"That's it for today. Thanks for coming!"
A 23-year-old slim girl with an average look waved at the phone camera. At 40 kg and 170 cm, she appeared skeletal compared to other women her age. With her black hair and eyes, she appeared to be of typical Asian descent.
Parita sat at a computer desk in the attic of her mother's house. Despite being surrounded by dust, the 19-year-old streamer's hand didn't stop clicking her mouse, ending the live-stream session and achieving the VOD.
Her eyes shifted. She browsed the session's analytics.
"Hah."
Her performance was poor. Only a few dozen people tuned in to watch her stream. Even though she had been posting shorts on WeTube, her channel didn't get a lot of traffic.
Parita pursed her lips and reviewed her VODs. She also checked Doscord direct messages, rereading the suggestions from her coaches.
'You look like a robot. If you can't be natural, be exaggerated.'
'Smile, laugh, and speak more! Who wants to stare at a skinny robot's face?'
'If you don't want to speak, close your facecam! Play some games and do commentary!'
'Eat more. You look like a stray skeleton.'
Most advice was similar.
Parita's streaming was boring. She didn't talk much, and she lacked humor. Her deadpan expression never changed when she reacted to other videos or other people's content. Most importantly, she lacked a woman's charm.
One of her streamer seniors, AlmondGold, offered something different.
'If your main content is reaction, get a sexy Vtuber avatar. If you want more subs or more viewers to notice you, turn off ads and play AAA video games or trending games. Focus on the Let's Play content if you don't have friends. If you have buddies, you can collab with them and play the friendslop games. When your viewership hits four digits, start adding content that generates revenue or apply for sponsors.'
The advice was practical. Parita browsed her game libraries to see if she hadn't played any game on stream yet.
Similar to gamers, Parita always impulsively purchased games during seasonal sales. She hadn't played 90% of the games in the library since she purchased them.
Parita skimmed through the game list, searching for a triple-A game that had a decent review rating. She also sorted out the games that lacked ratings or had awful reviews.
One game in particular stood out. Despite possessing zero reviews, it had been available since the platform's debut. Nobody left behind comments on the forum. Everything seemed brand new.
The game name was 'My Wish'.
Curious, Parita installed the game. She considered making content using the game and posting a video on WeTube, similar to what other creators were doing.
However, the game's data was huge, demanding three terabytes of space. It almost made her cough blood. Even though her computer sported multiple storage hardwares, it was too much.
"Yeah, no. That's too much."
Parita hovered her mouse cursor over the pause button to stop the download process.
"Parita! Help me take out the trash and do the groceries! Stop playing games all day!"
The voice of her mother snapped her out of her trance. Parita smiled bitterly and got out of the gaming chair.
She forgot to stop the download.
Parita came across a Post-it note that had the grocery list and money on it on the dining table. She put the note and cash in her pocket and cleaned up the kitchen's bin, dumping the garbage in the bin outside the house. Afterward, she got on a bicycle and rode to the nearest convenience store.
An hour later, Parita returned with the groceries. She put the bags down in the kitchen and went back up to the attic, where she could focus on her job and hobby.
Upon returning, Parita noticed that her computer was still running. The download was also complete.
Parita rolled her eyes and facepalmed.
"There goes my M2 space."
Since the game was completely downloaded, it wouldn't hurt to play it. Parita sat on the chair and booted the game. She made sure to press record, saving the gameplay footage.
She was greeted by a black screen and Parita text.
[What is your wish?]
Parita smirked. She adjusted the mic and recorded her voice.
"Be filthy rich, I guess."
The game, as though it could respond like an AI, continued questioning her.
[How do you plan to achieve it?]
Parita raised an eyebrow. For a moment, she thought the game was reading her mind. Since AI existed, Parita didn't pay attention to the details of how the game managed to respond to her.
Again, she forgot that she purchased this game a decade ago, when AI didn't exist.
"I don't know. You tell me."
[How about robbing a bank?]
Parita was slightly taken aback, but she kept this strange conversation going as naturally as possible. She wished for nothing more than good content for her videos.
"And go to prison after that? Yeah, no."
[I see that you obey the law. How about getting a rich and handsome husband?]
"Like any rich guy would want a skinny girl like me. Yeah, no."
[Interesting. Actually, I have an idea.]
"Oh? What is it?"
The screen flashed, and a truck-kun slammed into the attic, as if it had launched from a ramp with the sole intention of crashing into her mother's house.
As the truck's bumper neared her, a strange song blared from its speakers.
HERE COMES THE MONEYYYY!! INSURANCE MONEY!MONEY MONEY MONEY!
Parita didn't remember anything afterward.
.
.
She had lost track of time.
Parita opened her eyes and sensed the cold texture of a stone road. A number of people, both men and women, dressed in plain garb, leather armor, or plate armor, kept moving. They all gave Parita an odd stare, as if she were a beggar or a homeless person.
She stood in the middle of the street, taking in her surroundings.
Beastfolk, dwarves, and elves stunned her. Looking further, Parita noticed their unusual fashion and clothes.
"Make way!" A coachman, who was also a lizardman in knight armor, yelled at Parita as she steered the two-meter-tall komodo dragon, which was pulling her wagon.
Parita yelped and jumped out of the way. She watched the wagon, which carried a cage containing a giant rooster with three heads. This reminded her that this place was not Earth.
The wagon passed through while the bystanders giggled at her clumsiness and reaction. They shook their heads and went back to what they were doing.
Everything was fine. Parita was still in her casual clothes. She recalled being in her mother's attic, which was why she didn't have a shoe on. Parita looked around to see where she was.
Everything was fine. Parita was still in her casual clothes. She recalled being in her mother's attic, which is why she didn't have a shoe on. Parita looked around to see where she was.
'Did I die? Did I just get truck-kun'd?! In my mother's house?! Do they have a delivery service these days?!'
The truth finally hit her: she had been isekai'd by the infamous truck-kun.
She didn't even cross the road or wander outside! She was in her mother's house!
A million thoughts flooded her mind. After watching a lot of isekai anime recently, Parita made a detailed plan in case she was sent to another world. But when the time came, she didn't know what to do next. The first person she thought of was her mother.
Missing her mother, she shed tears. Parita paused and recalled her mother's face.
It took her an hour to make peace with the changes. Ignoring the stares of people nearby, she used her shirt to dry her tear-stained face.
Fortunately for her, miracles happened.
DING
[Welcome to the World of Forgotten Terror, Ms. Parita Kestrel.]
A floating semi-transparent blue screen emerged in front of Parita. Only she could see it.
With bloodshot, weary eyes, Parita re-examined the message on the screen three times. She looked around, but no one appeared to be paying attention to the screen.
[The Goddess of Salvation has heard your prayer for wealth. She has granted you the opportunity to achieve your wish.]
'A goddess?'
This term was overused in isekai stories. It was cliché, overdone, and boring, but this goddess would determine her fate. Parita wouldn't mind embracing the stereotype if it meant escaping this ordeal or improving her quality of life.
[You have received the Goddess of Salvation's blessing.]
She had a blessing!
Parita could not imagine a better miracle, although it was not something she had wished for.
"Ogey. What's my cheat? Leveling System? Harem System? Infinite Inventory System? Max stats? Abilities? Or rather, can I go home?"
Though excited, Parita looked at the screen with a vacant expression. Her face rarely expressed emotions when she focused.
Rewarding Parita's anticipation, the screen revealed the prize.
[Vtubing System has been installed.]
'Hmm? V… tuber?'
Virtual WeTubers, aka streamers with rigged anime 2D or 3D, were unique streamers. Instead of revealing their actual faces via camera, streamers adopted 2D or 3D anime-inspired characters for their personas. These avatars often incorporated complex rigging or motion applications, enabling streamers to convey their emotions via toggles or automatic motion-capture expressions.
Parita had interacted with a few Vtubers, but they only chatted through Doscord messages. She never encountered the individuals behind the Vtuber avatars in person, and she was unfamiliar with the operational mechanics of Vtubers.
"What do I do with this?!"
As soon as Parita uttered the words, the blue screen turned pink and fired a gold beam into her chest. The impact of the beam's energy caused her to fall. Instantly, the strong temperature pulsed through her veins, then dissipated.
Parita got up and checked her chest. Her jacket and shirt remained intact, and no injury had been inflicted on her.
DING
[Initiating the Tutorial Quest...]
[Find the adventurer's guild.]
[Reward: One silver coin. Permanently increase your charm attribute by 1.]
The messages reminded her of the predicament. Parita regained composure, and her brain cells began working. She remembered the survival guide that she had created during her free time.
Isekei Survival Guide for the Unlucky Bastard Who Got Truck-Kun'd.
Upon waking up or regaining awareness, keep calm and sniff harder than a horny dog inhaling a bitch's butt. Are you safe? Do you smell blood, the rotten odor of corpses, or the bad breath of a monster? If yes, congrats. A surprise buttseggs or a painless death would be the best possible outcome for you. If you happen to smell shit, then you have smelled shit. However, if you detect no odor, you're safe, at least for the time being.
If you're in danger, act accordingly and find a safe place. If not, move on to Step #2.
For the moment, nobody in the city wanted to kill, harm, or take advantage of her. Parita passed the first step.
Step #2: Assess your surroundings. Where are you? In the wilderness? In a city? In a dungeon? In the backrooms? Being transported on a prisoner's cart, en route to the execution? Is there a man inquiring whether you are now awake? Is this world the game you played before the reincarnation or transmigration?
Step #3: If you're not alone, try chatting with somebody or a creature nearby. If they start screaming, running, lighting torches, or raising pitchforks, you've failed the communication test. Leave the city and enjoy being a lone wolf forever.
Following the guidelines she had made, Parita approached a random pedestrian and asked. "Hello, sir. I partied too hard last night, and now I'm lost. Where am I?"
The male stranger snickered and replied. "Diddease Town."
Parita misheard it. "Diddy's Town!?"
"Diddease Town. You're still drunk, I see."
"Oh, thank God. For a moment there, I almost had a heart attack." Parita swiped a sweatdrop off her face.
"…"
For the moment, she passed the communication test. The next step would be her survival necessities, such as a shelter, food, and water. But to procure those, she might need cash.
The sun was right above them. Parita had a few hours to check out the city and locate a place to stay before the sun set. Moreover, following the system's instructions might be the best approach.
"Anyway, is there an adventurer guild around here where I can get a job?" She asked.
Parita probed if the usual tropes existed, and the local didn't disappoint her.
"Oh, the inn is down the corner. The adventurer guild is on the town square. Are you a traveler?"
"Sort of. Anyway. Thanks. Bye."
"…"
The stranger sized up Parita and smacked his lips. He walked away, uninterested in her appearance and clothes.
Parita also ignored the man. She walked barefoot on the main road to the town square.
She didn't notice that the townspeople glanced at her. A mother pulled her child, keeping a distance away from Parita. Adventurers and pedestrians also gave her a weird look.