Hobbyist VTuber-Chapter 229

"Park Yeon-woo’s surgery went well. From what I’ve heard, he’ll be able to attend this concert."

"...!"

A few months ago, Ha-eun had met him through Leni’s iPad—a viewer of Diah’s stream who had been battling cancer.

He was also the one who had made Leni seriously consider the idea of a joint concert with Ha-eun.

Fortunately, he had successfully overcome his illness.

"Of course, he still doesn’t know that Diah is actually you, but that’s fine, right? After all, your songs are Diah’s songs."

"...You said it’s at the end of November?"

"Yup."

"I’ll do it."

"I knew you would."

Right after that, Leni suggested discussing the details once Ha-eun finished her college entrance exam.

Then, she pulled out a shopping bag and handed it to Ha-eun.

Inside were various brands of chocolates and sweet taffy—exam support gifts.

"Good luck on your exam. I’ll be cheering for you."

"Ah... T-Thank you, unnie."

Caught off guard by the unexpected gift, Ha-eun hesitated for a moment but gratefully accepted it.

And when Leni jokingly called it an advance payment for their concert, Ha-eun could only smile awkwardly.

But just as Ha-eun was about to leave, Leni asked her to stay a few more minutes.

Almost at the same time, the door to the studio opened, and Song Hyun-min walked in.

"Sorry I’m late. Traffic was terrible today. Here, this is a gift for your exam, Ha-eun."

"Oh... Um... Thank you."

As a result, Ha-eun ended up staying in Leni’s studio for another hour.

And along with Leni’s gift, she now had another shopping bag of exam treats from Song Hyun-min.

‘How am I supposed to eat all of this...?’

Of course, she appreciated the support.

And it was nice that everything was exactly the kind of sweet desserts she loved.

But the sheer quantity...

She had no choice but to worry about how to deal with all the chocolates.

Then, Song Hyun-min spoke again.

"Actually, this is also your recruitment fee."

"...What?"

"Remember when we made that promise after I got back from Europe? We said we’d release a song together before the end of the year."

It was about something Ha-eun had considered just a polite exchange at the time.

But now, he was seriously asking her to feature in the title track of his new album.

"Oh, of course, we’d record it after your exam. I wouldn’t dare mess with a senior in high school."

"Uh, excuse me, but Ha-eun already has plans with me."

"Huh?"

"We’re doing a concert at the Seoul World Cup Stadium at the end of November."

Before she realized it, Leni had wrapped an arm around Ha-eun and told Song Hyun-min to take a number and wait his turn.

Song Hyun-min, looking slightly embarrassed, then asked for just ten minutes of her time.

"I brought an MP3 file, just in case. Could you try a rough recording right now?"

"A rough recording?"

"Yeah. My agency keeps rushing me, so I need a sample to, um, negotiate with."

Hearing this, Ha-eun said she’d listen first before deciding.

She’d have a little more free time after the exam, so if she could squeeze in some recording for Hyun-min’s track, it might be doable.

"Ah, ah. Can you hear me?"

"Yeah, loud and clear."

And so, they went ahead with the test recording.

Since Leni was also a singer, she wanted to personally assess how well Ha-eun’s voice matched Song Hyun-min’s song.

But contrary to her expectations that their styles wouldn’t blend well...

"...It’s good."

"Right? I told you, Ha-eun’s voice is amazing."

For some reason, even Leni had to admit that their voices meshed surprisingly well.

In the end, she couldn’t argue against Hyun-min’s insistence that no one could replace Ha-eun.

"See? Doublely trained a monster. Don’t you think so too, Ha-eun?"

"...Calling me a monster is a bit much."

"Hahaha. It’s a compliment!"

And with that, Ha-eun decided to seriously consider featuring on his track.

A promise was a promise, after all.

‘I thought it was just one of those “Let’s grab a meal sometime” kind of things... but he actually meant it.’

And so, Ha-eun unexpectedly found herself committed to projects with two major artists, Leni and Song Hyun-min.

When she returned to Ju Jung-yoon’s van as usual, she was met with yet another set of unfamiliar shopping bags.

"What are these now?"

"They’re from Lee Jun and Lee Gun-yeol. They wanted to wish you luck on your exam."

"...Wow."

If she actually ate all of this, she might end up with cavities in every single tooth.

The sheer volume of exam gifts she received was overwhelming.

And it didn’t stop there.

Every single person Ha-eun had ever worked with, past and present, sent her support gifts.

Even Kang Sun-woo and Ha Yun-seong, who she was currently filming God and the Goblin with, gave her presents.

‘At least the unnies sent me gift vouchers...’

Looking at her freezer packed with desserts, Ha-eun felt a strong certainty.

Even if she lived off sweets alone for a while, she wouldn’t run out anytime soon.

And then, time passed.

At long last, the day of the exam arrived.

"...Now! Run!"

"O-Okay, I’m going!"

Even before the sun had risen, Ha-eun had to dash into the test center.

After all, she was a celebrity.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

If an idol showing up at an exam site could cause chaos, then so could she.

News had already reported on another famous idol being mobbed by fans outside their test center.

Since Ha-eun had worked so hard for this, she didn’t want to be disrupted.

If she caused a scene, that would be the worst possible outcome.

-Creak-

‘...No one’s here. Thank God.’

Thankfully, she entered without any commotion.

She immediately started warming up by solving a practice test.

As time went on, the murmurs around her grew louder.

But in the end, no major issues arose.

The supervisors had already designated her as a special case for careful monitoring.

"Alright, everyone, please leave. You can’t gather here."

From before the first subject until lunchtime and even the final break, spectators had been lingering outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

Still, Ha-eun maintained the highest focus of her 19-year life.

But when it was time to leave the test center...

That’s when she hit the real challenge.

‘If it turns out like elementary school, I’m doomed.’

Back when You Who Came from the Stars aired, her entire elementary school had been in chaos.

She didn’t want to experience that again.

So, she carefully turned to the two girls sitting beside her.

"Um... Can you pretend to be my friends and link arms with me when we leave?"

"Huh? W-What?"

"I’ll make sure to properly thank you. Both of you."

"...Then can we get an autograph and a photo?"

"M-Me too?"

"Of course. I’ll do both."

A Secret Mission Begins

Ha-eun pulled down the brim of her baseball cap, tugged her hoodie snugly over her head, and secured her mask in place.

And then—

"...We’re going out through the back. My manager is waiting near there."

"Ah, okay...!"

"Wh-Why am I so nervous about this?"

Blending in with the other female students, Ha-eun carefully slipped out of the exam hall.

By keeping her head slightly lowered, she managed to avoid eye contact with anyone nearby.

This must be what they meant by hiding a tree in the forest.

With her arms linked with two girls she had just met today, Ha-eun successfully escaped the test center and made it to her rendezvous point with Ju Jung-yoon.

She repaid their help immediately after.

Not only did she fulfill her promise of autographs and photos, but she also shook hands, gave them each a hug, and even handed over some unopened snacks.

"I hope you both get into your dream universities."

"Y-You too, Ha-eun!"

"Never thought I'd get exam snacks from a celebrity..."

After saying goodbye to the grateful students, Ha-eun climbed into Ju Jung-yoon’s van as usual.

However, she soon noticed that Jung-yoon kept glancing at her in the rearview mirror, hesitating to speak.

"I think I did well. There weren’t any subjects where I felt rushed for time."

She decided to speak first about the exam.

Now that it was over, she felt a little relieved.

Of course, she’d probably get nervous again when she checked her scores in a few hours, but unless she had made any major mistakes, her results should turn out fine.

By the following afternoon, she was already on her way to Incheon Airport, feeling much lighter.

After all, there was nothing left to do but have fun.

"Well, people who just guessed everything on a single row and dozed off wouldn’t understand this ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ feeling."

"H-Hey! I answered everything properly!"

"Jinsu oppa told me your face was covered in drool marks."

"...! ...!!"

At that moment, Ha-eun and Da-yeon were the only ones at the airport.

Since their faces were widely recognized, it was difficult for the entire Illusionary Realm team to move together.

Even their flights were separate.

Ha-eun still wasn’t sure of the exact reason, but Ji Hye-min had specifically arranged for her and Da-yeon to travel apart from the other members.

And so, the two of them boarded a business class flight.

A couple of hours later, they landed in Japan.

"Mmm, it already feels like winter here."

"Yeah, it does...."

Their destination was Hokkaido.

Even though it was only November, the temperature was already below freezing, and the landscape looked as though winter had just begun.

Once they arrived at their hotel, they managed to check in with the help of a translation app.

After that, all they had to do was wait in their room for the rest of the group to arrive.

"The bed’s bigger than I expected."

"The pillows are huge. A pillow fight would be fun."

"...I'm not having a pillow fight with you."

"Why not?"

"Because I have no plans to end up in the emergency room. I’m not that crazy."

As Ha-eun and Da-yeon passed the time chatting in their spacious hotel room, back in Korea, something major was unfolding.

The first teaser for God and the Goblin had just been released.

The First Teaser of God and the Goblin

"Huh...? What the— God and the Goblin?"

Nael was the first to notice the teaser’s release.

Immediately, she opened the drama’s official website and played the video.

The teaser began with a snowstorm raging over a vast, open plain.

Gallop. Gallop.

Gallop. Gallop.

The camera focused only on the back of a lone man, riding a horse at full speed.

The only thing certain was that he was wearing old Goryeo-era armor.

The hurried sound of hooves continued—

"Find her! The Yaksha's woman is hiding in this village!"

As fierce voices echoed, the scene transitioned to a remote village.

The next moment, a brutal battle unfolded.

-Shing—!

The man leaped from his horse and unsheathed his sword, cutting down the surrounding enemies with ease.

Every time the long blade flashed, crimson liquid splattered through the air—

Severing bodies, piercing chests, and snuffing out lives.

After cutting through an overwhelming number of foes, the man sprinted toward an unknown destination.

Yet, the camera never showed his face, keeping his identity a mystery.

But when his scarred hand urgently pushed open a door—

The camera revealed the scene beyond it:

A narrow room.

A fragile girl collapsed in one corner.

Her face unmistakably clear.

"...You... came...."

Though her voice was faint and broken, it was instantly recognizable.

A deep, slightly trembling voice responded—

"...Seolhwa...."

And at that moment—

A small, blood-stained hand slipped from her sleeve and fell lifelessly to the floor.

The camera zoomed out.

The man’s lonely figure, cradling the now-cold body, grew smaller.

Then, time began to speed up.

The village where Ha-eun and the man had been standing disappeared, replaced by modern buildings.

The scene shifted into the cityscape of the present day.

Step.

Step.

The man reappeared.

As he walked forward, his armor gradually transformed into a modern trench coat.

Yet, even as he continued moving, the camera only showed his back.

The man, still hiding his face, stopped in front of a café.

The moment he stepped inside, the camera finally turned to Ha-eun—

"Sir, do I know you?"

Her expression was filled with confusion.

She wore an ordinary café uniform.

But the name tag pinned to her chest held three distinct syllables—

Baeksulhwa.

"...I once did. I once held you in my arms. In the end, I could never forget... so I have come here."

As his voice echoed, the perspective gradually shifted.

The camera rotated, revealing both the man's and Ha-eun’s profiles.

"So, until we meet again, do not forget me."

The moment the camera paused, Ha-eun lifted her gaze slightly and locked eyes with the man.

But before even a few seconds passed—

The camera angle fully switched to Ha-eun’s point of view.

"My one and only... regret."

At last, the man’s face was fully revealed—

A face filled with loneliness.

Yet, one that carried longing and deep affection.

It was Kang Sun-woo.

And with that, the teaser ended.

The moment Kang Sun-woo’s return was confirmed, God and the Goblin went viral.

Drama forums exploded.

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Internet articles flooded in real-time.

But while the teaser stirred excitement online—

For Ha-eun, the consequences arrived in a much more terrifying form.

-Knock knock knock knock.

-BANG BANG BANG BANG.

-Knock knock knock knock.

Loud, relentless pounding echoed from the hotel room door.

It sounded like something straight out of a horror movie.

"We’re fans~! Please open the door~."

"Stop hiding and come out!"

"Baeksulhwa... you’re in there, aren’t you?"

"Manager, where’s the master key? Don’t you have the master key?"

The voices outside belonged to their own team members who had just arrived at the hotel.

And their sheer terror made Ha-eun shiver.

Of course, she had done nothing wrong.

But she was absolutely not ready to face whatever was waiting beyond that door.

"...Save me, Da-yeon."

"Goodbye, Ha-eun. It was fun while it lasted."

"D-Da-yeon! No—wait, witch—!"

"Bye-bye."