Life does not flow predictably like a river, and we cannot know what the next moment will bring.
Elders would often say that is precisely what makes life interesting.
Having lived only a short time, I did not quite resonate with that sentiment.
However, when it came to games, I could say without hesitation.
In contrast to life, games can be incredibly exhilarating when they unfold as anticipated.
Especially when the outcomes are purely a result of my own actions, they bring a sense of fulfillment.
Should I call it a sense of achievement? It is this feeling that makes it hard for me to quit gaming.
I naturally predict when my opponent will attack.
I counterattack by releasing my own strikes at the right moment.
I understand how to seize control and gain advantages in the game.
Thoughts that once remained theoretical now flowed into reality one by one.
Designing a game in real-time and executing it flawlessly.
Ji-eun successfully accomplished what was impossible for my original self.
There was no gamer who would not enjoy the experience of a mad movie being copied.
With viewers sharing in my gameplay in real-time, my joy was magnified.
“I won.”
I achieved victory in the game and received the honor that symbolizes carrying from my allies.
This was a visual indication of who led the game.
As the best player confidently stepped down, the chatroom speed increased.
[Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu! Mollu!]
[Is it just you typing in the chat, you fcking btch?]
[Nuna… so sexy.]
[The master is right in front of me now, haha.]
[You’re doing it so neatly!]
[Was I a malicious sniper turned corporate streamer?]
Viewers threw out all sorts of different chats.
I had heard that chat from viewers could be described as a collective monologue.
Indeed, it was just as said.
The viewers were chirping away about various topics with no one listening in.
Then some chats caught the streamer’s eye, I suppose.
Most of the current chats were praises directed at me.
Since I imposed no specific restraint, the chats were a bit rough, but this much was tolerable.
Isn’t the real expression of men usually a bit rough?
Sometimes, that manner of speaking could lead to misunderstandings.
But I wasn’t blind to the affection woven within those rough words.
Rather, the excessive spamming was the problem.
With solo spamming taking up three or four lines, other messages were easily buried.
To avoid being buried, others began to spam as well.
It truly was a vicious cycle.
I could see that even those who normally typed appropriately were expressing discomfort.
I was also feeling some discomfort myself.
“You shouldn’t spam…”
Click—
I promptly kicked out a few noticeable offenders as examples.
The spamming noticeably diminished after that.
[Executed immediately, whoa.]
[Blood purge on.]
[Please hang me too, huh?]
[Extreme reward.]
The viewers seemed satisfied as the spamming disappeared.
However, this was merely a temporary measure.
When I was gaming, I had no capacity to manage the chatroom.
I would need to hire a specialized person to manage the chat.
Like a manager or something.
It was something I would gradually proceed with while broadcasting.
I never imagined I would have such concerns during my first stream.
Managing the chat was usually an issue in larger broadcast rooms.
800.
That was the number of viewers in my room right now.
For some unknown reason, a few hundred more had joined.
800.
A number that felt somewhat unreal.
I think my entire high school had just over a thousand students.
I thought it would be bustling, yet it didn’t feel like my own affair.
Perhaps because it had been a long time since I graduated?
I felt no pressure from the numbers due to the lack of reality.
“A lot of people have come… but there’s not much to see.”
Every broadcast has its unique atmosphere and characteristics.
Whether the streamer is charming or the content is funny, these aspects attract viewers.
My stream was notably lacking in standout features.
Because I was concentrated on the game, I could only maintain background audio.
No, perhaps that would be true even if I weren’t gaming.
I couldn’t imagine a scenario where I was constantly talking to fill the audio.
<The Romantic Swordsman has donated 50,000 won!>
– Nuna, you’re doing so well. Thank you for streaming. You look so sexy as a swordsman. I want to be a swordsman like you. Your voice is so nice.
Yet, defying that, a donation came flying in.
What was it that attracted them to my stream? It was a lengthy donation filled with thoughts.
50,000 won… that’s quite an amount.
“Such a sudden large amount… thank you.”
[Thank you. End.]
[Is this all there is to the reaction? Sounds off.]
[Isn’t it enough if the voice is just good? Haha. Send some more donations, you’re not even talking much.]
Reactions. Ah, I needed reactions.
I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.
Yes. Reactions were essential.
I had received money, and I could not remain passive.
Being steeped in a capitalist society, I understood the greatness of money very well.
Try digging into the ground outside; will you find even 500 won?
If 500 won feels like a hassle, then 50,000 won could be acknowledged for its true weight.
“Since you’ve given me 50,000 won, what should I do for you…”
[Sing?]
[Please turn on the cam.]
[Just saying thank you should be enough.]
Typically, when receiving donations from viewers, a corresponding action was customary.
Whether dancing, singing, or screeching while dousing with soy sauce…
The chats from the viewers weren’t much different.
They were all within the realm of what’s commonly expected as a reaction.
However, all of those were things I couldn’t do right now.
I had no intention of turning on the cam, and I couldn’t sing as even my own voice felt unfamiliar.
Even if my voice got accustomed to the ear, singing for someone else…
That kind of embarrassing behavior was still beyond me.
Actions that could cause societal uproar were even further out of the question.
In the end, I could do only one kind of reaction.
I had intended to save it, but there was no helping it.
“Romantic Swordsman, do you know what waterfall the elders love the most?”
If I kept throwing this out so freely, I would run out of material later, but there was nothing else I could do at this moment.
Even though it was similar to a joke I had shared twice before, the viewers reacted as if they were seeing fire for the first time.
Seeing them so pleased made me a bit shy.
[Is this… a reaction?]
[Why do we have to be punished too?]
[Mentioning the nickname… this is a proper generous reaction.]
[The damage is also coming in.]
[If you’re happy, then I’m happy too.]
[Park Bo-gum~~~ that’s hilarious.]
-Romantic Swordsman: What’s the answer?
A few viewers seemed to know the answer, but fortunately, the donor didn’t seem to know.
That said, others also refrained from quickly revealing the answer.
Normally, jokes like this would lose their charm if someone blurted it out early.
Thinking that my viewers were quite sensible, I happily opened my mouth.
“The answer is ‘Na-i-ya’ Gara Waterfall. Elders watching their age grow day by day love ‘Na-i-ya’ Gara Waterfall the most because of their sorrows. Do you understand?”
[It’s not ‘Na-i-ya’ Gara but ‘Na-ia’ Gara, Teacher.]
[Perfect, even after the explanation.]
[Is this person doing this on purpose? Why so serious?]
[Laughing so hard.]
[-Incorrect-]
[It’s a concept for people in their 40s, please understand.]
[This is a joke for hiking uncles;]
[Unusual for girls these days… you’ve got a sense of humor, ^^@@]
The rapidly increasing chat reactions were satisfying.
Just looking at the chat’s energy showed that my reaction was a success.
I’ll have to use it from time to time.
I was satisfied with my understanding of my viewers’ needs.
At the same time, I felt that I was still underprepared.
Having accidentally turned on the stream, my preparations had been inadequate.
I would need to think about reactions for future donations, as well as how to structure my broadcasts.
I couldn’t just stream games without any topic.
Indeed, I had unconsciously begun to think of the next stream.
With no familiar faces around, gaming was the only link connecting me to my past self, who had undergone changes.
Playing games with the talents I had recently gained was enjoyable.
Watching audiences witnessing that play was another joy.
Thus, thinking that I genuinely wanted to become a streamer, I felt I needed to start preparing right away.
To prepare, it was obvious I had to end the current stream.
As someone who had resolved to become a professional broadcaster, I couldn’t allow myself to continue with such an immature stream!
“I’m unsure how to express my gratitude for your support. So I’ll wrap up today’s broadcast here. Thank you to everyone who visited the stream, and I’ll see you again in the next broadcast.”
[???]
[What?]
[Why the sudden cutoff?]
[After cracking a lame joke, you suddenly end the stream?]
“Let’s stream again.”
I ended the broadcast despite the hands pulling at me.
The screen faded to black, but the viewers’ chats did not cease.
Seeing that made me think I should have done a bit more, but I believed it was best to leave it at that.
I also needed to prepare for a full-fledged stream.
And perhaps the viewers wouldn’t mind waiting just a bit longer?
As the saying goes, it’s best to leave while the applause is still going. A little regret might be better for the next time.
Thus, I pondered what I needed to improve while reviewing the two-hour stream that had taken place, and before I knew it, I fell fast asleep.
