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The game has started, but the chat window was still a total mess.

– “No, you have to take the poison type! That’s cheating!”

– “What’s with the variety show? When did you film it?”

– “Why isn’t Kang-cheol in the party?”

Thanks to the chat restrictions, it wasn’t as chaotic as before, but it was still a jumble nonetheless. Comments from people giving game advice mixed with those asking about the variety show created quite the confusion.

For now, I decided to focus on the game and ignore the chat as much as possible.

– “Why the hell do you keep taking the starting character? You can’t even get past level 50!”

I didn’t ignore everything; if a particularly passionate message caught my eye now and then, I would reply.

“There’s romance in it, you know.”

– “Then just take someone with poison, argh!”

– “Just keep rolling for the eggs!”

– “You just need a legendary to show up anyway.”

Still, since I wasn’t responding to the variety show questions, those types of comments began to dwindle.

Well, it was a subscriber-only chat anyway. The viewers probably gave up after a few inquiries.

Or maybe they were just too engrossed in the game.

Since this was a fan game of an ultra-popular title that everyone had played at least once, most people had something to say.

That said, every time I glanced at the chat, it felt like my head would explode with the continuous stream of comments.

“Can everyone please consolidate their opinions a bit?”

Honestly, I had planned to clear this stage solo without listening to any advice.

“This is too hard.”

That was until I realized just how difficult it was.

As I continued battling, managing resources proved to be quite tricky.

Plus, rival players occasionally popped up for an unexpected fight, and each time they challenged me, I either lost outright or barely managed to win.

– “You need Kang-cheol in the party!”

– “Use a tank; you keep getting one-shot!”

– “Why is everyone a glass cannon?”

“Why is everyone a damage dealer? Well… the cool characters are always damage dealers…”

– “What the hell?”

– “With this, you’ll never clear it for life, haha!”

– “This guy doesn’t even understand the matchups.”

“No, I think I’ll get the matchups down after a bit.”

I used to know them pretty well, but honestly, it was so long ago that I was confused.

Kang-cheol, fire types… and what’s up with fairies?

Back in my day, when a dragon appeared, everyone was busy fleeing in terror, but now they get sliced up almost instantly.

So here I was, stuck for about two hours.

“This is blocked…”

– “You’re the one who can’t do it.”

– “Just wait until that legendary egg you pulled comes back.”

– “If one ultra-legendary shows up, you’re set!”

“Can someone empathize instead of just stating the facts?”

– “It’s because you can’t do it, boohoo.”

– “Can’t you just wait for the good egg results you pulled earlier? T_T”

– “If just one ultra-legendary shows up, you’re good to go T_T.”

Well, thankfully, after a bit of time, the variety show chatter cooled down.

Or, did it cool down?

Even if the broadcast was subdued, I bet the community was still ablaze.

“What’s with the hoax of using legendaries? Can’t you clear it with just the starting characters?”

– “No, come on;;”

– “I want to hit someone, haha.”

Anyway, that day I wrapped up the game without any major incidents before ending the broadcast.

**

A few days later, the variety show preview aired.

“Alright, let’s take a break!”

Hearing Lee Ye-ryeong shout this after practicing for a while, I let out a sigh of relief and sat down.

“Hah… huh…”

We were only halfway through, but I was already out of breath.

After all, it was now serious concert preparation practice at the dance academy, and it was way more exhausting than before.

“Are you alright?”

As I sat exhausted, Lee Ye-ryeong brought me a water bottle.

“Ah… thank you.”

I gratefully took it and gulped it down.

I might have been building stamina gradually, but why does it feel like it’s getting harder?

With the ability to squeeze people to their limits, I thought Lee Ye-ryeong could have easily succeeded as a fitness trainer.

“You’ve improved a lot, though.”

“Really?”

“Yes, compared to when you started, you’re like a different person.”

“Starting? Well, that’s true.”

Compared to when I first began, there was a definite change.

Not just in dance or stamina.

Singing, acting, and so many other aspects had also improved.

In under three years, I had accomplished so much… The experiences accumulated were no joke.

“Back then, your stamina was so poor that I had you do jump ropes.”

“Ahaha…”

I recalled that time as Lee Ye-ryeong joked about it.

I truly had terrible stamina back then.

Thinking of it, it’s been ages since I last did any jump roping.

I had also done some VR games under the pretense of stamina training, but the equipment had been stuffed in the warehouse for a long time now.

…When I think about it, I’ve probably abandoned many things as much as I’ve tried different activities.

Just thinking about it, I could name the guitar.

There was even a time I made promises to practice, but somehow that too ended up in the warehouse.

Who knows how much I might abandon from what I’m doing now in three years?

“Oh, right. Thank you for giving me a lecture on your day off.”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t realize it was supposed to be my day off either.”

Today is the day of the college entrance exam.

Perhaps that’s why the original dance academy had a day off.

But since we were scheduling lessons throughout the week, I hadn’t realized that today was the academy’s break.

It seemed like the principal, Lee Ye-ryeong, had also forgotten.

“I wonder how the kids are doing on their exams.”

Lee Ye-ryeong said this while looking out the window.

Exams… Well, a good number of high school students are in this academy.

There must be a few students like Kang-cheol who are currently taking their entrance exams as active third-year students.

Following her lead, I watched the still scenery outside, which felt quieter than usual.

“Time really flies. It’ll be snowing soon.”

“Snow? Now that you mention it, it does seem that way.”

For sure, considering I came wearing a thick coat, the snowfall could come any time now.

As Lee Ye-ryeong said, time indeed flies by quickly.

For a moment, I gazed out the window before Lee Ye-ryeong suddenly shook herself awake.

“Shall we go back to the lesson?”

“…You’re like a blade.”

I thought she might rest a little longer since she seemed in a sentimental mood, but Lee Ye-ryeong spoke as if that was out of the question.

“You have to stick to your lesson time for the money you earned. Get up.”

“Understood….”

After that, I received lessons until I was completely worn out.

Once the lessons were done, I headed straight home.

“Home?”

“Yeah….”

At home, Mrs. Jang was watching TV.

Director Kim had long gone to work.

On college entrance exam day, schools and academies might be off, but companies have to work.

I changed into comfortable clothes and dragged my tired body to the living room sofa.

“Why do you look so down?”

“I practiced today.”

I responded to Mrs. Jang, who was already sitting on the sofa, while leaning my back against the couch, catching sight of the TV screen.

“Oh, that.”

On the TV, I saw familiar places and faces.

It was the variety show we had filmed not long ago.

It seemed Mrs. Jang was watching the rerun.

“I heard you were on, so I’m watching it.”

“I’m not on yet.”

“I know. But it’s fun to watch.”

“Really?”

In the spot where I had sat with Moon Chang-sik, another guest was occupying it.

The show continued to depict their everyday scenery, and I found myself watching it alongside Mrs. Jang.

I’ve seen shorts or short highlight clips, but this was my first time watching the full episode.

[So, are you having a party today?]

[Yeah, sometimes I invite friends over.]

On-screen, a guest was seen grilling meat and drinking beer with friends at what looked like a rented camping site.

… I should have filmed something like that.

I felt a slight pang of regret, but honestly, I didn’t have anyone to invite anyway.

There were five people on screen, but did I really have the network to invite that many?

Ah, of course excluding the Celestial Realm members.

I couldn’t show the blue pill on the broadcast.

Even if I said they were fellow VTubers, there were more than enough people who could recognize their voices.

So I guess I could invite Hyejeong… and uh… Hyejeong?

…Thinking about it, I really don’t have many people.

Since I’ve been working, I’ve made a lot of acquaintances, but they’re all practically business relationships.

For instance, I couldn’t just suddenly suggest a barbecue party to Hyeon-su’s band.

Moreover, I haven’t even visited them lately.

I used to drop by often, but ever since I got busier, I stopped going.

They’re busy preparing for their album too.

I don’t even remember when I last went; I should make time to visit them soon.

Anyway, as I was watching TV and thinking about these things,

Beeep— Bzzz—

Mrs. Jang’s phone on the coffee table began to ring.

Looks like someone was calling.

“Hello?”

Mrs. Jang picked up her phone and started talking, while I absentmindedly continued watching TV.

I realized it was indeed quite entertaining.

I began to understand why so many people watched these shows.

“Hello? Oh, it was today?”

But then, due to her conversation next to me, my focus drifted in that direction.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop; I was just curious.

“Nam-seok had his college entrance exam today, right? Oh, is that so?”

Nam-seok… was she talking about my cousin, Kim Nam-seok (19)?

Now that I think about it, it must be around the time the exam was ending.

“Did he do well on the exam?”

Since it sounded like Mrs. Jang was in the middle of a call, I casually asked her.

“Exam? Yeah, he said he did well.”

“Really?”

I was slightly worried, but it sounded like he did fine after all.

“He said he’s grateful to you.”

“Me?”

“He asked me to tell you thanks for helping him study.”

“Tell him to reach out directly.”

Hmm, well, well.

That makes me feel a bit proud.

Although I hadn’t kept in touch much because I was busy, I’d been consistently encouraging him before.

“Oh, right. They’re celebrating with a meal to commemorate it, want to join?”

“Us?”

“Yeah, I should tell your dad to come home too.”

“Alright, sounds good.”

That day, I had a meal with my cousins for the first time in a while.

And then, a few days later.

The variety show aired.

 

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