Former Hero Streamer – Chapter 48

“Oh, let’s play a song before we start.”

I selected a few tracks I used to enjoy and started playing the music.

The subtle melodies of classical music added an elegant touch to the broadcasting atmosphere.

[Classical?]


[You’re so fancy, sis.]


[Don’t you play any of the recent songs?]

Of course, I can’t play those.

After more than ten years, I realized my ability to grasp what’s trendy was lacking.

If finding a rhythm that matches the current generation is too tough, returning to the past is an option.

In that sense, nothing’s more comfortable than classical.

[Today’s stream will be just about picking an editor, right? Hahhahaha.]


[Hey! Are you complaining about my stream?]


[If you don’t like it… You know what to do!]

Are there still people who only want game streams like before?

Not all viewers were supportive of the editor recruitment contest.

Though many viewers stepped up as firefighters, trying to suppress the chaos, it was hard to cater to everyone’s preferences, and still, it was a bit of a concern.

I tend to focus on just one content based on how I feel that day while streaming.

Some would complain that they want a clear structure, but they prefer to take breaks when needed and concentrate fiercely when gaming.

‘Should I change the broadcast format to something like Part 1 and Part 2, like other streamers?’

Usually, one would take breaks before moving on to the next part, but how do they figure the timing?

Still, I can’t just completely ignore opposing opinions. I should look into it later.

“First, I’d like to thank all the editors who applied for the contest.”

As I held up a mug brought from the kitchen, hot coffee was wafting steam into the air.

The words of thanks slipped between my lips, hidden by the steam.

It’s only right for me to express gratitude as a host for the overwhelming interest shown in less than a week.

「Kimkaedulraku donated 5,000 won!


—So, how many videos have come in for the sister?」

“There are just over 100 applicants combined. It was tough sifting through them, really.”

[Oooh, there were a lot of applicants.]


[With someone like you, there’s no way it’d be empty, lol.]


[Choosing must be a chore.]

“Oh, right.”

After taking a sip of coffee from the mug, I put on a mock stern voice and asked.

“Why did you keep sending weird stuff in the emails to apply as an editor? I was so shocked when I saw it!”

[Oh no, hahahaha.]


[??? What kind of emails did you receive, sensei?]


[I can’t stand hate mail.]


[Who messed with our sister?]


[Looks like it’s time for Kim Jun-young from Hamheung in North Korea to step in.]


[Is that top-dog a defector? @@]


[We’ll protect sensei!]

The malicious emails filtered out like pain that felt like my eyes might pop.

I initially considered just trashing them, but they seemed like a good segue for stories.

I showed some selected titles while carefully picking out anything that wouldn’t harm the broadcast.

This was the so-called essence compilation.

“Check this out. I mean, I wouldn’t even comment if it was just regular adult content. I got stuff like hall pass, disturbing images, and even recruitment offers from strange companies. Seriously, why are they confirming their own crap with me?”

[What the heck is hall pass, you lunatics? Hahahahaha.]


[Confessing their own dung… I’m ready to prepare the rice!]


[Oh, I can’t handle the dung.]


[Whether it’s curry-flavored dung or dung-flavored curry, Friede will let us know.]


[Sis, you… need to toughen up…]


[The rest is whatever, but getting a company recruitment offer is crossing the line for real, lol.]


[You should sue them, sensei.]


[As long as it’s not me, I’m fine~]


[This is popcorn… time to grab the popcorn!]


[Wow, Friede’s broadcast is already going to have controversy items, huh?]


[Day 5 of the broadcast, and we’ve already got drama, lol.]

“I considered seriously handling it, but that seemed too much. Going forward, I’d appreciate everyone restraining themselves. We’re all adults here; it shouldn’t be like this.”

「Minor delinquent donated 5,000 won!


—^o^]」

“Yeah, you’re banned.”

—Minor delinquent has been kicked out.

[Do… domhwangcha!]


[The host’s sword dance, whoa!]


[Giving adults leniency but purging minors—sensei, whoa!]

“I’ll block every minor delinquent.”

Calming the buzzing atmosphere, I decided it was time to get into the main event.

“What I’ll show you today is a total of 7 videos that passed the first selection. We’ll pick one from these.”

[First round… second round… and then on to interviews, let’s go!]


[I was curious… how will the editor recruitment contest proceed?]


[Well, can’t the host just grab someone from the applicants randomly and call it a day?]


[These people don’t get it; obviously, they’re also considering our opinions, right? Pay attention. ^^]

—Clap, clap!

To settle the buzzing chat, I clapped my hands to boost the mood.

“Alright, I’ll continue explaining. Since there are many videos, I’ll go quickly.”

The reason I revealed the contest wasn’t anything special.

The people who watch Friede’s broadcasts need to know which editor resonates with them, and it’s vital to gauge public opinion on that.

So what I thought of was…

“We’ll proceed with viewer voting. However, it won’t be an ordinary vote.”

[???]


[Good ol’ democratic spirit, sensei.]


[The host is going to take it to another level… you’re triggering my snake heart!]


[Let’s go with the snake heart, let’s go with the snake heart!]


[You folks killed the editor! ㅠㅠ]

Voting. Such a great idea.

But plain viewer voting would be boring, right?

Now that I announced that we’ll pick someone through the contest, it wouldn’t hurt to conduct it a bit differently.

“This voting will…”

With countless hooks dominating the chat, I wet my throat with some coffee and continued.

“We’ll proceed with mission-based voting.”

If you don’t have money, you can’t vote, that’s the deal.

* * *

She, who applied with the nickname “Ajin,” peeped her face from beneath the blanket, munching on a jelly pie one piece at a time.

Thinking it was a once-in-a-lifetime challenge as an editor, she had been sitting properly in front of her computer since the morning, waiting for the broadcast.

She received an email from Friede yesterday on Sunday, notifying her that her video had made it to the finals.

Ah, how she could have jumped for joy… not quite; she simply kicked her feet in the air under the blanket, thrilled beyond measure.

Out of the total 7 editors who made it to the contest, only one would earn the glorious position.

With such expectations, she began watching Friede’s stream, and Friede’s voice flowed sweetly into her ears.

“For this voting, we’ll proceed with mission voting.”

“…cough!”

Just as a big chunk of jelly pie got lodged in her throat, she hurriedly focused her strength in her hands.

—Swish,

As a white light filled her hand, her right hand soon turned translucent as if it would reflect everything.

She brought that hand to her throat, and it seemed to dive inside as if the shape was a mirage.

She repeated searching inside her throat for the lodged chunk,

In her grasp was the piece of jelly pie that had become tangled in her throat.

It was a slightly embarrassing sight, drenched in saliva and not quite appetizing anymore.

But….

‘It’d be a shame to throw it away….’

Looking at the piece of jelly pie that’d been stuck in her throat, she soon made a determined expression and popped it back into her mouth.

It was just putting back what had gone in and out; what’s dirty about that? She’d just have to chew it thoroughly so it wouldn’t get stuck again.

By the way, a mission…

To conduct voting as a mission….

“Th-The mission is….”

I can’t do it because I have no money.

This month’s living expenses are tight.

As she was pacing back and forth, Frida on the monitor calmly explained the rules.

“The voting will proceed as a mission. After you’ve viewed all the videos, please set a mission to vote for the one you like. If the editor wins, those who voted for them will get a gift icon from me.”

[To nuna, who eats the midi! donated 5,000 won!


—Sister, why didn’t you say it in advance? What’s the limit?]

“I figured if I mentioned it beforehand, friends might mobilize to ruin the objectivity. The monetary limit is fixed at 10,000 won. Any other amount, whether high or low, won’t be counted as a vote. Don’t come whining to me later.”

[Is… is this unfair?]


[So, those without money won’t get to vote?]


[This is outrageous! Give me voting rights!]


[Even here, those without money aren’t treated as people.]


[Hey! Why is everyone acting like this? It’s been the norm since ancient times that only those with money get to vote.]


[??? Does the top dog seriously have no common sense?]


[Friede nuna is giving away gift icons… that’s super precious, you know?]

The viewers flared up.

Well, since it was mission voting, those viewers who couldn’t join in had to feel deprived.

Ah, I shouldn’t have blown my cash on gacha. I could’ve put about 10,000 won into the mission amount.

‘No, not yet… there’s still hope.’

Shaking her head, she pumped herself up again.

Though she lacked bullets, she could still source supplies from somewhere else.

Finding her smartphone buried under the pillow, she quickly swiped to her contact list.

—Dad

—Mom

—Little brother

If anyone saw, they’d mock her saying, “With just these three, I’ll sing a song about being bored.”

However, she was welcomed by her pitifully scant social circle.

Still refusing to lose heart, she touched her little brother’s number and dialed.

Despite still being in high school, he should have finished school by now.

—Hello?

“Hey, it’s… it’s me….”

She stammered a bit more, but it seemed she could speak easily to family.

Relieved inside, she resolutely decided to keep the momentum going.

—Ah, sis, what’s up?

“Um, um… could you… send me 10,000 won?”

—Beep, beep.

“…Ugh!”

I hadn’t finished speaking yet!

Letting out a desperate cry I wouldn’t voice, I buried my head into the bed and punched the mattress.

The recruitment contest was still ongoing.