I Quit Being an Idol and Became a Youtuber - Chapter 62

Baekro’s chosen game was simple.

Two players control the triangle and rectangle using their respective WASD and arrow keys to move to the checkpoint in a straightforward game.

Due to several obstacles in between, if their movements do not sync, it could actually become a cause of friendship destruction.

“I’ll handle the arrow keys for now.”

“Oh, then I’ll type the alphabet.”

I, on the right, automatically took the arrow keys.

Baekro, on the left, claimed the WASD.

Since Baekro plays a lot of games, it would be more comfortable for her to use that.

As the game started, the red square and triangle appeared, each on the left and right.

A path like a maze.

There was a door above leading to the next stage.

Let’s see, should I try moving first?

“Aha, so that’s how it goes?”

After pressing the arrow key a few times as a test, the square began moving here and there accordingly.

Moving a little to the side, a light was blinking inside a pit.

Seeing the red dotted lines drawing a shape around the rectangle made it clear what action was required.

“Oh, please fit into that square, older sister!”

“Well, it seems like that’s what we need to do.”

As soon as Cheongha saw that, she started rapidly pressing the arrow keys.

The fact that it forced someone to move without an explanation made me think that the game was indeed well made.

Ding—

– Giing

As I entered the rectangular space of the pit, the elevator carrying Baekro moved with its unique notification sound.

“Whoopee!”

Baekro successfully emerged from the elevator onto the second floor.

At the same time, a blinking square appeared in front of her.

There was something resembling a claw from a claw machine hanging below, so she would probably use that to pull me up.

Now, Baekro just had to fit into that spot…

“Now, say ‘please lift me up’.”

“……..”

-? hahaha

– She’s teasing

– Is it okay to be right next to her…?

– Ohh,

“…Baekro?”

“Yes, um…?”

Baekro, who was in the middle of teasing, suddenly turned her head.

Thanks to that, she made eye contact with Cheongha who was looking at her.

The expression from her characteristic cat-like eyes and drooping mouth seemed more like…

“Is that an angry cobra?”

Yes. It reminded me of the cobra I briefly saw in a documentary my dad loved.

With its body upright, it looked like it could spit venom and bite the lion in front of it at any moment.

In short, that spirit wasn’t a joke.

“Ugh…”

Unable to withstand that gaze, Baekro quietly entered the square.

‘What the…’

I wasn’t really angry.

I just wanted to casually ask her to lift me up, so why was she so scared?

Cheongha, who felt somewhat hurt by Baekro’s reaction, turned her head again.

She was smiling in her own way, but what could she do?

Her basic impression was sharp.

This was indeed something I should have asked the illustrator about.

* * *

The game continued after that.

“Ugh…?”

“What are you doing?”

In the meantime, Baekro took off on her own, dying in a thorny patch.

“Sister?!?!”

“Sorry, mistake.”

She also mistakenly entered a random puzzle square that got Baekro killed.

But overall, it was peaceful.

“Ahhh!! I died again!”

– hahaha

– Baekro suffers again today

– Baekro is in pain again~

“Ugh… let’s stop this here for now.”

Baekro sighed after somehow clearing the level with a conceptual save.

“Yeah, that sounds better.”

If we kept playing this game, we might both end up stressed out.

There was definitely a reason why cooperative games were called friendship destruction games.

Turning my head to check the clock, an hour and a half had already passed.

Wow, we’ve been at this for over an hour?

[User Bald Stork donated 5,000 won]

– By the way, is Cheongha pretty?

A donation message arrived.

“Oh, Cheongha? Don’t be surprised. She’s really pretty. She’s the prettiest I’ve seen.”

“Haah…”

Praising looks is nice when it’s heard from afar.

But when it’s said right next to you, it feels a bit weird.

“Oh, but your eyes are a bit sharp.”

“…I admit that.”

Sometimes I feel envious of others.

Because they wouldn’t bring unnecessary misunderstandings with just their gaze.

“Still, I think that suits the atmosphere more. If you smile, you’ll be very pretty, right?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Still, this is my charm.

Even though I look like a cold ice princess on the outside, I’m kind to my people—that’s the complete Ren.

– Is she at the level of a celebrity?

– If Baekro says that, isn’t she really pretty?

– Honestly, I can’t say she’s ugly when she’s right next to me.

– Baekro has survived another day…

– Phew, made it through today!

“Wow, really?! …But is she really not a celebrity?”

Baekro, who was fired up by the viewers’ comments, threw a question at Ren.

Right, why hadn’t this question come up earlier?

“…I dunno?”

I dodged the question casually.

Well, I can’t just outright say on the stream that I’m a celebrity.

Japanese + Celebrity + Good at Korean + Casual enough to stream, and having no recent schedule.

If I were to narrow it down that much, my red pill would fit into that category.

‘Thank goodness I hadn’t done a singing bank until now…’

If singing talent were added, the candidate pool would become even narrower.

The day my name gets leaked would mean it’s a dead giveaway.

For that reason, it’s better to avoid mentioning the entertainment industry as much as possible.

“Anyway, shall we eat first and then continue? Mom said she prepared something tasty.”

“Oh? Me too?”

“Of course, we have to treat our guests!”

Just like that, I was led by Baekro to the dining table.

“Oh, hello~”

“Ah, yes… hello.”

Baekro’s mother welcomed me warmly.

Being welcomed by parents at a friend’s house, and the well-prepared table—everything was an unfamiliar sight.

The menu was Korean food.

It was a typical composition that one would think of when considering Korean cuisine abroad.

“So, you’re Seohyun’s friend?”

“Oh yes, I’m Cheongha.”

“Oh, such a pretty name~!”

For a moment, I thought about revealing my real name, but since I didn’t know what could happen, I decided to stick with my stage name.

“When I first saw you, I thought you were some celebrity~”

“Ah, yes… I often hear that.”

“So, I really don’t understand why you’re a VTuber.”

The pleasant atmosphere continued.

“Thank you for the meal~!”

“You’re welcome.”

After finishing our meal, we headed back to the soundproof booth.

“Okay, everyone~ We’re back!”

– Oh, you’re back?

– We just had our meal too

– Didn’t go anywhere for fun?

“Well, it’s late to go out.”

Once I got back inside, I felt lazy about going back out.

I didn’t feel this way when I was active, but it seems like my body is gradually adapting to being a recluse.

I was worried that I might completely become a homebody, so I contemplated exercising later.

“Then let’s not play a game for now, just chat a little before ending the stream~”

– ???

– Huh?

– Hey, don’t leave

– Don’t run away

– Catch Kim Cheongha

“Cheongha~ Are you okay with an official interview now~?”

Ignoring the protests coming in the chat window, Baekro turned to Cheongha.

“…Yes, anything’s fine. I’ll answer all that I can.”

But didn’t we ask everything already?

“So, why did you suddenly move to Korea?”

Baekro leaned her head curiously, genuinely interested.

Since from their perspective, it was right after the accident and I immediately moved to Korea.

“Well, I felt like it was time to take broadcasting seriously.”

I couldn’t say because I felt like COVID was spreading, so I gave a similar reason.

Well, it’s not a completely wrong statement.

Indeed, that was part of the reason I decided to go to Korea.

“I thought it would be better to stay in Korea if I wanted to enter any MCN or anything like that. Since I remembered, I came right away.”

“Oh, that’s true.”

Baekro agreed with that statement.

No matter which MCN it is, you have to at least see someone’s face once to sign a contract.

Considering other various factors, it might have been better to just come to Korea altogether.

‘But this sister has some serious execution power.’

I didn’t expect her to decide to leave for an international trip right after recovery.

In some ways, she has even more execution power than me.

“Then, can I ask Baekro a question too?”

“Oh yes! Feel free to ask!”

The moment I thought about it, Cheongha’s question came flying in.

Okay, since permission was given…

After a brief pause, I opened my mouth.

“I actually want to try broadcasting like Baekro, what should I do?”

“Oh, really? Me?!”

Baekro reacted as if she couldn’t believe it.

Why the reaction?

“Well, you’re the first person to ask me something like that…”

“Just, you naturally talk to viewers. You’re really great at joking around while broadcasting. As a beginner, I just wanted to hear some related advice.”

Despite her characteristic personality, Baekro was impressive in her hosting abilities.

Just recently, she pulled me into a m*rder game, right?

‘It’s an essential element to become a major broadcaster.’

While that kind of style is usually something you create yourself, having a stagnant water right next to you…

There’s no reason not to take some advice, right?

“Um…”

Baekro, who was pondering my question for a moment, opened her mouth.

“I guess I just felt a bit courageous?”

Since it’s not a face-to-face interaction with viewers, the anxiety that comes from relationships has diminished.

“I started to gain confidence. Even if my content flops, those people won’t leave me. Something like that.”

That naturally allowed her to comfortably converse with viewers while broadcasting, her mouth became lively, and new viewers repeatedly appeared and got hooked into her show.

– ㅠㅠ..

– What, I’m touched…

– We won’t leave you, Baekro..

– I’m going to bury my bones here from now on.

“Sorry, I’ve only been broadcasting for a few years…”

“Ah, it’s okay.”

Thanks to that, I realized what I had forgotten.

Those people from my past life.

The reason my broadcasts hadn’t reached them.

‘I guess I was unconsciously steeped in my celebrity days.’

Right now, I am officially a virtual streamer.

I had forgotten that the fandoms of celebrities and internet broadcasters have different tendencies.

The image that celebrities beyond the TV are unattainable.

If it feels like a literal idol…

On the other hand, internet broadcasters feel like friends.

What happened yesterday, what they had for breakfast this morning.

Living in a world that is completely disconnected from our reality, unlike celebrities.

Those who tell normal stories allowed me to realize that they were once normal people like me.

No matter how much everyday filming variety shows have come out recently, in that aspect, celebrities could never beat internet broadcasters.

The basic premise was different from the start.

No matter how good and expensive the schematics of a sports car are, you can’t make a truck out of it, can you?

For most fans, internet broadcasters are like friends who directly come to comfort you when you’re having a hard time.

Friends who come every day to share how they’re doing.

That’s why I loved internet broadcasting in my past life.

“That was already quite helpful.”

Cheongha thanked Baekro.

Thinking about the new realization I gained, a smile crept out.

And Baekro’s response was.

“…Crazy, your smile is super pretty.”

That statement completely shattered the touching atmosphere just moments ago.

Ah, is this why internet broadcasting is underground?

* * *

So, about two weeks later.

[Kim Cheongha has started a live stream]

[Title: Virtual Streamer Kim Cheongha, returning today]

Cheongha’s broadcast appeared again on the live stream.