Please Do Your Debauchery After You Die - Chapter 30

Episode 30: The Moment She Shone

What kind of streamer is Lucy?

I, too, am human, and I couldn’t be happy watching Lucy’s broadcasts for three years straight.

There were times I felt frustrated by Lucy’s temperament and even harbored feelings of hatred after emotionally clashing with her.

For example, when a big company streamer holds content-related recruitments or there’s a competition that Lucy would excel at, she often refuses, saying such opportunities are burdensome.

Alright, I’ll concede that much.

Not all streamers aspire to be big company streamers. There might be some who prefer broadcasting with a small number of viewers who genuinely like them.

However, at the very least, she shouldn’t engage in ‘harmful’ behavior.

Before the time loop, one of Lucy’s nicknames in the Panbur Gallery was ‘Hakkohbang.’

The term ‘Hakkoh’ refers to a smaller streamer, and ‘bang’ translates to ‘room,’ indicating that the Hakkohs would come in and out of Lucy’s broadcasts like a cozy gathering.

On a human level, Hakkohs are by no means bad people.

Even big company streamers started from small Hakkoh streams.

But with a cold evaluation, Hakkohs don’t contribute anything beneficial to the broadcast.

In fact, they often become a hindrance.

Nevertheless, Lucy, with her inability to refuse, couldn’t ward off the Hakkohs who approached her first.

“She’s already busy taking care of herself and is now shackled by these burdens. How much stress has she endured with Hakkohs suddenly coming in during her broadcasts and spamming the chat?”

At one point, I seriously sent Lucy a note regarding this, but she was quite down for days afterward, and her energy was low, so I didn’t do it again after that.

Moreover, Lucy’s harmful behavior didn’t end there.

A large server that absorbed all attention on Pangea TV.

If she was fortunate enough to enter such a place, she should engage with other streamers and create broadcasting opportunities, but her shyness caused her to shy away like a wallflower.

At this rate, she was effectively kicking away the opportunity that had come her way.

Yet, the reason I couldn’t leave Lucy was because after three years, I had grown attached, but also because of moments that reminded me of a superstar.

A virtual singing competition hosted by a big company streamer on a large server.

Lucy was the one who won against all the virtuals who were reputed to sing well.

I can still vividly remember it.

Everyone, except for our room, had little expectation for Lucy’s turn.

Before she sang, she left a brief comment.

“Hey guys, I’m really nervous, but I’ll do my best.”

Her first time participating in such a contest.

Until then, Lucy had never sung outside of her personal broadcasts.

She proved herself right then and there.

She demonstrated why her nickname meant ‘light’ in Latin.

Watching her shine brightly in front of thousands of viewers, I squeezed my heart in excitement.

“If she hadn’t engaged in harmful behavior, it could have been a happy ending.”

The lonely conclusion leaves a bitter taste.

But it can’t be helped.

That’s just who Lucy is.

However, this time would be different from before the time loop.

I would stay close and provide various advice.

“And it won’t just end with advice; I will provide her with many opportunities. Truly…”

With that mindset, I created this opportunity today.

Taking out the standing microphone prop, I stood once again at the center of the stage.

“This time, I’ll go first.”

I pretended to be confident, but my singing skills were barely above average.

Moreover, I had only practiced two songs in preparation for the audition, so my proficiency in other songs was lacking.

“But I have a definite weapon.”

As the prelude began to play, the buttpicking viewers in the chat room started to get hyped.

This song, famously known as ‘Bulgukuk’ ever since a big company virtual exploded in views with a YouTube video.

I hadn’t received formal lessons, but I had hummed this song countless times even before the time loop, so my familiarity made proficiency irrelevant.

The lyrics and melody naturally began flowing in my mind.

“Wow! This is singing; Seoa has great taste in song selection as well as dancing.”

“Is this really a live performance? Baekgu, show us!”

“Light stick (emoticon), light stick (emoticon), light stick (emoticon)!”

[This isn’t a dream; everyone is watching.

Make a heart and send your love!

I’ll do everything I can.

I won’t stop.

Because I’ll give it my all.]

A song that almost every virtual streamer on Pangea TV has sung at least once.

Moreover, I didn’t stop at merely singing.

[But it’s okay; when I’m on stage, everyone is here.

Here I go!]

I detached the standing microphone and held it in my hand, jumping up high.

At the same time, I began dancing, holding a microphone in one hand.

Since the movements were done while singing, they couldn’t be too vigorous or large, yet they filled the stage that had previously seemed a bit empty.

“Dance machine Seoa! Wow!”

“What is this? Singing and dancing at the same time?”

“I’m in; from today, I’ll accept Seoa as my girlfriend candidate!”

Amidst the heated atmosphere, I rode the exciting melody while waiting for the final highlight.

As promised, I maneuvered to the camera according to the VRC step, leaning in closely.

With my face and upper body zooming into focus, I flashed a bright smile and exclaimed, “I’ll be your fan subscriber! ^o^”

A stage that satisfied the eyes and ears of the viewers.

Wow! This really wasn’t easy.

To sing and dance simultaneously was challenging enough, and then having to wear full tracker equipment…

Finally catching my breath while stepping down from the stage, I noticed Lucy’s avatar passing by, looking quite stiff, still not used to VRC.

In a mismatched traditional hanbok with brown hair styled in a braid, she looked out of place, like someone who had come to a club in hanbok.

“LOL, isn’t this the background of Eva? Please change it to a national song contest.”

“Suddenly feeling like I should go to Gyeongbokgung or Deoksugung!”

“This person seems a bit boring; could it be they can’t even sing?”

Before long, the viewer count surpassed 4,000.

Since most were casual viewers, there were sporadic spicy comments in the chat.

Also, because Lucy had underperformed throughout today’s content, the expectations for her stage seemed significantly diminished.

“On the contrary, it’s good. People are more surprised when there’s a twist.”

Lucy awkwardly gripped the standing microphone.

Suddenly, overlapping memories came to mind.

The cheers and expectations that poured in after her first singing competition victory.

At first, Lucy, who had felt burdened by such competitive stages, had continuously avoided singing competitions afterward.

Despite that, requests for her to join kept coming, along with pushing comments from viewers.

Ultimately, due to Bluebee’s persuasion during a broadcast, she ended up entering another singing competition hosted by a big company streamer.

A stage full of pressure, an unwanted performance, the sharp gazes of fellow virtual streamer fans.

Despite all that pressure, when it was finally her turn, Lucy couldn’t begin singing for almost two minutes.

It was a broadcasting accident that occurred during a singing competition hosted by a big company streamer.

What moved Lucy again was the support from her longtime fans.

Viewers who had followed her from LebitTV or those who settled in her room during the early days of her transition to Pangea TV.

Compared to the malicious casual viewers, those loyal fans were few in number, yet they overwhelmed the chat with their supportive messages.

Lucy’s avatar, staring blankly at the chat room, finally began to sing at that moment.

A tiny voice that seemed it would vanish at any moment.

That voice grew louder, overpowering even the malicious casual viewers in that very moment!

“Just a moment….”

Reality came rushing back.

Lucy’s appearance, still not relaxed, was hesitating while touching the microphone.

Unknowingly, I stepped up onto the stage and approached her.

And I whispered softly.

“You can do it, sister.”

“Eh?”

“You’re my superstar.”

“…….”

An avatar is merely a well-decorated polygon.

I know that well, yet I found myself reaching out to stroke the back of Lucy’s hand.

Oh, what on earth have I just done?

Everything from calling her ‘sister’ to my actions felt embarrassingly ridiculous.

As I hurriedly stepped down from the stage, Miho looked at me with a peculiar gaze.

Trying to ignore it, I returned my attention to the stage just as Lucy signaled towards the VRC step.

What song did Lucy choose?

The melancholic melody of the piano solo that played before the song began had the chat buzzing.

“Wait, is she really going to sing this song?”

“Wow; isn’t Ailee’s song too difficult?”

“I used to listen to this song almost every day when it first came out; I’ve probably heard it more than a thousand times until now.”

The number one song on the annual charts from 2017, the first song in the history of South Korean music to achieve 200 million streams.

And the OST from the popular drama Goblin, “I Will Go to You Like the First Snow.”

[Before I embraced you, I didn’t know.

This world in which I stayed is this radiant.]

The lonely emotions echoed, rivaling the original.

A deep, soothing bass resonated deep within my heart.

Yes, I knew this song all too well.

[The person I reached out to with a gentle breath;

The love that called me without fear.]

At the singing contest where Lucy first participated.

That shining moment when she won is now unfolding before my eyes once more.