Chapter 18
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Looks Like Hero Arbel
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1.
Heading to the capsule room, one thing I'd realized was that living as a woman was far more exhausting.
"Excuse me. You're totally my type—could I get your number?"
"Sorry."
A ridiculous number of guys had asked for my number while we were just walking down the street. Some even hit on my sister when her face was hidden under a hood.
"Our Hayul's pretty popular, huh?"
After I turned the guy down, he bolted like he'd seen a ghost. My sister smirked and poked my side.
"Have you always dealt with this kind of stuff, Sis?"
"Back in school, yeah, it happened a fair bit. But once I started working at the factory, I mostly took the bus, so it died down. Though there were a few creeps at work."
"Must've been tough for you too."
"Took you long enough to figure that out? I just chalk it up to the crime of being born pretty. You've got the crime of changing so much to blame."
I was starting to get seriously irritated by all the unwanted attention. Who knew being ogled like this could be so infuriating?
"Maybe I should rethink doing personal streams."
"Why? The attention bothering you?"
"It's not the attention itself. It's just... being noticed in ways I don't want."
My sister pondered my words for a moment before speaking up.
"Streaming might look easy from the outside, but it comes with its own headaches. Stuff happens you can't avoid. If you're unsure, give it some serious thought."
"Yeah."
We arrived at the capsule room while chatting about streaming.
"Why'd you wanna come here specifically? There are capsule rooms all over near my officetel."
"This is where I part-timed when I first returned. Felt like coming with you."
"No way. How'd that even happen?"
"Beats me. Right after respawning, the boss was like, 'Get to work,' and here I am."
"Weird."
Even though I'd only worked a few days, it felt oddly nostalgic, a place etched in my memory.
"Let's head in."
"Okay."
We entered the capsule room and tapped the kiosk right by the entrance. Available seats popped up in a list.
"Where should we grab seats?"
"Corner ones, if possible."
I booked the farthest corner spots per her request. As we walked down the hall with the receipt in hand...
"Oh!"
A familiar face approached from the opposite direction.
"Hayul!"
It was the capsule room boss. He beamed and hurried over, looking genuinely pleased.
"Boss, how've you been?"
"Great. You? You quit for school, right? How's prep going?"
My sister muttered "school?" beside me. Ignoring her gaze, I replied.
"Yeah, thanks to you. Prep's going well. Really grateful for back then."
"No need. You made our place the hottest around. Least I could do."
He looked healthier than when we first met—barely a few days, and already this changed?
"Especially that kimchi fried rice recipe you left. It's a total hit—our signature now."
"Really? Nothing special about it. Wild."
"Haha, it is special. Places nearby are trying to copy it, but none beat ours yet."
"Unexpected."
I'd just followed a VTube video recipe, and they still couldn't top it? Not my problem anyway.
"So, what brings you here? Job hunting again?"
I shook my head at his question.
"Came to game with my sister—uh, older sis."
"Got it."
His eyes shifted to her. She flinched a bit.
"Hi. You're Hayul's sister, right?"
"Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you."
She hunched her shoulders slightly and bowed, her smile awkward but forced.
"We'll get going then."
"Right. Didn't mean to hold up family time. I'll toss in some free time and drinks—enjoy!"
"Thanks!"
The boss headed past us first. My sister sidled up and whispered.
"Nice guy."
"Yeah. He is."
Not for nothing I'd dragged us here. We stashed our stuff in the lockers at our reserved spots and hopped into the capsules.
"See you in there."
"Okay."
I waved to her and hit the button. The lid closed, and my vision blinked out.
'Noir' has invited you to her MyRoom.
A pristine white door materialized before me. I turned the handle and stepped through into a new space.
"...This is."
Worn floorboards. A cheap clock on the wall. Thin blanket atop an electric mat. It was my old one-room exactly as I remembered.
"Come on in."
I turned at the voice behind me.
Silver hair flowing like silk threads. Eyes deep gray like a starry night sky. Skin pale and cool.
Mystical and dreamlike—I was entranced for a moment. But up close, it resembled my sister's real face quite a bit.
"Why stare like that? Fell for your sis already?"
"...A little? Your avatar's legit pretty, like the real you."
"Thanks! Poured my heart into it—took forever."
She grinned wide.
"But what's with your avatar?"
"Huh?"
"Why the default? You planning to stream like that?"
"Was thinking about it?"
It's not even my main stream. Plus, ours was more of a clarification broadcast. Wouldn't this seem more authentic?
"Absolutely not!"
She shot down my idea hard.
"Why not?"
"Think about it. Our clarification stream today? Tons'll watch. Instant huge promo!"
"Fair, but I can't whip up an avatar right now."
One for ongoing streams needs careful picking—not a snap decision.
"Fine. I've got hobby ones—pick one?"
"...Sure."
She wasn't budging.
"Choose here."
She opened her wardrobe, unleashing a parade of high-quality avatars.
"Why's every one so polished? And so many types?"
"It's my hobby. Made 'em when overthinking—cleared my head every time."
"True, you always loved crafting. Cooking excepted."
Great with her hands, terrible in the kitchen—go figure.
"...Cooking's tricky. Hurry and pick!"
"Got it."
I scanned them. All pretty, none clicking.
"This one..."
As I considered passing, the last one caught my eye.
Golden hair cascading neatly along her features. Beneath thick lashes, turquoise eyes gleamed serenely.
'Looks like Hero Arbel.'
The one I'd followed into battle, who fought to the end in that other world and saved me. Seeing her likeness stirred something emotional.
'Maybe...'
"Like this one?"
She snapped me out of it.
"...Yeah. This one's perfect."
"Sweet. It's my favorite—poured the most work in. Figures my lil sis picks it."
"Sorry it's your fave?"
"Nah. Would've sat here forever otherwise. Better you use it. Transferring now."
'Noir' has transferred 'Hero' to you.
"......Hero?"
"Imagined a hero from my head—fits, right?"
"Perfectly."
Arbel was the greatest hero I'd known.
"How's it feel?"
"Weird."
Moving in the hero's form felt off—guilty, almost.
"Normal at first. You'll adapt—just bear with it."
"Okay."
"Avatars set. Time to stream."
"Got it."
"Over here."
She conjured a new door. Beyond it, the setup from her videos.
"This your streaming spot."
"Yep."
One chair, so she duplicated it beside hers. A camera appeared before us.
"Hit start, and we're live."
Her fingertip trembled. She licked dry lips, took a slow breath. I gently took her shaking hand.
"Nervous?"
"Yeah. What if no one buys it...?"
"Then nothing we can do."
"...Nothing?"
"Can't control people's thoughts. Don't sweat it—I'm right here."
"Yeah. You've got my back now."
She smiled, clenched a fist like newfound resolve. I smiled back.
"Ready to start?"
"Let's do it."
We hit the broadcast start together.
Broadcast has started!