Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: This Kind of Relationship
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Sua, who had idolized the VTuber Myth and revered the legendary modeler QWER to the point of abandoning her studies entirely and throwing herself into this industry, was now trembling with emotion.
Past, middle school days.
Back then, outings were forcibly banned due to Corolon, and she was stuck at home, forced to study.
The one thing that filled Sua's free time was none other than Myth's streams.
"This is a VTuber?"
During the early days when VTubers were just emerging in Korea, there was one broadcaster who stood out qualitatively from the rest.
Her avatar looked like it came from another dimension entirely—what could you even call it? The art style was just different.
She was literally an "idol from outer space."
Technology wasn't advanced enough back then to fully utilize that avatar, but even so, the overwhelming quality shone through.
Sua, an ordinary middle schooler with a slight interest in subculture, fell headfirst into the VTuber world in an instant.
"Hey~ Are you studying?"
"Yeah."
"Good. No slacking off during online classes, okay? Study hard."
"Don't worry, Mom."
Sorry, Mom.
I'm not studying at all. I'm learning 3D modeling instead.
Corolon was the perfect era for students to slack off.
Especially for Sua, who had a good reputation at school and thus had the "family computer in her room" that other kids could only dream of.
She'd just leave the teacher's class video running and spend every day studying modeling.
'This avatar doesn't even come close to QWER-nim's.'
She never even considered studying character modeling.
How could she compete with that?
Sua was certain no avatar would surpass it for the next five—no, ten years.
So the field Sua challenged herself in was "map creation."
Still unfamiliar in Korea, but already thriving in the English-speaking world: VRChat map making.
Japan? That was the exception.
Excluding a tiny handful of streamers, major VTubers there all had their own custom maps—it was a whole other world.
"That's why Myth-nim is even more amazing."
To achieve this level of popularity in Korea, a virtual wasteland with no proper foundation.
She'd surely hit a million subs soon, then three million, five million.
...Five million might be pushing it.
"Hehe. This is fun."
And so, six whole years of tirelessly crafting maps.
She'd become a well-known map creator in Korea.
Myth herself was eagerly awaiting the maps Sua made—ones with such high completion, perfect flow, and impeccably placed gimmicks.
And perhaps that effort bore fruit.
『Label』
The company that swiftly scooped up Myth after she left her agency amid the infamous 4.5th anniversary swimsuit disaster, leaving her floating free.
The firm, still aggressively recruiting VTubers and trying new things, reached out first.
'We'd like to recruit the top map creator in Korea.'
"Kyaaah!"
That day, Sua did cartwheels.
Not just one, but three.
'Finally, I get to see Myth-nim in person!'
With those excited hopes, she joined the company—but reality was harsh.
"President... aren't we hiring more map staff?"
"Sorry. Haven't found anyone who meets the bar yet."
Working under a president ruthlessly picky about hires, Sua slaved away alone making maps for a year.
Dark circles she no longer bothered hiding, living day after day drowned in fatigue—
"Nice to meet you. I'm the streamer and VTuber Myth."
She met the VTuber she idolized and loved.
Yeah, up to here, she could hold it together.
She desperately wanted to rush over and grab her hand, but she endured.
The frayed thread of her rationality held on by a hair, flashing an OK sign that she was still fine.
"Hello. I'm QWER, the creator of Myth's avatar."
...Until she heard that person's introduction.
QWER, the legend of the industry.
The greatest 3D modeler on Earth, the one who put her in this position.
A legendary figure who dropped an absurd masterpiece seven years ago that made people seriously wonder if he was an alien.
'Wait, really? The real Myth-nim and the real QWER-nim?'
The people who brought her here.
The ones who made little Sua bet everything and dive into this world—they were all gathered in one place.
The moment she realized that, a shiver ran through Sua's brain.
A thrill strong enough to snap the already nearly broken thread of her rationality with a cute little twang.
"A-Are you really QWER-nim?! I-I'm a f-fan!!!"
Losing all reason, Sua charged forward.
▶
Sua grabbed both my hands and started bouncing up and down.
Like a kid unable to contain her joy, her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
"I've been watching Myth-nim's streams since middle school! That's why I know how amazing the avatar you made is! I fell in love with your avatar too and studied 3D modeling to join this company!"
Whoa, a kid who watched Myth's streams since middle school is just now an adult?
The sudden wall of years hit me, leaving me a bit flustered.
Myth, you've really been streaming for a long time.
"R-Really?"
"Genius doesn't even cover it! A genius among geniuses who was ten years ahead of the era—if you'd kept going, the VTuber industry would be somewhere we can't even imagine!!!"
"Thank you?"
"No thanks needed! The thanks should come from me—no, from all us VTuber viewers! Thank you for creating a legendary avatar like Myth-nim's!"
Rapid-fire praise poured down on me.
Faced with a situation I'd never experienced in my life, I froze solid.
What do you even do in this case?
The heat I felt on my back was screaming for me to shake off her hands and sit down,
"Meeting the person I've always admired like this—it's truly the honor of a lifetime! Does this mean we'll be working together from now on?! For real?!"
"I'm not really sure..."
"No need for formal speech! I skipped college and started working right away, so I'm 21. Feel free to call me Sua~!"
Sua's eyes were sparkling brightly.
It felt strangely nice to have someone looking at me with eyes like that.
The cringey praise I'd only glimpsed lurking in galleries or Myth's chat was now right in front of me, and before I knew it, my emotional walls crumbled a bit.
How could anyone stay nonchalant with such fervent praise?
"Su-."
I nearly called her Sua without thinking, but my instincts rang alarm bells.
How to put it—like a kitchen knife poised right at my back, targeting me.
Or like a tiger eyeing me and licking its chops.
If I said it, I'd die.
Not just die, but get torn to shreds.
I don't know why, but I decided to trust my instincts and gut.
"Sua-ssi. Let's sit down first."
"Aww. No need to be so formal."
I'm not being formal with you—I'm worried about my life, kid.
Sua grumbled as she went and sat across from Myth.
Fortunately, Myth didn't seem too bothered.
Maybe she was fine either way.
I glanced at Myth.
Honestly, I'd expected her to be mad.
The heat from behind earlier had been real.
But Myth didn't look angry at all.
Instead, she was smacking her lips like she'd missed out on something.
"What a shame. If you'd accepted that, I could've legally devoured her."
Her red tongue licked her lips as if she truly regretted it.
That seductive sight filled me with dread instead.
Chills.
Goosebumps erupted across my back and arms.
Is this what a man-eating fox spirit feels like?
Devour? What the hell does that even mean?
Thinking I'd somehow dodged a bullet, I sat back down.
"Now, before we start the meeting, there's something we need to address."
The president's voice boomed through the room without giving us time to calm down.
Everyone looked at him.
And he was looking at me.
"This meeting and our company's project are top secret."
"And originally, QWER-nim, you weren't supposed to attend today."
I nodded.
"Yes, that's correct."
"We let you in since Myth brought you, but do you intend to participate in our project, QWER-nim?"
Project? What project? I had no idea.
I was just as thrown off since Myth had dragged me here out of nowhere.
As I racked my brain for what to say, Myth cautiously took my hand from the side.
Then mouthed the words.
'It's. Fine.'
Seeing that, I nodded.
"Yes."
"Does that mean you'll sign a contract with our company afterward?"
Ugh.
Another tough question.
For someone like me who hasn't even sipped the waters of society, let alone a newbie, that's like asking the unknown.
I knew nothing, so I was scared to answer.
"President. Talk about that with me later."
"Myth?"
Myth jumped in at just the right moment, blocking the president's question.
The president looked puzzled by her reaction.
Which made sense.
As far as he knew, Myth and I were just avatar creator and streamer.
Myth grinned at the president's response.
Something felt ominous.
"Oh, come on."
Before I could intervene, Myth slammed our clasped hands from under the table onto the top with a bang.
"This is the kind of relationship we're in."
Oh, I did not see that coming.
"Wha...?"
"Kyaa!"
The president panicked, and Sua covered her mouth with both hands, face flushing red.
And I pressed my forehead again against the incoming headache.
My burning cheeks were par for the course today.