Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Lulu-chan, Where Are You Running To?
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How the hell did things end up like this?
I'd just planned to do a normal stream with the Cherries like always today.
So why am I...
THUD-
"Eek?!"
...staring down a horror game's waiting screen and BGM that's already giving me the creeps?!
Yeah, I'm scared! I'm freaking terrified!
I'll admit it coolly, so quit teasing me already!
No, I said it over and over before we even installed this thing!
The trailer alone was too scary—did we really have to play it?!
But Yuna pushed it with me, and now what's this?
Scared? Teeeerrified?!
These evil Cherries... they live just to watch me suffer!
As I vented inwardly, Yuna had already snuck behind me.
She draped her arms over my shoulders in a hug and waved.
"Come on, Lulu-chan. Time to say hi. Hi Mityube friends~."
"H-Hiii..."
No, I'm not broken.
Not yet.
I'm just anxious because it's obvious I'll break soon.
I just hope I don't pass out at least.
"T-Today, we're playing a horror game with special guest Yuki-chan. W-Wow..."
"Wowww!"
Yeah, no.
It's not the facial capture—it's my face muscles that are glitching.
I'm barely holding back the urge to close the stream and delete the game right now.
"A-Anyway, today's game is called Poppi's Time!"
Ugh, honestly, I picked this one to make the other members play.
It was obviously gonna be hilarious.
I was excited thinking it'd make great footage.
But now I'm the one playing it.
Poppi's Time is a jumpscare horror game, the kind with sudden pop-outs.
In my old world, parts 1 through 3 were already out—it was pretty famous.
It's probably not well-known here yet.
It's only been less than two weeks since release.
Plus, it's the dev's first game, so not much advertising. That's why it's obscure.
As far as I remember, no Korean streamers have touched it yet.
But I'm the first one? Should I be happy or hate it?
Yeah, I hate it.
Don't spout nonsense.
No way I wanted to.
I only had it in mind to recommend to the members.
Say that crap one more time and you'll get a Uparupa punch.
Anyway, before starting for real.
To let the Cherries and future VOD viewers know ahead of time.
I introduced today's short extra rule.
"B-Before we dive in, lemme explain today's special rule... When I really can't handle it, I get one 'Help me, Yuki-chan!' coupon. If I use it, Yuki-chan takes over and skips that section for me."
"You all know Lulu-chan struggles with horror games, so we gotta give her at least this much, right? Agreed?"
With Yuna backing me up, the Cherries thankfully got it without much fuss.
Well, I cried during my first horror stream.
They figure this minimal safety net is necessary.
Besides, Yuna isn't totally immune like Chae-yoon unnie.
She says it's scary but she enjoys the thrill.
So even if she takes over, it won't be boring. Better than nothing.
If it were Chae-yoon unnie, she'd clear it without blinking.
"Y-Yeah, of course. T-Truth is, I don't wanna watch either... but that'd be too heartless."
"Then I'll just yank Lulu-chan's head around to make her watch, no worries!"
"Y-Yuki-chan, isn't that just cuz you hate me...?!"
"Nah, no way. I like you this much?"
Squish-
Ugh...
Dunno about elementary boy.
But yeah, Yuna's way of showing affection is kinda unique sometimes.
Still, being hugged feels nice.
Makes me feel a bit safer.
Maybe I can handle this horror game easier than I thought.
"O-Okay then, let's start? Cherries?"
"Let's gooo!"
Buoyed by that courage, I hit start.
It didn't take long to realize it was false courage.
There's a saying.
Masterpieces draw you back even when you know the ending.
Meaning, just knowing the plot can't diminish their fun and emotion.
Yeah, I agree.
Not exactly the same category, but...
I'm feeling it right now.
Thud- Thud-
"Kyaaaaah! It's coming! It's cooooming!"
"Lulu-chan, stay calm! Right! Right side!"
I know the game's flow.
I even know where the monster pops out.
So why doesn't the fear go away at all?
That's the real mystery.
I panicked at my first encounter with the monster, Honeywuggy.
But thanks to Yuna's directions, I bolted down the right passage.
From here, it's a maze—mess up and you hit a dead end.
Get it together, Da-jeong!
Escape this and it's clear!
Chapter 1's playtime isn't long!
Thud- Thud-
"I-I'm not scared... I'm not scared... I'm not scaaared...!"
"Lulu-chan, that makes you look even more scared..."
Q-Quiet!
Anyway, I'm escaping this insane map pronto!
R-Right should lead to the path...
"Huh?!"
W-What? No path?!
Hold on, why's it blocked?!
By my memory, right should open up!
Bug! It's a bug!
"Eeeeeek?!"
Mid-rant at the devs in my head.
Honeywuggy closed in and pounced.
I shrieked and slumped into my chair.
"N-No, I'm not crying...!"
"Yeah, Lulu-chan's not crying. I vouch!"
"Ugh, thanks Yuki-chan..."
What close call!
You all just wanted me to cry!
Evil Cherries as always!
"That maze back there—guess we gotta find the path."
"Y-Yeah. But dying how many more times searching..."
Even with Yuna's constant advice and support.
I couldn't fix it knowing what I knew.
My old "answers" had crumbled.
By memory: right turn opens path.
Then left, right again.
Honeywuggy approaches—ignore and charge straight, path collapses, drop with it.
Then ditch the dazed Honeywuggy.
At final bridge-like path, drop it to kill and clear chapter.
That's the structure, but...
Why no path on right just now?
No way...?
'Did the game change from my old world?'
Just a hypothesis, but if so, what do I do?
If my memory's right but the game's different?
It's been same so far, no guarantee ahead.
Then from here, like any player, no answers.
Just me vs. the challenges alone.
Scary knowing the future—unimaginable without it...!
Unable to predict more deaths here.
I decided on drastic measures.
The 'Help me, Yuki-chan!' coupon.
"Y-Yuki-chan..."
"Yeah?"
"C-Can I... use it now?"
"Huh? Already? It's only been an hour?"
Cherries and Yuna don't know the short playtime.
Shocked I'm using it early.
But I know skipping this clears it—no issue.
F-Feels a bit guilty...
But survive first.
That's why I picked Poppi's Time.
Chapter 1's super short—minimizes suffering.
Sorry, everyone.
But fear's unavoidable.
"Alright, I'll clear this. But no more help after, got it?"
"Y-Yeah...!"
So I switched to spectator.
Yuna sat, hands on keyboard and mouse.
Restarted from my Honeywuggy encounter.
Thud- Thud-
"Eek?!"
Ugh, scary even watching.
B-Better than playing tho.
Just endure a bit...!
"Left here! Left again! Right...!"
"Whoa, Yuki-chan's good...!"
As expected.
Yuna nailed the hesitant fork.
Reached the final part I remembered.
"Y-Yuki-chan! Ahead! Drop that to collapse it!"
"That? Oh, got it!"
Thud-
She fumbled the end a bit.
But same as memory—Yuna dropped the overhead box on my call, crumbling the bridge...
Crash-
Honeywuggy chasing Yuna plummeted into endless darkness, vanishing.
Now the Cherries sensed something off.
Regretting if it's really over—no more suffering from me.
Heh, your fault for allowing the coupon!
Power of info!
Cry, Cherries!
"Thanks, Yuki-chan. I'll take it from here."
"Oh, okay. But is it really over? Kinda disappointing..."
"W-Well?"
Dunno, dunno.
I hear nothing, see nothing.
Just gonna run to the ending.
"Ehehehe..."
Grinning wide toward the lit ending scene.
No threats from here—relax.
Whoosh-!
Finally reached a room, spotted the cased doll.
Acted clueless, reached out, opened the case.
Short message from doll, then credits and end.
As expected, faint doll voice.
Screen went black.
That's Chapter 1... Huh?
"Wha—wait...?"
"Lulu-chan, what's up?"
"N-Nothing..."
Why no credits?
Devs' names should show, then title screen.
Maybe credits bugged—stared waiting.
"...?!"
Suddenly, tiny cushion-like thing in the black void.
I knew that scene.
Poppi's Time Chapter 2 start.
Wait, hold up.
Why's this now...?! No way?
"Chapter 1 doesn't end there—it connects straight to Chapter 2...?"
Yeah.
Unlike my old world.
Here, Chapters 1 and 2 are one game, story continues.
I used the coupon cluelessly.
Meaning, no Yuna help—solo Chapter 2.
3x longer playtime, way scarier than 1.
...Yeah, it's over.
What's over?
My life.