Chapter 26: Ha! Then Go Switch Teams! (Please Don’t, Though)

[Staff 7: This is TEAM7 voice chat room. If you need anything or have any questions, please feel free to call us anytime. Thank you~]

As soon as the group draw was over, the staff automatically invited the teammates to the voice chat room.
Moreover, seeing the number next to the staff’s name, it seemed they had assigned one staff member per team.

As expected of a major event.

However.

‘Erica, where did this person go?’

Currently, Daengyul and I had a blue light on our profile pictures. In other words, we were online.

But Erica’s profile picture had a gray light, meaning she was offline.
Which meant she wasn’t here right now.

‘It’s the first day, and she’s not in the chat room? Hmm.’

Wondering what she was doing, I searched for Erica’s stream on Chichi-jig.

‘What…? She hasn’t even started her stream?’

Erica hadn’t even started her stream at all.
It wasn’t just the voice chat room that was offline; her stream was also offline.

Hmm… this is baffling.

[-Hmm]
[–_-]
[-As expected of a VTuber, being late lol, as expected of a VTuber, being late lol, as expected of a VTuber, being late lol]
[-I’m feeling the urge to say some mean things-yo]
[-Hah… she’s slacking off]
[-That’s it, Nani-ya, let’s establish some discipline]
[-A no-show on the first day of the tournament lol, truly a versiond, a versiond lol]
(TL Note: ‘Versiond’ is likely a mistyped insult, adding to the comedic, frantic tone of the chat.)
[-They say there’s an error with her avatar~]

Naturally, my viewers, who had been watching this whole process, were also in a disgruntled mood.

‘It is a bit baffling… but you guys shouldn’t act like this.’

I can’t just leave the chat as it is.
If I’m not careful, a fight could break out with Erica’s fandom.

During this tournament period, I need to strictly control these kinds of things.

“No, no, everyone, stop! She must have some kind of problem! And I’m making it clear right now, any b*stards who badmouth other streamers will be permanently banned without warning-yo. Got it-yo?”

[-Yep]
[-Got it-yo]
[-Of course-yo, you don’t trust us-yo?]
[-Badmouthing other streamers? Wakan’nai yo about that]
[-A storm of blood will blow during the tournament…]
[-‘She must have some kind of problem’ <- that sounds a bit lewd]

[ㅇㅇ has donated 1,000 won!]
[I’m an Erica viewer, and she says her computer suddenly won’t turn on. She says she’s almost done fixing it.]

“Ah, really? No wonder! Thank you-yo.”

Thankfully, there seemed to be a reason.
A computer suddenly not turning on is something that can’t be helped.

And seeing as she said, ‘I’m almost done fixing it,’ it seemed there would be no problem with practicing today either.

Ddi-ri-ring~ ddi-ri-ring.

Just then, the voice chat notification sound rang.

[Daengyul (Accept/Decline)]

It was a call from Daengyul.

At that moment, my body tensed up without my knowledge.

“…….”

What is this.
It’s just a simple call.
It’s probably just her calling first to build some rapport before practice.

This feeling of reluctance to answer….

[-?]
[-What are you doing? Not answering?]
[-A battle of wills is going on]
[-Never answers on the first try lol, never answers on the first try lol, never answers on the first try lol]
[-Already establishing dominance lol, this is the real Gangnani lol]

“N-no, what do you mean, a battle of wills! I was just spacing out for a moment….”

Click.

Snapping out of it at the viewers’ ‘battle of wills’ joke, I answered the call.

Then, a very captivating voice flowed through my earphones.

“Ah, ah… can you hear me, by any chance?”

“…I can hear you clearly. How about my voice?”

“Ahaha, I can hear you clearly!”

Perhaps after the mic check was over, Daengyul spoke in her unique, sweet voice that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy just by listening.

“Hello, Gangnani-nim… heehee. Please take care of me.”

“Ah, hello… Daengyul-nim! I-I’ll be in your care as well.”

“Ahaha, I heard Erica-nim is going to be a little late because of a problem with her computer.”

“…I heard that too! Ha, hahaha.”

Please.

Please… please don’t laugh like that.

What’s with the ‘heehee’?
What’s with the ‘ahaha’?

Why do you have to mix in that foxy laughter when you talk?

L-like this, really!

Even though I’m a woman, I feel like I’m going to become a simp!?

And we haven’t even talked for five minutes yet!

You cunning fox!
How many simps have you seduced with this voice!?

That voice is too much of a cheat.
Honestly, in terms of looks, I think I’m a little prettier, but that voice alone is so terrifyingly good that it gives me chills every now and then.

Thump, thump.

My heart is pounding slightly.
The muscles around my mouth are spasming as I try to control my smile.

Ah, I failed.
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.
I quickly covered my mouth with one hand to hide my expression.

Yep, she’s a dangerous woman….

[-Ooh la la]
[-Voice, heu-eung…]
[-It’s a voice that doesn’t have a single trace of venom]
[-Uuu… my brain is melting… ttyuttya]
[-Noonaaaa]

The viewers, who had been running wild until just a moment ago, seemed to have become ttyuttyas along with me.

“Gangnani-nim, I saw your introduction video earlier. Your favorite soccer player is Ronaldo! Ahaha, it was so funny. You were deliberately aiming for that, right?”

“…….”

This damn b*tch.

I didn’t say that to be funny!
It’s not like I just threw it out as a broadcast comment!

B-but.

Inside, hatred for that woman who insulted my hyung was boiling, but on the outside, it was completely different.

“Hee… heheh! Really? That’s right, I was trying to be funny! Heheh.”

As if I were under a hypnosis app, I was just giggling foolishly.

“Ah! And your Irelia highlights were really cool too.”

“R-really? Heheh.”

“I really don’t think I could play something like Irelia. Ahaha, you’re a total pro, a pro!”

“No, that’s not it! Anyone can do it if they practice… heh, heheh.”

“I’m so happy… that you’re on our team, Nani-nim, heeh.”

“Uuu….”

Dangerous.
I can’t get a grip.

Receiving endless coddling with that cheat-like voice, it feels like my brain is turning to mush!

“Heehee… anyway, please take care of me. I’m just going to the restroom.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

I answered with military discipline without realizing it.

Then, as if I had suddenly realized, I snapped out of it.

‘Hah.’

What kind of disgraceful behavior did I just commit?

Laughing foolishly and agreeing with her every compliment, and seeing my giggling face.

This, this.
It’s as if I’ve become a simp…?

And the kind of hypnotized simp who only looks at me, which is what I ultimately want.

Ugh… this is so humiliating.

[-Upvote if her voice is so f*cking hot lol]
[-UV lol]
[-This b*tch can’t get a grip lol]
[-Ah~ I want to be praised by that noona too~]
[-I really can’t hold it in, Nani-ya, I’m going to the restroom too]
[-Heu-eung… heu-eung… heu-eung… heu-eung…]

“Is it… that good?”

I unconsciously asked the chat.
It was an ambiguous question without a subject, but they would probably understand what I was talking about.

Of course, I also think Daengyul’s voice is really good… but seeing them praise her like that all the time, well.

Should I say I’m getting a little sulky?

[-Yep]
[-Unlike a certain venomous person, it’s healing to the heart]
[-That one has both the looks and the sound… hmm]
[-The comparison is stark-yo, the comparison is stark-yo, the comparison is stark-yo]
[-Big is definitely better-yo]
[-It’s dangerous-yo… my heart is wavering-yo…]

“Hah… hah! Then go ahead and switch! Who’s stopping you? Hmph!”

At the viewers’ annoying reaction, I reflexively puffed out my cheeks.

It’s fine if they really switch.
If they’re at a level where they’d switch over something like this, they were people who would have left me someday anyway.

Yep, that’s it.
It’s definitely not me just trying to comfort myself!

[-For real?]
[-Good luck]
[-Not me-yo]
[-I’m really switching, cya]
[-bb]
[-It was fun-yo, bye-bye-yo]

“Yep, do whateveeeeer you want-yo! In the end, I’ll win anyway—.”

“Puh… I’m back.”

“Ka… uwaaaah!”

I was so surprised, I almost fell backwards in my chair.

What the.
Why are you back already!?

It’s only been a minute.
Even men come back slower than this!?

‘I messed up.’

I even blabbered on without muting my voice chat mic.

I’m not used to this, so I just forgot.

For now, I acted as if nothing was wrong, as if nothing had happened.

“…You’re back? You’re back really early.”

“Yes, I just washed my hands and came back. Ahaha, but what was that?”

“What was what?”

“Do whateveeeeer you want-yo! That, you know. Is that your speech pattern, by any chance? You use a very cute speech pattern… heeh.”

“Ah, no… that’s….”

This is so f*cking embarrassing.
A different kind of embarrassment from when I was caught faking my chest washed over me.

“Is it something like this? Nani-nim is so cool-yo~ I think I’m going to fall for you-yo~ like this? Heeh.”

“…….”

“Why aren’t you saying anything-yo? Are you embarrassed right now-yo?”

[-Kyaa]
[-Better than the original]
[-Delicious-yo… delicious-yo… delicious-yo… delicious-yo…]
[-Keep going, noona, heu-eung]
[-She stole your speech pattern-yo lol]
[-Switching over, cya, as expected, big chests are better than flat chests]

And in the middle of it all, my feisty viewers are provoking me by saying it’s better than the original.

A feeling of frustration is added to the feeling of embarrassment.

“Answer me-yo~ If you don’t answer, I’ll be lonely-yo?”

“S-stooop….”

“Ahaha…! I’m sorry. I’ll stop.”

Did Daengyul notice my reaction, as if I were about to explode from embarrassment?

She immediately stopped teasing me and became quiet.

After that, a slightly awkward silence followed.

[-Awk—ward]
[-Say something]
[-Does this person have laryngeal cancer?]
[-(Please say something first)]
[-(When is that VTuber coming…)]
[-(I want to die)]
[-Ugh, just say something, for real, she’s not better than Daengyul at anything <- whoever said that, get out lol]
[–_-]

The viewers are rushing me, asking why I’m not saying anything.

To be honest, I’m a bit awkward too.
So this time, I should be the one to say something.

Since Daengyul has been the one to initiate the conversation so far.

As I was thinking that.

“Ahahaha!”

Suddenly, Daengyul laughed out loud.
And then, she called me first again.

“Nani-nim.”

“…Yes?”

“Hontō ni yada.”

“…….”

“Heehee! Mission success! But what does this mean? I just said it because I suddenly got a mission.”

“T-that b*stard, ban him…! I mean! It’s just something….”

“Really? Ahaha, is this also some kind of catchphrase in your stream, Nani-nim? Hontō ni yada~ heeh.”

[-What]
[-lolol]
[-Huk]
[-Ugh, Gang-boongi lol]
[-A mission is unavoidable lol]
[-Hontō ni kimochi lol]
[-This is also better than the original, ooh la la]
[-Her sense of humor is better too-yo lol, switching over-yo lol, good luck-yo lol]

“…….”

This is so f*cking embarrassing.
Embarrassing and so f*cking angry.

Among them, what’s really annoying is the chat’s reaction.

I’m used to being roasted by now.
That’s because if you get beaten up so much for faking your chest, you develop a resistance you didn’t have before.

But what I can’t stand are the chats like, ‘Better than the original,’ and ‘Switching over-yo.’

Actually, I know this too.
They’re probably just trying to provoke my jealousy.

Probably very few of them are actually going to switch. Because I’ve seen them say they’re switching since a while ago, but they’re not switching and just keep typing the same chat.

Yep, in a way, it’s just the usual WWE.

But… but!

I know that, but I’m annoyed at myself for being frustrated!

What do you mean, you’re switching!?
What do you mean, it’s better than the original!?

It’s so f*cking annoying!

“Ah… so f*ckiiiiing annoying!!”

[-??]
[-Uh oh]
[-A legendary situation has occurred]
[–_-]
[-B*tch-]
[-???]
[-Emergency!!!]
[-Gang-b*tch]

In the end, I couldn’t hold it in and exploded.

I did it.
I shouted without muting my mic.

Ah.

“Uh… uh, um… Nani-nim, s-sorry?”

“…….”

I really did it.
I’ve ruined the atmosphere, so to speak.

“N-Nani-nim, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to make you feel bad! I’m really, really sorry….”

“…N-no.”

Even worse, Daengyul is apologizing seriously, as if she has sensed the grave atmosphere.

‘N-no, that’s not it….’

I really wasn’t yelling at her.

If anything, I was yelling at my viewers… no, that’s not it.

What am I doing.
I don’t even have time to think about this right now.

A mistake is a mistake.

Right now, I need to explain myself quickly.
And I need to give an explanation that she can understand.

“N-no! It’s really not because of you, Daengyul-nim, that I shouted… th-that is… the reason I shouted was….”

As I was talking, my eyes started to get a little teary.
And so, I ended up speaking in a sobbing voice.

“T-they keep! My viewers keep saying they’re going to switch to your stream, Daengyul-nim…! Sniff.”

“Y-yes?”

Daengyul’s voice sounded flustered.

I ignored it and continued.

“Listen! Since a while ago, they’ve been provoking me, saying things like, ‘Seeing Daengyul-nim after seeing that venomous b*tch every day is so healing~’, ‘Big chests are better than flat chests, yep, yep~’, ‘Let’s switch~’, how am I supposed to endure this… sniff.”

“Puheup… r-right?”

“I know I’m whining and being an eyesore! But it hurts when they say things like that in the chat…!”

“R-right! I don’t think I could take it either! Heheheh….”

“Right!? S-so I couldn’t hold it in and shouted. I’m sorry… sniff. It really wasn’t at you, Daengyul-nim… sob.”

“…….”

My desperate explanation was over.

For some reason, Daengyul remained silent for a moment.

Perhaps my explanation didn’t really resonate with her? The moment I thought that, she opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

“…Dangerous.”

“Sniff, what?”

“No… why are you so cute? For a moment, I had a lewd thought because of you, Nani-nim. R-really, you’re so cute… heeh.”

“…….”

Thankfully, my sincere feelings seem to have been conveyed.

Though it seems a bit too much was conveyed.

“How old are you, by any chance?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Why! Tell me! Huh? Ah… you’re twenty? I’m twenty-three.”

“…….”

“Heeh… want to call me unnie?”

“No!”