Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Breaking News
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Busan's busiest district.
Seomyeon.
We were walking just a little bit apart.
We weren't the kind of relationship where we'd stick right next to each other.
A streamer I'd coincidentally run into and her one and only viewer.
Nothing more, nothing less.
"So, what are we gonna eat?"
"Heh heh. Not many places we can go as students, but... tell me ahead of time if there's anything you can't eat."
"Nah. I eat pretty much everything just fine."
"Cool. How about... some tteokbokki?"
"Tteokbokki?"
"Last time, you said you dip your sundae in just salt. Figured I'd introduce you to Busan's infamous makjang sauce while I'm at it. Sound good?"
"Sure. Know a good spot?"
"I'll take you to the best one in Seomyeon, so just wait. Oh yeah, you said they don't really have mul-tteok in Seoul either?"
"What's mul-tteok?"
"You'll find out when we get there—that's half the fun. Alright, let's go!"
Myth led me to a huge snack bar.
I didn't realize Busan had snack bars this big.
Or maybe Seoul has them too, and I've just never looked properly.
Tteokbokki, sundae, and fish cakes.
I thought it wasn't exactly Christmas Eve food, but I decided not to read too much into it and make it special just for me.
"Heh heh. This is Busan's makjang sauce. Eat up, you Seoul country bumpkin."
"Fine. If it doesn't taste good, you're in trouble."
I picked up a piece of sundae and popped it in my mouth while watching Myth proudly offer the sauce—a mix of ssamjang, chili peppers, and nuts, by the looks of it.
'Hm?'
The first taste that hit me was an intense saltiness.
No, it felt several times saltier than straight salt.
Then came the chili's spiciness, a sweetness—maybe from sugar?—and the hearty depth of the ssamjang.
...Yeah, I get why they call it makjang now.
They really just threw everything together.
"It's good."
"For real?"
"It's the kind of flavor that's hard not to like from the start."
Myth puffed out her chest like she'd just won a huge victory.
I had no idea what she'd won, but anyway.
We kept enjoying our meal after that.
Apparently, Myth hadn't eaten since late afternoon, and I'd come down from Seoul on an empty stomach, practically starving to death.
As our short but intense meal wrapped up, Myth asked,
"So, when are you thinking of doing your debut stream?"
"Hmm, how about January 1st?"
"New Year's?"
"Perfect day for a fresh start. It'll be easy to count your streaming anniversaries years from now too."
"You really think I'll be streaming for years...?"
"I'd like that. No pressure, though."
"Pfft. You're not just a viewer anymore—you're an 'investor.' You can tell me what you want."
Investor?
The word caught me off guard.
"Wait, you weren't seriously planning to give it to me for free, right?"
"Nah, I was dead serious. I made it to give away in the first place."
"No way. I can't just take something like that for free—karma would bite me. My conscience wouldn't let me anyway."
"It's not that big a deal. Just something a high schooler whipped up."
"...Wow. You really have no idea what you've made, do you?"
That much, sure.
I tilted my head.
Other people's work always looks great, but no matter how much I look at my own, something always feels off.
What if I'd done this here differently? Or that there?
Probably the curse every creator lives with.
"I'll cover dinner this time."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Think of it as avatar payment. Not that this settles everything."
Myth said that and paid for dinner.
About 25,000 won.
A fortune from a student's perspective.
Oh, right—she mentioned having a part-time job, so maybe she's got some cash.
"Busan doesn't get snow, huh."
"Last time was like two years ago, I think. But it was a huge blizzard back then."
"Nice—no school."
"Not quite that bad."
"Huh? Blizzard, you said."
"Up to our ankles."
"And Busan calls that a blizzard?"
"Even my dad said it was the first time he'd seen that much."
Busan might be a nicer place to live than I thought.
No icy roads to school in winter here.
We wandered aimlessly around downtown.
Looking here, peeking there.
We'd said we'd just grab dinner, but we had so much to talk about that splitting up quickly felt awkward.
Or maybe I just didn't want to part ways.
But time is merciless, especially to high school seniors not yet adults.
"Ughhh. It's almost midnight already. Gotta head back. Where you going?"
"Hotel near Seomyeon Station."
"Huh? That one?! I heard it's super expensive. Legend, you sneaky rich kid."
"Parents splurged a bit for the holidays."
Our brief meeting was coming to an end.
We'd mostly talked VTuber stuff the whole time.
Oh well, there'd be other chances to meet.
The big intersection in the bustling district.
We waited for the walk signal.
"Once we cross this, that's it. You didn't have to walk me."
"Just a loyal viewer's concern for his precious streamer's safety."
"That sounds kinda creepy?"
"...Sorry."
"Nah, it's fine."
"Huh?"
"With you, it's fine."
Oof.
My face flushed red.
Myth giggled, clearly pleased she'd landed a hit.
Then, with a beaming smile, she asked,
"So, got any ideas for your streaming career going forward?"
"Just as a fan, I'll cheer you on."
"Come on. I told you—you're not just a fan anymore. You're an investor. Feel free to give me whatever feedback you want, as long as it's wholesome."
"Hmm... wholesome feedback, huh."
Could Myth's streams so far even be called "streams"?
Turn on the broadcast, chat a bit, then play some weirdly translated Tsukuru game from who-knows-where. That was it.
Of course, with me as her only viewer, no issues, but sticking to that with the new avatar forever would be tricky.
"Horror games might get a good reaction."
"...You're just messing with me, right?"
"No. What's the best thing about your avatar?"
"Everything?"
"...Thanks, but that's not—"
That's when the screams erupted.
"Everyone, get out of the way!!"
"Over there! Run!!"
Something's wrong.
This is a crosswalk.
Why could I see car headlights shining over Myth's shoulder?
The sound of curbstones shattering, streetlights crashing.
In the chaos and noise, the light kept barreling toward us relentlessly.
Violently bright, about to swallow Myth whole.
Before I could even finish thinking, my body moved first.
"Wha—?!"
I grabbed Myth's slender arm and literally hurled her aside.
Emergency adrenaline? Even I was shocked by my own strength.
"Legend!!!!"
Myth's scream drowned in the blaring horn.
I tried to dodge the oncoming car, but it was too late.
BAM!!!
The world shook, and my mind plunged into a deep abyss.
At first, I felt nothing.
Except one thing.
A bone-chilling cold.
My vision blurred.
I couldn't hear my own breathing.
All that pounded in my ears was my heartbeat.
Where am I?
Why am I here?
No, my thoughts won't settle.
"----!!! -------------!!!!!!"
"--! -----!!! ----------------!!!!!"
"-----!!! --------!!!"
A few blurry figures approached, touching me cautiously.
They were shouting something—damn it, I couldn't hear.
"Legend!"
In the silence, those two syllables rang crystal clear.
Eyes like the night sky staring down at me. Who was it?
Oh, right.
Myth.
Tears streaming from her eyes, she screamed at me.
"Don't go to sleep! Open your eyes! No, nooooo!!!"
"...Too loud. My ears hurt."
"Legend...?!"
I don't know how, but I could speak.
A flicker of hope in her eyes—maybe I wasn't hurt that bad.
Sorry. Not the case.
I knew it.
This life wouldn't last much longer.
"Cough."
Something warm burst from my mouth.
It sprayed so high it splattered her face. I gently wiped it off with my hand.
"--------."
Even I couldn't hear my own voice.
I did my best to convey what I wanted to say.
I hope it got through.
With that, my consciousness sank into the deep sea.