It seemed like I was about to have something to do.
"Rion, what's my schedule looking like?"
After the match between Leviathan and Behemoth ended, I realized I had some free time and asked Rion.
"Your schedule? Hold on a sec."
Rion had just returned from working late and looked rather tired. Apparently, she hadn’t even had dinner yet.
She was so exhausted from work that she didn’t even have the energy to prepare a meal.
So, while we waited for the delivery food, Rion pulled out her notebook.
"First off, your and Chel's voice drama has been released... and within this month, a silhouette MV is scheduled to be released."
"And what do I need to do?"
"Nothing, of course. You've already finished recording."
Rion answered as if she found my question a bit ridiculous.
Of course, I hadn’t asked because I didn't know. I was aware of it but just wanted to confirm.
And Rion also knew that I wasn't asking out of ignorance. No one knew my good memory better than she did.
"Inui Kirin is planning a broadcast, but I think that'll be in about a week or two. Then, three weeks from now, it'll be Leviathan vs. Gryphon."
"And that's it for this month?"
"For now, that's everything. Have you received any collaboration invites from anyone?"
"Not really."
"Hmm... You don't have much to do, huh."
Rion also noticed after checking my schedule.
This month was relatively free, but next month would be busy.
"There’s nothing we can pull forward to this month… Next month, the new outfit reveal is scheduled, but that has to be coordinated with the 6th generation members."
"There's no helping that, then."
"Still, you might get a commercial soon. After all, you took down Mashina so ruthlessly... I mean, spectacularly in the last match. Maybe some company saw that and wants to give you an ad deal."
"Aren’t I already getting quite a few game ads?"
The Aseosal promotion was still ongoing, and Dungeon Seeker also needed to be promoted for another two to three weeks.
"Surprisingly, non-gaming ads come in too."
"For example?"
"Pillow ads, for instance?"
"...Pillow?"
The unexpected word made me tilt my head without realizing it.
A VTuber and a pillow ad. Could those two concepts really coexist?
"Of course, since we can't use webcams, we can't actually film ourselves using the pillows. In cases like this, we usually just share a review with the viewers."
"And that counts as an ad? How interesting."
"Why do you think companies sponsor streamers? They trust the streamer's audience size and their loyalty. If they wanted mass exposure, they’d run TV commercials instead."
Apparently, Rui and Kaiser had also done pillow ads.
For example, Kaiser would use the pillow and say something like, 'I've been having trouble sleeping lately, but after trying this pillow, I sleep so much better now.'
Then, Kaiser's viewers—who watched his streams regularly—would trust his words. Because he was their favorite.
If my favorite says that, then it must be worth trying. He’s not the type to lie anyway.
I was thinking about getting a pillow anyway... Maybe I should buy one?
—That’s the kind of thought process viewers would have.
"Of course, that's just in theory. In reality, most companies prefer to actually show the product being used. That’s why it's rare for VTubers to get ads for products like pillows."
That’s why gaming PC ads were fairly common, but gaming chair ads—where you actually needed to be seen using the chair—weren’t.
Surprisingly, food and restaurant ads were also a frequent occurrence.
"Printing a VTuber’s illustration onto food packaging isn’t all that difficult, you know? In this way, VTubers have a slight advantage over regular streamers."
"That's an interesting point. But in the end, it's up to the company whether they want to offer an ad deal, right?"
"...With your level of popularity and influence, I do think an ad will come in sooner or later, though."
Neither Rion nor I knew exactly when that would be.
For all we knew, an ad deal might already be in the works. It could just be waiting for approval from higher-ups.
And so, the conversation circled back to where it started.
"For now, I think you should just keep doing your usual game streams. Labyrinthos is fine, or Dungeon Seeker or Aseosal. If there's another game you want to play, go for it."
In other words, just keep doing what I always did.
Though, there was one thing—
"Oh, right. By the way, you do know you have a 3D stream coming up in two months, right?"
"I do. Has the exact schedule been set?"
"Not yet, but we need to start preparing for it soon."
"Preparing?"
There were still two months left, and we had to start preparing already?
"3D streams take some time to set up. To put it simply... You know how some people play instruments during their first 3D stream? Do you play any instruments, by chance?"
"I know how to play the violin and piano. But since I haven't practiced in a long time, I’d have to train if I wanted to perform."
"...Seriously? That’s unexpected..."
Rion's eyes widened. It wasn’t that surprising, though.
A noble lady should at least master one form of art, whether it be painting or music.
And I was essentially the pinnacle of noblewomen—the Ducal Lady.
I had to be proficient in both arts and music, striving to hear people exclaim, ‘Lady Laura, you are truly talented! As expected of the ducal family’s jewel!’
Back when I lived in the Ducal Family, I had to learn all sorts of things.
That’s why I could play musical instruments to some extent.
"Anyway, if you want to play the violin during your 3D stream, we need to order a violin model."
That’s what Rion said.
Of course, I could play the violin even without the model.
But from the audience’s perspective, it would look like I was just flailing my arms in the air, breaking immersion.
"A violin model wouldn’t take too long to make, but it still takes time."
"So, if I need any props, I should request them early?"
"More like, it’s better if you tell us in advance what you plan to do in the 3D stream. That way, we can prepare the necessary props and models."
That made sense.
So, what did I want to do in my 3D stream?
"Can you sing?"
"Singing? I can, but singing too many songs would be exhausting. Maybe one or two songs at most."
"I see."
"Do you want me to sing?"
"That’s the Plan."
Someday, the 6th Generation One-Man Live would happen.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to experience a performance beforehand as a warm-up.
"Find me a dance trainer, Rion."
***
"…So that’s what happened."
After listening to Laura’s story, Narin responded like that.
She had originally planned to enter a dungeon alone, but at some point, she found herself sitting right next to Laura.
And now, she was sipping black tea and eating snacks… that Laura had given her.
Of course, both the tea and the snacks were ultimately just bits of data. So whether the act of being treated really counted as such was debatable.
Regardless, Son Narin took a sip of her tea.
Come to think of it, this was her first time drinking black tea in her entire life. Most Koreans preferred coffee, after all.
So this was what black tea tasted like.
Maybe she should buy some in real life.
"But… why did you log into the game?"
Narin asked.
The story was fascinating, but no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out why Laura was in Dungeon Seeker. Shouldn’t she be out finding a dance instructor instead?
…Or maybe it was just fate?
Someone had once said something about fate—
"It’s fate. Accept it."
So should she just accept this situation as well?
"I haven’t found a dance trainer yet. So I just logged into the game."
"Ah, I see."
It was really nothing special.
"I finally have some free time, so I thought I’d enjoy this world."
Laura said that.
…Enjoy this world?
To Narin, Laura’s phrasing felt strange. Normally, if someone was enjoying a game, they’d be actively playing it, right?
But Laura wasn’t exploring a dungeon or fighting monsters. She was just leisurely having tea by herself, gazing at the scenery.
It felt as if she was sightseeing alone.
If this were real life, that kind of behavior would make sense. But this was a game.
'Of course, some people enjoy open-world RPGs just for the environment…'
But was this place really that scenic? It didn’t particularly seem like it.
More than anything—
"Laura, you’re… unexpectedly sensitive, aren’t you?"
That was what stood out to Narin the most.
Laura seemed like someone who had neither blood nor tears.
Even if someone died right next to her, she probably wouldn’t bat an eye. If someone presented her with a bouquet and proposed, she’d coldly reject them. Even if pure white snow fell from the sky, she’d simply stand there, noble and unshaken.
It made Narin think of an immortal hermit.
Laura always had an air of transcendence about her.
If an immortal hermit descended from the mountains to observe the human world, wouldn’t they behave like this?
In that case, what could possibly move the heart of one who had witnessed the passage of time itself?
"Do you think there’s anyone in the world without sensitivity? If anything, I’d say I have an abundance of it. You probably do too, don’t you?"
"…Would someone like that eat bugs and rats?"
"This place reminds me of my hometown."
"What?"
Narin blinked.
"Did you… grow up overseas?"
"Think whatever you like."
"…Why are you avoiding the question?"
"Because it’s obvious you wouldn’t believe me. So I see no reason to answer."
Laura dismissed the topic just like that.
Still, Narin wished she would say something.
She didn’t know what kind of life Laura had led, but even if the truth was unbelievable, she wanted to hear it first before deciding for herself.
She was curious.
She wanted to know.
"Anyway, meeting like this must be fate."
Laura stood up.
Gracefully, elegantly.
"Perhaps it’s destiny."
That was what she thought.
In truth, she had been thinking about the Iris Ducal Family.
The Iris Ducal Family had fallen.
She didn’t feel particularly regretful about it. It had been doomed to destruction according to the game’s storyline from the beginning.
If anything, knowing that fate in advance had allowed her to survive.
She had thought she would never return to the ducal territory again—
Yet, in the end, she was stepping into the Iris Ducal Mansion once more.
It felt like fate’s trick.
Or perhaps an inescapable destiny.
"You asked when I’d continue the story, didn’t you? If you don’t mind, let’s go to the Iris Ducal Family now."
Laura said to Narin.
Hearing those words, Narin thought—
"Destiny? What is she talking about? …Wait, is she talking about meeting me?"
She was completely misunderstanding.