LRAB Chapter 24
Chapter 24
[Virtual VTuber Gallery]
[Live Broadcast] Louis Participation - Isn’t that Anna?
(Screenshot of the stream)
The enemy Arcane Engineer’s ID is V_ShirokiAnna.
Isn't that Anna?
[Comments]
It’s definitely Anna, lol.Why is Anna there? LololAnna’s always been a fan of Louis. (Author) Really?She’s mentioned Louis on her streams occasionally.Also, there’s never been an overlap with Louis’s streams before.Anna’s like a super famous Louis cartel member, but the new viewers are flooding in, lol.But isn't that the guy with the memorized build? (Author) ? What are you talking about?
[General] The guy with the memorized build is that notorious low-level bully
(Screenshot from Choi Chang-young's stream)
(Screenshot from Louis’s stream)
Our commander got totally destroyed by that bastard.
[Comments]
What’s the story? (Author) The guy’s known as “Glory of the Ducal House” <- notorious low-level bully.Go to the Labyrinth Gallery.Why are you discussing Labyrinth Gallery drama here?Who cares.
[General] That ‘bastard’ was a Louis fanboy? Lolol
And he’s part of Louis’s cartel? Lolol
That’s hilarious, lololololol.
[Comments]
What’s worse is that even the martial artist left, lolol. (Author) What a troll, lol.“Winning the match is less important than Louis-chan winning~”Louis’s cartel is seriously loyal, lol.When someone like that joins the stream, it’s so boring, lol. (Author) For real, lol.
[General] Stop trolling in participation streams
As if it wasn’t enough that you’re the only one with a Korean name, drawing all the attention, now you’re doing these lame trolling stunts—people from other countries are going to trash-talk us.
Even overseas VTubers occasionally check the gallery. Lowering the gallery’s reputation does no one any good.
Especially since Louis once sent a New Year’s card to a fan from here, you should be careful.
[Comments]
What’s this about a New Year’s card? (Author) Louis used to be super strict with fan management in the early days.She sent a New Year’s card to a Korean fan???(Author) Yep.(Author) There were even proof shots posted in the gallery.Wow...Of all people, why mess with Louis?The gallery’s reputation is already trash; making it worse isn’t a big deal, right? (Author) The issue is that it could lower the perception of Korean fans even more.(Author) These little things can lead to anti-Korean sentiment and potentially get Korean content banned.Oh, I didn’t realize that was a problem.
[Live Broadcast] Louis Participation - But if we just take down the boss like this, won't it be over?
Why is Louis chasing them down?
[Comments]
True.They could just ignore and take down the boss, right?Can't try it because the Arcane Engineer’s still alive. (Author) Why not?If the Arcane Engineer pops their ult, the boss's location will be revealed.Then when Louis tries to take down the boss, the Arcane Engineer could ambush.(Author) Even if they ambush, won’t Louis win?It’s riskier to be ambushed during the boss fight than to chase them down and secure victory.If a team fight is inevitable, it’s better to go with the latter.(Author) Oh, I see.
[In elementary school, I used to jump rope during every break.]
[It wasn’t that I liked jump rope. I was just an outcast in the class.]
[It was hard to stay in the classroom, so I pretended to practice jump rope.]
Anna’s reason for becoming Louis’s fan was trivial. Those three sentences were the beginning of everything.
A VTuber with 400,000 subscribers, Hanabane Louis.
In truth, she’s an outcast.
You can tell just by listening to her talk. She has flaws in her personality and lacks social skills.
That’s probably why Anna liked her.
She’s not perfect, but she’s a hard worker, and someday, she’ll find happiness.
What kind of ending would that be?
Curious about that, Anna became one of Louis’s viewers.
Tap, tap.
Footsteps.
Anna quietly held her breath.
As she peeked from behind a pillar, she saw the enemy team approaching from afar.
‘Just as Sensei predicted, they’re coming after me...’
When she abandoned the martial artist, she thought, What kind of person would do that? But seeing everything unfold as predicted, she realized they were indeed good at the game.
Most of the sewer map consists of one-way paths.
And where Anna was hiding was one of the few places not included in those “most.” It was the place where all the sewage gathered, the widest area in the sewer map.
That’s why they had sacrificed the martial artist.
The Arcane Engineer was at a disadvantage in a cramped map, so they needed time to move to a more spacious area.
‘But it’s still a disadvantage...’
On the opposing team, the Cavalier, Dual Swordsman, and Beast Tamer advanced forward. Meanwhile, Louis, playing the Enchanter, Bard, and Puppeteer, subtly retreated.
They were definitely wary of her.
They knew the Arcane Engineer had the advantage in a wide area.
Click, click.
In the vast chamber, the sound of leisurely footsteps echoed loudly.
But instead of shooting, Anna entered the battlefield.
She moved forward.
This wasn’t typical behavior for a long-range dealer.
Which meant no one could predict Anna’s actions.
Thus, the Enchanter couldn’t have imagined that the Arcane Engineer would approach them.
Bang!
A short gunshot rang out.
A point-blank headshot.
The Enchanter couldn’t grasp what had happened, even in the moment of their death.
And why would they? They had retreated with Louis to avoid the Arcane Engineer.
The last thing they expected was for the Arcane Engineer to sneak up and kill them at close range.
‘...From here, it’s uncertain.’
Ten seconds had passed, and the duration of
Once again, darkness shrouded her vision, and Anna was left in the dark.
For humans, the unknown always brings fear.
Knowledge brings comfort, or sometimes, regret.
Click.
With a slightly trembling hand, Anna aimed her gun.
She pointed it in the direction she felt was right, but she couldn’t be sure what was at the end of her aim.
Maybe Louis was waiting there, or perhaps she was targeting the Bard who had been with Louis.
Or maybe there was nothing at all.
There might be nothing to gain from knowing.
Knowing could only lead to regret.
But what could she do?
She had already learned too much.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Anna fired her gun.
As the magazine emptied, the Dark Knight’s ultimate seemed to end. The darkness lifted, and the horrifying scene gradually came into view.
“Cough....”
The Puppeteer—Louis—had taken a bullet to the stomach.
Beside Louis, who was coughing up blood, the Bard was trapped in
Louis had likely tried to respond to the ambush with
But unable to pinpoint Anna’s location, she had cast
And this was the result.
Anna knew about Louis, but Louis knew nothing about Anna.
Of course.
Viewers always know a lot about VTubers.
But VTubers rarely know much about their viewers.
“I’ve been a fan for a long time.”
Anna pressed the muzzle of her gun against Louis’s forehead.
I wanted to know your happiness.
I wanted to know your ending.
But while I know you, you don’t know me.
The fact that I should remain just an observer.
That I wouldn’t be part of the ending you create.
Maybe it’s been bothering me for a long time.
Perhaps that’s why I’ve gone to such lengths to meet you.
“I admire you very much... So please die.”
Bang!
Anna pulled the trigger.
If fear is in the unknown, and comfort comes from knowledge,
Then being recognized is undoubtedly a joy.
Hanabane Louis collapsed, now just a corpse.
As she looked down at those eyes, which had been staring at her in shock,
As she gazed at the eyes that now reflected her image,
Somehow, a smile began to creep onto her face.