DING
[You have completed the guild quest.]
[Your CHARM attribute has increased by 1.]
[Live2D Model has been unlocked.]
DING
[Initiating the tutorial quest #7.]
[Add the Live2D model to the stream and sing one song.]
[Rewards: One gold coin. Unlock Idol Store and Status Menu. Permanently increase your charm attribute by 1.]
After Parita secured the approval stamp from Pigeon, the alchemist aunty, the system gave her the last tutorial assignment. This time, the task seemed challenging even though it sounded mundane.
There was a problem. Parita had never sung in public in her entire life. She didn't have a home, a shelter, or a room to start a karaoke session.
This left her with one last choice. Parita had to sing in public.
Parita's introverted side emerged. She was capable of everything except performing on stage in front of a live crowd. A swelling feeling grew in her heart. Her face paled, and her teeth clattered.
This feeling was different when she did a live stream at home. At that time, it was just her, her PC, and her phone cameras. She wasn't comfortable performing on stage.
'Yeah, no. I can't do that.'
[Failure to complete the tutorial quest within 24 hours will terminate all system features.]
'Hey! Why didn't you tell me that before?!'
[These tutorials offer fundamental instructions to get you started, and you'll encounter similar ones later on. If you fail to finish these simple tasks, you won't be able to handle more complex quests later on.]
'But can't the quest be something else but a live performance?!'
[No.]
'But what if I'm bad at singing? What if I embarrassed myself? What if I ruin everything?'
[The mocap outfit is equipped with an auto-correct function. Your voice will be fine.]
'…Could I simply pretend to sing and let the clothes do all the work?'
[You have the freedom to stay within your comfort zone. However, it will take longer to make your dream a reality.]
'My dream?'
[Didn't you wish to be rich?]
Parita gulped and recalled the stupid wish she had made before the transmigration. Her expression behind the mask twisted.
'But the method is odd! I thought about winning the lottery at that time!'
[Deities do not grant easy wishes. They encourage wishers to achieve it through their hard work.]
"…"
[Courage is not the absence of fear. It's the decision to stand up while your heart still trembles. Many introverted millionaires like you exist on Earth, yet all left their comfort zones at one point to become successful.]
"…"
[Try it first. Feel later.]
Facing such supportive and inspirational system messages, Parita didn't know what to say. She didn't catch every word, but some ideas resonated with her.
In the end, she had to take the first step, even though small, to achieve something grand. Also, without the system's help and the rewards, she might be homeless tomorrow.
Driven by helplessness and the threat of starvation, Parita mustered her courage. She gulped and asked the system out loud.
"Where can I perform or sing?"
[Anywhere.]
Parita looked around. She was already in front of the alchemy store, and some pedestrians walked around. Taking a deep breath, Parita turned to the streaming system screen. A new function was available.
Unlike other OBS programs, which relied on plugins or other applications for Live2D integration, the system screen provided her with simple tools to complete the complex tasks. The tool had a toggle list, allowing her to experiment with the Live2D's facial expressions and emotes. It also displayed a list of potential costumes and hairstyles that Parita could use.
Although Parita had never been a Vtuber, she fiddled with the system and imported the Live2D model to the OBS without trouble. She tried moving around and playing with her expression.
She forgot that she was in the middle of streaming, and she stood in front of the alchemy store.
Practicing her voice, Parita tried to warm her throat with a song that she always sang in private.
"We're no strangers to love! You know the rules, and so do I."
Parita might not be a music enthusiast, but she was a shitposter and a troll. Whenever she was free, she always logged into her anonymous alt account and dropped rage-bait posts or a random respond to online media posts.
As soon as the note dropped, the system played the instruments of the song.
Parita paused and widened her eyes. She didn't expect the system to suddenly summon the real song to complement her singing. As soon as she paused, the auto-mode took over. Her whole body, even her voice, acted without her control.
And thus, Parita sang the first live-broadcast song in the Diddease Town and the World of Forgotten Terror, using her Live2D model as an avatar.
* * *
More people gathered around the town square and watched the broadcasting cube while adventurers got to enjoy their exclusive screens in the guild building.
On the screen, the previous cameras, which followed Parita around, switched to a blank white screen with the Live2D model of a pink-haired elf. The avatar's movements looked stiff, but her voice and the music captivated the spectators. A few adventurers found their legs and arms tingling, wanting to dance to the beats.
Minutes quickly passed. The song ended, and the screen turned dark. The cubes vanished.
All civilians and adventurers came to their senses. They smiled and turned to their friends.
"Hey, that was pretty good."
"What kind of song was that? I don't hear a harp or a string."
"The beats get me moving, man. I wish it lasted longer."
"You know the rules, and so do I!"
"Bro, you remember the lyrics?"
The chatter got louder. Meanwhile, those who had met Parita got itchy all over. They wanted to meet her again. As for Parrot, Sparrow, and her crew, they had already left the building and were rushing to the alchemy store to intercept her before anybody else.
The team of five female adventurers found Parita, who had just finished singing, in front of the alchemy store. Sparrow approached her.
"Girly, can we have a word?"
Parita turned to Sparrow and maintained her default smile. She replied after a pause. "Yeah, no. I'm busy."
"Give us a minute. Say, do you have a party yet? Would you like to join us? We're B-rank adventurers."
"Not interested, thanks."
Parita turned around and walked away. Nevertheless, Sparrow pursued her and made an offer.
"The wage is one gold coin per month and free lodging! You don't have to follow us on a quest. We only need a housekeeper!"
Parita stopped walking. She paused and mumbled to herself for a few seconds before turning around. With a look of innocence and bright eyes, she asked.
"Free shelter?"
"…Yes."
"What about meals?"
"We… you know what? Free meals too!"
"What's the job description? What do I need to do?"
"Help us clean our house and do the laundry. You see, all of us are busy adventurers. We rarely clean our clothes, gear, and our rooms."
"…And you call yourselves women?"
"…"
* * *
Parita stared at the red-haired knight and her followers. At first, she mistook Sparrow for scammers, and she tried walking away. However, the job offer made her reconsider.
The Idol Meeting skill had a wide range. It cost her nothing but her dignity because of its embarrassing incantation. In exchange for shaming herself, she could simply activate it once a day and get herself a lodging.
The pros were worth the cons. Parita was interested in the prospect. However, the female adventurer group still looked shady. Many of them seemed unclean, and their breath reeked of liquor. Those women were not the kind Parita liked to associate with.
But in the end, a lodging of an all-woman team might be better than an inn full of wild men. She couldn't tell if someone might barge into her room one day and steal her purity.
"Fine. I'll work for you." Parita accepted the job offer.
"GREAT!" Sparrow was overjoyed. She rubbed her hands and asked. "Say, could you cast that spell on us, similar to what you did for the storekeeper?"
Parita shook her head. Her mouth curved down. "Yeah, no. I can't."
"…Why?"
Parita came up with an excuse, but her mocap suit automatically made an answer for her. It manipulated her voice.
"It costs a lot of mana, and I can use it once per day. I'll be able to use it again tomorrow."
"…Oh." The team looked disappointed. The girls behind Sparrow also tapped their leader, looking concerned.
"Sister, perhaps the salary is too high. Wouldn't hiring a housekeeper be better if it's once a day?"
Again, Parita's suit replied in her stead. "Bring the dirty clothes and everyone together in one spot, then. I'll clean up the leftovers myself."
Sparrow grinned and extended her hand for a handshake. "Deal! You're hired!"
Parita also smiled and shook Sparrow's hand.
She secured a shelter at last. Also, she had yet to claim the last tutorial quest rewards.