A Feeling I Can't Get Used To

“Hoo... No matter how many times I experience this feeling, I can’t get used to it.”

After emerging from the VR Capsule, Chae-rin stretched lightly. Even though it was a game she logged into every single day, this feeling, as if her spirit briefly underwent an Out-of-body Experience, was... something she simply couldn't get used to.

Of course, she had never avoided the game just for that reason.

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

Saying that, Chae-rin began preparing her meal. She wished that since her body was still, fatigue wouldn't accumulate, but as if to prove her mind had been doing heavy labor, whenever she turned off the game, fatigue would wash over her like this. Of course, she wasn't thinking of going to sleep yet. She still had to check the YouTube video she uploaded last time, and there were a few other things to do.

After heating up the frozen spicy pork she'd ordered by delivery, she sat down at her desk with the food. And immediately, she accessed YouTube. A satisfied smile appeared on her face as she checked her channel.

Since the launch of *Demon's Saga*, Chae-rin's channel, which has consistently featured Game Streams, has recently reached 1 Million Subscribers.

A whopping 1 Million Subscribers! Even in the vast YouTube scene, it was a figure that qualified her as a large-scale streamer. Among the many *Demon's Saga* streamers, she was one of only a handful.

It was probably due to her consistent participation in various in-game events. Thanks to that, she garnered views and significantly increased her recognition. But if she had to pick the biggest factor in her channel's growth... it had to be the frequently encountered NPC, “Yor”.

His appearance, his Skill that matched his appearance, and the fact that he was a Manifestor were overflowing with elements that drew people's attention.

Right now, many Users know the NPC “Yor” even if they didn't know “Chae-rin”, the Million-subscriber Streamer. In this *Demon's Saga*, NPCs boast an astonishingly high status. Indeed, unlike other games, the NPCs here show truly high autonomy, so it is understandable. Thanks to that, Chae-rin also attracts a lot of new viewers.

Chae-rin then checked the recently uploaded Amon Raid video. It was a video her older sister had already finished editing during their fifteen-day journey by carriage. The footage was quite extensive, so it must have taken a while to edit... but the video editing was clean and had good flair.

She's really competent, after all.

Chae-rin thought again how fortunate she was to have such a capable editor. Editing work, plus being a manager... sometimes she wondered if she was overworking her, but... well, she paid her well enough. Besides, Haneul had volunteered for the manager role in the first place.

Anyway, after watching the video, Chae-rin checked the comments first. From the opponent itself to the high-level individuals who participated, it was an extermination of significant scale.

Although the battle proceeded in the form of destroying the Altar directly, the video itself was spectacular. As expected, the YouTube comments had a pretty good reaction.

Wow, these are almost all NPCs, lol We're just side characters for the NPCs anyway, lol Chae-rin isn't low-level either, but why does she look so weak?

[Seriously, why is Amon so hot?]

[-> I will always worship you, Lord Amon...]

It's spectacular, but the fire makes it hard to see. :( Seriously, the final Phase 3 isn't even filmed at all, lol Why couldn't you film the most important last hit scene?

Editor, why did you edit out Yor's burned clothes? Editor, why did you edit out Yor's burned clothes? Editor, why did you edit out Yor's burned clothes? Wait, there was a scene like that? Yeah, that f*cker was practically naked, completely burned off, and they edited it out. Is there a replay of that? Please, please, please! It's probably gone? If they left that in, it would definitely get them banned, lol No, give it back, give it back, give it back!

Naturally, among those reactions were comments related to Yor. Just like the flames seen in the video, the comments were burning fiercely over the mere editing out of some burned clothes.

Of course, Chae-rin had no intention of revealing it. Not only would it get a yellow monetization icon if uploaded, but even if it was an NPC, carelessly revealing something like that still pricked her conscience.

I'll just keep it to myself.

Thinking that, Chae-rin finished checking her channel. Knowing that this video's views wouldn't be bad either, she now planned to browse elsewhere. If what she had just done was an extension of work, now it was purely for entertainment.

The place she entered was the *Demon's Saga* Community, commonly known as “Akgael”. It was a place with few regulations, where anyone could convey their thoughts with a simple click. There were many idiots and countless trash posts... but it was also a place that felt genuinely human.

[Breaking News: Samsunhi died like a dog trying to catch a Troll, lol]

+ [I want to unlock 19+ Mode too, damn it...] +

Ugh, I died fighting a monster. After 3 days, I'm seeing my husband. He's always lovely, seriously.

As soon as she entered, countless posts filled her vision. Most were posts about streams, or complaints about what happened today. And there were many posts spewing out their desires shamelessly.

Chae-rin chuckled and slowly scrolled down. She knew they were truly worthless trash posts, but just browsing them was entertaining, perhaps because of the shared interest in *Demon's Saga*.

Besides the entertainment, Akgael had other good points. Perhaps because there were so many Users, high-quality information was often uploaded. Updates were also fast. So, a quick glance at the trending posts would reveal the major events that had recently occurred.

Naturally, the most talked-about event recently was Amon. Demons were important in the game's events, and this time, quite a few high-level personnel participated. Of course, since participants were carefully selected, the actual participation of Otherworlders was low... but surprisingly, that wasn't a very important issue. Here, NPCs weren't unpopular just because they were NPCs.

However, it wasn't just stories about Amon in the popular posts. Also among them were things like a Russian Server Broadcast Jockey and a Korean Celebrity dating, the Empire looking for ways to block the Imp Pit, the discovery of a Lemegeton Stronghold near a Ruined Kingdom, and so on. Quite a few minor stories were also appearing.

Among them were stories outside the game like this:

+ [Breaking News] The Developer Team and Operations Team GMs are fighting again]

GM Paimon and GM Gaia are in a heated debate, practically ready to hurl insults.

[Again?]

[Not surprising anymore]

[These bastards seem to fight all the time, lol]

It meant that another fight had broken out on the Game Company's side. Since it was a game currently being sold, there was also a separate Game Website for it. Game-related announcements would very, very occasionally be posted there.

The problem was that they didn't post Patch Notes on the Notice Board there, but instead just fought all the time. Typically, it was said that fighting with the Developer Team or the Server Team was a daily occurrence for GM Gaia, an employee of the Operations Team.

The Operations Team would disparage other employees as looters who knew nothing of business ethics. Conversely, other employees would call the Operations Team staff interfering busybodies who meddled with the game.

Of course, Users who saw this just thought, ‘Oh, they just don't get along...’ They didn't know why they were doing that nonsense on the Announcement Forum, though. They, the Users, knew nothing about the company's internal affairs.

They don't even know where the company is located.

Anyway, it was a truly strange company. They had created such a masterpiece game, yet the developers who made it had never appeared in an interview. Furthermore, the company's location was not disclosed to the general public.

It was a company shrouded in many mysteries..., but well, users didn't really care as long as they could enjoy the game.

Anyway, Chae-rin continued lurking on Akgael.

+ [99.9% chance of Grandpa Cringe]

(Photo)

Cheers to your courage for coming here, believing in the 0.1% chance.

+

[Kya~]

[Great Hero, lol]

[Wow, look at that Man's body. I seriously wanna f*ck him]

[-> Hey, hey, that's reality, draw the line, you crazy bitch]

[-> Oh, seriously? It's not the game?]

[-> Anyway, the graphics are so good, it's hard to tell the difference.]

Someone had even uploaded an adult male photoshoot in the middle...

*Hmm... Is that all?*

Honestly, it didn't particularly turn her on. She had seen a much more impressive scene in person. Well, strictly speaking, it wasn't “in person,” but... it was almost identical to reality, so let's just call it that. Feeling a strange sense of superiority, Chae-rin scrolled past the post.

+ [Quitting the Game] +

There was also a post like this in the middle:

Honestly, the game is still fun... Who wouldn't find it fun? But I've been playing so much that my life feels like it's drifting away from Reality. I'm gonna stop enjoying the game, pick up my TOEIC studies again, and prepare for job hunting. I'll sometimes drop by if I think of it.

Real life comes first, lol. Go well. Don't come back until you've got a job and settled down, and tell the NPCs why

“Hmm...”

Chae-rin let out a low hum, looking at the post. It was a type of post that had been appearing frequently lately.

This game had many streamers and a great many gold farmers. However, not all users made a living from the game. The game was still fun, but they couldn't pour their entire lives into *Demon's Saga*.

Chae-rin couldn't help but feel a faint sense of melancholy whenever she saw such posts.

Quitting *Demon's Saga* wasn't as simple as just quitting one game. It meant having to sever all the relationships built there, even the emotional bonds with the NPCs.

Since all the NPCs were like humans, and their AI continued to run even when the game was off... it was clear that detaching herself wouldn't be easy.

It's really a good thing I'm a Game Streamer.

Anyway, being a Streamer is a total gravy train. Otherwise, she might have had to face those same worries. If she thought about drifting away from the NPCs because of her real life... it would be incredibly sad. Especially considering her relationship with Yor, it would be utterly heartbreaking.

However, even as she felt relieved, a faint sense of unease rose within her.

*But can I keep living like this...?*

As for money, well, she was earning well enough now, so that was fine. What she was talking about was human relationships.

While her relationships with NPCs were growing stronger, her real-life human relationships felt like they were gradually shrinking.

Considering that there were even Users who married NPCs, it might not just be her own anxiety.

Moreover, it wasn't that she couldn't understand Users who got married. As she had mentioned several times, the NPCs in this game were like real People. They could converse freely, could continue to operate even when the game was off, and could sometimes even surprise Users.

In fact, sometimes when Yor asked about her stream, Chae-rin would be startled. When he, existing within the game, mentioned something as realistic as 'streaming,' it created a strong sense of disconnect.

No matter how advanced it was, wasn't it too vivid if the AI so casually knocked on the Fourth Wall?

“Oh, whatever.”

Chae-rin, who had been worrying about the future, turned off her computer and lay down on her bed. She had no intention of escaping from what was good right now. ...Though it felt like she was enjoying 19+ Mode a little too much.

I wish Mr. Yor would just come out into reality.

Sometimes she imagined things like this. She imagined him, who only existed within the game, suddenly coming out of the game to hang out. Then they could go to amusement parks together, eat delicious food, and she could show him the wonders of Modern Conveniences.

“Phew.”

Of course, she knew it was a baseless fantasy. It was a wish that would never come true. She wasn't a fool who thought the game was real.

Chae-rin, lost in sentiment for a moment, then fell asleep.

...And the next day.

“Ah, now that I think about it, I can see the chat window.”

“Y-yes...?”

As soon as she logged into the game, she immediately heard Yor's shocking statement. He knocked on the Fourth Wall even harder.