Interaction with viewers.

    One of the basic skills required of a VTuber.

    Even personal counseling fell under the umbrella of communication.

    From that perspective, it wasn’t such a strange sight.

    “So, first question─☆ Why were you mean to your friend?”

    [ekdus7] - I don’t really know...

    “Second question─☆ Anyway, do you want to stay friends with that person?”

    [ekdus7] - ...Yes.

    Although I didn’t have a professional counseling license or anything, simply having a conversation was well within my ability.

    Especially when ignoring a generous donation of 100,000 won would have been difficult.

    However, the username felt oddly familiar.

    The situation the viewer described didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar either.

    ‘...No way.’

    I began to suspect that the person behind “ekdus7” in the one-on-one chat might be someone Ha-eun knew.

    The problem was that the more the conversation with ekdus7 continued, the more Ha-eun''s suspicion turned into certainty.

    “How long have you been friends with this person?”

    [ekdus7] - We''ve been together since first grade in elementary school... So, it’s been about 11 years this year.

    “Then, have you ever had a major fight with that friend during those 11 years?”

    [ekdus7] - We’ve never really had a big fight. Actually, now that I think about it, I feel like I was the one always getting angry and snapping at them...

    Is your friend a saint or what?Did you find out their weakness or something?You’ve bullied them for 11 years, and you’re just saying sorry now?Are you a girl? If you are, I can be your frie─ (This message has been deleted.)

    ‘...Time to freeze the chat.’

    With that, all chat messages except for ekdus7’s were temporarily frozen.

    I carefully asked why they suddenly felt the need to apologize.

    “Did you do something bad to your friend? Recently, I mean─☆”

    [ekdus7] - Well, to be honest, I did slap them a few hours ago, but that was for filming (This message has been deleted.)

    [ekdus7] - I mean, technically, they told me to slap them first (This message has been deleted.)

    [ekdus7] - I just felt like I should apologize before it’s too late. I feel sorry for them about literally everything...

    ‘It’s definitely Da-yeon.’

    If I said I wasn’t at all surprised to realize that the person behind “ekdus7” was indeed Da-yeon, it would be a lie.

    Ha-eun had seen with her own eyes that Da-yeon occasionally watched Dia’s streams.

    But she never expected that Da-yeon would share her personal concerns with Dia.

    Nor did she know that Da-yeon, who always appeared so cold, harbored such worries deep down.

    But for now, she was Dia, not Ha-eun.

    Even if she responded, it had to be from Dia’s perspective.

    Thus,

    “If this person has stayed friends with you for 11 years, I’m sure they’ll accept your apology☆”

    [ekdus7] - But... I don’t know where to start apologizing.

    “Then, why not apologize for everything from the beginning to the end? I think it’ll be better for you to let it all out!”

    [ekdus7] - ...Everything from the beginning to the end?

    “Yep! After you finish apologizing, shake hands and hug it out─☆”@@@@

    Her response, innocent if phrased kindly, could also be considered childish.

    Dia.

    A pure spirit who had only spent a little over a year in the human world.

    As a spirit untainted by human cynicism, she genuinely believed that a heartfelt apology, a handshake, and a hug could resolve everything.

    For the sake of Dia’s roleplay, she had to believe it herself.

    From Ha-eun’s perspective, the advice felt a bit cringe-worthy.

    But she didn’t think Da-yeon would actually take Dia’s advice to heart.

    Just as Da-yeon knew Ha-eun well, Ha-eun also understood Da-yeon thoroughly.

    She believed that Da-yeon’s high pride would never allow her to lower herself enough to apologize, no matter the circumstances.

    Anyway, the counseling session worth 100,000 won eventually came to an end.

    Ha-eun unfroze the chat that had been paused for Da-yeon’s sake.

    And almost immediately after:

    [User has donated 1,000 won!]

    Dia, I want to marry you. How can I make that happen?

    A donation that stretched the definition of “counseling” arrived.

    Dia’s response to this was:

    “Marriage? Hold on~. A cute wizard once said to let them know if anyone makes such a proposal under a sunset like this─☆”

    Gasp!Everyone, hands off your keyboards!!The wizard’s coming for this guy, the wizard’s coming for this guy, the wizard’s coming for this guy...Respected wizard, I said nothing, I swear!Run away─!!

    It was a reaction quite different from how she had addressed ekdus7 earlier.

    It also served to make the viewers forget about ekdus7’s concerns entirely.

    The stream ended about an hour later.

    As usual, Ha-eun headed to bed, completely drained of energy.

    However, she couldn’t shake the lingering thoughts about Da-yeon.

    More specifically, the thoughts about Da-yeon’s inner turmoil.

    “...I was never really angry, though.”

    Before falling asleep, Ha-eun reflected on the things Da-yeon regretted.

    Things Ha-eun had dismissed as trivial because she didn’t think she’d done anything wrong.

    Moments that were nothing more than fleeting whims at the time.

    “Guh, guh-ugh...!”

    Blood gushed from the assassin’s mouth, but Yeong-wol paid no attention.

    She withdrew her sword and turned it toward the next foe.

    What followed was a one-sided massacre.

    -Slash─!

    -Shwick!

    -Clang─!

    What was once whole was split into two.

    Broad chests bore straight sword scars.

    Bodies collapsed to the ground, mangled from head to toe.

    “Sp-spare me─!!”

    The shadow of an assassin who begged for mercy was ruthlessly torn apart, disappearing completely.

    The pungent scent of blood hung heavily in the air.

    Even so, Yeong-wol’s sharp aura did not waver as she sought out any remaining threats to Lee Hyun.

    Though crimson liquid seeped from her black clothing, now was not the time to worry about mere injuries.

    Countless lives were extinguished by Yeong-wol alone.

    As she moved toward the faint sounds of the few remaining enemies, her steps did not falter.

    -Shiver.

    But then, a different kind of murderous intent enveloped Yeong-wol.

    Clenching her teeth, she swung her sword again, beginning the final showdown.

    The trajectory of Yeong-wol’s bloodstained sword drew irregular, jagged lines.

    Her opponent—a man far larger than any assassin she had faced so far—countered her with exceptional swordsmanship, pushing her to her limits.

    -Clang─!

    -Ching!

    -Clang-clang─!

    Each strike was aimed to kill, leaving no room for hesitation.

    A downward slash toward her waist was immediately redirected to her shoulder joint.

    When that too was blocked, she switched her grip and attacked from another angle.

    Their blades clashed violently like a raging storm.

    The duel finally reached its conclusion just before dawn, as the pale blue light of morning crept into the Eastern Palace.

    “You... monster....”

    With one last thrust of her battered, broken blade, Yeong-wol ended the life of the final assassin.

    Despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t stop her trembling steps.

    She hadn’t yet confirmed the safety of the one she had fought so desperately to protect.

    “Your... Highness....”

    Her face was pale, her body battered.

    Even taking a single step seemed miraculous.

    Fueled by sheer willpower, she dragged herself forward, moving only for Lee Hyun’s sake.

    And at the end of that grueling journey, she was met with—

    “Die──!”

    The sight of Lee Hyun standing among a pile of six or seven fallen assassins, with the last remaining foe swinging a sword toward him.

    “...!!”

    Summoning the last of her strength, Yeong-wol threw herself forward, driving her broken blade into the assassin’s heart.

    Not even a second later, she collapsed with a dull thud.

    Her energy and strength completely spent, Yeong-wol lost consciousness.

    How much time had passed since Yeong-wol had blacked out?

    -Blink.

    -Blink, blink.

    “Your... Highness...?”

    As her vision slowly cleared, the face she had longed to see came into focus: Lee Hyun.

    But she also became aware of her own state—lying in a hospital bed, partially undressed, receiving treatment.

    -Thud.

    A sinking feeling overwhelmed Yeong-wol, as if her heart had plummeted into an abyss.