The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

When I thought about it, Azerna was a world missing so many things because it didn’t have electricity.

If you asked where the history of broadcasting began, the answers would vary depending on the person, but most would probably think of "radio."

Once radio waves could be transmitted and received, people could listen to others speaking in real time, play music, read stories, host talk shows, or even perform dramas made only with voices.

But in Azerna, that "radio" had never been invented.

Sure, considering radio technology was perfected in the early 20th century, it wasn’t impossible that something like it might eventually exist even in a world running on steam engines. Even if electricity were never discovered, there was already magic, and even magic-based communication existed. If they applied that magic creatively, they might eventually manage something similar.

But that was just a possibility. In any case, in Azerna, news was still delivered by writing. Meaning the modern concept of "broadcasting" wasn't even close to existing there.

"So, it's like being a circus clown?"

"......"

Well, I guess.

It wasn’t wrong exactly.

More like a performer than a clown... but still, calling modern streamers "clowns" felt kind of outdated.

Then again, Charlotte was outdated by modern standards. Even if she was a teenager by Azerna’s timeline, from a 21st-century perspective, she was basically from over a hundred years ago.

And she was royalty too, the most conservative type. Honestly, it was more surprising that Claire and Alice had been so eager to jump into streaming.

"So what do you actually do in these broadcasts?"

"Mainly we play games, chat, or show off some stuff."

Or sometimes we just eat.

Now that Mia was here, the possibilities for mukbangs had really opened up. Though I’d have to be careful — people who nibble constantly sometimes have a hard time handling big portions at once. I couldn't let the kid get sick.

"And that alone... makes money?"

"..."

Good question.

Was our broadcast actually fun?

Even I wasn’t sure.

We weren’t deliberately doing comedy or anything, and rewatching our own streams didn’t necessarily feel super entertaining.

But the views steadily climbed, and the number of subscribers kept going up, so there must have been some appeal.

...Or maybe people just logged in to look at our pretty faces.

"It does make money."

I nodded firmly.

"You said playing games is like playing, right? So you’re saying you make money by playing?"

She looked at us like someone who just realized she’d been scammed, and honestly, I had no idea how to explain it properly.

"Instead of just doubting everything, why don’t you see it for yourself?"

Claire, who had been watching the whole conversation, finally cut in.

"It’s about time to start the stream anyway."

"Alright."

Charlotte sighed.

"Honestly, even when you explain it, I don’t understand this world at all."

Same here.

Even as I explained, half of it didn’t make sense to me either.

The world was just complicated like that.

"So, what’s your plan?"

"Huh?"

Charlotte blinked at Alice’s question.

"Are you going to join us on stream? Or just watch first?"

"..."

Charlotte put a finger to her lips, thinking for a moment, and then said,

"...If this ‘broadcast’ really can earn money, would it be better if I participated?"

"I think it would definitely help."

We were already gaining fame with our trio cosplay group because of how insanely accurate we looked, and now, if two more people — and not just anyone, but two heroines from the same game series — joined, it would become even more explosive.

Honestly, Charlotte’s every reaction to this world was entertaining.

Even just showing her reactions periodically would help tremendously.

"In that case, I’ll join too. I can’t just eat for free, after all."

Charlotte puffed her chest proudly as she said it.

"Good, then."

I immediately started setting up for the stream.

*

[More people?!]

[Is that Charlotte?]

[😓😓😓]

[Charlotte and Mia???]

"It just kind of happened that more people are living with us now."

I shifted slightly to the side so the two of them would be visible on camera.

Mia stared at her own reflection on the screen, seemingly not realizing yet that other people were watching her.

The camera was mirrored like a reflection to make it easier to adjust positioning, but once she noticed that her reflection moved a little late, she must have realized it wasn’t a mirror. Plus, she could see people's messages popping up beside her.

"So, this is what you call 'chat,' huh?"

Charlotte squinted at the scrolling chat.

Since she couldn’t read Korean, all the text must have looked like alien symbols to her.

"I’ll teach you how to read it later."

"Thank you. I’ll try to be as helpful as I can."

[Is this part of the act too? lololol]

[Did they really come from another world? lololol]

[But the quality is so good]

"What are they saying?"

Mia asked cautiously, remembering the brief explanation I gave about chat before the stream.

"They’re saying it’s nice that we look like ourselves."

"...But isn’t it normal for us to look like ourselves?"

Mia tilted her head in confusion, and the chat exploded.

[Mia is the best!]

[So cute]

[So cute so cute]

[700]

Mia really was... a ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) character that would attract a very niche but passionate fanbase.

"What’s that mean?"

"They're saying Mia is cute."

When I answered Charlotte’s question, she narrowed her eyes, her expression stiffening immediately.

"Charlotte, Mia’s not that much younger than the rest of us."

"But appearances matter."

[Is it legal?]

I immediately banned the person who wrote that.

...On their ID, Mia was an adult, and probably when we found Mia’s ID, it would say adult too.

But I knew full well that in reality, we were all still in our mid-teens.

Even if it’s technically legal, there are moral lines you just don’t cross.

Of course I wasn't going to allow it.

"From now on, these two will be joining us for our streams too. However, with five people, it might be hard to have everyone on every stream, so we might rotate appearances... We’ll announce any schedule changes when they happen."

[😂😂😂]

[Got it]

I let out a small sigh of relief.

Thank goodness people were accepting it naturally.

Of course, once they learned Charlotte and Mia were technically "Korean" now, reactions might change again... but we’d cross that bridge when we got there.

"Now then... Earlier, you asked why it’s surprising we look like ourselves, right? I’ll show you why."

I said that and picked up a game package from beside the table.

We weren’t jumping straight into gameplay.

First, we’d warm up with a talk session for about an hour — a technique I had picked up from scouring streaming tips online.

"This is... you?"

Charlotte's eyes widened when she saw the game cover.

"And me too, and Alice too."

Claire pointed over Charlotte’s shoulder.

Sure enough, Claire and Alice were drawn on the cover, though a bit smaller and off to the side.

Not just them.

Most of the major characters were there.

Of course, Sylvia — the protagonist — was drawn most prominently, which had apparently caused some backlash.

"...I’m here too."

"That’s right."

Hearing my answer, Charlotte frowned slightly, looking puzzled.

"But... is it really okay to talk about this so openly?"

"No one’s going to take it seriously anyway."

"There’s no magic here, right?"

Mia asked, and I nodded.

[Their commitment to the concept is incredible]

[They’re stricter about lore than most Vtubers lolol]

Well, they were the real deal.

If anything, acting "normal" would probably feel more unnatural.

"This is the game we often play on stream."

"...We appear in it?"

"Yes. And there’s romance too."

"......"

Charlotte stared at me.

"...Huh?"

I glanced at Mia, who still looked clueless, then at Alice and Claire.

Both of them were grinning like they had just come up with a wicked idea.

That’s right.

Alice and I had been desperately trying to romance each other, but now, two new heroines had entered the scene.

Completely unaware heroines.

And with half the story still left to go... It might be tight, but it was still possible to pull it off.