Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Sara Iris (5)
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Myth tilted her head.
"Seol-a, you know how to make music videos too?"
"No?"
"Then how are you gonna do it?"
"You know that technique where you film with a virtual camera in 3D space?"
I began gesturing this way and that as I explained.
"We're gonna stitch those together into one music video."
"It won't be as flashy as what professional MV makers do, but at least we can fit everything into the maps."
"Don't worry about that. Just give us the footage, and we can handle the editing on this end."
The president jumped in, and things quickly started taking shape.
"Still, we need to do a live stream. Releasing just an MV would cut the fundraising window too short."
"How about we drop the MV at the end? Build up the emotions during the live, gather viewers, then hit 'em with the MV to empty their wallets."
"Myth... 'empty their wallets' is a bit much."
"Wallets open with emotion anyway. Even a flat live stream will get people donating if you cap it with an MV they never saw coming."
The two VTubers at the forefront of the industry and the president of the agency hashed out their ideas at lightning speed.
Caught in the storm of their meeting, I shrank into my shell and quietly poked at my cold sweet and sour pork.
I had nothing to do once they dove into the MV production talk.
Oh, cold sweet and sour pork is surprisingly tastier with the veggies than the meat.
A new discovery.
As I crunched on the crisp vegetables, the three of them in the meeting room kept overlapping, clashing, trimming, and shaping their opinions.
"Do you have an original song ready? If it's for an MV, an original track would be best."
"I have one I was saving for the charity event in two weeks. It's polished."
"Perfect. This crisis isn't just any crisis. Pairing your original with an MV from Legend here will carry real weight."
"An hour for the live sound about right? Sara, you can't handle too long."
"That's fine. Or we could stretch it to nearly two hours to wreck my voice and tug at heartstrings. Might even cough up some blood after two."
"Rejected. You're talking nonsense."
Snap. Myth flicked Sara's forehead.
Sara clutched her head, laughing it off with an "Ahaha, just kidding~."
Nine o'clock at night, and they were still going strong with this passion.
These people are something else.
This time, as I shoveled greasy, cold japchae rice into my mouth, Myth suddenly turned to me.
"Oh yeah, Seol-a."
"Yeah?"
"Got a concept in mind for the MV?"
A concept for the MV, huh.
I chewed and swallowed my japchae rice, then downed the last of my water before answering.
"A journey."
"A journey?"
Myth tilted her head again.
Not the most immediate image for a charity drive.
"Yeah, I've got a rough image in my head. It'll be shot from a kid's first-person view, with Sara alongside."
Starting at the airport, hand in hand on a trip.
Seeing the ocean, the desert, city streets, forests, riverbanks, mountains, lakes, snowy plains, taking it all in.
"...Hold on, Seol-a. You saying that's at least five—no, seven maps minimum?"
"Pretty much."
"You've only got two weeks, Seol-a. Even for you, isn't that pushing it?"
"Not building whole massive maps—just enough for the shots. Won't take as long as you think. And more than anything—"
I closed my eyes.
Me? I barely rested, just lay there unconscious, more like 'oh, I slept for seven years~' vibes. But the kids dealing with this freakish Corolon Plus right now? That's different.
Kids living normal lives until suddenly bedridden, staring at the ceiling.
To those kids—
"I want to show them more of the world. Let them know it's full of beautiful things."
Today, on the rooftop.
The sunset we watched together wouldn't leave my mind.
That's when I knew. This could convey the exact feeling I got from that scene.
It'll reach them, I thought.
"Sure, I haven't seen much myself, but if they see those beautiful things, maybe they'll hold onto a bit of hope... Huh?"
The air in the room felt off.
"Yeah, that's a great idea, Seol-a."
Myth beamed, but her smile felt warmer today, cozier somehow.
"Mr. Legend..."
"Ahaha!!"
The president gazed at me with misty eyes, and Sara smiled softly too.
What is this warm feeling?
What is this suspicious vibe?
My skin prickled.
How to put it—like being the cute little brother doted on by all the sisters.
Feeling weird for no reason.
"D-don't look at me like that...!"
"No, no, our Seol-a is so thoughtful."
"Such a kind heart, Mr. Legend."
"Thank you, Mr. Legend."
"Uwaaaah!!"
Is this what it's like being the baby in a house full of sisters?
Sara might be younger on paper, but with more years awake than me, mentally older—gave off that vibe.
"Our Seol-a has such a sweet heart~."
"Truly. It's been ages since I felt someone's heart thinking of others like that."
"Man, if only our Label sisters followed even a fraction of Legend-nim's example~."
"C-can we drop it and get back to work...?"
Of course, the women with fresh prey weren't letting up.
I endured endless warm praise for a while.
Damn it.
I'm gonna get spoiled.
The heated debate (mostly teasing me) wrapped up past 10 PM, nearly 11.
"My, it's gotten so late. So, Mr. Legend, starting work tomorrow right away?"
"Yeah, think so. Oh, before that, could I borrow Sua...?"
"Haha, go ahead. She's on separate pay anyway— she'll love having work, so use her as you like."
Sua's basically treated like equipment now.
The president headed out first in her car.
Even as president, she needs downtime, but clocking in early and out at 11 PM? Impressive.
"Sara, got a place to crash?"
"Nope? Thinking Korean spa? Jjimjilbang? They say it's a must when visiting Korea."
"No way, no way. Not a place for a fragile foreigner like you to go alone."
"But Korea's super safe, right?"
"It is, but... Friday nights are dicey."
Sara tilted her head at Myth's words.
Yeah, Friday night jjimjilbangs can be sketchy. I nodded, understanding.
Plus, leaving a foreign girl alone there? Scary thought.
"Book a dorm then?"
"Wait, Sara. No luggage?"
"Yeah, came empty-handed."
"Why...?"
"Figure it out after I get there mindset? America's frontier spirit, pioneering vibe! Cool, right?"
"Sara... That's not cool, that's thoughtless..."
Myth pinched her forehead.
...Ah, so this is what "idiot" means.
Sara lives pretty haphazardly, very spur-of-the-moment.
Flying to Korea to find me with nothing? Part of that, probably.
Myth sighed like it was routine.
She pondered a bit, then turned to me.
"Wanna let her stay at our place?"
"Huh?"
"Kinda scared leaving her alone like this. That okay?"
"Fine by me. Sara, you good?"
"Ooh...! Can I really crash at Mr. Legend and Myth unnie's love nest?"
Love nest?
I turned away; Myth blushed.
Sara grinned slyly, like she'd planned it, and waved at a passing taxi.
"Taxi~!"
I had no idea then.
That bringing Sara—no, Sara—home would trigger what event.
...How did it come to this?
The soft bed cradled my back as always, the pillow lulling me to sleep.
I wasn't great at sleeping, but lately, it came a bit easier.
The anxiety fading, maybe?
Tired from today—time to crash for real.
"Seol-a."
Ironic—the cherry and strawberry scent that always guided me to sleep now interrupted it.
A sweet voice tickling my ear. Turning my stiff neck, there were moist eyes gazing at me, deep as the night sky.
A heavy weight on my arm.
Not numb, more like... a skull, yet strangely soft.
"Going to bed?"
Something soft pressed against my chest.
Something impossibly soft, melting a man's resolve.
Ah, how did it come to this?
It started about an hour ago.
The moment we brought Sara home.