Hobbyist VTuber

2 laptops.

3 tablets.

5 spare phones.

And finally, a separate team of experts (friends) to help Nael.

The scene, reminiscent of a spy operation from a movie, was Nael’s preparation for the ‘Lee Ha-eun Fan Meeting Ticketing.’

“…A 30,000 won bonus for the successful ones.”

“Okay.”

“Accepted.”

The result of this grand operation, with an additional success reward, was a total of 2 tickets.

Considering the fierce competition for ticketing, it was a remarkable achievement.

“Ji-hye.”

“…Don’t tell me?”

“…There are 2 tickets, right?”

“!!!”

Afterwards, praises followed for the golden-handed friend who secured 2 tickets alone.

Nael smoothly proceeded with the promised 30,000 won success reward deposit and the selection of a companion to take the remaining ticket.

“Now, next question. What is my favorite food─”

“Red Velvet Cake!!!!”

“…? Who just said that?”

“Here, here!!”

“Hmm, seems like someone from seat K…?!”

Finally, they succeeded in making eye contact with Ha-eun.

Unlike the overly excited Nael, Ha-eun, who recognized her, was momentarily wide-eyed.

Of course, she couldn’t pretend to know her.

That’s why she quickly picked up the handheld mic she had momentarily put down.

“Y-you’re really cute, so I was surprised. Anyway, since you got the answer right, you can receive a prize later.”

After acknowledging Nael’s correct answer, she swiftly moved the focus to the cue card to start the next quiz.

She didn’t notice that Nael almost fainted from Ha-eun’s compliment.

Strictly speaking, Nael had already met Ha-eun before.

She had even fed Ha-eun cotton candy she made herself while broadcasting within arm’s reach.

“The more biases, the better…”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“There is such a thing…”

Her heart still raced just by looking at her.

Although Nael’s friend, who wasn’t a hardcore fan of Ha-eun, didn’t quite understand why Nael was grinning so much.

Nael’s gaze continued to focus.

Her fan’s heart was evident as her eyes kept turning towards Ha-eun on stage.

From Ha-eun’s perspective, it was undeniable that Nael’s appearance was noticeable.

Unless she hadn’t noticed Nael’s presence before, once she became aware, her gaze kept drifting towards her.

‘I can’t let Dayeon be surprised…’

Anyway, Dayeon also knew Nael.

Dayeon was one of the few people who knew about Nael’s red pill.

The problem was that she couldn’t give any hint to Dayeon.

Mentioning Nael’s existence to Dayeon would mean admitting that she knew who Nael was.

It would also mean confessing that she knew Dayeon was Hida from Fantasy Land 2.

Therefore, even after finishing part 1 of the fan meeting and meeting Dayeon backstage.

Even after changing into the outfit for part 2 and checking Dayeon’s cue card, she couldn’t say anything.

“That dress suits you well, Dayeon.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It looks like a luxury brand.”

“Well, …it’s a one-dollar dress. It should be worth the money.”

“…How much?”

Right after, Yoo Seong-jae appeared.

Eventually, Yoo Seong-jae’s questions about the guest appearance made her turn her gaze away from Dayeon’s dress—which seemed to be made of pure gold.

Shortly after, the countdown for part 2’s opening began.

Ha-eun headed towards the cast’s entrance again, quietly reciting the lyrics of part 2’s opening song.

Thus, after a short while.

As soon as the start time for part 2 arrived, she returned to the fans with a soft song.

“When you lose your way♪ Like that night, slowly─♬”

As she made eye contact with the fans in the audience, her clear voice was evident.

“Wherever it is♪ Stay with me until the end─♬”

-Walking in step, someday♪

An unexpected voice harmonized with Ha-eun’s voice and gradually appeared.

As the owner of the voice walked out next to Ha-eun, cheers erupted.

‘…There was no mention of singing.’

Was it a surprise prepared by Yoo Seong-jae?

With a serious expression, unlike his usual light demeanor, he was singing while wearing a dragon robe.

This appearance of Yoo Seong-jae was also a surprise to the fans in the audience.

Although they already knew Yoo Seong-jae would appear as a guest.

“…Long time no see, Wol-ah.”

-Ahhh!!

They didn’t expect him to appear as Prince Hyun from <Moonlight Drawn by Clouds>.

At the same time, they never dreamed he would show off such excellent singing skills and harmonize with Ha-eun.

Thus, when Yoo Seong-jae formally greeted the fans, enthusiastic applause poured out.

There wasn’t a single fan of Ha-eun who didn’t welcome Yoo Seong-jae.

The brief talk time that followed.

Light conversations about Yoo Seong-jae’s recent activities and <The Veterans> passed between Ha-eun and Yoo Seong-jae.

However, there was still one guest who hadn’t appeared yet.

“Well, it seems like just me and Ha-eun are enough, but three is better than two, right?”

After a brief introduction of <The Veterans>.

The cue to introduce Dayeon was in Yoo Seong-jae’s handheld mic.

Thus, the applause also poured out for Dayeon as she appeared on stage.

However, only because Dayeon also didn’t know about Yoo Seong-jae’s singing surprise.

“I didn’t expect Yoo Seong-jae to do such a cute thing.”

Dayeon’s forced smile turned towards Yoo Seong-jae.

Nevertheless, Yoo Seong-jae didn’t seem to mind at all.

“Well, Dayeon, did you prepare anything special?”

“…Huh?”

Eventually, the two’s contrasting gazes clashed head-on right in front of Ha-eun.

Noticing this, Ha-eun quickly proceeded to the next segment, making both Yoo Seong-jae and Dayeon recite their respective cue card lines.

The subsequent roughly 30-minute talk with the guests wasn’t much different from the rehearsal.

Although there were small clashes between Dayeon and Yoo Seong-jae, it seemed like just their usual banter to the fans in the audience.

Thus, when the two guests left, another round of applause poured out.

No bad expressions could be seen.

Shortly after, the QnA session with the fans began.

“Recently, my hobby? Hmm… Lately, I’ve been playing with dolls a lot.”

Thus, she sincerely answered various questions, including one about her hobbies.

Although she didn’t reveal that the doll in her previous answer was actually Noeul’s SD virtual avatar.

Of course, to Nael, who was one of the few people who knew the whole truth, there was nothing more amusing.

Yet, she couldn’t show that she knew the truth and had to keep muttering to herself.

“The king’s ears are donkey ears… The king’s ears are donkey ears…”

“…Has she finally lost her mind?”

Thus, as Nael’s friend looked at her with a ‘can’t believe what I’m seeing’ expression.

Finally, after finishing the last cue card of the fan meeting, Ha-eun said she wanted to have a photo time.

In response, the fans unanimously agreed.

Thus, sitting comfortably at the very edge of the stage.

Click, with the fans in the audience as the background.

“Hmm… Let’s take one more. This time, let’s all do a V sign and take it.”

After several photo times finally ended, the farewell speech could be made.

However, before Ha-eun’s farewell speech could fully end, the fans started speaking.

-Ha-eun, we love you!!

-Lee Ha-eun, you’re beautiful!!!

-Let’s only walk on flower paths, Ha-eun!!

“…Thank you…”

She bowed in response to the voices directed solely at Ha-eun.

Ha-eun responded to the fans’ words with her usual polite bow, her eyes slightly red as she smiled brightly.

It was the most vivid smile in Ha-eun’s life.

She herself was surprised that she could smile like this.

“…I didn’t think she would cry.”

“It’s her first fan meeting. Ha-eun must be feeling a lot.”

“What do you know?”

“It’s not knowing, it’s empathizing. Unlike someone who lives somewhere else.”

-Clunk.

“…Why are you two glaring at each other again?”

“Dayeon was teasing Ha-eun for crying.”

“?! When did I!!”

***

A few days after Ha-eun’s first fan meeting.

The filming of <The Veterans>, which had entered its latter half, began.

However, it was the first time filming action scenes, and.

Since the scenes filmed today were to be used for the trailer of <The Veterans>.

“Today might end a bit late. I want to compare the takes right away.”

Director Kim Hong-seong spoke at length with the staff and actors on set.

In any case, the scenes to be filmed today were also the highlights of <The Veterans>.

In other words, the identity of <The Veterans>.

As they were filming the scenes that best represented what kind of movie it was, they planned to put more effort into filming than ever before.

“Ha-eun, you really can’t hit me. I barely managed to stop the manager from using a stunt double.”

“…I’ll try.”

The first scene to be filmed was the fight scene between Kang Chan-seong and Lee Ye-seo.

Perhaps because of that, Yoo Seong-jae kept glancing at Ha-eun’s gloved hand with a slightly scared expression.

Although they had practiced action scenes together as much as possible, somehow.

He kept imagining what would happen if that small fist actually hit him.

Strictly speaking, the end of the filming was supposed to be finished with a prop dagger, not a fist.

‘…Honestly, it’s scary.’

Ha-eun, already embodying Lee Ye-seo’s expression, made Yoo Seong-jae hesitate.

Considering that Ha-eun’s Lee Ye-seo made Yoo Seong-jae’s Kang Chan-seong flustered, it wasn’t such a strange sight.

Crucially, it felt slightly different from the acting Yoo Seong-jae had seen from Ha-eun before.

If the previous Ha-eun had shown emotions deeper than expected, the current Ha-eun was showing emotions that were completely unexpected.

‘Is she forcibly suppressing it? Or is she really emotionless…’

The face in front of him lacked empathy.

It was the exact image of a psychopath, thinking only of their own desires without considering others’ feelings.

Perhaps because of that.

“Alright then. S#130 Office, let’s start.”

With Kim Hong-seong’s cue, the first filming of the day began.

More precisely, the moment Yoo Seong-jae’s Kang Chan-seong first suspected Lee Ye-seo.

“There’s only footage of entering the CCTV, but none of leaving. How did this happen?”

“Who? …Ah, Min-hwa?”

With a calm voice confessing the truth without showing a hint of emotion.

And almost simultaneously, the sharp blade that grazed Yoo Seong-jae’s ear.

“…Victim?”

-Shiver.

His gaze trembled unknowingly.

Because she was smiling so creepily.

“By now, you shouldn’t be able to move a finger… As expected, the police are different. Interesting.”

Another stab followed.

Yoo Seong-jae immediately kicked Ha-eun’s hand, sending the dagger flying, and took a stance.

-Stagger.

“Ugh…?”

The drug in the tea he drank earlier disrupted the passionate police officer’s balance.

The sense of crisis naturally felt.

Then, click.

Shortly after, another click.

“Who leaked the CCTV footage… Oppa worked so hard to erase it.”

The sound of shoes, neither slow nor fast, gradually approached Yoo Seong-jae.

Then came the line signaling the start of the action scene.

“Hey, just one question. Who showed you the CCTV footage?”

“…It’s a public interest report. I can’t disclose the informant’s identity.”

“Ha… This is ridiculous.”

After slightly bowing her head and touching her forehead, she chuckled.

Then, within seconds, Ha-eun’s hand swept through her hair.

“I don’t know who it is, but it’s dereliction of duty… Isn’t dereliction of duty a crime?!”

With those words, Ha-eun charged at Yoo Seong-jae, exuding nothing but killing intent.

Yet, her face still wore a smile, sending chills down his spine.