Chapter 6: I just streamed, that’s all.

When asked if I had friends, I timidly answered.

• – I-I do!
• – I said I have them, damn it!
• – If your KakaoTalk friend list is just your family, same here.
  ᄂ Same here.
• – I do…

It didn’t seem like anyone believed me. Honestly, I didn’t have any friends either, which is why I mumbled it so quietly.

I felt a little sulky at the teasing comments in the chat, but I wasn’t one to give up so easily. Muil’s steering wheel is broken.

“We’ve got about an hour and a half left. What should we do? Games might be too much for now…”

• – Let’s just chat. We’ve got nothing better to do.
• – Participant #5 doesn’t need anything else; their voice alone is the GOAT.
• – What’s with the viewer count? Why are they sitting at 4,000 viewers alone?
• – The others haven’t even hit a thousand, but this one’s leveling up solo.
• – Viewer bonus, four times multiplier!
• – Try ordering the melon bingsu. You can only get it at Märchen!

Among the various suggestions, the one that caught my eye was the melon bingsu.

Melon bingsu. I’ve always loved fruit, so I tend to eat it often. But lately, I hadn’t had much time for snacks.

Seeing the mention of Märchen’s special melon bingsu naturally drew my attention.

“Should we do a mukbang then? I noticed earlier that you can order food here, like at a PC café.”

• – Yes!
• – While you’re at it, get some coffee too.
• – Other participants have already eaten.
• – Stop mentioning the other participants. What do they have to do with Participant #5?
• – I think I’ll order some bingsu for myself too.

Since it was lunchtime anyway, I ordered just one melon bingsu.

If nothing else, I really wanted to try that dessert.

Melon bingsu. Melon!

It’s easily in my top three favorite fruits.

Not long after placing the order, an employee delivered it.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Good luck with your stream!”

As I returned to the desk with my bingsu, the chat was on fire again.

• – Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
• – When are you coming back, Participant #5?!
• – If this keeps up, I might lose control of my bowels.
• – Mom… mom… mom… mom… mom… mom… mom… mom… mom… mom… mom…
• – You started it first! You started it first! You started it first! You started it first! You started it first! You started it first! You started it first!

What in the world? What’s happening?

Had something occurred while I was picking up the bingsu? Or was it because I took too long to return?

“I was only gone for two minutes, and this happens…”

I let out a small laugh of disbelief.

“Um, everyone, I’m back.”

• – Oh! ^^7
• – You’ve returned, have you? ^^
• – Haha, what timing.
• – Hold on, let me save this as a PDF and upload it to the Märchen gallery.
• – Lol, farewell~
• – Not going far.
• – >< I missed you!

It was just two minutes…

I pouted slightly at the viewers who immediately shifted their attitudes upon my return and began eating the bingsu.

“This is delicious. I can’t even remember the last time I had bingsu.”

When was the last time? I think it was the winter before last.

Though back then, it wasn’t exactly bingsu. I had just repurposed leftover ice cream into something resembling it.

• – Looks so good.
• – Share some with me, using the spoon you’re eating with.
  ᄂ ???
• – Don’t leave me hanging. If you don’t respond in 10 seconds…
• – Please, talk while you’re eating.

“Nope.”

I smiled faintly as I teased the viewers and continued eating the melon bingsu.

• – ???
• – Oh…
• – Now this is how it should be. People need a bit of sass, huh?
• – More, more, more, more, more, more, more, more.
• – Nope… nope… nope… nope… nope…
• – Why is this so cute, lol?
• – First round voting has started, hurry up!

Even while eating, I kept an eye on the chat. Maybe I’m a natural-born streamer?

Maybe my true calling is in streaming.

…Yeah, right.

As I was daydreaming like an illustrator prone to delusions, one of the chat comments, just as eye-catching as the melon bingsu, caught my attention.

“Voting has started?”

• – O O
• – You’re currently at 56.7%.
• – Lol, is this even fair?
• – The second-highest is at 10.3%.
• – O O
• – Yup, voting started.
• – It’s been five minutes, and the game’s already over.

A part of me wanted to check the results, but I decided against it.

The first round of voting always carries the possibility of a comeback, which can make things nerve-wracking.

So, I thought it would be better to continue the stream as usual without checking the results.

“It’s lunchtime now. I had bingsu, so I’m thinking of grabbing a sandwich. What about you all? What are you eating?”

• – Pork stir-fry.
• – Pork stir-fry.
• – Pork stir-fry.
• – Cold noodles.
• – Pork stir-fry.

Why is it just pork stir-fry? I mean, it’s delicious, but still…

Turning away from the oddly passionate pork stir-fry enthusiasts, I said my goodbyes.

“Alright, enjoy your stir-fry. See you later.”

• – Don’t leave, you…!
• – Please, be my lunch instead…
• – Aargh! Damn you, Märchen!!!
• – Free Princess #5! Free Princess #5! Free Princess #5! Free Princess #5! Free Princess #5!

And with that, the morning stream came to an end.

Unlike the chaotic morning, I kept my closing simple.

“Everyone, have a great day!”

• – Don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave.
• – Leaving? Just stop and stay.
• – Please debut quickly. Seriously.
• – 大大大大大大大
• – 大大大大大大大
• – 大大大大大大大大大大大
• – Don’t leave! Come hang out with us…
• – How does your vote percentage hit 71.4%?! Lololololololololololololololol.
• – A new overpowered figure has appeared in the VTuber world. Lol.
• – Lol. Debut confirmed!
• – 大大大大大大大大
• – 大大大大
• – This is it! Yes, this is it! Yes, this is it! Yes, this is it!
• – Are you going to debut?
• – 大大大大大
• – Lol, their general skill level is insane.
• – They get votes just by drawing! Lol. Is that even possible?
• – 大大大大大大大大大大大大大大

The afternoon stream went much more smoothly.

Unsurprisingly, all I did was draw. But strangely, the number of viewers kept increasing.

As the clock hit 5 PM, the broadcast automatically ended, wrapping up with nearly 20,000 viewers.

Once the stream shut off, I slumped back in my chair.

My hands were slightly sweaty, and the stiffness in my back from the tension of entertaining so many afternoon viewers was starting to ache.

“I can’t believe this worked.”

Despite the dull pain, my thoughts were swirling.

I hadn’t come into this with any expectations. Plans? I had none. Did I prepare anything? Not at all.

Yet, somehow, I had managed to rank first purely by presence. In other words, I survived the VTuber survival event.

Though I’d outlasted the competition, the reality of it all still hadn’t sunk in.

All I did was draw. My voice and reactions seemed to resonate with the viewers who watched.

Was it luck? Or perhaps fate?

It didn’t really matter. At that moment, I just wanted to soak in the lingering thrill.

As I melted into my chair, completely relaxed, the door to the broadcasting room opened.

“You can come out now. And congratulations on making the final cut!”

“Thank you.”

The staff member smiled warmly at my tired demeanor and moved on to another broadcasting room.

Since the door was left open, I could clearly hear the sounds from the hallway.

Most of what I heard were sniffles and soft sobs.

The sounds left me feeling a little heavyhearted.

I didn’t intend to console them, but I couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity.

Taking a deep breath, I got up from the chair. I planned to leave before the other participants came out. Running into them would only make things awkward.

Shaking off the unsettling thought, I stepped out of the Märchen headquarters and spotted a familiar face waiting for me.

“Muil!”

“Tsupi.”

With her light brown hair pinned back by a green hair clip, Tsupi approached me with a big smile.

“I have so much to say! But first, congratulations! I’m so proud of you!”

“Thanks. But let’s move somewhere else first.”

“Oh! I know a great café nearby. Let’s go there!”

Brimming with excitement, Tsupi led me to a café not far from the Märchen building.

As we stepped inside, I spotted another familiar face sitting by the window.

“Ah, it’s you!”

“Oh! Muil!”

We both recognized each other instantly and exchanged warm smiles.

“Why is she here…?”

“Oh, I forgot to explain! She’s my junior and a member of my team. Her name is Eunhye Lee. You’ve met before, right?”

“Yes, Eunhye helped me earlier.”

Tsupi and I sat down together.

So, she was one of Tsupi’s team members.

Feeling a bit sorry for her—she seemed so overworked—I decided to introduce myself properly.

“My name is Chogyeoul, though I go by Muil as my stage name.”

“Oh! I’m Eunhye Lee. It’s so nice to meet you!”

“Yeah…”

Like boss, like subordinate, I thought. Her overly bright personality made it difficult to carry on a conversation.

“Should we order coffee first? They have espresso here too.”

“Then I’ll have that. Hot, please.”

“You heard that, right?”

“Ugh. Such a dictatorship! Step down from power!”

“Want me to show you what a real dictatorship looks like?”

“Fine, I’ll go.” Eunhye pouted, standing up reluctantly under Tsupi’s teasing. As if suddenly remembering something, she turned to me with a bright smile. “Oh, and by the way, Chogyeoul! Thanks for the candy earlier. It was delicious.”

I gave her a slight nod and smiled back. Pleased, she practically skipped off to the counter.

What was this dynamic?

Anyway, it seemed like it was time to discuss the next steps going forward.