Overseas Travel
Early May, due to adult circumstances, World of Arceria's storyline underwent a complete overhaul, making the character Adella impossible to find in the game anymore. Once a special NPC who handled the most suitable weapon based on the player's class. But her identity was a thief through and through. Around the time World of Arceria was shut down for a month, Adella had taken on the role of a lawyer against vicious groups persecuting thieves. Mostly in the community.
"Gaaah! When the hell is this damn game opening?!"
The fame of 'Adella', gained through customization identical to the deleted NPC Adella. How many people knew that the person inside was the real Adella herself? She could only lament her current fall to cyber warrior, a shadow of her past glory.
"What glory did you even have in the past?"
Nami, lying on the sofa in the private room, quietly jabbed. Adella then scrunched her face with all her irritation and flopped onto the floor, flailing her limbs.
"Thieves are great! Thieves are really great! Why won't anyone believe me?!"
"I'll believe you."
"Look at this soulless empathy. Sis is totally a sadist."
"Guess so."
"Ugh!"
Adella grew even more annoyed at Nami brushing off her tantrum so casually. Suddenly, she knelt sharply in front of Nami.
"So here's the thing. Sis, stop playing boring healer and make a new thief account with me. We can duo queue. The story takes one day to clear anyway, right? Making an endgame char is no big deal."
"Healer has better win rate, why bother?"
"Aah, stream thief duo with me! Show the greatness of thieves. Sis has tons of viewers."
"Then you stream."
"Argh, so frustrating!"
Nami was absorbed in a magic book with her usual indifferent face. Adella stuck out her rough cat tongue with a "bleh."
"Oh, right, Adella."
"Eek... why?"
As Nami closed the book and sat up, Adella hurriedly pulled her tongue back in.
"Ever thought about streaming?"
* * *
"Hmm... Bottom line, debut's not feasible."
"Why! Why exactly!"
Adella scowled at Kariri's verdict. I narrowed my brows slightly and said,
"There are already tons of channels featuring AI as broadcasters. But what's the issue?"
AI had advanced to the point where everyday chats with humans felt natural. Of course, it was limited to responding to human speech, so it often spouted things detached from social norms. Most AI broadcast content turned that into entertainment.
"Biggest issue is copyright. Even if Wearsoft claims they transferred all rights to Nami, the NPC recall suggests shares were split from the start."
"If you mean the ASI maker, I don't care if I violate it."
It was illegal anyway, what copyright? If they came knocking, even better. But Kariri shook her head.
"And the design's a problem. Della, you wanna keep your current avatar, right?"
"Yeah. No other body for me."
"Then you gotta get commercial use permission from the company that commissioned the avatar design."
Kariri had once used a free model without crediting the source, only to get backlash when it turned out commercial use was banned. She insisted on proper procedures to avoid repeating mistakes. But she welcomed Adella's debut once issues were cleared.
"AI vtubers are common, but Della's case is special. Super famous worldwide already. And first strong AI too."
"How many times do I say I'm not AI, I'm human! Nami sis, tell her!"
Adella glared at me pleadingly.
"Yoonseul sis. Does that look like AI to you?"
"Huh?"
"AI isn't that dumb. Adella's definitely human."
"Ugh...! No one in this world is on my side!"
"But how do you know who made Adella's design?"
"Obvious, right?"
Suddenly Kariri strode to Adella, shoved her chest to topple her onto the sofa.
"Nya...?"
Kariri lifted Adella's hands and feet alternately. Like a cat dragged to the vet, Adella belatedly bristled her tail fur in protest but was helpless. Kariri finally yanked out Adella's tongue and declared confidently,
"Only one company worldwide makes details this fine."
Adella yelped and leaped behind the sofa.
"Artireal in Germany."
"Arti... what?"
A tiny voice squeaked from behind the sofa. Kariri continued.
Four employees from German pharma giant Boehringer Ingelheim made a VR avatar as a company club activity, gaining worldwide fame. The company lost those talented four. They founded 'Artireal', now taking only high-end commissions. But commissioning Artireal was tough. Even in the 21st century, no orders except in-person visits, only for socially prominent celebrities. Now too backed up for new clients.
"Then what? Can't I stream?"
"What're you saying? We got a socially prominent celeb right here. Ahem...!"
Kariri shrugged, pointing thumbs at herself.
"Sis, your HoneyBeeOsori avatar from Artireal too?"
"Obviously. Gotta invest this much to survive v tuber market."
Adella whipped her head to whisper to me.
"They take anyone as client. Figures, discriminating gets you hate these days."
"Totally agree."
"You two are too much..."
Downcast Kariri perked up, clenching a fist.
"Worked out great anyway. Was planning Germany trip for Safari Dream gen 1 avatars."
"Yeah, perfect. So my ridiculous mission's done?"
I'd somehow cleared the absurd task from Kariri. No more words meant Danielle talk went well too. Wonder if she'll shine with Adella's unique char stealing spotlight.
"Niel sis still hasn't let go fully, needs more mental tuning... but Germany boot camp should fix her."
"Taking Niel sis too? What boot camp?"
"Adella and Nami's roles are huge."
"Saying it like I'm going too?"
"Nami's going obviously! Thought you weren't? You're Adella's guardian."
Germany? Been to isekai worlds but overseas travel's too much. Hard to explain, but leaving home soil felt psychologically resistant.
"Nami, you gotta go! Designer wants to see your avatar, said discount if you come!"
"That your real motive?"
I brought up Professor Cheon to sidestep.
"Professor Cheon's got mana plant trip this month. Technically Yoonseul sis is minor, Niel barely 19. No way he'd allow."
Shouldn't have used that as excuse.
* * *
Chanel collection wool tweed jacket, stark white hair against all-black outfit, the woman approached from afar in clicking black high boots. How'd I end up on this trip?
"Hello... Principal."
"Hi Nami. Enjoying summer break? Saw updates online sometimes."
"Yeah, so-so."
Told Professor Cheon about Germany, he made a call and approved easily. Not just us, found reliable guardian. But Gu On-yu principal? What's their relation?
"First overseas trip?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
Past life crossed borders daily, but that's past. August airport bustled with travelers. Exit crowded with reporters and fans for arriving celebs. Quieter info desk had Hawaii beach fashion guy dragging suitcase. Tacky pink floral shirt, blue polka shorts, straw hat. Tube and it'd be perfect. But familiar face.
"Danielle...?"
"Hey! Nami~!"
Niel waved happily, running over.
"What's that outfit?"
"You too, what's yours? Didn't boss tell you?"
"Boss?"
If Kariri, she came normal. Yoonseul from bathroom saw Danielle, puffed cheeks, covered mouth. Desperately holding laughter.
"Niel sis! So pretty!"
"Wait, why...! Did they trick me?"
"Nami, all here, let's do check-in?"
How'd they con her into that? Yoonseul dragged stumbling Danielle by wrist from shame. Duty-free, Yoonseul bought her new clothes, crisis averted.
Our four economy seats luckily front center. Gu On-yu right of me, left Yoonseul then Niel stowing bags. Even small me felt seats tight. Long haul to Germany might suck, but girls too excited to care. Yoonseul kept teasing Niel to bond.
Tap tap— Knock from behind seat. Thought I reclined wrong, peeked between seats.
"Whoa! Eek! N-NoName...!"
"Hi."
"OMG! Nami-nim, huge fan! Love your VTube!"
"Thanks."
No recognition at check-in except security, now fan encounter.
"Why Germany...? Escaping Korea?!"
"Bro, say that to a kid?!"
Woman beside yanked man's hair.
"Nah, just trip."
"So cute...! More vids from Germany pls! We live for your streams."
"Kinda shy. Thanks."
"Nami-nim do Insta or SNS? No recent vids, pic would've been nice."
"SNS? Don't, but... maybe."
Belted up, plane took off. Watched ground recede from window, bittersweet. Crew prepped lunch quick, surprising. Me omelet spaghetti and ham steak, others bibimbap and bulgogi. Oddly preferred Western.
Yoonseul, eavesdropping earlier, asked,
"Nami no Insta?"
"Account exists, don't post."
"Snap pic and post! They'll love. Face shy? Food pic then?"
"Why?"
"Rare memory. I'll like."
Caved to Yoonseul, tilted phone for pic. Awkward our meals: Niel, Yoonseul, mine.
"Upload as is?"
"Too empty. Short caption at least."
"Just inflight meal, what thoughts?"
Haven't even tasted.
"Now eat?"
"Yup! Dig in!"
Prayer before meal? Nah, pic first—now Korean norm. Kids' culture too hard anyway.