Former Hero Streamer – Chapter 107

Near the Neighborhood Playground

It was the perfect place to gather and chat since it was so rarely visited.

Honestly, I wanted to go into a café, but I couldn’t bring this guy in because he hadn’t showered recently.

“Here. Drink up.”

“Okay, I’ll enjoy it well.”

As I handed over the warm honey tea, he gulped it down happily.

He looked a bit awkward sitting there with his big build, but at least he didn’t seem rough around the edges.

By the way, the name Yuri Lee just seemed like a contradiction to her appearance, like her parents were anti-fans or something.

“Phew, it’s delicious since I haven’t had it in a while. Thank you! I can’t remember the last time I had this.”

“Don’t you eat? What about your family?”

“Ah, well….”

I asked calmly, but the other person kept hesitating. It didn’t seem like they were ready to open up.

It felt like there was a resignation that no matter what they said, I wouldn’t believe it.

“You said your name was Yuri Lee? I can’t see that as a name for a guy. Is there some story behind it?”

“Um, it’s nothing.”

Sure enough, the expected response made my gaze cross with Ah Jin’s.

Whether he’s a Hero or someone related to one, it was hard to talk about this sort of stuff in modern Korea where these powers didn’t exist.

Moreover, if he’s a Hero, he shouldn’t be able to use his powers, so there’s no way to prove it.

Currently, this boy named Yuri Lee could hardly be called anything but a shabby NPC.

“I can guess why you’re reluctant to answer… Fine, let’s hurry up.”

In conclusion, all I had to do was prove that I was connected to that world.

And I had a plan to make sure he believed it quickly and surely.

“Sis, are you okay? If people find out here….”

“No problem. We can use a barrier.”

That’s how I recognized each other when I met Da Young earlier.

In the free-flowing conversation, the boy just looked dumbfounded, struggling to keep up.

Well, I guess that’s understandable. It seemed like he thought he was the only one related to this world.

I closed my eyes and concentrated my mind.

I moved the light of authority flowing within me to my arm, and then directed it to my fingertips.

Eventually, a droplet of light, pulsating like water, fell to the ground.

—Crack!

As soon as it touched the ground, the space shattered like broken glass. All the laws surrounding the world were reestablished.

People I had seen far away on the roadside vanished, and we were left alone in a distorted space where only the three of us existed.

This was the second time I used this on Earth after meeting Da Young for the first time.

“Hmm, the feeling is new.”

Originally, this was a technique to compress and smash demons trapped in a barrier, but I never imagined I would use it for this purpose.

I then focused my power and summoned the Hero’s Equipment.

A celestial aura enveloped me, revealing my form as a Hero clad in white armor and a golden cape without hesitation.

With this level of showmanship, I believed I had provided enough proof.

“How about that? Can you tell me now?”

“Uh? Huh?”

I could see the boy named ‘Yuri Lee’ staring at me with eyes wide open, taken aback.

“Let me introduce myself first. I’m Jisehee. Former Hero and current Streamer.”

“I’m Ryu Ah Jin, also a former Hero. Right now, I’m an editor.”

“Uh, I’m also a Hero, but….”

He hesitated, glancing around cautiously before finally speaking up.

“Th-thank you. I’m Hero Yuri Lee.”

* * *

“What’s going on?”

Da Young frowned at a strangely unsettling feeling.

A sensation that prickled at the back of her neck—a familiar discomfort. As she thought back, she quickly figured it out.

Ah, right.

I felt this when I first met Sehee unni.

‘Does she need to use her power?’

If so, for what reason?

Curious, she turned to look out the window.

The direction seemed to be somewhere over there, but with the faint presence, it appeared to be quite far away.

Thinking she should contact her and ask, Da Young suddenly realized an important fact.

Since coming to Earth, the Hero’s powers had been completely sealed…

‘How could I possibly know something like this?’

Even if the Heroes were using their powers, was her senses so sharp that she could catch it?

Raising her hand subconsciously, Da Young concentrated her mind and felt a subtle wave rising within her.

As she pulled it out through her arm, as if lifting it into her palm, a strange occurrence happened.

“Beep beep!”

“What the hell, Da Young? I just saw two frogs mating, and it was hilarious… Oh my God, what is this?”

In Da Young’s palm, a red light of magical power gathered.

Even though it was weak, it was undoubtedly the authority of a Hero.

Peppa’s eyes widened to five times their usual size as she looked at it.

Seeing Peppa’s expression, Da Young nodded in agreement, feeling the same.

“Right. The Hero’s power….”

It’s slowly being released.

More importantly, the world’s oppressive pressure that had been firmly held down was thinning.

“Could it be that the world is softening at this point?”

“No, that doesn’t seem right. If that were the case, we’d be able to use our full powers from the start.”

“Geez… but a Hero’s liberation, that’s a thrill.”

Ignoring Peppa, who started doing flips in the air, Da Young racked her brain to interpret the situation.

Right now, it was like forcibly blocking a hole, and power was seeping out through tiny gaps.

‘It’s thinning due to outside influence.’

If that’s the case, it means the world’s oppressive pressure hasn’t changed.

Which means…

‘Could it be….’

Reaching one hypothesis, Da Young swallowed hard.

‘Is it thanks to Sehee unni?’

Could it be that being with her weakened the world’s pressure?

If the Hero’s power is being released and the keyword is Sehee unni…

It was just a hypothesis, but a strange certainty sent chills down her spine.

In her hand, the flame-tinged magic power, a symbol of her, danced as it always did in this world.

Peppa also nodded with an emotional expression.

Anyway, the return of power as a Hero was good news from Da Young’s perspective.

“Congratulations. Da Young.”

“Thanks, Peppa.”

“Let’s team up with Sehee and create some awesome content to unify the North. One million subscriptions is not a dream at all.”

*Clang!*

Today too, Peppa’s hair was styled in a V-shape.

* * *

“So, you’re saying you became like this on your return?”

“Yeah.”

Both I and Ah Jin were as at a loss as Da Young.

Seriously, a gender transformation curse?

What a truly ridiculous problem.

This headache I felt was more than just a simple illusion.

Listening to the story, it seemed that Yuri Lee’s gender change held a different meaning than mine.

Mine was a side effect of receiving the goddess’s power too excessively, while his was a forceful transformation inflicted by the Demon King.

They cast such a dense curse over something this trivial? What a waste of resources.

‘If I were the Demon King, I’d rather mess with their lifespan or give them an incurable disease.’

The Demon King seemed to be quite petty and particularly sinister.

Cursing someone to change their gender for revenge isn’t something one would normally think of.

“Well, now that I’ve become like this, I can’t show myself to my family. In the end, I managed to hold on for a while, but now I’m like this. Hehehe.”

A weak, hollow laugh.

In short, he forcibly became a man and was now unable to return to his family.

“So… let me excuse myself for a moment.”

“Sure?”

I placed my palm on Yuri’s forehead and infused him with power.

Even if the worlds are different, the magic of curses seems to have a common thread.

As I unraveled the familiar structure, Yuri’s form became enveloped in light, transforming into an adorable high school girl with black hair that flowed down to her back.

“Wh-what is this?”

No, it wasn’t so much about transforming, as it was more like returning to the original form.

Of course…

—Whoosh!

It was only for a moment.

When I withdrew my power, like shattered glass, he returned to the boy who looked so dazed.

After a moment of blankly staring at himself, Yuri suddenly stood up and grabbed my shoulder, begging.

“Um, is there a way to fix this curse? Please help me!”

Whoa, whoa, calm down.

“Okay, that’s enough. I’m going to explain now.”

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry.”

He quickly composed himself and sat up straight, staring intently into my eyes.

He seemed determined not to miss a single word, his gaze burning with intensity.

“First of all, I’m slightly different from an average Hero. So, I have no restrictions on power and can help troubled Heroes like you. Ah Jin here is the same. So I think I can definitely help you too.”

“So….”

“I installed a spell in my house that has an effect like just now. I originally made it in case something like this happened to Ah Jin and myself. But… you’ll need to live in my house for about a year to see effects. Are you okay with that?”

“Um, sis. Does that mean he just needs to stay with us?”

“Yeah, right.”

Ah Jin, who had been silently listening, suddenly asked.

Of course, I can’t stay by him all the time, so it’s a sort of aura I’ve installed.

In that space, any curses or harms wouldn’t activate and would instead be countered.

Though it might take time, staying in that space significantly reduces the hassle of having to touch him manually all the time.

“You would be able to live as your original self in my house. Well, if you go outside, you’ll turn back into a boy like now. But if you hold on for a year, you should be able to reunite with your family.”

I reached my hand out to Yuri, who was staring blankly.

I wondered what he would think of this hand.

Would he see me as a simple savior, or would he harbor vague doubts amidst his hope?

Still, since I said something to Ah Jin earlier, I thought,

“Will you follow me?”

I sincerely hoped he would.