Chapter 6: So, What’s a V-Liver?

Kirishi-tan. Her official liver name is "Ōna Kirishi" (written 大名キリシ, but read as Ōna, not Daimyō).

A "liver" is basically someone who streams live broadcasts. Among them, Kirishi-tan is one of those who streams while using a virtual avatar—what’s called a "V-Liver."

In other words,

"She’s basically someone who does live broadcasts in an electronic mascot suit?"

Top Chat: Wow, that’s a wild way to put it
Top Chat: Not wrong though lol
Top Chat: "Electronic mascot suit live broadcast" is one hell of a power phrase
Top Chat: As it happens, I too partake in electronic mascot suit live broadcasting
Top Chat: Electronic mascot suit live broadcasting is my reason to live
Top Chat: Always keep electronic mascot suit live broadcasts in your heart
Top Chat: Japanese words you want to say out loud

『Elf! Now, let’s do this! I’ll rub you down plenty! You’d better be ready!』

With a battle-ready look on her adorably toon-styled, deformed features, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl about high-school age, clad in a bluish-black nun’s outfit, stood imposingly on my computer screen.

"Alright then. Match start!"

Top Chat: She’s trying to rub them to death
Top Chat: Pretty sure she’ll get rubbed to death in return too

The rules were team battles, three versus three with drops allowed. Each side brought along two viewer-players, and whichever team wiped out the other first would be declared the winner.

The chosen field was a remote, isolated island. Less than three kilometers across, its slightly elevated central area dotted with a few buildings was ringed by dense trees, which in turn were surrounded by sandy and rocky shores.

『Lambs, let’s move out! Drop target is the crates at the docks! First, secure the fixed-spawn items!』

Top Chat: Oooh, nice parachute control
Top Chat: Is Kirishi-tan really gonna land right on the item box?
Top Chat: That’s insane
Top Chat: She really is a hardcore player, huh

『This much is nothing! I didn’t bring a parachute to a real-life archery tournament for nothing!』

Top Chat: This is what a game-addled brain looks like
Top Chat: Apparently she realized only when she had to look for a plane to jump from on location
Top Chat: Little late to notice lol
Top Chat: Who the hell just has a parachute lying around at home

As promised, Kirishi-tan steered her parachute and landed right on top of the crate containing the item. And then—

"Gotcha."

Thunk. Player name "Kirishi-tan" has died.

『Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?』

Top Chat: My eardrums!
Top Chat: I get how she feels though
Top Chat: The viewers sympathize with the desire to have their eardrums returned
Top Chat: Yeah, can’t help you there

"That’s one down."

『W-w-w-wait just a minute!?』

"Something wrong?"

『Of course something’s wrong! Where the hell did you shoot me from!?』

"From the tree in the center."

『Why did that even hit!?』

"You said you’d drop onto the box."

Top Chat: That’s not the point…
Top Chat: That’s the kind of distance where even a sniper rifle would miss half the time
Top Chat: Yeah, wind’s strong in this map too
Top Chat: Uh, what’s going on here?
Top Chat: Did he install a mod?
Top Chat: Altered the death detection maybe?
Top Chat: The lambs are starting to suspect cheating lol
Top Chat: Still, I get it
Top Chat: The viewers sympathize with wanting their eardrums back
Top Chat: Still not helping you tho

『A-anyway, lambs, be careful!』

The remaining two members of Kirishi-tan’s team followed orders and chose to hide behind the nearest cover. But—

Top Chat: They chose the wrong move
Top Chat: Yeah, we made the same mistake in our match

What I use is a bow. Unlike bullets, which fly in straight, almost level lines, arrows arc.

Which means—

"Take this. And this."

Cover without a roof is meaningless. If anything, standing still only made them easier to hit.

Top Chat: Oof, a complete shutout
Top Chat: Seriously, what are you even supposed to do here lol

"Victory."

『No way!?』

Top Chat: I just witnessed something cruel
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan’s team didn’t even get a single shot off
Top Chat: That was over in a flash
Top Chat: Didn’t even last a minute lol

"Well then, good game."

『Eh!?』

Top Chat: Wait wait wait wait wait

Top Chat: Hold on

Top Chat: Too fast, too fast, too fast!

"Match is over, but… is there something else?"

Top Chat: Well, how should I put this…
Top Chat: It’s just, y’know, a little more variety would be nice
Top Chat: I mean, this is supposed to be a collab…
Top Chat: Speedruns are fine, but speedruns are kinda a problem here…
Top Chat: Damn, how do I even phrase this

"Hmm?"

Top Chat: Elf-san, collab matches are best two out of three, y’know

Top Chat: !
Top Chat: That’s it!

"I see. Then let’s move on to round two. Kirishi-tan, you ready?"

『Eh, ah, y-yes! I’ll be ready in just a second, so wait up!』

Top Chat: That’s an industry standard? News to me
Top Chat: Just believe it! You’re supposed to be her fans, right!?
Top Chat: Yeah, that’s right! Believe harder, like real fans should!
Top Chat: The lambs had their faith tested that day
Top Chat: …Not exactly how it works though