December 31st.
It’s the last day of the year and the day of the Deoen special showcase.
The event is taking place in the Deoen stadium, not in reality. Last year, I watched the showcase with the Lily’s Group staff.
I wanted to spend the last day of the year comfortably with those who helped me.
However, this year, I already spent that time during Christmas.
It hasn’t even been a week since Christmas, so gathering again feels a bit off.
“Is this the place…?”
Arriving at the stadium around 6 PM, I took a look around.
There weren’t many people yet, perhaps still preparing, but a fair bit of activity was going on.
Since it’s in Deoen and not reality, I could see people prepping for filming with magic and special abilities.
As I wandered around the stadium, someone approached, clapping their hands.
Wearing glasses that suited her well…
“Oh my! Lady Lily! Nice to meet you for the first time!”
“Hello, Kim Soo-ah caster?”
“Oh! You know my name?”
Kim Soo-ah.
She was the caster from last year’s 2022 showcase and a rare female caster.
I’m not too sure about it, but usually, most casters are men rather than women.
Because she’s a rare female caster and looks good with glasses, she’s quite popular among gamers and viewers who enjoy broadcasts.
“So you’re doing it again this year.”
“Yes. Deoen has given me another great opportunity. Thank you so much for participating, Lady Lily.”
“I’m just here to watch.”
All I’m doing is sitting in the VIP section and staring at the showcase.
I didn’t really come to participate in the event.
Even so, Soo-ah waved her hand with a smile.
“Oh come on! Just showing your face is impressive enough.”
“Really?”
“Yes~ There are so many people who like you, Lady Lily. Plus, you help in various ways, right?”
“I appreciate you thinking that way.”
Soo-ah continued to chat friendly for a bit before bowing her head and leaving to prepare for rehearsal.
Left alone, I headed towards the VIP waiting room.
Seats comfortable enough to lounge around in and expensive snacks.
There were a total of ten seats arranged, all of which overlooked the stadium, and if I wanted, I could separate them using Deoen’s unique magic.
There are probably more waiting rooms on the opposite or left side since it shares some similarities with a real stadium.
Now that I look over, I noticed someone sitting far away in one of the seats.
There was someone sitting in a seat that fell down.
With impressive ears and a tail…
“Hayooo!”
“Miss Yena?”
“You came early, huh?”
“Ah, I just came early to turn on the broadcast. What about Lady Lily?”
“I did too.”
Yena had already arrived and was half-lying in her seat, holding a drink that cost 20 gold in one hand.
Looking at the camera, it seemed the broadcast was already on.
“Hey, guys, Lady Lily has arrived! Say hi!”
[Lilha!]
[Wait, Lily’s here too?]
[Legend legendary]
[]
[Lira lira]
[Looks like she’ll participate this year]
[Thanks for the gifts, haha]
[Oh oh]
[Get your reality stadium shoes on, buster]
[Are you not doing the collab, Lady Lily?]
[Lilha!]
“Lilha? Hello.”
I greeted Yena’s camera.
I pulled up Yena’s chat window through the system, but it didn’t feel much different since I often broadcasted with Yena.
Yena shook her head while holding her head.
“It’s already the end of the year. Ugh… Why is time moving so fast?”
“It’s been quite an eventful year.”
Since the disaster appeared to announce the start of the year, various incidents had been nonstop.
Compared to the time I returned in 2022, these months were definitely packed.
I chuckled and sat right next to Yena.
“But it was fun, right?”
“It was fun… right. Ah yes, it was fun.”
It must have been tough days for Yena, but she probably felt the thrill of ‘getting stronger’ more than anyone else.
No one among the users achieved explosive growth as Yena did.
Though reaching ‘them’ might be a bit challenging.
■
At 8 PM.
Magic fireworks bloomed over Deoen Stadium.
A massive crowd filled the stadium seats, and popular idols were hard at work dancing and singing on stage.
Yena and I moved to the VIP seats on the first floor to enjoy the stage view.
By the way, the VIP seats had quite a number of well-known rankers and broadcasters, many of whom I recognized.
Seeing Black after such a long time…
[Oh oh]
[Lilha!]
[Let’s get this started]
[Why did you just turn on the broadcast, Lily]
[LOL]
[]
[Wait, why did Yena turn the broadcast on two hours late?]
[Come on]
[Look at her starting it now]
[Lilha!]
“Lilha.”
By the way, I also turned on my broadcast.
The viewers were whining about me not starting my broadcast quickly, but I just smiled it off.
Before I knew it, the idol’s stage ended, and the screen switched to the anchor and caster.
The caster was the same Kim Soo-ah caster I saw earlier.
─2023, the last day of this year is approaching! Can you believe it’s already the last day of the year?
─2023… I felt like 2022 was an incredibly busy year, right? But 2023 has been even busier.
─That’s right! Particularly, the most threatening octopus monster Kraken this year truly terrorized the world.
The big screen in the middle of the stadium lit up.
Inside, there were images of users fighting against the Kraken.
A creature larger than a mountain, and a bunch of challengers that looked like tiny beans fighting against such a transcendent enemy.
After showing some impactful scenes, Yena next to me got all excited.
“Ooh! I’m in it too, meow!”
“Looks like a hero landing was captured.”
It was the scene where Yena, who arrived magnificently as if to save the users in danger, crushed the eye of the Kraken.
At that time, it was Yena’s first performance after she became a hidden race and job, which amazed many.
─Ah! This scene! I was really surprised watching it.
─Yena Hero’s magnificent entrance! The moment where the hero, who transformed with special powers, overwhelmed the Kraken is truly an achievement worthy of calling her a hero.
─Just in time, she’s watching our showcase over there.
As the camera focused on Yena, she opened her eyes wide and looked at me.
Wait, isn’t this a scene I’ve seen somewhere before?
But no need to worry because this isn’t reality.
“Oh, meow.”
As if realizing it late, Yena excitedly waved her hand.
When the camera caught my figure as well, I waved my hand too.
[LOL]
[Huh]
[So CUTE]
[Yena is SO adorable]
[Um…?]
[Is this déjà vu?]
[Lily is making an appearance]
[Feels like I’ve seen this scene before, hmmm…]
[LOL]
[Oh, that’s just a lookalike!]
[Why is Yena reacting like that?]
[Hmm, Lily?]
[Are we not going to have a collab?]
As my figure appeared on the screen, Kim Soo-ah caster raised her voice happily.
─Ah! Just in time, Lily Hero is also here.
─We can’t talk about anything without mentioning you, Lily Hero. You’ve cleared almost all the bosses, including the Kraken, and the key content of this year, ‘Multi-Dimension’!
“Since you’re the Clear Hero.”
“That’s right! If I were to list all the achievements of Hero Lily, we might need to stay up all night!”
“By the way, is it possible to have a short interview?!”
‘Interview?’
The stadium filled with numerous people buzzed at the words of caster Kim Soo-ah.
Now that I think about it, they did mention doing short interviews with users during the showcase.
Although I wasn’t directly participating in the event, I thought I could still have a chance to be interviewed…
“I didn’t expect the request to come right at the start.”
As the camera focused on me, I nodded my head.
“Yes.”
“Ooh~”
“Since there are many segments prepared for the future, I’ll ask just one quick question. Is that alright?”
“Of course.”
“As everyone knows, Hero Lily is incredibly strong, right? Excluding just good weapons or jobs, your skills are remarkable.”
“…It’s awkward to say it myself, but yes.”
It’s undeniable.
Even if I try to downplay it, my past actions won’t suddenly vanish.
[For real, lol]
[For Lily]
[Info: When she first started the game, Lily even wiped the floor with Yena]
[Wow]
[Hahahahahaha]
“Is there a secret to those amazing skills? As far as I know, Hero Lily has had outstanding skills from the very beginning.”
“……”
A secret, huh…
There’s definitely an influence from ‘that’ in my strength.
A pure human couldn’t grow this strong alone.
But if you’re asking about the ‘skill’ to handle it…
“No.”
“…What?”
“I wasn’t good from the beginning. It feels a bit strange to say this, but I couldn’t even hold a sword properly.”
I was just a young child who couldn’t wield even a single sword and had to stay cooped up.
A child who couldn’t catch even the dying goblins invading the village and would retreat.
That was me.
“I just practiced. A lot.”
So much that I couldn’t even count.
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