NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
[VTuber Gallery]
This isn’t about Korean streamers or Korean-style VTubers.
This place, a community that deals with VTubers from Japan and other countries, was buzzing with unexpected news.
[Is Angel’s Korean business service confirmed? LOL]
(Live broadcast link)
Gangsex! LOL I’m going straight to target the Korean server! LOL
– Is it an Angel in Korea?
No, yeah, yeah, yeah! They said they logged into the Korean server today.
– Why play on Joe’s server? What the hell?
– They want to try gaming with a Korean!
– Why watch an FPS-playing non-virgin?
– Yep, Angel is a virgin!
[If you hate Angel coming to the Korean server, upvote it! LOL]
(Live broadcast link)
Thinking about chatting and shooting with some Han-nam jerk really makes my blood boil…
– Anyway, she’s still a non-virgin, right?
– Nope, Angel is a virgin!
– How are we supposed to chat and laugh since we don’t speak the same language? LOL
– Angel speaks a bit of Korean.
– You think learning a little just to suck Korean coins will help communicate?
– But seriously, it’s pretty decent!
[The first participant is already annoying the Han-nam commenters…]
(Live broadcast link)
Damn, that bastard’s voice is sweet! LOL
– Ah, I met an attractive Sushi girl but how do I control myself?
– I’d do the same if I had that voice.
– Damn, I’m so jealous!
[Seriously, is the speed of game matching correct?]
(GIF)
How are these bastards sniping so incessantly?
– Local kids keep following us like sheep!
– Ah, just shut up! LOL
– Damn… there are so many Japanese here right now.
– Even though the game’s popularity has dropped lately and there aren’t many players, now that Angel is here, we’re basically getting invaded.
– Old master is back! www
– Ugh… the memories…
[But Angel is really good!]
(Live broadcast link)
(This GIF shows a skirmish during the broadcast)
This Han-nam jerk boasting about being military-trained is in the top 5! LOL
– For real, what kind of Soldier is that? LOL
– Sigh… Why doesn’t he play with me instead?
– If he’d team up with me, we could have chicken together!
[Hoping for a showdown… I really wish we could meet.]
(Live broadcast link)
I feel like if I miss this chance, I’ll never get to meet again… Please…
– Just snipe when playing Apex; that’s better.
– But I feel like if we meet on the Han server, I’d be emotional…
– That’s true.
– Yeah, I’ll set up a meeting.
– Is the game already set?
– Yep.
– Damn, why is this happening?
– Today’s sniping is intense! LOL
[Big Sister’s post LOL]
(Live broadcast link)
Wow, damn it! Angel’s voice is really shining! LOL
– For real! LOL Angel’s voice is top tier!
– Hmm… is it really that good?
– Look at the chat; the locals are going crazy!
– Whoa…
– They really love Angel! LOL
– For real, LOL!
[Big Sister’s precious points]
(Live broadcast link)
Seeing her trying to speak awkward Japanese just because she met a Japanese is hilarious! LOL
– For real…
– Angel’s awkwardness just makes it even funnier!
[Angel is definitely good at this! LOL]
(Live broadcast link)
(This GIF shows a 2v1 during the broadcast)
She wipes out both of them! LOL
– Since she got praised by Big Sister, she seems even more pumped! LOL
– If someone praised me with that voice, I’d be excited too!
[Angel got totally downed! LOL]
(Live broadcast link)
She took a serious hit! LOL
– For real, did a grenade just drop there?
– Can’t she get first place?
– Big Sister’s doing fine too!
– Isn’t she just the driver?
– She throws smoke well!
[Manhue’s thread LOL]
(Live broadcast link)
She’s not a Korean girl, but a Soul Society girl! LOL
– The smoke was amazing! LOL
– Is she really going to rescue her? LOL
[Sign here!!]
(Live broadcast link)
From today, the Korea-Japan alliance is officially signed! Sign it now!!
– Sobbing while signing it!
– This is what you call a good cop! LOL
– I will never ignore a Korean girl again! T_T
[What’s with leaving so precisely?]
(Live broadcast link)
I was all smiley at the thought of Angel meeting up, but look at her stiff expression! LOL
– Damn, please come back!
– Yeah, I’ve got to meet sweet boys again! LOL
As Soo-hyun finished the game, the community was in a festive mood.
On the other side, the Dwitch gallery, which mainly relayed Soo-hyun’s broadcasts, was in the same situation.
However, it didn’t take long for both communities to realize each other’s existence.
[Whoa, damn it! There are places like this?]
From now on, our Miro crew will rule this place, stupid nerds! LOL
– Get lost!
– Go watch your Korean VTuber!
– Yeah, what you were sucking up to just an hour ago was a Korean VTuber! LOL
– Damn…
[Wow, this is comfortable! LOL]
Are we writing here? LOL
– Get lost already!
– Shut up! LOL
– Damn, for real…
Clearly, the malicious viewers watching Miro’s broadcast were the first to strike the peaceful community…
And soon, a bloody battle broke out between the two communities.
***
“Wait, that Japanese is a VTuber?”
I was genuinely surprised to hear my manager’s words.
For sure, the voice and reactions were good, and they played games well, but…
So that’s a person with that as a job.
[Yes, her name is… Murasaki Tenshi. She has 1.63 million subscribers.]
“What? What did you say her name was?”
[I’m saying it again, Murasaki Tenshi.]
Is this for real?
That’s a name I recognize.
She’s with a large VTuber agency in the mainland that Kim Soo-hyun often watches.
[You two added each other as friends, so this could be a good opportunity for you.]
“Really?”
That might be true, but…
Still, is there really a need for that?
We met by good chance, and I don’t want to cling onto her too much.
Growth is quick anyway… Wouldn’t it be awkward if I suddenly became popular after this?
I already have a lot on my plate these days.
Or rather, to be precise, a lot more starting soon.
I have to finish recording the second album for the Celestial Realm Project, a new song I’ll be composing separately, which will also be my first solo track.
Plus individual broadcasts, drawing for the bluebird, and practicing guitar here and there.
Honestly, even having two bodies would be insufficient for the crowded schedule ahead of me.
Therefore, even though I randomly ran into a VTuber with 1.6 million subscribers in a game and added her as a friend, I felt more like “whatever” about it.
[You don’t seem to care too much… Well, it’s still good to have connections; it might come in handy someday, so keep that in mind.]
“Yeah, that much is… Okay, I understand.”
So that matter was settled for the time being.
By the way, the community must be going crazy right now? Maybe I should do some ego searching after a long time?
“Wow… it’s chaotic.”
The users from the community watching the mainland VTuber and the users who used to watch my stream were seemingly fighting fiercely for reasons I couldn’t understand.
Seeing that spectacle, I quietly closed the community.
Ignoring things like that is the best way to live.
Well, anyway, I guess it stirred some buzz? That sounds good.
Thinking that way, I laid down on my bed.
Now that I think about it, I really should move.
I think I need to drop by my family home tomorrow for the first time in a while.
*
It had been a long time since I returned to my family home.
About six months, I guess? For Kim Soo-hyun, it was the first time.
However, whether from my male days or female days, the family home was the same.
Looking at the slightly old detached house in the outskirts of Seoul, I remembered that I used to dislike it because it was worn out when I was young, but now that I’ve grown, I think it’s actually not bad.
Even though it’s on the outskirts, it’s still Seoul, and despite its age, it’s a detached house, right?
Considering how hard it is to get your own home nowadays, knowing there is a place like this is a reassuring fact.
Reflecting on that slightly renewed perspective, I entered the house.
Opening the noticeably squeaky main gate, I stepped inside to see the yard.
The last time I looked, it was full of weeds, but they had all been clipped…
“Woof!”
“Ah! What’s that?!”
A dog? There’s a dog?!
I calmed my startled heart and looked in the direction of the sound to see a fluffy white ball.
No, not just a fluffy white ball.
That was a Pomeranian.
A very fluffy, white Pomeranian.
“Bark! Bark!”
Seeing it made my heart flutter in another sense.
What the heck, it’s so cute!
But when did we get a dog?
In Kim Soo-hyun’s memory, there hasn’t been a dog…
After all, I’ve never even heard anyone mention wanting a dog.
As the Pomeranian dashed over and rubbed its face against my leg, I seriously contemplated whether it was okay to pet it.
Ding dong—
The front door opened, and someone very familiar appeared.
“Bok-sil! Oh my.”
“Mom, I’m back!”
Hearing her voice over the phone was one thing, but standing face to face felt strangely emotional.
My gender may have changed, but still, parents remain unchanged…
“Tadah—!”
“Ow! Why did you hit me?”
“This girl left after moving out and hasn’t visited her parents’ faces once?!”
“Ah! I’m sorry!”
Mrs. Jang still had a strong hand.
I nearly cried…
There was a bit of a trouble afterward, but after calming down a bit, I successfully got inside the house.
Sitting on the sofa while observing the scenery of the living room, Mrs. Jang plopped down across the table.
“So, are you saying you want to come back home?”
“Yeah…”
“Ugh, I sent you off since you said you were going to be independent; now you’re back without even getting a boyfriend and dropping out of college.”
“That’s due to circumstances…”
“What’s that circumstance? Tell me about it.”
“That’s…”
If I’m going to be staying at home, I need to explain the circumstances.
Whether I lay soundproofing material or set up a soundproof booth, I can’t avoid my parents’ scrutiny.
So, I shut my eyes tightly and spoke.
“Actually, I’m a singer.”
“What?”
But still, being a VTuber seems a bit off, doesn’t it…?
My parents aren’t ones to have loose lips, but they could spill it to relatives…
Plus, there’s no way they would understand what a VTuber is, huh? Well, I’m not embarrassed about being a VTuber.
I’m proud of it.
“Hey, do you see this chart? Can you see it?”
“Hey, Hyeon-su, sorry! I’m going to sell some more!
“This Slim Gold guy is a singer who’s gotten really popular lately, and I participated in this track…”
“Really??”
As I showed her the chart, making sure to provide accurate numbers, Mrs. Jang’s eyes widened.
“Well, I guess following your mom’s genes, your voice must be pretty good.”
Surprisingly, Mrs. Jang calmed down more quickly than I thought. If I had brought this up during my male days, she’d probably have been suspicious right away.
However, since she’s been hearing the voice and seeing the appearance of Kim Soo-hyun, she seems to have expected it to some extent.
“Right? Everyone compliments me when they hear me! I’m working on a new track, so I’ll let you know when it’s out.”
“Wow, we’ve got a celebrity in our family now.”
“Haha… it’s not that grand. By the way, it’s a secret from others.”
“Why? Isn’t it good to tell people?”
No, no, I can’t. Since I have no idea if I’ll release another song or not after my new one, boastfully announcing it might lead to complications later.
Eventually, burnout days will come.
Of course, that isn’t now…
“Actually, this is a secret project… do you see how the name is blank here?”
“Yeah?”
“Right, if my identity gets revealed, it’d be a breach of contract.”
Technically, it wouldn’t be a breach for Miro, but isn’t it all the same between Miro and Soo-hyun?
“Contract breach?”
“Yeah, I need to keep it a secret, okay?”
“Sure, I got it.”
As soon as “contract” came up, she nodded in understanding.
Regrettably, the day she can boast about me to the neighborhood association seems far off.
“By the way, I might need to record here at home, so I might set up a soundproof booth or sound-absorbing materials in my room. So don’t get surprised if someone visits.”
“Got it, got it. Let’s listen to that song first.”
And so, I successfully got her permission.
I don’t think I lied too much… so it should be alright.