The selection process for the chat room manager ended smoothly.
We spoke with the ten individuals who passed the mock test to understand who they were. We reviewed the chat logs as well, and ultimately decided on the final candidates through discussions with Si-young.
The people chosen turned out to be the usual “time Bill Gates” types, otherwise known as unemployed individuals. I briefly wondered if I was holding back these industrious workers from entering society, but seeing their determined appeals that they genuinely wanted to do this work eased my concerns to some extent.
I made sure to tell them that if they ever wanted to quit, they could speak to me about it. They confidently declared that they would never do such a thing, but… this job does not offer any compensation. Of course, I would take care of them behind the scenes, but the rewards would not be satisfactory compared to the intensity of the work.
Moreover, it was possible that unexpected circumstances could arise, like suddenly needing money for their household or facing financial difficulties. Or perhaps they might suddenly develop a new dream. Opportunities always come unexpectedly.
Considering these various possibilities, it was likely that my position as a chat room manager would frequently rotate among different people. Nevertheless, I was glad to note that there were quite a few applicants for this opportunity. I’m not sure why everyone was so eager to manage my chat room, which seemed like a rather insignificant role.
Perhaps they wanted to experience wielding power as a sword-wielder in the chat room. However, those who exhibited such inclinations during the interview were detected by Si-young, who astutely arrived at the conclusion through leading questions that they were unsuitable. We were looking for colleagues to work with, not individuals driven by a thirst for power.
From this, it seems that Si-young had some foresight in insisting on selecting applicants through interviews.
The first applicant, job-seeker Kim Myung-jun, regrettably did not get chosen.
The reason was simply that he was an office worker. His priorities fell behind those of unemployed viewers who had more flexible time.
In fact, Kim Myung-jun was a valuable talent in many ways. He had been watching my broadcasts longer than any of the other ten candidates, and perhaps because of this, he had also achieved the highest score in the mock test.
However, as an employee commuting to work, it pained me to throw more work at him after his office hours. If one doesn’t take a break, how would they gain the energy to work again the next day?
Although Kim Myung-jun claimed he was superhuman and could live on just four hours of sleep, I thought, well, that could lead to a blow-up someday.
Additionally, he was just starting out in society. With many responsibilities from his job, I didn’t want him to worry about tasks resulting from my broadcasts.
When I revealed my concerns, Kim Myung-jun expressed his regret but left me with a request to call him if I ever needed an extra hand. Just maybe when both of the two managers I had hired this time were unavailable.
I had chosen two people to prevent such situations, but one never knows what might happen.
I replied to Kim Myung-jun’s kind offer, and the interview concluded.
The first Eo War streamer competition was a successful event that yielded results exceeding the investments made.
When one succeeds, it’s natural for a second to follow. Encouraged by the organizers, the second Eo War streamer competition was on the verge of commencing.
The team leader in charge of the event planned to reflect on the first competition and analyze the reasons for its success.
What were the reasons for the success?
There were various factors. People were desperate for large-scale content at that time, Eo War was trending, and the chemistry between the streamers who were suddenly formed into teams created exciting dynamics.
However, at the center of it all was one particular figure.
“Mollu…”
The newcomer who emerged like a comet at that time. The broadcast that was already on the rise became a major enterprise after appearing in the tournament.
Now, she was undeniably the number one streamer on Korea’s Switch platform, immediately associated with Eo War. Her understanding of the game was so high that she could even provide commentary, and despite being an event, she demonstrated skills that matched those of professional players.
“This time, if we want to ensure success, we need Mollu…”
But there was still the balance issue from the last competition. At that time, Mollu’s tier was Master tier.
The only others of the same tier were Oh Dae-sik and Su Ah, neither of whom were her match. It wasn’t that they couldn’t keep up; rather, Mollu demonstrated exceptional play that far exceeded her tier, leading her team to victory while simultaneously earning the reputation of being a game-breaking player.
Moreover, after the tournament ended, Mollu’s solo ranked tier skyrocketed into realms occupied by professionals, corroborating their arguments.
Yet, at that time, it was the inaugural tournament, and Mollu was relatively unknown, so it wasn’t a major issue.
However, this time would be different. There was unlikely to be a team capable of matching a monster from the highest Challenger ranks who could compete alongside professionals.
So what do we do? We need Mollu for the event’s success.
And it wasn’t just for success; the team leader was a fan of Mollu and hoped she would participate in the competition. If Mollu were to join, the company would likely monitor her stream under the pretense of observation, which was a delightful thought.
As mentioned earlier, participation as a player was impossible. As a player, one cannot participate. As a player… a player?
Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head. Did she really need to be a player?
“I could participate as a director.”
During the last tournament, she had shouldered the role of director to some extent while almost acting as a player-coach.
With her knowledge of both the game and its overall mechanics, she was more than qualified to be a director.
In fact, there might even be more streamers wishing to be part of Mollu’s team than other teams.
The problem was that it was uncertain whether Mollu would be willing to participate in the tournament.
That would depend on how well he could persuade her. Nevertheless, he didn’t worry too much.
He believed Mollu would be interested in the competition.
“Director?”
-Yes, Director Mollu. Isn’t the name perfect?
It was a call that came in while I was taking a break.
It was the Eo War streamer competition that I participated in during the early days of broadcasting. It had been so successful that they were planning for a second edition, and the organizers hoped I would join as the director.
-If we have someone we’d like to invite, we usually contact them in advance. You are first on our list, Mollu.
“Is that so?”
The frightening thing about compliments aimed at making you feel good is that, over time, they can genuinely make you feel good.
Kings of the past, swayed by sycophants, must have lost themselves in such a terrifying environment filled with sweet lies.
“Will this tournament be the same as the last one?”
Though it was an enticing offer, I needed to gather some information. I couldn’t just leap into the proposal.
-It’s similar yet different. Last time, there was an auction format for the players, but this time it will not use auction rules; we’ll proceed with a different method.
“What do you mean by a different method…?”
-This time, we will have a draft! Do you watch baseball? It’s a method often seen in baseball leagues.
A draft, huh? Then order would be important.
“How will the order be decided?”
-We’ll determine the order using a roulette.
Roulette, then—that sounds like leaving everything to chance.
“I guess luck will play a big role.”
-Yes, and I think that will be fun in its own way.
I see. That also sounds like a unique fun. For someone like me, who isn’t very confident in auctions, this might actually work out better.
-We predict that many new streamers, aside from a few, will apply this time, unlike the last time.
In the last competition, it was somewhat high-level for an amateur tournament. There were Masters mixed in, and even lower-tier players received coaching from ex-professional directors.
In any case, I don’t expect too much from the streamers. What I’d like to see is the struggle of those trying their best in the mud or the growth of someone who couldn’t even perform their role through coaching.
Considering that, setting a lower tier standard would yield better imagery.
-So Mollu, do you have any thoughts about participating in the tournament?
Participating in a tournament is, by no means, a light matter. It was the same last time, and this time even more so. It’s evident that more people will flock to it than before.
One might end up wrongly labeled as the villain, or they could narrowly miss victory, and sometimes they might even find themselves in tears over their defeats.
So would I opt not to participate? No.
It seems fun, and there’s no reason not to engage.
Streamer Mollu, confirmed to participate in the tournament as a director.
