Ziiiiing─
“……”
I returned to reality.
As I raised my body from the virtual interface, there was a clear difference between my virtual self and my earthly self.
My stomach growled.
How long has it been?
I turned on the computer in the dark room to check the time.
“11 o’clock…”
Having started at 4, I had spent a whopping 7 hours in the virtual reality game.
I hastily put on some clothes and opened the door.
Cold delivery food was sitting at the door.
I initially thought I’d only play for about 3 hours, but meeting Yena had somewhat delayed that.
‘It was fun, too.’
The delivery food was a packed meal filled with a lot of meat.
I peeled off the plastic, loosely covered the transparent lid, and popped it into the shaky microwave for 2 minutes.
The uneasy wiwiing~ sound filled the still room.
I need to buy one soon.
“Should I look for a new room?”
I looked around.
I hadn’t realized until I put in the interface, but this space was definitely small.
When it was just the computer and table alongside the bed, there was a decent amount of space, but now with the interface, it could definitely be called cramped.
But with only about 20 million won, it’d be hard to find a bigger room.
Even if I did, the money would run out quickly.
“…Hmm.”
Sitting at the table-desk, I reminisced about what had just happened while eating the packed meal.
After the fight, Yena proposed streaming, and I declined.
After all, I needed to pay my dues according to her wishes.
I had no intention of broadcasting for someone else.
‘Really? I think you’d do well.’
‘I’m not really into it. I just did it for fun earlier.’
‘Then… okay. Please accept my friend request. I’ll reach out to you again later.’
‘Is this where we’re ending for today?’
‘Yeah. Well, the viewers will be going crazy, though…’
If I show everything from the start, it won’t be fun.
She smiled and said goodbye, and I returned to reality.
I clenched my hand that was holding the spear.
As expected, it seems I can’t escape that place.
■
Sunlight tickled my view through the tiny window.
Is it already morning?
The alarm is broken, so I can’t tell the exact time.
“7 o’clock.”
Looking at the computer clock, it indeed said 7 AM.
I woke up right on the dot.
After folding the blanket, I quickly had a simple breakfast with the bread I bought in advance and took a shower.
After taking a shower.
I bought bread at a small bakery in front of the villa, and they always ask if I’m a foreigner.
I just said something vague like “Yes.”
From a different perspective, it’s true that people from another world are its own kind of foreigners.
When I looked in the bathroom mirror, the pretty face of Lady Lily caught my eye.
With this appearance, I would really attract some attention again.
I tied my hair back and wore a black hat to hide my blue hair.
Even though my face was still making a strong statement, the most conspicuous feature in reality was the blue hair, no matter if it was in Deoen or not.
Unless it stands out too much, surprisingly, people don’t pay much attention to others.
I put on the most decent outfit I had among the few clothes in my closet.
I think I also need to add clothes shopping to today’s agenda.
“Alright.”
After finishing my preparations, I opened the door and stepped out.
The cool breeze welcomed me.
■
[I encountered a newbie who cleared the tutorial without battle assistance?!]
NewTube Yena / 970,000 views. 1 hour ago.
“Alright.”
Through the large glass, the cityscape and the Han River looked refreshing from the tall apartment.
Yena, a partner streamer living there and a rising star, nodded while watching her video uploaded on NewTube.
Though it was a short video of about 10 minutes, it achieved a million views just one hour after being uploaded.
An unprecedented achievement in Yena’s NewTube history.
At this rate, she expected based on her experience that ten million views would easily be surpassed in 2-3 days.
Although there were already people posting videos related to Lady Lily, raking in hundreds of thousands of views.
“I already took the biggest chunk~”
As soon as the broadcast ended, the editing team chat was already halfway through the editing process.
The editing team had built a consistent relationship with Yena for three years and didn’t need much direction to get right to work.
─Let’s split it into three parts. About 40% of the second part is completed.
─I don’t think we’ll need to touch the thumbnail, sis. Lady Lily is just too pretty.
─With this, we might set our highest view record!
The editing team already sensed victory.
Sure, the title is catchy, but when you see Lady Lily’s face in the thumbnail, there’s no way anyone could resist clicking it.
With sky-colored blue hair that evokes images of the sea and blue eyes.
And an appearance that seems to charm anyone, regardless of gender.
Not to mention her flawless white outfit.
How could you possibly just let that go by?
She looked at her private community called “Tgather” with a satisfied smile.
Already, posts demanding Lily to show up were flooding in.
Normally, she would have danced around the topic, saying “no mention of Tas,” but now it was the opposite.
This bait needed to keep burning.
Where else could she attract such a crowd?
Yena was convinced that this commotion would be the biggest in her streaming career.
“If only Lady Lily would stream too.”
She didn’t seem like a rookie.
Such skill could definitely not come from a novice.
‘So whose alternate character is this?’
It was the prevailing thought among most people in the community, and Yena was somewhat certain of that too.
Yet paradoxically, she couldn’t find the “main character” that reminded her of Lily’s movements.
Of course, it wasn’t that professionals couldn’t do such movements.
Even she could manage that, and it could also be done by amateur trainees, given the right conditions.
‘Assuming there are equipment and stats involved.’
With no buffs whatsoever, an average newbie couldn’t achieve such movements.
Ding~
─I’ve organized the notifications for the donations you’ve muted. Should I send them?
The manager’s Discord message.
Since she had muted the donation sounds during the content, the donations had piled up quite nicely.
While a lot of people showed up, the overwhelming influence of Lily made the donations skyrocket.
Maybe I should send some to Lady Lily too.
─Yes. Please do.
■
“Um…”
“Thank you, dear customer~”
Ziiing.
After visiting all the places planned for the day, she finally bought a phone at a mobile store.
A 24-month contract for the latest model.
It’s only been about three years since the world changed, and yet the phone series has jumped over twenty levels.
D 27+ or something…
It’s a company I’ve never seen before; apparently, this is the most popular phone in Korea.
So where did the S series I knew go?
“Did I end up spending a bit much?”
I hadn’t planned on buying the latest model.
I was just going to get a regular phone that functions normally, but the amazing features made me buy it without even realizing.
Virtual reality devices were one thing, but phones had also made tremendous advancements.
I checked my electronic bank balance on the phone.
The ten-million unit mark had crumbled long ago.
I haven’t exchanged it yet, but with a million won worth of gold coins, surely I can figure something out?
I had that little self-comfort.
Yeah, money can come and go, it’s here one moment and gone the next.
It’s been rare for me to be rich in this place I’ve been reincarnated into.
I’m not the type to hoard money anyway, and even if I had some, my life hasn’t dramatically changed.
As someone who carries the blood of the Celestial Race, I’ve always managed to stay clean and not suffer from hunger, even without money.
So, of course, I can’t help but struggle to earn some.
But I’m different on Earth.
If I can’t wash, I get dirty, and if I can’t eat, I get hungry.
Plus, there are so many delicious foods on Earth. Tasty food costs a lot of money.
Life on Earth makes you spend money like water.
“Eh! Just earn some money!”
I believe in my abilities.
I can do just fine without broadcasting like before…
Ding!
My phone rings. Even though the companies have changed, KakaoTalk remains.
Looking closer, there’s a small mark symbolizing Deoen, the angel and demon.
Since Deoen is a national game, it wouldn’t be strange for it to collaborate with the national messenger.
Today, everywhere I went, there were Deoen-related products.
Miss Yena 14:35
-Do you have some time?
Yena’s message.
Time? Is she talking about broadcasting?
Since I’ve received something, I was considering doing it once or twice more, but I wasn’t planning on doing it right away.
I was about to send a rejection message when I hesitated.
Miss Yena 14:36
-So many donations have come in that I’m thinking of giving a portion to Lady Lily. Can you log in and chat for a bit?
Miss Yena 14:36
-If you’re tired today, you can just let me know your account. If it’s a little, I’ll just give it to you, but over three thousand has come in.
Me 14:36
-I’m in.
Miss Yena 14:36
-Huh?
Me 14:36
-I’m logging in.
I can’t resist this.
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