Vol.3 Chapter 5

Yuna’s PoV

A sudden alarm sounded, prompting me to glance at the virtual clock of the game.

It’s almost time for the meeting, huh? That’s good. I have a reason to end this charade early.

I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the prospect of wrapping up the stream. After all, I have a valid reason to end it early: We have a team meeting to discuss tactics for the tournament.

With an exaggeratedly cute tone, I addressed my viewers.

"Haaaiiiii, everyone~! I just wanted to give you all a quick heads-up~. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to end the stream a bit early today.”

Comments flooded as I watched the virtual chat fill with a mix of surprise and supportive messages.

PandaGO: "Aww nooo! Why early?

Rizzler2.0: It's fine! We know you’re busy with the Andartha Cup. And also, I love you to death, Yuna!

9Kitten9: "We'll miss you, Yuna! Can't wait for the next stream!

CoAMaster42: "Good luck with the tournament, Yuna! You've got this!

DragonSlayer: "Understandable! Win that tournament for us Yunians!

Narwhal: "Show them what you've got! We Yunians are always cheering for you!

I struggled to keep up with the stream of comments due to the sheer volume of viewers. As the number one global ranking streamer with the most followers, it’s no surprise that the chat is bustling with activity. However, thanks to my experience in managing live chats, I was able to catch a few supportive messages. Engaging with this lively community has become second nature to me over time.

"As you all know, we are in the middle of the Andartha Cup~! This tournament is suuuuuper important to me and my team, and we want to give it our best shot, so we have a tactical meeting," I said as I tilted my head at the perfect angle and waved my palm a little.

Mastering the perfect body language cues and psychological gestures to create a sense of closeness with my viewers has become second nature to me. People don’t just become number one without putting in effort. Achieving the status of the number one streamer is the result of hard work and dedication.

Growing up in South Korea, which is recognized as one of the most competitive environments in the entertainment industry, coupled with very strict and wealthy parents, my childhood was akin to a rigorous and relentless pursuit of excellence that often felt like a stress-inducing household without any reprieve.

I began leaning slightly into the virtual camera at just the right distance to enter my viewers' perceived personal space, fostering a sense of closeness to them—another perfectly executed subtle psychological cue from me.

“I’m reaaaaally thankful for all the support you guys are showing me~! Yuna, signing off! Stay safe out there, Yunians~!"

I can’t believe I’m saying it, too. I don’t know who made the term viral by calling themselves Yunians. It's super cringe-worthy, and it feels narcissistic to call them that, but it stuck to my fans, so there is nothing I can do about it now. All I have to do is go with the flow… like I usually do from the moment I was born.

With that, I logged out of the game and felt the familiar sensation of my VR pod beginning to power down. The ambient sounds of the virtual world faded away, replaced by the soft hum of the VR pod's internal systems.

Taking a moment to adjust to the real world, I blinked a few times, feeling the cool air on my face. With a slight push, I opened the pod's hatch and swung my legs out, stepping onto the soft mat placed beside it.

I was met with the sight of my own room at the Atelier branch where we are currently staying for the Lan tournament. The room was quiet, save for the gentle whir of the VR pod cooling down. Posters and cute memorabilia adorned the walls, adding a personal touch to the space.

Knowing I had a strategy meeting with my team soon, I quickly grabbed a bottle of water from the nearby table, took a refreshing sip, and then headed out towards the meeting room. Although it was a bit early, as the team captain, it was my responsibility to arrive ahead of time.

Arriving at the designated meeting room, I pushed open the door to find it empty. The room was large and brightly lit, with a sleek conference table in the center and high-tech screens lining the walls. It was eerily quiet, amplifying the sound of my footsteps as I walked in.

I took a seat at the center of the table, placing my water bottle in front of me. The clock on the wall ticked steadily, each second feeling longer than the last as I waited.

A few minutes passed, and I began to wonder if I had the right time. Just as I was about to check my schedule again, the door gently swung open, and the most veteran players of CoA of our group, Artemis and Freya, walked in together. While they may not be as adept at strategy and tactics as I am, I greatly respect their experience and often heed their advice.

"Oh, Eun-ha, you’re already here? And I thought we were early this time," said Artemis, the archer of our team, with a playful grin.

"Hehe~, I can’t let my seniors wait, can I?" I replied warmly, trying to lighten the mood.

"You’re so hard-working. It’s a blessing that you became our captain," praised Freya, our steadfast defender.

"That’s right! Your on-point strategies and tactics are the reason we are having smooth sailing in the tournament and easily made it to the upper bracket of the main event," Artemis seconded, nodding in agreement.

"You’re making me blush, seniors!" I said, acting coy. "I didn’t do anything special. If anyone deserves most of the credit, it’s Senpai Aoi.”

"That’s true. Aoi has been a boon ever since she joined our team. She’s also improved a lot in the past few weeks, so much so that I can’t even defend against her attacks when we spar anymore!" Freya agreed, her admiration evident.

I agree with them. Aoi Senpai has significantly improved in the past few weeks, and I have a reason to suspect that her time from that Under Twenty tournament for non-pros played a pivotal role in her growth. However, this progress comes with the downside of her training too much. Despite my frequent reminders for her to get some rest, she remains highly motivated and driven to improve even further.

"Speaking of, where is Aoi-senpai?" I asked curiously, glancing around the room for any signs of her arriving.

"She’s probably in the training room and lost track of time," Artemis said with a hint of amusement.

"Again?” I said in disbelief. Giving a cute pout in the process.

"You know her, she always gets absorbed in training," Freya confirmed, laughing softly.

"I’ll go get her. Please wait for a bit, okay, seniors~" I cheerfully said while standing up from my seat and promptly leaving the room.

As I walked down the corridor, I decided to make a quick stop at the supply room where the towels were kept. Knowing Aoi Senpai’s tendency to train intensely, I figured she might appreciate a fresh towel.

As I walked down the hallway toward the supply room, I overheard a hushed conversation coming from around the corner. My curiosity piqued, so I slowed my pace and listened.

"What?! Miss Kang is the CEO of Atelier’s child," one voice exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yeah, how do you think she became this successful at a young age?" another voice responded.

"I simply assumed she leveraged her looks and slept with the higher-ups. Well, I guess that's nepotism for you. You can have anything if you have the right connections," a third voice chimed in, dripping with cynicism.

"Shhh! Someone might hear you," the second voice warned.

I felt a pang of frustration as I realized they were talking about me. The familiar sting of accusations of nepotism hit hard. My father was the company founder, and it seemed that no matter how hard I worked, some people would always attribute my success to my family connections.

Don't they realize the extent of my efforts to exceed my father's expectations? The countless books I’ve read across various fields in pursuit of his approval? The rigorous training in piano, violin, and other instruments until my hands bled? The exhaustive practice in dance and ballet until I was out of breath? The countless hours spent mastering multiple languages and perfecting my pronunciation and diction? The meticulous effort I put into cultivating my likability and charisma and ensuring I presented a favorable image in front of him during the wealthy social gatherings with his peers?!

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Calm down, Eun-ha Kang. You’re already used to this. It's no use getting angry and risking ruining my image. It happens all the time, anyway.

I chided myself for getting emotional about this again. It’s the norm, after all. People tend to devalue the hard work and dedication I put in because I'm the child of rich and powerful parents. Admittedly, my connections to such wealthy individuals have played a role in my success. However, it is still disappointing to know that some people disregard all the effort and hard work I’ve invested to attain where I’m currently at.

I took a deep breath and fixed my face, defaulting to my usual friendly façade that I’ve perfected. As I rounded the corner, the employees near the supply room immediately became alert to my presence. Their conversation halted, and their eyes widened in recognition.

"M-Miss Kang," one of them stammered, clearly surprised by my sudden appearance.

I offered them a perfectly warm smile, aiming to ease any tension.

"Hi~ Hi~ Thanks for your hard work!" I greeted cheerfully. "Can I get a towel?"

One of the employees hurriedly nodded, stepping inside to grab a fresh towel from the room.

"H-here you go, Miss," she muttered weakly, handing it over with a respectful bow.

"Thank you~ keep up the good work!” I replied, accepting the towel with a fake cheerful smile as I went on my way.

I won’t gain anything by confronting them, only demerits. I’ll just prove them wrong with my actions and win the Andartha Cup with my efforts.

With the towel in hand and renewed determination, I continued my way to the training room to fetch Aoi-senpai. Walking to my destination, the hallways of the building were quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the soft padding of my footsteps.

I reached the entrance of the indoor training hall and gently pushed the door open. Inside, the spacious room was filled with training equipment, but my eyes were immediately drawn to Aoi. She was in the center of the room, fully immersed in her shadow-practicing kendo.

I stood there for a moment, watching her practice. Aoi had always been skilled, but there was something different about her now. Her improvement over the past few weeks was evident in every motion of her swing.

Only one reason for what brought about this change comes to mind: her fight with that girl, Novo.

Initially, I believed the rumors that Aoi held back during the show match. However, upon reviewing the replay, it became evident that this was not entirely true. That girl, Novo, is a prodigy who can match our ace in terms of skills.

One thing is certain: I must recruit her. She would be a tremendous asset to our guild and to the Atelier organization as a whole. I cannot overlook a player who can rival Aoi. The challenge, however, is that she has consistently declined our requests for a meeting to discuss recruitment.

It may be necessary for me to visit her personally. Demonstrating our sincerity through my presence, given my status as the most famous streamer of CoA and the newly appointed guild master of Atelier, may persuade her to join us. If she is a fan of mine, all the better.

The only obstacle is determining her location, which is not publicly available. Fortunately, as some of our gossiping employees have pointed out, I have 'connections' that can assist with this.

As I planned my approach to recruiting the girl, I noticed that Aoi finally finished her rounds and was taking a quick break. As I approached her, she finally noticed me.

"Aoi-senpai~ You forgot our meeting again," I pouted, trying to appear neglected while clutching the towel I had brought for her. My eyes widened slightly to add to the effect, hoping to make her feel a bit guilty.

From her minimal facial expressions, I could tell she was at least a bit shocked by my revelation.

"...Is it already time?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

"You're too engrossed in your practice again~," I replied, shaking my head playfully. "You should take a break once in a while, especially during the most important tournament of the year." My tone was light, but the concern was genuine.

“…Alright,” she replied as curtly as she usually does.

"Hehe, that’s a promise, okay, Aoi-senpai~," I said, my voice filled with warmth and a touch of mischief. I couldn't resist teasing her a little, hoping to lighten the mood.

“…I’ve told you already, just Aoi is fine.”

"But you're Japanese and older than me~! That makes you A-o-i-sen-pai~!" I emphasized her name playfully, drawing out each syllable. Giving nicknames to people brings me closer to them, after all.

She seemed to ponder for a moment. As silence befell us and I was about to break it, she suddenly spoke again, her voice surprisingly gentle.

"...You can drop the act. I told you already. You can act normally around me when we are alone."

I smiled a genuine smile this time. Despite my efforts to maintain a flawless facade since we first met, she had seen right through me from the start.

"I don’t know what you mean by that, Senpai~," I replied, feigning innocence.

She gave a soft sigh, her expression unreadable.

“Just curious~ Why do you think that I’m putting up an act?” I continued.

She looked at me with an unreadable expression.

She looked at me intently, her gaze unwavering. "...The way you move, your body language, your expression—everything. It's too perfect."

"Oh! Senpai~ You're making me blush~," I said, acting shyly.

"...It’s not a compliment. There is no such thing as flawless perfection. You’re just going to tire yourself if you continue with that," she said, her tone laced with the wisdom of experience.

This time, it was my turn to stare at her intently.

I remembered reading her background profile in my research to get closer to my teammates. She, too, was born into a family with high expectations, which may explain why she understood me so well.

"I wish that you would embrace your flaws, and if you ever get tired of keeping up appearances or need someone to talk to, I'll always be here," she continued, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"I'll... think about it... Oh! I almost forgot! I brought you a towel~" Realizing I almost dropped my act, I quickly shifted the topic, slipping back into my usual outgoing mode.

I'm sorry, Aoi, but I can't grant your request. I might become too comfortable around you, especially when we are in the public eye, and I can't afford that. Even a small slip-up could spell disaster for me and my career. The stakes are too high for me to lower my guard, even just for a little bit.

"...Thanks," she responded as she slowly took the towel, her expression tinged with disappointment, but she didn't pursue the matter further.

"It’s always a pleasure, Senpai~!" I said with a bright smile, hoping to lighten the mood. "Oh, we should head to the meeting room now. We can't keep Senior Temmy and Frey waiting~!"