Surviving as the Youngest Among Giant Vtubers - Chapter 55

I led the group up to the second floor of the ryokan.

Since the entire second floor was one big room, we didn’t need to search around for people.

‘Maybe this was a mistake.’

I came up here to distract Aede’s group, but I might’ve made the wrong choice.

Most of the VTubers who had scattered when the exchange started were now gathered here. I hadn’t expected this many people.

Just at a glance, there were at least 30. And the moment we arrived, 30 pairs of eyes turned toward us.

Next to me, Kanu flinched slightly but quickly returned to normal, as if she had been through this before.

“Huh? It’s Aede! And Koru and Aurora too!”

“Kanu’s here too?!”

“Oh! Our youngest is here! Come pour some drinks! And dance!”

“Please, Lumi-sunbae…”

The global Märchen VTubers had spotted us. Honestly, I wanted to leave immediately, but I couldn’t.

Letting out a quiet sigh, I moved my feet—only to feel everyone’s gaze follow me.

There was a high chance that the non-KR Märchens didn’t know who I was.

Even if they’d seen the buzz online, it was probably just in passing.

“So that’s the youngest from KR? Her name’s Yuwol? That name is so pretty!”

“Do you know what it means?”

“Nope.”

“???”

“But the pronunciation is cute and pretty!”

They were chatting among themselves, but their eyes were still on me. It was overwhelming.

I glanced subtly at Tsupi, who promptly avoided my gaze. I seriously doubted whether she was actually my manager.

Fine. Let’s just say hello and get it over with. Just a quick greeting…

Taking a deep breath, I approached the cluster of global Märchens.

As I came closer, the loose groups clumped together into a single crowd. No joke, even school class president elections aren’t this intense.

Almost 30… No, with the new arrivals, there were exactly 40 now.

That’s when it hit me—the game was about to start soon. If I’d known, I would’ve come up from the onsen earlier.

But regrets always come too late. For now, I had to focus.

Standing before these 40 idols, I gave my greeting.

“I’m Yuwol, 11th gen from KR Märchen Live. It’s nice to meet you all.”

Just saying that made me want to curl up in a ball, but at the very least, I had to tell my name to those in the same family.

To the family called Märchen.

As calmly as I could, without letting my expression change, I introduced myself—while being watched by viewers around the world.

The combined audience of these gathered VTubers was probably in the millions. And now all those millions had heard my introduction.

‘I don’t even know anymore.’

It was only three months ago that I lived as a regular person. How did I end up here…?

With a hollow look, I walked back toward Tsupi. Behind me, people were giggling, squealing, and reacting to my introduction, but I couldn’t respond to any of it.

I wanted to just log off VR and end the stream.

• LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
• Kya
• Kyaaa
• This is it this is it this is it this is it this is it this is it LOLOLOLOLOLOL
• My name is Yuwol. Let the world know.
• LOL she’s seriously so cute
• Nooo don’t end the stream ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
• You were adorable!
• Yuwol: …
• LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
• Introducing yourself in front of VTubers with tens of millions of subs combined… not easy at all;;
• LOLOL Wol is screaming internally live
• Tsupi: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
• Yuwol: My manager is laughing in real time, what do I do, I can’t punch her, help
• LOLOL
• LOLOL
• LOL
• The manager’s having a great time apparently^^

“Stop laughing.”

“Pfft! W-Wait, my stomach—puhaha! My stomach hurts hahahaha!”

“…Kanu-sunbae.”

“Who’s that?”

“Puhahahaha!”

My senior abandoning me and my manager laughing at my shame.

Honestly, maybe I should just graduate.

Even in this sigh-worthy moment, the global Märchens were smiling at me.

Most of them spoke Japanese, so the KR members probably didn’t catch much, but I heard various compliments and “nade-nade” (pat-pat) comments.

Of course, I’m happy that they like me. I just wish they wouldn’t call me a baby.

“She’s seriously so cute!”

“I want her as my little sister.”

“I could raise her like a daughter.”

“Why don’t we have a Yuwol in ID!”

“Should we ask our manager for a youngest member too?”

“We do have a youngest.”

“Yeah, but can we really call her that…”

Listening to their chatter made me feel both relieved and creeped out.

Their eyes looked like wolves ready to cross the KR fence and snatch me away.

And in fact, the EN and JP branches had tried to “kidnap” me before. Though, to be fair, that was as an illustrator, not as the youngest.

Anyway, enough daydreaming. I glanced at the clock in the corner of my vision—it was almost midnight.

That’s one convenient thing about the virtual world. You can check the time anytime, anywhere.

And just as I turned my head to look at the seniors—

I led the group up to the second floor of the ryokan.

Since the entire second floor was just one big room, there was no need to go looking for people.

‘Maybe this was a mistake.’

I came up here to draw away Aede’s group’s attention, but it might’ve been the wrong move.

Most of the VTubers who had scattered when we first entered the exchange hall were now gathered here. I hadn’t expected this many people.

Even at a glance, there were about thirty people. And the moment we stepped in, thirty pairs of eyes turned to us.

Kanu beside me flinched for a second, but quickly recovered like she’d been through this before.

“Huh? It’s Aede! And Koru and Aurora!”

“Kanu’s here too?!”

“Oh! Our youngest is here! Come pour some drinks! And dance!”

“Please, Lumi-sunbae…”

The global Märchen VTubers had spotted us. Honestly, I wanted to bolt immediately, but that wouldn’t be right…

I sighed internally and took a step, and suddenly all eyes locked onto me.

The non-KR Märchens likely didn’t know who I was.

Even if I’d made a splash online, it was probably just a passing glance for them.

“So that’s KR’s youngest? Her name’s Yuwol, right? That name is so pretty!”

“Do you know what it means?”

“Nope.”

“???”

“But it sounds really cute and pretty!”

They were chatting among themselves, but their eyes were still all on me. Ugh, the pressure.

I glanced at Tsupi—who quickly looked away. I seriously questioned whether she was a real manager.

Fine. I’ll just say hi and leave. Just greet them…

Taking a deep breath, I walked toward the group of global Märchens.

As I approached, the clumped groups merged into one big crowd. Even class president elections weren’t this intimidating.

About thirty… No, with the new arrivals just now, exactly forty people.

That’s when it clicked. The game was about to begin. If I’d known, I would’ve come up from the onsen faster.

But regrets are always late. For now, I had to focus.

I stood before the forty idols and introduced myself.

“I’m Yuwol, 11th Gen from KR Märchen Live. Nice to meet you all.”

Just saying that made me want to curl into a ball, but still—I had to at least share my name with my fellow family members.

The family known as Märchen.

Doing my best to keep my expression neutral and voice calm, I introduced myself—while being broadcast to viewers around the world.

The total viewership among these VTubers had to exceed a million. That meant over a million people just heard my introduction.

‘I don’t even know anymore.’

It was only three months ago that I lived like a normal person. How did it come to this…?

Wearing a blank, almost enlightened look, I returned to Tsupi. Behind me, people giggled, clapped, and responded with excitement to my intro, but I had no energy to react.

I wanted to log off VR and shut down the stream right then.

• LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO
• Kyaaa
• Kya
• This is it this is it this is it this is it LOLOLOLOLOL
• My name is Yuwol. Proclaim it to the world
• She’s seriously so cute
• Nooo don’t end the stream ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
• That was adorable!
• Yuwol: …
• LOLOLOLOLOLOL
• Introducing yourself in front of VTubers with tens of millions of subs combined… so not easy;;
• LOLOL Wol’s internally screaming live
• Tsupi: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
• Yuwol: My manager is laughing out loud right now, what do I do, I can’t even punch her
• LOL
• LOLOL
• LMAO
• Manager says she’s having a blast^^

“Stop laughing.”

“Pfft! W-Wait, my stomach—puhaha! My stomach hurts hahahaha!”

“…Kanu-sunbae.”

“Who’s that?”

“Puhahahaha!”

A senior cutting ties, a manager laughing at her idol’s misery.

Honestly, maybe it’s time I graduated.

Even in this sigh-worthy moment, the global Märchens smiled warmly at me.

Most of it was in Japanese, so the KR members probably didn’t catch much, but I heard all sorts of compliments and gentle “pat-pat” noises.

Of course, I was happy they liked me. I just wished they’d stop calling me a baby.

“She’s so cute!”

“I want her as my little sister.”

“I could raise her like my daughter.”

“Why don’t we have a Yuwol in ID?!”

“Should we ask our manager for a youngest too?”

“We already have a youngest.”

“Yeah, but… can we really call her that…”

Hearing their chatter was comforting, but the way they looked at me sent chills down my spine.

Like wolves peering through the KR fence, ready to snatch me away.

And well, EN and JP had tried to “kidnap” me before. Though, that was as an illustrator, not as the youngest.

Anyway, enough drifting thoughts. I looked at the corner of my screen—it was nearly midnight.

That’s the convenience of the virtual world. You can check the time anytime, anywhere.

And just as I turned my head toward the seniors—

“It’s time. Eunhye, when is JP going to finish getting ready?”

Tsupi, who had been giggling nonstop, snapped right back into business mode.

…Still, I preferred the smiling version of her over this corporate face.

Tsupi briefly got on a call with Lee Eunhye and nodded.

“They’re done? What? No, we just have to move our bodies. This exchange is hosted by JP, so they’re running everything. Anyway, they’re ready? Got it~.”

“So now the content begins?”

“Yeah. At exactly midnight, the game starts. You know the Son Byeongho game, right?”

“I know of it, but I’ve never played.”

“…I’ll play it with you often.”

Tsupi looked at me with pity like I had no friends, but I said nothing. It wasn’t entirely wrong, and saying anything would just get me teased more.

Guess I should work on making friends.

“So? We’re not going to sit in a circle with all forty people, right? That’d be way too chaotic. Viewers wouldn’t be able to follow anything.”

“They’re splitting us into groups of five, and the last ones standing in each group will gather again. I only heard about it, so I’m not sure on the exact rules.”

“So the final match will be the highlight.”

“Probably. Personally, I hope you lose.”

“…Why.”

“Because it’d be more fun. I also want to see you cry.”

I was speechless. Even funnier was Kanu nodding beside her. Seriously, sunbae…

Anyway, while we were chatting, a JP manager came over to announce the game was ready.

The five-person group I got included me, Lumi, two from ID, and one from CH.

Aside from me, it seemed they all already knew each other.

Once everyone was seated, the host (one of the JP managers) appeared to announce the start.

Alright. Let’s aim for a mid-tier exit. Not too early, not too late.

“And of course, there are prizes! First, second, and third place will all receive gifts!”

…Maybe I’ll try just a little harder.

Now I was curious about the prizes.

“Kyaaa! Why are you all targeting me?!”

“What are you talking about? Stop whining and hurry up, Arcane!”

“Please, please! Spare me! I’ll help you right away if you let me live!”

“Hey! Don’t betray me!”

“The strong survive, idiot!”

‘They’re all corrupt officials, I swear.’

I watched the remaining seven players with an unreadable expression.

I had somehow made it to the finals—and even got first place in my group. Now, the winners were facing off.

This was the current situation. Aside from me, most participants had lost about half their fingers.

That global senior begging for mercy? She only had one finger left.

And me?

‘Why. Why do I still have all five?’

No one was attacking me—in fact, they were acting as human shields for me. Was Son Byeongho supposed to be a team game?

‘It’s not, right…? I’m alone here?’

While the others were fighting amongst themselves, I just sat back and watched. The chat was in hysterics.

• LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
• No one’s attacking Wol
• And it’s kind of scary how they all just avoid her lololol
• What are you guys doing lol
• Something’s wrong with this game, dear host
• Someone please attack Wol. If you don’t, I’ll track your IP and find your house (Deleted message)
• Isn’t this supposed to be UFC? Why does it feel like WWE?

“Seriously though. It’s fun for me since no one’s targeting me.”

Still, I was curious about the first-place prize. At this point, it felt like the global seniors wanted me to win.

Since I was going to win anyway, I started wondering what the prize might be.

Just as I thought that, people started dropping like flies.

“Kyaaah! You traitor!”

“You trusted me too easily, you fool!”

“How could someone with such a kind face betray so naturally…”

“This is life! I’m not the villain!”

…Honestly, games like this are kind of fun sometimes.

Maybe I should ask Tsupi to gather the KR members and play it later.

.
.
.

Before I knew it, it was down to a 1v1.

“…Sunbae.”

“Hehehe.”

Elainé sat across from me, giggling softly.

Only her pinky finger remained.

“Congratulations, Hero.”

She smiled gently.

I let out a quiet breath as I looked at her face.

Then down at my hand. All five fingers still up.

I was already the winner.

Honestly, winning like this wasn’t satisfying.

The global seniors had spoon-fed me the win with their staged drama.

The spoon was already in front of my mouth. But I kicked it away with my own foot.

“Elainé sunbae. I feel like it’d be a shame to end it like this. Want to make a bet?”

“Uh… All of a sudden?”

Not just Elainé, but all the watching Märchen VTubers. The managers. The viewers.

Everyone was full of question marks.

Only I wore a faint smile as I continued.

“People keep calling me a baby, so I’m not saying no to being spoon-fed. But I’ve got a duty to entertain my 70—no, 90 thousand national viewers.”

Of course, I didn’t plan this from the start. I just made that up on the fly.

People might say I’m a baby or whatever, but I’m still a Hero.

Even if not often, it’s only right to roleplay that here.

I smiled and folded down four fingers.

“Let’s settle it with rock-paper-scissors. How’s that sound?”

“…We really were only thinking of ourselves. Sorry, Wol’s viewers. And to you, our youngest.”

“It’s okay. My viewers aren’t really paying attention anyway.”

That was a lie. Of course they were. They were probably clipping this moment right now and freaking out.

One day, I’ll have to rein them in.

Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud, so I kept smiling and said,

“Winner of rock-paper-scissors gets to attack. No suicides, okay? And no double knockouts.”

“H-Haha. Alright. I’ll take this last round seriously.”

“Good. Then—”

Rock—

Paper—

Scissors!

.
.
.

Well, I mean…
If everyone had fun, isn’t that what matters?

“Sunbae…”

“Congrats on 1st place, Elainé sunbae.”

I smiled as I looked at a teary-eyed Elainé.

And with that—

The curtain finally fell on the exchange meeting.