Chapter 91: Chapter 90

Stream Sniping

The act of deliberately queuing into the same game as a streamer to disrupt their gameplay.

Typically, streamers who fall victim to snipers are helpless.

While the streamer struggles to identify the sniper’s username, the sniper has full visibility of the streamer’s position, movements, and even their perspective.

This dynamic turns the streamer into a punching bag—a primary reason and motivation behind sniping.

Viewers often enjoy the dramatic reactions streamers show when they’re targeted by snipers.

But this time was different.

-Dudududu─!

[Diah>>>☠DiahIsAFamousPineapplePizzaLover]

"Cut the fake news, Noeulie~☆"

Instead of Diah becoming the snipers’ target, it was the snipers who were getting pummeled by her.

The reversed dynamic was clear: the supposed victim was now annihilating her snipers, venting her stress in the process.

The chat went wild:

“This isn’t even close; she’s on another level!”

“Her reaction time isn’t human;;”

“She just wiped out a two-sided ambush by herself??”

“How many smoke grenades does she even have? LOL.”

The Noeulies began brainstorming ways to deal with Diah’s overwhelming FPS skills, vowing to finally take her down.

The only viable strategy identified so far was a brute force approach—overwhelming her with sheer numbers, as they had in her first Battle Island stream.

Yet even that plan was fraught with challenges.

Diah’s constant server switching made it hard to queue into her game, and even when they succeeded, their numbers were too small to execute the strategy.

The snipers who opted for precision tactics found themselves thwarted as well.

If they waited for Diah while she looted, she would already be fully geared and in "walking disaster" mode by the time they arrived.

If they ambushed her mid-loot, they effectively handed her more resources.

In this deadlock, frustration simmered among the snipers.

While watching Diah laughing gleefully as she took down opponents was amusing, the Noeulies knew that seeing her truly flustered would be far more entertaining.

A New Challenger Appears

-Ding!

[UserX has donated 10,000 KRW!]

**Message: Hey Yuna, hop into Battle Island with Diah! **

Yuna, another VTuber from Fantasy Land, had just started her stream.

The idea was simple: Yuna’s notoriously bad FPS skills could serve as a handicap for Diah, dragging her down and increasing the difficulty.

"Huh? She started streaming already?"

"Yeah, said she was feeling good today, so she started early."

"The crazy part? She’s already played a few matches."

"Even crazier—she’s won all but one."

Yuna seemed intrigued. "Should I team up with the rookie?"

"Don’t say she’s babysitting Yuna; that’s mean!"

"Diah’s cracked at Battle Island, though."

"Yuna can’t even tell single-shot from burst-fire. Meanwhile, Diah dodges grenades by sound."

"Will the bus crash, or will Diah carry?"

Moments later, Yuna sent Diah a message asking if she wanted to team up.

Diah and Yuna: The Duo We Didn’t Know We Needed

"Hi-hi! Can you hear me, Diah?"

"Yes─☆"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Diah accepted Yuna’s proposal, forming an unexpected duo.

Diah’s excitement visibly rose the moment the collaboration began, her cheerful energy lighting up the stream.

With around 7,000 Noeulies watching Diah’s stream and 5,000 viewers on Yuna’s, over 12,000 viewers eagerly anticipated the chaos to come.

Snipers poured into the queue, ready to take down the Diah-Yuna duo.

-Dududun─!

The matchmaking sound signaled the start of a new game.

As the match’s pre-lobby loaded, countless avatars swarmed around Diah and Yuna, following them wherever they went.

Yuna, overwhelmed by the sheer number of snipers, tested their obedience by commanding them to sit.

To her shock, all but a handful complied, sitting down as if part of a coordinated army.

"Wow… are these all our viewers?"

Her voice wavered between amazement and disbelief, rendered nearly speechless by the sheer volume of snipers.

In contrast, Diah remained calm, cheerfully circling around Yuna.

"Yuna-unnie, where should we go~?"

"Uh… no matter where we go, they’ll just follow us."

"Then let’s go to Base Camp─☆"

Base Camp.

The center of the map and a hotspot for intense skirmishes due to its abundance of loot.

While the location’s benefits were significant, so were the risks—it was a magnet for chaos.

"Base Camp? Really?"

Yuna hesitated, knowing the dangers all too well. Going to Base Camp with so many snipers seemed like certain death.

"Don’t worry, unnie! I’ll take care of everything─☆ Just trust me!"

Despite her reservations, Yuna had little choice but to follow Diah’s lead once the game began.

For the snipers, this was a jackpot.

Not only had Diah revealed their destination, but Base Camp’s lack of vehicles meant no escape routes.

As soon as Diah and Yuna landed, the chaos began.

-Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

-Dudududududu─!

Avatars swarmed Base Camp, looting frantically while engaging in all-out warfare.

Amid the chaos, Yuna was completely lost.

"Ahhh! A grenade exploded—oh, it’s across the building."

She floundered in the cacophony, struggling to make sense of the situation.

Meanwhile, Diah calmly focused on looting in a nearby warehouse.

Within three minutes, Diah declared she was done looting.

When Yuna looked over, she was stunned.

"Wait… That’s it? That’s what you call fully looted?"

"Yep!"

Diah’s avatar carried nothing but two machetes, yet she appeared utterly confident.

-Clomp, clomp.

The sound of approaching footsteps signaled the arrival of more players.

Diah handed Yuna a riot shield and several smoke grenades.

"Hide behind the shield and throw smoke grenades whenever they run out─!"

"W-what? How do I even…?"

"Smoke grenades~! Just keep throwing them~!"

As smoke filled the warehouse, Diah vanished into the thick cloud, leaving Yuna crouched in a corner with her riot shield.

Though no gunshots were heard, Diah’s kill messages began flooding the screen.

[Diah>>>🔪☠ReleaseTheMintChocoLovers]

"What…?"

Curious, Yuna opened Diah’s stream on her secondary monitor.

There, she witnessed Diah hurling machetes with pinpoint accuracy, each throw resulting in a clean kill.

She retrieved the machetes from fallen avatars and continued her cycle of relentless precision.

The chat exploded:

"How is she hitting them with just sound?!"

"When did Diah become Draven?"

"Swordmaster vibes. Absolutely insane."

"This is circus-level chaos LOL."

Yuna’s viewers were equally bewildered.

"Guys, is this… is this even possible?"

"We have no idea either LOL."

"Diah’s in a league of her own."

The snipers, unable to locate Diah through the smoke or identify her position on their maps, fell one by one.

The players who had stormed the warehouse where Diah and Yuna were holed up were doing their best to locate Diah.

However, unlike guns, which showed shooting directions on the mini-map, machetes—both melee and throwable—left no such trace.

In fact, even the sound of a flying machete was barely audible.

As a result, most snipers died without ever pinpointing Diah’s location amidst the thick smoke.

Even those who tried to cheat by watching her stream found that Diah’s perspective was also obscured by the smoke, rendering them helpless.

A few exceptionally lucky players managed to break through the smoke and aim their guns at Yuna, crouched in the corner of the warehouse.

-Ping!

But taking down Yuna, who was protected by a riot shield, was no easy task.

Moments later, two machetes flew toward the source of the gunfire.

"Yuna-unnie─! Throw more smoke grenades─!"

"O-okay!"

Diah swiftly dispatched the attackers and disappeared back into the smoke.

Before long, every player who had raided the warehouse lay defeated.

As the smoke finally cleared, Yuna’s stream showed a pile of bodies scattered around the warehouse entrance—courtesy of Diah.

"Unnie, start looting~☆"

Diah’s bright and cheerful tone was utterly at odds with her bloodstained avatar.

The scene was outright terrifying.

If pure evil had a face, it would look like this.

Still, looting was essential.

"Yuna-unnie, do you prefer a sniper rifle or a machine gun?"

"I’m terrible at aiming. I’d probably miss every shot with a sniper rifle, so a machine gun would be better."

"Got it─☆"

As Yuna rifled through the inventories of the defeated avatars, Diah’s voice called her over from outside the warehouse.

When Yuna stepped out, she was met with a bizarre sight.

-Swish!

-Swish, swish!

A player crouched in front of Diah, standing up and sitting down repeatedly, unarmed and clearly surrendering.

"Hands up!"

Diah’s high-pitched voice mimicked a police officer’s command. The player immediately raised their hands in a surrender emote.

And then, almost immediately—

"I’m shooting anyway!"

-Bang!

The player fell to a clean sniper shot from Diah.

The chat exploded:

"What the hell LOL."

"Diah’s trolling so hard rn."

"Her teabagging is unparalleled."

"Honestly, what an honorable death."

Even Yuna couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded by Diah’s antics.

But it was undeniably entertaining.

The pair continued to play Battle Island until the stream ended, with Diah providing nonstop content that would fill countless YouTube highlight reels.

"See you next time~☆"

"Goodnight, Diah~."

After wrapping up her farewell to Yuna, Diah ended her stream and stumbled out of her soundproof booth, utterly exhausted. She collapsed onto her bed without a second thought.

Between streaming several hours longer than usual and the excitement of her first collaboration with Yuna, Diah was completely drained.

In just moments, she was fast asleep, enveloped in the comfort of her new Sears mattress.

Meanwhile, VTuber forums were ablaze with chatter about Diah.

Her ruthless antics during the Battle Island collab had earned her a slew of new nicknames, many of them terrifying.

- “Diah is officially our queen.”

"She’s a natural superstar—her ability to make people lose their minds is unparalleled."

"Watching her crawl through the smoke to avoid gunfire was mesmerizing."

"These snipers wouldn’t stand a chance against pros. Let’s not overhype her strats."

"Are these snipers pros, though? No."

- “She must’ve been playing Battle Island since Season 1. That’s pure experience.”

"I remember someone with the exact same playstyle. What was their name?"

"Wasn’t it Barcode?"

"How do you even know that?"

"Because I got destroyed by them, obviously."

- “Do you think today’s collab deserves an upvote?”

"Straight to trending. Absolutely."

"Stop calling it a ‘collab,’ though—Diah carried."

- “She was so hyped playing with Yuna, she didn’t even get mad when Yuna flipped the car.”

"You could tell she genuinely likes Yuna."

"The polar bears are crying again today."

"Until the day all Arctic ice melts."

- “Diah isn’t a spirit; she’s the Terminator.”

- “Biggest losers today: people who didn’t realize the stream started early.”

- “Diah broke 170,000 followers during the stream. Insane.”

"At this rate, she’ll be the first Fantasy Land VTuber to hit 200k."

"I reported Diah for hacking. Cope harder, or show us a hand cam."

"Are you serious?"

"Wow, your intelligence is truly on par with someone who’s unlocked a Rubik’s Cube once or twice."

"Diah <<< She should honestly compete in tournaments."

"Is this the birth of Fantasy Land’s greatest export?"

"She’s already Fantasy Land’s top streamer by viewership."

"Yuna) I never thought I’d live to see Yuna actually win a chicken dinner."

"Just shut up and worship Diah, the GOAT."

"She literally grabbed Yuna by the scruff of her neck and strapped her to the bus seat to stop her from jumping out LOL."

"Real-time update on Diah’s TreeWiki page.jpg"

"Even Railgun’s standing ovationing Diah’s clip now?"

"Who the heck is Railgun, you nerd?"

"Wow, kids these days don’t know Railgun? The Season 1 legend with 1,100 points?"

"If you’re low on health, just log off already~"

***

"Practice starts at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning in the school auditorium. If you think you might be late, just send me a message~."

It had been about a week since the Battle Island collaboration with Yuna.

As soon as homeroom ended, Gong Hye-yeon approached Ha-eun to inform her of the time and location for the rehearsal of Falling Together.

Ha-eun nodded at the details, thinking she would have plenty of time to prepare since her only commitment was her late-night VTuber broadcasts.

After saying goodbye and agreeing to meet tomorrow, she asked Jung-yoon to take her to Double Lee's studio.

She felt it was necessary to review the songs she would perform as Empress Aria in Falling Together with Double Lee's help.

Once they arrived at Double Lee’s studio, Ha-eun headed straight for the recording booth, as she usually did.

Listening to Lee Jun’s feedback and adjusting her tone was part of her routine.

However—@@novelbin@@

-Ssshk.

“…Why are you looking at me like that again?”

She noticed that Lee Jun’s gaze had shifted from viewing her as actress Lee Ha-eun to regarding her as singer Pinocchio.

On top of that, Lee Jun had been shuffling through papers, clearly preparing for something.

“Ha-eun, how would you feel about doing a dome concert?”

A single sheet of paper, paired with an unexpected question, was handed to her.

“That’s… not a good sign.”

“Huh? Isn’t this phrase trendy right now?”

“It is trendy, but… it’s not what you think, Uncle.”

They put the musical rehearsal on pause as Ha-eun questioned Lee Jun about what he wanted this time.

The explanation that followed caught her off guard—it wasn’t something she had ever considered.

“We’re doing the Infinite Challenge Music Festival again this year. We’re currently recruiting singers for the festival, and Pinocchio is one of the potential candidates.”

Lee Jun added that it would likely draw a lot of attention.

The festival’s main appeal was the chemistry between its hosts and guest performers like Pinocchio, creating plenty of entertaining moments.

“You worked with Geon-yeol on Don’t Stop People, right? You should do something with me too.”

“Uh… does it really work like that?”

“Why not?”

Ultimately, instead of outright rejecting the idea, Ha-eun said she would think about it and tucked the Infinite Challenge Music Festival documents Lee Jun handed her into her bag.

Shortly after, another request came from Lee Jun.

“By the way, can Geon-yeol and I come watch your musical?”

Technically, there was no reason to refuse.

Falling Together didn’t require any special qualifications to attend.

However, the fact that Double Lee—well-known to be close to Ha-eun—wanted to come and watch posed a dilemma.

If her classmates, who already saw Ha-eun as intimidating, found out that Double Lee was attending, they would likely feel even more pressure.

But Ha-eun couldn’t outright refuse.

‘Apparently, movie directors and casting agents secretly come to watch these performances. Making a good impression on them could be beneficial for you too.’

The secret about the Narae Arts High autumn festival, which Gong Hye-yeon had previously shared with her, crossed her mind.

Double Lee and Lee Geon-yeol were respected figures—almost idols—to trainee performers.

Having them watch the musical could leave a good impression and help Ha-eun in unexpected ways.

Moreover, this was a rare chance for her classmates to showcase their talent to successful musicians like Double Lee.

It could even lead to her friends gaining more recognition.

With all that in mind, Ha-eun gave her permission instead of outright forbidding them to attend.

She added a personal request:

“If you meet any of my friends…”

“If I meet them, what?”

“Please don’t treat them like juniors or trainees. Just act like you’re friends. And if you do call me ‘senior,’ make sure to mention it would hurt my feelings if you keep it up.”

“Do they really act that formal around you?”

“Yes.”

Even if her classmates were already overly respectful toward Ha-eun, refusing a request from Double Lee would be far more daunting for them.

In a way, turning down Double Lee’s request might create more problems than simply treating Ha-eun as a peer.

Lee Jun’s response was a reassuring “Okay.”

It was ironic to solve the hierarchy issues created by the industry’s rigid seniority system with more seniority, but it was better than having awkward relationships with her classmates.

After another two hours of vocal practice, Ha-eun returned home, just in time for the airing of Episode 15 of The Moonlight That Parts the Clouds, featuring the final highlight scenes.

-Beep.

“Oh? Watching it together?”

“I need to check some things.”

For the first time in a while, Ha-eun watched the broadcast with Nayeon, feeling it was necessary to review her acting before tomorrow’s rehearsal for Falling Together.

Episode 15 opened with Lee Hyun and Yeong-wol venturing outside the palace together.

“The moon is already full.”

The final highlight began to unfold, showcasing the moments that made Ha-eun’s portrayal of Yeong-wol so memorable.

-Rustle.

As Yeong-wol’s genuine emotions slowly entangled her fingertips, they finally intertwined completely with Lee Hyun’s hand.

Lee Hyun’s response was a brief laugh and a calm voice.

“Since when did you grow so bold?”

It wasn’t a question that sought an answer.

Yeong-wol responded with another question.

“Is holding my husband’s hand such a bold act?”

“Are you sure it’s only your husband’s hand you’ve taken?”

“At least for this moment, stay as my husband.”

Their gazes slowly locked, fingers still interlaced.

Time flowed as the conversation delved into the Crown Princess selection.

Even as the scene transitioned to Yeong-wol asking Lee Hyun to choose a Crown Princess, the hand she had taken remained firmly held.

-Sway.

When she boldly pulled the Crown Prince onto herself, committing an act of defiance, the grip never loosened.

“Choose the woman standing before you—the woman who has long loved you.”

Yeong-wol’s earnest emotions seeped into her calm voice, pleading that their intertwined hands never separate.

“Let Kim Yeon, the eldest daughter of Minister Kim Hojin, serve and carry your lineage.”

Yeong-wol was willing to pay any price to stay by Lee Hyun’s side.

No cost was too high; she would give anything and endure everything.

Thus—

“I will… be yours, Your Highness.”

Her gaze overflowed with love.

The gentle smile illuminated by the moonlight and her heartfelt voice—all these elements combined to show just how much she didn’t want to let go.

As their shadows overlapped completely, her sincerity was laid bare, her devotion reaching its peak.

“Anticipate this. It will surely become an unforgettable moment.”

With a sultry smile, Yeong-wol promised the impossible.

The night sky faded into the deep blues of dawn, which then transformed into the golden hues of sunrise.

A new morning had arrived.

-Step.

A new woman.

“Have you been well during this time?”

What the entire assembly at the Crown Princess selection witnessed was an aura of undeniable superiority.

Even Lee Hyun, familiar with her in every detail, struggled to recognize her. Meticulously adorned, every aspect of her appearance was refined to perfection. The ferocious sharpness she once carried had transformed into a sophisticated grace that permeated even her smallest gestures.

Hostile gazes filled with resentment clashed directly with her unwavering eyes, yet she showed no sign of retreat. Even as those who realized she was Yeong-wol bombarded her with scorn and rebuke, she remained composed.

For what seemed like an eternity, she faced a storm of insults and sarcasm with nothing but a serene smile. The atmosphere she exuded was entirely different from before.

“The choice belongs solely to His Highness. Why, then, do the esteemed ministers, as loyal subjects, cross a line that should remain uncrossed?”

Her youthful features, still evident, were cloaked in a confidence that bordered on arrogance. A soft smile bloomed as her gaze briefly met Lee Hyun’s, conveying an unwavering trust in him.

Step by step.

Each light footfall brought her closer to Lee Hyun, enveloping the hall in another wave of stunned silence. Her flowing crimson hanbok swayed gracefully with her movements, her silken hair catching the light with each step.

The faint sound of her steady breaths, underscored by an unyielding strength, amplified the formidable aura she radiated. Before long, her mere presence exuded an oppressive force that demanded reverence.

“Kim Yeon, eldest daughter of Minister Kim Hojin, greets His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Her gaze was unwavering, lifted upwards in absolute poise, her expression unflinching. The subtle curve of her lips and the confident arc of her eyes only accentuated her commanding presence. Everyone in the hall was thoroughly overpowered, left with no choice but to witness her display in silence.

Not even a single breath dared to break the stillness.

“Which scene was your favorite, Ha-eun? For me, it was when Yeong-wol returned with an entirely different aura.”

The scene Yu Sung-jae once called his favorite unfolded as Yeong-wol revealed her terrifying power in the presence of the one she cherished most.