Chapter 19
Collaboration
Splash splash-
“Stay still.”
– Lololol!
– Cute thing washing a cute thing, lol.
– Kinda heartwarming.
– AnonymousSpearGrabber: Nice to see, haha.
Currently, Chi Yulang had returned to her forest base and was washing the fox cub by a stream.
Whimper…
Perhaps unaccustomed to being washed, the cub initially thrashed in surprise but thankfully calmed down afterward.
“Done.”
Thanks to the clean water, the blood-red fluff ball transformed into a white fluff ball.
Set down on the ground, it shook vigorously, spraying water everywhere.
“Ugh.”
– Built-in dewatering function, lol.
– Reminds me of my dog, haha. Used to shake off water like that after a bath.
– Lol, what a mess. Still does that?
– My poor dog with a lousy owner. Probably resting peacefully in the sky now…
– Oh…
– Ack, water on the screen!
– Can’t see!
– HeavenlyMaiden, wipe it off!
“What a handful.”
Grumbling, Chi Yulang wiped the camera lens, revealing the freshly cleaned fox cub.
Its fur, still damp, gave it a somewhat goofy look.
– Look at that innocent face, lol.
– So cute.
– Oh, how adorable.
– Can a beast be this cute?
– メHakoDigger13: HeavenlyMaiden, what’re you naming it?
Chi Yulang frowned, clearly displeased.
“Do I have to name it? For a mere beast?”
– Why not?
– It’s cute!
– Beasts are living beings too! (Cute babies only)
– You decided to keep it, so…
– Can’t keep calling it a beast.
[HakoDigger13 donated 10,000 cookies!]
Name it, please!
“…I’ll call it Kkojil.”
Chi Yulang relented, as if begrudgingly.
“It suits its scruffy look.”
– Kkojil? Seriously ;;
– So cute, and you call it Kkojil?
– Let’s pick a new name.
– Yeah, yeah.
“No, if you’re gonna rename it, don’t ask me to name it in the first place.”
Despite HeavenlyMaiden’s grumbling, the chat buzzed with suggestions.
– Don’t you know the nine-tailed fox? The legendary fox spirit with nine tails?
– Sounds familiar.
– I’ve heard of it!
– How about Gumi, from nine-tailed fox?
– Oh.
– Nice.
– Sounds good.
– Cute, Gumi.
– Gumi Gumi.
Chi Yulang snorted.
“Do what you want. I’m still calling it Kkojil.”
– Whyyy?
– Call it Gumi.
“No amount of donations will make me call it Gumi, so there.”
[EyeContactStealsStockings donated 3,000 cookies!]
Hmph.
– Boo.
– Heavenly Demon’s daughter, so narrow-minded?
– HeavenlyMaiden, awaken! Awaken!
– Not calling Gumi Gumi? Is that even allowed?
– Call Gumi Gumi!
“Quiet.”
Ignoring the chat, Chi Yulang headed back to her shelter.
The scruffy white fox cub toddled after her.
———-
[Broadcast Stats]
– Peak Viewers: 468
– Average Viewers: 349
– Followers: 351 (+40)
———
“They really do love beasts.”
After ending the stream, Chi Yulang muttered while checking the stats.
The viewership spiked when the beast appeared.
They might say it’s dangerous, gross, or scary, but deep down, they loved it.
“Not honest at all.”
Then, a voice call came through.
– Brother.
“Chilbok.”
– I was busy working and missed the first half, but you brought back a beast?
“It happened. Check the VOD for details.”
– Got it. Where’s the little guy now?
“Kkojil? Outside. I tossed it some spare fleeceflower root, so it’s probably eating.”
– Planning to keep raising it?
Chi Yulang shook her head.
“I took it in out of mercy, but beasts can’t be tamed. They’re too wild.”
– True.
“I can’t force it to stay here, so it’ll leave when the time comes. That’s all.”
– I see.
“Oh!”
– What’s wrong?
“The cola!”
– Cola?
“I left the cola in the cave! I was gonna chill it for a nice drink!”
– …
“Tch! It’s all Kkojil’s fault. Not a single likable thing about it! Hold on, I’ll check if it’s eating the fleeceflower.”
– Alright, take your time.
Moments later, Chi Yulang returned, fuming.
– What happened?
“It won’t eat even when I give it food. Just curled up in a corner like it’s dead. Only its ears twitch when I call.”
– It just lost its mother. Probably still in shock. Don’t worry too much.
“Worry? I wish it’d just drop dead.”
Dam Wolrin gave a wry smile at Chi Yulang’s voice coming through the screen.
That’s just how she is.
The Sect Leader had her own boundaries.
She showed no mercy to those outside her circle, but to those within, she was endlessly generous.
It seemed the little fox had at least made it inside her circle for now.
Not that it’ll become her right-hand like me.
She was, after all, the undisputed second-in-command of the Heavenly Demon Sect, the Sect Leader’s sworn sibling.
Sorry, but there was no room for the fox to squeeze in.
Still, if it tries hard, it might stay in her circle until it matures.
As Dam Wolrin silently wished the fox luck, Chi Yulang spoke.
– Take it.
Pop!
A light flashed, and the bag Chi Yulang had taken was transmitted.
– Got it?
“Yes, received.”
Carefully opening it, she found it packed with precious elixirs.
Knowing the Sect Leader had gathered these with her small hands made her choke up.
“I’ll make sure these hard-earned elixirs are used wisely for the sect.”
– You can eat a few.
“Really, brother?”
– There’s plenty. Besides, what’s wrong with you eating some, Chilbok?
“Brother…”
Dam Wolrin’s eyes welled up.
– You looked frail last time. Take a few to regain your strength. Tell me if you need more.
“Thank you, brother.”
Dam Wolrin bowed deeply.
– By the way, didn’t you have something to say?
“Yes. I mentioned during the stream we found a good spot for the Moonlight Divine Sect to settle, right?”
– Right.
“It’s a bit special.”
– Special how?
“Have you heard of the Hermit’s Grove?”
– …Hermit’s Grove?
“It’s where retired martial masters lived in the martial world. After the Great Cataclysm, survivors from the Hermit’s Grove formed a village.”
– That’s the place?
“Yes. I went to deal with—er, transform—the Extermination Squad and stumbled upon it.”
– Hmm.
“People with both experience and skill are rare. They’d make great teachers. And with great teachers, talent will naturally gather, right? It’ll help a lot with the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament too.”
– Teachers don’t come by force. Did they agree?
“…They’ll need some convincing.”
– Can’t you use the elixirs I sent?
“Well, they’re close to death’s door, so they don’t care much for money or goods.”
Dam Wolrin spoke confidently.
“Leave it to me. I’ll convince them somehow.”
– Alright, I trust you.
“Oh, and tomorrow’s the first collab, right?”
– Yup.
“Have you picked a game?”
– I did. Got a gift, so I’m thinking of using that.
“Nice.”
– But there’s a bit of a problem.
Dam Wolrin’s nerves sharpened.
A problem?
The Sect Leader’s historic first collab couldn’t have any hiccups.
“What problem?”
– I’m not sure if Romero, the collab partner, will show up on time.
Dam Wolrin’s eyebrows arched menacingly.
“That mage dares ignore your collab offer?”
– Not sure. I sent him a whisper earlier, but no reply yet.
Rage like karmic fire surged within her.
Dam Wolrin said in a chilling tone.
“I’ll make sure he shows up.”
————
Meanwhile, outside the streaming room where Chi Yulang was talking with Dam Wolrin.
In a corner of the clearing, the white fox cub, Gumi, was curled up tightly.
Growl-
It was hungry.
Gumi slowly got up and approached the fleeceflower root Chi Yulang had tossed.
Sniff sniff-
Gag.
The foul smell made Gumi retch.
Then, a delicious scent wafted over.
Sniff sniff- Sniff sniff-
Following the enticing smell, Gumi found a pile of beast cores next to the straw where Chi Yulang slept.
The cores sparkled under the moonlight.
Gumi grabbed one in its mouth, scurried to a corner, and began crunching it.
________
[HeavenlyMaiden’s Kwitch Conquest, Day 8]
Part 1: Exciting ☆ Collab Fun!
Part 2: Rifa ◇ To Plat!
As soon as the stream started, the waiting Dongpo Meat Squad filtered in.
“Come on in.”
– HeavenlyMaiden, hi!
– Good morning!
– Oh?
– They’re together?
She was with MagicGeniusRomero, who’d been thoroughly toyed with by HeavenlyMaiden the previous day.
“Didn’t I say today’s a collab? Romero, true to his word, kept his promise and joined me. Am I wrong?”
“N-No, you’re right.”
Romero replied, sweating coldly.
He’d initially planned to brush it off.
Why would he collab with the kid who humiliated him? He’d never done a collab before and had no interest in starting.
As a Rifa streamer, he cared little for other games.
But that plan changed abruptly the previous day.
He’d received a not-so-subtle threat.
Somehow, she’d gotten his number and called him directly, saying:
– I heard you agreed to a collab with the Sect Leader.
– That wasn’t an agreement, it was one-sided—
– Enough. You’d better be ready if you break that promise.
– That’s ridiculous. What’re you gonna do? Storm my place?
– Exactly.
– What?
– I’ll come find you.
As Romero scoffed, ready to unleash a string of curses, a cold voice pierced his ear.
– Merlin Street 3-20, Magic Kingdom. Correct?
– …!
– One warning, Romero. I hope you don’t betray your word.
Sweating, Romero glanced at HeavenlyMaiden, who was chatting with viewers.
She’s no ordinary kid!
Kwitch’s security was as renowned as its technology.
An impenetrable fortress, they said.
He couldn’t fathom how she’d found his address.
There’s more to her than meets the eye!
To have such a subordinate.
She was terrifying, no doubt.
Gulp.
He gulped hard.
– Wow, first collab!
– When’s Rifa?
– Can’t read? It says Part 2 below.
– What game today?
– Where’s Gumi?
“Kkojil? Outside. It’ll manage on its own.”
– HeavenlyMaiden’s so cold…
– Hmph.
– Pay some attention to our Gumi.
“Alright, enough people have joined, so let’s start. Today’s game is…”
– Drumroll
– Excited excited excited
Chi Yulang gave Romero a look.
He caught on and played along.
“D-Drumroll…”
“Assassin’s Critical!”
– Oh!
– Epic!
– Hell yeah!
– Assassin’s Critical, oh man!
– HeavenlyMaiden, you read my suggestion!
– Lol, that was basically a thesis.
Chi Yulang looked at Romero.
“Ever played it?”
“No, I’m a Rifa-only streamer. This is my first collab too.”
“So he says.”
– Two total newbies?
– Even better.
– Hehe, newbie love.
“Let’s dive in.”
Like a pro streamer, she’d pre-downloaded Assassin’s Critical. Grand background music played as they entered.
As the title suggested, Assassin’s Critical was about becoming an assassin in a secret society, tasked with eliminating corrupt figures across society.
After a brief tutorial on the setting and assassination techniques, the main game began.
“I’ll give you your mission.”
An officer from the assassin’s guild, dressed in their uniform, handed the two a document with the target’s info and ordered,
“Eliminate him.”
While Romero read the document, the officer spoke with gravitas.
“We move in the shadows to serve the light. Expose the hidden ones.”
“…Yawn.”
The mini-assassin couldn’t hold back a small yawn.
The background explanation had been long and tedious.
Ignoring it, the officer continued.
“The guild has two rules. The method doesn’t matter. Failure means death. And there must be no witnesses.”
“That’s three rules, isn’t it?”
“…”
– Lololol!
– Look at that glare.
– Talking back, huh.
“Go. Show the Templar Knights who’s boss. There is no truth; everything is permitted.”
“Talkative bunch for assassins. Do they kill with their mouths?”
“…”
“H-Hurry, HeavenlyMaiden, let’s go.”
Before the officer exploded, Romero rushed her out of the headquarters.
The two walked side by side down the street, talking.
“Looks like we’re after this bald guy.”
“He’s shiny.”
“Yeah, we’ll spot him right away.”
– Poor bald guy, lol.
– Lol, bald guy’s crying.
The game’s setting was medieval Europe, with people in period-appropriate clothing milling about.
“By the way, HeavenlyMaiden, ever done an assassination?”
“Why?”
“You seem… experienced.”
Romero had struggled through the tutorial, retrying multiple times, while HeavenlyMaiden breezed through it in one go.
“Well… I had a subordinate who was good at this. Learned a bit out of boredom.”
“Gasp.”
“What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing. Let’s go!”
Romero quickened his pace.
HeavenlyMaiden tilted her head and followed.
Soon, they reached the target’s location.
“What the…”
Romero was speechless.
The security was airtight, with no visible gaps. For a first mission, it should’ve been easy, but this felt like a final stage.
– Why’s it so tight?
– Look at that security.
– How many guards are there?
– They’re even patrolling the perimeter, damn.
Though Romero mainly played Rifa, he’d watched other game videos on YouTube and knew this wasn’t normal.
Game difficulty was set based on individual combat power.
For multiplayer, it averaged the players’ scores.
Staring blankly at the building, Romero asked HeavenlyMaiden,
“What’s your combat power? Mine’s 41.”
“Don’t know.”
“Huh?”
“It showed up as a question mark.”
“What does that…”
But it was too late to dwell on it.
They had to make do.
Romero racked his brain.
No way we can find an opening like this.
“I’ll draw their attention. You infiltrate first, HeavenlyMaiden. I’ll catch up.”
“…”
“HeavenlyMaiden?”
No response. Looking over, he saw her grinning.
A chill ran down Romero’s spine.
“That’s no fun.”
“…Huh?”
“As long as we succeed and there are no witnesses, right?”
“Well… yeah?”
HeavenlyMaiden flung a dagger like lightning.
The guard at the gate collapsed with a grunt.
“Enemy!”
“Intruder alert!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Enemies poured out.
– ????
– What’s she doing?
“What the…”
Chi Yulang grinned like a wolf.
“Now it’s getting fun.”
