Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Moving Back Home
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"I'll buy it for you next time."
"Yeah... you better."
In the end, Hyejeong ended up eating galbi-jjim with us at my parents' house.
"Oh my, aren't you just precious."
At least she seemed satisfied seeing Boksil, so that should be fine, right?
While Hyejeong, stuffed full of galbi-jjim, played with Boksil in the living room, Mrs. Jang and I unpacked the luggage we'd brought from my place.
"Whoa, you play guitar too?"
Mrs. Jang picked up the guitar that had emerged while sorting through the boxes, her face taking on a wistful expression.
"Your dad went through a phase where he played it nonstop in college, but blood will out."
"Dad did?"
"He played it obsessively back then but quit at some point."
To think Kim Bu Jang had such a past... I couldn't recall ever seeing him play at home.
"Play something."
"Right now?"
"Yeah, we've got time. The unpacking can wait."
"Well, alright then..."
I took the guitar from Mrs. Jang and gave it a quick tune-up.
Feeling the now-familiar weight of the guitar, I recalled a song I'd been practicing in my head.
A Japanese band song—not too easy, but not overwhelmingly hard either.
Of course, for a total beginner like me, it still had some challenge.
Twang—tring—
I lightly plucked the strings with the pick, got into position,
and started playing, mindful of my finger placement.
Ding—ding-ding—
Thankfully, my practice hadn't been in vain; even starting cold, it sounded decent.
"Ooh..."
"You've got some skills?"
Hyejeong, who'd come over with Boksil at some point, watched my playing too.
"How's it sound? Got some style to it?"
"Up until you said that?"
"Saying it ruins the vibe."
"Ahem..."
I'd gotten some flak for opening my mouth mid-song, but I still managed to get through about 70% of it.
"Can't you finish it?"
"Not yet, still practicing."
Answering Hyejeong's question brought to mind the deadline I'd bet with my viewers.
...It's coming up soon.
I might actually have to do that 24-hour stream.
What should I do? Play the horror games they've been begging for? Or a cooking stream wouldn't be bad. If I do it from my parents' kitchen, I could cook and then...
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
"Oh, nothing."
Just then, Mrs. Jang must've sensed something, cutting off my train of thought.
"Heave-ho, is this the last of it?"
"No, still some left."
I hadn't brought the streaming gear yet.
Because... I'd have to head back to my place tonight and stream anyway.
"Yeah, your dad was thrilled to hear his little girl was coming home."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"When's Dad getting back?"
"He said he'd be late tonight."
"Guess I won't see him then."
"Not staying over?"
"Nah, got stuff to do back there."
I'd probably have to take a few days off streaming after tonight.
Even after moving the gear here, I'd need to set up a soundproof booth in my room.
The room's big, but... to fit the booth, I'd have to box up at least half my merch and stash it in the storage room.
Thinking about all that made it feel daunting.
No wonder everyone hates moving.
Still, once this is done, I might stick around here for years until the next time I go independent.
Finishing the unpacking at my parents' house, I had a thought that would've earned me a smack on the back if Mrs. Jang had overheard.
***
[Important Announcement (Real)]
I turned on the stream after getting home that evening. Since I'd have to pause streaming a bit for the move, this was to let everyone know.
Over half my viewers don't check the fan cafe notices, so I have to tell them like this on stream.
The other members could just post on the cafe... Sigh, guess this is just how my room's audience is.
-???
-What's this important announcement?
-Graduation incoming lol
-New song drop?
-Singing tonight?
I glanced at the viewer count climbing fast as usual and spoke my first words.
"Hello, everyone."
-Hi hi
-So what's the important announcement?
"I'll tell you once more viewers join."
-;;;
-Just say it now?
-Spit it out
"If I say it now, I'll have to repeat it for the latecomers."
The mid-stream joiners would spam questions about it anyway... but better to wait till we've got a decent crowd.
-So what're we doing?
-Just tell us, gotta hand in my phone
"Come on, everyone, listen to my guitar while you..."
-NOOOO
-Please no
-Just tell a story or something
-Manga reviews in forever go go
-I can wait no prob
Why do they hate the guitar so much... Mrs. Jang and Hyejeong liked it when I played at home.
"...Actually, no guitar right now."
-Phew
-Guitar fat?
-Finally ditched it
-Aw wanted to hear guitar
-What no guitar then?
"The guitar thing ties into this important announcement."
-??? No way
-Broke that bad?
-Moving?
-What is it already
With viewers pushing, I checked the count.
Think everyone's here who’s gonna show?
"I'm moving."
-Oh yeah? So what's the announcement?
-Woah where to?
-When's the announcement?
"...So I might need a few days off stream."
-Fuck
-Holy shit Miro
-Me
-This is rough;;
-Fuck
-Me
-Fucking hell Miro
[Anonymous, 1,000 won donation! Thanks!]
Just stream from a PC bang duh
"PC bang... think of the setup hassle."
VTuber streaming takes a ton of gear surprisingly.
Plus, setting up a cam in a PC bang? Forget the nuisance, it'd draw stares.
Better to stream from home without the booth.
-Hah... so hiatus then?
-Just give it one day, hurry up?
-What's the big deal with moving;;
-But why move?
"Why move? My lease ended, so heading back to parents' place."
-Oh gotcha
-So how you streaming?
"Gotta install a soundproof booth."
[Anonymous, 1,000 won donation! Thanks!]
Your folks know you're doing the otaku VTuber thing??
"...No clue. Making excuses."
-LMAOOOOOOOO
-VTuber ashamed?
-N-no, ashamed of us?
-Dropping oshi
-Hah disappointed in Miro-nim
-Gonna oshi-hen
-Fucking hell Miro
I'd expected it, so I watched the chat blaze while hopping into the cafe.
Chat on fire doesn't faze me anymore. Bring it.
"Alright, time to post the notice?"
I went to the cafe and wrote a quick notice on my now-pretty-active dedicated board.
Over half don't check it, but some do, so better keep these updates diligent.
[Hiatus]
Reason: Moving
Duration: 2-3 days
"No point writing a novel—they won't read it."
-LOLOL if you hate writing just don't
-Don't watch lives but gotta write notices?
[Anonymous, 1,000 won donation! Thanks!]
But why back home? Just find a new place
"You know I dropped out, right? Was subletting cuz college was far, but now no need, so home."
-Still better independent no??
-Easier to stream solo
"Nah... housework's a pain..."
-LOLOLOLOL
-Housework fair
-Hmm... bride candidate disqualified
-Unfilial daughter;
"Anyway, hiatus notice done. Now, let's do this."
I switched screens.
-??
-?
-Wtf
-Kya lol
It was the Battle Royale game screen.
I'd queued a match while writing the notice.
Zero chance of snipers this way.
-Please let us snipe...
-SoloQ this time
-Not with that Japanese friend you added?
"That Japanese friend? Oh, you knew they were a VTuber?"
The community blew up over it last time, but chat was quiet, so tossing it out first got them rolling.
-Yep
-Yup big sub count
-Fr fr?
-No way real?
-These guys pretending or actually clueless
"Didn't know till my manager told me after stream. Super famous, right?"
-Kya lol big luck Miro
-This girl's luck is...
-Just luck GOAT
-So not playing again??
"Dunno? They were offline earlier."
I said that and focused on the game.
Always duo or squad before, solo felt off, but I farmed steady.
Bang!
Sniped on the roadside and died.
"..."
-LOLOLOLOLOL
-No strafe?
-Srsly..
-Told ya drive more
-Golden goblin fr
[Artisan Miro, 1,000 won donation! Thanks!]
Lemme snipe? Lol
-Go time lol
-Hide the match again lol
-Ddakdae lol ddakdae lol ddakdae lol ddakdae lol
These guys... hyped. As soon as queue popped, they ghosted into sniper mode. I sighed.
"Hah... random duo instead?"
Solo's just farming to death.
Fun once, boring repeated—kills stream vibe.
-GG
-Please..
-Pick from viewers?
[Artisan Miro, 10,000 won donation! Thanks!]
Duo rate?
"Whoa! Thanks for 10k, but no paid duos."
Gotta be random for the thrill.
Part of the fun's the gamble who you get.
-Kya lololol
-Capitalist Miro gone...
-You're no true Korean girl now, Miro!
-Just take money and duo?
"Nope, said no. Queueing random now. Snipe away."
One sniper-free game satisfied, now queueing to meet the snipers when—
Ding—tring—
Friend list messages pinged.
"Who?"
My Battle Royale friends: Heavenly Realm Project members, The Six corp YouTubers from collabs, and that Japanese VTuber.
No way Project or The Six message mid-stream... no way?
[awxt1004: Let's play together!]
[awxt1004: Together!]
"Uh..."
As expected, that Japanese VTuber was messaging.