CH 121

Chapter 121. [Otsukare-ta- and Arige-ta-]

I traced back my memories accompanied by a song.

Waves of my past life, numbering in the tens and hundreds, came rushing, like turbulent waters.

My consciousness was on the verge of slipping away multiple times.

Amidst all that, the lifeline for me was the song.

The song alone served as my guiding light.

Once, I was an American; once, I was a Korean; once, I was Japanese.

Ah, so that’s how it was. I suddenly understood and accepted it in my heart.

Come to think of it. There was something I had pondered on before.

The translation of “Bless You” seemed oddly outdated.

“May God bless you” would be more appropriate than a simple “Take care.” in modern times.

Sneezing is a major symptom of the black plague in the past.

However, for me who lived in another era, The latter expression is the norm.

And so, out of habit, had I interpreted it that way?

Haha, it’s too late for such thoughts now.

I laughed, self-mockingly.

As I approached the final destination and reached the end, what awaited me was–.

An era of myths.

It was a tale from before the collapse of the Tower of Babel.

Once upon a time, humanity used the same words and language across all lands.

It finally made sense.

I had been using this language all along, Lingua Franca.

It’s the one and only language, the lost origin of the common tongue.

I’ve been translating it into English, Korean, and Japanese.

Ah, it’s almost over.

The final moment drew near.

The music reached its climax.

I sang the last chorus.

In my current state, I felt like I could convey everything.

I could hear everything, read everything.

The past, the present, and the future too.

Where we come from and where we return to.

Yes…! It was the same back then too.

In my previous life, at that moment.

I died as a gunshot passed through my head.

And I was supposed to return to where I should have been.

At that moment, I saw an “angel.”

Now, I can understand.

I couldn’t have been there.

In my previous life, I had no memory of a VTuber named Iroha.

In other words, my current self didn’t exist at that time.

Nevertheless, I witnessed it.

Therefore, the true identity of the angel I saw in my previous life.

At that moment, I heard a “voice.”

“You are…”

It somehow brought to mind the word.

“God.”

The voice seemed somewhat satisfied as if it had said something.

I just made a wish.

I sing with my heartfelt emotions, trying to convey my words.

I love this world.

I love VTubers.

Please don’t take VTubers away from this world!

If you want, I’ll give you my life as much as you want!

But even so, there’s one thing I absolutely can’t allow.

I can never tolerate VTubers being unable to stream due to international conflicts.

I’ll grant your wish and save the world!

So, in return, grant my wish too! Save my favorite VTuber!

Save all VTubers!

I sing, almost screaming… and then the song ends.

The world gets enveloped in silence.

“…Iroha-chan.”

With Mai’s voice, I return to reality.

I no longer have the strength to answer.

“…Iroha-chan!”

Mai calls me even more forcefully.

Her voice carries a mixture of joy and tearful sobbing.

“Look, Iroha-chan… the news! The world!”

Even if she says that I can’t see anything.

But I hear Mai turn up the sound of the news.

[Breaking news. Moments ago, Russia proposed a ceasefire to Ukraine, and Ukraine has accepted. I repeat Russia and Ukraine have ceased fire! The war has stopped! As a result, experts say that the third world war gets averted!]

I’m the announcer’s sound, speaking in an extremely excited tone.

I see, so Ukraine, which had been asking for a ceasefire all this time.

“And also, this!”

Something cold and hard is pressed against my ear.

Huh? Where did my headphone go?

Did Mai take it off?

From the thing pressed against my ear, I hear a voice.

[Iroha-san, thank you. The armies that had held nuclear missiles in various locations have started surrendering. Our country’s armies have also arrived at the scene. Thank you… truly, thank you. Thanks to you, we made it in time. The world has been saved!]

It’s Angu Ogu’s mother’s voice.

It seems the thing next to my ear is a smartphone.

When did I receive a call?

I didn’t notice at all.

But… I see! We made it in time.

That’s a relief.

Now, finally, the VTubers I supported can stream without worry.

“Iroha-chan… hey, Iroha-chan!”

Mai shakes my body.

“Mai, you’re so noisy. I can hear you even if you don’t shout right next to my ear.”

“—Iroha-chan! Mai, I called an ambulance! Iroha-chan, hold on a little longer! A doctor will see you soon!”

Huh? Ah, I hear Ah-nee’s voice.

She came back for me.

<<…Iroha! You idiot, I won’t forgive you if you die alone! You should have come to America, right!? What are you trying to do, going to heaven on your own? So, wake up!..>>

I can also hear Angu Ogu’s voice.

It seems they are on a call with each other.

But I can’t see anything anymore.

Ah, here we go again.

It’s the same as the end of my previous life.

I still wanted to see the future of VTubers, and so much more.

But it’s strange.

Unlike back then, I don’t feel so bad.

Could it be because I’m not hearing a fake voice this time?

Is it because I can hear their voices?

The voices of the ones I supported—as my last moments?

Streaming.

That’s right, I forgot.

I’m still streaming.

I need to give my final greetings to the viewers.

My VTuber life began when this went viral, right?

At first, I’m embarrassed, but now if I don’t say it.

I can’t feel settled.

In this situation, it might sound too much like a joke.

But surprisingly, it might just be right for me.

Here we go. Everyone, together!

Otsukare-ta-, Arige-ta-!