Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Over and Over
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‘Haa.’
Today, Myth was acting strange.
The Label’s president, Shin Yuri, narrowed her eyes.
Over the past two years, Myth had never once failed to pick up unless she was collapsed somewhere. So, sure, she could chalk it up to something like that.
‘Myth has a private life too, and even she can be late once in a while.’
They hadn’t gotten the full story—probably because she hadn’t shared the details—but at least it wasn’t health-related. That was a relief.
Then, out of nowhere, she’d shown up at the office dragging QWER along, and honestly, that had thrown her for a loop.
She’d known QWER was back because of the surprise outfit Myth had brought at year-end.
‘Myth! I saw QWER-nim is back. Think you could put in a word?’
‘Sorry, that’d be kinda tough.’
‘Oh... any reason why?’
‘He’s not feeling well.’
So she’d tried recruiting QWER right away for this project, only to get shot down flat by Myth.
Well, what could she do? He wasn’t well, so pushing harder wasn’t an option. She’d backed off for the time being.
But now, after rejecting her so sharply back then, Myth drags QWER in out of the blue.
Fine, whatever.
‘Maybe his health improved in the meantime.’
Myth wasn’t the type to lie, so QWER—Legend—was probably genuinely sick.
There were a few fishy bits, sure, but the fact that he’d come to their company to talk business was good news.
‘Though Myth’s glare when Sua grabbed Legend’s hand was downright terrifying.’
Eh, that was fine too.
And when they’d raised their clasped hands from under the table like some purple-prose romance novel, she’d nearly had a heart attack. But fine, okay.
Myth claimed it was a joke, but who buys that?
No non-couple grabs hands under the table during a meeting, even as a joke.
‘It’s Korea, so this much is tolerable.’
In Korea, VTubers dating wasn’t a huge deal.
And the longer their streaming careers went—like Myth’s seven-plus years—the less it mattered.
Hell, Myth’s viewers were already bombarding her with mother-in-law-level nagging whenever they got the chance.
Sure, starting a real relationship might lose her a few fans, but nothing catastrophic.
VTubers who leaned hard into fake dating—like Japan’s “gachikoi”—could tank 80% of their audience, but Myth wasn’t that type.
Yeah, Myth had pulled some impulsive stuff today, but up to this point? Manageable.
Deviations she could rationalize and handle...
‘But this? No way.’
Pulling their perfectly planned year-end live debut forward to January? For her flawless live debut?
Impossible.
Maps took forever to make.
A basic concert venue? Not too bad.
But with Myth on that stage? Totally different story.
“That’s physically impossible.”
Myth’s avatar was top-tier in the industry.
Seven years later, and it still held up.
Sure, tech advances had produced a few rivals, but to her expert eye as president, none came close.
So the map housing Myth had to match that quality.
The map couldn’t overshadow the avatar, but if the avatar made the map look cheap, the map might as well not exist.
“I already said Myth’s quality is abnormal. Even with QWER-nim on board, end of January? No way. At least June before we can build a stage worthy of Myth.”
“Exactly, Myth-nim. We’re still just at the sketch stage. Depends on QWER-nim’s speed, but maxing out, it’s June.”
The president’s plea and Sua’s argument cut sharp through the air.
Myth had been in the industry seven years; she wasn’t clueless. Yet this timeline leapfrog left even the president and Sua flustered.
But Myth just smiled her usual gentle smile and called to Legend.
“Seol-a. How long do you think?”
“No clue. Even if I hustle, whether it satisfies you two is another matter.”
“At least for the first draft?”
“If you give me a precise guide—or at least a basic direction—hmmm...”
Legend closed his eyes.
As if sketching rapidly in his mind, he furrowed his brow a few times, gestured vaguely in the air, then opened them again.
“Generously, five days?”
“Longer than I thought.”
“Maps are way bigger and more complex than characters. Hmm, but three days for a prototype? Yeah.”
The incomprehensible exchange flew right over their heads.
What?
Five days to make a map?
Three for a draft?
How were they supposed to process this?
The president and Sua needed serious time to wrap their heads around it.
“QWER-nim, so you’re saying three days for a map?”
“It’s not like VRChat overflowing with assets! This is from scratch. Plus, the custom software has new features that take time to learn.”
The president and Sua fired off the obvious questions, but Legend—the target—just gave an awkward smile.
“So, five days it is.”
It would’ve been one otherwise.
The president let out a hollow laugh at his words, while Sua thumped her chest in frustration.
“Not doubting QWER-nim, but five days for a map? Impossible.”
“But you’ve got Sua’s sketches and the basic framework already—”
“Haa...!”
Yeah, he could probably make something.
But the quality would be an eyesore, guaranteed.
Even Sua, a recognized mapmaker in Korea, took three days per VRChat map—cobbling assets from everywhere.
“Hmm...”
Despite Sua’s earnest plea, Legend just smiled sheepishly.
No, he had plenty to say, but it’d sound too arrogant.
How to clear up their misunderstanding?
...Actions speak louder, huh.
“Any chance there’s a backup of these sketches on this laptop?”
“That’s the copy. Original’s stored at the office.”
“Could you show me the basics?”
“Sure, it’s simple enough... but what’re you planning?”
The pressure hit hard, but to move forward in this industry, he had to push.
He gripped the mouse.
“You’ll see.”
The mouse raced across the pad.
So fast it almost smelled like burning rubber, moving like a maniac.
Pababap— one section formed in a flash, then eyes closed briefly and another took shape.
Framework rose; lights filled the stage.
Sua gaped at the superhuman speed defying all reason.
“This... possible...?”
Sua had been watching for 30 minutes after a quick tutorial, jaw on the floor.
Farther off, the president stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Near-superhuman mouse control, pinpoint precision, graphics detail beyond belief.
And above all, 30 minutes without the mouse—or his eyes—stopping once.
Awesome focus. Sua was awed.
“...Myth-nim.”
“Yes.”
“That horror game outfit, God’s Robe—how long to make?”
“Twelve hours.”
Ha.
Sua sighed.
Anyone else, she’d call bullshit and grab their neck. But Myth said it, with proof unfolding before them.
At this pace, five days generously wasn’t exaggeration.
President Shin Yuri spun mental calculations furiously, awe giving way to business math.
‘Twelve hours for God’s Robe; five days for a mega map.’
Industry-top outfit quality, matching map. A monster.
Shin Yuri broke into cold sweat.
‘Can our Label even handle this...?’
Violent.
Talent too violently overwhelming.
For a newbie Label dipping toes into VTubing? Unbearable.
As the president sweated and crunched numbers like mad,
Myth smiled, watching quietly.
Thump thump thump.
‘I wonder if he worked this hard making my avatar too.’
Myth smiled, fighting to keep her cheeks from flushing.
Watching Seol-a work always made her heart race.
Knowing Myth was born from those hands, that effort—it always welled up insane gratitude and love.
‘Weird, huh.’
Even she thought it strange.
How could she love someone this much?
This was her first time watching him work up close, too.
For God’s Robe, she’d snuck peeks from behind; last night, just sounds through the door.
‘He’s so handsome~.’
Admiring Seol-a’s face while tracking his progress.
Even in the screen’s blur and mouse frenzy, somehow each motion screamed love for her. Overthinking? Maybe her fantasy.
Ah.
Hold on.
‘Oh no.’
Fallen again.
Just fantasizing he might be making this for her—hook, line, sinker. Again.
Myth carefully pressed a hand to her chest, calming her heart.
Always like this meeting Seol-a.
Every moment, falling anew.
Love means the lover loses? Then she’d lost completely.
‘Whatever.’
Losing, but his world was this beautiful.
Thump. Thump.
Even looking forward to losing more times ahead.