'd been standing a bit away, suddenly rushed toward me.
She grabbed both my hands tight.
Her tiny hands—from her even shorter frame than Myth's—clutched mine as she bounced in place with joy.
"Y-you're really QWER-nim?! I-I'm a f-fan!!!"
Huh.
"I-I got into this industry because of QWER-nim's avatars!!!"
What kind of reaction was this?
Watching the flustered Legend,
"...Heh."
Myth chuckled softly behind Legend's back.
The emotion in that laugh was definitely not joy.