Surviving as the Youngest Among Giant Vtubers - Chapter 53

Märchen Exchange Meeting Part 2.

After about a 30-minute break, we were set to move to the Part 2 exchange venue. Before that, I looked over the participant list once more.

---

KR: Lumi, Elainé, Kanu, Yuwol, Becky, Rezi, Vida, Sion.

---

There were also names from the other Märchen branches, but it seemed impossible to memorize them all.

Honestly, it was questionable whether someone like me—who can’t even speak English—should be here in the first place. Expecting me to contribute meaningfully to the exchange seemed like a stretch.

Even the viewers didn’t seem to expect much.

‘They’re all people I don’t know outside of KR anyway.’

Sure, I’d come across some of them through YouTube’s algorithm now and then. But could I actually remember any of it?

“Before we switch maps, how about we do some quick greetings?”

—Wol-nim, can you speak English?!
—It would’ve been perfect if Imari was here, such a shame
—Well, at least they said we’ll have interpreters, so that’s a relief lol
—Isn’t it only India we can’t really communicate with?
—Hello, Kon’nichiwa, Nihao, Namaste
—Most of them just speak Japanese during exchanges, so no need to stress too much!
—I heard Sion and Vida know a bit of Japanese

“Oh really? Still, I feel like I should at least know the basics.”

Viewers said Japanese would be enough, but I felt like I should at least know some greetings.

‘Now that I think about it, I heard ID Märchen speaks Japanese too.’

I’d never seen them personally, but hearing things from here and there, I ended up knowing more about other Märchen branches than I thought.

—Tsupi: Wol-ah, I’ll be joining you in the Part 2 exchange, okay? I’ll handle interpretation, so don’t worry too much.

“Oh. Finally, Tsupi has some use.”

—Tsupi: ?
—?
—lolololololol?
—No way lololololol
—So you’re saying she was useless until now lololololol
—Manager only cool in moments like this
—Tsupi: Unbelievable lol;;;
—I heard each manager is assigned to act as interpreter
—Being a Märchen manager sounds rough;;;
—Not just anyone can be an idol manager lololol
—‘Has some use’ lolololol

I’d heard there would be interpreters. I just didn’t expect it to be the managers.

‘Maybe that’s for the best? Better than being stuck with some total stranger.’

For me, it was much more comfortable to have familiar Tsupi around than someone I didn’t know at all.

Plus, she’d probably help fill the silence on stream too, so that was another bonus.

I casually chatted with the viewers for a bit, then checked the time.

9:55 p.m. It was almost time for the Part 2 Märchen exchange to begin.

I stood up from where I’d been sitting, stretched a little, and glanced around.

Aside from the Part 2 participants, everyone had disappeared from the party room. Even the Gen members participating had stepped away in real life for a quick break.

Which meant—I was alone here.

Staring blankly at the party room, I glanced at the chat window and casually tossed out a bomb.

“Should we maybe decide on a fan name soon? I can’t keep calling you all ‘everyone’ or ‘viewers’ forever, right?”

—Gasp
—???!!!?!
—Did she really just drop a bomb like this now??
—Tsupi: ?
—Manager thrown into chaos at idol’s surprise declaration…
—Tsupi: I mean, honestly, it’s about time. Kinda overdue, not gonna lie
—Gasp
—Making a fan name 3 months after debut;;

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with being a little late. I’ll probably post a notice about it on the fan café tomorrow or the day after. Though Tsupi will probably be the one to do it, I’ll try to do it quickly myself.”

—Tsupi: I’ll post it. I feel like Wol would make it too stiff.
—Finally, Wol’s getting an official fan name?!
—Manager doesn’t trust her own idol lolololol
—Exchange meeting’s starting soon…
—What are you thinking of naming us?!
—Tsupi lololol aren’t you being too harsh on Wol?

“…I’m an illustrator, though.”

—Tsupi: Notices aren’t drawings, baby girl.

“I’m not a baby.”

—Tsupi: lol

“……”

—What are you two even doing lolololololol
—No seriously lolololol
—You’re not a baby?
—Weren’t you the baby hero? lololololololol
—Tsupi’s so annoying lololol
—??? : You’re horrible at writing announcements
—The world’s gotten so good—you can now lie down and watch baby streams

I really want to change managers.

“We’re switching maps now!”

The staff led the eight participants to move maps.

The Part 2 exchange meeting took place on a map modeled after Japan.

‘Wasn’t it called a ryokan?’

That was the map name. As the name suggests, it’s basically an inn.

But unlike typical inns, this one had hot springs attached. That’s supposed to be the unique charm of a ryokan.

Though I’ve never been to Japan, I felt like I could grasp the vibe just from hearing about it.

“How is it? We’re planning to travel somewhere like this next year. Do you think it’d be nice?”

“I think it’s fine. Sounds like fun.”

“What’s up with the homebody all of a sudden…?”

“…Just because I’m a homebody doesn’t mean I hate going outside, you know?”

Grumbling slightly at Tsupi’s words, I looked around the map.

Part 2 of the exchange was, like Part 1, primarily for socializing, but this one had content too.

The Son Byeongho Game. A famous game that had made its way beyond Korea to the world.

‘…Or maybe not?’

I’ve seen foreigners play it sometimes on TV.

Anyway, until the game started, we were free to wander around. We could greet other Märchen members as we passed them.

Of course, I planned to avoid everyone as much as I could. Strangers were still overwhelming.

“But the server’s holding up surprisingly well. The map looked a bit small, but with the managers too, there must be around 80 people in here.”

“What’s our company’s name again?”

“Fair point.”

In a company that runs on grinding people down, common sense has no place. Those poor employees…

As Tsupi and I scurried around the ryokan interior—

“So this is the hot spring, huh.”

We’d arrived at the onsen.

Naturally, the one we entered was the women’s bath, and we took a look at the outdoor bath too.

But it didn’t quite match the fantasy we’d expected. It was… kinda deflating.

“What exactly were you expecting…?”

“I mean… like having a tray with sake while soaking in the open-air bath?”

“Hmm. I’m sure that exists somewhere… but if the tray tilts even a little, the sake would spill.”

“I saw it in a manga.”

“Live your real life, kid.”

“I live a virtual life.”

—What is this conversation
—What are they even saying lololololol
—Virtual life… accurate but why does it sound so sadㅠㅠ lololol
—You need to live, Wol-nim… live outside the internet!
—Massive respect if you miss your days as a normie, Wol

“Massive respect.”

“?”

“What.”

“Why are you saying that?”

“Geez, I say it for you and you still complain.”

I was dumbfounded. I decided to stop with the silly chatter. As we left the hot spring to explore the other rooms—

A few people entered the onsen.

They were members from other Märchen branches. Three of them, not including managers.

Aurora from EN, Koru from ID, and Aede from JP.

True to the name “International Exchange,” the group was nicely mixed.

You might wonder how I knew who they were—but during the break earlier, I studied the exchange participant list and familiarized myself with their faces.

Not just their faces, I even tried memorizing their names and outfits. It wasn’t necessary, but still.

I figured, wouldn’t it feel nice for someone to recognize you first? That vague thought led me to memorize them.

“What do you want to do?”

“…What do you mean, what? We already made eye contact. We can’t just walk away.”

Tsupi whispered as she glanced at them, and I made a reluctant face as I approached the three.

As we neared, the three VTubers giggled and squealed in delight.

“! 初めまして! 私の名前はアエデ! JPメルヘンライブ4期生、アエデです! (Nice to meet you! My name is Aede! I’m Aede from JP Märchen Live, 4th Gen!)”

“She said, ‘Nice to meet you. My name is Aede. I’m from JP Märchen, 4th Gen.’”

I nodded at Tsupi’s interpretation. Since I’d been greeted, I should greet back—

“ENのオロラ。2期生。 (Aurora from EN. 2nd Gen.)”

“Aurora from EN. 2nd Gen.”

……

Okay, my turn to—

“IDのコルです。よろしく。 (Koru from ID. Nice to meet you.)”

“Koru from ID. Nice to meet you. By the way, she’s 3rd Gen.”

“I know that much.”

After hearing Koru’s introduction, I waited a moment.

They might say something else.

But the three of them didn’t open their mouths again. Looks like it’s safe for me to speak now.

‘Still, I wasn’t a complete failure at studying after all.’

I took Japanese in high school. It was my second foreign language.

“KRメルヘンライブの11期生。ヨンサ、ユウォルです。 (11th Gen of KR Märchen Live. Hero, Yuwol.)”

“…?”

“?”

“?”

“?”

“I mean, I can say something basic like that, okay?”

—?
—?????
—Why is her pronunciation so good?
—Wol can speak Japanese…?
—?????????
—What the heck…
—This 11th Gen is something else…

Sheesh. I looked around at the chat and people with an incredulous expression.

I’m not the brightest, but it was a subject I liked, so I remember getting average grades at least.

I’m not fluent, but I can do basic greetings and small talk.

“フッ。今はちょっと違って見えますか？ (Hmph. Do I look a little different now?)”

—Sir, that is not everyday language.

Yeah. I watched a lot of anime. Happy now?

Another piece of my private life got revealed today.