Chapter 161

It was a winter night when heavy snow fell all day long.

The news that Kariri was having a collaboration with Chae Na made many people doubt their ears. No matter how popular Kariri was, she was just a virtual YouTuber. 900,000 subscribers on VTube? An average of 500,000 views per video? Compared to Chae Na’s achievement of topping the American Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, it was insignificant. The music video on the other side had racked up views in the hundreds of millions.

To call it a new type of bait was to underestimate its quality. The fact that the target was an idol who was in full swing in popularity in Korea was a thorn in the fans’ eyes.

Just as the protests demanding punishment from the agency exploded, even more shocking news was delivered.

[Hello, this is NTIS Entertainment. We would like to inform you about the future schedule of our artist, Chae Na, Kim Saetbyeol. Chae Na is currently on vacation after completing her world tour schedule, and through contact, we have confirmed her appearance on an internet broadcast due to personal connections. Although it is not a schedule planned by the headquarters, she has promised to establish her position as a public figure on the internet broadcast and will do her best to ensure that the concerns of her fans do not materialize.]

* * *

“Uh… Welcome! Wow, Chae Na unnie…! It’s been so long, I’m so glad… no, I’m so glad-bee!”

“Can I sit here? Ah, hello everyone! It’s a little refreshing to meet in a place like this. I’m singer Chae Na.”

Yoonseul sparkled her eyes as she gazed at the true ‘celebrity’ sitting next to her. Until now, the only time she had revealed her face in front of a real camera was during the collaboration between LK and Kim Woojoo. And the news that the third guest was none other than Chae Na drew tens of thousands, no, over a hundred thousand viewers to the broadcast in an instant. It didn’t take long for the numbers at the front to change.

So much so that the chat room lagged and froze.

“Yoonseul seems to be doing well these days! You’ve become even prettier since you lost your baby fat.”

“Kyah! Uh… Unnie, saying that with that face… is cheating!”

“Really?”

With that compliment from Chae Na, Kariri blushed, unsure of how to respond. Her beauty was such that just looking at her felt like having one’s soul sucked out. In comparison, she was just evaluated as a normally cute idol, so Chae Na’s praise was an incredibly honorable statement for Yoonseul.

“And here, you shouldn’t call me that.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Kariri…! I am Kariri, the king of Savannah! Kree… Kuuwaawawaang…!”

Reading the comments flowing faster than ever was nearly impossible. However, knowing well what they wanted, Kariri quickly changed the subject.

“Well then, shall we head to virtual reality right away?”

It was indeed challenging to proceed with the broadcast in their real forms. Kariri, who proposed it with a heartfelt desire added, “We’ve come all this way to virtual reality?”

“Instead, since Saetbyeol unnie is pretty… ah… I think we can just imitate the avatar…!”

She had prepared the top-quality capsule for rent in anticipation of Chae Na coming. And its performance was such that it could replicate Chae Na’s appearance in virtual reality perfectly.

Kariri’s broadcast trademark ‘Chim Chim Chim Q&A.’ In this segment, the one caught in the chim chim chim had to answer questions from the other person or perform a random punishment. Kariri couldn’t hide her pride as she prepared many questions that delicately skirted the boundaries.

“Chim Chim Chim! Aja Nice! Put your head down!”

“Wait, you suddenly became too proactive… Kyah! Why did you hit me right away?”

“Oh right! I forgot in my excitement!”

As the segment continued, a lot of information was gathered. The most captivating interest was the reason why Chae Na appeared on Kariri’s broadcast. This caused the public to look on with curiosity, knowing that Kariri had shared the same dorm room during her trainee days.

Many people didn’t even know that Kariri was once an idol trainee.

-Wow, 300,000 viewers lololol

-Today is really legendary.

-The power of a global star ㄷㄷㄷㄷ

With Twish’s simultaneous VTube streaming, there were about ten times more viewers than usual. Especially, this collaboration was even more meaningful to Yoonseul herself.

Chae Na was an idol who had already reached the peak of the career she once aspired to. The tension was high without effort, and a smile never left her lips.

“Ah! Time to sing! Then Kariri will sing ‘Wildflower!’”

“Wildflower again? Do you still only sing that?”

“Don’t underestimate a song that’s been honed thousands of times with artisan spirit, hehe!”

Kariri manipulated the broadcast settings a few times and activated the viewer visibility mode. Suddenly, outside the private room, a magnificent scene unfolded as hundreds of thousands of people sat holding their cheering sticks.

It was a future that perhaps would have been given to Yoonseul if she hadn’t given up on becoming an idol. However, Kariri shook her head and focused on the song. After all, she was a virtual YouTuber, not an idol.

She was set on showing the best virtual YouTuber to Korea’s best idol.

“Memories of longing, and hearts filled with nostalgia.”

Chae Na listened silently until she completed her song. The eruption of cheers at the end caused Kariri to bow her head, shedding tears.

“Thank you so much, everyone! How about Chae Na unnie singing next? This is a new song—”

“Oh no… not today.”

“Oh right? Vocal care is important…! Shall we move on to the Pillow Time corner then?”

The renowned ‘laying broadcast.’ A segment that skyrocketed in popularity once idols participated.

It wasn’t something you often saw, two beautiful girls lying on one bed, looking at each other, listening to words that came from deep within their hearts.

“Yoonseul… no, Kariri. I really can’t get used to that name, haha. Why did you quit being an idol in the middle? I really thought you would debut with me. You’re pretty, you sing well, you dance well, and above all, I thought you worked the hardest among us.”

“Kariri, you see! I realized that I didn’t need to be an idol.”

“Hmm?”

“I didn’t want to be an idol itself. I just wanted to sing and dance in front of many people. I don’t think it has to be in the form of being an idol.”

“I see…”

“But I do envy you a little! Singing in virtual reality is so touching like this; I wonder how fast my heart would race hearing the cheers of real people!”

Never had so many people gathered before.

Did Chae Na feel this thrill at every concert?

As Chae Na, with her eyes closed, listened attentively to Kariri’s confession, she spoke softly.

“Kariri, I actually envy you a lot.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

Chae Na gently caressed her cheek. Kariri let out a small scream at the ticklish sensation but soon opened her eyes wide and focused on Chae Na’s words.

“You’re pioneering a place that no one thought to go, living a life so freely and fun. Perhaps the name idol wasn’t the word that suited you best… at least that’s what I think!”

“Ah, unnie, you have to speak only the truth here! This is a truth game!”

“Haha, you caught me? Right, the next most fitting person is you!”

“Exactly! That’s how it should be, Chae Na unnie!”

Kariri had a talent for highlighting the guest’s charm in this way. She reinforced existing charms and conveyed the unexpected attractions.

To the public, who envied Chae Na just for meeting a good song and a good agency, Kariri would be satisfied if she could convey that she was such a thoughtful and charming person.

“I hope we can collaborate like this again next time.”

Trying to be a little greedy,

“Probably not.”

“Busy because of schedules, right?”

“Yeah… So you should enjoy your life without regrets while you only have one!”

“Okay! Kariri, I’ll keep that in mind! Until the day I reclaim the throne of Savannah!”

[Just Chatting – Chae Na is a god!]

[Broadcast Time – 5:29:10]

[Number of Viewers – 384927]

* * *

The day after the collaboration.

[At 4 AM today, singer Chae Na was found dead at her home in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The police and fire authorities have stated that there were no external factors such as criminal activity and that they are investigating the exact cause of death while considering the possibility of a suicide.]

* * *

Shocking news that shook South Korea continued to pour out from the morning.

For some reason, the bereaved family stated that they could not disclose the letter she had left at this time. They only repeated like a cuckoo, asking the public to trust them and wait a little longer.

With the sudden news of a singer’s suicide, waves of mourning spread across the world.

Ultimately, the letter from Chae Na was revealed to the world a month later, but even before that, all sorts of speculations abounded.

The circumstances indicating that Chae Na had been suffering from severe depression for a long time were revealed late by some netizens, and all the blame fell on her agency.

However, the flow of the water does not always go in one direction.

Like a river splitting in two upon encountering a large rock, the next target was Kariri.

-Didn’t you know that your close sister was depressed?

-Didn’t you say anything to Chae Na after the broadcast? The last person she met was Kariri.

-Was the weakness exposed?

-Really ridiculous;; I’m watching the broadcast again, but she keeps trying to match up with Chae Na lololol

-What is a VTuber? Just looking at it makes me nauseous.

-There isn’t a normal person who watches that kind of stuff lol

-That’s why it’s disgusting;;

-Why did it have to end with this girl? lol

-You should die in the same way.

-All those who pretend to be sweet, sucking down our money, are all the same.

-You killed her, go confess.

Bang, bang, bang—

“Yoonseul, are you home? We’re from XXX! Can we have a quick interview?”

“I’m a reporter from XXX! Yoonseul, please spare me some time!”

Reporters rushed to Yoonseul’s home.

Standing by the entrance door, the girl who knelt down began to tear her hair out.

“No… I didn’t do it…”

[Yoonseul!]

[Are you inside!]

[I would like to know if Chae Na had anything to say separately!]

Yoonseul’s eyes trembled anxiously.

Hot air entered her throat, but for some reason, she couldn’t breathe.

A vague fear that her wildly pounding heart might stop functioning and burst, a terror that her whole body was paralyzed, unable to breathe and would die like this,

The pressure felt like choking off her prayers throbbed around her.

[The day before the incident, singer Chae Na reportedly appeared on the internet broadcast of Yoonseul, who was a former trainee at the same agency… ]

On TV, and on internet sites, the face of ‘Yoonseul’ continued to float.

In this way,

This way was not the kind of fame she had wanted.

Weak, Yoonseul’s body grazed the floor.

While the cold wooden floor seemed to cool her heated feelings, chills returned and it was useless.

[To be healed means not to experience panic but to not fear panic.]

That was the monster that had already shattered the dream that Yoonseul had long cherished.

And that monster had now reached out to Kariri as well.

Half-collapsed, Yoonseul continued to sob desperately.

According to the doctor’s words, she must not yet be fully healed.

But how can a human not fear death?

-That girl, who could not even debut, probably killed her out of jealousy. So pitiful our Chae Na unnieㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-She looks like a sly fox, why did Chae Na meet someone like that? Ridiculous;;

-Her face is all sold-out, how can she walk around outside now?

-We don’t care lol If she didn’t like it, she shouldn’t have done idol promotions, soaking up all the popularity.

The world was cruel to the girl.

A great flood struck Savannah, which had been experiencing a drought for so long, and even the invincible King Kariri had no way to stop it.

Before the malicious gaze and slander of society, the individual was utterly powerless.