Lotto-Level Opportunity (2)

I spun the wheel ten times just to avoid being a nuisance, but I didn't escape even once. My hands shook from my utterly hopeless skills.

The game... or rather, the players' mindset... I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Why! Why do fellow adventurers have to fight each other? We're heroes—why are we fighting? We should team up and take down monsters!

I'm farming goblins, and a fireball comes flying from behind. A mage teabagging my dead corpse.

A hidden rogue suddenly stabs me in the throat over and over. All the items I'd worked so hard to gather, gone in an instant.

Next, this guy waves at me like we're allies, and I buy it—then he shanks me with his greatsword. That was too much. Fools really do believe people.

Fine. Even fools can learn. It just takes longer. I learned my lesson. In this game, there are no friends. The moment you hit solo queue, everyone's an enemy.

I figured this out after getting wiped clean. Nothing left. Not even my clothes. If it were an 18+ game, I'd be naked.

"Hrrgh... hrrgh..."

I let out a groan. No good. I give up on being good at games. Instead, small-timer's iron rule: Don't overdo it. No audio terrorism. Just coast along quietly. That's how you win over the big corp folks. If they like you... you get more collabs, exposure to their viewers, and if you're lucky, they might even give you a stage to shine.

They hand out opportunities if you wait. You gotta have patience.

Like the old fisherman waiting for the big catch. Until that moment comes, stick to small-timer's iron rule.

If a total zero-viewer small-timer like me breaks it? I'll get buried. For sure, the big corp viewers will bury me.

Why's this small-timer wasting our queen's items? Makes me wanna step on a landmine. Blood pressure rising? Should I just kill her? Spam hate comments on her alt? Or just end her quick?

I've seen it with my own eyes. Collabs with big corp folks demand strict adherence to small-timer's iron rule.

If you don't... I saw it clear as day. We were together up to day four. But then... the small-timer crossed the line, pissed off a big corp viewer, and vanished from streaming without a trace.

The reason I got love in Rust? I chopped wood, mined stone, farmed ahead of time—before the big corps even asked. That's why they praised me.

Whoa, you did all this already? Impressive! Aren't you tired? You're the best.

No matter how scary big corps are, small-timers like me have to grind. Gotta tap that IV drip.

I felt the difference between doing it and not. Before Rust, 2 viewers... 1,500 won in donations. Mid-March during Rust: 120 avg viewers, 180,000 won. April: 95 viewers, 370,000 won.

Himaru dropped 250,000 won, my personal donation record—which still stands unbroken in my channel.

But if a small-timer wants that drip without chopping wood or mining stone, acting like the star? Useless. Gone.

I can't let this lotto-level collab end in futility. At least snag some good items. Earn some praise with this!! Uh, uh, no time. I jumped right back into the game.

God really hooked me up. Gave me a shot. To grab this lotto-level opportunity... Thank you, God.

Luck was on my side!!

I scored an epic magic wand from the shop for 2,000 gold. That's enough for three people easy.

When Himaru's short on cash, I'll shoot my hand up: "I've got it!!" She'll go ehehehe, totally touched, right? Small-timer melts big corp heart. Uhahaha.

Donations pouring in. Praise galore. Heehee. Am I fantasizing? I can earn that praise!

Gonna have a blast collabing. Uhihi.

Ding.

Discord message. It finally came. A message from Himaru.

I sent my ID right away. Can't waste a second on this. Friend request came instantly.

Right after accepting, the invite hit. Joined a 2-player mode. Pressure's on.

"A- a- aaahhh. Can you hear me?"

Himaru's voice comes through.

"Y- yeah... yep, I hear you." "Could you introduce yourself, Sena?" "A- ah... yep!" "Ehehehehe." "I- I'm Seon Seon Seon-ah."

Self-intros are brutal and tough for me. No one cares anyway. Used to hype myself up, but pointless.

Depending on the listener, complaints pile up: "Audio's too crunchy?" Self-intros are fine post-collab.

"Ah, yeah. To elaborate, that's the artist who drew the screen overlay today, right? The SD art... And about a month ago? From the Rust collab. Some of you might remember."

Himaru took a breath and continued.

"Anyway, we're dungeoning together today. This game's blowing up as fun, right? We're both bad at it. Yep. Sena said it's her first time too. I peeked earlier—similar to me, so keep that in mind."

Overflow massive. Viewers checking Himaru's screen and mine.

In just 5 minutes, from 0 viewers to 30... 40... 299. And then.

Donations incoming. I muted my mic so my voice wouldn't broadcast in Himaru's room, then bowed my head deeply. This is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠big corp!! Me. Starting today, I revere Himaru. So cool. Amazing. Goddess in my heart. Hihi.

No wonder they call it lotto-lotto!!

"Ten thousand won. Th- thank you. Truly, thank you."

Heeheehee, giggles slipped out. Real big money!! If you'd come when I was crying, even more!! Ah, ah, greed almost surged!! No. 10k is awesome.

Aaaah!! Snap out of it! Time to focus for real. Show my best—earn praise from Himaru and viewers, snag overflow! Make money. Let's go!!

"Shall we? What's your class, Sena?" "M- mage... no, priest." "Oh, priest? I'm a warrior. Great synergy? Ehehe. Ready to start?" "Yep!" "Ah, kill Discord—use in-game mic. More immersive." "Got it!"

I shut off Discord, set up in-game mic.

"A- aaahhh. Hear me?" "Loud and clear!" "Oh, you too. Let's go?" "Yes, got it."

Tense moment. Himaru picked the easiest dungeon, max lobby 30.

28 others besides us, 20 swarming Himaru, jumping around her. Her popularity's insane...!

Wanna do that too. Sounds fun... uhihi. I'll get there someday. Himaru's motivating me x1000... x10,000.

"Stop, shoo. No sniping, I said. Seriously. Ah. What're you doing? KyaAAaAHH. Go away. Demons."

Himaru started soft and sweet, but snipers' voices ramped her up—tone aggressive, volume cranked.

"Not going? Read the room. Addy. Uh. Stop. Stop. You bastards. Won't leave? All of you, scram."

To avoid negotiating with terrorists, she wildly swings at air, picks negotiate with 10 seconds left.

"Guys, don't be blatant. Real talk. Huh? You'll chill, right? I believe you? No blatant stuff."

But snipers had no plans to. Dozens of arrows already in Himaru's head.

We enter the dungeon, immediately face sniper party. Pink-haired buff dude and skinny pink-haired guy tangoing, then charge us. "Kabi, kabi. Ah, damn snipers. Shame. We'll do it right this time."

Wiped by sniper party instantly.

Himaru said she's going all out. Looked geared to the teeth—priciest items, 1,500 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gold worth.

Overkill for beginner dungeon. Huge loss if fail.

"Just believe me once. I'll show you." "Okay..." "No snipers, got it. I'll make us rich for real."

Zero faith.

"Let's go. Oh, Sena—screen cover. Snipers piss me off." "Got it."

I blacked out my screen with the overlay. No sooner than they wouldn't notice, match made.

Envied it earlier, but now? Lobby hell from the start. Snipers swarming like bees. Tough fight ahead.

I'm silently tense, then whoa?!

Sudden mission. I got a mission!! Jackpot. Oh, 50k? Wow!!

Collabing with big corp = missions rolling in!! Chat exploding!!

Starting today, I revere Himaru. Worship her!! Uhihi.

"Th- thank you. Let's do this!"

Never say that in smooth sailing.

Doomed. Disaster donation sighted. 10k means my 40k... Himaru's hopes...

All gone— no, still gotta do it.

Succeed. This is opportunity!! Nail it, praise and dons galore? Yes!! Good chance hit!! Success, replay watch mandatory. Let's go. I can do it!!

Whoa? Shock—viewers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at 550... Chat speed record. Th- thank you, Maru!! Almost worshipped mid-game.

Ah, focus on game!!

10 minutes in, realized: god draws nonstop. Real hope. Hope shifts chat vibe.

Endgame in sight. Portals scattered, no snipers or randos nearby.

"Whoa, escape. Woo! Real luck."

"Phew... yes!!"

Sigh of relief, opened two portals. 5 sec... 4... 3...

"Sa- safe! Held it! Wooaaah!!"

Overjoyed, reactions overflowed. Oops. Wait? Chat's cheering. Eung?

"Whoa, 50k for real—thank you so much. Thank you."

Donations too!! I shot up, bowed deeply in thanks. This... this is why big corps rule. Servant to a big corp master—that's the way!! Tears from earlier feel foolish now—pure bliss. I'll cling to this chance till the end. Gonna grind!! Uhahaha.