Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Sometimes You Have to Venture Outside
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Everyone knows it.
These days, the trendy nostalgia bait—dragging out IPs from 10, 20, or even 30 years ago from thick sandpits—is all about making money.
It's a strategic ploy to swipe the bank balances accumulated by those once-cash-strapped kid otakus who’ve now grown old.
As times change, when you dig up those buried memories and take a good look, they turn out flimsier and more half-baked than expected, leaving people disappointed. That's when you realize memories are more beautiful left untouched.
Kuroichi and the game company staff watched Jeon Jeonseol's stream, at first imagining ways to collaborate with her.
A massively influential mega-streamer from the neighboring country, and a diehard fan of the series to boot. If handled right, couldn't they get huge bang for minimal ad bucks? That thought had crept into Kuroichi's mind.
This person really loves Venus.
Not giving a damn about efficiency, just pulling for the character over and over and over.
Screaming "I love you!" until she couldn't pull anymore—a textbook pure-hearted shipper.
As the writer who crafted that story, how could he not be thrilled?
Suddenly, a distant old memory surfaced for Kuroichi.
He was just a humble scenario writer.
In this industry, there are those who started as mere scenario writers but became owners of massive companies, holding everything in them—legendary successes.
Beginning with a tiny doujin circle—what Koreans might call a simple "club"—they rocketed to success, ultimately dominating the hearts of otakus worldwide.
In comparison, Kuroichi's hits were "borrowed IPs," "game projects," or "animation projects," making it hard to claim them as solely his own.
Even for his own works, he wasn't the full owner and couldn't assert rights.
He could only take joy in being part of the production team and receiving praise for the scenarios.
Still, the fact that those stories came from his own hands never changed.
The memories of racking his brain night after sleepless night to make them more fun were still vividly etched in his mind.
And there was one beautiful girl—straight out of a painting, a fairy tale, a fantasy—who'd fallen hopelessly in love with that story upon seeing it.
Aah, thank goodness I became a writer.
Kuroichi grinned.
The Magical Girls Chronicle series, which started as a TV anime, went through several theatrical films, and now continued its legacy as a mobile game.
All that ad talk suddenly felt trivial.
Writers just needed to write something fun.
It felt like the worn-out, parched embers of his passion were reigniting.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ She was turning down every collaboration offer that required going out.
The notion that the world outside was dangerous had solidified even further after the stalker incident.
Not some mere persecution complex—the world really was dangerous.
Whether it was because she liked it that way or hated it, she wasn't sure.
Even if scary people were rare in the world, the fact that a few existed was enough.
Jeong Tae-hoon: <It'll be fine if we go to the player relations seats>
This wasn't a business proposal.
It was just an invite to hang out.
Or was it still kinda work-related?
She and Once both streamed Teamfight Arena, after all.
Someone who'd injured their leg or fallen into a coma, bedridden for a while—even after recovery or regaining consciousness—couldn't just walk right away.
If the downtime was short, they might walk fine, no problem.
But if it dragged on forever, their leg muscles would atrophy completely, making straight walking impossible.
Once wasn't casually asking her out on a date to watch the finals with a light heart.
They'd just bonded over game talk, seen each other often in-game.
As everyone knew, nearly all her relationships were born online.
Once already knew everything there was to know.
That's why he was trying to take her along.
To a place full of people, drawing everyone's eyes.
Some might think it wrong to pressure a patient like that.
But she didn't want to hide away like this forever, either.
Someone bedridden for ages needed rehab training to rebuild leg muscle and relearn walking.
Someone who'd hidden forever needed training to face the public gaze head-on.
The urge to just stay cooped up in her room.
But the loneliness of having no friends.
The desire to mingle with people someday.
Yet facing anyone still terrified her.
Too many people loved her, which only made the outside world scarier—a contradiction.
Staying inside all the time would wreck her body, so she needed at least some exercise, right?
Jeonseol-a: <Eh, whatever>
Jeonseol-a: <Screw it, let's go>
And so, she decided to go to the finals.
"Don't worry—there are security guards stationed all over the venue."
This wasn't some neighborhood hole-in-the-wall event.
The finals were at a baseball stadium that could hold 20,000 spectators.
Was it really okay to splash cash like this?
Could so many people really show up?
Her game was truly the GOAT.
She could really feel how many people played it for real.
From the parking lot, security escorted her straight into the stadium.
Then she was guided to the relations seats, completely off-limits to the general public.
If it'd been the regular stands, swept up in the crowd, she probably wouldn't have come.
"Whoa! Legend!"
But even in the relations seats, she had fans.
Thankfully, it wasn't some guy bowing his head obsequiously, with a hunched back, fairly long hair, and a gloomy, creepy expression—a twenty-something dude.
Instead, it was a cute girl with a bright face.
Sexist? No way.
"I'm a fan! Oh, do you maybe know who I am?"
Judging by her shy question, she was someone she should recognize.
"Do you stream?"
"Yes! I'm Kim Gam-dong, streaming on Amenity!"
What kinda name—no, streamer nickname was that?
Her snap recognition tactic worked; one tiny move had moved her opponent to emotion.
Honestly, she had zero clue who she was, but let's bury that awkward truth in the dark.
No need to mention it was obvious she was a streamer, right?
"No Masters or below allowed to speak."
Once teased her.
They knew each other?
Then he should've introduced her properly from the jump.
First impression was good anyway?
She'd let it slide this time.
"Urgh, this season I'm hitting Master for sure."
From her chatter, she seemed Diamond tier?
A girl in Diamond?
Pretty skilled, huh?
"How's a Silver gonna reach Master?"
Hm.
Wrong tree.
As she bantered with Kim Gam-dong, she noticed stares piling up on her from everywhere.
Huh?
"Hi! I'm a fan. As for who I am..."
"Nice to meet you! I'm a streamer on Tryit..."
"Oh no! Too cute! Kyaaah!"
Hm.
Even in relations seats, fans existed aplenty.
She figured streamers would keep some dignity among themselves.
Nope.
Wait, that guy heading over—he's the celeb who pops up on every game stream.
But no one bats an eye at him, and they're swarming me!
"You're really tiny in person!"
Who says that right to someone's face!
Sure, she was a tad below average height, but just a smidge, a real smidge.
If it wasn't about height but something else, lawsuit time!
Between girls, acquitted though?
"Can we take a pic together?!"
"How are you this pretty? What's your secret?"
"I won't wash this handshake hand for 10 years!"
It was like a stream chat come to life.
Internet really is a window to the world, huh.
Just like IRL.
"Uwaaah..."
Any introvert 'I' type would get it: dealing with a bunch of people at once drains your energy in a flash, leaving you wiped.
She was exhausted before player intros, let alone match start.
When could she go home?
The outside world was way too dangerous.
"Team Proud, who came to Spring and still won't die—they're back!"
"Proud means pride! 2nd place is great! But winning would make it even prouder!"
"Used to losing? No way! They beat other teams to get here. Not broken yet!"
Player intros.
To build hype, maybe?
They started with Team Proud, the perennial challengers who'd fought many times.
And there, even from afar, Lee Jun's massive frame stood out clear.
Both were friends, so cheering one-sided was awkward.
But honestly? She kinda wanted to see this guy—who always got 2nd, never won—finally ascend.
"Sick of it! Sick of it! I'll stomp you so you never rise again!"
"That's harsh—did you clear it with Ascend first?"
"That last remark was caster Hwang Jung-hee's personal opinion and has nothing to do with our station or Infinity Games."
"Hey, don't say it like that!"
"Ascend! Up to the heavens, claiming the throne with no plans to come down!"
"Victory is ours!"
Victory's intro unleashed a roar like the earth shook.
Team Proud got plenty cheers too, but this gap was...
Like a Japanese team on away turf in Korea, with the home team as Ascend.
Victory was stupid popular.
She could already picture the gallery post title.
"Just these bastards again."