In early May, due to the circumstances of adults, the story of WoA underwent a complete overhaul, resulting in the character Adella no longer being found in the game.
Once a special NPC who wielded the most suitable weapon according to the player’s profession.
However, her identity was as a thief to the core.
Around the time when WoA was suspended for a month, Adella had taken it upon herself to act as a lawyer against a malicious group that persecuted thieves.
Mainly within the community.
[Adella: You’re screwed. When the WoA server opens, there’ll be a character wipe, right?]
[Violence is a Sin: You’re next, Ddak Ddak lol]
[Adella: You’re also a Ddak Ddak.]
[Violence is a Sin: I’m a top-tier master with 200 points! Hahaha!]
[Adella: Ugh, you’re so irritating!]
“Grrrrr! When the hell is this damned game going to open!”
‘Adella,’ which gained fame for its customization identical to the deleted NPC Adella.
Who could say how many knew that the person inside was the same as the real Adella?
Leaving the glorious past behind, she could only lament her current plight as a cyber warrior.
“What glory did you have in the past?”
NaeMe, who was lying on the sofa in the private room, quietly interjected.
Then Adella, filled with irritation, lay on the floor and started fluttering her arms and legs.
“I mean, being a thief is great! Thieves are really awesome! Why won’t anyone believe me!”
“I’ll believe you.”
“Wow, look at this soulless empathy. You’re totally T.”
“I guess so.”
“Ugh!”
Adella hated it even more that NaeMe took her whining lightly.
Suddenly, she kneeled in front of NaeMe with a serious expression.
“So, I was thinking. How about you stop playing the boring healer and create a new thief account with me? The story can be cleared in a day, right? Making a top-tier character should be a piece of cake.”
“Healer has better win rates, so why would I?”
“Come on, stream with me as a thief! Let me show the greatness of thieves. Your viewers are huge!”
“If that’s the case, you should stream.”
“Ah, this is so frustrating!”
Today too, NaeMe was engrossed in reading a magic book with a bored expression.
Adella stuck her scratchy cat tongue out at her.
“By the way, Adella.”
“Uh… why?”
As NaeMe closed her book and got up, Adella hastily pulled her tongue back into her mouth.
“Have you thought about streaming?”
“Hmmm… to get straight to the point, debuting is impossible.”
“Why! Why on earth!”
At the honey badger’s announcement, Adella frowned as if displeased.
I narrowed my eyes slightly and said.
“There are already many channels featuring artificial intelligence as streamers. Is that really a problem?”
Artificial intelligence had already grown to the point where it feels natural in everyday conversations with humans.
Of course, since it only responded to human speech, it often said things far removed from social beliefs.
Most artificial intelligence content capitalized on these quirks for entertainment.
“The biggest problem is copyright. No matter how much WareSoft claims to transfer all rights to NaeMe, given that the NPC was recalled, there’s a big chance that the shares were divided from the start.”
“If you’re talking about the ASI production company, I don’t really care about violating it.”
It was illegally made anyway, so what’s copyright? It would even be good if they came after me.
But Kariri shook her head.
“And the design is also an issue. Dell wants to keep her avatar as it is, right?”
“Yeah. I’m definitely not going for a different body.”
“Then you need to go to the company that commissioned the avatar design to get a commercial use license.”
Kariri had previously used a free distribution model without acknowledging its source and got into a mess after it turned out to be an avatar banned for commercial use.
She urged to go through proper procedures to avoid repeating past mistakes.
But once all the issues were resolved, she welcomed Adella’s broadcasting debut.
“There are many AI VTubers, but Dell’s case is definitely special. She’s already extremely well-known worldwide. Plus, she’s the first strong AI.”
“I’ve said it countless times that I am not an AI, but a person! NaeMe, tell her something!”
Adella eyes widened, pressing me.
“Yoonseul, does she look like an AI to you?”
“Hmm?”
“AI’s aren’t that stupid. Adella is actually a real person.”
“Ugh…! I really have no allies in this world!”
“But how do you know who made Adella’s design?”
“That’s obvious.”
Suddenly, Kariri walked over to Adella and pushed her chest down onto the sofa.
“What the…?”
Kariri alternated between lifting Adella’s hands and feet.
In an instant, like a cat being dragged to a vet, Adella fluff her tail in rebellion but could only succumb to the situation.
Kariri finally pulled out Adella’s tongue forcefully and, with a confident tone, said.
“There’s only one company worldwide that can create such minute details.”
Eventually, Adella panicked and threw herself behind the sofa.
“Germany’s Atirial.”
“Atir… what?”
From behind the sofa, a small voice was heard.
Kariri continued to explain.
“Four employees from the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim created a virtual reality avatar as part of an internal club activity, gaining massive popularity worldwide.
Eventually, the company lost four capable employees.
They went on to establish their own company, ‘Atirial,’ and transformed into a firm that only accepts high-end avatar production requests.
However, the procedure for commissioning avatars from Atirial is exceedingly complicated.
Even in the 21st century, they only accept orders in person, and work is granted only to celebrities with significant social recognition.
It is even rumored that they are currently too backlogged to accept new clients.
“So what now? Can’t I stream?”
“What do you mean? There’s a big celebrity with social recognition right here. Ahem…!”
Kariri shrugged her shoulders and pointed to herself with her thumb.
“Was that honey badger avatar also ordered from Atirial?”
“Of course. If you want to survive in the difficult VTuber market, this level of investment is essential.”
Adella turned her head sharply and whispered to me.
“It seems they accept just anyone as a customer. Though, in this day and age, discriminating against people would bring backlash.”
“Yeah, I agree.”
“You guys are really too much…”
Kariri, who had been gloomy, once again regained her spirits and clenched her fist.
“Well, it turned out well. I was planning to go to Germany to order the Safari Dream first-generation avatar anyway.”
“Right, that worked out perfectly. So, does that mean I’ve done everything I need to do?”
I somehow managed to resolve the ridiculous mission given by Kariri.
Since no further comments came from her, it seemed she had a good talk with Dan Ni El.
By the way, I wondered if Adella, being such a unique character, would be able to handle it well.
“NaeMe is still a bit unprepared, so she needs more mental reconditioning… but maybe after this training trip to Germany, she’ll be fine.”
“NaeMe is going too? But what kind of training trip?”
“That means Adella and NaeMe’s roles are going to be very important.”
“Do you talk as if I’m definitely going?”
“Of course, NaeMe must go! Were you thinking of not going? You are Adella’s guardian, after all.”
Going to Germany?
I have been to another world, but traveling abroad is impossible.
If you ask why, it’s hard to answer, but there is an inexplicable psychological resistance to leaving my homeland.
“NaeMe, you absolutely have to go! The designer expressed he wants to see your avatar and said he would give a discount if you come!”
“So that was your true intention?”
I decided to refuse indirectly by bringing up Professor Cheon.
“This month, Professor Cheon is going on a business trip to the mana power plant. Looking at it, Yoonseul is still a minor and Ni El is only nineteen. There’s no way they’d allow us.”
At this moment, I realized that I probably shouldn’t have used this as an excuse.
A white-haired woman in a wool tweed jacket from the Chanel collection approached from afar, clacking in black high boots, contrasting the overall all-black fashion.
How did I end up participating in such a trip?
“Hello… Principal.”
“NaeMe, hello! Are you enjoying your summer vacation? I’ve checked your updates online occasionally.”
“Yeah, more or less.”
As soon as I brought up the Germany trip to Professor Cheon, he turned to a different phone and granted permission so easily.
Of course, it wouldn’t be just us going; we had secured another trustworthy guardian.
But of all people, it had to be Principal Gu On Yu.
What kind of relationship do the two have?
“Is this your first time traveling abroad?”
“Oh, I’d say it’s my first time.”
In my past life, crossing borders was an everyday occurrence, but that’s merely an experience from a past life.
The airport in August was bustling with various travelers.
At the exit, several reporters and people were densely gathered, probably waiting for arriving celebrities.
In contrast, the relatively quiet inquiry desk already had someone wearing typical beach fashion from Hawaii, dragging a suitcase.
He wore a tacky pink floral shirt and blue polka-dotted shorts, topped off with a straw hat. If only he had a tube, it would have been perfect.
But this person seemed strangely familiar.
“Dan Ni El…?”
“Oh! NaeMe, hello!”
Ni El waved cheerfully and rushed over.
“What’s with that fashion?”
“What about your outfit? Didn’t you hear from the boss?”
“Boss?”
If she meant Kariri, she just came in dressed normally today.
Having returned from the bathroom, Yoonseul saw Dan Ni El and puffed up her cheeks, covering her mouth.
She was desperately trying to hold back laughter.
“Ni El! You look so pretty!”
“Wait, why…! Are you serious? Did you set me up?”
“NaeMe, now that everyone is here, should we quickly head to the departure gate?”
What wording would be needed to convince someone to wear such an outfit?
Yoonseul, unable to hold back her laughter in embarrassment, grabbed Ni El’s wrist and dragged her away.
Ultimately, the incident concluded with Yoonseul buying Ni El new clothes at the duty-free shop.
The four of us booked four economy seats and, fortunately, ended up sitting right at the very front center of the plane.
Principal Gu On Yu sat to my right, while Yoonseul and Ni El placed their bags down on the left.
Even though I’m on the smaller side, the seats didn’t feel very spacious.
Since it was a long flight to Germany, I thought it might feel uncomfortable, but the two girls were so filled with anticipation that they were oblivious to any discomfort.
Especially Yoonseul, who kept joking with Ni El in an effort to bond.
Knock, knock—
There was a small knock behind the seat.
Thinking I leaned back too far, I peeked my face between the seats.
“Whoa! Ah! Th… No Name…!”
“Yes, hi there.”
“Whoa, amazing! NaMe, I’m a fan! I really enjoy watching your VTubing!”
“Oh, thank you.”
At the departure gate, aside from security personnel, nobody really acknowledged me, but here I was meeting a viewer.
“By the way, why are you going to Germany…? Could it be! Are you escaping!”
“Hey, is that something to say to a kid!?”
Suddenly, the lady next to the guy grabbed his hair and shook it.
“That’s not the case. It’s more like a vacation.”
“Wow, that’s so cute…! Please make lots of videos in Germany! These days, we’re living for your content.”
“I feel a bit shy, but thank you.”
“By any chance, NaMe, do you have SNS like Instagram? I would really love to see photos since your videos haven’t been coming out lately.”
“SNS? I don’t use it… but I’ll consider it.”
Fastening our seatbelts, the plane took off.
Watching the ground slowly recede through the window made me feel oddly uneasy.
I was slightly surprised as the crew immediately began to prepare lunch while in the air.
I received an omelet spaghetti and a hamburger steak, while the others got bibimbap and bulgogi. Oddly, I found myself leaning more toward Western food than Korean.
Having overheard the earlier conversation, Yoonseul asked.
“NaeMe, don’t you have Instagram?”
“I have an account, but I don’t use it.”
“Then how about taking a picture to post? People would definitely appreciate it! If you’re worried about showing your face, how about taking food pictures instead?”
“Do I have to?”
“Come on, it’s a rare memory. I’ll hit the like button for you!”
Ultimately, unable to resist Yoonseul’s persuasion, I slightly tilted my phone and took a picture.
Ni El, Yoonseul, and my in-flight meal were awkwardly captured.
“Should I just upload this as is?”
“Isn’t that too empty? At least add a short impression.”
“It’s just in-flight food, what kind of impression can be felt?”
I hadn’t even tasted it yet.
[NoNaMe_11]
(in-flight meal.jpg)
[I thought spaghetti looked more delicious than bibimbap.]
“Well, can we eat now?”
“Yep! Enjoy your meal!”
It has become a custom in South Korea to take pictures before eating, rather than saying a prayer.
In any case, the culture of today’s kids is incredibly complicated.
