Chapter 63

Communication with viewers.

One of the fundamental qualities of a Virtual YouTuber.

Personal counseling also falls into the realm of communication.

From that perspective, it didn’t seem that strange.

“Okay, first question─☆ Why did you mistreat your friend?”

[ekdus7] – I don’t really know…

“Second question─☆ You still want to be friends with that friend, right?”

[ekdus7] – ..Yes.

Although I didn’t have a professional counseling certificate, I could certainly chat with them.

It felt a bit awkward to ignore the considerable sum of 100,000 won.

However, the nickname felt strangely familiar.

For some reason, the situation the viewer was in didn’t feel that unfamiliar either.

‘…Could it be.’

I began to think about the possibility that the ekdus7 beyond the one-on-one chat was an acquaintance of Ha-eun.

The problem was that the more the conversation with ekdus7 continued, the more the possibilities in Ha-eun’s mind transformed into certainty.

“How long have you been friends with that friend?”

[ekdus7] – We’ve been together since the first grade of elementary school… about 11 years this year.

“Then, have you had a significant fight with that friend over the 11 years?”

[ekdus7] – Not a big fight. Actually, thinking back, it seems like I was the one who got angry and annoyed all the time…

– Is your friend a saint?

– Did you hold something against them?

– Apologizing for 11 years of torment with just one word?

– Is it possible they are a girl? If so, I’d be friends with them (message deleted)

‘…I need to take a moment to think.’

After that, all the chats except for ekdus7’s froze for a moment.

I cautiously asked why they suddenly felt like apologizing.

“Did you do something seriously wrong to that friend? Based on recent events─☆”

[ekdus7] – Well, actually, I slapped them a few hours ago. But that was for filming (message deleted)

[ekdus7] – No, when I think about it, they told me to slap them first (message deleted)

[ekdus7] – I just thought I should apologize before it gets any later. I feel sorry for everything from A to Z…

‘So it is Da-yeon.’

It would be a lie to say that I wasn’t at all surprised to find out that the ekdus7 beyond the chat was really Da-yeon.

I had seen Da-yeon watching Diah’s broadcast through Ha-eun’s eyes, but I never imagined Da-yeon would confide such personal worries to Diah.

I didn’t even know that Da-yeon, who always showed a cold demeanor, had such worries inside.

However, right now I was Diah, not Ha-eun.

Even if I answered, I had to respond from Diah’s perspective.

Therefore.

“If someone has been a friend for 11 years, they should be able to accept your apology☆”

[ekdus7] – But… I don’t know where to start apologizing.

“Then let’s just apologize from start to finish! It would be better for you to just shake everything off!”

[ekdus7] – ..From start to finish?

“Yeah! After finishing all the apologies you want to say, a handshake and a hug─☆”

To put it nicely, it was pure.

To put it poorly, it was a childish answer.

Diah.

A pure spirit who had only stepped into the human world for a little over a year.

Believing that a genuine apology, handshake, and hug could solve things because she was a spirit untainted by the world was essential for Diah’s roleplay.

To be honest, from Ha-eun’s standpoint, the answers were a bit cringeworthy.

But I never thought she would follow Diah’s advice seriously.

Just as Da-yeon knew Ha-eun well, Ha-eun also knew Da-yeon well.

Therefore, I thought that the moment Da-yeon’s high pride would bend might never come.

Anyway, the counseling of 100,000 won had now come to an end.

I restored the chat window I had paused for Da-yeon to its original state.

And almost simultaneously.

[ㅇㅇ has donated 1,000 won!]

: I want to marry Diah, how can I do that?

It was a little inappropriate to call it counseling, arriving as a sponsorship.

In response, Diah also reacted.

“Marriage? Wait~. A cute wizard once said that if there was a sunset, let me know right away─☆”

– Oh wow

– Everyone, stop typing on your keyboards!!

– The wizard said this and that, the wizard said this and that, the wizard said this and that, the wizard said this and that.

– Respectful wizard, I said nothing.

– Dome Huangcha─!!

The reactions were slightly different from when I faced ekdus7.

Also, it was an appropriate response that made viewers forget about ekdus7’s troubles.

The broadcast ended about an hour later.

As always, Ha-eun arrived in a completely exhausted state.

However, because of the worries about Da-yeon that kept occupying a corner of her mind.

More precisely, because of the worries about Da-yeon’s true feelings.

“…I don’t think I was really angry,” she muttered.

Pausing momentarily before falling asleep, I found myself reflecting on what Da-yeon regretted.

Things she had let go because she thought Ha-eun had done nothing wrong.

Things that were just whims of the moment, nothing more, nothing less.

The fundamental reason was due to the difference in the ‘time lived’ between Da-yeon and herself.

Outwardly treating her like a friend while inwardly considering her a younger sibling due to the age gap.

No matter what kind of mischief Da-yeon played, she hadn’t truly gotten angry or felt hurt because of that.

However, constantly appearing calm in front of Da-yeon seemed to have ultimately turned out badly for Da-yeon.

Ha-eun thought she needed to be a little more assertive from now on.

In this filming of [The Moonlight Cutting Through the Clouds], especially.

Just in case Da-yeon came to apologize to Ha-eun during shooting.

If that led to Ha-eun accepting Da-yeon’s apology and becoming close, it would surely affect her performance as Queen Yoon.

The Queen Yoon in [The Moonlight Cutting Through the Clouds] needed to remain a character who opposed Yeom Wol until the end.

There should never be a time when they appeared good with each other.

Therefore.

From the day she learned of Da-yeon’s true feelings onwards.

“Hey, Jung-yun unnie, where’s Lee Ha-eun?”

“Oh, well, Da-yeon… I’m sorry. I don’t really know either.”

“…? If the manager doesn’t know, who would know?”

I began to avoid Da-yeon, even asking Ju Jung-yun for help.

I tried to maintain a distance from Da-yeon for at least the duration of the filming of [The Moonlight Cutting Through the Clouds].

Nevertheless, Ha-eun was also worried that her change would have a negative impact on the drama filming.

‘Character breakdown is a no-go, no matter what happens.’

I had become softer compared to before.

It felt as if I were dating a guy.

The strange rumor that I was in a relationship with a man was a secondary concern; there was no way to ignore how Ha-eun’s impression was gradually changing.

Yeom Wol’s soft appearance would be shown in the last parts of [The Moonlight Cutting Through the Clouds].

Therefore, right now, the focus should be on being.

“It’s finally the swordplay performance scene. Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes. I’m okay.”

I aimed to show only the appropriate appearance for Yeom Wol’s current situation.

Ha-eun had provoked herself a bit in that direction.

Still, imagining the worst case where I had to quit being a Virtual YouTuber was pushing it too far.

However, for now, nothing could provoke Ha-eun more than Diah’s loss.

‘…Huh?’

‘Ha-eun’s atmosphere….’

‘It suddenly became intense.’

From then on, I only generated the necessary emotions and added them to Ha-eun’s expressions, voice, and gestures.

And I refined them even more sharply.

The scene about to be filmed, S#87, was the final setup for the bond between Lee Hyun and Yeom Wol.

It was a scene where Yeom Wol, after leaving the palace, hears about Lee Hyun’s danger and returns, fighting off numerous assassins alone.

A desperate bloodbath solely for Lee Hyun.

The emotions to be revealed were all distant from softness.

Above all, since Ha-eun had practiced swordplay for how many days, it was essential to pour everything into this S#87 palace assault scene.

“This scene could go into the promotional teaser, so you need to give it your all.”

“Yes.”

“Show the unapproachable strength of Yeom Wol clearly.”

In this particular scene, I aimed to completely toss aside the word ‘softness.’

The next scene, S#88, was the long-awaited scene where the ‘bond’ was formed.

It was the highlight where Yeom Wol’s strength as a military officer was most clearly and distinctly displayed.

At the same time, it was a stepping stone for another highlight, S#88.

It was the most important filming in [The Moonlight Cutting Through the Clouds].

And as that crucial filming began.

-Cling.

The anger toward those trying to harm Lee Hyun had sharpened into a fierce gaze.

The urgency to quickly find and protect Lee Hyun made my steps hasten.

The resentment toward the Yeom Wol of the past who had made the choice to leave Lee Hyun’s side was painted over with a dark expression.

Yeom Wol appeared before the many cameras on the set.

The line announcing the beginning of the swordplay performance came right after.

｢…I will kill them all.｣

Soon, just like the assassins who drew swords toward Yeom Wol, she pulled her sword as well.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she lunged at the closest assassin, slicing at their waist in one swift motion.

Then, the tip of Yeom Wol’s sword raised toward the sky.

-Clang───!!

It sent a vicious blade flying far away, aimed at Yeom Wol’s neck.

Seizing the moment when the assassin was bewildered, she drove forward.

‘Kah, kah…!’

The assassin’s mouth started to pour out crimson blood.

Yet, entirely unconcerned, she pulled her sword and aimed it toward the other assassins.

What unfolded was a one-sided massacre.

-Thud─!

-Slice!

-Kagaga──!

What was once one had split into two.

Straight lines of sword marks were left on sturdy chests.

From head to toe, they collapsed helplessly into a wretched state.

‘S…Save me─!!’

The shadow of the assassin, unable to finish their words, was violently shattered, losing its form.

The already swirling stench of blood filled the air.

Yet, the killing intent that hadn’t appeared to fade began to search for those who posed a danger to Lee Hyun.

Even though red liquids seeped over their black garments, now was not the time to worry about such trivial wounds.

After that, countless lives were either completely extinguished or brutally crushed by a single person.

As I moved forward with unhesitating steps, following the faintest trace of life left.

-Rustle.

A completely different form of killing intent enveloped Yeom Wol.

With clenched teeth, she swung her sword fiercely, starting the final desperate fight.

The blood-stained tip of the sword traced an irregular broken line.

The man, who was larger than any assassin Yeom Wol had faced so far, displayed extraordinary sword skills and pressured Yeom Wol.

-Clang─!

-Chime!

-Kagaga──!!

Only to take the opponent’s breath away.

Without granting even a speck of leeway.

What seemed to be directed at the waist soon pivoted toward the shoulder joint.

This too was blocked at the last moment, so she simply adjusted her sword grip to a downward slice.

Like a whirlwind, they clashed fiercely with each other’s blades.

Finally, the battle was determined at the moment just before dawn, when the blue light of early morning began to drape over the palace.

‘This…mad monster…’

In that instant, she decisively severed the final assassin’s breath with a half-broken, tattered sword.

Yet, despite that, she couldn’t stop her unsteady steps, for she had yet to confirm it.

For she did not know whether the one she had endeavored to protect was safe.

​

｢T…Hah…｣

The exhausted appearance was such that she seemed about to collapse at any moment.

Taking even one step felt like a miracle.

With sheer willpower for Lee Hyun, she pushed forward.

And at the end of those laborious steps, she faced.

｢Die──!｣

The stunning scene of about five or six assassins already dead, slain by Lee Hyun’s sword, and the last assassin lunging toward Lee Hyun with their weapon raised.

｢…!!｣

Thus, squeezing out her last ounce of strength.

Having already long given up on her own well-being, she flung her body forward, using her broken sword to pierce the assassin’s heart.

Not even a second had passed since then when, thud.

Yeom Wol collapsed, having completely exhausted all her energy and spirit.

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