---

The time was just after Lee Joon left the studio.

“Do you have a personal preference for song styles, Ha-eun?”

Hwang Ji-hyuk, who was still filled with warmth welcoming Ha-eun, asked for her opinion on the song style for the <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> stage.

To this, Ha-eun replied that as long as it wasn’t overly cheerful, it would probably be fine.

‘Cutesy songs are a bit… not like that.’

She wanted to keep her persona as a celebrity Ha-eun distinct from her stage presence as Dia.

After all, the image of “Actress Lee Ha-eun” was far from what could be considered cute.

She thought it would be better to apply the weighty atmosphere Ha-eun had built up as an actress to her activities as a singer.

However, since Ha-eun wouldn’t be going on stage alone for the <Infinite Challenge Music Festival>…

“Since we don’t even know who we’ll be teaming up with yet, can we proceed with this among ourselves first?”

She inquired if they shouldn’t discuss the song style until the person Ha-eun would be performing with was decided.

Eventually, Huang Ji-hyuk responded that it was okay to come up with preliminary ideas.

“It’s better to sketch out a few songs in advance and refine them later rather than starting from scratch.”

This plan had been laid out since the time Huang Ji-hyuk received the invitation to participate in the <Infinite Challenge Music Festival>.

After all, both Ha-eun and her potential teammates for the <Infinite Challenge> fixed members or composers would likely be clueless.

Hwang Ji-hyuk determined that establishing a general direction and fine-tuning within it was a more effective approach.

Thus began the brainstorming session between Hwang Ji-hyuk and Ha-eun.

“The <Infinite Challenge Music Festival> program tends to prefer songs with a somewhat exciting vibe, so I don’t think something too calm or serious would work.”

“Hmmm… What do you think about a style like J-Pop? A slightly rhythmic type.”

“Ah, I like J-Pop too. Then, could you tell me one J-Pop song you enjoy listening to? I’d like to take a look at the melody.”

The brainstorming session lasted roughly one hour and yielded about five simple melodies.

After taking one last listen to the simple melodies, they bid each other farewell with a promise to meet again.

The direction Ha-eun headed after leaving Hwang Ji-hyuk’s studio was the LUX headquarters.

More precisely, it was the streaming room inside LUX headquarters.

“I’m here!”

“Oh, welcome, Ha-eun! I just arrived too.”

Jeong Maria, who had been sitting in a broadcasting chair getting everything ready, greeted Ha-eun with a bright expression.

Seeing Jeong Maria’s passionate expression, there was a sense of determination that seemed to be no mere momentary illusion.

‘She doesn’t seem to be nervous. Hmm…’

Anyway, today marked the first broadcast following Dia’s genuine voice uproar, as well as the first reality collaboration broadcast.

It was necessary to send out a survival report before it got any later, as delaying the broadcast further could negatively impact Dia’s broadcasting reliability.

The official channel for the fantasy realm was already live with a waiting screen.

– Open the door!!!

– Kraaak!! Dia!! Cream!!

– Cream.. I’m cold.. My eyes are getting heavy..

– Is this the Spirit Girl’s broadcast?

– Share what those guys heard with me!!

– Open up, sesame! Open up, sesame! Open up, sesame! Open up, sesame! Open up, sesame! Open up, sesame! Open up, sesame! Open up, sesame! Open up, sesame.

– Wow, they already started having fun in the chat, how hilarious! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Perhaps it was because they had posted the collaboration notice on the fan cafe in advance, but even though there was still some time before the broadcast’s start time, there was quite a number of people waiting.

The comments on the collaboration notice post were unexpectedly numerous, and that was somewhat of a problem.

───────────

Title > Broadcast Notice

Dia Diah | 13:00

Sunday, 5 PM~

with Cream (Reality Collaboration)

(Additional details omitted)

(Shown as much as necessary, no more shown)

───────────

[Comments]

Order |Newest First

– Before bed, Diah screamed: You were alive!!!!!!!

– Noori: A reality collaboration? Oh my!

– The round sun has risen: Prepare drinks and snacks! It’s time for heroes and heroines!!

ㄴ Dia S2 Hawaiian Pizza: Heroes, heroines, let’s eat!

– Arctic Bear save me: Are you going to show us that baby voice moment now?

ㄴ Dia behind the scenes: No, no, it’ll look like I’m playing with Cream like a plush doll.

ㄴ Dia dakimakura wishing day 111: You two better hold hands and go out.

– Swordmaster Dia: I want to see you ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

The reactions were truly blazing.

This was also a kind of indicator of how much anticipation Dia’s viewers had for the next broadcast.

‘…Doing this collaboration was a good call.’

If Dia had conducted her next broadcast alone, she would surely have been overwhelmed by the immense enthusiasm and swept away here and there.

Ha-eun confirmed that her past decisions were not wrong and felt relieved once again.

“Did you finish setting up, unnie?”

“Uh, yeah. Dia’s setup was also handled by the manager before he left.”

“Oh, right. I should drop a thank you text later.”

A little while later, the countdown finally began for the Dia & Cream reality collaboration broadcast.

As Ha-eun was adjusting the broadcast mic position and the sensitivity for the virtual avatar until the very end…

“I’m here─!!”

“?!”

Jeong Maria, who was sitting in the adjacent seat, instantly changed her voice tone, surprised.

At the same moment, the chat exploded.

– Why are you so late? Why are you so late? Why are you so late? Why are you so late? Why are you so late? Why are you so late? Why are you so late? Why are you so late? Why are you so late? Why are you so late?

– Dia

– Dia, can you clarify your genuine voice?

– Is our Cream next to you???

– Dia, you, no!!

– Why isn’t our valued Cream saying anything?

– Looks like Cream’s mouth is taped shut ㄷㄷㄷ.

– Cream, if you’re being threatened by Dia, can you do a little nod for us?

About a minute later, the donation messages began to flood in as well.

Fortunately, most of the donations that poured in were the minimum amount of 1,000 won, accompanied by ordinary chit-chat messages.

[User ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 won!]

: Please use your ‘sister’s voice’ to do something silly once!

(This donation was skipped by the manager.)

[User ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 won!]

: I heard a rumor that you’re not a spirit but a spirit queen, is that true?

(This donation was skipped by the manager.)

[User ㅇㅇ donated 1,000 won!]

: Dia, you, no!!!

(This donation was skipped by the manager.)

Thus, the managers of the official fantasy realm channel had to work frantically without a moment’s rest.

After some time passed and they got a bit sorted out, the broadcast could continue smoothly again.

“Today, scary, scary wizards are here. So, weirdly speaking Noeuls should be careful, because you might get kidnapped to another world!”

– Whoa

– Another world (banned)

– If you go against my will, I will execute a bloody purge (somewhat sarcastic)

– So when will we hear the genuine voice? (User banned.)

– Aah! Someone died!!!

– What’s with the ban speed?

– Are they banning automatically? So fast!

“Even if you apologize later, I won’t forgive you. So be careful, and be careful again~.”

– The first-ever permanent ban ㄷㄷㄷ

– But what if you give me so much money that I can’t refuse?

– Someone donate a whole cotton candy factory!

– ?? What? Wait, why’s anything above 100,000 won blocked?

– Kraaak, open up!! I’ve charged for donations!!

– What is this??

And so, viewers found themselves in a state of confusion as they faced a situation that diverged somewhat from their expectations.

– Tap, tap.

Seizing the opportunity to slip in a line during the broadcast’s momentary lapse, Ha-eun signaled to Jeong Maria sitting right next to her.

Only then did Jeong Maria clear her throat and begin to briefly explain today’s broadcast.

“For Part 1, we’ll be doing <Iron Fist>. For Part 2, we’ll have an ideal type World Cup, so don’t get banned for no reason and enjoy it fully.”

– Wait, there’s a Part 2?

– Are we going to see the legendary aerial air combo 11 times?

– Wasn’t Cream an Iron Fist ranker?

– Dia, can’t you show us a genuine voice just once? This is my 12th request. (User banned.)

– Isn’t this Dia’s first time playing Iron Fist?

– Dia’s gaming talent is top-tier, so she might beat Cream easily.

Shortly after, the lobby for <Iron Fist> filled the entire broadcast screen.

As expected of the world’s most famous 2-player fighting game, the lobby exuded a fierce atmosphere unique to fighting games.

However, playing without any stakes could make it slightly dull to watch.

“Let’s give one wish card to the winner each time someone loses. What do you think, unnie?”

“Sounds good.”

She proposed a match where ‘wish cards’ were at stake.

Dia revealed right after what she would wish for if she won the wish card.

“I want to do a streaming playthrough of <Biohazard: Urban Nightmare>. Definitely watch the ending!”

“Uh, what? You want me to watch the ending?!”

– Wowwwww

– I believe in you, Dia, you’re a broadcasting genius!

– Please win! Please win! Please win! Please win! Please win! Please win! Please win! Please win!

– Is Dia going to play along too?

– Out of all the games, why did it have to be Biohazard? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Isn’t Cream’s trigger button a zombie?

– This is some kind of evil plot ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

After that, before Cream had the chance to respond, the game started immediately.

Cream also had no choice but to select a character and enter combat against Dia’s chosen character.

– Oh no, already picking Takuo?

– How badly does she want to avoid playing Biohazard that she’s bringing her main character from the very first round? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– So tacky, so tacky.

– Dia, could you just say hello in your sister’s voice once? (User banned.)

– Wuwu, going full serious mode against a baby?

– Is Dia going to be okay?

Next came a tense stand-off.

Cream’s character, “Hanata Takuo,” and Dia’s character, “Specimen: Tora,” began circling the expansive battle arena, gauging each other.

However, the jab punches for gauging by Takuo, the boxing champion, were—

– MISS!

Chosen for evasion by the Tiger specimen, Tora, extended towards the air in that moment.

That was exactly when—

“↓↘─! ↗↗⊛ Ultimate Reverse Slam─!”

As Ha-eun frantically punched in the combo commands quickly to the point they were nearly invisible to the naked eye, Takuo was slammed face-first into the battle arena floor.

– MISS!

– Bam!

– MISS!

– Bam!

– MISS! MISS! MISS!

– Bam! Bam! Bam!

Every move from Takuo whizzed past the air, and the sight of immediate counterattacks by Tora kept repeating itself.

In a state of panic, Jeong Maria tried to mix in a bit of paint and escape this unending combo of reversals, but—

“→ →⊛! ↓→↘! This time, it’s an ultimate spinning back kick!!”

A kick came flying into Takuo, who was in a reversal defense position, and again it wasn’t a punch, but a downward kick.

– Isn’t this going to turn the reality collaboration into a real-life confrontation?

– Why is she getting hit by reverse slams and spinning kicks?

– The problem isn’t being attacked; it’s just that Dia has an absurdly fast reaction time ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– We hit, but the attack didn’t register!

– ???: Where are you looking? That’s my ‘afterimage.’

– What a play!

– Completely played with.

– Cream, you better drop the ranker title!

Ultimately, the first round ended in a clean game with no damage dealt.

Gradually, Jeong Maria’s expression reflected a state of panic as fear regarding the <Biohazard: Urban Nightmare> playthrough filled her thoughts.

‘I might trouble her a bit during the collaboration. That’s okay, right?’

‘Uh, yeah! You can trouble me as much as you want!’

Dare say it, this wasn’t just a ‘little’ trouble; it felt like treating Cream like a toy, playing around while the viewers watched.

Afterward, without realizing it, she slightly turned her head to gaze at Ha-eun sitting right beside her.

The sight of two red horns protruding from the beautiful hair surely was merely an illusion, but strangely, it felt all too real.

What struck her as most frightening was how Ha-eun smiled most brightly she had ever seen.

The face Jeong Maria was facing now, bright as it was, certainly bore the name of madness.