Hobbyist VTuber

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It was already known to Dayeon that Haeun’s character, Lee Yeseo, was a villain. She also knew that Yeseo was a psychopathic killer who had no qualms about taking lives. However, Dayeon had never seen Haeun play a villainous role before, and the eerie aura that Yeseo exceeded Dayeon’s expectations.

“*Hmm…*”

“*Squawk—!*”

“*Should I strangle them with my hands next time? Or maybe cause a car accident like before? I can’t quite get a feel for it…*”

‘…Is this really Haeun?’

Dayeon couldn’t help but hold her breath as she watched Haeun, who was strangling the already lifeless neck of Song Minhwa. The shock Dayeon felt was immense.

To Dayeon, Haeun was the most familiar person in the world. They had been close since elementary school, so Dayeon was well accustomed to Haeun’s unique acting skills, which allowed her to manipulate emotions freely.

“*Thud!*”

“*Yes, Yeseo. What on earth happened…! No, no, let’s call 119 first!*”

“*It’s too late, oppa. She’s already dead.*”

“*…Damn it….*”

“*But I didn’t leave any fingerprints, so cleaning up will be easy.*”

However, the acting Dayeon was witnessing now was unfamiliar. Although she had never doubted Haeun’s exceptional acting skills, something felt off.

‘She clearly cried… but she doesn’t look sad.’

Unlike the previous performances where the emotions were vividly clear, this time, Dayeon couldn’t quite grasp what Haeun was feeling. The emotional intensity was faint, and the way emotions were expressed was different.

Everything about Haeun was familiar to Dayeon, which made the character Lee Yeseo even more unfamiliar. Today, Haeun was showing sides of herself that Dayeon had never seen before.

“Cut! That’s a wrap~!”

For that reason, Dayeon began to watch Haeun more carefully, with a different perspective than before. The Haeun over there was not the Haeun Dayeon knew.

“…………….”

Haeun’s eyes were quietly closed, her breathing slow and steady without any sign of disturbance. Holding onto that strange emotional line for the next shoot, Haeun resembled a single rose. Beautiful to look at, but if you approached carelessly, you’d get pricked by the thorns you hadn’t noticed.

Having just witnessed the thorns Haeun carried, Dayeon couldn’t easily approach her. To those who hadn’t yet faced those sharp thorns, Haeun was just a lovely flower. Hence, one person who didn’t know the true nature of Lee Yeseo referred to Haeun as ‘Miss.’

“Cha Do-nam. Or should I say Cha Do-nyeo? Doesn’t she give off that vibe to you too, Dayeon?”

“…What? When did you get here?”

“An hour ago.”

Yoo Seongjae, who had just complimented Dayeon on the coffee, turned his gaze back to Haeun. Almost simultaneously, Seongjae’s muttered words reached Dayeon’s ears.

“If I keep grinning like an idiot in front of someone like that, I’ll just end up looking foolish. Well, it’ll work out somehow.”

To Dayeon, these words seemed to be about the upcoming shoot between Haeun and Seongjae. However, since Dayeon didn’t know the detailed plot of <Veterans>, she couldn’t be sure.

“Wait, aren’t you playing a cop? Why are you grinning like an idiot in front of a murderer?”

Dayeon began to inquire more about the character Kang Chanseong, played by Seongjae, and the relationship between Kang Chanseong and Lee Yeseo.

The answer that followed was a lighthearted, “If you’re curious, pay me 500 won.” Dayeon, looking at Seongjae with disbelief, gave up on getting a proper answer.

“I’ll just ask someone else.”

“Seeing is believing. Watching it directly will immerse you more than hearing it from me.”

“Anyone can say that…”

Still, Dayeon couldn’t say Seongjae was wrong. Movies like <Veterans> had to make the audience understand through the scenes captured by the camera alone, without prior explanations.

That’s why Dayeon silently watched the next shoot, which was also the last shoot of the day, in a different set from before. The upcoming scene was one where Yeseo would ‘act’ out another side of herself.

Dayeon hoped that Haeun, who felt unusually unfamiliar today, would clearly show her what kind of person Yeseo was. Only by fully understanding Yeseo could Dayeon separate Haeun from Yeseo.

“Alright, S#55 Cafe. Let’s begin.”

And so.

“*So, after Song Minhwa went to meet Lee Yeseo, we lost contact with her. Have you been in touch with Minhwa?*”

“*Ah, contact. Minhwa and I…*”

The acting began, but it didn’t feel like acting.

“*I haven’t contacted her.*”

“*Ah… Then, could you tell me what you talked about when you met Minhwa?*”

To Seongjae’s character Kang Chanseong, Yeseo was nothing more or less than a reference in the disappearance case of Song Minhwa. Currently, Yeseo wasn’t a suspect in Chanseong’s eyes.

Thus, Chanseong’s attitude towards Yeseo was ordinary, slightly friendly, without any hostility. After all, to solve the disappearance case, he needed Yeseo’s cooperation.

“*The conversation I had with Minhwa… You mean?*”

“*Yes. Did Minhwa mention where she was planning to go next?*”

“*Actually, Minhwa and I had a bit of an argument. It’s a bit… awkward to talk about it with others.*”

“*An argument?*”

Almost simultaneously, Yeseo pulled out a small recorder from her pocket and placed it in front of Chanseong.

The recorded voice of Song Minhwa played, but most of it was filled with curses directed at Yeseo.

“*As you just heard, Minhwa and I weren’t on good terms. The only reason I met her was because of this recording.*”

“*Ah…*”

Chanseong realized that Yeseo and Minhwa weren’t close enough to discuss Minhwa’s plans.

The disappointment slowly crept onto Chanseong’s face as he realized he had hit a dead end. In response, Yeseo began to form a small smile, piece by piece, like solving a puzzle.

And then, *smirk*.

In the blink of an eye, a subtle, crafted smile met Chanseong’s gaze.

The natural sense of unease.

Having already witnessed what Yeseo was capable of, Dayeon felt a chill from Yeseo’s fabricated smile.

A cold smile devoid of emotion.

Though the corners of her lips and eyes formed a smile, her gaze was utterly empty.

It wasn’t even a piercing stare.

Just… indifferent.

“*Why… are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?*”

“*No, just… I was wondering what it feels like to be a cop. I have a personal curiosity.*”

She watches.

Weighing the life before her not with morals or ethics, but with Yeseo’s twisted values.

Yet, the subtle smile didn’t betray any awkwardness.

“*Oh, am I being confessed to right now?*”

“*Hmm… Probably not the kind of confession you’re thinking of.*”

For Chanseong, who was meeting Yeseo for the first time today, he couldn’t help but be momentarily fooled. On the other hand, Dayeon, who knew the truth about Yeseo, felt a sense of dread at Chanseong’s lack of awareness.

And then.

“*Smirk.*”

“*If Minhwa contacts me, I’ll let you know.*”

“*Ah, yes. I’d really appreciate that.*”

The eeriness stemming from a killer who could deceive the police without changing her expression.

The subtle difference between having seen the truth and not having seen it elicited contrasting reactions from Chanseong and Dayeon.

Crucially, the current Yeseo looked like an ordinary person you could see anywhere.

There was nothing suspicious about her.

If Dayeon hadn’t been aware of Yeseo’s true nature, she wouldn’t have felt any fear.

This fact alone created another layer of fear, drawing Dayeon deeper into the immersion.

Would Yeseo really try to kill even a cop?

No, if it’s Yeseo, she might actually try to kill a cop.

Such ominous thoughts naturally arose in Dayeon’s mind, and they weren’t far from the truth.

Not even a few seconds later, as Chanseong disappeared into the distance, the subtle smile on Yeseo’s face vanished.

Her snake-like eyes calmly watched the new prey—the cop.

It wasn’t the gaze of a person looking at another person.

And so, with Yeseo’s indifferent gaze slowly shifting towards Chanseong’s business card, the scene ended.

Today’s shoot was completely over.

Afterward, Haeun’s steps naturally led her to the dressing room.

After changing back into her original clothes, she returned to Dayeon, no different from how she usually was after a shoot.

However.

“*Swish.*”

“Here.”

“…Are you giving this to me?”

“Well, who else would I give it to?”

One of the slice cakes that Dayeon’s manager Kim Jinsoo had bought was handed to Haeun.

Dayeon’s excuse that she bought Haeun’s cake because she didn’t want to be the only one eating snacks didn’t sound very convincing.

“Did you eat something wrong, Dayeon?”

“…It’s not like that.”

Starting from the coffee truck, to the cameo appearance, and now the slice cake, Dayeon’s gestures of goodwill were puzzling.

It was a 180-degree difference from the usual Dayeon.

Yet, the way Dayeon couldn’t meet Haeun’s eyes made Haeun realize something.

Thinking about it, Haeun had put more effort into her acting today because she knew Dayeon was watching.

Haeun’s chilling performance seemed to have scared Dayeon, which explained why Dayeon was offering her snacks like the slice cake.

Of course, Haeun didn’t voice this thought.

Even if she asked Dayeon directly if her acting was that scary, Dayeon would deny it.

“Mm, this is delicious.”

In any case, there was nothing better than a sweet snack after a tough acting session.

Haeun chatted with Dayeon about various things while eating the slice cake until Jo Jungyun came to pick her up.

Time passed, and after Haeun and Dayeon each got into Jo Jungyun and Kim Jinsoo’s vans, respectively, and arrived home to have a late dinner.

“*Ding.*”

[ Diah’s broadcast has started. ]

[ The Invincible Idol☆ ]

“…Hmm…”

Sitting in front of their computers for different reasons, the two met again under different names—a VTuber and a viewer.

What was unexpected was that Diah’s avatar was a 3D avatar that moved from head to toe.

‘…Didn’t she say her VR broke? When did she buy a new one?’

As Dayeon was puzzled by the sudden appearance of the 3D avatar, a *ding* sound effect played, and Diah’s outfit changed to a more hip style.

“*Idol appearance—!*”

The original white off-shoulder dress was gone, replaced by a crop top and short shorts.

Finally, a backward baseball cap and light sunglasses completed the look.

Almost immediately, a famous idol song began to play.

At the same time, the dance Haeun had performed during the Fantasia support video was reenacted through Diah’s 3D avatar.

– Why are you so good at dancing??

– The outfit suits you so well.

– When did you even practice this lololol.

– A 600-year-old grandma with rusty joints couldn’t do this… right?

The thought of a ruthless killer who had murdered her classmate just hours ago didn’t cross anyone’s mind.

Diah, showcasing her top-notch dancing skills and smiling brightly at her fans, showed no trace of Yeseo.

In any case, Dayeon was the only one who had faced Diah’s red pill that shattered innocence.

Thus, a wry smile naturally formed.

“…What on earth is her real identity…”

 

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