I couldn’t sleep.
It was usually like that when the sleeping arrangements changed.
I had insomnia in my previous life as well, but I had never felt uncomfortable about it.
“I was wondering where you disappeared to. Did you leave the bed and sleep in the capsule?”
Professor Cheon handed me a toast that he had spread with strawberry jam.
“It’s just more comfortable in the capsule…”
The unknown object that had been inside a mysterious box was none other than a virtual reality capsule.
It seemed to be an old one that had not been discarded despite showing signs of use.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay with you until the end of the week because I have to go to work. I’ll be back before dinner at the latest, so is delivery food okay for lunch?”
“I like delivery food.”
I had never eaten it at the orphanage, so I was curious about the taste.
Professor Cheon kept apologizing to me for the university being far from his home as he left the house.
It wasn’t necessary for him to mention my rabbit-eared pajamas as he was going out.
After he left, I could finally enjoy the toast he made for me while savoring my breakfast for the first time in a long while.
‘What should I do now?’
Suddenly, I lost track of time.
The winter break wasn’t over, so I didn’t have to go to school either.
There was no reason for me to struggle to earn money through broadcasting. Or should I try to earn money for potions just so I wouldn’t rely completely on others?
As I swam through a wave of such thoughts, the idea of delivery food came to mind, and I decided to search for it.
‘Chicken, pizza, tteokbokki, naengmyeon… kimpitang?’
There were some familiar foods as well as those with strange names.
I wasn’t planning to order anything just yet; I was just trying to find out how to place an order by entering my card number into the AI.
[Sehan Card has been entered: This card is already registered.]
[Verifying owner: NoName confirmed.]
The system identified me as part of Professor Cheon’s family, so nothing particularly unusual happened.
Just as I thought that,
[The Korea Magic Corporation has sent a bill to NoName. Please make payment by the due date.
– Purpose of billing: Unauthorized emergency sub-circle (3) magic creation
– Amount due: 481,738 won
– Payment deadline: 2051/01/31
For inquiries regarding the billing details, please contact the billing company. +See more]
A chilling message was sent to me.
“What… What is this…?”
For a moment, I wondered if it was a phishing message, but it had the proper format and an official verification mark, so my doubts quickly faded.
With trembling hands, I checked the detailed payment request.
[3-circle magic ‘Lithography’ and detailed billing for the use of 3 multiple spells]
It was the magic I had demonstrated to Arin before.
I had heard that if you use mana of 2 circles or higher at school, you have to pay a fee, but I mistakenly thought it only applied to specific spells since I could handle mana without any restrictions.
When the amount nearing 500,000 won flashed before my eyes, everything went dark.
‘It’s the 23rd Monday… so I have to pay by next Tuesday?’
Where could I get that kind of money?
‘Oh…!’
The card that Professor Cheon gave me.
And did the government decide that I had the ability to pay?
But I simply couldn’t use a card that was given to me just to buy lunch for a hefty payment like this.
“No, I have to somehow earn it.”
Let’s think, Nameya. What good is a clever head if I can’t put it to use?
As a minor, of course, I couldn’t resort to loan sharks. My history with loans was dreadful, and I didn’t want anything to do with them.
So, broadcasting was my only option, but the problem was that I barely made 50,000 won a day.
Even if I worked for 8 full days, it would still be a far cry from the amount I needed.
‘But there’s no other way.’
The old capsule I had spent the night in flashed in my view.
It truly was a tragic fate.
Without further thought, I stepped into the capsule.
*
[Funding goal: ₩500,000 (0%)]
– Hi hi
– Streamer hi
– Why is this person’s nickname a blank? What should we call them?
– So we just call them the streamer
“Hello.”
– Why didn’t you stream yesterday?
– You abruptly ended it without any reason.
– But what’s up with the funding? LOL
– Whoa
– 500,000 won in the gallery LOL
– Is the streamer in urgent need of money?
“Yes.”
– Must be needing to pay rent
– Could be sick with a disease that requires 40 packs of cigarettes immediately
– Isn’t a pack of cigarettes over 10,000 won these days?
– Yeah;;
“Got to pay by next week.”
– Ah, I see
– But we don’t have any money
– For real LOL
“Guess it’s urgent then.”
[‘Diving is my hobby’ donated 1,000 won!]
– Hey streamer, will you play games then?
[Funding goal: ₩1,000 / ₩500,000 (0.2%)]
– The streamer just had a blank stare at the donation window LOL
– It earned just a tiny bit, when will I fill that up?
“I’ll consider it.”
[‘Graduate Student Save Me’ donated 1,000 won!]
– You don’t seem to like games much?
“Yeah.”
– Is it not work time for grad students now?
– It’s vacation
– Is there a vacation for grad students?
– Even if there’s no vacation, you have time to watch streams;;
– If you’re not going to play games on Twish, then why even stream?
That’s a bit problematic.
It’s true that, based on what viewers said, playing games is a must for someone who streams on Twish.
The proportion of Just Chatting streams was overwhelmingly lower than on other platforms.
Now, I couldn’t switch platforms…
So this time, I decided to trust the collective intelligence.
Like in a quiz show on TV where the panelists use audience lifelines.
“What would it take for you to give money?”
– This person has no shame in asking for money, LOL
– The streamer has always been straightforward
– Play a game for us
– If you play Resonance, at least 50 viewers would be guaranteed, even if it’s not great
That wasn’t very helpful.
So, I decided to use the acquaintance lifeline this time.
[혜지면밤이된다 – In-game 2:31:54]
[(Sender)혜지면밤이된다: How can I make a lot of money with broadcasting?]
I sent a message to the only person currently online in my friend’s chat.
Maybe they’d have a hard time replying since they were in-game.
But surprisingly, her response was very quick.
So quick that she even left the game she was playing.
[혜지면밤이된다 – Waiting Room 2:32:08]
[혜지면밤이된다: What’s up with you? Did you get hacked?]
[혜지면밤이된다: No, that can’t be. What’s going on… I mean, you’ve suddenly gone silent for half a year and now you’re talking about streaming?]
“It’s because I urgently need money.”
[혜지면밤이된다: I can lend you a small amount.]
“I’d rather not rely on others.”
[혜지면밤이된다: What’s that notification sound? Are you streaming right now?]
[혜지면밤이된다: Wait a sec, hide your stream and invite me to the waiting room.]
“Just a moment, I’m going to cover the screen.”
[NoName – Waiting Room 00:08:17]
A dry, bare 3-pyeong room.
[혜지면밤이된다 has accepted the invitation]
[NoName is moving to Waiting Room]
Then a circular summoning circle unfolded.
“Hey!”
A woman with a pink ponytail vigorously shook my shoulder.
“Where did you go without even logging in? You just left us a weird message!”
With the nickname ‘혜지면밤이된다’, her name was Yujoo.
A celestial user who charms many male streamers with her alternate account.
But none of that mattered; she was simply a precious clan member to me.
Even if I couldn’t speak or move, she was someone dear just by being there.
“I’m back. Sorry for not keeping in touch.”
“Have you decided to ditch the concept? Good call; our name is!”
“It’s not ‘name’; it’s Nameya. NoName.”
“Do I have to call you Nameya?”
“Yeah. That’s my name.”
“Got it.”
She casually brushed off my words, probably thinking I was joking.
“I had a lot of questions for you. More than anything, where have you been all this time that you’re just now logging into VR?”
She started fiddling with my hair, petting it, and twirling it around with her fingers. It was her usual habit when she met with me.
“I’ve been through a lot. Going to school and finding a place to live.”
“You were still a student? I thought you seemed young. Myunjoon was always nagging that he couldn’t call you ‘uncle’.”
“I don’t really care.”
“That fits your personality. But what do you mean you need money?”
“I used magic recklessly. They say I have to pay a fee…”
“How much exactly?”
“About 481,738 won.”
“What on earth did you do?”
Yujoo was ready to continue the conversation while sitting me on her lap.
My shoulders were lightly lifted, and I settled comfortably in her embrace.
“Anyway, you need to earn money, right? How about we duo rank up together? There’s no better way to earn money than to rank up. You’re still bronze, right?”
“Do you think people will donate?”
“If we share a broadcast with my account, there will definitely be enough viewers. I was already planning my comeback, by the way. But I want to chat with you while we play the game, is that okay?”
“That’s fine, as long as it’s not too personal.”
“Great! When you have a chance, you have to seize it! I’ll turn on the broadcast right now and announce our collab, so make sure to tell your viewers too. After lunch, I’ll send the sharing request at 1 PM. No backing out!”
The cheeky girl with pink hair said everything she needed to say and then vanished from the waiting room.
Yujoo was always like this. She seemed particularly high-strung today.
Gaming…
Rather than thinking of it as a game, I thought of it as a date with her; it would make me feel more at ease about the broadcast. I would have to brainwash myself into thinking that way.
“I’m back.”
– All the viewers have left already
– Did you meet a real-life friend? Or just a gaming buddy?
– So what are you doing now? (I really don’t know)
“Today we’re going to play League together. I’m not sure if you know, but with ‘혜지면밤이된다’. I think we might try to rank up to Master.”
– ????
– Is that the 혜밤 I know?
– What nonsense is this again? LOL
– It’s a broadcast that raises suspicion to a questionable level
The public sentiment didn’t seem good. I must have miscalculated.
“Then… Grandmaster…? Challenger?”
