Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Legend's Fundraising Live (1)
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"Haaah...!"
Ah, today was fun too.
Right after the music video shoot wrapped up, Legend collapsed straight onto the bed in the room he'd entered alone.
Legend loved this time of day.
After finishing his work, relieving the slight buildup of physical fatigue, feeling the softness of the top-tier bed while scrolling on his phone.
Lately, his mental state had been improving bit by bit—or maybe he was just starting to savor the waves of drowsiness that came over him. Either way, Legend turned on his phone.
Ever since revealing QWER to the world, 99% of the internet had been favorable toward him.
Ego surfing was as smooth as ever today, and in the process, he stumbled upon a certain post.
"Huh."
His hand, idly browsing the gallery to boost his ego, came to a stop.
Legend's eyes trembled slightly as he scanned the replies.
Opinions clashed: it'll work, probably not, absolutely impossible. A full-blown debate.
...What an odd feeling.
Legend immediately shut off his phone and turned out all the room lights.
Some nameless emotion had chased away his drowsiness entirely, leaving him to stare wide-eyed into the night.
Saturday morning, 10 a.m.
An ordinary time, but rather early for most streamers.
Watching Myth and Sara bustling about with the staff, Legend stood a step back from the stage, taking deep breaths.
The MV shoot was done. Map production finished.
All he could do now was watch.
Even after pouring everything in, the tension gnawed at him. Was it a lack of faith in his own work?
Legend quietly gazed at his phone.
More precisely, at the tens, hundreds, thousands—likely tens or hundreds of thousands—beyond it, waiting for his creation.
These gazes and reactions from people—he'd never get used to them.
Suddenly, they stabbed like daggers into his chest.
Saving the kids was real. Volunteering for this insane schedule to give hope to someone was real too.
Wanting to work was real, and every moment shooting the MV, crafting his ideal vision, had been pure joy—undeniable fact.
But it all boiled down to one thing.
'Can we raise the donations?'
It was ridiculous coming from him, but in this capitalist world—where money buys lives, extends youth, prolongs lifespans, pulls people from death's door—no convenient miracle like "we worked hard and the kids lived happily ever after" existed.
The target via this live: $500k beyond Sara's share, or more.
'Money' to scrape together for the word 'hope'.
700 million KRW.
The violence of money—even living with Myth, he'd never get used to it. Probably never would.
Fail to raise it, and it was failure, plain and simple.
His efforts. Their efforts.
Now he understood that nameless feeling from last night.
His chest chilled. For the first time, beyond tension or anxiety, raw 'fear' sank in late.
"What're you doing?"
Not sure if she'd sensed his darkening mood or just happened by, but fingers suddenly yanked his cheek hard.
The sharp pain and the way it yanked his mind from the shadows startled him badly.
Turning, he saw Myth in her awkward outfit, puffing out his cheek while staring at him.
Optical motion capture gear, she'd said.
Mixed embarrassment at the form-fitting design left him stammering dumbly.
"Uh, huh?"
"What're you doing? Called you a bunch of times, no answer."
Had she? He must've been more tense than he thought.
Sensing something, Myth made a subtle face and sat beside him.
"Worried about something?"
"Just... got a bit scared."
Myth's eyes went wide.
First time he'd said he was scared; made sense she'd react that way.
He could see her genuine fluster: shaky eyes, fidgety hands, tense body.
Damn, not trying to burden her right before the live.
He quickly plastered on a smile, patting her head.
"Kidding. Just messing with you."
"Scared of what?"
No brushing it off—she wasn't letting go.
He turned away; she grabbed his face, forcing eye contact.
Whoa, even for him, this pose in an open studio was embarrassing.
Look, staff whispering and glancing over.
He tried averting his gaze, dodging the answer, but she held firm, unyielding. Sighing, he spoke.
"Just realized too late—this is the first time I've aimed for a clear goal."
Making Myth's avatar had been joy every second.
He'd been young, carefree about eyes on him. Back then, she was just a tiny streamer no one watched.
Fail, remake, retry. That was it. No clue it'd blow up.
Maps, outfits after—same vibe.
No room for fear; made purely for Myth, she loved it, reactions followed naturally.
But this MV shoot, map and outfit production, concert retouches—they went straight to viewers.
How's my MV, map, outfits? Dope, right? Can't resist opening your wallet? Dying to donate?
A direct appeal.
"Unlike before, success or failure's black-and-white now. Kinda tense."
Fear softened to tension for her.
Myth stared silently, blinking slowly, like her eyes were camera shutters capturing the moment.
"Y'know, Seol-ah, you've never seen me sing live, have you?"
Myth dropped a curveball.
Her singing? Live?
Come to think, no straight views.
"Obviously never caught a live stream either."
Makes sense.
The intimidating aura hit different; he nodded.
Then, a staffer called from the stage.
"Myth! Standby! Five minutes!"
"Seol-ah. Watch close."
Myth tapped his nose playfully, then turned for the stage.
Just before ascending, she glanced back.
"Don't. Look away."
That smile held absolute conviction; he nodded unconsciously.
"Sis, what hot gossip now?"
Sara bounced, waving wildly as Myth took the stage.
Didn't expect that energy mid-studio.
From afar, their faces nearly overlapping looked like a kiss to Sara.
Hoping for pre-live sweet talk from Myth to pump dopamine, Sara heard something unexpected.
"Seol's scared."
"Huh? Of what?"
Sara's eyes widened.
Scared? Of what?
Myth gave a wry smile.
"Won't hit $500k. Scary."
"...Huh?"
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Sara burst out, clutching her stomach laughing.
Wiping tears like she'd heard the dumbest thing, she finally stopped.
"World-class vet by his work, but still clueless on the industry. Legend-oppa."
"Been in properly just months."
"Standby! Three minutes! Everyone ready!"
Myth and Sara spaced out to positions.
"Could've comforted him—'fail's fine' or whatever."
"Why bother? You know it too, Sara."
How could this fail?
Sara nodded at Myth's words.
Adjusting her in-ear as broadcast loomed, Myth stretched a finger toward Legend watching from afar.
"Watch close, Seol-ah."
Today, a new page adds to your legend.
Myth beamed.