The Blind Love Life of the Returning Hero: The Companions I Lost in Another World Resurrect in the Modern Era and Indulge Me - Episode 34

Hayato and the others continued their livestream, and viewers were captivated by the game displayed on the screen. Comments flooded in with questions and reactions, moving noticeably faster than during a typical stream.

On-screen, Hayato’s character cautiously made his way through a dark, cave-like dungeon, illuminated by the flickering light of a torch. Suddenly, a monster emerged from the shadows.

“Whoa. We’ve got an enemy.”

He started a battle by controlling the character on-screen. He swung his sword, dodged enemy attacks, and landed counterattacks—all his movements flowed as if it were a real fight.

“Dodge at this timing… then strike back!”

As he narrated his actions, his fingers worked the controller with precision. The character responded exactly as intended, skillfully defeating the monster.

— Wow! That was amazing!
— As expected from the hero, lol
— Is this real-time action battle? Not turn-based?

The chat exploded with excitement after the victory. Many questions came in about the game’s combat system. Riri answered them thoughtfully.

She explained how they focused on action elements to allow players to experience Hayato’s adventure more vividly. They also ensured the difficulty could be adjusted, so even those not good at action games could enjoy it.

Meanwhile, Hayato became increasingly immersed in the game. He studied enemy movements, timed his attacks, and repeatedly dodged and countered. His expression was intensely focused, as if he were actually in the fight.

The motion capture system captured his serious expression perfectly and reflected it in his avatar.

He fought in silence with unwavering concentration, taking down even stronger monsters with ease. Even though it was just a game, he was determined not to lose.

After a while, Hayato suddenly looked up, as if snapping back to reality.

“Oops, sorry. I got really into the battle.”

“It’s okay. I think the viewers are really enjoying it too.”

Riri replied with a gentle smile. Seeing Hayato so focused that he forgot about the stream prompted a flood of comments—fortunately, all positive.

— The immersion is incredible. I want to play this game!
— So that’s how combat works. Looks like there are different styles too
— Just watching the battles is fun. That’s impressive
— Hayato’s seriously good at games

“This really is impressively well-made.”

Hayato spoke with admiration as he gazed at the game screen. No matter how many times he looked, he was struck by the game’s quality. Every detail was carefully crafted.

“A lot of people helped me with it.”

Riri responded, a little shyly. Her expression showed a mix of pride in her work being recognized and the unspoken struggles she went through.

As they continued talking about the game’s development, Hayato kept playing. The viewers remained deeply interested, listening and leaving more comments.

“And with that, we’re releasing a demo version of the game starting today. You can download it from the official website of our production group, IVE. Please give it a try.”

— A demo already?
— I didn’t think we’d get to play it!
— Downloading it now!
— When’s the full release?
— How much will it cost?

“It’s still in development, so the full release date is undecided. But the price will be… zero. We plan to release it as a free game.”

The moment those words were spoken, the comment section exploded again.

— Wait, what?
— Free?
— You’re kidding
— It’s actually free!?
— This kind of quality for free is a crime!
— Downloading right now!
— Thank you!!!

They decided to release the game as free software to fulfill their wish of sharing the memories of another world with as many people as possible.

“We’ll also be showcasing the development process in future streams, and plan to stream other team members playing the game too,” Hayato added.

“We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback,” Riri said.

“Yes, it would be really helpful. We’ll use it to improve the game.”

“Looks like it’s about time,” Hayato said after checking the clock.

“This was our first attempt at a gameplay livestream—what did you all think?”

— That was awesome
— Very unique
— I really enjoyed it
— I hope you do streams like this regularly
— I’ll definitely watch next time
— I can’t wait to see the rest of the adventure!

The comments were filled with warm, enthusiastic reactions.

“I’m so happy to see your responses,” Riri said with a heartfelt smile. It was a smile not just of a streamer, but of a creator whose work had been recognized and appreciated.

“See you in the next stream.”
“Until next time!”

The two waved in unison, and the stream came to a successful end. As their avatars disappeared, the tension in the studio gradually began to fade.

Not long after the stream ended, Josuke came rushing into the studio area, unusually excited and holding a tablet.

“Josuke? What’s up?”

“Hayato, Riri. The response is incredible. Check social media.”

“Huh?”

Just as he said, when they checked, Riri’s game was trending at number one on social media.

“And look at this site too.”

He pulled up a major gaming news website, which already had multiple articles:

‘IVE’s Vtuber Group Surprise-Releases a High-Quality Free Game!’
‘A Potential Hit! Highly Anticipated Free Game Announced’
‘Pro-Level Quality! A Must-Play Free Game by Vtubers’

Josuke kept scrolling, sharing more and more headlines.

“This is… unbelievable,” Riri muttered, stunned. She never expected such a massive response just from announcing the game. It was completely beyond anything she had imagined.

“This just proves how talented you are, Riri.”

Hayato spoke gently.

“And now, our story will reach even more people.”

“Hayato…”

Hearing those words, Riri finally allowed herself a joyful smile. The happiness of taking one step closer to her dream, and the gratitude of having friends to share that journey with.

And so, Hayato and the others’ new challenge sparked an unexpectedly huge reaction, propelling their activities into a new phase.